Browns GM John Dorsey On Hot Seat?
We heard earlier this morning that the Browns are doing their due diligence on potential replacements for first-year head coach Freddie Kitchens. That report was not particularly surprising, but Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has since dropped a much more intriguing nugget. Per Florio, Cleveland GM John Dorsey may also be on the hot seat.
Florio’s sources have indicated that “questions have emerged” regarding Dorsey’s future in Cleveland, with one source saying the GM’s job is “not completely safe.” It still sounds more likely than not that Dorsey will be back in 2020, but it’s nonetheless notable that ownership is even considering a change.
After all, Dorsey came to the team in December 2017 and has infused a great deal of talent into the roster in a short period of time. In some respects, he may even be a victim of his own success. If you had told most people that the Browns, who have almost always been a doormat since their rebirth in 1999, would have posted at least six wins in 2018 and 2019 after finishing 0-16 in 2017, those people likely would have said that Dorsey has things headed in the right direction.
But given the expectations that came with Dorsey’s high-profile acquisitions over the past couple of years, the team’s 6-9 record in 2019 is an abject disappointment. And he was the one who spearheaded the Kitchens hire, and he also forced former OC Todd Haley onto former HC Hue Jackson, which created a disastrous relationship.
Plus, a GM is not just a fantasy football player. He must not only accumulate talent but also determine how that talent will complement each other and how personalities will mesh. Obviously, Cleveland has been a disaster in that regard this year.
Florio says chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta could be a factor in Dorsey’s fate. There were rumblings earlier in the year that DePodesta could be elevated over Dorsey, and while that didn’t happen, current rumors suggest that if DePodesta were willing to relocate to Cleveland on a full-time basis, he could end up with much more power. Or, ownership could fire Dorsey and let DePodesta choose his successor.
Even if the smart money is on Dorsey staying and Kitchens going, this is clearly a situation worth monitoring, and one that seemed completely unrealistic at the start of the season.
Browns Researching HC Candidates
The Browns have been researching head coaching candidates, as Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports (via Twitter). La Canfora says Cleveland is doing its due diligence on possible replacements for first-year HC Freddie Kitchens, who may be given his walking papers after Sunday’s season finale.
Obviously, it would not be surprising to see Kitchens fired. The Browns have underachieved all season, they have looked undisciplined and sloppy, and Kitchens looks ill-equipped to handle a locker room full of talented but headstrong players. Kitchens has not helped himself either, as his words and actions have occasionally suggested that he is in over his head.
Just two weeks ago, we heard that Cleveland was planning to keep Kitchens around for 2020 and to give him a chance to right the ship. Since then, however, the Browns suffered a bad loss to the Cardinals — which included more infighting — and after keeping the Ravens in check for most of the first half last Sunday, they imploded in the final two minutes of the second quarter and ultimately lost 31-15.
The loss to Baltimore was a capsule of the Browns’ season. They played well for a stretch but ultimately unraveled when adversity struck, and Kitchens’ questionable decision-making helped key the Ravens’ comeback.
Given the talent on the roster, the Browns may be able to woo a high-profile head coaching candidate, and they are at least reviewing all of their options. A loss, or even an ugly win, against the 1-14 Bengals on Sunday afternoon could trigger Kitchens’ ouster.
Bucs, Jameis Winston Have Not Had Contract Talks
Yesterday, we heard from Jenna Laine of ESPN.com that Buccaneers brass is undecided on what to do with quarterback Jameis Winston, whose contract expires at the end of the season. Laine reported that members of Tampa’s front office have gone back and forth on the enigmatic signal-caller, unsure if he is the right person to key a return to competitiveness.
And as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes, there have been no contract discussions of any kind between the Bucs and Winston. Given his uncertain standing within the organization, that makes some sense, but it’s somewhat curious that Tampa hasn’t at least reached out to Winston’s camp to see what kind of deal he’s looking for.
However, Florio says the fact that no conversations have taken place does not mean that the team necessarily plans to move on from Winston. All options remains on the table, including a long-term deal, a bridge contract, or even a franchise or transition tag. The Bucs and their former No. 1 overall pick will engage in talks after the season to determine if there is a mutually agreeable arrangement to be reached. While recent reports suggested that the team planned to retain Winston, it doesn’t sound as if that is set in stone.
Seemingly every game he plays, Winston shows flashes of brilliance emblematic of his draft status, but he struggles to avoid head-scratching and crippling turnovers. He is all but certain to crack 5,000 yards passing for the first time in his career in the Bucs’ season finale against Atlanta on Sunday afternoon, and he has thrown for a career-high 31 TDs. But he also leads the league in interceptions (28), and if he throws two interceptions versus the Falcons, he will become the first player in history to throw 30 touchdowns and 30 picks in the same season.
Latest On Colts’ QB Plans
We recently heard that the Colts could look to add a QB this offseason, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com is hearing the same. Although Indianapolis may not be involved in the free agent or trade market for signal-callers, Rapoport suggests the team could use an early pick on a QB in the 2020 draft.
Starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett had a pretty strong start to the season, but he has struggled in recent weeks as the Colts have fallen out of playoff contention. He is due a $6MM salary in 2020 to go along with a $7MM roster bonus that has already been triggered, but Indianapolis will have plenty of cap space and can afford to carry him on the books even if it selects a young QB.
The 6-8 Colts could find themselves with a mid-first round selection, which may put them in position to land (or trade up for) a collegiate passer like Justin Herbert or Tua Tagovailoa. If they are sufficiently intrigued by such a player, they could easily groom him behind Brissett while parting ways with Brian Hoyer, whose guarantees have already been paid out.
One thing that Colts fans should not hold out hope for, according to Rapoport, is a return of Andrew Luck. “With Andrew, at this point I just kind of take him for face value and we’ll see what happens because only he can decide,” owner Jim Irsay said. “From talking to Andrew, we have to take him at face value for what he says. So [GM] Chris Ballard and I and [head coach] Frank Reich, we have to move forward. And we are with Jacoby and the next draft and thereafter.”
Jamal Adams Wants To Stay With Jets
The Jets received plenty of interest in star safety Jamal Adams in advance of the trade deadline, but they did not get an offer to their liking. Despite that, there were reports that the Jets would deal Adams this offseason, and as Rich Cimini of ESPN.com writes, that is still very much on the table.
But Adams, who indicated he was hurt by the trade rumors in an odd press conference in October, recently said that he wants to remain with the Jets. “I’m here and I’ll continue to be here until I’m told differently,” Adams said. “But I want to be here.” Adams added that his “calling” is to play for Gang Green.
However, his tone could change this offseason. He will be eligible for an extension for the first time, and at just 24, he has already established himself as one of the best safeties in the game. Per Cimini, Adams will be angling for a new deal that makes him the highest-paid player at his position. That would mean a contract paying him around $15MM per season, and as the Jets have plenty of holes to fill, that could be too rich for their liking.
Plenty of teams would be willing to pay that price, though, and to part with premium draft capital to land the defensive playmaker, who was just named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl. It will be a busy offseason for new GM Joe Douglas, and resolving the Adams situation will be one of his top priorities.
Adams has a pick-six, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery returned for a TD, and a career-high 6.5 sacks this year.
North Notes: OBJ, Meyer, Roman
Browns WR Odell Beckham Jr. recently shot down rumors of a trade demand, but the team never had any intention of trading him anyway, as Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. Cleveland gave up a great deal to acquire OBJ last offseason, and the club fully intends to keep the mercurial wideout on board for what it hopes will be a rebound campaign in 2020.
With respect to Beckham’s potential sports hernia surgery, he has scheduled a January 13 consultation with a core specialist, and that is one of several opinions he’ll gather before deciding whether to go under the knife (Twitter link via ESPN’s Josina Anderson).
Now for more from the leagues’ north divisions:
- Urban Meyer has been connected to the Cowboys’ and Redskins’ head coaching vacancies in recent weeks, and you can add the Browns to that list. It’s still unclear whether Cleveland will part with first-year HC Freddie Kitchens, but if it does, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports expects Meyer to get heavy consideration. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and Meyer enjoy a strong relationship, and despite what he has said publicly, Meyer is reportedly interested in returning to the sidelines.
- Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman has engineered one of the league’s best and most exciting offenses around MVP candidate Lamar Jackson, and La Canfora says Roman is, unsurprisingly, expected to have several head coaching interviews. Though Jackson is a transcendent talent, teams will be looking to replicate Baltimore’s approach, and Roman’s success with Jackson and other athletic QBs like Colin Kaepernick and Tyrod Taylor will have him in high demand.
- Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press takes a look at each of the Lions‘ 16 pending UFAs and offers his take as to whether Detroit will attempt to retain them. He believes wide receiver Danny Amendola is a near-lock to return, and he thinks OL Graham Glasgow may prefer to go elsewhere.
- We took another swing around the north yesterday, including a look at Mitchell Trubisky‘s future with the Bears.
Ravens Prepared To Franchise Tag Matt Judon
The Ravens are prepared to use the franchise tag on linebacker Matt Judon if they cannot reach a long-term deal with him this offseason, as Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes. Judon has already set a career-high in sacks in 2019 with 8.5, and he looks poised to make a lot of money in 2020.
The fourth-year player from D-II Grand Valley State has established himself as Baltimore’s most consistent pass rusher this year, and he is also a capable defender against the run. He has not yet become one of the league’s elite, but he continues to be on an upward trajectory, and the Ravens will have a fairly healthy cap situation for the first time in a long time in 2020. Plus, with QB Lamar Jackson still on his rookie deal, now is the time to lock up other core players.
The team lost Za’Darius Smith to free agency last offseason, and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale has generally had to rely on blitzes to pressure the QB this year. Even if they retain Judon, the Ravens could be in the market for another pass rusher in free agency, and they will hope for continued growth from rookie Jaylon Ferguson.
Per La Canfora, rival GMs have resigned themselves to the fact that Judon will not hit the open market in 2020. If the Ravens do tag Judon, they would buy themselves until the middle of July to work out a multi-year pact. The franchise tag is expected to be worth roughly $17MM.
Jaguars To Retain HC Doug Marrone, GM Dave Caldwell?
We heard last week that the Jaguars were considering a major organizational shakeup, with head coach Doug Marrone, executive vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin, and GM Dave Caldwell potentially all on the chopping block. Since then, Coughlin was fired, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports that his dismissal may be the only major coaching/front office change Jacksonville makes.
Team owner Shad Khan, despite his apparent predilection for current and former Patriots staffers, would prefer to maintain continuity. Rapoport says the Coughlin firing was well-received in the locker room, and he adds that Marrone had to constantly put out fires regarding Coughlin’s fining system. If his team performs well over the final two weeks of the season, Marrone could be back.
The same goes for Caldwell, whose past couple of drafts have been good enough to give him a chance to be retained. Although the team’s front office will have to somehow deal with Nick Foles‘ contract, the fact that Coughlin is out of the picture has apparently made agents comfortable with having their clients sign with the Jags.
To replace Coughlin, Khan may turn to his son, Tony Khan. Tony Khan currently serves as vice chairman and director of football operations for Fulham Football Club, and he has an analytics-driven approach that would fit in well with the modern game.
The Jags close out the 2019 season with winnable games against the Falcons and Colts.
Falcons Place G James Carpenter On IR
The Falcons have placed guard James Carpenter on IR, as D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (via Twitter). Carpenter has missed the team’s last two contests with a concussion, and Atlanta has decided to play it safe with the 30-year-old vet.
Carpenter, a former first-round pick of the Seahawks, spent the first four years of his career in Seattle and the next four with the Jets. He hooked on with the Falcons shortly after free agency opened this past March, signing a four-year, $21MM pact with the club.
As that contract suggests, Carpenter has generally been a serviceable player, but not a great one. The Alabama product started all 11 games in which he appeared this year before succumbing to the concussion, but he has yielded four sacks (tied for 13th-most in the league) and has committed seven penalties (tied for sixth-most). Advanced metrics are also not fond of his work this year.
However, he has started 108 out of a possible 114 games in his career with three different teams, so he must be doing something right. The Falcons focused heavily on their O-line in the draft this year, and since they wouldn’t save a ton of money against the cap by cutting Carpenter, it seems as though he’ll be back in 2020 while Atlanta addresses areas of more pressing concern.
In a corresponding move, the Falcons signed OL Sean Harlow.
Latest On 49ers DL Arik Armstead
Recent reports have indicated that the 49ers are unlikely to use the franchise tag on defensive lineman Arik Armstead this offseason, which could mean that Armstead will be playing for a different team in 2020. However, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com says the Niners will make an effort to keep their former first-round pick in the fold.
Armstead, playing on the fifth-year option year of his rookie contract, has absolutely exploded in 2019. After posting modest sacks totals in each of his first four seasons — and after missing 18 games between the 2016-17 campaigns — Armstead has 10 sacks this year, and he has been equally adept at defending the run. While San Francisco’s offseason additions of Nick Bosa and Dee Ford certainly help divert the attention of opposing offenses, Armstead has absorbed plenty of double-teams of his own, and he is productive both on the interior of the line and on the edge.
Although the relatively quiet start to his career could dampen his earning potential to some degree, Armstead will certainly land a considerable raise from the $9MM he is taking home this year. The franchise tag would cost about $18MM, which is not feasible for a 49ers club that has a lot of major business to conduct this offseason, and if he does hit the open market, he could land a contract paying him at least $15MM per season.
As such, he may need to take a hometown discount if he wants to remain with the 49ers. After all, San Francisco is expected to prioritize extensions for DeForest Buckner and George Kittle over a new deal for Armstead, and the team is projected to be near the bottom of the league in terms of cap space.
But Armstead would be perfectly content to remain in the Bay Area. “I can’t even imagine myself playing anywhere else really,” Armstead said. “I’m a Northern California guy through and through, and to be a part of kind of the down times here and be a part of going through the adversity and then being part of this season, I wouldn’t change that for anything.”