Martellus Bennett Likely To Have Offseason Surgery
Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett is playing with a cracked bone and bone chips in his ankle, and will likely undergo surgery once New England’s season concludes, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
[RELATED: Patriots Open To Trading Jimmy Garoppolo]
Bennett, 29, hasn’t been fully healthy all season, as shoulder and knee issues — in addition to the aforementioned ankle problem — have hampered him for the majority of the 2016 campaign. The ailments haven’t slowed Bennett’s production, however, as the veteran tight end has stepped up in the absence of Rob Gronkowski, posting 55 receptions 701 yards and seven touchdowns. Given that he’s been playing through injury for most of the year, Bennett figures to suit up if the Patriots win today’s contest and advance to the Super Bowl.
From an individual point of view, there’s always the possibility that any type of surgery and rehab could affect Bennett’s market when he becomes a free agent in March. Having already reportedly turned down a $7MM/year extension offer from New England, Bennett is clearly looking to land a hefty contract on the open market, where he should be the best tight end available. Other free agents at the position include Jack Doyle, Ryan Griffin, and Jared Cook.
5 Key Stories: 1/15/17 – 1/22/17
San Francisco’s dual searches continue. Technically, the 49ers have still not named a new head coach, but that’s only because their overwhelmingly likely choice — Atlanta offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan — is still coaching in the playoffs. Shanahan will likely meet with Niners ownership on Tuesday to discuss candidates for San Francisco’s vacant general manager position. A number of contenders have recently dropped out of the running, leaving the Vikings’ George Paton and the Cardinals’ Terry McDonough as the remaining choices.
Colts make a change. Indianapolis has finally made an alteration to its decision-making structure, announcing Saturday that it had fired general manager Ryan Grigson. Reports of discord between Grigson and head coach Chuck Pagano had existed for some time, forcing the Colts to part ways with Grigson despite that fact that he recently signed an extension through the 2019 campaign. Incumbent Indy executive Jimmy Raye III is considered the favorite to take over as GM, but given that the position is viewed as highly attractive, multiple candidates figure to emerge.
Viva Las Vegas. The Raiders made it official last week, filing relocation papers for their intended move to Las Vegas. The city of Oakland made “no progress” in retaining the club, and most observers don’t buy the city’s plan for a new stadium. Instead, the Raiders and owner Mark Davis hope to move into a $1.9 billion proposed facility in Vegas in time for the 2020 season. The plan still needs to be approved by the NFL’s owners, but the proposal is reportedly “gaining momentum.”
Chip Kelly getting nibbles. Although Chip Kelly’s single season with the 49ers certainly wasn’t a success, he’s still respected around the league as an offensive mind, and has garnered a bit of interest over the past week. The Jaguars interviewed Kelly both for their head coaching job and their offensive coordinator position, but decided to go with internal hires. The Patriots — and Kelly friend Bill Belichick — reportedly met with Kelly last week, while the Falcons could also express interest if Kyle Shanahan heads to San Francisco.
Coordinator change galore. Now that all but one head coaching slot has been filled, clubs have begun to assemble their coaching staffs by first installing new coordinators. Gus Bradley (Chargers), Mike Vrabel (Texans), and Greg Manusky (Redskins) are a few of the new coaches on the defensive side of the ball, while Rick Dennison (Bills), Nathaniel Hackett (Jaguars), and — likely — Matt Cavanaugh (Redskins) join them on offense. Follow all the latest staff news by bookmarking PFR’s 2017 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Tracker.
PFR Originals: 1/15/17 – 1/22/17
The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff last week:
- As the offseason progresses, PFR will assess each team by examining the top three needs on each respective roster. We covered five organizations last week:
- Some 2014 draftees will earn raises in 2017 thanks to the proven performance escalator, a clause in the CBA that increases the salaries of some players based on playing time. Click here for more explanation and a list of the players who will see a pay bump.
Falcons Interested In Chip Kelly As OC
The Falcons are getting a head start on replacing offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who is likely to become the next 49ers head coach. Atlanta is already lining up candidates for OC, and the club has expressed interest in former San Francisco/Philadelphia head coach Chip Kelly, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports (Twitter link).
[RELATED: Falcons To Pursue Matt Ryan Extension]
Kelly has met with at least one club since being dismissed by the 49ers, interviewing with the Jaguars about both their head coaching vacancy and their offensive coordinator position. Both of those roles were filled by internal candidates, as Jacksonville promoted Doug Marrone and Nathaniel Hackett to head coach and OC, respectively. Kelly also planned to meet with the Patriots and friend Bill Belichick, and was indeed spotted at Thursday’s practice session, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.
Kelly, 53, posted a mixed record during his two head coaching stints, but does seem to want to remain in the NFL as an offensive coordinator. Despite poor results during the past few years, Kelly can still point to 2013 — his first season in the league — as a success after directing the Eagles’ offense to a No. 3 DVOA ranking and coaching quarterback Nick Foles to a 27:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Concerns about the quick pace of Kelly’s offense, and its negative effect on his club’s own defense, could continue to hinder Kelly’s job prospects, however.
While other potential candidates for the Falcons OC job aren’t yet known, internal options could include quarterbacks coach Matt LaFleur and offensive assistant Mike McDaniel, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com noted earlier this month.
Redskins Likely To Promote Matt Cavanaugh To OC
The Redskins are in talks to promote quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh to offensive coordinator, according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post (Twitter link), who cautions that no deal is yet official.
[RELATED: 2017 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Tracker]
Cavanaugh, 60, would fill the void left by former OC Sean McVay, who accepted the Rams’ head coaching position earlier this month. Washington hasn’t held a former search for a new play-caller, though incumbent offensive line coach Bill Callahan has been mentioned as a possible candidate. Once the Redskins hired Kevin O’Connell as their new QBs coach, however, Cavanaugh became the instant favorite for the offensive coordinator job.
Cavanaugh does offer NFL coordinator experience, as he’s called plays during two previous stints around the league: the Bears from 1997-98 and the Ravens from 1999-2004. However, Cavanaugh likely won’t direct the offense if he is indeed promoted to OC in Washington, as head coach Jay Gruden is expected to take on play-calling duty, as Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com recently reported. Still, Cavanaugh’s close relationship with the Redskins’ quarterbacks will come in handy, as both Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy have discussed Cavanaugh’s “detailed approach,” per John Keim of ESPN.com.
Washington now appears close to finalizing its coaching staff on both sides of the ball, as the club promoted linebackers coach Greg Manusky to defensive coordinator earlier today.
Colts GM Job Viewed As Highly Attractive
Now that the Colts have fired general manager Ryan Grigson, the Indianapolis vacancy figures to attract the eye of multiple rival executives, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today, who adds that the Colts job is viewed as one of the premier posts in the NFL.
[RELATED: 2017 GM Search Tracker]
The Indianapolis gig does offer a number of factors that would be incredibly attractive to GM contenders, and chief among them is the presence of Andrew Luck, a franchise quarterback who is already signed to a long-term contract. Additionally, owner Jim Irsay has shown patience with his prior hires, meaning that any potential new executive could expect a long leash. The Colts’ next general manager might also have the chance to hire his own coach if the club struggles again under Chuck Pagano in 2017.
One barrier for prospective candidates could be the specter of former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, who is said to have a standing offer to assume a role within the Indianapolis front office. While Irsay said today that Manning is not in consideration for the club’s GM job, it would be fair for interviewees to worry about Manning being hired at a later point. As Pelissero notes, however, the Colts could put such a matter to rest by giving the new general manager full control over the roster.
At present, the only known candidate for the vacancy is Colts vice president of football operation Jimmy Raye III, who is also acting as interim GM for the time being. Pelissero speculates that many of the contenders for the 49ers opening — including the Packers’ Brian Gutekunst and Eliot Wolf, the Vikings’ George Paton, and the Patriots’ Nick Caserio — could be involved in Indianapolis’ search, while Atlanta assistant GM Scott Pioli could also be in play.
Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams Will Play Sunday
The Packers could be near full strength on Sunday as they face the Falcons in the NFC Championship Game, as wide receivers Jordy Nelson (ribs), Davante Adams (ankle), and Geronimo Allison (hamstring), as well as safety Morgan Burnett (thigh), are expected to be available to play, according to Tim Silverstein and Michael Cohen of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
[RELATED: Trent Baalke Could Join Packers Front Office]
Green Bay will need all its weapons in order to compete with a high-powered Atlanta offense in a playoff contest where the over/under is north of 60 points. With Nelson sidelined last week against the Cowboys, the Packers were able to lean on tight end Jared Cook — and the magic of Aaron Rodgers — as they won their eighth straight game. Adams and Allison were both available for that game, however, and attempting to defeat the Falcons without three of their top four receivers would have been difficult.
The Packers did make a move to improve their wide receiver depth, promoting pass-catcher Max McCaffrey from the practice squad to the active roster earlier today. Other receivers on Green Bay’s depth chart include Randall Cobb, Jeff Janis, and Trevor Davis, all of whom could be asked to take on a larger than average role if Nelson, Adams, or Allison aren’t at full speed on Sunday.
Burnett’s presence is also important as the Packers try to slow down Atlanta’s No. 1-ranked DVOA offense. In 15 games this season, Burnett has racked up two interceptions and nine passes defensed while ranking as the league’s No. 14 safety, per Pro Football Focus.
Mario Addison Wants To Re-Sign With Panthers
Pending free agent defensive end Mario Addison would like to re-sign with the Panthers, according to David Newton of ESPN.com.
[RELATED: Carolina Panthers Depth Chart]
The 29-year-old Addison led Carolina with 9.5 sacks in 2016 and graded as the No. 16 edge defender in the league, per Pro Football Focus, but played on fewer than 500 defensive snaps, an indication that he may not be capable of playing a full-time role. However, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera did refer to Addison as a “complete defensive end” at the end of last season, per Newton, and he’s certainly a valuable defender as a rotational option.
Addison isn’t the only Carolina defensive lineman scheduled to hit free agency in March, as Kawann Short, Charles Johnson, Wes Horton, and Kyle Love are all heading for the open market. As such, the pass rush could be an area of focus in the coming months, as I detailed while covering the Panthers’ top three offseason needs.
Latest On Josh McDaniels’ 49ers Withdrawal
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels lost interest in the 49ers head coaching job after New England executive Nick Caserio declined to interview for the San Francisco general manager vacancy, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. Prior to Caserio’s decision, he and McDaniels were considered the “runaway favorites” to join the 49ers as a package deal, adds Maiocco.
[RELATED: Kyle Shanahan Likely To Become 49ers Head Coach]
McDaniels, 40, was linked to two vacancies in addition to the 49ers this offseason, as he also took interviews with the Rams and Jaguars. However, despite reports that McDaniels was one of three finalists for the job (and preferred San Francisco to other landing spots), the Patriots OC announced last week that he had withdrawn his name from consideration. Family concerns were also thought to play into McDaniels’ decision, as he reportedly worried about moving his wife and children across the country.
Caserio, meanwhile, decided to not even entertain the notion of joining the 49ers, personally turning down an interview request from San Francisco ownership. The idea that he and McDaniels were viewed as a tandem makes sense, especially given that the pair enjoys a long working relationship that dates back to their playing days at John Carroll University. Meanwhile, the 49ers’ exhaustive general manager search is still ongoing, though the club appears to be zeroing in on final candidates.
J’Marcus Webb Suspended Four Games
Free agent offensive tackle J’Marcus Webb has been suspended for the first four games of the 2017 season, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link). There’s no word as to the cause of the ban.
[RELATED: 2017 Free Agent Power Rankings]
Webb, 28, signed a two-year deal worth $6.25MM with the Seahawks prior to the 2016 campaign, a pact that contained nearly $2.5MM in guarantees. Slated to serve as Seattle’s right tackle, Webb made only three starts — and appeared in just eight total games — before being waived in November. His release wasn’t unwarranted, as Webb had earned a substantially below-average grade of 38.2 from Pro Football Focus.
Though he does offer positional flexibility, Webb didn’t garner much interest after being cut loose by the Seahawks. The 49ers were the only club to take a look at Webb, bringing him in for a workout in December.