The Jets have signed long snapper Josh Latham, reports ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini. The Sacramento State product also played defensive end and fullback during his college career, and his versatility likely explains why so many teams (including the Seahawks, Packers, Lions, and Buccaneers) were interested in him last offseason. Starting long snapper Tanner Purdum is set to be a free agent this offseason, and the team already brought in some competition for the spot when they signedZach Triner earlier this offseason.
The Buccaneers have signed long-snapper Dax Dellenbach to a reserve/futures contract, reports Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times. The former FSU starter participated in the team’s rookie minicamp, working alongside fellow Seminole special teamer Roberto Aguayo. Auman notes that starting long snapper Andrew DePaola tore his ACL during the Buccaneers’ season finale, which could lead to Dellenbach earning a roster spot.
After a bit of a lull, today was a busy day for coaching moves. We first learned that the Falcons would be hiring Alabama’s Steve Sarkisian to replace KyleShanahan as the team’s offensive coordinator. Later, it was reported that the Rams were bringing inMatt LaFleur as their new offensive coordinator.
Of course, there were plenty of other coaching moves today, and we’ve compiled all of those below…
Former quarterback Mike Kafka has been hired by the Chiefs as an offensive quality control coach, reports ESPN’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter). The 29-year-old spent six years in the NFL after being selected by the Eagles in the fourth round of the 2010 draft, as he has an obvious connection with current Kansas City (and former Philadelphia) head coach Andy Reid. Kafka spent the 2016 season serving as an offensive graduate assistant with Northwestern, his former college.
The Chiefs have also hired RodWilson as their new assistant special teams coach, reports Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star (via Twitter). The former NFL linebacker will be replacing BrockOlivo, who was hired as the Broncos special teams coordinator earlier this offseason. The 2005 seventh-round pick spent six years in the NFL with the Bears, Buccaneers, and Jaguars.
The Buccaneers have promoted BenSteele to tight ends coach, reports ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine. The former NFL tight end spent the past three seasons serving as Tampa Bay’s offensive quality control coach. “We’re fortunate that we have a qualified coach like Ben already on our staff and are able to fill this role from within. He earned it through the quality of his work,” said head coach DirkKoetter (via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times on Twitter). “Ben played the position at the NFL level and has spent a great deal of time with our tight ends on the practice field and in the meeting room. We know he will do an excellent job leading that group going forward.”
The 49ers have released their entire strength and conditioning staff, reports Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. This includes director of human performance MarkUyeyama, strength, conditioning and nutrition assistant KurtSchmidt, and strength and conditioning assistants BrianJohnson, TaylorJohnson and DavidYoung. We learned last week that Uyeyama would be leaving the organization, and (as Maiocco notes on Twitter) Brian Johnson’s departure was evident after he took a job with Texas A&M. The reporter notes that Taylor Johnson “is still in play” to remain on Shanahan’s new staff.
Former NFL defensive end AndreCarter will meet with the Dolphins regarding their assistant defensive line coach vacancy, reports Alex Marvez of The Sporting News. After being selected in the first-round of the 2001 draft, Carter spent 13 seasons in the NFL with the 49ers, Redskins, Patriots, and Raiders. Marvez notes that the 37-year-old spent the 2015 season as a student assistant coach at the University of California.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick started a “no days off!” chant during today’s victory parade, and that sentiment was confirmed hours later when the team announced that they had signed the majority of their practice squad to reserve/futures contracts (via Patriots.com):
The team also inked tight end Rob Housler to a contract. The team didn’t sign fullback Glenn GronkowskiorwideoutDeAndrew White, although that could change in the coming days or weeks.
Housler is probably the most notable name on the list, as the tight end has five NFL seasons under his belt. The former third-round pick was actually a staple in the Cardinals lineup from 2011 through 2014, averaging nearly 14 games a season. The tight end was especially productive in 2012 and 2013, combining for 84 receptions, 871 yards, and one touchdown in 28 games. Since then, the tight end bounced between the Bears and Browns before sitting out the entire 2016 campaign.
Otherwise, Kilgo has the most experience having played in 18 games for the Broncos between 2015 and 2016. Douglas (16 games, six starts), Barker (five games), Hamilton (three games), and Bates (one game) have also seen the field for at least one NFL game. Both Gaffney and Lucien proved to be intriguing prospects for the Patriots during this past preseason.
The Patriots have drafted a number of quarterbacks over the past 15 or so years to back up Tom Brady, including Matt Cassel, Ryan Mallett, and (my personal favorite) Rohan Davey. However, none of these signal-callers held as much intrigue as current second-string quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
The Patriots hadn’t drafted a quarterback in the first two rounds since Drew Bledsoe in 1993, which added plenty of hype around the team’s second-round selection of Garoppolo during the 2014 draft. While many declared him the heir apparent to Brady, the Eastern Illinois product didn’t have much of a chance to showcase his skills during his first two years in the league. Excluding brief cameos during the 2014 season, Garoppolo served mostly as coach Bill Belichick’s victory cigar.
That was until this past season, when the third-year player had an opportunity to start the first four games of the season while Brady served his four-game suspension. The 25-year-old showed plenty of poise during his first two starts, completing 71-percent of his passes for 496 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Unfortunately, Garoppolo injured his AC joint during that Week 2 victory, and rookie Jacoby Brissett ultimately took over as the starter until Brady’s return.
Brady was dynamic following his suspension, throwing a career-low two interceptions while completing 67.4-percent of his passes (his highest completion percentage since his record-breaking 2007 campaign). Of course, the former MVP also led his team to the biggest Super Bowl comeback of all-time, giving him a record fifth ring.
Despite being 39-years-old, Brady hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down, and this has predictably led to trade speculation regarding his back-up. These whispers have now been lingering for months, but the logic goes beyond the fact that Garoppolo is more than a decade younger than Brady. The quarterback is set to become an unrestricted free agent following next season. The Texans dished out $37MM in guaranteed money to Brock Osweiler following seven starts, so there’s no doubt that some desperate team would commit long-term money to Garoppolo.
Would the Patriots be willing to spend the money to retain him? The organization could re-sign the quarterback, or they could even opt to franchise him following the 2017 season. However, Brady has continually restructured his contract, and the current iteration of his deal lasts through the 2019 season. Even then, reports from this weekend indicated that the team was looking to extend Bradyagain next offseason. Plus, the Patriots still have Brissett signed to his rookie contract, and reports indicate that the organization is intrigued by the young signal-caller.
There certainly would be a number of teams willing to give up some assets for Garoppolo. Recent reports have connected the Bears, Browns, and 49ers to the quarterback, and more teams will surely pop up as the offseason continues. For what it’s worth, recent reports indicated that the Patriots would be willing to move their young quarterback, and the team is apparently seeking a first- and fourth-round pick in return.
The downside is all based on hypotheticals. Brady could realistically fall off a cliff suddenly, similar to what happened to Peyton Manning in 2015. Brady could also suffer a devastating injury, leaving the team with no options besides Brissett. Of course, Brady will have to retire eventually, and having a replacement ready to go has typically worked out for franchises.
That leads to my question: should the Patriots trade Jimmy Garoppolo? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
We can now add another name to the list of free agent quarterbacks. Mike Garafolo of NFL.com reports (via Twitter) that the Browns have released veteran signal-callerJosh McCown. Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com reports (via Twitter) that the team will also be releasing veteran cornerback Tramon Williams.
McCown, 37, will now be looking to join the eighth team of career, as Garafolo notes that the quarterback is hoping to continue playing next season.
“We appreciate the Browns making this move now so Josh has a chance to catch on with another team,’‘ agent Mike McCartney told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “Josh plans to continue his playing career.”
The 14-year veteran was solid this past season in his five games (three starts), completing 54.5-percent of his passes for 1,100 yards, six touchdowns, and six interceptions. McCown was even better in 2015, throwing for 12 touchdowns and only four picks. The move isn’t particularly surprising, as the organization has been connected to a number of quarterbacks via the draft or trade. Releasing the veteran will also erase his nearly $5MM cap hit, leaving the organization with a bit more than $600K in dead cap.
McCown would be a solid choice for teams seeking a veteran backup quarterback. ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak suggests (via Twitter) that the Bills could be a destination, especially if they’re able to get rid of Tyrod Taylor. Cameron Wolfe of The Denver Post even says (via Twitter) the Broncos could be an option if the team opts to sign a “mentor.”
Following eight productive seasons with the Packers, Williams signed a three-year, $21MM contract with the Browns prior to the 2015 season. After starting 15 games during his first year in Cleveland, the 33-year-old only played in 12 games (seven starts) this past season. The veteran finished the campaign with 36 tackles, five passes defended, and one interception – his lowest totals since the 2007 season. Releasing the veteran will save the organization nearly $7MM.
In total, Grossi estimates that the two moves will save the Browns nearly $11.3MM in cap space (Twitter link). Former agent Joel Corry tweets that the Browns will now have around $105MM in cap space this offseason.
The Packers have cut running back James Starks, according to the league’s official transactions wire. Starks’ release comes under the non-football injury designation. The running back finished the season in concussion protocol following a car accident and that’s presumably the driving force behind the NFI tag.
The Packers were without starter Eddie Lacy for much of the season and a good chunk of Starks’ absence overlapped with that period. The injuries forced Green Bay to get creative in the backfield, turning to wide receiver Ty Montgomery as a ball carrier. The Packers also had former Chiefs running back Knile Davis on the roster for a cup of coffee, but he did not do much in his brief time there.
All in all, Starks finished the season with 145 yards off of 63 carries plus 19 catches for 134 yards and two scores. The 2.3 yards-per-carry average stands as the worst of his career.
Starks will turn 31 on Feb. 25 – a very advanced age for any tailback – so it remains to be seen how much interest he’ll encounter once he’s healthy. It’s also possible that he considers retirement after a productive seven-year career which includes one Super Bowl ring. If the Packers bring him back, it will almost certainly be at a lower rate than the $3MM he was slated to make in ’17.
Could Robert Turbin be the Colts‘ running back of the future? If the team wants him to stay in the fold, they’ll have to sign the pending free agent to a new contract. Turbin, for his part, says he wants to return but he is also seeking “security” in his new deal, Zac Keefer of the Indy Star writes. In 2016, Turbin had seven rushing touchdowns off of just 47 carries, plus one receiving score. Frank Gore still projects as the Colts’ starter in 2017, but the team has to start thinking about a successor since his contract runs out after 2017 and he will turn 35 before the start of the ’18 campaign.
Turbin has never been the go-to guy for any team, but he’s ready to change that.
“I don’t want to be labeled as a backup running back or a third-down back,” Turbin said in late December. “I want to be a starter in this league. I believe I can be a starter. It’s just about timing. I’ll continue to work hard like I always have and try to make the most of my opportunities.”
Here’s more out of the AFC:
After releasing former top-10 pick Justin Gilbert, it’s time for the Steelers to stop giving up draft picks for other teams’ cornerbacks, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler opines. The Steelers also gave up a pick for their short time with cornerback Brandon Boykin and Fowler would rather see the team acquire secondary help in the draft and cultivate their own corners. Recent late-round picks Anthony Chickillo, Dan McCullers, Vince Williams and L.T. Walton all contributed to the Steelers’ 2016 defense in varying degrees, so the mechanisms are there to build a CB.
New Colts GM Chris Ballard will use analytics in his decision making, Colts.com’s Kevin Bowen writes. In his 16 years in the game, Ballard has watched analytics evolve to a point where they must be taken in heavy consideration along with watching game film.
Grady Jarrett‘s performance in the Super Bowl served as a reminder of what the Vikings defense is sorely lacking, Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune writes. Jarrett, a second-year defensive tackle, had three sacks on Tom Brady before the Patriots evened the score and ultimately won. The Vikings missed their chance to draft Jarrett, but they can try and find a similarly disruptive force on the open market this offseason. At this point, the Vikings cannot bank on Sharrif Floyd becoming that player on a consistent basis.
More from the NFC North:
More from Vensel, who wonders what it might take for the Vikings to trade back into the first round. As it stands, the Vikings are one of two teams without a first-round pick. However, GM Rick Spielman loves to wheel and deal and it’s always possible that Minnesota could trade up again. Minnesota has eight picks in total with two in the third round and two in the fourth round, so the needed ammunition is there. Using the NFL draft pick trade value chart, Vensel figures that the Vikings could package their No. 46 or 47 pick (depending on the coin toss) in the second round with their own third-round choice to get something in the range of the No. 29 selection. Of course, the No. 29 pick in particular might not be the wisest target since it is currently owned by the Packers.
The Packerscould be more aggressive in free agency this year than they have in the past, but team president team president Mark Murphy won’t force GM Ted Thompson to do so (link via ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky). “Ted and I talk all the time, and he knows that he has all the resources he needs, but the way I manage and work with people, I would never tell Ted what to do,” Murphy said. “My philosophy is hire really good people, give them the resources they need, and you support them. I think that’s worked well for us. And yeah, we haven’t been real active, but when we do go into free agency, we usually get pretty good players.”
Jets head coach Todd Bowles loves the potential of pending free agent quarterback Mike Glennon, a team source tells Ralph Vacchiano of SNY. That jibes with “word on the street” from one month ago which indicated that the Jets will pursue the Bucs QB. Vacchiano adds that GM Mike Maccagnan inquired about trading for Glennon two years ago before the Jets got Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Jets’ interest in Glennon seems pretty certain, but it’s not clear if they’ll be able to sign him given their tight cap situation.
Lots of names have been floated around as the Jets search for a quarterback, but Connor Hughes of NJ.com proposes a new one: Chase Daniel. The Eagles signal caller isn’t the sexiest choice out there, but he spent four years playing for Sean Payton in New Orleans and John Morton spent two years as the Saints’ receivers coach. The two never overlapped, but Morton is expected to build a West Coast offense influenced by his time in New Orleans, so Daniel wouldn’t have much of a learning curve. On the flipside, the Eagles like having Daniel as a mentor and backup for Carson Wentz and prying him away might require an overpay on the part of the Jets.
The Patriots are on top of the world, but the Dolphins can take steps to help close the gap in 2017, James Walker of ESPN.com writes. One way they can lift themselves up in the AFC East would be to add speed across the board this offseason, Walker argues. After watching the Falcons use their speed to jump out to a 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl, he wants Miami to get turbo power in areas such as linebacker, safety, tight end, defensive end, and running back.
February 7th, 2017 at 11:37am CST by Zachary Links
Now that Kyle Shanahan has officially been named as the new head coach of the 49ers, the Falcons have found themselves a new offensive coordinator. Steve Sarkisian will be the team’s new play caller,
Sarkisian has been putting out feelers to NFL teams for at least a year now. Sarkisian, 43 in March, lost his job at USC amidst allegations that he had a problem with alcohol. Sarkisian’s assistants reportedly believed he was drunk during a contest against Arizona State and, after he was placed on a leave of absence, he reportedly tried to show up to a pre-practice meeting while intoxicated. After that, he took a job with Alabama as an “offensive analyst.” He served as the team’s offensive coordinator for the national title game, replacing Lane Kiffin, and was expected to serve as their OC in 2017. Instead, he’s going pro.
