Darius Slay Hires Rosenhaus Sports
Darius Slay wants to sign a contract extension this winter, and he’s putting himself in the best position possible to make that happen. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), that includes changing agents, with Slay making the move from Relativity Sports to Drew Rosenhaus’ agency, Rosenhaus Sports.
Slay, who turned 25 on New Year’s Day, was a 2013 draft pick, making him extension-eligible when the Lions’ regular season ended. Because he was a second-round pick, coming off the board 36th overall, Slay doesn’t have a fifth-year option on his rookie contract, meaning he’ll be heading into a contract year in 2016 if he and the Lions can’t work something out.
We heard back in November that Slay wanted to sign a contract extension, and while we haven’t heard the same sort of reports about the Lions’ interest in a new deal, one has to assume that the team is eager to get something done. In his third season in the NFL and second as a full starter, Slay recorded 58 tackles and a pair of interceptions, and continued to develop into one of the league’s best cornerbacks.
Pro Football Focus’ grades for corners this year rank only one player above Slay, and that player – Tyrann Mathieu – spent plenty of time at safety as well, and finished the year on injured reserve. Slay’s performance against both the pass and the run placed him slightly ahead of every other corner in the league, per PFF, including top-10 players Richard Sherman, Patrick Peterson, and Chris Harris.
Slay’s contract will be one of many issues to address this offseason for new general manager Bob Quinn. As Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes, Quinn has an opportunity to make a major impact in his first year with the franchise, since the Lions have holes on both sides of the ball, and have the cap room necessary to be real players in free agency, if they so choose.
Slay is currently projected to earn a base salary of about $976K in 2016, with a cap hit of approximately $1.683MM.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Injury Updates: J. Allen, O. Bolden, JPP
Our newest round of injury updates has an impact on two teams still alive in the postseason, along with one notable player eligible for free agency this winter. Let’s dive in and check out the latest….
- Per David Newton of ESPN.com, Panthers defensive end Jared Allen met with Dr. Robert Anderson – one of the country’s top foot doctors – during Sunday’s game and was scheduled to meet with him again today. Initially diagnoses with a fractured foot, Allen aimed to get a more definitive diagnosis today, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com suggests (via Twitter) that nothing has changed since Sunday — it’s still believed to be a small broken bone, and Allen hopes to play through it. The veteran pass rusher’s status will be worth keeping a close eye on this week.
- Broncos defensive back and return man Omar Bolden will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his PCL, per Mike Klis of 9NEWS. Bolden was used somewhat sparingly as a returner this season, but made the most of his opportunities, with one of his five regular-season punt returns going for an 83-yard touchdown, and his lone playoff return going for 42 yards. He’ll be placed on IR and the Broncos will decide within the next couple days how to place him, tweets Troy Renck of the Denver Post.
- Giants defensive end and free-agent-to-be Jason Pierre-Paul posted a photo on his Instagram revealing that he’s undergoing more surgery on his injured hand today. New York is unlikely to use its franchise tag on JPP again, so he figures to hit the open market in March if he and the Giants can’t work out an extension. You can bet teams will be closely monitoring the state of his that right hand.
Titans Notes: Roster, Staff, No. 1 Pick
In an afternoon press conference, the Titans introduced their new general manager Jon Robinson, along with new permanent head coach Mike Mularkey. The club didn’t confirm the hiring of Terry Robiskie as offensive coordinator, which was reported earlier in the day, but there were still a handful of notable tidbits to come out of the presser. Let’s round them up….
- Robinson will have control of the 53-man roster, while Mularkey will have control of the coaching staff, per Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Mularkey indicated that “there will be multiple coaching changes” in the near future, as Jason Wolf of The Tennessean tweets.
- Former offensive coordinator Jason Michael will become the Titans’ new quarterbacks coach, Mularkey confirmed today (Twitter link via Kuharsky).
- Discussions regarding the defensive coordinator job are ongoing, with Mularkey declining to comment on whether Ray Horton asked to leave (Twitter link via John Glennon of The Tennessean).
- According to Titans president and CEO Steve Underwood, the team was turned down by only one candidate for the general manager job (Twitter link via Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com). That one candidate was probably Ravens assistant GM Eric DeCosta, whom the Titans reportedly wanted to interview.
- While Underwood didn’t unequivocally come out and say it, he hinted strongly that controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk had a pretty good idea that the team would be hiring Mularkey before the head coaching search even began, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Underwood cited a “comfort level” that ownership had with Mularkey, tweets McCormick.
- Robinson suggested that there will be many avenues open to the Titans as they look to improve their roster in the offseason. The team will explore the free agent market for good fits, and will consider all possible options for the No. 1 overall pick, including trading it (Twitter links via McCormick).
- Running back is a position expected to be addressed this offseason by the Titans, according to McCormick, who says Mularkey seems to favor having a power back (Twitter links).
- Underwood confirmed today that the NFL has expressed some concern with the Titans’ ownership structure, but not with the owners themselves (Twitter link via Kuharsky).
Eagles Had Interest In Steve Spagnuolo
With Tom Coughlin resigned as the Giants’ head coach, it created some uncertainty about Steve Spagnuolo‘s future with the team. The incumbent defensive coordinator interviewed for New York’s head coaching job, but it was Ben McAdoo, the former offensive coordinator, who ended up landing the job instead.
[RELATED: Eagles hire Doug Pederson as head coach]
Despite not receiving a promotion like McAdoo, it doesn’t appear that Spagnuolo is going anywhere. Several Giants beat reporters, including Paul Schwartz of the New York Post and Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (Twitter links) that Spagnuolo is expected to remain the team’s defensive coordinator.
Still, it’s not as if Spagnuolo is staying put due to a lack of opportunities elsewhere. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link), the Eagles explored the idea of bringing the Giants’ defensive coordinator to Philadelphia as Doug Pederson‘s defensive coordinator. Anthony Gargano of 97.5 The Fantatic (Twitter link) said this morning that the Eagles actually requested permission to talk to Spagnuolo, but were denied by New York.
Assuming Gargano’s report is accurate, it doesn’t come as a real surprise. Coughlin interviewed with the Eagles for their head coaching job, but withdrew from that process at least in part because he was unlikely to have the freedom to bring his old Giants assistants with him. If the Giants wouldn’t let Spagnuolo join Coughlin in Philadelphia, they weren’t likely to let him join Pederson there. Of course, it’s not clear if Spagnuolo even reciprocated the Eagles’ interest.
As our coordinator tracker shows, Jim Schwartz and Mike Pettine have been mentioned as potential defensive coordinator candidates in Philadelphia. On the other side of the ball, the Eagles appear to be closing in on a deal to make Frank Reich their offensive coordinator, while the Giants are expected to promote Mike Sullivan to their OC role.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Lions To Retain Jim Bob Cooter As OC
Few NFL coaching assistants enjoyed a better second half of the 2015 season than Jim Bob Cooter, and the Lions offensive coordinator is being rewarded for his work. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), Detroit is retaining Cooter as the club’s permanent OC for 2016.
[RELATED: Lions retain Jim Caldwell as head coach]
Cooter took over as the Lions’ offensive coordinator when the team parted ways with Joe Lombardi in October. At the time of the move, the Lions had stumbled to a 1-6 record, and rumors about Matthew Stafford‘s uncertain future in Detroit were swirling. The quarterback had thrown 12 touchdowns to nine interceptions to go along with an 86.8 rating through seven games.
From that point on, Stafford and the Lions’ offense took off. The team won six of its final nine games, with Stafford completing 69% of his passes and putting up a 105.1 rating, along with 20 touchdowns to just four interceptions.
With Jim Caldwell having been retained as the Lions’ head coach for the 2016 season by new general manager Bob Quinn, the team hadn’t been expected to make a change at offensive coordinator, so Rapoport’s report doesn’t come as a real surprise.
Before becoming the Lions’ offensive coordinator in the fall, Cooter served as the team’s quarterbacks coach. The 31-year-old has also worked for the Colts, Chiefs, and Broncos in various assistant roles.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Coach Rumors: 49ers, Mangini, Giants, Titans
New 49ers head coach Chip Kelly hasn’t been formally introduced by the team yet, and hasn’t made any announcements on his coaching staff, but it appears a handful of Eagles assistant coaches will be following him to San Francisco, writes Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
As Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News tweets, the Eagles assistants remain under contract through 2016, so Philadelphia could block some of them from heading to the Niners if Doug Pederson wants to keep them, but the Eagles’ new head coach is likely to hire many of his own assistants as well.
One notable Niners assistant who may end up remaining in San Francisco is defensive coordinator Eric Mangini, according to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports. Marvez tweets that there’s a “strong possibility” of Mangini, who met with Kelly on Friday, returning to head the 49ers’ defense in 2016.
As we wait to see how Kelly’s staff shakes out, here are a few more coaching-related updates from around the NFL:
- The Giants appear set to move on from offensive line coach Pat Flaherty and defensive line coach Robert Nunn, per reports by Jordan Raanan of NJ.com and Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter links). Nunn will interview for the Titans‘ DL coach job, says Garafolo.
- Meanwhile, Marvez has a note on a potential incoming coach for the Giants, tweeting that ex-Rams offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti is in the mix for New York’s quarterbacks coach job.
- The Titans have put in a request to interview Falcons wide receivers coach Terry Robiskie for their offensive coordinator job, sources tell Marvez and Garafolo (Twitter link).
- Doug Pederson‘s biggest decision as he takes over the Eagles‘ head coaching job will be naming his defensive coordinator, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, who writes that Pederson “can’t just blindly go with one of the big-name coordinators who are available.”
King’s Latest: Chiefs, Steelers, Packers, Lynch
In the wake of the weekend’s divisional playoff games, Peter King of TheMMQB.com takes a look at what’s next for the four teams eliminated from the postseason, and passes along several notable tidbits. Here are the highlights:
- Odds are that Chiefs head coach Andy Reid will promote quarterbacks coach Matt Nagy to replace Doug Pederson as Kansas City’s offensive coordinator, says King. Brad Childress has been viewed as a candidate for that job as well.
- With Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali eligible for free agency, King expects the Chiefs to retain one of those two players, at most — the team is more likely to spend on its free agent defensive backs, Sean Smith and Eric Berry.
- Michael Vick doesn’t appear to be in the Steelers‘ plans going forward, so the team should bring in a backup quarterback to challenge Landry Jones, King suggests. The MMQB scribe would also like to see Pittsburgh use a high draft choice on a tight end.
- With Jordy Nelson back next year and the Packers developing some promising young receivers, James Jones may be a luxury that GM Ted Thompson decides he can’t afford. King writes that Green Bay also needs to invest in a pass rusher and perhaps draft Eddie Lacy‘s replacement.
- “Even the most ardent Marshawn Lynch fan has to see it’s over for him,” according to King, who suggests that the Seahawks are likely to cut their longtime running back to create cap room for other core players.
Packers Place Andrew Quarless On IR
FRIDAY, 9:45pm: To fill Quarless’ roster spot, the Packers promoted cornerback Robertson Daniel from their practice squad, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). Even after the team ruled out Davante Adams for Saturday’s divisional-round game against the Cardinals, the Packers opted not to bring up one of the two receivers on their practice squad. They’ll go with just four vs. Arizona.
THURSDAY, 11:08pm: In advance of their divisional playoff game against the Cardinals, the Packers will be placing tight end Andrew Quarless on the injured reserve list, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Quarless himself alluded to the move on his Instagram account earlier today.
“Wanted to be the first to thank all my loyal fans who have supported me this past year,” Quarless wrote. “You all have been a blessings to my life. My season has come to an end not by choice but I will continue to trust God’s plan for my life.”
Quarless, 27, has already spent most of the season on injured reserve, though he was originally placed on IR with the designation to return. An MCL injury sidelined Quarless for about two and a half months, beginning in late September, limiting him to five games and just four receptions for 31 yards for the season.
A source tells Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com that the tight end recently underwent a procedure to drain fluid from his knee, and it seems the Packers had concerns about his health going forward. Once the team makes the move official, there will be an open spot for Green Bay to add a player to the 53-man roster — likely someone from the practice squad.
It’s been a rough year for Quarless, whose July arrest raised doubts about whether he’d even remain with the Packers. While Green Bay did keep him around, Quarless was on the shelf for most of the season as second-year tight end Richard Rodgers enjoyed a breakout campaign, hauling in 58 balls and racking up eight touchdowns.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Colts Hire Joe Philbin As OL Coach
8:31pm: Philbin won’t be regressing from head coach to position coach entirely. Part of the Colts’ offer includes the title of assistant head coach, which may have been the reason the former Dolphins boss chose Indianapolis over the Giants, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
4:52pm: Former Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin has found a new home, and despite the rumors and speculation this week, he didn’t land in New York. The Colts announced today in a press release that they’ve hired Philbin as their offensive line coach.
[RELATED: Colts hire Rob Chudzinski as permanent offensive coordinator]
As recently as Thursday, following the hiring of Ben McAdoo as the Giants’ new head coach, multiple reports indicated that Philbin would likely land on McAdoo’s staff, possibly in the role of assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach. However, it seems Philbin – and the Giants – are going in another direction. Mike Garafolo FOX Sports tweets that Philbin strongly considered the Giants before opting for the Colts.
Philbin, who was hired by the Dolphins as their head coach in 2012, led the team to a 24-28 record up until he was fired earlier this season. His tenure in Miami didn’t result in any postseason trips, but he enjoyed success in Green Bay before heading south, serving as the Packers’ offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2011. Prior to that, Philbin coached the team’s offensive line.
In Indianapolis, Philbin will be tasked with coaching an offensive line that may need to be upgraded this winter. Anthony Castonzo and Jack Mewhort look like a solid pairing on the left side, and Joe Reitz played reasonably well this year, but the Colts will want the group of players responsible for keeping Andrew Luck upright and healthy in 2016 to be more than just passable.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Broncos Extend Derek Wolfe Through 2019
8:10pm: Wolfe will have a $500K game-day roster bonus annually, which comes to $31,250 for each game he’s on the 46-man game-day roster, Klis reports. He’ll make $4.5MM in base salary in 2016.
5:08pm: Wolfe’s four-year deal features $12MM in fully guaranteed money, in the form of a signing bonus and his 2016 salary, reports Mike Klis of 9NEWS. An additional $5.5MM becomes guaranteed on the seventh day of the 2017 league year.
3:06pm: Just two days before their first postseason game of the year, the Broncos have locked up one of their top defenders, announcing in a press release that they’ve signed defensive end Derek Wolfe to a four-year contract extension. The deal will be worth $36.75MM, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter).
Wolfe, who turns 26 next month, saw his 2015 campaign get off to a disappoint start when he was suspended four games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Considering he was entering a contract year, the suspension looked like it could have a negative impact on Wolfe’s stock, but he returned from the ban better than ever, enjoying perhaps his best seasons as a pro.
After seeing his sack totals decrease from six in his rookie year to four in 2013 to just 1.5 in 2014, Wolfe bounced back with 5.5 sacks in just 12 games this season. He also logged 50 total tackles, and was his reliable self against the run. Pro Football Focus graded Wolfe as the NFL’s 10th-best interior defender in 2015, ranking him fifth among that group as a run defender.
While Brock Osweiler and Von Miller have dominated the discussion when it comes to the Broncos’ potential free agents, Wolfe’s 2015 performance made him a potential marquee FA as well. The franchise tag wouldn’t have been an option for him, since the cost of 4-3 defensive ends bumps up the price on that tag and makes it unpalatable, so it makes sense that the Broncos worked out a new deal for Wolfe before March.
As a 3-4 defensive end, Wolfe won’t typically rack up the sort of eye-popping numbers that an edge defender like Miller does, so the $9MM+ annual average value on his new deal may seem pricey. But it falls in line with many other long-term contracts signed recently by players at his position — in fact, Wolfe likely would’ve landed an even larger deal on the open market.
As Over the Cap’s data shows, Cameron Heyward (Steelers), Corey Liuget (Chargers), and Mike Daniels (Packers) have all recently signed four- or five-year extensions with per-year salaries that exceed $10MM. The fully guaranteed money on those contracts ranged from $12-16MM, so I’d expect Wolfe to get something in that range, perhaps an amount on the lower end.
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com indicates (via Twitter) that the pact features $17.5MM in guaranteed money. However, typically those initial reports include salary that’s guaranteed for injury only, so we’ll have to wait to hear how much of that is fully guaranteed.
Meanwhile, it’s unclear what this deal means for the Broncos’ other defensive end, Malik Jackson, whose rookie contract is also set to expire this year. Jackson matched Wolfe’s 5.5 sacks in 2015, and was graded a top-20 interior defender by PFF, so he should be in line for a similar deal. After investing in Wolfe though, the Broncos may not be the team to sign him.
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