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George Paton Turns Down Bears, Jets

December 31st, 2014 at 12:22pm CST by Luke Adams

Despite receiving interest from both the Bears and Jets for their open general manager positions, Vikings assistant GM George Paton has turned down the opportunity to interview with either team, according to Dan Pompei of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). It appears Paton will remain in the Minnesota front office for the 2015 season.

Paton “has been a hot commodity and is getting hotter,” according to Pompei (Twitter link), who adds that the Vikings executive is well-respected around the league, and has played a large part in restocking the club’s roster. The Jets also expressed interest in Paton during their last GM search, but he turned them down at that time as well.

With Paton out of the mix, the Jets are set to interview Texans director of college scouting Mike Maccagnan, Browns personnel executive Bill Kuharich, Eagles director of pro personnel Rick Mueller, and Seahawks director of pro personnel Trent Kirchner. Current Jets senior director of football administration Rod Graves, who is running the team’s football operations during the GM hunt, will also interview for the position today, per Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com (Twitter link).

As for the Bears, Chiefs director of player personnel Chris Ballard, Giants VP of player evaluation Marc Ross, Titans VP of player personnel Lake Dawson, and Ravens director of pro personnel Vince Newsome have all been cited as potential candidates for their GM job. Both Chicago and New York have also expressed interest in Ravens assistant GM Eric DeCosta, though it remains to be seen whether he’ll be willing to discuss the possibility of leaving Baltimore.

Coach Notes: Bears, Quinn, Marrone, Ryan

December 31st, 2014 at 10:02am CST by Luke Adams

The Bears are eyeing a pair of Ravens employees, according to Dan Pompei of Bleacher Report, who reports (via Twitter) that Chicago has expressed interest in Eric DeCosta for the team’s general manager job and offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak for its head coaching opening. Both men have drawn interest from the Jets as well, and we detailed yesterday why DeCosta may be reluctant to pursue any GM jobs, given the nice situation he’s in with the Ravens. Still, it looks as if the Bears will kick the tires and try to schedule an interview.

Here’s more on the head coaching searches from around the NFL:

  • Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has interviews scheduled with the Jets and Bears on Friday, and the Falcons on Saturday, according to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter link).
  • Most Bills assistant coaches are only signed for one more season, and head coach Doug Marrone would like some more stability from ownership for his staff, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Meanwhile, as of this morning, those Bills coaches aren’t sure whether or not Marrone will opt out of his contract, says Caplan (via Twitter). Mike Rodak of ESPN.com took a look this morning at why Marrone would consider using his opt-out, which has a deadline of today.
  • Refuting an earlier report, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald writes that the Dolphins did not make an offer to Rex Ryan to be their defensive coordinator.
  • Adam Gase‘s interviews with the 49ers, Falcons, and Bears are scheduled to take place this Friday and Saturday, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.
  • This is our second round-up of coaching news and rumors today — you can find the first right here.

Ndamukong Suh Fined, Not Suspended

December 31st, 2014 at 9:23am CST by Luke Adams

WEDNESDAY, 9:23am: While it may just be a matter of semantics, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello clarified today (via Twitter) that Suh didn’t win his appeal, and that Cottrell didn’t accept his excuse for the incident. Rather, the arbitrator made the decision that a $70K fine was a more appropriate penalty than a one-game suspension.

TUESDAY, 4:23pm: Suh has won his appeal, with Cottrell overturning the suspension and hitting the Lions defender with a $70K fine instead, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Suh will now be permitted to play against the Cowboys this weekend.

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (via Twitter), the league knew there was a real possibility of the one-game ban being overturned, but wanted to send a strong message about unnecessary contact.

MONDAY, 1:49pm: Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has been suspended one game for stepping on the leg of quarterback Aaron Rodgers during Detroit’s loss in Green Bay on Sunday, reports Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com (Twitter link via Ashoka Moore). The league has since confirmed the one-game penalty without pay.

Suh will almost certainly appeal the one-game ban, and when he does, the hearing officer will be Ted Cottrell, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). It seems unlikely that the suspension will be overturned though, particularly given Suh’s history of on-field incidents, so the Lions will have to prepare to be without their best defensive player for next weekend’s Wild Card playoff game in Dallas.

If Suh’s suspension is upheld and the Lions are eliminated from the playoffs by the Cowboys, the standout defensive lineman may very well have played his last game in Detroit. Facing free agency this offseason, Suh hasn’t expressed strong interest in re-signing with the team, and his massive 2014 cap number makes him a difficult player to franchise. Additionally, the Lions certainly won’t be happy with Suh’s latest transgression, which will ensure that the club is shorthanded at the worst possible time.

Earlier in December, I examined the Lions’ options for handling Suh’s looming free agency.

Washington, DC Jim Haslett Part Ways

December 31st, 2014 at 9:12am CST by Luke Adams

Jim Haslett is out as the defensive coordinator in Washington, the team announced today (via Twitter). In breaking the news, the club classified Haslett’s departure as a mutual agreement between the two sides to part ways.

“Jim and I have had discussions over the last few days and have decided that it’s best for everyone that we have a new defensive coordinator for the Washington Redskins,” head coach Jay Gruden said in a statement, per Mike Jones of the Washington Post (Twitter links). “I wish him nothing but the best in the future.”

Despite Gruden telling reporters earlier this week that he would recommend retaining Haslett, the defensive coordinator was viewed as a candidate to be fired this week after his unit struggled in 2014. Per Football Outsiders, the team’s defense finished 27th in DVOA, including 32nd against the pass. Washington also allowed 27.4 points per game this season, tied for the third-worst mark in the NFL.

Washington will now be in the market for a new defensive coordinator for the first time since 2010. It’s not clear yet who will be on the club’s list of candidates, but more teams are seeking a new offensive coordinator than a DC at this point, so Washington could get a head-start on interviewing potential targets.

Coach Updates: Raiders, Ryan, 49ers, Bucs

December 31st, 2014 at 8:25am CST by Luke Adams

As they search for a new head coach, the Raiders have requested permission to interview Colts offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton, reports Josina Anderson of ESPN (Twitter link). According to Anderson (via Twitter), the Raiders are genuinely intrigued by Hamilton, having heard good things about him. Because Indianapolis has a game this weekend, Hamilton won’t be able to speak to Oakland until next week at the earliest, assuming he has interest in the job.

Here are a few more coaching-related notes from around the NFL:

  • Reports have suggested that Rex Ryan has no interest in accepting a coordinator job this offseason, but that doesn’t mean that teams won’t try. According to Joe Fortenbaugh of the National Football Post, the Dolphins made an offer to the former Jets head coach to become Miami’s next defensive coordinator. Per Fortenbaugh, the offer was for multiple years and was worth approximately $8MM in total.
  • A league source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that “a perception exists that Rex has been politicking too aggressively” for the Falcons‘ head coaching vacancy, which could rub owner Arthur Blank the wrong way. Ryan is scheduled to interview for the position.
  • Multiple Shanahans appear to be in the mix for the 49ers‘ head coaching job — Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com indicated that Niners GM Trent Baalke spoke to Mike Shanahan on Tuesday, while Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer tweeted earlier this week that Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan is a candidate for San Francisco. It’s not clear if the team has set up an interview with either coach yet.
  • The 49ers got their interview process underway yesterday, and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was the first candidate to sit down with the team, per Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. As we heard last night, Seahawks DC Dan Quinn interviewed later in the day.
  • Rick Stroud of the Tampa Tribune identifies 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman and Jets OC Marty Mornhinweg as likely candidates for the Buccaneers‘ OC job, with the team expected to request interviews for both. Like Dirk Koetter of the Falcons, whose name surfaced yesterday, those coordinators work for teams that recently parted ways with their head coaches. According to Stroud, the Bucs may also pursue ex-Bears head coach Marc Trestman.

Extra Points: Chargers, Goodell, Peterson

December 30th, 2014 at 10:14pm CST by Zachary Links

Eric Weddle, a Pro Bowler at free safety, is the Chargers‘ only starting defensive back under contract for 2015. He badly wants to see fellow safety Marcus Gilchrist and cornerbacks Brandon Flowers and Shareece Wright return to San Diego next year, Tom Krasovic of U-T San Diego writes. “Hopefully we’re not starting with three new guys,” he said. “Hopefully, we can get them all back because they all played extremely well this year. We’re a tightly-knit group, and we played well with each other. So, hopefully, they can figure it all out and get them back.” More from around the NFL..

  • Michael Freeman of Bleacher Report sat down with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to discuss 2014, a year he’d probably like to forget.
  • Joel Corry of CBSSports.com looked at notable players who cashed in on performance bonuses in 2014, including Elvis Dumervil of the Ravens.
  • Vikings coach Mike Zimmer‘s comments earlier today on Adrian Peterson were rather non-committal, notes Michael Rand of the Star-Tribune.
  • The Jets have received permission to interview Texans director of college scouting Mike Maccagnan, Browns personnel executive Bill Kuharich, and Eagles director of pro personnel Rick Mueller for their GM spot, according to Albert Breer of NFL.com (on Twitter). All three men, along with Trent Kirchner, will interview in the next five days.
  • Penn State offensive tackle Donovan Smith has decided to forgo his final year of college eligibility and will enter the draft, according to a press release from the Nittany Lions. Smith’s 31 career starts are tied for second-highest on the 2014 squad. The announcement comes as a surprise since Smith has had very little draft buzz surrounding him.

Minor Moves: Tuesday

December 30th, 2014 at 10:10pm CST by Luke Adams

We’ll round up Tuesday’s minor moves from around the NFL right here, including transactions by teams still in the playoffs as well as clubs looking ahead to next year:

10:10pm:

  • The Lions have signed TE Ifeanyi Momah to a 2015 reserve/future contract, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (on Twitter).

3:57pm:

  • The Chiefs signed former Seahawks tailback Spencer Ware, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (via Twitter).
  • Jets quarterback Matt Simms reworked his contract today to avoid becoming an exclusive rights free agent in 2015, according to a team release. The club also added kicker Andrew Furney and running back Daryl Richardson on reserve/futures deals, in addition to the six players whose reserve contracts we heard about yesterday.
  • In addition to confirming reserve/futures contracts for Garrison Smith and Chris Martin, as was reported yesterday, the 49ers announced in a press release that they’ve signed running back Kendall Gaskins, tight end Xavier Grimble, wide receiver Lance Lewis. All five players finished the season on San Francisco’s practice squad.
  • Running back Terrance Cobb announced (via Twitter) that he has signed a futures deal with the Raiders. Cobb initially signed with the Jaguars as an undrafted rookie in May, and was cut in the preseason.
  • The Bears may not have a head coach or GM, but they’re still adding players to their roster — Chicago signed defensive end Jamil Merrell to a reserve/futures contract, the team announced today (via Twitter).
  • Former Canisius College basketball player Chris Manhertz announced (via Instagram) that he has signed a contract with the Bills. According to Joe Buscaglia of WGR550 (via Twitter), the ex-hoopster projects as a tight end. The Bills have since confirmed the signing of Manhertz, and announced a deal for fullback Corey Knox as well.

2:19pm:

  • Offensive tackle Justin Renfrow has been released from the Packers‘ practice squad, creating an opening on the unit, according to the team.
  • The Steelers have also made a change to their taxi squad, signing wide receiver Tim Benford and releasing cornerback Jordan Sullen, per Burt Lauten (via Twitter). The addition of Benford provides some insurance for the receiving corps, after the team cut wideout Justin Brown from its active roster today.
  • The Browns signed a pair of kickers, Travis Coons and Carey Spear, to reserve/futures contracts, the club announced today, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal (Twitter link). The two kickers join seven other players who signed futures deals yesterday with Cleveland.
  • The Jaguars have signed offensive lineman Cody Booth, tight end Marcel Jensen, defensive back Peyton Thompson, and wide receiver Tony Washington to reserve/futures contracts, tweets Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com. All four players spent time on the club’s practice squad this season.
  • The Saints signed five more players to reserve/futures deals, according to Evan Woodbery of the Times-Picayune, who lists running back Edwin Baker, kicker Dustin Hopkins, tight end Orson Charles, and offensive linemen Mike Brewster and Andrew Miller as the latest recepients. We learned yesterday that the club also signed wideout Willie Snead and fullback Toben Opurum to futures contracts.

NFC Notes: Cruz, Bradford, Carter, Harbaugh

December 30th, 2014 at 10:07pm CST by Zachary Links

Uh oh. “You’ve got to prepare as if, ‘What if Victor Cruz doesn’t come back?’ ’’ Giants GM Jerry Reese said Tuesday when looking ahead to 2015, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. “If you are a personnel guy, or a general manager, that is always in the back of your head. What if this guy doesn’t come back and be the player that we think he is?’’ While the Giants ponder the possibility of a season without a healthy Victor Cruz, let’s take a look around the NFC..

  • Rams coach Jeff Fisher told reporters, including Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com (via Twitter) that there will be a quarterback competition next year. A quarterback from outside the building will compete with the talented but oft-injured Sam Bradford for the top job.
  • Duron Carter, the son of Hall of Famer Cris Carter, had his first NFL visit today when met with the Buccaneers, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets. Carter is also scheduled to visit the Vikings, Chiefs, and Colts on the first leg of the tour. If he does not sign this week, a second leg of visits could include visits with the Ravens, Seahawks, 49ers, and Cardinals (link). La Canfora adds that there’s lots of interest in the wide receiver.
  • Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee gives the University of Michigan some operating instructions for their brand new coach, Jim Harbaugh. The polarizing 49ers coach left to join up with his alma mater this week.
  • While the Lions waited to hear about Ndamukong Suh‘s fate, they worked out defensive tackles Jermelle Cudjo and Ogemdi Nwagbuo on Tuesday, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com. Fortunately for Detroit, Suh won his appeal and will be in the lineup on Sunday against Dallas.
  • Sid Hartman of the Star-Tribune believes that former first-round pick Christian Ponder will start once again the NFL. Ponder was once the main guy for the Vikings but it seems unlikely that he will return to them in free agency this offseason.

Coach Notes: Jets, Ryan, McDaniels, 49ers

December 30th, 2014 at 8:04pm CST by Luke Adams

Not long after he was fired by the Jets, Rex Ryan jumped on a plane to Florida to watch his son’s Clemson Tigers play in the Russell Athletic Bowl, as Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post writes. When asked what it was like to speak with his players for the final time, Ryan said, “It was rough, man. But hey, that’s the way it is.’’ With a vacancy in New York and others elsewhere, here’s a look at the latest coaching rumors..

  • Charley Casserly, who is now consulting the Jets, inquired about UCLA head coach Jim Mora‘s buyout clause and contract language last week, according to Manish Mehta of the Daily News (on Twitter).
  • Former Jets coach Rex Ryan has interviews scheduled with the Falcons and 49ers for their openings, a source tells Brian Costello of the New York Post (on Twitter).
  • Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will interview with the Falcons and 49ers this week, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter).
  • The 49ers will interview Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn tonight, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (on Twitter).
  • There may not be a head coaching candidate more sought after this offseason than Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles — according to Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (via Twitter), every team with a head coaching vacancy has contacted the Cards about interviewing Bowles. That includes the Raiders and Bears, which hadn’t been previously reported. Since Arizona plays in the Wild Card round, Bowles won’t be able to interview with any teams until next week.
  • The Bears are the third team to request permission to speak to Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The Falcons and 49ers had previously asked to interview Gase, who can talk to clubs during Denver’s bye week.
  • The Titans‘ and Jaguars‘ coaching staffs will participate in the Senior Bowl game, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). The 2-14 Buccaneers passed on the opportunity, and Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (Twitter link) is curious about the team’s motives, considering the benefits of participating in the game. Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union tweets that he heard last week from one Jaguars official that the Bucs may pass on the Senior Bowl because they’d be busy looking for an offensive coordinator — of course, as of today, the Jags are in the same boat.

Jaguars Notes: Caldwell, Blackmon, Bradley

December 30th, 2014 at 7:04pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier today, Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell addressed the local media to close out the year. John Oehser of Jaguars.com was on hand and has the goods. All links go to his Twitter unless noted otherwise..

  • Caldwell said (link) that the offensive line needs to be addressed, but he feels good about where they are at the positions of right guard, center, and left tackle. Left guard Zane Beadles, he says, settled down later in the year.
  • The GM is rooting for Justin Blackmon, but isn’t banking on his return at all (link) and hopes to hear about Blackmon’s status before the draft (link). Blackmon recently sold his Jacksonville area home.
  • Caldwell feels that the Jaguars are “right on par” with where they thought they’d be and isn’t completely surprised with their 2014 record (link).
  • Any coaching changes will be up to head coach Gus Bradley (link). Offensive line coach George Yamo plans to return (link).
  • Caldwell noted that the team has to spend 95% of its allowance to hit the cap minimum (link), which may imply that he doesn’t have plans to spend like crazy this offseason.
  • The GM said he likes the state of the roster and that he doesn’t feel compelled to draft a player to start right away (link).
  • Caldwell says (link) that is appeared that the game slowed down for rookie quarterback Blake Bortles towards the end of the year.
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