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Sharrif Floyd

Commanders To Hire Anthony Lynn, Sharrif Floyd; Team To Retain Bobby Engram

February 14th, 2024 at 10:10am CST by Sam Robinson

Dan Quinn continues to add high-profile names to his Commanders staff. The latest comes after a background with new football ops president Adam Peters.

Anthony Lynn will join Peters in making a San Francisco-to-Washington trek. The 49ers assistant head coach will join the Commanders as the team’s run-game coordinator, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The Commanders pursued the former Chargers HC last year, interviewing him for their OC job, but went with Eric Bieniemy. Despite an ownership change and staff overhaul, Schefter notes Lynn is close with Peters and Quinn. This certainly makes sense as the veteran coach’s next landing spot.

In addition to Lynn, Washington will bring ex-Quinn assistant Sharrif Floyd over from Dallas. Floyd will join the Commanders as their assistant defensive line coach, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. The former Vikings first-round pick was in place as a Cowboys assistant under Quinn last season. Despite new Cowboys DC Mike Zimmer having coached Floyd in Minnesota, the latter is following Quinn to Washington.

The Commanders, however, will not let their wide receivers coach go. Bobby Engram will stay in that role, per the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala. The former NFL wideout joined Washington’s coaching staff last year. Although Engram was a Ron Rivera addition, he will stay on under Quinn. Outside interest in the veteran assistant emerged, Jhabvala adds.

Lynn, 55, made the most to San Francisco after washing out as Lions OC. Dan Campbell booted Lynn after one season, having taken play-calling duties away. The longtime running backs coach has since played a role in boosting the 49ers’ ground attack. The 49ers hired Lynn to aid their run game, and he received an unexpected personnel boost midway through the 2022 season (via the Christian McCaffrey trade). As a result, San Francisco’s ground attack has enjoyed dominant stretches.

This will be Lynn and Quinn’s first time on the same staff; Peters was with the 49ers for both of Lynn’s seasons in the Bay Area. Lynn, who has been an NFL coach since 2000, went 33-31 as Chargers HC from 2017-20. Lynn joins Kliff Kingsbury as former head coaches on Quinn’s Commanders staff.

Engram, 51, broke into coaching just after his lengthy playing career wrapped. He joins Lynn in having never coached with Quinn. Prior to coming to Washington in 2023, Engram served as Wisconsin’s OC. He was on John Harbaugh‘s Ravens staff from 2014-21, however. Floyd served as the Cowboys’ assistant D-line coach last season. He will follow DC Joe Whitt to Washington.

The Commanders are also hiring Tom Donatell as their defensive backs coach, The Athletic’s Ben Standig tweets. The son of veteran DC Ed Donatell, Tom spent the past three seasons with the Chargers. The Bolts promoted Tom Donatell to defensive pass-game coordinator last year. Quinn and Ed Donatell worked together with the Jets back in the 2000s. The team is also hiring David Raih as its tight ends coach, Schefter adds. Raih worked as the Cardinals’ wide receivers coach under Kingsbury from 2019-20, becoming Vanderbilt’s OC in 2021. He spent last season on the Buccaneers’ staff.

Cowboys Block Commanders From Interviews With Al Harris, Lunda Wells

February 8th, 2024 at 8:35am CST by Sam Robinson

Dan Quinn has agreed to bring Joe Whitt with him to Washington, moving the former Dallas secondary coach up to defensive coordinator. The Cowboys are not allowing their former DC to poach other assistants for lesser roles.

The Cowboys have now prevented the Commanders from interviewing two of their staffers. They are blocking the Commanders from interviewing defensive backs coach Al Harris, ESPN.com’s Todd Archer tweets. This comes after the team nixed a Washington meeting with tight ends coach Lunda Wells, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.

Quinn sought Wells as his next offensive line coach, per Rapoport. Wells, 40, was in place as the Cowboys’ tight ends coach before Quinn arrived in 2021. Mike McCarthy hired Wells in 2020; he previously worked on the Giants’ staff under multiple head coaches.

Harris, 49, also predates Quinn in Dallas. McCarthy brought the former cornerback in as his DBs coach in 2020 as well. Harris had previously worked as a six-year Chiefs assistant under Andy Reid, making a transition into the coaching ranks after a lengthy playing career.

Harris has drawn consideration for the Cowboys’ DC post, but in the days since his name emerged in that mix, the Cowboys have interviewed bigger names. Ron Rivera, Mike Zimmer and Rex Ryan have met with the team about its defensive play-calling gig. They join D-line coach Aden Durde and Jets safeties coach Marquand Manuel in the mix for that position. Whitt was believed to be the Cowboys’ initial DC choice, but he opted to follow Quinn elsewhere in the NFC East.

The NFL has moved to prevent teams from blocking staffers at moves to the coordinator ranks in recent years, but while the team could not block Whitt from leaving for Washington (a move that is now official), clubs can still prevent assistants under contract from making lateral moves. Whitt will call the Commanders’ defensive plays, putting Quinn in place as a CEO coach in Washington.

The Cowboys are not standing in the way of multiple other assistants following Quinn, however. They will not nix Commanders interviews with assistant defensive line coach Sharrif Floyd or quality control staffer Pete Ohnegian, Archer adds. A former first-round Vikings draftee, Floyd joined McCarthy’s Cowboys staff in 2023.

NFL Coaching Updates: Broncos, Brown, Cowboys, Jaguars

February 19th, 2023 at 7:05pm CST by Ely Allen

Following the departure of former Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett, there has been a litany of change to the coaching staff in Denver. A few of the updates and notes have flown a bit under the radar. For instance, in the midst of new head coach Sean Payton attempting to find his new defensive coordinator, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that the team was interested in former Eagles linebackers coach Nick Rallis, who ended up getting hired for the same position in Arizona. Rapoport also avers that Philadelphia, knowing new Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon would be leaving their defensive coordinator position vacant, also had interest in retaining Rallis in an enhanced role as coordinator.

A rumor has also come to light that may explain a bit of why Payton and the Broncos have not yet filled the position. According to Mike Klis of 9NEWS, the Broncos are seeking to retain defensive line coach Marcus Dixon and secondary coach Christian Parker regardless of who they hire at the defensive coordinator position. While a flattering notion towards the two coaches, the move effectively handcuffs whoever accepts the position into working with the two, regardless of system fit. Many of former defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero‘s staff have departed to join him in Carolina, though, and this appears to be the dedication Denver must show in order to retain the remaining assistants.

Klis also tweeted of another departure from the Broncos staff. While not technically a coach, instructional designer John Viera will reportedly be following Hackett to New York. Klis describes Viera as the “coach to the coaches,” detailing that he would lead presentations to the coaching staff.

Here are a few other coaching rumors from around the league:

  • The Panthers hired one of the league’s up and coming coaches this past weekend, announcing the addition of Rams assistant head coach and tight ends coach Thomas Brown as their new offensive coordinator. Rams head coach Sean McVay reportedly didn’t want to lose Brown but didn’t feel he could block him from a great opportunity, according to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic. McVay regarded Brown as one of the best teachers he has worked with, and he was not the only one who noticed. Brown interviewed for the open Dolphins’ head coaching position last offseason and interviewed for the Texans’ job this year, as well. He was also a candidate for several other offensive coordinator positions. Brown’s considered a rising offensive mind in the game brings some intrigue to Carolina as a new play caller.
  • The Cowboys have added two former NFL players to their coaching staff for 2023. Former Vikings first round pick Sharrif Floyd will be officially added to the staff as the assistant defensive line and defensive quality control coach, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. The former defensive tackle, who played under Dan Quinn at Florida, worked with the staff during training camp last year. Todd Archer of ESPN adds that the team is also bringing on former safety and special teams ace Darian Thompson to serve as assistant linebackers and quality control coach. After spending much of 2021 on the practice squad, Thompson did not appear on the field in 2022.
  • In a tweet this week, the Jaguars announced two minor additions to their 2023 coaching staff. Jacksonville has hired former Bills wide receivers coach Chad Hall to serve in the same role for the Jaguars. After coaching Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis for the past four seasons, Hall will join Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson to coach a wide receivers group that surpassed all expectations in 2022 and may benefit even more with the potential addition of suspended receiver Calvin Ridley. The team has also added Greg Austin in the position of offensive quality control coach.
  • After hiring Brian Flores as their new defensive coordinator, the Vikings are parting ways with linebackers coach Greg Manusky, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Manusky has served as defensive coordinator for four different teams over the years. The veteran assistant should have plenty of options moving forward.
  • The Chargers announced a minor addition to their staff this week, according to Matt Zenitz of On3 Sports. Los Angeles will be bringing in former Georgia defensive analyst Robert Muschamp as a quality control coach. Muschamp is the nephew of Georgia co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Will Muschamp and joined his uncle in Athens after two years working in Tennessee.
  • The Texans have hired former Kent State director of football operations and Yale chief of staff Jake Olson to the coaching staff, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. It’s a bit unclear what his role will be, but he will don the title of assistant senior assistant.

Sharrif Floyd Drops Vikings Grievance

November 23rd, 2018 at 5:23pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Minnesota defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd has withdrawn his grievance against the Vikings, as Ben Goessling of the Star-Tribune tweets. Floyd’s case against the Vikings has been put to rest, but he still seeking $180MM in his lawsuit against the Andrews Institute. 

Floyd was scheduled to earn $6.757MM on his fifth-year option in 2017, but the Vikings placed him on the non-football injury list when a nerve issue in his knee prevented him from playing. The Vikings paid him $2MM even though teams are under no obligation to pay players who are on the NFI list. Floyd was seeking the remainder of that salary before halting his pursuit this week.

While the case was pending, 40% of Floyd’s potential grievance amount ($1.9MM) counted against the Vikings’ cap. Now that the case is over with, the Vikes have been credited that amount plus the $2MM they paid to the defensive tackle. The Vikings had less than $300K to work with earlier this month, but they now have $4.235MM in breathing room. That money can be (and likely will be) rolled over into next year’s cap, which may help to re-sign players such as linebacker Anthony Barr and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson.

Floyd’s legal team will now focus solely on the case against Dr. James Andrews. Floyd says that he OK’d an operation that would sideline him for three to four weeks during the 2016 season, but he alleges that a pain blocker injected directly into a nerve caused him permanent damage.

North Notes: Browns, Ravens, Steelers, Vikes

November 6th, 2018 at 9:53pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Though it only began Monday, it might be time to pump the brakes on the Bruce Arians/Browns speculation, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Arians said yesterday the Browns were the only NFL gig for which he’d consider leaving retired life, but the ex-Cardinals coach was primarily attempting to highlight former Colts head coach Chuck Pagano‘s qualifications for the Cleveland job rather than tout himself, per Rapoport. It’s not surprising that Arians would put forth Pagano as a candidate for the Browns, as Arians took over as the Colts’ head coach in 2012 after Pagano was diagnosed with cancer.

Here’s more from the NFL’s two North divisions:

  • The Ravens don’t have any intention of benching starting quarterback Joe Flacco for first-round rookie Lamar Jackson, but they do want to advance their usage of the Louisville product, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. “He’s getting better as a quarterback, an NFL quarterback, all the time. You know, I love the guy,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said of Jackson. “I want to see Lamar on the field, too. How to do that? That’s kind of what we’re working through, so that’s what we’ve got to figure out.” Jackson, 21, has rushed 28 times for 139 yards and one touchdown and completed seven-of-twelve passing attempts for 87 yards and another score. Meanwhile, among quarterbacks with at least 250 attempts, starter Joe Flacco ranks 17th in adjusted net yards per attempt and 18th in passer rating.
  • If Le’Veon Bell doesn’t report to the Steelers this season, a potential 2019 transition tag would become all the more valuable, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The contractual bargaining agreement indicates Bell would receive a 20% raise over his 2017 salary, meaning he’d be in line for $14.54MM in 2019. If Bell does report this year, however, that 20% would be applied to his 2018 earnings, meaning the transition tag would be worth only $9-10MM. In all, the transition is somewhat irrelevant, as Pittsburgh would have no interest in matching any offer sheet from a rival club.
  • Former Vikings defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd has filed a $180MM lawsuit against famed surgeon Dr. James Andrews, alleging that a botched 2016 operation prematurely ended the former’s NFL career, as Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com writes. Floyd alleges he was set to undergo a minor knee procedure two years ago, but was instead given a pain blocker that caused significant nerve and muscle damage. Floyd, who has not played in the NFL since the surgery, is currently engaged in settlement discussions with the Vikings, whom Floyd alleges owes him salary.

Sharrif Floyd Becomes A Free Agent

March 14th, 2018 at 5:35pm CST by Micah Powell

According to an NFL release, Sharrif Floyd‘s contract did not toll into 2018, making the defensive tackle a free agent in 2018 (Twitter link). He does still have a grievance in settlement negotiations to determine how much he should have been compensated from the Vikings in 2017.

Floyd missed all of 2017 and all but one game the previous year after suffering a knee injury in the 2016 season opener. In September 2016, Floyd underwent arthroscopic surgery on that knee.

Floyd, 25, has played in 44 games and registered 9.5 sacks since being selected in the first round by Minnesota in the 2013 NFL Draft.

 

 

NFC North Notes: Bears, McPhee, Vikings

February 21st, 2018 at 4:49pm CST by Zachary Links

Pernell McPhee is unlikely to be back with the Bears unless he accepts a pay cut, ESPN.com’s Jeff Dickerson writes. The outside linebacker has been plagued by knee problems since joining Chicago in 2015 and the team can save $7.075MM by cutting him with just $1MM in dead money. A revised deal makes more sense, Dickerson argues, since the team needs him for keeping the locker room in check.

Here’s more from the NFC North:

  • The Vikings and defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd are going to the mat over a salary dispute, as Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune writes. Floyd spent 2017 on the non-football injury (NFI) list as he tried to return from a nerve issue in his right knee. The Vikings paid him $2MM in base salary and adding a $6K workout bonus to his 2017 pay. However, Floyd says he is owed his entire $6.757MM salary for last season since he says his issue should not have been classified as “non-football”. Had Floyd started the season on the PUP list and eventually gone to IR, he would have received his full salary for the year. At this point, it’s unlikely Floyd will be able to resume his career, Goessling writes.
  • There is much debate about whether the Bears should use the franchise tag on cornerback Kyle Fuller, but the transition tag might make more sense in this instance, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune writes. The franchise tag value at cornerback is projected to cost roughly $15MM, while the transition tag will be closer to $13MM. The transition tag means that the Bears would not receive draft compensation if another team inked Fuller to an offer sheet, but they would have the right of first refusal and they have enough cap space to match any reasonable proposal.
  • On Tuesday, we learned that the Bears will decline Josh Sitton‘s option for 2018.

Vikings’ 53-Man Roster Set

September 2nd, 2017 at 4:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Vikings made their mandatory cuts to pare their roster down to the 53-man ceiling. Here are the rearrangements Minnesota made to set its regular-season roster.

Cut:

Placed on IR:

Placed on Reserve/PUP list:

Placed on Reserve/NFI list:

Placed on Reserve/Suspended list:

Sharrif Floyd Unsure He’ll Play In 2017

May 31st, 2017 at 4:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Sharrif Floyd addressed his status on Wednesday from Vikings OTAs. Reports of the defensive lineman’s career being in jeopardy don’t appear to be entirely off base, with the fifth-year player unsure he’ll be able to play this season.

Floyd won’t go that far, but he did say it “might be a little too early to say” if he’ll play for the Vikings in 2017. This is the final year of the interior defender’s contract.

“No one has said that,” Floyd said, regarding the reports of this nerve issue he’s battling being a career-threatening ailment (via Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune). “I think it’s just a rumor going around right now. But right now, I think everything is going to be all right. It’s just a matter of when.”

The former Florida defender declined to go into specifics today with media about the nature of his injury. But he missed all but one game in 2016 due to a knee problem and underwent arthroscopic surgery on the troublesome right knee. The corrective surgery, though, did not return the 26-year-old Floyd to full strength. In the spring, Floyd’s right quadriceps muscle wasn’t functioning properly, per Krammer, who writes the nerve controlling it was affected during surgery. With the season barely three months away, Floyd said he has not resumed running.

Floyd’s fifth-year option salary of $6.757MM became fully guaranteed when he was unable to pass a physical once the 2017 league year began. Minnesota has taken protection steps this offseason in case Floyd can’t go, signing Datone Jones from the Packers — and moving him to defensive tackle after he played end in Green Bay’s 3-4 look — and drafting Iowa’s Jaleel Johnson in the fourth round. Tom Johnson is working alongside Linval Joseph with the first unit, per Krammer.

Vikings DT Sharrif Floyd’s Career In Jeopardy

March 30th, 2017 at 3:20pm CST by Zachary Links

Awful news for Vikings defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd. His career is in jeopardy due to complications from last fall’s knee surgery, sources tell Tom Pelissero of USA Today. Sharrif Floyd (vertical)

[RELATED: Vikings Likely To Sign Backup Quarterback]

The nerve that controls Floyd’s quad muscle was disrupted during meniscus surgery and the situation has not improved in the last six months. Because his fifth-year option was guaranteed for injury, the Vikings had no choice but to keep him on the roster beyond the March 9 deadline. Whether he can take the field or not in 2017, he’ll earn a base salary of roughly $6.8MM.

Floyd, 26 in May, had a strong 2015 but his 2016 campaign ended when he went down in the season opener. For his career, the former first-round pick has appeared in 44 games with 24 starts, missing two games in 2014, three games in 2015, and just about every game in 2016. In that span, he has amassed 9.5 sacks and 95 tackles. His Pro Football Focus in 2015 cast him as a top 50 interior defensive lineman in the league while his 2014 PFF posting placed him in the top ten.

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