Poll: Who Should The Seahawks’ Top Priority Be This Offseason?
Yesterday, we passed along a report that suggested the Seahawks’ top priority this offseason is extending All-Pro safety Earl Thomas. However, giving Thomas a new contract would likely affect the team’s ability to negotiate a new contract with cornerback Richard Sherman this offseason. Both Thomas and Sherman are eligible for free agency a year from now, and if the Seahawks want to extend both players this offseason, they would likely have to cut receiver Sidney Rice.
Additionally, the Seahawks must decide if they want to table negotiations with the aforementioned players in order to retain receiver Golden Tate and/or defensive end Michael Bennett, who are hitting free agency this offseason. While the club may be able to re-sign or extend multiple players, it likely won’t be able to fit all of them under the cap.
Who do you think the Seahawks should prioritize this offseason?
Chargers Finalize Coaching Staff For 2014
The Chargers made several coaching moves today and have finalized their coaching staff for the upcoming season, according to the team’s website. These moves include the promotion of offensive quality control assistant Nick Sirianni to the role of quarterbacks coach; the hiring of Bobby King as assistant linebacking coach; and the hiring of Shane Steichen as quality control-offense.
Sirianni’s promotion comes in the wake of Head Coach Mike McCoy‘s decision to promote previous quarterbacks coach Frank Reich to offensive coordinator for the 2014 season. Prior to joining the Chargers last season, Sirianni served as a quality control coach with the Chiefs, where he was instrumental in helping Matt Cassel receive All-Pro honors in 2010.
King will be fulfilling the same assistant linebackers coach role in San Diego as he did last year for the Texans. King has enjoyed coaching success over the past few years. In 2009, as defensive line coach, he helped West Texas A&M reach its first bowl game since 1967. In the following years, he served on the Cowboys and Texans’ defensive staffs, helping the Houston defensive become one of the most effective in the NFL from 2010-2011.
Steichen worked for the Chargers as a defensive assistant from 2011-2012 and worked with the Browns last season as an offensive quality control coach.
Free Agency Notes: Jones-Drew, Veldheer, Finley
With free agency looming, let’s discuss some of the veteran players that find themselves in uncertain contract situations…
Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com thinks that Maurice Jones-Drew‘s days playing for the Jaguars are over. DiRocco explains that because Jones-Drew will have likely have to take a less lucrative contract to stay in Jacksonville, he will likely leave to pursue a a free agent deal similar to the ones received by Steven Jackson, Reggie Bush, and Shonn Greene last offseason.
- Jermichael Finley has stated that while he hopes to remain with the Packers, he is open to playing for any team next season, as reported by ProFootballTalk.com and Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette
- Jared Veldheer expressed to 95.7 THE GAME radio station that he wants to continue to play for the Raiders and hopes to receive a new deal soon.
- Mile High Report writes (via Twitter) that the Broncos may move right tackle Orlando Franklin over to guard to fill the void left by departing free agent Zane Beadles
Packers Won’t Bring Back Morton
The Packers will not bring back assistant special teams coach Chad Morton next season, according to Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette (Via Twitter). The decision is not surprising considering the Packers’ abysmal special teams performance this past season, as they ranked last in the NFL in opponents’ average starting field position following kickoffs (25.6-yard line) and were 30th in kickoff return average (20.3 yards). Their kickoff and punt coverage units were both ranked 29th in the NFL.
Morton, who played in the NFL for seven years, has been coaching in this role for the Packers since 2010.
Ravens Hire Gary Kubiak As OC
1:50pm: The Ravens have officially announced the hiring of Kubiak as the team’s offensive coordinator and Dennison as the QB coach.
12:19pm: The Ravens will officially announce their new offensive coordinator later this afternoon, according to the team (Twitter link). Wilson tweets that Dennison is expected to join the staff under Kubiak, though it’s not clear if any other additions will be announced today.
11:07am: While there are still some details to be ironed out, everything points to Kubiak becoming the Ravens’ new offensive coordinator, tweets Zrebiec.
According to Michael Preston of the Baltimore Sun, Kubiak is trying to put together an offensive staff before he officially accepts the job, meaning the team’s old coaches could be in trouble. Preston adds that Kubiak’s hiring has been pushed by Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome and owner Steve Bisciotti rather than Harbaugh (Twitter links).
MONDAY, 8:06am: The third candidate in the mix for the Ravens’ offensive coordinator job appears to be Gary Kubiak, who has emerged as the favorite for the position, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). According to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, former Texans offensive coordinator Rick Dennison has also spoken with John Harbaugh over the last few days, though based on Schefter’s report, it sounds as if Dennison may be drawing Baltimore’s interest for another spot on the staff, rather than the OC vacancy.
SUNDAY, 10:53pm: The Ravens have recently interviewed a third candidate in their search to fill the offensive coordinator vacancy previously occupied by Jim Caldwell, according to Jeff Zrebiec and Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun. Until now, it was believed that former Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and current Ravens wide receivers coach Jim Hostler were the only remaining candidates.
Former Steelers running back coach Kirby Wilson, who appears poised to join the Vikings’ staff, had also been in the mix for the Ravens’ position, but was informed this weekend that Baltimore was going in a different direction.
Ron Rivera, Panthers Discussing Extension
Contract extensions talks have begun between the Panthers and third-year head coach Ron Rivera, reports Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.
After coaching the Panthers to a combined 13-19 record in his first two years in Charlotte, Rivera has led the team to a 12-4 record in the 2013 campaign. Rivera, who became known as “Riverboat Ron” for his aggressive style during the 2013 season, has been a favorite in several Coach of the Year award ballots, including the Pro Football Writers of America. Panthers GM Dave Gettleman indicated recently that he has “ultimate confidence” in his head coach.
Rivera, who signed a four-year contract with the Panthers before the 2011 season, is heading into the final season of his current deal, which was worth a total of $11.2MM. As Person notes, Carolina could choose to tack one year onto Rivera’s contract to avoid having him enter 2014 as a lame duck, but it’s more likely that the two sides work out a longer-term extension.
Poll: What Should Saints Do With Graham?
Earlier this weekend, we discussed Jimmy Graham’s developing contract situation. After Saints owner Mickey Loomis said that the team was prepared to use its franchise tag on the fourth-year All-Pro tight end, Graham said that he was “not too keen” on the franchise tag.
Because Graham has established himself as the premier tight end in the NFL over the past three seasons, many expect the Saints to prevent the 27-year-old Miami (FL) grad from hitting the free agent market. However, it remains to be seen if the Saints are ready to offer Graham a long-term extension. Two years ago, the Saints found themselves in a similar situation with Drew Brees, in which the team waited until just before the July deadline to sign Brees to a lucrative extension.
What do you think? Is Graham worth the long-term commitment right now? Or should the Saints play it safe and simply employ their franchise tag?