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Leonard Hankerson

NFC Coaching Notes: Rams, Hankerson, Lions, Commanders, Packers, Giants

February 18th, 2022 at 11:15pm CST by Ely Allen

University of Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen has received heaps of interest around the football world, turning down several college jobs and an NFL job to stay in Lexington. But it sounds as if Coen may soon receive an offer he can’t refuse.

In one year at the helm of the offense, Coen took the Wildcats from 115th in yards per game to 50th. He also improved the scoring offense from 107th in the country to 35th, quickly making him one of the hottest names in college coaching.

It just about looked like Kentucky was going to be able to hold on to their game changer, but, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, they are bracing for the possibility of Coen leaving to return to the Rams in Los Angeles. Prior to his year in Kentucky, Coen spent three years on Sean McVay‘s offensive staff, and a chance to rejoin McVay may be too good to pass up.

Here are a couple more coaching notes from the NFC starting with the promotion of a former Hurricane:

  • With wide receivers coach Wes Welker heading to Miami, the 49ers have offered the position to offensive quality control coach Leonard Hankerson, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. After a five-year career as an NFL wide receiver out of the University of Miami, Hankerson coached wide receivers at UMass and Stephen F. Austin before joining the staff in San Francisco last year.
  • The Lions have parted ways with inside linebacker coach Mark DeLeone this week, according to Justin Rogers of The Detroit News. The son of offensive line coach legend George DeLeone, Mark was hired by Detroit last year after time with the Jets, Chiefs, and Bears. They have two internal candidates who could potentially fill the role: defensive quality control coach Stephen Thomas, who coached inside linebackers in his time at Princeton, and director of football research David Corrao who coached linebackers for the Dolphins during his time in Miami from 2008-2015.
  • With longtime assistant coach Pete Hoener retiring, the Commanders are hiring veteran coach Juan Castillo to handle tight ends, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Castillo is rejoining Ron Rivera, who coached with him for the five seasons Rivera was in Philadelphia from 1999-2003. Castillo has also spent time with the Ravens, Bills, and Bears in various roles on the offensive staff.
  • With their outside linebacker coach Mike Smith leaving to pursue other opportunities, the Packers have hired Jason Rebrovich as his replacement. The 20-year NFL coaching veteran has had stints with the Bills and Jaguars coaching players like Josh Allen, Calais Campbell, and Yannick Ngakoue. In addition, the Packers also announced the return of former offensive coordinator Tom Clements to replace Luke Getsy as quarterbacks coach, according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network. Clements coached for the Packers’ offense for 11 years before retiring after two years with the Cardinals.
  • The Giants have hired Angela Baker as a minority coaching fellow and offensive quality control coach, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. Baker is the second female to be added to Brian Daboll‘s staff after Laura Young followed Daboll from Buffalo, where she worked as player services coordinator, for the position of director of coaching operations. The Giants are quickly trying to become a more progressive staff. In 2020, Hannah Burnett was hired as the team’s first full-time female scout.

Coaching Notes: Kitchens, 49ers, Bucs

February 13th, 2021 at 3:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

Freddie Kitchens will see his role expand in New York. The Giants are promoting the former Browns HC from tight ends coach to senior offensive assistant, according to ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan (on Twitter). Earlier this month, we heard the Giants may be eyeing more responsibility for Kitchens. Derek Dooley, who received interest from other teams, will take over as the Giants’ tight ends coach, Raanan adds. Previously the Mizzou offensive coordinator, Dooley joined Joe Judge‘s staff last year. The Giants used Kitchens as their interim play-caller while Jason Garrett battled COVID-19 last season and will lean on him more in 2021.

Here is the latest from the coaching circuit:

  • To replace Antwaan Randle El on their coaching staff, the Buccaneers will also turn to a recently retired quarterback. Thad Lewis will rise from intern to offensive assistant on Bruce Arians‘ staff, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. Randle El left to become the Lions’ wide receivers coach. Lewis bounced around the NFL for nearly eight years; he was most recently with the Ravens in 2017.
  • A day after hiring Jay Valai as cornerbacks coach, the Eagles will lose him. Alabama will instead hire Valai, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg (on Twitter). Announced as one of the Eagles’ hires earlier this week, Valai will join former Texans HC Bill O’Brien at Alabama. Valai will replace Karl Scott as the Crimson Tide’s cornerbacks coach. Scott joined the Vikings’ staff this week.
  • Hired recently after a one-year stint as Lions DC, Cory Undlin will serve as the 49ers‘ secondary coach and defensive passing-game specialist. Fellow former DC James Bettcher will be a senior defensive assistant and the team’s run-game overseer on that side of the ball. The 49ers are promoting Darryl Tapp to assistant defensive line coach and hiring former wide receiver Leonard Hankerson and Klay Kubiak as quality control assistants. Klay is one of Gary Kubiak‘s sons. Even after Gary’s retirement, there are still three Kubiaks in the NFL — Klay and brothers Klint (the new Vikings OC) and Klein (a Cowboys scout). Hankerson also has a history with Kyle Shanahan, having played with Washington from 2011-13.
  • The Bengals hired Justin Hill as running backs coach. Hill will come to Cincinnati from the college ranks, having spent the past six seasons as Tulsa’s running backs coach. This will be his first NFL job. The Bengals are also promoting former NFL wideout Troy Walters to receivers coach. Walters served as Cincy’s assistant wideouts coach last season, working under Bob Bicknell.
  • Robert Saleh made an interesting hire recently. The new Jets HC added Steve Scarnecchia as his chief of staff, per Brian Costello of the New York Daily News. The son of longtime Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia, Steve spent the past six years as the Falcons’ assistant to the head coach. Steve Scarnecchia was part of both the Patriots’ Spygate scandal, working in the team’s video department from 2001-04, and was the Broncos staffer whose filming of a 49ers walkthrough in 2010 led to Josh McDaniels‘ firing in Denver. The younger Scarnecchia will accompany new Jets DC Jeff Ulbrich in moving from Atlanta to New York.

Bills To Release Leonard Hankerson

August 15th, 2016 at 7:30pm CST by Dallas Robinson

7:30pm: In addition to Hankerson, the Bills have released defensive tackle T.J. Barnes and signed defensive linemen Brandon Deaderick and Alameda Ta’amu, reports Mike Rodak of ESPN.com.

6:10pm: The Bills have released veteran wide receiver Leonard Hankerson, according to Rand Getlin of NFL.com (Twitter link)."<strong

[RELATED: Bills sign DE Kroy Biermann]

Hankerson, 27, first joined the Bills in late December after they claimed him off waivers from the Patriots. The veteran was only active for one game with the Bills, just as he was only active for one game with the Pats. Hankerson then re-signed with Buffalo on a one-year deal in March.

Prior to his forgettable walk through the AFC East in 2015, Hankerson appeared in eight games for Atlanta before being waived, compiling 26 catches for 327 yards and three touchdowns in that span. Hankerson will look for a rebound year in 2016 with an eye on replicating his production from 2012 with Washington when he caught 38 passes for 543 yards and three touchdowns.

The Bills signed Hankerson to a minimum salary benefit deal with no guaranteed money, so they won’t carry any dead money on their 2016 cap.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Bills Sign Corey White

April 4th, 2016 at 2:54pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bills announced the signing of defensive back Corey White. White visited Buffalo earlier today along with linebacker Zach Brown, who has also officially inked his deal with the Bills. In related news, the Bills have also officially signed wide receiver Leonard Hankerson. Corey White (vertical)

From 2012 through 2014, White started 19 games with New Orleans, including 9 in 2014. The former fifth-round pick of the Saints started off the 2015 season with the Cowboys but was released in November. There were conflicting reports surrounding White’s exit from the team – one report indicted that White was cut for locker room reasons while another report asserted that he was released solely for football reasons. White, 26 in May, hooked on with the Cardinals in December of last year, taking the roster spot of Robert Nelson Jr.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Contract Details: P. Robinson, Robertson, Cook

March 28th, 2016 at 2:10pm CST by Luke Adams

Listed below are some specific details on several of the latest contracts recently agreed upon or signed by NFL free agents. All links courtesy of Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle unless otherwise indicated.

AFC:

  • Patrick Robinson, CB (Colts): Three years, $14MM. $6MM guaranteed. $1.5MM signing bonus. $2MM roster bonus due this Tuesday. $1MM roster bonus due on fifth day of 2017 league year — becomes fully guaranteed if on roster beyond this Friday (all Twitter links).
  • Chris Hairston, OL (Chargers): Two years, $2.9MM. $550K signing bonus (Twitter link).
  • Brandon Thompson, DT (Bengals): One year, $840K. $50K signing bonus. $30K workout bonus. $150K incentive for playing time (Twitter link).
  • Leonard Hankerson, WR (Bills): One year, minimum salary benefit. $40K workout bonus. $40K first-game 53-man roster bonus (Twitter link).
  • Steven Johnson, LB (Steelers): One year, minimum salary benefit. $25K signing bonus. $55K first-game 53-man roster bonus (Twitter link).

NFC:

  • Craig Robertson, LB (Saints): Three years, $5MM. $1.965MM guaranteed. $1.2MM signing bonus. $250K roster bonus due on fifth day of 2017 league year. $275K due on fifth day of 2018 league year. Up to $1.5MM in annual incentives (Twitter links).
  • Jared Cook, TE (Packers): One year, $2.75MM. Up to $900K in incentives for catches, TDs, and Pro Bowl (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
  • Courtney Upshaw, OLB (Falcons): One year, $1.25MM. $390K signing bonus. $100K in per-game active roster bonuses. Up to $250K in incentives for playing time and playoffs (Twitter links).
  • Mike Morgan, LB (Seahawks): One year, $1MM. $200K signing bonus. $150K incentive for playing time (Twitter link).
  • Jamarca Sanford, S (Saints): One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K signing bonus. $130K of $885K salary is guaranteed (Twitter link).

Bills To Sign Leonard Hankerson

March 24th, 2016 at 6:20pm CST by Zachary Links

Wide receiver Leonard Hankerson took to Twitter to announce that he is signing with the Bills. It’s a one-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Leonard Hankerson

Earlier this week, Bills general manager Doug Whaley said that the team was “really close” to inking Hankerson to a new deal. Hankerson, 27, first joined the Bills in late December after they claimed him off waivers from the Patriots. The veteran was only active for one game with the Bills, just as he was only active for one game with the Pats.

Prior to his forgettable walk through the AFC East in 2015, Hankerson appeared in eight games for Atlanta before being waived, compiling 26 catches for 327 yards and three touchdowns in that span. Hankerson will look for a rebound year in 2016 with an eye on replicating his production from 2012 with Washington when he caught 38 passes for 543 yards and three touchdowns.

Thanks to the departure of Chris Hogan, Hankerson has a shot at weekly relevance once again. As it stands, he could find a nice role for himself behind top Buffalo receivers Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods. Last year’s No. 3 wideout Chris Hogan joined up with the Patriots in free agency this offseason and Percy Harvin is still toying with the idea of retirement.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Bills, Leonard Hankerson Nearing Deal

March 22nd, 2016 at 5:46pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Bills are “really close” to re-signing free agent wide receiver Leonard Hankerson, general manager Doug Whaley told the team’s official website (Twitter link via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com).

The 27-year-old Hankerson joined the Bills in late December after they claimed him off waivers from AFC East rival New Leonard HankersonEngland. Hankerson was active for one game apiece for both teams, but he didn’t catch a pass with either.

Prior to his 2015 stints with the Bills and Patriots, Hankerson appeared in eight games for the Falcons before they waived him on Dec. 15 and compiled 26 catches for 327 yards and three touchdowns. The receiver’s best season came with Washington in 2012, when he hauled in 38 passes for 543 yards and three scores.

If he remains with the Bills, the 2011 third-round pick from Miami could find playing time as part of a receiving corps that’s relatively barren aside from Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods. The Bills lost previous No. 3 wideout Chris Hogan to the Patriots in free agency, and Percy Harvin remains unsigned.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

AFC Mailbags: Jets, Patriots, Ravens

January 30th, 2016 at 9:45am CST by Ben Levine

It’s Saturday morning, and that means ESPN.com’s NFL writers are opening their mailbags and answering questions from readers. We’ve compiled some of the more notable answers below…

Bills Claim WR Leonard Hankerson

December 28th, 2015 at 4:29pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bills have claimed former Falcons wide receiver Leonard Hankerson, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Hankerson was waived by the Patriots on December 26th, making his stay in New England a short one.

The five-year veteran joined the Patriots recently after being cut from the Falcons injured reserve list. The 26-year-old was active for the team’s victory over the Titans, but he didn’t earn a single target in the contest. In eight games for the Falcons this season, Hankerson compiled 26 catches for 327 yards and three touchdowns. The receiver’s best season came in 2012 with Washington, when he caught 38 passes for 543 yards and three touchdowns.

Hankerson is set to become a free agent at the end of the season. It remains to be seen what the former third-rounder can do for the 7-8 Bills in their season finale against the Jets, but the fact that the Falcons and Pats each cut him without an injury designation suggests that he is mostly healthy.

Patriots Waive Leonard Hankerson

December 26th, 2015 at 4:10pm CST by Ben Levine

4:10pm: Chris Harper will again claim a spot on the Patriots’ 53-man roster, doing so in Hankerson’s stead, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe tweets.

With Julian Edelman slapped with a doubtful designation again and Danny Amendola questionable after a Week 15 injury, the Patriots needed a receiver with better knowledge of their system than Hankerson currently possesses, Volin points out (on Twitter).

The 22-year-old wideout played in three games for the Pats in November, the latest of which featuring an ill-timed fumble that contributed to his release and eventual return to the practice squad.

10:15am: NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that Hankerson is expected to rejoin the Patriots next week, assuming the wideout passes through waivers. Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com believes the Patriots may have just wanted a wideout who was a bit more familiar with the offensive system for this weekend’s contest against the Jets (Twitter link).

9:15am: Leonard Hankerson‘s stay in New England proved to be a short one, as Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com reports that the Patriots will waive the wideout this afternoon. The five-year veteran joined the Patriots last week after being cut from the Falcons injured reserve list. The 26-year-old was active for the team’s victory over the Titans, but he didn’t earn a single target in the contest.

In eight games for the Falcons this season, Hankerson compiled 26 catches for 327 yards and three touchdowns. The receiver’s best season came in 2012 with Washington, when he caught 38 passes for 543 yards and three touchdowns.

Hankerson will now be subject to waivers, just like he was last week. Since the Patriots managed to acquire the player despite being towards the end of the waiver order, Florio doesn’t expect the receiver to find another job this season.

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