Latest On Falcons WR Calvin Ridley
The next time we see Calvin Ridley, he could be in a different uniform. While the Falcons are still holding out hope that the receiver will eventually return to the team, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo believes a trade could be in the cards (Twitter link).
The wideout announced in late October that he’d be stepping away from football to deal with his mental health. Nothing has really changed since that time, and according to Garafolo, there hasn’t been a whole lot of communication between Ridley’s camp and the Falcons organization. Eventually, the Falcons are going to need to touch base with Ridley and figure out whether his return is realistic.
Ultimately, a fresh start could end up being the preferred option for Ridley. Per Garafolo, while the receiver has no ill will towards the team, he’s dealing with personal things that could (somewhat) be remedied by getting traded elsewhere.
The 2018 first-round pick emerged as one of the NFL’s top wideouts in 2020, finishing with 90 receptions for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns. This was going to be a pivotal year for the former first-round pick. The Falcons picked up his fully guaranteed fifth-year option but have not yet signed him to an extension. The team also traded Julio Jones to the Titans, firmly establishing Ridley as Atlanta’s No. 1 wideout.
His numbers were a bit underwhelming through the first four games, with Ridley hauling in 27 catches for 255 yards and one touchdown. Since that time, he’s only seen time in one game, when he caught four passes for 26 yards and one touchdown.
Dolphins Expected To Stick With QB Tua Tagovailoa
While rumors will always persist, it sounds like the Dolphins are going to stick with their current QB. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Tua Tagovailoa is expected to be the Dolphins starting quarterback for the 2022 season.
[RELATED: Dolphins GM Chris Grier On Deshaun Watson, Tua Tagovailoa]
According to the writer, the organization has “significant” belief in the former fifth-overall pick. The front office will no longer pursue a top-end QB, which would seemingly take them out of the running for Texans QB Deshaun Watson, who the organization has been connected to for the better part of a year. While the team’s new head coach is expected to “evaluate every facet of the football team, including the QB,” the hope is that the new HC will continue to help with Tagovailoa’s development (vs. pushing for a replacement).
Rapoport adds the caveat that the plan is “barring some sort of unforeseen occurrence,” like a “high-profile QB demanding a trade to the Dolphins.” This is an interesting distinction; the franchise won’t pursue a top QB unless that top QB explicitly says he wants to play in Miami. This could indicate that the report is merely posturing by the Dolphins front office.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter provides a bit more context (on Twitter), noting that the firing of Brian Flores was what ultimately “diminished” the Dolphins’ chances of acquiring Watson. According to Schefter, Flores was one of Watson’s main proponents, while owner Stephen Ross was on Team Tua. However, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com pushes back at this notion, tweeting that he’s heard that Ross was “obsessed” with acquiring the Texans QB.
Tagovailoa dealt with injuries once again in 2021, but he still managed to start 12 of his 13 games. The Dolphins went 7-5 in those 12 starts, and the 23-year-old finished the season having completed 67.8 percent of his passes for 2,653 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
Vikings Request Permission To Speak With Six More Coaches About HC Job
And like that, we’ve got a growing list of candidates for the Vikings HC job. Following news that the Vikings requested permission to interview Todd Bowles for the gig, we’ve learned that the organization requested permission to interview six additional coaches:
- Jonathan Gannon, defensive coordinator (Eagles) (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero on Twitter)
- Nathaniel Hackett, offensive coordinator (Packers) (via Pelissero on Twitter)
- Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Cowboys) (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Twitter)
- Kevin O’Connell, offensive coordinator (Rams) (via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Twitter)
- Dan Quinn, defensive coordinator (Cowboys) (via Pelissero on Twitter)
- DeMeco Ryans, defensive coordinator (49ers) (via Pelissero on Twitter)
Five of those coaches have already been connected to other HC vacancies, but this is the first reported interview request for Ryans. The former NFL linebacker has been on the 49ers coaching staff since 2017, and he was promoted to defensive coordinator last offseason after Robert Saleh left for New York. During his first season in the role, the 49ers defense ranked third in yards allowed and ninth in points allowed.
Of course, the Vikings may not be sticking with only seven candidates. ESPN’s Courtney Cronin tweets that the Vikings have also explored the candidacy of Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.
Per Pelissero (on Twitter), the Vikings are hoping to find a replacement for former GM Rick Spielman before they hire a replacement for former HC Mike Zimmer. However, considering the anti-tampering rules, the Vikings only have until Sunday to interview coaches on byes, so they have reason to speak with someone like Hackett ASAP. The Vikings plan to kick off their GM interviews on Sunday, with Titans director of player personnel Monti Ossenfort first in line.
Vikings Request Permission To Interview Todd Bowles
We’ve got our first definitive candidate for the Vikings head coaching gig. Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter), the Vikings have requested permission to interview Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles.
We haven’t heard a whole lot about potential candidates for the Minnesota HC job since Mike Zimmer was fired. There was a report that Doug Pederson was expected to interview for the gig, but it remains to be seen if that interview will actually happen. With today’s news, we definitively know that the Vikings at least have their eye on Bowles. The defensive guru does have a kinda-sorta relationship to Minnesota’s organization; Bowles and the Wilf family (who own the Vikings) are both from Elizabeth, New Jersey. Plus, as Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune tweets, Bowles was one of the Vikings’ leading candidates before they hired Zimmer eight years ago.
The DC is turning into a popular name on the HC circuit, as he’s already been connected to jobs in Chicago and Jacksonville. And for good reason, despite the fact that he would be a second-chance HC candidate. Following his Jets exit, he has overseen one of the league’s top defenses in Tampa Bay for the past three years. Bowles’ game plan helped the Bucs ground the high-flying Chiefs in Super Bowl LV.
The Buccaneers gave Bowles an extension back in August, but the new pact didn’t “preclude him from taking another head coaching job.” There were rumblings that Bruce Arians would like Bowles to succeed him as Buccaneers head coach whenever he retires, but Arians might stick around too long for that to come to fruition.
Bears Expected To Interview Jim Caldwell For HC Job
After sitting out the last two years, Jim Caldwell has now gotten his second head coaching interview of 2022. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter), Caldwell is expected to interview for the Bears head coaching gig. Caldwell previously interviewed for the Jaguars HC job.
Caldwell, 66, served as the Dolphins’ quarterbacks coach in 2019 before health issues forced him to step aside. Fortunately, he’s said to be back to full health now, and it sounds like he’s ready for his next job.
Between his time with the Colts and Lions, Caldwell owns a career 62-50 record as a head coach with four playoff berths and one Super Bowl appearance. Caldwell’s last stop in Detroit saw him never finish with fewer than seven wins, but he was still canned following back-to-back 9-7 seasons.
Caldwell is now the 10th head coaching candidate for the position previously held by Matt Nagy. The group of candidates includes:
- Todd Bowles, defensive coordinator (Buccaneers): Interview requested
- Brian Daboll, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interview requested
- Matt Eberflus, defensive coordinator (Colts): Interview requested
- Brian Flores, former head coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/14
- Leslie Frazier, defensive coordinator (Bills): To interview 1/16
- Nathaniel Hackett, offensive coordinator (Packers): To interview 1/15
- Byron Leftwich, offensive coordinator (Buccaneers): Interview requested
- Doug Pederson, former head coach (Eagles): Interviewed 1/12
- Dan Quinn, defensive coordinator (Cowboys): Interview requested
Panthers Plan To Talk With Vikings’ Klint Kubiak About OC Opening
Matt Rhule appears to be staying put, and the Panthers head coach is now searching for an offensive coordinator to complete his revamped staff. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter), the Panthers are planning to talk with Vikings offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak about the OC vacancy.
[RELEASED: Panthers Eyeing Jay Gruden, Bill O’Brien For OC]
The oldest son of former NFL coach Gary Kubiak, Klint got his start in coaching with Texas A&M in 2010. He got his first NFL job with the Vikings in 2013, and following short stints with Kansas and the Broncos, he returned to Minnesota as their quarterbacks coach in 2019. Kirk Cousins made a Pro Bowl during Kubiak’s first season in the role, and the coach was eventually promoted to offensive coordinator in 2021 following the retirement of his father.
While Kubiak’s disciplined offense had the fewest giveaways in the NFL, the offense showed inconsistency throughout the 2021 campaign. The Vikings were middle-of-the-road in yardage and points scored.
“It’s something that we could have done a lot better job of this year,” Kubiak said recently (via Andrew Krammer of the Minnesota Star Tribune). “Being more consistent, sustaining drives, being a better third-down team. That’s the most important that sticks out — being better on third downs.”
In Minnesota, there’s no guarantee that Kubiak sticks around following the ousting of head coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman.
The Panthers fired offensive coordinator Joe Brady in early December, with offensive assistant Jeff Nixon taking over in the role. We recently learned that Bill O’Brien and Jay Gruden were among the names that Carolina was eyeing, and there were also whispers that the Panthers would reach out to Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/11/22
A number of players continue to sign reserve/futures contracts, which allows organizations to retain (mostly) young, practice squad players throughout the offseason. We’ve compiled today’s reserve/futures contracts below:
Carolina Panthers
- DE Austin Larkin, OL Austen Pleasants
Denver Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs
- WR Omar Bayless, TE Jordan Franks, WR Gary Jennings, RB Brenden Knox, FB Lorenzo Neal, WR/PR Matthew Sexton, DT Darius Stills
Los Angeles Chargers
- WR Michael Bandy, DL Andrew Brown, LB Cole Christiansen, DB Ben DeLuca, LB Emeke Egbule, WR Maurice Ffrench, G Ryan Hunter, TE Hunter Kampmoyer, DL Forrest Merrill, WR Jason Moore, OT Foster Sarell
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: C Drake Jackson
New England Patriots
New Orleans Saints
- QB Blake Bortles, C Cohl Cabral, DT Malcolm Roach, CB Bryce Thompson, WR Kevin White, TE Ethan Wolf
New York Giants
- WR Alex Bachman
Tennessee Titans
- LB Kobe Jones, DB Chris Williamson
Washington Football Team
- FB Alex Armah, RB Reggie Bonnafon
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/11/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: DL Matt Dickerson, LB Tahir Whitehead
Detroit Lions
- WR Geronimo Allison, G Parker Ehinger, TE Nick Eubanks, OT Darrin Paulo, CB Nickell Robey-Coleman, TE Ross Travis
Houston Texans
- Released: DB Cre’von LeBlanc
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: DL Isaiah Buggs, TE Daniel Helm, LB Justin March-Lillard
- Released: LB Asmar Bilal, LB Will Compton, WR Javon Wims
Los Angeles Rams
- Released: K Ryan Santoso, LS Carson Tinker
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR John Hurst
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: RB Jeremy McNichols
Giants Request Interviews With Quentin Harris, Joe Hortiz For GM Vacancy
Two more names have entered the race to be the next Giants GM. Per Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports (on Twitter), the organization requested permission to interview Cardinals vice president of player personnel Quentin Harris.
Meanwhile, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News tweets that the Giants also requested permission to interview Baltimore Ravens director of player personnel Joe Hortiz. Harris will interview for this post Thursday, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets.
Harris stuck around the NFL for more than half a decade as a player before transitioning to scouting in 2008. He eventually worked his way up to the Cardinals director of pro scouting, then to director of player personnel, and then his current role of vice president of player personnel, a role he took on this past offseason. The Giants are also planning to interview Cardinals vice president of pro personnel Adrian Wilson.
Hortiz joined the Ravens organization way back in 1998, and his time with Baltimore included a stint as the director of college scouting. He was promoted to director of player personnel when Eric DeCosta took Baltimore’s GM gig in 2019.
Harris and Hortiz join a list of candidates that includes Wilson, Bills assistant GM Joe Schoen, Chiefs Executive Director of Player Personnel Ryan Poles, Titans VP of player personnel Ryan Cowden, Titans director of player personnel Monti Ossenfort, 49ers assistant GM Adam Peters, and 49ers Director of Player Personnel Ran Carthon.
Latest On Brian Flores, Dolphins Divorce
It’s been a bit more than 24 hours since Brian Flores was canned in Miami, and we keep learning more about the divorce between the Dolphins and their former head coach. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald has a number of nuggets about Flores’ firing. While the whole article is worth reading, we compiled some of the notable notes below.
[RELATED: Dolphins Fire HC Brian Flores]
For starters, Flores wanted full control over the organization, including roster decisions (over general manager Chris Grier). The head coach “wanted more power in everything” and “wanted more people to report to him,” and he wanted this decision-making distinction officially “formalized.” According to Jackson, Flores already had a great deal of control, and there wasn’t a single player on the roster who Flores didn’t sign off on. Still, tension remained between Flores and Grier.
Flores’ power grab went beyond the normal duties of a HC. According to Jackson, Flores requested the firing of the team’s top football media relations person. While he received push back from top executives (including president Tom Garfinkel), the employee was ultimately dismissed. Flores also chewed out an agent who posted a positive offseason update about an injured player.
Further, Flores planned on making more changes to his staff, especially with his offensive coaches. The Dolphins were operating with two offensive coordinators by the time the season came to an end, and Flores was planning on firing at least one of the two.
To top it all off, Flores apparently had issues communicating with some of his players, with some of the younger members of the team claiming that their HC “doesn’t understand dealing with men.” Meanwhile, veterans like Jason McCourty wouldn’t be treated with the “same heavy hand” as his younger teammates. There was also tension with QB Tua Tagovailoa, with the two having a heated exchange during their game against the Titans this season.