2017 January - Pro Football Rumors

Month: October 2024

Texans Add Wes Welker To Coaching Staff

January 30th, 2017 at 5:45pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Texans are adding longtime NFL wide receiver Wes Welker to their coaching staff, reports Mark Berman of FOX 26 (Twitter link). Welker, who attended last week’s Senior Bowl with the Texans’ coaches, will work as an offensive/special teams assistant, the team announced.

The 35-year-old Welker isn’t far removed from his playing career, having taken the field eight times with the Rams in 2015, and hadn’t retired from the sport as of last July. It now appears Welker’s wideout days are over, though, after he suffered several concussions in recent years.

Welker was a dominant weapon in his heyday as a member of the Patriots, with whom he racked up 100-plus receptions and over 1,100 yards in five of six seasons from 2007-12. The 2004 undrafted free agent from Texas Tech, also a former Dolphin and Bronco, currently ranks 21st all-time in catches (903) and 47th in receiving yards (9,924).

Along with Welker, Bobby King is joining Bill O’Brien‘s staff as Houston’s linebackers coach. This will be the second stint in Houston for King, who was most recently with the Chargers.

GM/Staff Notes: 49ers, Colts, Saints, Broncos

January 30th, 2017 at 5:24pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The 49ers’ shocking general manager choice, John Lynch, will face a “steep” learning curve as a front office neophyte, ex-Lions GM Matt Millen told Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. As was the case with Millen, whom Detroit hired in 2001, Lynch is coming from the broadcasting booth to take the helm of a franchise. It didn’t go well for Millen, under whom Detroit went 31-84 before it fired him in 2008. “You need to be schooled,” said Millen. “You need to be mentored. You need to have somebody you can go to. That’s not easy.” Lynch could have a less difficult time breaking into his new job than Millen, notes Branch, who points out that soon-to-be 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is likely to have 53-man roster control. Assistant GM Tom Gamble will also be around to help Lynch make the transition.

More on the NFL’s front offices and coaching staffs:

Newly minted Colts GM Chris Ballard received a five-year contract, according to Mike Chappell of FOX59. Colts vice president of football operations Jimmy Raye III was among the candidates Ballard beat out for the role, and owner Jim Irsay revealed Raye nearly got the job, per Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star. Irsay assured Raye, who will remain in the Colts’ Ballard-led front office, that someone else will give him a shot as a GM if the Colts orchestrate a turnaround (all Twitter links here).
While Ballard reportedly isn’t committed to going forward with Chuck Pagano beyond the 2017 season, he spoke glowingly of the five-year head coaching veteran Monday. “There were no other options. Chuck Pagano is a great coach,” said Ballard (Twitter link via Holder). Upon Ballard’s hiring, Pagano stated Sunday that he’s “extremely excited” to work with the rookie GM (via the Colts’ Twitter account).
The Saints have hired Mike Nolan to coach their linebackers, his previous employer, SiriusXM NFL Radio, announced (on Twitter). Nolan coached the Chargers’ linebackers in 2015 and has been a defensive coordinator with seven teams, though he’s best known for an 18-37 run as San Francisco’s head coach from 2005-08.
Broncos head coach Vance Joseph has added “assistant head coach” to running backs coach Eric Studesville‘s title, tweets Mike Klis of 9News. Studesville drew interest from the Jets earlier this month in their search for an offensive coordinator, but he elected to stay in Denver, where he has coached RBs since 2010.

Devonta Freeman Seeking “Elite” Money

January 30th, 2017 at 4:33pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Falcons running back Devonta Freeman has a rather important game to play Sunday, but his representative is already looking past Atlanta’s Super Bowl LI matchup with the Patriots and ahead to the offseason. Given Freeman’s contributions to the NFC champions’ prolific offensive attack, he deserves “elite” money, agent Kristin Campbell told Mike Silver of NFL.com. Freeman still has another year left on his contract, but Campbell expects the Falcons to prioritize an extension for him in the offseason.

Freeman, a three-year veteran, is coming off his second straight regular season with 1,000-plus rushing yards, 13-plus total touchdowns and over 50 receptions. He has amassed those quality numbers despite working in a timeshare with 2015 third-round pick Tevin Coleman, which has frustrated Freeman and his agent.

“Oh, I’m certainly struggling with it, just because I’m a competitor,” Freeman said. “I just want to be around the ball as much as I can, to help the team win. Now we’re in the Super Bowl, and this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I don’t know how many carries or touches I’m gonna get going into this game, but I’m gonna try to make the most of every opportunity I get.”

Campbell, meanwhile, lamented that Freeman “gets significantly less opportunity than the others” who are top-caliber backs around the NFL. She also pointed to Freeman’s durability as another reason he deserves a sizable payday, as he has missed just one game in his career. With both that and Freeman’s production in mind, Campbell has reached out to the Falcons regarding an extension, but they haven’t yet responded. However, general manager Thomas Dimitroff informed Silver the Falcons are “extremely encouraged by Devonta, as a player and a person on this team” and will “address (his contract situation) after the season.”

For his part, Freeman insists he’s focused on the task at hand this week, noting that the Falcons have “too much to play for. After that, well, I feel like I’ve done my part. Now, hopefully, I’ll get rewarded.”

Freeman has piled up 209 total yards (87 rushing, 122 receiving) and two touchdowns in playoff wins over the Seahawks and Packers. He could, of course, further make his case for a massive raise over his current $600K salary with another strong showing on the game’s biggest stage Sunday.

NFC Notes: 49ers, Lynch, Dominik, Saints

January 30th, 2017 at 3:15pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a quick look at the NFC:

Before he was hired as the 49ers‘ new GM, John Lynch did not want his involvement in the search to leak out because he was afraid of league-wide perception, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com tweets. Had he not been hired, he was worried others would feel he was using his TV gig to land a job with an NFL team. Of course, some in the football world could still be of that opinion. As an ex-player and color commentator with no known ambitions of an executive job, Lynch may have had special access to information on rival teams and players.
As of this afternoon, the 49ers have not scheduled an interview with ESPN analyst/ex-Bucs GM Mark Dominik, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter). That doesn’t mean Dominik won’t be a consideration, but it may at least mean that a deal is probably not imminent between the two sides. By the same token, the Niners managed to keep the surprising hire of John Lynch under wraps.
Saints owner Tom Benson‘s ownership lawsuit is one week away from trial, Katherine Sayre of The Times-Picayune writes. Benson is seeking to remove ownership shares in the Saints (and the NBA’s Pelicans) from trust funds created for his daughter and grandson from back when the family was still on good terms. Ultimately, the trial will not impact control over the teams. Benson maintains control by impact control over the teams.

AFC Notes: Del Rio, Raiders, Pats, Belichick

January 30th, 2017 at 2:55pm CST by Zachary Links

Jack Del Rio has two years left on his original four-year contract, but it’s time for the Raiders to re-work his deal, Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com opines. Currently the lowest-paid coach in the NFL, Del Rio guided the once-lowly Raiders to their first playoff appearance since 2002. And with GM Reggie McKenzie under contract through the 2021 season, it only makes sense for Del Rio to be locked up for the same period. Last week, we learned that the two sides are planning to discuss a new deal.

Here’s more from the AFC:

There’s no indication that Patriots coach Bill Belichick is getting ready to walk off into the sunset, Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com writes. If the Pats manage to win on Sunday, Belichick will have five Super Bowl rings to his name, giving him the most of any head coach in league history. Still, it appears that he still craves the competition and we have no reason to believe that he wants to retire to Florida right now. Curran’s best guess is that Belichick will wrap it up after the 2019 season, when he’ll be 68 and will have just completed 20 years in New England.
The Steelers should draft a quarterback this year, Paul Ziese of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes. To many, this year’s crop of quarterbacks is not an inspiring one, but Zeise likes DeShaun Watson or DeShone Kizer enough to advocate for their selection at No. 30, if they’re there. Roethlisberger still stands as one of the league’s best QBs, but he turns 35 in March and the team may want to think about grooming his next replacement. By the same token, I would be surprised if they use their first-round pick to take a signal caller.
It’s time for the Broncos to find a consistent and explosive returner, Cameron Wolfe of The Denver Post writes. Jordan Norwood had trouble holding on to punts and that uncertainty cancelled out a lot of the good things he did on the field. This offseason, Norwood is a free agent along fellow core special teams players Kayvon Webster and Dekoda Watson.
Yesterday, the Colts hired Chris Ballard as their new GM. Ballard beat out Packers executive Eliot Wolf, Vikings assistant GM George Paton, Seahawks co-player personnel directors Trent Kirchner and Scott Fitterer and internal candidate Jimmy Raye III for the job.

Redskins Notes: Long, Draft, Logan

January 30th, 2017 at 2:10pm CST by Zachary Links

Talk of the Redskins cutting Kory Lichtensteiger is an annual event and this could be the year it happens, CSNMidAtlantic.com’s Rich Tandler writes. This year, Lichtensteiger lost his starting job to Spencer Long when he was injured and he was unable to get it back when he was healthy. By moving on from the center, the Redskins can save $3.5MM in cap space. Alternatively, he may be able to stay with the team if he agrees to a base salary cut.

Meanwhile, an extension could be on the way for Spencer Long. If the Redskins decide to lock him up, Tandler believes a four-year deal at about $6-$7MM per season with around $8MM in guarantees should get it done. Currently, Cowboys center Travis Frederick leads the position with a $9.4MM average annual value and notables Alex Mack and Mike Pouncey are in the $8-9MM range. Long is not currently in that group, so he should slot below them.

Here’s more out of D.C.:

The Redskins own the No. 17 overall pick in this year’s draft and JP Finlay of CSNMidAtlantic.com has identified a handful of possibilities. Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas isn’t a big name, but Finlay sees him as a good fit after he turned in two consecutive years of strong performances. This past season, he led the team in tackles, tackles for a loss, and sacks on his way to the All Pac-12 team. Other players listed here include FSU running back Dalvin Cook, Michigan State defensive lineman Malik McDowell, and Ohio State safety Malik Hooker.
The Redskins’ reported interest in Eagles standout Bennie Logan makes plenty of sense, Finlay writes. Logan proved that he is a capable run stuffer in Philly’s 3-4 system before last year’s scheme change and even when the playbook flipped, he still managed to register 2.5 sacks. Logan just recently turned 27, so a multi-year contract could prove to be a wise investment for Washington.
Recently, the Redskins promoted Matt Cavanaugh from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator. Although his own status with the team is up in the air, quarterback Kirk Cousins approves of the move.

Redskins Interested In Eagles DT Bennie Logan

January 30th, 2017 at 1:44pm CST by Zachary Links

If Eagles defensive tackle Bennie Logan hits the open market, the Redskins will target him in March, a source tells Mark Eckel of NJ.com. Of course, the Redskins are forbidden from contacting Logan until the legal tampering period.

Last year, the Redskins finished No. 28 in overall defense and 24th against the run, so they could use some help on the D-Line. Kedric Golston, 34 in May, cannot reasonably be counted upon to hold down nose tackle after playing in just two games last year. Logan, meanwhile, has missed just five games with injuries over the last four years.

For what it’s worth, the advanced metrics aren’t crazy about Logan’s play. Last year, his 45.1 overall grade from Pro Football Focus placed him as a below-average interior defender. In the previous three years, however, he had much stronger scores as he played in a 3-4 scheme. It is widely acknowledged that Logan did not adjust well to the 4-3 set in 2016.

Logan could land roughly $10MM per year on his next contract, one Eagles beat writer recently opined, and the Eagles could instead get by with defensive tackles Beau Allen and Destiny Vaeao. For his part, Logan says he wants to stay in Philly, but there’s a chance he could wind up with a divisional rival instead.

Extra Points: Ballard, Patterson, Gronk

January 30th, 2017 at 11:58am CST by Sam Robinson

As Jim Irsay said upon firing Ryan Grigson, Chuck Pagano will return to coach the Colts in 2017. New GM Chris Ballard will stick to that plan, but he’s not committed to the coach longer than that, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Ballard intends to keep Pagano in 2017 but is planning to re-evaluate the position before the ’18 season.

The new executive’s hire may only intensify the hot seat for Pagano, who expressed his support (Twitter link) for the 47-year-old Ballard upon his hire. Irsay appears set to oversee an arranged marriage between his top two decision-makers after letting both Grigson and Pagano start together in 2012. Pagano led the Colts to three playoff berths, one of which involving a historic comeback win over the Chiefs in Ballard’s first year in Kansas City, before the team stumbled to back-to-back 8-8 seasons. We heard over the weekend Ballard could have Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub as a possible replacement come 2018.

Here’s more from around the league on Monday.

Ballard’s knowledge of the draft represents a good fit for a Colts team that’s struggled identifying amateur talent since its strong haul of 2012, Mike Wells of ESPN.com writes. In addition to the talents Ballard played a part in the Bears procuring during his time in Chicago, the Chiefs dispatched their then-director of football operations to investigate then-embattled prospect Marcus Peters, Adam Teicher of ESPN.com notes. Teicher pegged Ballard, whom he called the No. 3 man in Kansas City’s power structure behind John Dorsey and Andy Reid, as a potential Dorsey successor.
Cordarrelle Patterson observed Ty Montgomery‘s transition to running back and wants to try it himself. “I would love to play running back,” Patterson said on the “Pardon My Take” podcast, per Chad Graff of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “I think any receiver in my position would love to play running back. People always say, ‘He’s just a running back when he gets the ball in his hands.'” A Patterson position change would make more sense due to the tantalizing ability he’s shown with the ball in his hands but an inability to stick in Minnesota’s receiver rotation. Although, Patterson’s lanky 6-foot-2 frame might make him less-suited for inside contact than Montgomery. The wideout is set to be a UFA after the Vikings didn’t pick up his fifth-year option last May.
The Patriots advancing to Super Bowl LI without Rob Gronkowski prompts Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News to argue the league’s most aggressive traders should make another. New England faltered without Gronkowski in the 2012 and ’13 AFC championship games, losing one-sided matchups, but orchestrated two routs during this year’s run without him. He’s missed extensive time with injuries during his otherwise stratospheric career, and Mehta points to the Patriots’ league-high 61 trades during Bill Belichick‘s 17-year tenure as evidence Gronk isn’t untouchable. Gronk will be 28 next year, but the three-time All-Pro tight end is on an affordable deal given his stature. He’s due to take up just $7MM of the Pats’ cap next season on a contract that runs through 2019.

49ers Moving Toward Mark Dominik Hire?

January 30th, 2017 at 11:23am CST by Sam Robinson

New 49ers GM John Lynch reportedly seeks an experienced personnel man to work with him in the San Francisco front office, and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes “buzz is building” about Mark Dominik joining Lynch soon. Multiple sources told Florio that Dominik would step into a director of player personnel-type role.

Florio pointed out Lynch had already picked out who he wanted to hire in this capacity, and the 49ers considered Dominik for their GM post. Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported last week rumblings at the Senior Bowl featured the prospect of Dominik joining the 49ers “in some capacity.” The 49ers, though, did not interview the former Buccaneers GM for the job.

The 45-year-old Dominik served as a scouting director for the Bucs during seven years of Lynch’s tenure in Tampa Bay. It’s believed Dominik and the 45-year-old Lynch have a good relationship, and that Lynch’s rapport with expected head coach Kyle Shanahan clearly played a key role in that unorthodox hire. While Lynch has a good relationship with Kyle Shanahan, playing under Kyle’s father Mike Shanahan for four years in Denver, Kyle Shanahan also worked as an offensive quality control coach with the Bucs for two years during Dominik’s stay.

Assistant GM Tom Gamble could remain in place, per Florio, even if the 49ers move to hire Dominik. We heard earlier today the 49ers were planning to give Gamble a chance to prove he could stay with the team, with the time between now and the draft serving as an audition of sorts. The five-year Bucs GM currently works as an analyst at ESPN. He’s only worked for one NFL franchise, serving in various capacities with the Bucs from 1994-2013. The 49ers’ power structure would consist of two members who have spent much of the past several years on television should they make this move, with Lynch being a Fox analyst since his retirement in 2008.

West Notes: 49ers, Palmer, Bolts, San Diego

January 30th, 2017 at 10:20am CST by Sam Robinson

Jed York can’t officially hire Kyle Shanahan until after Super Bowl LI, but he didn’t make a secret out of who the 49ers‘ next head coach will be. The point man on the 49ers’ GM and HC hiring processes, York referenced Shanahan as his coach in an interview with TheMMQB.com’s Peter King.

“So many opportunities are missed in the NFL because people don’t want to do something different. We’re OK with that, because I am confident in Kyle and [new GM] John [Lynch],” York said, via King. “John has watched John Elway, and how he’s built a team in Denver. As easy as it is to say he hasn’t built a team yet—I get that—I talk to Kyle, and he says John is the most prepared of all the TV [people] he meets in the production meetings before games.

“We understand we’ll have to live with growing pains, but I’m willing to do that because I believe the upside with both of them is so great.”

King reports York met with Lynch in both San Francisco and Atlanta last week, with Shanahan also meeting with Lynch in Atlanta, both before scheduled summits with GM finalists George Paton and Terry McDonough. San Francisco will give six-year contracts to both Lynch and Shanahan after York made the most stunning hire of the year on Sunday night.

Here’s more out of the 49ers’ hire, along with some other news out west.

Assistant GM Tom Gamble will be given a chance to prove he should remain with the 49ers, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com tweets. Gamble ascended to his current position last summer. Part of the fallout from last night’s stunning Lynch announcement was the new GM already had an experienced personnel mind for his top lieutenant. Gamble, who’s enjoyed two stints with the 49ers, will have an audition period through the draft, per Maiocco. Gamble worked with Chip Kelly in both Philadelphia and San Francisco as well, but the Eagles fired him after the 2014 season.
Carson Palmer confirmed he hasn’t made his decision about returning for a 15th NFL season. “I guess nothing’s ever official until it is, but I’d like to play if my body responds the way I hope,” the 37-year-old Cardinals quarterback said in a text message to Dan Bickley of the Arizona Daily Republic. Palmer missed a game this season because of a concussion. A Sunday report put the statuses of both Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald in doubt. Palmer is due a base salary of $15.5MM in 2017, with a $2MM roster bonus attached to his employment. The Cardinals have not placed a timetable on Palmer and Fitzgerald but would like to know the duo’s decisions by mid-February.
Former Vikings wide receivers coach George Stewart will move to Los Angeles and become the Chargers‘ special teams coach, Alex Marvez of the Sporting News reports (on Twitter). Stewart resided as the Vikings’ longest-tenured assistant coach prior to making this decision, having coached Minnesota’s receivers since 2007.
An NFL return to San Diego is not expected to occur for the foreseeable future, Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune notes. While the league would look to San Diego if it planned to expand, that’s not on the agenda, Krasovic reports. And a source informs him another team relocating there is not expected to happen. Some familiar with the inner-workings of NFL stadium procurement believe Dean Spanos and Stan Kroenke, now tied together in Los Angeles, would try to discourage fellow owners from supporting another team from moving to San Diego. The southern California city’s appeal to the league has diminished now that L.A. has two teams, per Krasovic.

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