Kubiak In, Austin Out For Broncos’ HC Search
The Ravens officially announced last Sunday that offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak would remain in Baltimore for the 2015 season, turning down potential opportunities with the Bears and Jets. Since then, however, one more head coaching position has become available, and it appears Kubiak has some interest in it. According to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter), Kubiak will meet with the Broncos about their head coaching vacancy, with an interview expected to happen this weekend.
The Broncos are currently in a state of flux, with Peyton Manning still deciding whether or not he wants to continue his playing career, and Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, and Julius Thomas all eligible for free agency. Additionally, defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio has left to coach the division-rival Raiders, and offensive coordinator Adam Gase appears likely to land a job elsewhere.
Still, there’s a ton of talent on the roster and it’s an intriguing destination for Kubiak, who previously worked from the Broncos for about a decade, serving as the team’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. According to La Canfora (via Twitter), if Kubiak has interest in Denver’s head coaching job, he may instantly become the frontrunner for the position, since he’s “far and away” John Elway‘s top choice.
So far, the only candidate to formally interview for the Broncos’ head coaching interview is Gase. A meeting with Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin was on the schedule for today, but that interview is no longer happening, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Josina Anderson of ESPN (TwitLonger link) reports that Austin has withdrawn as a candidate in Denver’s search, which is interesting — it may suggest that the Lions DC is confident about his chances to land the head coaching job in Atlanta, as the Falcons appear to be narrowing down their search to Austin and Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
It’s worth mentioning that speaking to Austin would have allowed the Broncos to adhere to the Rooney Rule, so even if Denver meets with Kubiak this weekend and there’s mutual interest in moving forward, the club still must interview a minority candidate at some point.
AFC East Notes: Spiller, Jets, Hughes, Revis
As we look forward to seeing whether the AFC East champs will represent the conference in this year’s Super Bowl, here are a few notes from around the division, on the Patriots and their rivals:
- Recent reports have indicated that Chan Gailey is a top contender for the Jets‘ offensive coordinator position under new head coach Todd Bowles, and if Gailey does land in New York, the possibility of heading to a divisional rival may be of interest to Bills running back C.J. Spiller, as he tells Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. “There is that familiarity between me and him in that offense,” Spiller said. “So that would be a perfect match. Who knows what can happen, but I’d be foolish not to have those guys on my list. I had my best years in the league with Chan. So it’d be dumb not to give it serious thought.”
- Jerry Hughes‘ value to the Bills may not be quite as high in Rex Ryan‘s system as it would have been in Jim Schwartz‘s, as Mike Rodak of ESPN.com explains. Still, Hughes has proven his worth with consecutive seasons of double-digit sacks, and general manager Doug Whaley hopes to get something done with the edge defender. “I know [primary contract negotiator Jim Overdorf] has been in contact with his representatives and started the process,” Whaley told WGR 550 on Thursday. “We’re excited and we want him back. He’s a great addition to our defense and hopefully we can get this thing done sooner than later.”
- Cornerback Darrelle Revis hates being saddled with the “mercenary” label, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe, who says that two other AFC teams tried to sign Revis a year ago and were willing to offer more money than the Patriots did. With Revis expected to sign a new contract this offseason, Volin wonders if the veteran cornerback will once again accept less money to stick with the Pats.
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Coach Notes: Broncos, Gase, Tarver, 49ers
While not all teams are overly transparent during the process of searching for a new head coach, the Broncos were willing to announce their first formal interview before it was even finished today, tweeting that offensive coordinator Adam Gase was interviewing for the position. Word of Gase’s afternoon meeting with the Broncos was first reported by Mike Klis of the Denver Post, who adds that the club will talk to Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin on Friday and still hopes to hear back from Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak.
Here’s the rest of our latest round-up of coaching-related updates:
- The Broncos will interview Bengals secondary coach Vance Joseph for their head coach opening, according to Mike Klis of The Denver Post. While most head coaching candidates make the step from the coordinator position, it is not unprecedented for position coaches to be hired as head coaches, as Klis notes. Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh, Andy Reid, and, most recently, Jim Tomsula, all got their first head coaching gigs directly from position coach.
- There’s still a very good probability that Vic Fangio and Ed Donatell end up with Washington, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter).
- Former Raiders defensive coordinator Jason Tarver, whose contract expired this week, is expected to join Jim Tomsula‘s staff, though his role with the 49ers hasn’t been determined and nothing’s official yet, tweets Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.
- After losing Bill Callahan to Washington, the Cowboys named Frank Pollack their new offensive line coach, per Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com (Twitter link).
- Meanwhile, the offensive line coach Callahan replaced in Washington, Chris Foerster, is headed to the 49ers, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
Giants Hire Steve Spagnuolo As DC
4:05pm: The Giants have officially announced the hiring of Spagnuolo as their new defensive coordinator, along with Tim Walton as their secondary coach, tweets Dan Graziano of ESPN.com.
3:34pm: Six years after leaving the Giants to become head coach of the Rams, Steve Spagnuolo will be returning to New York to reclaim the defensive coordinator job he previously held with the team, according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News, who reports (via Twitter) that Spagnuolo is the Giants’ DC pick.
Spagnuolo, who has worked for the Rams, Saints, and Ravens in various roles since he was last employed by the Giants, acted as Baltimore’s secondary coach in 2014. Given all the injuries sustained by members of the Ravens’ secondary, particularly at cornerback, Spagnuolo did an admirable job holding the unit together. Per Football Outsiders, the Ravens finished 15th in DVOA against the pass.
Pepper Johnson, Raheem Morris, and Dennis Allen had also been under consideration for the Giants’ defensive coordinator position, though Johnson was ruled out earlier today. The decision appeared to come down to Allen and Spagnuolo, with the latter having been considered the frontrunner to replace Perry Fewell throughout the process. For Allen, a defensive coordinator job may still be a possibility if and when John Fox lands the Bears’ head coaching position.
Washington Hires Bill Callahan
3:32pm: Washington has officially announced the hiring of Callahan as the team’s offensive line coach (Twitter link).
1:15pm: Callahan will simply be Washington’s offensive line coach, rather than taking on any offensive coordinator duties as well, tweets Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Along those same lines, John Keim of ESPN.com tweets that Callahan won’t be club’s play-caller.
1:02pm: Washington has hired former Cowboys offensive coordinator Bill Callahan, according to Ed Werder of ESPN.com, who reports (via Twitter) that Callahan has agreed to a “very lucrative” three-year contract with the team. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported earlier today that Washington had interest in Callahan, and that the two sides could reach an agreement quickly.
While Callahan officially held the title of offensive coordinator in Dallas in 2014, Scott Linehan was the club’s play-caller, with Callahan focusing more on the offensive line. Word broke today that Linehan has been officially promoted to OC this week in Dallas, so it was inevitable that Callahan would look for an opportunity elsewhere. With no indication that Washington offensive coordinator Sean McVay is going anywhere, Callahan figures to be named the team’s offensive line coach.
With the Cowboys, Callahan helped to develop many of the team’s young linemen, including Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, and Zack Martin. Dallas’ offensive line was widely regarded as the league’s best in 2014, as the unit paved the way for a career year for DeMarco Murray, and earned All-Pro nods for both Smith and Martin. According to Werder (via Twitter), the Cowboys would’ve liked to make a counter-offer to retain Callahan, but the early bidding got too high for the team.
Cardale Jones To Return To OSU
Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones, who tweeted earlier this afternoon that he would make a “life-changing decision” today, has announced that decision. In advance of tonight’s early entry deadline, the redshirt sophomore indicated he will return to Ohio State for his junior year rather than entering the NFL draft.
Jones himself acknowledged earlier this week that he may not be ready for the NFL, though the young signal-caller’s stock has certainly soared in recent weeks, as injuries opened the door for him to take over as the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback. Jones started three games, leading Ohio State to victories in the Big Ten Championship over Wisconsin, in the Sugar Bowl over Alabama, and in the National Championship over Oregon.
Despite his incredible late-season run, there are no guarantees Jones will even see much playing time at Ohio State in the 2015 season, with Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett still expected to be in the mix. If he had turned pro, Jones would have done so as part of a class that is considered weak at the quarterback position, and would have had the opportunity to earn a rookie salary.
Still, Jones’ draft position was uncertain, given his lack of playing experience at the college level. ESPN’s Todd McShay (Insider-only link) wrote earlier this week that he thought Jones would be a fourth- or fifth-round pick, adding that most scouts viewed him as a Day 3 prospect.
Cowboys Sign Jason Garrett To Five-Year Deal
THURSDAY, 2:48pm: The Cowboys have officially locked up Garrett to a five-year extension, the team announced today (Twitter link).
TUESDAY, 5:13pm: It’s a done deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Garrett’s deal is worth $30MM over five years.
4:37pm: The Cowboys and Garrett have officially agreed upon a new contract, tweets Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com.
4:13pm: According to the Cowboys’ official website, Garrett and the Cowboys are “very close” to finalizing a five-year deal in the $30MM range.
2:25pm: The Cowboys and Jason Garrett are on the brink of reaching an agreement on a five-year contract for the head coach, reports Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com (via Twitter). A new five-year deal for Garrett would keep him locked up through the 2019 season.
Garrett, who took over as the Cowboys’ head coach midway through the 2010 campaign, finished with an 8-8 record in each of his full three seasons with the team. With no playoff appearances or winning seasons on his resumé coming into the 2014 season, Garrett was allowed to coach the club in a final year of his contract, a rarity in the NFL — teams will usually extend a head coach prior to his contract year, rather than letting him play out a “lame duck” season.
In Garrett’s case, perhaps the implied win-or-else nature of the season paid off. Projected by many experts as a sub-.500 team, the Cowboys went 12-4 in 2014, winning the NFC East and a postseason game before falling in a tight divisional playoff contest to the Packers. The 12-win season improved Garrett’s overall record to 41-31 in regular season games, and he’s now 1-1 in the playoffs.
Once the Cowboys officially finalize the details on a new contract for Garrett, the team will presumably move on to locking up its assistants. We heard earlier today that defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli would like to remain with the club, and I imagine Dallas would like to bring back offensive assistants Scott Linehan and Bill Callahan as well. Those coaches figure to draw interest from other suitors around the league, so it remains to be seen whether or not they’ll stick with the Cowboys, but a new deal for Garrett is a good start.
AFC Notes: Rice, Browns, Knighton, Jets
A hearing had been scheduled for today for Ray Rice‘s grievance against the Ravens, which alleged that the club owed him $3.5MM for cutting him hours after in-elevator footage of him striking his then-fiancée surfaced in September. However, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the two sides have reached a settlement agreement. While the exact amount that the Ravens are paying Rice isn’t known, the settlement signals the formal end of Rice’s appeals processes and his relationship with the Ravens. The veteran running back has been paid and reinstated, so now it’s just a matter of waiting to see if any clubs will be willing to sign him to a new contract this offseason.
Here’s more from across the AFC:
- Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal (Twitter links) have a pair of updates on the Browns‘ offensive coordinator search, reporting that Raiders senior offensive assistant Al Saunders and Bills senior offensive assistant Jim Hostler will interview for the job. Saunders will speak to the team on Tuesday, according to Cabot, while Hostler’s interview will happen this week, per Ulrich.
- Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio today (Twitter link), free-agent-to-be Terrance Knighton indicated that he hasn’t gotten from the feeling from the Broncos that they’ll bring him back for next season. With Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio becoming the new head coach in Oakland, the Raiders figure to be linked to the big defensive tackle as he nears free agency.
- New Jets general manager Mike Maccaganan is “strongly considering” hiring ex-Jaguars GM Gene Smith to his front office staff, tweets ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Alex Marvez of Fox Sports has another Jets update, tweeting that Falcons defensive backs coach Joe Fanna will be joining Todd Bowles‘ staff in New York.
- Longtime Jaguars fullback Greg Jones, who announced his retirement today, has interest in coaching and said he’d like to eventually become an offensive coordinator (Twitter link via Vito Stellino).
- Bills president Russ Brandon spoke to Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News about the Bills’ new front office structure, which will involve GM Doug Whaley having final say on the 53-man roster, while head coach Rex Ryan decides on the coaching staff and active gameday rosters.
Greg Jones Retires As Jaguar
THURSDAY, 1:06pm: Jones officially signed his one-day contract with the Jags and announced his retirement today (Twitter link).
WEDNESDAY, 1:00pm: The Jaguars will hold a press conference at 2:00pm eastern time tomorrow to formally announce the retirement of fullback Greg Jones, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Jones, who spent most of his 10-year career in Jacksonville, will retire as a Jaguar.
A former second-round pick, Jones spent nine seasons with the Jaguars before playing for the Texans in 2013. Primarily serving as a blocker, the 33-year-old has nonetheless accumulated 272 career carries, racking up 913 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. Per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), Jones was the league’s best blocking fullback in 2010, and ranked among the top 10 in that category in each of the next three seasons. For his career, he appeared in 131 total contests, starting 72.
Jones inked a deal with the Saints last summer, but was cut during roster cutdowns at the end of the preseason, and didn’t end up playing for an NFL team in 2014. The most recent update we heard on the Florida State product came in October when he auditioned for the Seahawks.