The Chiefs are giving another former first-round cornerback a second chance. They are signing Damon Arnette to a reserve/futures contract, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
This does not impact Kansas City’s playoff roster, but it does give the Chiefs yet another corner recently drafted in the first round. The former Raiders Round 1 pick will head to Kansas City after a brief stint on Miami’s practice squad. The Raiders cut Arnette earlier this year after a video surfaced showing him threatening a person while brandishing a handgun.
The Chiefs acquired former Vikings first-round corner Mike Hughes via trade last year and also have former Giants first-round cover man Deandre Baker on their playoff roster. Kansas City signed Baker not long after an off-field incident led to his New York ouster. Hughes is due for unrestricted free agency after this season; Baker can be controlled next season via exclusive-rights free agent tender.
Andy Reid‘s team has not shied away from players with checkered pasts, and the six-time reigning AFC West champions have benefited considerably from the acquisitions of Tyreek Hill and Frank Clark. While Arnette entered the NFL with a higher profile than each, being chosen 19th overall in 2020, he was headed in the wrong direction with the Raiders.
The Raiders used Arnette as a seven-game starter in 2020 but relegated him to a part-time role this year. The Ohio State product played four games with this year’s Las Vegas squad but was cut shortly after the Raiders parted ways with their other 2020 first-rounder — Henry Ruggs. Arnette is also facing multiple lawsuits, one for a car accident that resulted in injuries.
Matt Rhule said he preferred his next offensive coordinator have NFL play-calling experience. One of the two coaches to receive second interviews for this position checks that box.
After meeting with Colts running backs coach Scottie Montgomery, the Panthers gave former Washington head coach Jay Gruden a second interview Thursday, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). Gruden was one of two former HCs to go through a first interview with Carolina, with Ben McAdoobeing the other.
Although Montgomery served as East Carolina’s head coach for three seasons and Maryland’s OC for the next two, he has yet to call plays at the NFL level. Rhule’s past in the college ranks, however, makes Montgomery’s advancement here interesting. Gruden called plays for 10 seasons, doing so with the Bengals, Washington and Jaguars.
Gruden and Montgomery, after previously interviewing virtually, met in-person with Carolina brass, Steve Reed of the Associated Press notes. This is a crucial hire for Rhule, who is on the hot seat after two sub-.500 seasons on the job. A previous report suggested the embattled HC needed a “rock-star offensive coordinator” to save his job.
While it does appear Rhule will receive a third season, Gruden landing the OC job would give the Panthers a natural interim HC in the event Rhule cannot keep it through the 2022 season. Gruden, 54, agreeing to join Carolina’s staff would be interesting as well since he recently accepted an OC gig for a team with a head coach (Doug Marrone) on the hot seat. Gruden went one-and-done in Jacksonville in 2020 and did not coach this season.
The Panthers have also met with Colts wide receivers coach (and ex-Eagles OC) Mike Groh, Vikings OC Klint Kubiak, ex-Texans OC Tim Kelly and Packers quarterbacks coach Luke Getsy. None has been linked to a second interview yet.
One of the biggest talking points in Pittsburgh right now, of course, is the uncertainty the team is facing at the quarterback position. With it all-but guaranteed that BenRoethlisbergerhas played his final snap in the NFL, the central focus of HC Mike Tomlin‘s end-of-season press conference was the team’s plans to replace him.
As Tomlin said, “all options are on the table” with respect to finding a new signal-caller. He expressed a level of “excitement” about the process, which could include any combination of free agency, trades and the draft. Let’s look at some of their options in each capacity:
First off, the team’s in-house options need to be considered. Mason Rudolph is the only QB with a contract for 2022, but Dwayne Haskins could easily be brought back as well. The former has been with the team since being drafted in the third round in 2019, making 10 total starts. His overall play has been inconsistent and underwhelming, though, which prompted the team to bring in Haskins last year. The 2019 first-rounder crashed out of Washington and has only made 13 starts in his three-year career. Tomlin left the door open for each to “establish themselves” going forward.
As for free agency, the team is positioned to have an unusually high degree of flexibility. With over $30MM in projected cap space and not many impact UFAs to sign, the Steelers could add a veteran without much issue. The two best options on that front, however, are likely Jameis Winstonand Teddy Bridgewater. Winston’s second season in New Orleans – and first as the starter – came to an abrupt end with a torn ACL after just seven games. He would probably offer more upside, if healthy, in 2022 than Bridgewater, whose first year in Denver saw him essentially match his career numbers and confirm himself as a low-end starter. Pittsburgh, or any other QB-needy team could still do worse in free agency than the consistent 29-year-old, though.
As for the trade market, bigger names – but much more uncertainty – are involved. Veterans Aaron Rodgersand Russell Wilson are names frequently thrown around in trade speculation, and the Steelers may be able to afford taking on their contracts if they so desired. However, the former has recently made comments that are a far cry from his trade request made last year. As for Wilson, meanwhile, the team has just decided to keep most of its front office and coaching staff in place, and has no plans to trade the seven-time Pro Bowler. The biggest x-factor in the QB market, of course, is Deshaun Watson. The Texans are indeed looking to move the 26-year-old, but there has yet to be a resolution with respect to his ongoing sexual misconduct allegations.
Some other veterans are being mentioned as trade candidates as well. Established starters who are set to enter the final year of their contracts include Kirk Cousins, Derek Carrand Jimmy Garoppolo. The cap hits of those respective deals cover quite a range, which will play a role in how easy they are to move. In the case of Cousins and Carr, new head coaches and general managers will ultimately decide whether to re-commit to them, or look elsewhere for replacements and make them expendable. For Garoppolo, it has been widely known for quite a while that the franchise is ready to move on to 2021 first-rounder Trey Lance.
The final avenue is the 2022 NFL Draft. This year’s QB class is generally seen as underwhelming, and there is no clear-cut, can’t-miss type of prospect as there has been in recent years. One of the top options is Kenny Pickettfrom the University of Pittsburgh, who many regard as the most complete – perhaps safest – option. Other names include Ole Miss’ Matt Corral and UNC’s Sam Howell, both of whom took their programs to new heights with hugely productive careers. Smaller-school options include Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder, who led his team to an unprecedented CFP semifinal appearance, and Liberty’s Malik Willis, who, while very raw, may have the best overall physical traits in the class.
Tomlin made a point in stressing the need for mobility in the new QB, which may lend itself to a draftee being given the reins. In his first mock draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper has the Steelers selecting Corral 20th overall. Meanwhile, the Athletic’s Dane Brugler has Pittsburgh taking Howell with that same pick in his latest mock.
One factor to keep in mind is the recent news that offensive coordinator Matt Canada is expected to be back in 2022. The new quarterback – whomever it ends up being – will be tasked with trying to fully implement his scheme, something that the team struggled to do in Roethlisberger’s final year.
Let us know who you think will be the Steelers’ Week 1 starter in 2022 below.
The Bengals have received some very positive news on the injury front. Defensive end Trey Hendricksonhas been cleared from concussion protocol, and will play on Saturday against the Titans (Twitter link via ESPN’s Ben Baby).
Hendrickson, the team’s top pass rusher, suffered the injury during last week’s win over the Raiders – Cincinnati’s first postseason victory in over 30 years. He still made an impact, though, registering a sack and one forced fumble prior to leaving the game.
The 27-year-old was one of the biggest additions the team made in the offseason, signing a four-year, $60MM deal in March after a productive start to his career in New Orleans. So far, he has been worth every penny. In 16 games this year, Hendrickson recorded a team-high 14 sacks, along with 34 total tackles and three forced fumbles. In general, he has played a major role in the team’s defensive turnaround from previous years, which is one of the reasons they seemed poised to be AFC contenders for the foreseeable future.
Hendrickson will not doubt have a lot to do with the Bengals’ fortunes, good or bad, in the Divisional Round when they visit the AFC’s No. 1 seed.
We’re looking to add multiple part-time contributors to the Pro Hockey Rumors writing team. The positions pay on an hourly basis.
Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
Exceptional knowledge of all 32 NHL teams, with no discernible bias. We want you to be as comfortable writing about Janis Moser and Connor Dewar as you would be writing about Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews.
Knowledge of the salary cap, CBA, and transaction-related concepts.
Strong weeknight and weekend availability, with the ability to work at least two regular shifts per week. Flexibility to work on short notice and/or on weekdays is a plus.
Extensive writing experience, with professional experience and a background in journalism both preferred.
Keen understanding of journalistic principles, ethics, and procedures. Completion of basic college-level journalism classes is strongly preferred.
Attention to detail and an ability to self-edit.
Ability to follow PHR’s style and tone.
Ability to analyze articles and craft intelligent, well-written posts summing up the news in a few paragraphs. We need someone who can balance creating quick copy with thoughtful analysis.
You must be able to add value to breaking news with your own insight, numbers, or links to other relevant articles.
Ability to use Twitter, Tweetdeck, and other relevant platforms. In general, you must be able to multi-task.
If you’re interested, email prohockeyrumorshelp@gmail.com and include the following:
A few paragraphs to explain why you qualify and stand out.
A description of your availability going forward.
At least one or two writing samples. NHL-related pieces are preferred, but not mandatory.
We understand that many of those who read this have applied in the past. If you have previously submitted an application for PHR and are still interested, please submit it again. Many will apply, so unfortunately we cannot respond to every applicant.
The case of former Raiders HC Jon Gruden‘s lawsuit against the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell has taken another turn. The league has filed for the suit to be dismissed, according to a report from Daniel Kaplan of the Athletic.
Kaplan notes that the league has actually moved for the case to be taken to arbitration in Nevada state court first, and asked for it to be dismissed pending its decision on arbitration. The league’s written response to Gruden’s suit states that “Gruden sent a variety of similarly abhorrent emails to a half dozen recipients over a seven-year period” besides those sent to former WFT president Bruce Allen. Like those emails, which led to Gruden’s resignation in October, these other ones “denounced `the emergence of women as referees,’ and frequently used homophobic and sexist slurs to refer to Commissioner Goodell, then-Vice President Joseph Biden, a gay professional football player drafted in 2014, and others”.
The response also comments on claims alleging the league leaked the damning emails as a way to get revenge against Gruden due to his remarks against the commissioner. As reported by Mark Maske and Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post, the league responded that Gruden “primarily assumed the risk that his emails could be circulated beyond the original recipient group, and possessed and distributed by the WFT, NFL and others”. It continues, “to be sure, the NFL and the commissioner did not leak Gruden’s emails”.
The motion details how Goodell had grounds to fire Gruden outright, given the fact that the nature of his emails were detrimental to the league. For that reason, it states, no one at the league office had a motivation to “publicly sabotage Gruden’s career”, as the original lawsuit claims. Instead, it argues, the suit “should be dismissed in its entirety”.
No further developments (such as if the case will proceed to court) will be able to take place until the aforementioned arbitration decision is made.
News broke overnight that will have an effect on the availability for one of the Chief’s defensive starters this Sunday. Linebacker Willie Gay Jr.was arrested on Wednesday night for criminal damage under $1,000 dollars.
As Pro Football Talk’s Michael Smith writes, the arrest took place at approximately 10:30 pm in Overland Park, Kansas. As of now, he remains in the Johnson County Detention Center awaiting bond. No charges have been laid yet.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport has tweeted an update from Gay’s agent, Maxx Lepselter, which provides context on the incident. He states that the 23-year-old was visiting his son’s house and an argument with the child’s mother took place, during which Gay broke her vacuum. “No one was touched … beyond the broken appliance”, according to Lepselter. The Kansas City Star’s Sam McDowell tweets that, according to the police report, “the damage is to a vacuum, cell phone screen, wall/door frame and a humidifier”.
A Chiefs spokesperson has released the following statement: “The Chiefs are aware of LB Willie Gay Jr.’s reported overnight arrest on an alleged misdemeanor criminal damage charge and have no further comment at this time” (Twitter link via Herbie Teope of the Kansas City Star).
A 2020 second-round pick, Gay has started all but the first game of the 2021 campaign. In 12 regular season games, he totaled 48 tackles, four pass deflections and two interceptions. The Chiefs were able to win comfortably against the Steelers in the Wild Card round with Gay playing an unusually low number of snaps, but, in the event he were to be absent this Sunday, his presence would likely be felt more greatly against a potent Bills’ offense.
Rumors have been constantly swirling around JimHarbaugh and the Raiders’ head coaching position. While most of the reporting and speculation to date has been centered on owner Mark Davis working to convince Harbaugh to return to the NFL, not much has been said with respect to the latter’s interest in the position.
According to a report from Bruce Feldman of the Athletic, the presumption that the current Michigan HC is the favorite to take over in Las Vegas is certainly warranted from both perspectives. As he writes, there are “multiple sources” inside the school’s program who “think [that] if Harbaugh is offered the Raiders’ head coaching job, he’d take it”.
The 58-year-old’s ties to the franchise date back to 2002, the start of his NFL coaching career. It was then, during his tenure as the team’s QB coach, that a longstanding friendship with Davis began. Feldman also notes that Harbaugh “has family ties to Las Vegas, which is where he met his wife”. Those were some of the factors that made him an early favorite for the HC position, before the Raiders even began conducting interviews.
Recent developments have also pointed towards Harbaugh ultimately being hired. GM Mike Mayock was let go on Monday; one of the effects of that decision is, according to many, an increased likelihood that interim HC Rick Bisaccia won’t return despite his ability to settle down a turbulent season and help guide the team to the playoffs. It has been reported for weeks, of course, that Davis has his sights set on Harbaugh, and has all along. A departure from Bisaccia would only open the door further to Harbaugh being brought in.
Two things are important to keep in mind with this situation. Firstly, Bisaccia interviewed for the full-time HC gig on Wednesday, so he does still have a chance to be retained. Secondly, as Feldman warns, “Harbaugh can be hard to read”. Taking that point into consideration, along with the fact that the Wolverines just had their best season of Harbaugh’s tenure (defeating Ohio State en route to a CFP semifinal appearance), leaves open the possibility that Michigan could try to keep him in place with a new contract.
Ultimately, though, this latest news seems to be another signal that a second head coaching role is in the cards for the former Super Bowl runner-up.
ScottieMontgomery got a second interview with the Panthers. The Colts RBs coach spent today speaking with the organization, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). Montgomery previously met with the organization virtually.
Montgomery may now be best known for being Jonathan Taylor‘s position coach — a position that recently involved HBO screen time. The second-year back rocketed to an All-Pro perch in 2021, winning the rushing title by nearly 600 yards. Montgomery also has prior NFL experience, having coached an acclaimed group of Steelers wide receivers — Antonio Brown, Mike Wallace and Emmanuel Sanders among them — from 2010-12.
The Panthers interviewed seven coaches for the job previous held by JoeBrady. Montgomery is in a group that includes JayGruden, BenMcAdoo, LukeGetsy, Tim Kelly, MikeGroh, and KlintKubiak.
More coaching notes from around the NFL…
Browns defensive line coach ChrisKiffin is leaving the organization. Per Bruce Feldman of TheAthletic.com (and passed along by Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com), Kiffin is heading to Ole Miss to be the team’s co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Chris Kiffin is the younger brother of Ole Miss head coach LaneKiffin. The younger Kiffin spent the past two seasons in Cleveland.
The Chargers recently fired special teams coordinator Derius Swinton II, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter). After spending the 2020 season as the Cardinals assistant ST coach, Swinton got the head gig in Los Angeles in 2021. The team has already started looking for a replacement, as they’ve interviewed Giants special teams coach ThomasMcGaughey (via Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com).
McGaughey also got an interview for the Panther ST coach vacancy, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Carolina is also interviewing former Bears special teams coordinator ChrisTabor and former Broncos special teams coordinator TomMcMahon (via Schefter on Twitter). Last week, the Panthers fired three assistant coaches, including special teams coordinator ChaseBlackburn.
The Seahawks are moving quick to find a replacement for former defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr.. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter), Seattle requested permission to interview Cowboys defensive passing game coordinator/secondary coach Joe Whitt Jr. for their DC vacancy.
Whitt has been coaching in the NFL since 2007. He’s bounced around recently, spending time with the Packers (2018), Browns (2019), Falcons (2020), and Cowboys (2021) over the past four years. Despite all of his jobs, he’s maintained his job title of defensive passing game coordinator/secondary coach.
As NFL Ian Rapoport notes on Twitter, Whitt Jr. is a candidate to take over for Cowboys defensive coordinator DanQuinn if/when he gets a HC gig. Seattle’s request could force the Cowboys’ hand, so it will be interesting to see how everything unfolds.
We learned yesterday that the Seahawks were moving on from Norton. The veteran coach had served as the team’s defensive coordinator for the past four seasons, a stretch that has seen unusually poor results on that side of the ball. We’ve already learned of three potential replacements for the role. In addition to Whitt, Seattle also requested permission to interview Bears defensive coordinator SeanDesai and Broncos defensive coordinator EdDonatell.
This does not impact Kansas City’s playoff roster, but it does give the Chiefs yet another corner recently drafted in the first round. The former Raiders Round 1 pick will head to Kansas City after a brief stint on Miami’s practice squad. The Raiders cut Arnette earlier this year after a video surfaced showing him threatening a person while brandishing a handgun.
