HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

NFL To Investigate Brian Flores’ Allegations Dolphins Offered Bonuses For Losses

February 3rd, 2022 at 5:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

THURSDAY: Denying Flores’ claims that he offered six-figure bonuses for 2019 losses, Ross indicated the Dolphins will cooperate with an NFL investigation (Twitter link via ProFootballNetwork.com’s Adam Beasley).

WEDNESDAY: A day after Brian Flores filed a lawsuit that, among other allegations, accused Dolphins owner Stephen Ross of offering $100K for each Dolphins loss in 2019, the NFL will investigate the matter, Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com tweets.

Considering the seriousness of Flores’ accusation, the league taking action so soon does not surprise. The NFL’s investigation does not yet have a timetable, per the Washington Post’s Mark Maske (on Twitter), but this matter will not be going away anytime soon. The league will also investigate other rules violations, per Mortensen. The Dolphins have denied Flores’ allegation.

Flores accused Ross of offering those payments to boost the Dolphins’ prospects of securing top draft position in 2020. When Flores went 5-11, GM Chris Grier allegedly communicated to the since-fired Miami HC that Ross was unhappy the team slid to the No. 5 overall position in the 2020 draft. Instead of the rebuilding team picking first in 2020, which would have placed Miami in position to draft Joe Burrow, the Dolphins selected Tua Tagovailoa at No. 5. Despite Tagovailoa being a Dolphins target for several months, Burrow’s record-breaking 2019 season prompted the team to shift course. The Dolphins were unable to turn their three first-round selections into that year’s No. 1 pick, with the Bengals selecting Burrow first overall.

This investigation will obviously generate interest, as the Dolphins were committed to a full-scale rebuild in 2019. Gutting the team to produce losses and payments coming as a result of those defeats are certainly different matters. Ross would stand to face significant punishment if the latter can be proven. Interestingly, NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe notes a Dolphins source was aware of Ross offering the bonus payments for every 2019 loss (Twitter link).

Byron Leftwich To Bow Out Of Jaguars’ HC Search?

February 3rd, 2022 at 4:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

For a short span last week, Byron Leftwich looked like the frontrunner to become the next Jaguars head coach. A week later, the former Jags quarterback looks likelier to stay in Tampa.

Leftwich is expected to remove his name from consideration for this position soon, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. While Leftwich has also been connected to the Saints’ HC vacancy, the sides have not yet scheduled an interview.

The three-year Buccaneers offensive coordinator was believed to be negotiating with the team that once drafted him last week, following his second interview. But those talks did not last long. Cardinals exec Adrian Wilson was also linked to joining Leftwich, replacing GM Trent Baalke, but the latter remains in place as Jags GM. A report early this offseason indicated Baalke’s presence could deter certain candidates from pursuing this job, and the Jags have since been in contact with ex-Vikings GM Rick Spielman for a position that could outrank Baalke’s.

This has become quite the complex search, featuring some moving parts. Matt Eberflus was the first to receive a second Jags interview, but he opted for a Bears HC offer. The Jags soon sought a Kevin O’Connell interview, but timing nixed it. The Vikings now have an agreement with the two-year Rams OC. Doug Pederson and Rich Bisaccia remain in the mix for the Jacksonville gig, while Leftwich could well be sticking around in Tampa post-Tom Brady. Were Leftwich to move into a head coaching position, Bruce Arians would be Tampa Bay’s play-caller, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com tweets. Arians last called plays with the Cardinals.

Here is how the Jags’ HC search looks:

Latest On Chiefs’ Tyrann Mathieu, Orlando Brown Jr.

February 3rd, 2022 at 3:43pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 2021 season ended just short of a third consecutive trip to the Super Bowl for the Chiefs, beginning an offseason filled with important roster decisions. General manager Brett Veach‘s comments in a recent press conference highlighted the team’s likely priorities, which will be shaped to a large extent by a pair of pending free agents: safety Tyrann Mathieu and left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. 

One day after the Chiefs’ overtime loss in the AFC title game, Mathieu posted a tweet which certainly points to him signing elsewhere in the offseason. “Lot to be proud of over the past 3 years”, it states. “I’m thankful and grateful. I leave with a grateful heart having got the chance to play for all you good people”.

Veach, however, was quick to downplay the high potential of the three-time All Pro departing. When asked if Mathieu’s stay in KC is over, he responded, “I wouldn’t say that’s necessarily true. That’s Tyrann just being his genuine self” (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Teicher). The 29-year-old recorded 13 interceptions in three seasons in Kansas City. His contract, which averages $14MM per year, expires in March.

When asked about Brown Jr., Veach stated that he expects the 25-year-old to be the team’s starting LT, tweets NFL Network’s James Palmer. He was traded from the Ravens last April, in a move that accommodated his request to play on the blindside – something that his late father always wanted for him. 2021 was the final year of his rookie contract, which carried a salary of just under $3.4MM. His 75.2 PFF grade this year didn’t live up to the potential he showed in Baltimore, but it should still be enough to command an extension making him one of the league’s highest paid tackles.

Overall, Veach stated that the defensive side of the ball is likely to be the organization’s first priority this offseason (Twitter link via Herbie Tope of the Kansas City Star). With very limited cap space and a few massive deals already on the books, though, any commitment to Mathieu and/or Brown Jr. would greatly reduce the team’s remaining options with regards to maintaining an elite roster.

Latest On Jaguars, Rick Spielman

February 3rd, 2022 at 2:38pm CST by Adam La Rose

There are more signs pointing towards Rick Spielman being hired by the Jaguars. New details, more importantly, indicate that the position he is close to taking on would outrank that of general manager Trent Baalke (Twitter link via CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones). 

[Related: Jaguars Interview Rick Spielman For Non-GM Position]

Specifically, Jones states that “momentum is gaining” for Spielman to “ultimately get a football position that reports directly to owner Shad Khan and is above [Baalke]”. That is an important distinction, given the fact that it was reported earlier this week that Spielman’s role was likely to be that of an assistant GM, allowing Baalke to be more ‘hands-on’ rather than handling day-to-day operations.

Earlier in the day, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that Spielman is headed for, essentially, a president role – something which many thought he would be transitioned to in Minnesota before he was fired. He adds that “there is progress being made” towards the hire becoming official. If it does, that would go a long way to easing concerns over the presence of Baalke, which has reportedly turned certain head coaching candidates away from the team.

On the point of the Jaguars’ HC vacancy, Garafolo also notes that Doug Pederson “would have been high on the Vikings’ list” if Spielman had remained in Minnesota. Between that, and the fact that Pederson has interviewed twice with Jacksonville, the Spielman hire becoming official would certainly point to the former Super Bowl champion getting the inside track for the HC job.

Giants To Hire Mike Kafka As OC

February 3rd, 2022 at 1:39pm CST by Adam La Rose

The search for Brian Daboll‘s first offensive coordinator seems to be over. According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Chiefs quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Mike Kafka is set to be the Giants’ OC (Twitter link). 

Kafka was named by Garafolo as one of three remaining finalists for the role after the Bills (as expected) promoted Ken Dorsey to OC, filling the vacancy left by Daboll going to New York. The other two were reported to be Pep Hamilton, QBs coach/passing game coordinator with the Texans, and Chad O’Shea, the WRs coach/pass game coordinator in Cleveland.

Kafka, 34, was drafted by the Eagles in 2010. After a short playing career, he followed Andy Reid to Kansas City, at first as an offensive quality control coach in 2017. One year later – the season in which Patrick Mahomes took over as the Chiefs’ starting QB – he assumed the role of QBs coach. The enormous success the pair have enjoyed since has generated interest for Kafka to go on to bigger and better things.

It came out two years ago that the Eagles were interested in hiring Kafka as their OC, but he remained in KC. That wasn’t the first time he stayed put, as Garafolo’s colleague James Palmer tweets that “Kafka has been blocked several times in the past”, though he adds that “there was a thought that this offseason that wouldn’t be the case”. Kafka will look to replicate his Chiefs success with Daniel Jones and an offense that struggled mightily in 2021. SiriusXM’s Adam Caplan reports (via Twitter) that Kafka is likely to handle play-calling duties in New York.

Texans Down To Three HC Finalists

February 3rd, 2022 at 12:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

The latest on the Texans’ ongoing search for a new head coach indicates that there are three finalists for the job, including Brian Flores. USA Today’s Josina Anderson tweets that Flores, along with former quarterback Josh McCown and Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, are the remaining candidates. 

[Related: Head Coaching Search Tracker]

Flores’ inclusion on the list is, of course, the most notable. He filed a lawsuit against the NFL and three of its teams earlier this week; among the expected consequences of that action, many feel, is the end to his NFL coaching career. However, he is (at least officially) still in the running for the position, for which, in terms of HC experience, he is the most qualified.

McCown conducted a second interview with the Texans last week, making him the first known finalist for the job. The longtime QB spent his final season in Houston, though he didn’t see any playing time. One year removed from the end of his playing days, the 42-year-old has clearly interviewed well, giving him a good chance of starting a coaching career in the league.

Gannon, meanwhile, has been among the most popular candidates in this year’s hiring cycle. Having also met with the Broncos and Vikings, he interviewed for the second time in Houston one day after McCown. A 15-year veteran on the sidelines, his work in Philadelphia in 2021 – the first in which he held the title of DC – has increased the demand around the league for the 39-year-old.

Anderson also tweets that the Texans have spent the past two days vetting each candidates’ staffing plans for their “viability, availability and fit” within Houston. Finally, she adds that the Texans are “rallying up on their decision”, in part due to the overriding belief that Rams OC Kevin O’Connell (the only other candidate to conduct a second interview with the team) will be named HC of the Vikings after the Super Bowl. A final decision in Houston, then, seems to be getting rather close to being made.

 

Broncos Promote Darren Mougey To Assistant GM

February 3rd, 2022 at 11:42am CST by Adam La Rose

Amidst a slew of changes to the coaching staff, along with the team officially being put up for sale, there will at least be some continuity in the front office for the Broncos. Darren Mougey, the team’s director of player personnel, is being promoted to assistant general manager (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport).

Mougey is quickly climbing the ladder in Denver. At the age of 36, this promotion puts him yet another step closer to a GM job. New job titles are nothing new to him, though. As Ryan O’Halloran of The Denver Post tweets, this represents the third time in as many years Mougey is moving up the chain of command.

After spending five years as an area scout, Mougey was promoted to assistant director of college scouting in 2020. One year later, he landed the director of player personnel job he held, as it turns out, for just one season. He replaced Matt Russell in the role, after the latter stepped away in the absence of former GM John Elway. Mougey’s rapid ascent to AGM confirms his status in the organization as George Paton‘s right-hand man.

Rapoport adds that Mougey “had interest elsewhere”, which likely necessitated this move. Considering his rise through the organization, and the buzz starting to be generated about him externally, it will be interesting to see how much longer he remains in place.

Surgery Updates For Cowboys’ Gregory, Gallup

February 3rd, 2022 at 10:45am CST by Adam La Rose

Big decisions are looming for the Cowboys this offseason, as they try to maintain one of the league’s most talented rosters. Two key pieces to the team – who both happen to be pending free agents coming off of significant injuries – are defensive end Randy Gregory and wide receiver Michael Gallup. 

The former has already undergone knee surgery, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer. While the issue bothered him throughout the season, it didn’t cost him any time (unlike one missed game because of COVID-19, and a calf strain that landed him on IR). Overall, the 12 games Gregory was able to play in was tied for the second most in his career, mainly as a result of multiple suspensions.

The 29-year-old is set to hit free agency for the first time in his career. The Cowboys signed him to an extension in September of 2020, keeping him in the fold through this past year. He responded with six sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception, as he was a key member of Dallas’ impressive defensive unit. According to David Helman of Cowboys.com, owner and general manager Jerry Jones recently expressed optimism in being able to bring Gregory back: “Knowing our time together and some of the pluses and some of the times that we’ve had to work through and some of the not-so-fun things, that will serve us well”, he said.

Meanwhile, Gallup is scheduled to have knee surgery next week, writes Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News. The 25-year-old tore his ACL at the beginning of the month, ending his season. He ended up with the lowest receiving yards of his four-year career, but his 2019 season (66 catches for 1,107 yards and six touchdowns) alone should earn him plenty of suitors if he hits the market. With a great deal of money already committed to Amari Cooper, and CeeDee Lamb eligible for an extension as early as next season, the Cowboys may very well have to keep only one of Gallup or breakout tight end Dalton Schultz, who is also a pending UFA.

Both players are expected to make full recoveries, and be available for the start of the 2022 season. Whether or not they will playing in Dallas by that point remains to be seen.

 

Raiders Interview Sean Desai For DC Job

February 3rd, 2022 at 9:47am CST by Adam La Rose

The Raiders are meeting with a highly regarded candidate for the first defensive hire of the Josh McDaniels era. Las Vegas is set to interview former Bears defensive coordinator Sean Desai today, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link).

[Related: Bears To Hire Alan Williams As DC]

Desai’s NFL coaching career dates back to 2013, and had only been spent in Chicago until now. At the age of 38, he already has an impressive amount of experience, between three different roles in the college ranks (including special teams coordinator at Boston College) and, most recently, the DC role he held with the Bears in 2021. With Matt Eberflus electing to bring a familiar face in Alan Williams with him from Indianapolis, though, Desai is in search of a new home.

One of the top young defensive minds in the coaching ranks, Desai’s unit ranked sixth in the league in yards allowed this season, despite injuries to the likes of Khalil Mack and Akiem Hicks. That success earned him interest from the Seahawks earlier this month, as they requested an interview for their DC vacancy.

While he hasn’t officially taken another position yet, current Raiders DC Gus Bradley certainly seems to be on the way out. Between this Desai interview, and the meeting Bradley has already had with the Colts for their DC opening, there will apparently be a new voice for a Vegas defensive unit that ranked 26th in the league in points allowed in 2021.

 

Chargers Hire Ryan Ficken As ST Coordinator

February 3rd, 2022 at 8:51am CST by Adam La Rose

After a committed process, the Chargers have landed their preferred candidate to lead their special teams. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the team is hiring Ryan Ficken as their new ST coordinator (Twitter link).

Ficken had spent his entire NFL coaching career with the Vikings up to this point. After a three-year stint at UCLA, he came to Minnesota in 2007. Following six years as an assistant positional coach, he began the work on special teams for which he is now most well known. Despite his experience with the unit, 2021 was actually the first year in which he served as ST coordinator.

His tenure in Minnesota certainly left Ficken in high regard. As Pelissero notes, the Vikings blocked him from leaving at first, but the Chargers “pursued him hard” and ultimately made the hire. While there is plenty of optimism on the offensive side of the ball in particular in L.A., special teams are definitely an area where improvement is needed. The Bolts ranked 28th in ST DVOA in 2021, so Ficken could at a minimum try and bring the team closer to the middle of the pack, where the Vikings ranked last season.

This news also marks the second straight day that a Vikings coordinator leaves the team, as Klint Kubiak was hired as the Broncos’ QBs coach/passing game coordinator on Wednesday. Assuming Kevin O’Connell does become the new HC in Minnesota, he will clearly have work do in rebuilding some key parts of the team’s staff.

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