HEADLINES

Chuck Pagano

AFC Notes: Colts, Raiders, Bills, Dolphins

March 27th, 2015 at 6:53pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Despite the success they’ve achieved since joining the Colts in 2012, general manager Ryan Grigson and head coach Chuck Pagano are both lacking long-term security as they enter contract years. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes how important it is for Grigson and Pagano to remain on the same page going forward. If they fail to stay united and the team disappoints next season, Florio opines that the pair could blame one another, thus setting the tone for the ouster of one or both. Should Pagano end up elsewhere after the 2015 season, he’ll join John Fox and Jim Harbaugh as the latest in a line of coaches whose teams parted ways with them after tenures that were good, but not quite good enough.

Some updates concerning other AFC teams:

  • The Raiders had a two-day visit with tight end Jermaine Gresham early in free agency. Gresham then underwent back surgery and Oakland’s interest in the 26-year-old seemingly cooled. Not the case, however, according to Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie. “He’s still on my board,” said McKenzie, per Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. “We’ll see how he feels and how he rehabs and all that. Going forward, it will be more about how he wants to navigate through this.”
  • The Bills made plenty of noise earlier this offseason in acquiring outside talent, but general manager Doug Whaley says their approach will change in the next year. The Bills’ focus between now and the 2016 offseason will be locking up their own players long term, Whaley told ESPN’s Mike Rodak (Twitter link). That means trying to re-sign defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, offensive tackle Cordy Glenn and linebacker Nigel Bradham, all of whom are scheduled for free agency next year, and cornerback Stephon Gilmore – who is under Buffalo’s control for just two more seasons.
  • Dolphins general manager Dennis Hickey is hoping to add to his total of six draft picks this year, specifically in the form of mid-round selections, writes Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. That could mean moving down from 14th overall, where Miami is currently slated to pick in the first round. “We’d like to be able to massage the board to acquire more picks to get more chances at players,” said Hickey. “It always takes two. I would trade down, but it has to present itself.”

Colts Unlikely To Extend Pagano Before Season

March 26th, 2015 at 2:48pm CST by Luke Adams

2:48pm: According to Dianna Marie Russini of NBC 4 in Washington (Twitter link), the Colts have offered Pagano a one-year extension that includes a “very modest” increase in salary, which isn’t of interest to the head coach at this point. It sounds like he’d rather bet on himself for 2015, potentially aiming for more longer-term security.

12:45pm: The Colts intend to wait until 2016 to address a new contract for star quarterback Andrew Luck, and it sounds as if they’ll take the same approach for head coach Chuck Pagano. Multiple sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com that the team isn’t expected to lock up Pagano to an extension before the 2015 season gets underway.

In Luck’s case, waiting another year to work out a long-term deal makes sense, since the Colts hold a fifth-year option for the 2016 on the young signal-caller. So even if he plays out the 2015 season under his current deal, Luck won’t be facing the prospect of free agency for another year.

For Pagano, however, his contract expires at the end of the 2015 season, meaning he’ll head into the year as a “lame duck” of sorts — as Rapoport puts it, the Colts head coach will be without a financial safety net. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the team is considering moving on, or that Pagano won’t be back in Indianapolis for 2016. Last year, for instance, Jason Garrett coached the last year of his contract without having received an extension, and he parlayed the Cowboys’ success into a new five-year deal earlier this offseason.

Pagano’s track record with the Colts so far has been excellent. Since he assumed the job in 2012, he has led the team to three consecutive 11-5 seasons, winning a playoff game in his second year, and two more in his third year. Of course, Pagano’s first year in Indianapolis was affected by his battle with cancer, so Bruce Arians spent most of that season coaching the club.

Unless the Colts have a disaster of a 2015 season and miss the playoffs, I expect Pagano to sign a new deal with the team eventually. However, the upcoming year could go a long way toward determining his value as his contract nears its end.

AFC Notes: Moats, Hudson, Edelman

January 19th, 2015 at 9:12pm CST by Ben Levine

Steelers linebacker Arthur Moats is set to be an unrestricted free agent, and Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says the former sixth-rounder could end up being a priority for Pittsburgh. For what it’s worth, the 26-year-old is hoping to return next season.

“I hope to be back, but it is a business,” Moats said. “I feel I have to do what’s best for me and my family. We will see what happens, but I definitely want to be back.”

Let’s take a look at some more notes from around the AFC…

  • Chiefs center Rodney Hudson switched representation from Shoreline to Athletes First agents Joe Panos and Brian Murphy, tweets Liz Mullen of Sports Business Journal. As the writer points out, the move may be in preparation of the 25-year-old’s potential free agency.
  • Ben Volin of The Boston Globe tweets that Patriots wideout Julian Edelman will receive a $500K bonus for making the Super Bowl. The bonus would have kicked in had the 28-year-old compiled 1,057 yards, 70 receptions/seven scores, 80 receptions/13 wins or 80 receptions/Super Bowl appearance (via ESPNBoston.com’s Mike Reiss). Edelman finished the season with 92 receptions for 972 yards. Meanwhile, the Patriots finished with 12 wins.
  • ‘DeflateGate’ is less than 24 hours old, but some within the NFL are already trying to distance themselves from the story, including Colts head coach Chuck Pagano. “Did not notice, and that’s something for the league to handle. It’s not my place to comment on it,” Pagano said (via Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com).

La Canfora’s Latest: 49ers, Saints, RGIII

November 30th, 2014 at 10:36am CST by Rory Parks

It is almost a foregone conclusion that 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh will not be prowling the San Francisco sidelines after the 2014 season. Although much of the talk concerning the 49ers’ head coaching situation has centered around Harbaugh’s next destination, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports examines how the team might go about replacing its successful but polarizing general.

Although Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase would be a logical external candidate, La Canfora writes that the 49ers plan to thoroughly evaluate their internal options and that defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and defensive line coach Jim Tomsula would be at the top of the team’s list. Both men have done an exceptional job during their tenure with the club, and 2014 might represent their high-water mark as coaches, given that the 49ers’ defense has thrived in the midst of injuries to some of its best players.

Tomsula is a personal favorite of owner Jed York, and both he and Fangio are expected to receive interest from other clubs looking to fill head coaching positions. However, the team would like to keep as much of its talented defensive staff in place as possible, particularly since Eric Mangini and offensive coordinator Greg Roman are expected to follow Harbaugh wherever he goes. Hiring Tomsula or Fangio would also mesh with San Francisco’s preferred operating procedure, as it would be out of character for the team to attempt to attract a big-name, big-money coach from outside the organization.

Let’s take a look at some other relevant issues that La Canfora has touched on this morning:

  • La Canfora writes that there is a growing rift between Saints head coach Sean Payton and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, and that the team is expected to find a new defensive coordinator–which would be its fifth in Payton’s nine-year tenure–after the season. Citing an unnamed source, Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report tweets that La Canfora’s report is “very accurate,” although Mike Triplett of ESPN.com tweets that he has not heard about the friction between Payton and Ryan.
  • La Canfora tweets that he expects “substantial change” on the Saints and 49ers rosters after this season given the teams’ high salary cap numbers and large salaries.
  • If Washington were to try to trade quarterback Robert Griffin III after the season, La Canfora writes that the team is unlikely to get more than a third round pick for him.
  • We learned earlier today that the Ravens are expected to reward Justin Forsett with a multiyear deal after this season, but La Canfora notes that Forsett’s contract prevents him from signing an in-season extension if Baltimore were inclined to lock him up sooner. As former agent Joel Corry tweets, Forsett’s age (30) will limit the size of his contract, despite his “low mileage.”
  • Although the Colts have stated they do not have interest in bringing Ray Rice aboard, La Canfora wonders if the team’s need at running back and Rice’s relationship with head coach Chuck Pagano will be enough for them to change their stance.

Colts Have Fit, Not Interest, For Ray Rice

November 28th, 2014 at 7:55pm CST by Rob DiRe

One of the teams most desperate for competency at the running back position is the Indianapolis Colts, and they were on the list of front runners for Ray Rice‘s services, should any team target him for the stretch run.

The Colts would have been an ideal landing spot from Rice’s perspective as well, writes Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (via Twitter). La Canfora qualifies that by admitting Rice wouldn’t have much say in where he goes, if he gets any opportunity at all.

La Canfora does cite Rice’s excellent relationship with head coach Chuck Pagano from their time together in Baltimore as one reason for the fit, as well as the locker room support of former teammates Cory Redding and Arthur Jones (via Twitter). Rice makes his home in New Rochelle, not a far trip from Indianapolis, which would ease the transition. The team needs desperately to find someone who can contribute in pass protection and in the screen game, two areas that Rice excelled in with the Ravens (via Twitter).

Another caveat is the recent troubles of owner Jim Irsay. La Canfora believes that Irsay’s recent transgressions and his humility in asking the fan base for a second chance would make him more likely to sympathize with Rice’s situation, which would provide an easier path for an owner to be willing to take on the negative publicity (via Twitter).

Still, Michael Grady of 1070 ESPN Radio doesn’t believe Rice will succeed with the Colts if he were signed, due to the team’s struggling offensive line (via Twitter). He doesn’t see Rice as the type of back to be able to make something out of nothing, which is what the Colts’ offensive line is giving the team in the running game.

All of this is probably moot, because the Colts stated they were not interested in Rice as recently as ten days ago, reports Ed Werder of ESPN (via Twitter). While that was a week and a half ago, it was still after the injury to Ahmad Bradshaw that left the team reeling at the position. Werder did admit that he was unsure if the club’s stance had changed.

Colts Notes: Hamilton, Bailey, Bowen

September 27th, 2014 at 7:53pm CST by Rob DiRe

Every time Andrew Luck turns around and hands the ball off to a running back, Colts’ fans take to the internet to demand that offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton’s job. Trent Richardson‘s struggles and the team’s 0-2 start to the season only added to the anti-Hamilton bandwagon. Mike Freeman of ESPN thinks that after the Colts put a huge number on the board against the lowly Jaguars, Hamilton’s job is safe. The team is ranked in the top three in the league in total yards, passing yards, and points per game. Here are some other notes from the Colts:

  • In the mailbag, Freeman writes that Champ Bailey is not an option at safety due to his declined play at 36 years old. He also addresses the team’s decision to keep Khaled Holmes out of the starting lineup despite being healthy, in order to keep continuity with that unit.
  • One of the biggest surprises of the season so far has been the effectiveness of a much maligned offensive line for the team, wrote Kevin Bowen of Colts.com earlier this week. Rather than being a weakness, Bowen sees them as being among the NFL’s best through three weeks.
  • Bowen also compiled some quotes from both coordinators, Hamilton and defensive coordinator Greg Manusky, as well as an injury report going into this weekend’s matchup against the Titans.
  • Finally from Bowen, he grabbed a number of quotes from head coach Chuck Pagano regarding the rotation at running back, the offensive line, and many other topics.

Colts Notes: Fullback, Whalen, Nixon

June 21st, 2014 at 9:33pm CST by Ben Levine

Following the Colts minicamp, coach Chuck Pagano realized how much talent he has on his squad. Pagano relayed the message to his team:

“It will be really, really difficult to get to 53 this year,” said Pagano (via Mike Chappell of IndyStar.com). “The final cutdown is going to be difficult.”

Chappell decided to give the coach a hand and give his crack at the roster. Here are some of the more interesting notes, along with two bonus tweets from the Indianapolis Star’s Stephen Holder…

  • At fullback, Chappell chose Mario Harvey over Stanley Havili. Harvey, a former linebacker, is switching to the offensive side of the ball. Havili has 218 career all-purpose yards.
  • The writer took LaVon Brazill and Da’Rick Rogers at wide receiver, but notes that Griff Whalen could beat out the duo.
  • For the final tight end spot, Chappell sided with Jack Doyle over Weslye Saunders, but adds that the team could very well carry four at the position.
  • Chappell envisions a year on the practice squad for seventh-round pick Ulrick John.
  • Jeris Pendleton earned Chappell’s final spot on the defensive line, but the writer warns that the job could be Brandon McKinney‘s if the veteran has regained form following his two knee injuries.
  • Holder tweets that former undrafted offensive tackle Xavier Nixon “is a keeper.” The 23-year-old made his NFL debut last season.
  • Holder also tweets that rookie wideout Donte Moncrief has looked good and is making coaches excited.

Colts Add Rob Chudzinski To Staff

February 8th, 2014 at 11:15am CST by Matt Feminis

The Colts have hired Rob Chudzinski as special assistant to head coach Chuck Pagano (link). Chudzinski, who was canned after one season leading the Browns, has eight years experience working with Pagano, primarily at the University of Miami (Fla.).

The addition could boost the potency of the offense. Chudzinski has a history of maximizing tight end talent, and the Colts have two young, talented tight ends in Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, who went down in Week One with a season-ending hip injury.