Minor NFL Transactions: 2/5/16
The NFL offseason hasn’t yet officially begun, but clubs are still making small moves as they wait for the beginning of the new league year. Let’s dive into the latest:
- The Buccaneers have signed four players to reserve/futures deals, inking defensive tackle Davon Coleman, defensive tackle Cliff Matthews, defensive end Jermauria Rasco, and receiver Bernard Reedy, the club announced. Matthews, 26, has the most experience of the bunch, having played in 32 games over the past three seasons with the Falcons (former Atlanta head coach Mike Smith, notably, is Tampa Bay’s new defensive coordinator).
- Former Lions running back Mikel Leshoure is back in professional football, but it’s with the CFL as opposed to the NFL. The 25-year-old Leshoure has signed with the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League, reports Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (link). A former second-round pick, Leshoure’s best season came in 2012, when he ran for nearly 800 yards and nine touchdowns with Detroit.
Latest On Peyton Manning
As he prepares to make his fourth Super Bowl appearance this Sunday, Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning‘s NFL future seems to be garnering more headlines than does the upcoming title game. Manning’s father — and former NFL quarterback — Archie Manning recently spoke on Peyton’s possible retirement, as did Peyton’s brother — and Giants signal-caller — Eli Manning.
Appearing on Mike and Mike on ESPN Radio, Archie Manning hedged a bit when asked if Peyton was fully committed to calling it a career after the Super Bowl. “Maybe not totally,” he said, according to Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com. “He probably envisions himself getting good and healthy. If he is good and healthy, can he play? I think he pretty much knows that it wouldn’t be with the Broncos and that would be another thing, to change teams.
“Now, he had some offers last year from teams, some teams talked to him,” Archie continued. “But I think that was going to be a lot of drama, again, to change teams, that he didn’t want to go through. He did do that once, so I don’t know that he would want to do that.”
The Broncos obviously haven’t said that they’d like to move on from Manning after this season, but given his declining level of play, his $19MM base salary for 2016, and the fact the club will likely attempt to retain backup quarterback Brock Osweiler, it’s not surprising that Manning doesn’t believe he’ll back in Denver next season. But Archie Manning did tell Andrew Siciliano of NFL Network that he expects Peyton to “leave a little avenue open” to playing next year, especially if he can regain his 2014 level of health.
[RELATED: Peyton Manning has told friends he expects to retire]
The fact that Manning “had some offers” from other clubs probably amounts to tampering, as Manning was still under contract with Denver throughout last offseason. He was asked — and agreed to — accept a $4MM pay cut, but given that he wasn’t released, other teams shouldn’t have been allowed to speak with Manning. But given that any such talks likely happened over a year ago (and had yet to be reported), no consequences will likely arise.
Eli Manning agreed with his father on the idea of Peyton playing in another city in 2016, telling Paul Schwartz of the New York Post that while he can’t speak for his brother, it “would be tough” to imagine Peyton joining another club (Twitter link). One team that has reportedly kicked the tires on the idea of acquiring Manning is the Rams, as the veteran quarterback would add a level of intrigue to a team set to relocate to Los Angeles in 2016.
Meanwhile, moving to a separate Peyton Manning story, Will Hobson and Justin Moyer of the Washington Post report that Manning hired private investigators to locate and interrogate the source of the HGH allegations levied against the Broncos quarterback. Manning apparently paid for a duo of investigators to speak with Charlie Sly, the pharmacist source in an Al-Jazeera documentary, five days before the documentary aired, and also sent a lawyer to the Guyer Insitute in Indianapolis to review he and his wife’s medical records.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Tony Romo Mulling Collarbone Surgery
FEBRUARY 5: Add another wrinkle to the story, as Romo tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that he hasn’t decided whether or not to have the operation. Like Archer reported below, Romo will wait three or four weeks before making a final determination, using that time to “find the bone density and see how strong it is.”
11:02am: Romo still intends to have surgery on his left clavicle, but will wait to determine what kind of procedure he needs, according to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News.
Source tells Moore that two options are in play — Romo may have a plate surgically attached over the collarbone to limit the potential for recurring injury, or doctors could opt for a “Mumford procedure,” which involves shaving off or removing a portion of the distal clavicle.
As Archer notes below, the Cowboys and Romo intend to reassess their options in about four weeks.
FEBRUARY 3, 8:35am: The Cowboys and Romo have decided to postpone the decision on whether or not the quarterback will undergo surgery on his collarbone, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com. Romo’s collarbone will be re-evaluated in four weeks before a final determination on surgery is made, sources tell Archer.
As noted below, if Romo does eventually go under the knife, the recovery period is expected to be about six to eight weeks, which would still put him on track to participate in offseason workouts in May.
JANUARY 24: Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo will undergo offseason collarbone surgery, according to Ed Werder of ESPN.com, who reports that Romo will have a plate inserted in his left collarbone in order to prevent future injuries. Romo has fractured his left clavicle three times in the past five seasons, most recently in November 2015.
A report yesterday indicated that Romo would undergo a CT scan this week, and Werder says that scan will help determine if Romo’s clavicle has healed enough to support that hardware that doctors will insert into his collarbone. “I think we know which way we’re siding and some of the things,” Romo said Saturday, in regards to the possibility of surgery. “We’ve had exhaustive discussions about it.“
Cowboy management expects a six-to-eight week recovery period from the date of the surgery, adds Werder (Twitter link). So depending on when the actual operation occurs, Romo should clearly be available for the beginning of the 2016 regular season. It’s unclear how much of Dallas’ offseason program Romo will be able to participate in, but it’s likely that the club will take a cautious approach.
On a macro level, the Cowboys are widely expected to add a quarterback via the draft this year, as the club has been devastated by a lack of options behind Romo (Dallas posted a 1-11 record in the absence of Romo in 2015). Romo, 36 in April, said yesterday that he expects to remain in the NFL “for awhile,” but the team plans to acquire more depth, especially given that Matt Cassel, last year’s No. 2 quarterback, is an unrestricted free agent.
Offseason Outlook: Tennessee Titans
Pending free agents:
- Antonio Andrews, RB (ERFA)
- Byron Bell, T
- Zach Brown, LB
- Dorin Dickerson, TE
- Brandon Harris, CB
- Sammie Lee Hill, DT
- Steven Johnson, ILB
- Joe Looney, G
- Mike Martin, DT
- Jamon Meredith, T
- Coty Sensabaugh, CB
- Craig Stevens, TE
- Al Woods, DT
Top 15 cap hits for 2016:
- Jason McCourty, CB: $8,800,000
- Michael Griffin, S: $8,300,000
- Brian Orakpo, OLB: $8,250,000
- Jurrell Casey, DE: $8,120,000
- Kendall Wright, WR: $7,320,000
- Derrick Morgan, OLB: $6,312,500
- Da’Norris Searcy, S: $6,312,500
- Perrish Cox, CB: $5,833,333
- Marcus Mariota, QB: $5,503,176
- Delanie Walker, TE: $5,275,000
- Harry Douglas, WR: $4,483,333
- Wesley Woodyard, ILB: $4,250,000
- Andy Levitre, G: $4,200,000 (dead money)
- Chance Warmack, G: $3,871,205
- Ropati Pitoitua, DE: $3,803,125
Notable coaching/front office changes:
- General manager: Hired Jon Robinson to replace Ruston Webster.
- Head coach: Retained Mike Mularkey after interviewing other candidates.
- Offensive coordinator: Hired Falcons WRs coach Terry Robiskie to replace Jason Michael, who becomes new QBs coach.
- Defensive coordinator: Promoted assistant HC/defense Dick LeBeau to replace Ray Horton.
- Special teams coordinator: Hired Jets ST coordinator Bobby April to replace Nate Kaczor.
Draft:
- No. 1 overall pick
- Acquired sixth-round pick from Falcons in deal for G Andy Levitre.
Other:
- Current projected cap room (via Over the Cap): $40.62MM
- Must exercise or decline fifth-year option for 2017 for G Chance Warmack.
- NFL has concerns with team’s ownership situation.
Overview:
After reportedly turning down multiple offers from the Eagles in exchange for the No. 2 overall pick in last year’s draft, the Titans had to be happy they did so, as they player selected at that slot, quarterback Marcus Mariota, looks like the club’s franchise signal-caller. But Mariota’s play wasn’t enough to save the job of head coach Ken Whisenhunt, who was fired after less than two years with the team.
Tennessee posted a 2-7 record under interim head coach Mike Mularkey, and its 3-13 overall mark means it owns the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft. The man making the decision on draft day will be new general manager Jon Robinson, hired away from the Patriots after a long search process. His first move as GM was to install Mularkey as the full-time head coach, inking him to a three-year deal.
The Titans opted for continuity on their coaching staff, but for a club that’s finished a combined 5-27 over the past two seasons, settling for more of the same isn’t going to be an option going forward, at least from a roster standpoint. Some observers have argued that Tennessee possesses the worst 53-man roster in the league, so Robinson, Mularkey, & Co. will have their work cut out for them as they aim to overhaul the club’s personnel in the coming months.
Key Free Agents:
Unsurprisingly, for a club that finished 3-13, there aren’t a ton of impending free agents on the Titans’ roster who must be retained. In fact, it could be argued that none of the free agents listed above are locks to be re-signed, at least based on their 2015 performance.
Among the Titans’ offensive free agents, right tackle Byron Bell was the most oft-used contributor, as he played on 99% of Tennessee’s offensive snaps. Bell, 27, isn’t a star by any means, and his (below-average) time spent protecting Cam Newton‘s blindside in Carolina might affect his value around the NFL. But the Titans’ offensive line was one of the worst in 2015 (No. 32 in pass protection per Football Outsiders’ metrics), so the club can use any modicum of talent it can get. Bell has the ability to play both tackle and guard, and isn’t expected to cost much, so he could be brought back on short-term deal.
29-year-old Jamon Meredith is very similar to Bell in that he can play tackle and guard, but simply put, he’s just not as talented as Bell. Tennessee needs to get younger up front, and if they do decide to keep a veteran swing tackle/guard, they should probably opt for Bell, making Meredith redundant. The Titans were Meredith’s ninth NFL stop, and could be his last.
Guard/center Joe Looney does have youth on his side — the former 49er is just 25 years old — but he probably doesn’t have a role on the Titans going forward. Although he started six games last season, Chance Warmack and Quinton Spain figure to open the 2016 season at guard, with Jeremiah Poutasi backing up both spots. At best, Looney would be the club’s fourth option.
On the defensive side of the ball, cornerback Coty Sensabaugh saw the most action of any Tennessee free agent, playing on 95% of the team’s defensive snaps. Miscast as a No. 1 corner in the absence of Jason McCourty, Sensabaugh struggled mightily, grading as league’s No. 89 corner, among 113 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. The 27-year-old has experience, to be sure, but at this point, the Titans can only be comfortable retaining Sensabaugh as a depth piece.
Elsewhere on defense, linebacker Zach Brown probably has the strongest argument of any Titans free agent to be re-signed. A former second-round pick, Brown missed the entire 2014 season after tearing his pectoral muscle in Week 1, but rebounded in 2015, staying healthy for the duration of the year, starting five games, and playing on nearly half of the team’s snaps. Still, with Avery Williamson and Wesley Woodyard manning the middle in Dick LeBeau‘s 3-4 defense, Brown can probably find a larger role elsewhere.
Along the defensive line, the Titans have two veterans — Al Woods and Sammie Lee Hill — heading for free agency. Both contributed last season (34% snap percentage for Woods, 18% for Hill), but both are also closing in on 30 years old. On a team that needs an infusion of youth, defensive line is a solid place to start, because the club can set up a rotation of young talent. Neither Woods nor Hill figure to be retained.
Possible Cap Casualties:
Michael Griffin has been a solid force in the Titans’ secondary for a long time, but at 31 years old, it’s probably time for the club to move on. Griffin finished as just the 60th-best safety in the league last season, among 88 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus, and he’s set to count $8.3MM against the cap in the final year of his deal. Cutting him would save Tennessee $6.5MM.
Elsewhere in the defensive backfield, Jason McCourty is also a candidate for release, as the Titans could save $7MM by releasing the 28-year-old. Underrated for much of his career, McCourty played in just four games in 2015 as he dealt with injury. The team could ask him to rework his contract and lower his cap charge, but if he balks, they might have no other option but to keep him. As noted below, the Titans’ secondary is so porous that hoping for a rebound season from McCourty might be worth the (expensive) risk. If he is cut, the Patriots might have interest, as they reportedly considered dealing for him near the trade deadline.
Defensive lineman Ropati Pitoitua played only 31 defensive snaps during the entirety of last season, so as outside observers, we can take that as a clear indication of how Tennessee’s coaching staff feels about him. Despite the Titans’ need for depth along their defensive line, there’s no way the 30-year-old Pitoitua is coming back with his 2016 cap charge of about $3.1MM.
On offense, wide receiver Harry Douglas and tight end Anthony Fasano both look like potential cap casualties, but I’d argue that neither is a foregone conclusion. Douglas knows new offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie from their Atlanta days, so while Douglas is due a a $4.48MM cap charge, he might stick around due to his knowledge of the offensive system. Fasano isn’t quite as expensive (about $3.2MM), and he’s an excellent run blocker. Tennessee needs to establish the run in order to help quarterback Marcus Mariota, so I could see Fasano being retained.
Running back Dexter McCluster had a nice season in 2016, but a third-down back isn’t worth $3.65MM. I expect the Titans to either try to lower his base salary or release him.
Positions Of Need:
The most pressing area of need on the Titans’ roster is offensive line, as the front five gave up a league-leading 54 sacks and finished last in adjusted sack rate. Outside of left tackle Taylor Lewan, Tennessee could arguably seek upgrades at every other position along the line, but since that that’s unlikely, we’ll start with the most urgent area: right tackle.
As noted above, Byron Bell isn’t the answer as a starting right tackle, but luckily, the upcoming free agent market is flush with tackles. Mitchell Schwartz, Andre Smith, Bobby Massie, and Joe Barksdale top the available right tackles, while Russell Okung, Cordy Glenn, and Kelechi Osemele (who could help at a number of positions) are left tackle options. (If the Titans did sign an Okung or Glenn, for example, I’d guess that they’d shift Lewan to the right side.) Via the draft, the club could also pick up Ole Miss’ Laremy Tunsil with the No. 1 pick, or if they trade down, someone like Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley.
The Titans could use an upgrade at center, but there aren’t many free agent options (unless Alex Mack opts out of his Browns contract), so the team will probably stick with some combination of Brian Schwenke and Andy Gallik for the time being. At guard, former first round pick Chance Warmack will likely get another chance to start on the right side, but left guard could be an area where improvement is needed. Alex Boone, Amini Silatolu, and Jeff Allen are a few impending free agents that could make sense for the Titans.
If Tennessee is able to bring in some talent to better protect Marcus Mariota, the club might also find him more weapons at the skill positions. The Titans’ No. 1 receiver in 2015 was tight end Delanie Walker, so it’s clear that the Titans need other options besides Kendall Wright, Dorial Green-Beckham, and Justin Hunter.
Again, youth should be a primary consideration for the Titans, so pass-catchers like Marvin Jones, Rueben Randle, or Brian Quick could be of interest. The Dolphins’ Rishard Matthews might also make sense, but I wonder if he’s too similar to Wright, as both are possession-type receivers. While he’s not certainly not young, Roddy White would be a candidate to follow offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie to Tennessee if he’s cut by the Falcons.
The Titans’ running game was putrid last season — 32nd in DVOA — but I’m not sure I’d invest any money (or draft capital) on a running back if I were Tennessee. Improving the offensive line should help matters immensely, so the club could probably just use a rotation of Antonio Andrews and David Cobb — and take a final look at former second-rounder Bishop Sankey — instead of bringing in new blood.
On defense, Tennessee can afford to revamp much of its secondary, and the first step might be spending big on a No. 1 corner. The Titans did give a large contract to Perrish Cox last offseason, and given how that’s worked out so far, they might be reticent to do so again. Nonetheless, there are so many high-quality options available that I think the club needs to bite the bullet and use some its $40MM+ in cap space on a new cornerback. I’d target one of Sean Smith, Janoris Jenkins, and Trumaine Johnson, each of whom finished inside the top 30 of Pro Football Focus’ CB rankings. If none of those three bite (or even if one does), the Titans should also take a long look at Casey Hayward, who would shut down opposing teams’ slot receiver. At the lower end of the market, Prince Amukamara might have to take a discounted deal given that he missed a significant portion of the season with injury.
Safety could also be an area of need, especially if the Titans release Michael Griffin. Like cornerback, safety has a number of intriguing free agent options available. George Iloka makes a lot of sense, as he’s a young, ball-hawking safety capable of manning center field while Da’Norris Searcy plays closer to the action. Rodney McLeod would be my second choice, but if Tennessee wants a veteran in the back end, Eric Weddle and Reggie Nelson are also on the market.
The Titans could add depth to both their defensive line and their linebacking unit, but those are positions they can target in the draft, rather than exhausting their cap space on high-end deals.
Extension Candidates/Contract Issues:
Delanie Walker turned into the Titans’ No. 1 receiving threat last season, and his contract expires after the 2016 season. The club would obviously like to keep him around, but with his recent track record, he’s going to ask for $7MM+ per season. Walker is already 31 years old, so Tennessee might be better off playing out the string.
On the other hand, receiver Kendall Wright is the type of player the Titans should look into extending right now. He’s still only 26, and coming off a down season riddled with injuries, meaning he shouldn’t break the bank — and he’s probably not the type of pass-catcher who would secure a large deal even if he does hit the open market. Tennessee would be smart to lock up Wright now, and hope for a big season between him and Marcus Mariota in 2016.
While Wright will play under a fifth-year option in 2016, the Titans have to make a fifth-year option decision on guard Chance Warmack for 2017. Warmack has been thoroughly uninspiring to this point in his career, but because he was a top-10 pick, his fifth-year option is likely to going be worth $11MM+. The Titans are unlikely to risk that type of money on Warmack, even though it’s guaranteed for injury only.
Overall Outlook:
The AFC South is a perennially winnable division, but with the Texans looking like they’re just a quarterback away from being solid contenders, Andrew Luck returning to help the Colts, and the Jaguars expected to take another leap, the Titans might be stuck in fourth place again in 2016. There’s no question that Tennessee is in the middle of a rebuild, but a smart offseason will help ensure that it’s not a perpetual remaking.
Information from Over The Cap was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Calvin Johnson Likely To Retire
6:21pm: The Lions released a statement that doesn’t deny the ESPN.com report but doesn’t close the book on Johnson’s career with the team, either. “Regarding today’s ESPN report, we stand by our statement issued on Jan. 6 regarding Calvin,” the team’s comment reads, according to Tim Twentyman of Lions.com (on Twitter).
The team is standing by its previous stance of Johnson’s retirement not being final, which read, per Twentyman (Twitter links), “We obviously have profound respect for Calvin and certainly understand and appreciate his decision to give proper thought and consideration to his football future.”
4:22pm: Lions receiver Calvin Johnson told a group of family and friends prior to last season that 2015 would be his final year in the NFL, and he relayed that same sentiment to head coach Jim Caldwell following the conclusion of the regular season, sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Detroit management has not given up hope that Johnson will change his mind, but a person close to Johnson said the receiver is “pretty content with his decision,” per Schefter.
After Johnson told Caldwell of his plans, the Lions head coach reportedly asked Johnson to take his time to mull over the decision, and out of respect for Caldwell, Johnson did just that, according to Schefter. Only two of of Johnson’s teammates — quarterback Matthew Stafford and linebacker Stephen Tulloch — were told of Johnson’s retirement thoughts prior to the 2015 season, and they were asked to keep the decision under wraps. No one else in the Lions organization learned of Johnson’s aims until the end of the season.
[RELATED: Lions to retain Jim Caldwell as head coach]
When the rest of the franchise learned of Johnson’s intentions, reports did start to leak out, and an early January report indicated Johnson was indeed mulling hanging up his cleats. Johnson downplayed the specifics of that report, however, indicating that he was still thinking through his options. “Like many players at this stage of their career, I am currently evaluating options for my future,” Johnson said at the time. “I would expect to have a decision regarding this matter in the not-too-distant future.”
According to Schefter, the wear and tear of nine seasons in the NFL has done a number on Johnson, who has been dealing with nagging ankle injuries and overall soreness (he’s also deal with finger issues in recent years). Megatron has been remarkably durable — he’s missed just five games of the past five seasons — but heading into his age-31 season, it seems that physical ailments have taken their toll.
If Johnson does retire, he will owe the Lions $3.2MM in signing bonus money, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes (Twitter link). Moreover, Detroit will save more than $11MM on its 2016 salary cap if Johnson hangs it up. Even if he does reverse course and decide to play another year, Johnson and the club might have to rework his current deal, and his cap charge is set to balloon to more than $24MM next season.
[RELATED: Lions to retain Jim Bob Cooter as offensive coordinator]
Since leading the NFL with 122 receptions and 1,964 yards in 2012, Johnson has seen his production decline a little. Still, he continued to be one of the league’s more productive pass catchers in 2015, with 88 catches, 1,214 yards, and nine touchdowns. Johnson is the Lions’ all-time leader in receptions (731) receiving yards (11,619) and receiving touchdowns (83), tweets Dianna Marie Russini of ESPN.
As of last week, new Lions general manager Bob Quinn said he had not spoken to Johnson about his future, though Quinn did note that he hoped to have a resolution before the start of free agency in March.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
PFR Originals: 1/24/16 – 1/31/16
The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff during the past week:
- In our latest Community Tailgate post, we asked: Who’s going to win Super Bowl 50? The discussion seems to be pretty evenly divided between the Broncos and Panthers so far, so jump in and give your opinion! And be sure to look out for future Community Tailgates, where we’ll post a topic for discussion and ask for your thoughts in the comments section.
- Luke Adams took a look at the longest-tenured NFL coaches, and Bill Belichick still leads the way, having been in charge of the Patriots since 2000. Marvin Lewis, Mike McCarthy, Sean Payton, and Mike Tomlin round out the top five.
- Luke also went over the latest news in the league’s ongoing offensive and defensive coordinator searches.
- Zach Links rounded up the best of the football blogs in the latest edition of Pigskin Links.
Week In Review: 1/24/16 – 1/31/16
Extended:
- Chiefs – Travis Kelce, TE (through 2021)
- Eagles – Brent Celek, TE (through 2018); Zach Ertz, TE (through 2021); Lane Johnson, T (through 2021)
Relocation:
- The Chargers announced they will remain in San Diego for the 2016 season, although they have agreed in principle to a deal that gives the club an option to move to Los Angeles in the future.
- The Raiders are exploring a move to Las Vegas, but they are also discussing a short-term lease with O.co Coliseum in Oakland.
Coaching:
- 49ers – Jim O’Neil (defensive coordinator)
- Buccaneers – Todd Monken (offensive coordinator)
- Rams – Rob Boras (offensive coordinator)
Front Office:
- Colts – Ryan Grigson, general manger (extended through 2019)
- Falcons – hired Lionel Vital and Ruston Webster (link)
Retired:
- Mike Leach, LS (link)
Other:
- Dolphins plan to rework Ndamukong Suh‘s contract (link)
- Cowboys don’t plan to re-sign Greg Hardy (link)
- Panthers LB Thomas Davis breaks arm, plans to play in Super Bowl (link)
Lions Hire Randy Edsall
The Lions have hired former Maryland/UConn head coach Randy Edsall, reports Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com. Edsall, 57, will serve as the director of football research/special projects.
The role is certainly not a common one among NFL staffs, but according to Twentyman, Edsall will assist in gameday preparation (presumably scouting future opponents, searching for tendencies, etc.), and will also aid in draft and free agency work. Presumably, he’ll act as something of a liaison between the front office and the coaching staff, but I’d assume he’ll primarily work under general manager Bob Quinn, if only because the pair has a professional history — Quinn acted as a graduate assistant under Edsall when the latter was head coach at Connecticut.
[RELATED: Lions hire Kevin Anderson as chief of staff/assistant to the GM]
Quinn, of course, came to Detroit from the Patriots’ scouting staff, and as Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com points out, director of football research, while not an ordinary NFL title, is a position on New England’s staff. Ernie Adams, a confidant of Bill Belichick, has long held the same job with the Patriots, working on in-game strategies and decision-making (Adams was profiled by Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe last year).
Edsall’s coaching experience dates back to 1980, and while most of that time was spent in the college ranks, he did spend a few years in the NFL, acting as the Jaguars defensive backs coach form 1994-97. He’d been the head coach at Maryland since 2014, but was relieved of his duties after posting a 2-4 record to start the 2015 campaign.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Extra Points: Broncos, Fins, Bengals, Cowboys
Broncos director of pro personnel Tom Heckert won’t get to watch his club take on the Panthers in Super Bowl 50, as he revealed that he’s been dealing with a “very treatable blood disorder,” writes Mike Klis of 9News. Heckert, formerly the general manager of the Browns, has been on medical leave since the start of the second half of the regular season. PFR joins the NFL community in wishing Heckert all the best in his recovery.
Now let’s take a quick spin around the league:
- Concussions increased league-wide in 2015, the NFL announced in its annual injury report. Reported concussions rose from 115 in 2014 to 182 this past year, and the league will study why that was the case, according to Howard Fendrich of the Associated Press.
- New Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph praised Bengals defensive backs Reggie Nelson and Adam Jones during his introductory press conference, and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald expects Miami to target both in free agency. Joseph is tasked with turning around a Dolphins defense that ranked in the bottom 10 of DVOA, and improving the secondary is a logical first step. Aside from safety Reshad Jones, Miami doesn’t have very many immovable objects in its defensive backfield.
- Cowboys defensive end Demarcus Lawrence recently underwent back surgery, but he should be able to return “when it matters,” a source tells Todd Archer of ESPN.com. As Archer notes, Dallas head coach Jason Garrett was hesitant to put a timetable on Lawrence’s recovery when speaking at the Senior Bowl. Lawrence took a big leap forward in his second NFl season, starting 13 games and posting eight sacks in the process.
South Notes: Panthers, Jags, Colts, Freeman
Peyton Manning will face Carolina in Super Bowl 50 next week, but had things gone just a bit differently, Manning could have been a member of the Panthers himself. As Steve Reed of the Associated Press details, the Panthers approached the Colts prior to the 1998 draft in the hopes of trading up the first pick, offering quarterback Kerry Collins and a myriad of draft choices. But Colts general manager Bill Polian wouldn’t hear of it. “There wasn’t anything they could give us that was going to replace Peyton Manning,” Polian said.
As we ponder what could have been, let’s take a look at a few more notes from the NFL’s two South divisions:
- The Jaguars have two open spots remaining on their coaching staff, including defensive line coach, which is now vacant following the promotion of Todd Wash to defensive coordinator. According to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union, Wash will continue serving as defensive line coach for the time being, but general manger Dave Caldwell indicated that could change if a different fit presents itself. Jacksonville also is looking to fill one offensive assistant role.
- Kevin Bowen of Colts.com begins his latest mailbag by tackling the subject of impending free agent linebacker Jerrell Freeman, noting that the 29-year-old might not be a priority for the Colts in free agency. Owner Jim Irsay has noted the club needs to get younger on defense, per Bowen, and with D’Qwell Jackson, Nate Irving, and Sio Moore all in the fold, Freeman could be the odd man out.
- Speaking of Jackson, the veteran Colts linebacker is being sued for $1.5MM in connection to an assault that occurred in February 15, sources tell Dianna Marie Russini of ESPN (Twitter link). Jackson allegedly broke a bone in a delivery driver’s face.