AFC Rumors: Dolphins, Ravens, Caserio
9:22pm: After being offered the Dolphins’ general manager position, Caserio has decided he is staying in New England, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).
9:16pm: Indications are that Caserio will stay with the Patriots, according to Tom E. Curran of Comcast SportsNet Northeast.
8:50pm: Caserio has been offered the general manager job by the Dolphins, reports Dianna Marie Russini of NBC News4 (via Twitter). Russini adds that nothing had been finalized and we should know more in the next 24 hours.
7:14pm: The Dolphins announced today that they have conducted second interviews with Nick Caserio, Lake Dawson and Dennis Hickey for the team’s vacant general manager position, bringing the number of finalists to four. Caserio and Hickey currently hold director of personnel posts with the Patriots and Buccaneers, respectively, with Dawson as VP of player personnel for the Titans. Miami assistant general manager Brian Gaine had his second interview yesterday. The Dolphins have been without a general manager since Jeff Ireland and the team mutually parted ways January 7. With owner Stephen Ross offering interviewees no power beyond roster construction, accepting the job as the team’s general manager is a risky proposition.
- The Ravens offensive coordinator position comes down to two candidates, according to Clifton Brown of Comcast SportsNet Baltimore. Either Jim Hostler, Baltimore’s current wide receivers coach, or Kyle Shanahan, former Redskins and Texans offensive coordinator, will be named to the post within the next few days. Baltimore’s offense struggled mightily in 2013 under Jim Caldwell, ranking 25th and 29th in points scored and total yards, respectively. Caldwell was hired as the Detroit Lions’ new head coach on January 14.
- With six seasons of experience as a coordinator, Brown says Shanahan would bring more change calling the plays. Former Ravens quarterback Trent Dilfer says Hostler’s familiarity with Joe Flacco gives him an edge for the job.
NFC North Coaching Notes: LeBeau, Prince
Embattled Green Bay defensive coordinator Dom Capers is aware of the criticism from Packers fans, but he won’t get any from fellow coaches in the league. According to Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the overwhelming consensus is that Capers is still one of the brightest minds in the game. Dunne spoke with Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, with whom Capers worked in Pittsburgh from 1992-94.
“We’re in the business of concurrency,” LeBeau said. “People have a tendency to remember what’s happening today. That’s life. But I know that wherever he goes, they’re going to receive excellent preparation, coaching. There’s none better than Coach Capers. There is none better.”
LeBeau continued: “He’s as good a football coach as anybody. I don’t care who you’re talking about. He is in my opinion.”
- The Lions hired former Boise State offensive coordinator Robert Prince to be their new wide receivers coach, tweets Alex Marvez of Fox Sports. Prince has NFL coaching experience, spending time as wide receivers coach with the Falcons, Jaguars and Seahawks from 2004-09.
- Kirby Wilson is leaving Pittsburgh to become the Vikings new running backs coach, according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Wilson had interviewed twice with the Ravens for their vacant offensive coordinator position, but learned today that he was not a final candidate.
- The Bears have added Clint Hurtt to their staff as an assistant defensive line coach, writes Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. Hurtt’s role as a college assistant in the Miami booster scandal ended up with him receiving a two-year show-cause penalty from the NCAA last fall. Hurtt fills the void left by Michael Sinclair‘s depature, the third Bears assistant fired this offseason. Finley said the move was surprising, noting that the Bears said the rest of their staff was safe earlier this month.
Panthers GM On Cam Newton, Free Agency
After a highly successful first season as general manager of the Carolina Panthers in which his team by improved five wins and won the NFC South, Dave Gettleman now has the unenviable task of getting a handle on 21 unrestricted free agents. The franchise cornerstones on offense and defense — quarterback Cam Newton and linebacker Luke Kuechly — are not among that group, but both are nearing hefty second contracts. Defensive end Greg Hardy totaled 26 sacks the past two seasons and will be a prime candidate for the franchise tag after his four-year rookie deal expired. Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer sat down with Gettleman at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., for an hour-long interview to glean insight on the future of this young, talented team.
On how impressed he is with Newton‘s maturity:
“Just step back and put yourself in his shoes: first pick of the draft, you’re seen as the savior, in athletics you’ve had very few failures and then you walk into the NFL, 2-14, coming out of the lockout with no OTAs (Organized Team Activities) with no nothing. The way he accepted leadership, the way he grew, you guys wrote about how he was letting his teammates help him, his improvement in reading the field and going through his progressions.”
On what he wants to do with Hardy:
“He’s part of the puzzle.”
On what life will be like without Steve Smith:
“Steve has just had a tremendous career. He’s 34. He’s exceeded the normal career of any wide receiver and he should be very proud of what he’s accomplished and he’s been a great Carolina Panther. Who knows? You don’t know when he’s going to be done.”
On head coach Ron Rivera being in the final year of his contract:
“Well again, to answer your question, I said in the press conference, ‘I’ve got ultimate confidence in him.’ And that’s the exact quote. And I still do. So …”