Lions Fire ST Coordinator Brayden Coombs
The Lions have fired special teams coordinator Brayden Coombs, per a team announcement. Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com writes that special teams assistant Marquice Williams will take over the coordinator position for the final two games of the season.
Coombs, 34, began his coaching career as an intern with the Bengals in 2009. He served as Cincinnati’s assistant special teams coach from 2012-19, and his units were generally quite successful. The 2019 Bengals special teams unit was ranked first by Football Outsiders and fifth by Pro Football Focus, which prompted Detroit to hire Coombs as its ST coordinator back in January.
But a source told Rothstein that Coombs did not mesh with the culture that the organization is trying to create. In the Lions’ loss to the Titans yesterday, Coombs called for an unsuccessful fake punt without the knowledge of anyone else, including coaches and some players on the field. While Coombs’ abilities as a coordinator are clearly strong, the team apparently felt that his unilateral decision was emblematic of his overall approach. As Rothstein says, the team had been considering making a move for some time, and the fake punt was simply the last straw.
In related news, the Lions recently hired Chris Spielman to serve as a special assistant to chairman and president & CEO. Spielman, a franchise icon who played linebacker for the Lions from 1988-95, will be a key voice in the general manager and head coach hires that Detroit will soon be making, and he spoke at length about the vision that principal owner Sheila Ford Hamp has in terms of the club’s direction and culture.
As Justin Rogers of the Detroit News observes, Spielman — the brother of Vikings GM Rick Spielman — and team president Rod Wood used the word “culture” 22 times in 36 minutes at Spielman’s introductory press conference last week. Organizational sources tell Rogers that Coombs’ departure is a reflection of his “me-first” attitude that undermines that culture (Twitter links).
The Lions’ GM search is well underway, with the club having interviewed or planning to interview several internal options and a host of high-profile candidates like Louis Riddick, Thomas Dimitroff, and Scott Pioli. The team’s head coaching interviews will obviously start in earnest at season’s end, and 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is rumored to be Detroit’s top choice.
Ben Roethlisberger Intends To Return In 2021
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is under contract through the 2021 season, and he has no intention of hanging up the cleats before then. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, the 38-year-old signal-caller will be back in 2021.
When Big Ben signed his latest deal in April 2019, Pittsburgh GM Kevin Colbert indicated it would likely be the franchise icon’s last contract with the Steelers. But Colbert later walked back those comments a bit, and owner Art Rooney II said he is open to another Roethlisberger extension that would take him into his age-40 season (and perhaps beyond).
Though Roethlisberger clearly has lost some arm strength and is averaging 6.3 yards per pass attempt — which would be a career-low for a season in which he has played more than two games — he remains one of the most accurate passers in the league and has thrown 29 TDs against just nine interceptions. All told, that amounts to a 94.9 QB rating, and his play is a big reason why the 11-2 Steelers are on the verge of an AFC North title.
A recent report indicated that the organization is concerned about Roethlisberger’s lingering knee injury and his increasing reliance on the short passing game, but Pittsburgh still profiles as a legitimate Super Bowl contender. And while Schefter says the campaign has indeed taken a physical toll on Roethlisberger, sources close to the quarterback say he is having too much fun and likes the team too much to retire at the end of the season.
Due to a contract restructure in March, Roethlisberger is set to have a gargantuan cap hit of $41.25MM in 2021. Even if the salary cap does not drop at all, one would think that another extension or some other type of kick-the-can-down-the-road machination would be in play in order to keep the rest of the roster as stocked as possible. There will still be some difficult decisions to make, but the Steelers will doubtlessly be happy to have their two-time Super Bowl champion back next season.
Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald Receiving HC Interest
Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald has attracted the attention of NFL teams for a long time, and his stock continues to soar. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, Fitzgerald can expect formal requests for interviews after the Wildcats’ bowl game, and two NFL teams already inquired about his availability in the wake of Northwestern’s Big Ten Championship Game loss yesterday.
A source tells Schefter that nine NFL teams have expressed interest in Fitzgerald over the past five years, though the 46-year-old has thus far resisted the call from the professional ranks. In January 2019, he said he was not interested in NFL jobs, and there have been no concrete reports to suggest that he has changed his mind. Indeed, he has coached Northwestern (his alma mater) for 15 seasons, and he has repeatedly referred to the position as his “dream job.”
In November, we heard that the pandemic and the toll it has taken on collegiate athletic departments could make some high-profile college coaches more receptive to a move to the NFL, but it’s unclear if Fitzgerald feels that way. As Schefter observes, the ACC recently hired former Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips as its next commissioner, and Fitzgerald and Phillips enjoyed a strong relationship over their 12 years together. Theoretically, Phillips’ departure could make Fitzgerald more amenable to leaving Evanston if the right NFL opportunity presents itself.
Fitzgerald has been connected to the Panthers and Packers in the past, and he is seen as the Bears’ top choice for HC if Chicago fires Matt Nagy. Fitzgerald does live close to the Bears’ training facility, and team ownership has been eyeing him for awhile. Previous rumors have indicated that the Bears’ HC gig is the one NFL post he would seriously consider.
Florida TE Kyle Pitts Declares For Draft
Florida tight end Kyle Pitts has declared for the 2021 NFL draft, thereby foregoing his final season of collegiate eligibility, as ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter). To guard against the possibility of injury, Pitts will not play in the Gators’ bowl game.
The 6-6, 240-pound talent is considered one of the best tight end prospects in recent memory, and as such, he is expected to come off the board in the first round. The Patriots and Cardinals profile as possible landing spots, and despite the presence of Mark Andrews, the TE-reliant Ravens could also give Pitts some serious thought.
Pitts ends his college career on a high note — at least from a personal standpoint — as he secured seven catches for 129 yards and a TD in Florida’s loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. In eight games this season, he compiled 43 catches for 770 yards and twelve scores. He is a semifinalist for this year’s John Mackey Award.
At the next level, Pitts will need to refine his route-running and blocking, but that’s largely true of any college tight end. He has experience lining up in-line and outside the numbers, and his outstanding body control and athleticism will serve him well in the pros.
Saints Place Jameis Winston On Reserve/COVID-19 List
The Saints will have quarterback Drew Brees back in action this afternoon, but they will be without their expected backup. The team announced that it has placed Jameis Winston on the reserve/COVID-19 list, thereby ruling him out for New Orleans’ much-anticipated battle with the Chiefs. As Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, Winston did not test positive for the coronavirus, but he is a close contact of someone who did.
The plan was to have Winston serve as Brees’ QB2 so that Taysom Hill, who went 3-1 as as Brees’ replacement under center over the past four games, could resume his jack-of-all-trades role. However, Winston’s placement on the reserve/COVID-19 list means that Hill will be the backup signal-caller, and the Saints may be more reluctant to deploy him as a runner/receiver as a result.
Just this morning, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports wrote that Winston could have a future with the Saints beyond the 2020 campaign. Though Hill signed an extension in April and is expected to become the team’s starting QB in 2021 — assuming Brees retires — New Orleans has reportedly been impressed with Winston’s work ethic and ability.
The former No. 1 overall pick of the Buccaneers signed a modest one-year, $1MM pact with the Saints this year in an effort to rebuild his value, and there may be opportunities for him elsewhere in the coming offseason. But given Hill’s lack of experience, the Saints might still represent his best chance to win a starting job.
After a wild roller coaster ride in 2019 that saw him lead the league in passing yards (5,109) while throwing for 33 TDs against a stunning 30 interceptions, Winston has attempted just 10 passes this season.
Giants Designate Devonta Freeman For Return
The Giants designated running back Devonta Freeman for return on Friday, as Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com tweets. Freeman landed on injured reserve in November with an ankle injury, and New York now has three weeks to add him to the active roster.
Raanan expects Big Blue to do just that. In his first practice since being put on IR, Freeman was reportedly moving well and appears close to a return.
The former Falcons standout joined the Giants on a one-year deal worth up to $3MM in late September, and though he started four games for the team, he did not do much to disprove the notion that he is just not the same player he was a few years ago in Atlanta, where he earned back-to-back Pro Bowl nods from 2015-16.
Freeman, 28, averaged a mere 3.2 yards per carry over 54 totes with the Giants this season. He had the chance to seize a prominent role in the wake of Saquon Barkley‘s season-ending injury, but general ineffectiveness and the ankle injury prevented that from happening.
Still, the Giants surprisingly find themselves in the middle of a playoff race, and they can use all the help they can get. In Freeman’s absence, Wayne Gallman has stepped up in a big way, racking up 561 yards and six TDs on 121 carries (good for a 4.6-YPC average). 32-year-old veteran Alfred Morris has also maintained a 4.6-YPC average as Gallman’s complementary back.
New York, 5-8, will try to keep its postseason hopes alive with a win over the Browns tonight. They will again call upon backup QB Colt McCoy, as starter Daniel Jones is battling an ankle sprain of his own and a lingering hamstring injury. The G-Men will also be without top CB James Bradberry, who is on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Jaguars To Be Without Punter In Week 15
The Jaguars will be without a punter for their matchup with the Ravens this afternoon. As Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets, Jacksonville’s regular punter, Logan Cooke, has been ruled out due to an illness, and kicker Aldrick Rosas is likely to handle punting duties.
The Jags do not have another punter on their practice squad, so there is no option to call someone up in Cooke’s absence. Plus, as Cooke also serves as the club’s holder for field goal and extra point attempts, Jacksonville will need to have another player assume those responsibilities.
The 1-12 Jaguars are neck-and-neck with the 0-13 Jets in the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes, and Jacksonville is already a heavy underdog to Baltimore. Although it would be wrong to wish an illness on anyone, Jags fans are probably happy for any development that will better their chances of landing Lawrence.
The Jags will be helmed by Gardner Minshew, who was renamed the starting QB earlier this week. Minshew doubtlessly gives Jacksonville the best chance to win, which may or may not be a good thing for the club’s long-term future.
It’s unclear if Cooke’s illness is in any way related to COVID-19.
Josh Gordon To Rejoin Seahawks
Seahawks wide receiver Josh Gordon was conditionally reinstated by the league earlier this month, and according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Gordon has thus far adhered to the terms of that reinstatement (Twitter link). He will join the team on the practice field tomorrow.
Though the 29-year-old wideout re-signed with Seattle in early September, he has not been eligible to practice. Instead, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, Gordon has been limited to working with the strength and conditioning staff. Apparently, that work has paid off, as Pelissero reports that Gordon is in excellent shape.
The saga of the 2013 receiving yards leader is quite familiar to NFL fans. Gordon has been suspended nine times since his pro career began in 2012, and most of those bans stemmed from violations of the league’s substance-abuse policy. The new CBA created a more lenient reality for non-PED drug violations, and Gordon, to his credit, has not given up in his quest to continue his playing career.
In 11 games with the Pats and Seahawks last season, Gordon caught 27 passes for 426 yards and a touchdown. His yards-per-catch average was a stellar 19.9 in his five Seahawks games, and things were seemingly going well with him in Seattle before he was hit with his latest suspension.
Seattle is jostling for an NFC West title, and Gordon could be a quality option for Russell Wilson in a receiving corps that also includes D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and David Moore.
Carson Wentz Not Interested In QB2 Role
As expected, the future of Carson Wentz in Philadelphia is fast becoming a hot topic in the NFL news cycle. This morning, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com published a report saying that Wentz is not interested in being a backup quarterback and will ask to be traded if Jalen Hurts continues as the team’s starter.
Obviously, no player wants to be a backup, especially a player like Wentz who is not too far removed from being a legitimate MVP candidate and whose massive contract has quickly turned into an albatross. But if his goal is to get a fresh start somewhere else, then leaking his unhappiness might not be the best way to go about it, as it could hurt the Eagles’ leverage with other clubs and add another layer of complexity to trade talks.
According to Schefter, Wentz is unhappy with how his benching has unfolded. It seems his primary point of contention is that head coach Doug Pederson has not said whether the switch to Hurts is permanent, though sources tell ESPN and Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (video link) that the rookie passer will remain the starter for the rest of the regular season (and presumably into the playoffs if Philadelphia should qualify). Schefter’s report also lends credence to prior rumblings that Wentz’s confidence was shaken when Hurts was selected in the second round of this year’s draft.
Just last week, we heard that the Eagles are committed to Wentz as their long-term solution under center, though many believe that was simply to help themselves in their seemingly inevitable trade negotiations. As we detailed in that story, the club will need to make a decision on Wentz’s future by the second day of the 2021 league year, which will be sometime in the middle of March. On the third day of the league year, Wentz’s 2022 base salary of $22MM becomes fully-guaranteed, and he will receive a $10MM roster bonus for 2021.
In addition to the Colts, Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94 WIP sees the Patriots, Broncos, and 49ers as potential trade partners.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/18/20
Here are today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted: C Jonotthan Harrison
Denver Broncos
- Promoted: K Taylor Russolino, LB Josh Watson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Daryl Worley
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: OL Bobby Evans, S Nick Scott
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Jamal Perry
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on IR: RT Jack Driscoll, CB Avonte Maddox
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: K Greg Joseph, OL Ted Larsen