2022 February - Pro Football Rumors

Texans HC Lovie Smith’s Views On QBs Watson, Mills

February 15th, 2022 at 12:47pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Texans have a new head coach in Lovie Smith, but they appear to be maintaining the status quo when it comes to their quarterback situation. He detailed the desire to handle the Deshaun Watson situation, and also voiced support of 2021 rookie Davis Mills in a conversation with Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.

Smith expressed optimism that a resolution will be coming somewhat soon with Watson. It is already well known that the team intends to trade him before the start of the new league year in March; Smith concurs that dealing him elsewhere would be the best outcome.

When asked about how quickly he wants the matter resolved, Smith answered, “As soon as possible… We’re patient, we’ve waited an entire year and I just feel like this offseason, it’ll come to an end and we’ll get it solved and it’ll be good for both parties, whatever that might be… We have a little bit of time, and we’ll get it done”.

Watson, 26, still has 22 sexual misconduct lawsuits that have yet to be resolved; between that, and his trade request, he sat out the 2021 season. Breer adds that if the three-time Pro Bowler is able to be dealt, there could be “a treasure trove of picks coming Houston’s way”.

With regards to Mills, Smith praised the third-rounder for his performance in 2021. “Of all those guys we played against, Davis played as well as any of those rookie quarterbacks”, he said. “I like his demeanor, how smart he is, and I like that he and [newly-promoted offensive coordinator] Pep Hamilton have been together for a year already. Those things should help us”. Mills ranked second amongst rookie signal callers in QBR, despite playing on the AFC’s second-worst team.

While Smith made it clear Mills isn’t assured to be the 2022 starter, he is certainly a supporter of his. Assuming the Watson swap does get done soon, Smith will be well positioned to move forward with, quite possibly, some much-needed continuity at the head coach and QB positions for at least the immediate future.

Latest On Sean McVay’s Future

February 15th, 2022 at 11:51am CST by Adam La Rose

After the Rams’ Super Bowl victory, questions around head coach Sean McVay‘s future continue. When asked about his intention of remaining with the team for the 2022 season – something he already addressed in the lead-up to the game – his response was “we’ll see”.

McVay gave that answer when speaking to Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times. It represents a stark contrast to the report before the Super Bowl from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that he is “committed to this team and coaching”.

As Chase Goodbread of NFL.com adds, McVay went on to say, “I’m just enjoying this moment right now. I’m really happy to be a part of this. Happy for that”. He also pointed out that winning a Super Bowl title might accelerate the process of his moving on from coaching. When asked if the championship would make it easier for McVay to leave the sidelines, he answered, “I think you could definitely say that”, according to Pro Football Talk’s Curtis Crabtree.

McVay, 36, became the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl with the victory on Sunday. Considering it was already the team’s second appearance in the title game in his five seasons at the helm, the thought of retirement seems far less likely than an extension to rank him amongst the highest-paid coaches in the NFL.

Nevertheless, Rams COO Kevin Demoff said, “I would agree I don’t think Sean’s current pace is sustainable, in terms of how much work he puts in, if you want to have a family”, something that McVay has repeatedly referenced when asked about his plans. Demoff added, “A month away, two months away, from everybody and I think things will feel a lot better”. Time away from the game for McVay in the offseason will likely help shape his intentions, which will in turn play a large role in the Rams’ future decisions.

Injury Update On Seahawks’ D.K. Metcalf

February 15th, 2022 at 10:53am CST by Adam La Rose

After the Seahawks’ season ended, there were questions as to whether or not wide receiver D.K. Metcalf would undergo foot surgery. It turns out the answer to that question is yes, as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweets that Metcalf did indeed have a minor procedure recently.

Rapoport adds that the procedure was simply a matter of removing a screw in his injured foot, which had been put there during a previous surgery. That should help his chances of rebounding from his 2021 season, which, while still productive by any objective measure, was a step back from his previous campaign.

Dealing with the pain in his foot all year, the 24-year-old totalled 75 catches for 967 yards and 12 touchdowns. In comparison, he put up 83 receptions for 1,303 yards and 10 majors in 2020. In spite of the foot ailment – along with the overall injury concerns that surrounded him leading up to his selection in the second round of the 2019 Draft – Metcalf has yet to miss a game in his three-year career.

Assuming Metcalf is fully healed by the start of the 2022 season, he should be able to continue as one of the most unique, and most effective, receivers in the league. Providing a compliment to the style of fellow starter Tyler Lockett, the two could play a large role in helping the Seahawks return to playoff contention next year.

Latest On Jaguars’ Front Office

February 15th, 2022 at 9:54am CST by Adam La Rose

The Jaguars are in the process of rebuilding not only their coaching staff, but also their front office personnel and structure. As ESPN’s Michael DiRocco writes, the team is looking to add multiple new executives, including an executive vice president of football operations.

As he states, owner Shad Khan is looking to hire not only an EVP, but also “someone to work under” general manager Trent Baalke. It wouldn’t be the first time the Jaguars had a structure like that, as a similar one was in place when the Jaguars were last in playoff contention.

When speaking about the changes, Khan said, “One of the reasons we had the [coaching] search was not only looking for the head-coaching candidate but really to learn about other organizations… So some of the practices, some of the structure that works, we got great insight into it. Strengthening the football operations, more staff, that’s part of our goal. We’ve had too flat an organization and we want to add brainpower and more people to strengthen that”.

Tom Coughlin held the EVP title beginning in 2017 during the Doug Marrone coaching era in Jacksonville. That season ended with a trip to the AFC Championship game, but the organization was streamlined after Coughlin was fired in 2019. Khan elected to try a more coach-centric structure when he hired Urban Meyer, a decision that proved to be borderline disastrous. A return to the previous system so quickly after Meyer’s firing would represent a very fast about-face from Khan and the organization.

Many believe that Rick Spielman will eventually be named as the new EVP. The former Vikings GM recently interviewed for a position that would outrank Baalke, though nothing has been made official yet. In addition, the team would have to meet with at least two external minority candidates for the position in order to satisfy the Rooney Rule.

Especially after the hire of former Super Bowl winner Doug Pederson as head coach, the Jaguars are “taking a collaborative approach”, DiRocco writes. With an emphasis on long-term building, as opposed to a less patient, win-now approach with Meyer, more voices being involved in decision making could be a productive first step towards turning around a franchise which has finished at the bottom of the NFL for two straight years.

Titans Endorse Ryan Tannehill As Starting QB

February 15th, 2022 at 8:55am CST by Adam La Rose

Before the Titans’ playoff exit in the Divisional Round, there was a great deal of speculation surrounding quarterback Ryan Tannehill and his future with the team. After the loss – and in particular, Tannehill’s performance in the game – sentiment that Tennessee could need an upgrade only increased.

However, the franchise is publicly backing Tannehill, as ESPN’s Turron Davenport writes. Both general manager Jon Robinson and head coach Mike Vrabel made it clear they have faith in the 33-year-old, despite his struggles in 2021. Tannehill threw for 220 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in the team’s playoff loss to the Bengals. It marked a disappointing end to the season, given that Tennessee had earned the No. 1 seed in the AFC despite missing Derrick Henry for much of the campaign.

Another reason for fodder that the Titans could be getting a new signal-caller is the fact that Aaron Rodgers, who is “reportedly open to playing for the Titans”, recently purchased property near Nashville. However, the Packers’ QB – who has one year remaining on his current contract – is thought to be on better terms now with the team than he was one year ago. Furthermore, as Davenport notes, “the Titans don’t consider Rodgers to be an option for them” and they have “full intentions of moving forward with Tannehill”.

Specifically, Robinson said, “Ryan’s our quarterback. He’s made a lot of plays for us. He’s a great leader. He’s extremely tough. [We] love what Ryan brings to our football team, love what he stands for. We’re looking forward to him getting back in there, and getting back on track”. Vrabel also added: “He has elite toughness… He has shown signs of accuracy, of decision-making, the ability to extend plays and to scramble and leadership. Those are all things that you look for in a quarterback, and Ryan has shown us that”.

Robinson and Vrabel each signed extensions recently, so they could look to keep Tannehill as a way of maintaining continuity within the franchise. If he does stay in Tennessee, though, his cap hit will jump to $38.6MM as a result of the restructure he agreed to which accommodated the Julio Jones acquisition. If Tannehill is able to return to the level of play he showed in 2019 and 2020 – where he totalled 55 touchdown passed and only 13 interceptions – the team will likely have made the right choice. If 2021 (21 TDs, 14 INTs) is a better indicator of his future, though, sticking with him instead of looking elsewhere could prove costly.

NFC Coaching Notes: Giants, Seahawks, Bears

February 14th, 2022 at 10:27pm CST by Ben Levine

Brian Daboll is naturally making some changes to the Giants coaching staff. Per Aaron Wilson on Twitter (detailed in four tweets), the Giants have hired Drew Wilkins as linebackers coach, Christian Jones as an offensive assistant, Laura Young as director of coaching operations, Bobby Johnson as offensive line coach, Shea Tierney as quarterbacks coach, DeAndre Smith as running backs coach, Mike Groh as wide receivers coach, Andy Bischoff as tight ends coach, Tony Sparano Jr. as assistant offensive line coach, and Andre Patterson as defensive line coach.

Daboll also retained a handful of holdovers from Joe Judge’s staff. That grouping includes Jerome Henderson (defensive backs coach), Mike Treier (assistant defensive backs coach), Anthony Blevins (special teams assistant), and Nick Williams (special teams quality control coach).

Finally, the Giants shifted Ryan Hollern to college scouting coordinator and named Mark Loecher as assistant strength and conditioning coach.

Some more coaching notes out of the NFC…

The Seahawks will promote Andy Dickerson to their offensive line coach, per ESPN’s Brady Henderson (via Twitter). Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron recruited Dickerson from the Rams last offseason, with Dickerson earning the role of run-game coordinator. Now, he’ll earn the (apparent) promotion to OL coach. The Seahawks fired former offensive line coach Mike Solari last week, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter). This was the 67-year-old’s second stint with the organization, and he had served as the team’s OL coach since 2018.
The Bears announced last week that they hired Carlos Polk as their assistant special teams coach. The 44-year-old coach has served in the same role with a handful of teams, including the Chargers, Buccaneers, Cowboys, and Jaguars. He spent the 2021 campaign in Jacksonville.
The Cardinals have hired Matt Burke as their defensive line coach, reports Pelissero (on Twitter). The 45-year-old was the Dolphins defensive coordinator between 2017 and 2018, and he most recently worked for the Jets as a “game management coach.” Burke has also had coaching stints with the Eagles, Bengals, Lions, and Titans.
The Vikings have hired Brian Angelichio as their pass game coordinator/tight ends coach, reports ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (via Twitter). Angelichio spent the past two years as the Panthers tight ends coach, so he’s getting a slight promotion in Minnesota. Meanwhile, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweets that the Vikings are hiring Jerrod Johnson as an offensive assistant. Johnson is expected to work with the QBs. The coach was a two-time participant in the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship, and he spent last season as the Colts quality control coach.
Matt Rhule has made some changes to his staff. The Panthers announced that they’ve hired Joe Dailey as wide receivers coach. Dailey has spent the past two seasons as Boston College’s offensive coordinator. Meanwhile, Robert Kugler was hired as assistant offensive line coach while defensive analyst Kevin Gilbride Jr. was promoted to TE coach (replacing Angelichio).

Raiders To Hire Antonio Pierce As LB Coach

February 14th, 2022 at 8:49pm CST by Ben Levine

Antonio Pierce is back in the NFL. The former linebacker is joining Josh McDaniel’s Raiders staff as their linebackers coach, reports Mike Garafolo (via Twitter).

After spending the first four years of his career in Washington, Pierce became a fan favorite during his time with the Giants. Pierce ended up spending five seasons in New York, compiling 691 tackles, nine sacks, and eight forced fumbles. Pierce earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2006, and he won a Super Bowl ring the following season, compiling 25 tackles in the Giants’ four postseason games.

After retiring following the 2009 season, Pierce resurfaced a few years later on the coaching circuit. He’s been with Arizona State since 2018, working his way up from linebackers coach to associate head coach/defensive coordinator.

As Garafolo notes on Twitter, Pierce interviewed for a coaching job on the Giants a few years ago when Patrick Graham was hired as Joe Judge’s defensive coordinator. That move obviously didn’t come together, but Pierce will now have an opportunity to coach alongside Graham in Las Vegas.

Minor NFL Transactions: 2/14/22

February 14th, 2022 at 6:50pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Denver Broncos

Claimed off waivers: DB Essang Bassey (from Chargers), P Corliss Waitman (from Steelers)

Detroit Lions

Claimed off waivers: DB Juju Hughes (from Rams)

Houston Texans

Claimed off waivers: DL Kingsley Keke (from Packers)

Tennessee Titans

Signed: DE Da’Shawn Hand

Per ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter), the Broncos (with Bassey and Waitman), Lions (with Hughes), and Texans (with Keke) placed their respective claims earlier in their offseasons. Since these players were on playoff teams, they weren’t immediately assigned. Instead, the teams needed to wait for the league year to switch over to 2022, allowing the players to join their new squads.

Latest On Cardinals, QB Kyler Murray

February 14th, 2022 at 5:05pm CST by Ben Levine

This past weekend, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen suggested that there was acrimony between the Cardinals and QB Kyler Murray, with “sources” describing the quarterback as a self-centered, immature finger-pointer. Well, Murray is now firing back via Twitter, saying he’s not about “this nonsense.”

“I play this game for the love of it, my teammates, everyone who has helped me get to this position that believed in my [and] to win championships,” Murray wrote. “All of this nonsense is now what I’m about, never has been, never will be. Anyone who has ever stepped between those lines with me knows how hard I go.

“Love me or hate me but I’m going to continue to grow and get better.”

While the weekend report was clearly aimed at Murray (with Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com describing it as a “bizarre hit job”), it also acknowledged that the frustration wasn’t one-sided. Rather, Mortensen reported that Murray had his own issues with the organization and was embarrassed by how the Cardinals’ season ended. The quarterback also scrubbed all mentions of the organization off his social media.

While Murray is now firing back, it still seems unlikely that this is heading towards a divorce. Mortensen said the organization remains committed to the former first-overall pick, and head coach Kliff Kingsbury plans to do some “self-scouting” in an effort to provide Murray with “better alternatives.” Temporarily, this growing tension could play a role in a potential Murray extension; with three years of service time under his belt, the quarterback is now extension-eligible, and it will be interesting to see if player and team are willing to commence extension talks at this point.

Latest On Seahawks QB Russell Wilson

February 14th, 2022 at 4:33pm CST by Ben Levine

For the better part of a year, there have been rumblings that Russell Wilson could be looking to play elsewhere in 2022. However, during an interview with SiriusXM’s Chris Russo, the quarterback indicated that he wants to stick with the Seahawks.

“I’ve been fortunate to be able to play 10 amazing years in Seattle,” Wilson said (h/t to Daniel Chavkin of SI.com). “My hope and goal is to be back there and keep winning there. That’s the vision, that’s the goal. That’s always been it, never been anything different.”

The most recent report indicated that the organization planned to retain Wilson, though the team wouldn’t say anything different at this point and risk losing leverage in trade talks. The Seahawks’ commitment to Wilson hasn’t stopped the trade chatter; Ian Rapoport of NFL.com later reported that Wilson wants to at least “explore his options” this offseason.

Wilson’s camp has made it clear that he hasn’t (and probably won’t) demand a trade; rather, he simply wanted to explore whether another club might offer him opportunities that the Seahawks cannot. Last February, of course, his agent told the club that Wilson would waive his no-trade clause if he were to be dealt to the Cowboys, Bears, Raiders, and Saints, and in December, a report surfaced indicating that Wilson would approve a trade to the Broncos, Giants, or Saints.

This past season, Wilson missed a handful of games with a broken finger, and he had a sub-.500 record (6-8) for the first time in his career. However, the 33-year-old was still plenty productive, tossing 25 touchdowns vs. six interceptions while adding another two scores on the ground.