Falcons Hire Steve Sarkisian As OC
Now that Kyle Shanahan has officially been named as the new head coach of the 49ers, the Falcons have found themselves a new offensive coordinator. Steve Sarkisian will be the team’s new play caller, 
[RELATED: Rams Hire Falcons QB Coach Matt LaFleur As OC]
Sarkisian has been putting out feelers to NFL teams for at least a year now. Sarkisian, 43 in March, lost his job at USC amidst allegations that he had a problem with alcohol. Sarkisian’s assistants reportedly believed he was drunk during a contest against Arizona State and, after he was placed on a leave of absence, he reportedly tried to show up to a pre-practice meeting while intoxicated. After that, he took a job with Alabama as an “offensive analyst.” He served as the team’s offensive coordinator for the national title game, replacing Lane Kiffin, and was expected to serve as their OC in 2017. Instead, he’s going pro.
Sarkisian visited the Falcons during Atlanta’s training camp last year and he has a relationship with head coach Dan Quinn. Some expected the team to make an in-house hire, but it seems that Falcons quarterbacks coach Matt LaFleur is leaving to become the Rams’ offensive coordinator.
NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Claiborne, Garcon
Cornerback Morris Claiborne is one of the free agents most likely to depart the Cowboys this offseason, Kate Hairopoulos of The Dallas Morning News writes. Claiborne had a strong start to the season, but injuries were again an issue for him and he wound up missing the final nine regular season games before returning in the postseason. While he flashed his potential, Hairopoulos feels the Cowboys will not offer him a multi-year deal because of his inability to stay on the field. In the end, a fresh start could be the best outcome for both sides.
Here’s more from the NFC East:
- The Eagles are set to face some major cap-related decisions in the coming weeks, Tim McManus of ESPN.com writes. The team could save $7.75MM by dropping defensive end Connor Barwin and although he’s willing to take a pay cut, former agent Joel Corry tells McManus that both sides would be better off with a release because he doesn’t fit a 4-3 scheme. Others to address include center Jason Kelce ($6.2MM cap number, $3.8MM savings if cut), linebacker Mychal Kendricks ($6.6MM cap number, $1.8MM savings), and left tackle Jason Peters ($11.7MM cap number, $9.7MM savings).
- The Redskins have yet to talk to pending free agent Pierre Garcon and other veterans who are out of contract, John Keim of ESPN.com tweets. However, it’s early, so this doesn’t necessarily mean that the team is looking to move on from the veteran wide receiver. Earlier today, one writer posited that Garcon would be a good fit for the Ravens. At his age, Garcon is not a WR1-type, but he still has plenty of value as a possession receiver.
- The Giants are reportedly intrigued by South Alabama tight end Gerald Everett as they look ahead to the draft.
Jarrad Davis Won’t Work Out At Combine
Florida’s Jarrad Davis will not perform drills at the draft combine because of a lingering ankle injury, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links). However, he expects to be 100% by UF’s Pro Day where he can do all drills, including the 40-yard-dash. 
[RELATED: 2017 NFL Draft Order Set]
Davis is widely projected as a mid-to-late first round pick but he’ll have to work hard to slot himself against other top LBs in this year’s class like Alabama’s Reuben Foster and Tim Williams, UCLA’s Takkarist McKinley, and Missouri’s Charles Harris. Rapoport estimates Davis to be a “top two” linebacker in this year’s class, but that’s not necessarily everyone’s take.
Working in Davis’ favor is his ability to play both inside and outside linebacker at the next level. He has also drawn praise for his wortk ethic and character. ESPN.com’s Mel Kiper feels that he’s not capable of being a sack machine as a 3-4 OLB, but he is an every down player which can’t be said for others at the top of this linebacker crop. As with every prospect, he has holes in his game, but one AFC talent evaluator tells Lance Zierlein of NFL.com that the drawbacks don’t faze him:
“He’s good. I don’t care about some of those holes you are talking about. Kill him so maybe somebody will listen to you and he can fall to us. We’ll take him.“
AFC North Notes: Ravens, Garcon, Garoppolo
Redskins receiver Pierre Garcon would be a quality free agent pickup for the Ravens, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com argues. The Ravens have a history of success with 30-something WRs (Derrick Mason, Anquan Boldin and Steve Smith Sr.) and Garcon could nicely complement the speed of Mike Wallace and Breshad Perriman. Recently, GM Ozzie Newsome talked about his desire to add a receiver with experience and Garcon fits the bill.
“Some of the success that we have had here is going out — whether it is by trade or free agency or cap casualty — and getting a veteran receiver that still has some juice left, that still has the ability to play at a high level,” Newsome said. “When I was talking about getting a complementary receiver, that is what I was referring to. It does not necessarily have to come through the draft, but it can come through other means. We definitely will be pursuing that this year.”
Here’s more out of the AFC North:
- In his latest mailbag, a reader asks Tony Grossi of ESPN.com why Jimmy Garoppolo has seemingly been anointed as the Browns’ best choice at quarterback. In Grossi’s view, Garoppolo is an instant starter and it’s not clear if anyone in his year’s draft fits the bill. With three years as an NFL backup, the Pats signal caller already knows the NFL routine and the speed of the pro game. The Patriots believe that Tom Brady still has lots of football left in him, so they’re willing to trade Garoppolo this offseason. In addition to the Browns, the 49ers and Bears are said to have him on the radar.
- Justin Gilbert was released by the Steelers on Monday and one former teammate says the former No. 8 overall pick hasn’t put in the necessary work to succeed in the NFL. “If you don’t like football, it doesn’t matter how talented you are, your star will burn out quick,” Browns left tackle Joe Thomas tweeted. Former Cleveland teammates Donte Whitner and Karlos Dansby have made similar comments about Gilbert in the past.
- The Steelers and Antonio Brown started extension talks last week. Brown is fresh off his fourth straight 100-catch campaign and could now push to become the NFL’s highest-paid receiver.
Browns Claim Tyvis Powell
The Browns announced they have claimed defensive back Tyvis Powell off waivers from the Seahawks. Powell, an Ohio native, is entering his second season out of Ohio State. 
The 6’2″, 211 pound athlete joined Seattle as an undrafted free agent last year. After that, Powell spent the entire regular season on the Seahawks’ active roster and made cameos in eight games. He didn’t see a ton of action, but he did notch three special-teams tackles. The Browns saw more film on him during his Ohio State days, when he appeared in 42 games and let the team in interceptions during his final season there.
Powell may or may not stick with the Browns roster, but he now has the distinction of being the first player claimed off of waivers in the 2017 offseason system.
Former Lions TE Brandon Pettigrew Arrested
Former Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew was arrested early Sunday morning in Oklahoma City and charged with disorderly conduct and public drunkenness, as Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com writes. Pettigrew, police say, shoved his friends as they tried to get him to leave the establishment. When police intervened, Pettigrew still refused to leave the premises and continues to push his friends around while also threatening to harm them. 
Pettigrew, who will turn 32 on Feb. 23, has already been released from jail, but his legal situation remains open. He’s also likely to face league discipline for his actions, though he’ll have to first find an NFL home for the 2017 season before worrying about a potential suspension. The veteran was unable to take the field for the Lions in 2016 and he was ultimately released in December.
Once a target for Matthew Stafford in the passing game, Pettigrew has been used mainly as a blocking tight end for the last few years. Pettigrew caught only 17 passes for 137 yards between 2014 and 2015.
Poll: Do You View Kyle Shanahan Differently?
In the wake of what could have been the most exciting Super Bowl ever, everyone is trying to suss out exactly what happened: was Tom Brady a miracle worker or did the Falcons effectively give the game away? Things fell apart for Atlanta on both sides of the ball, but there is a lot of finger pointing in the direction of offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. 
[RELATED: Shanahan To Have Control Over 49ers’ 53-Man Roster]
Shanahan, who will serve as the next coach of the 49ers, was hired to help get the offense back on track after two abysmal years. The Niners are hoping that he’ll exercise better judgement than he did in the late stages of last night’s game. The Pats rallied back from a 28-3 deficit to bring the score to 28-20 late in regulation. Instead of running the ball three times at the Pats’ 22-yard-line with ~4:30 left, Shanahan got too cute and called for a deep pass play on second down. Ryan got sacked on the play and the Falcons’ subsequent attempts to dig out of the hole only pushed them further out of field goal range. Atlanta was forced to punt on fourth down, and that set up the Pats’ tying drive.
Should this be chalked up to a momentary lapse in judgement, or do you think less of Shanahan’s ability to lead SF after last night’s costly error? Vote here and explain your position in the comments below.
2017 NFL Draft Order Set
With the Super Bowl in the rear view mirror, the offseason is officially underway for all 32 teams. We now have the complete draft order for the entire first round, with one exception which is noted below.
The Patriots, of course, will have the honor of having the last pick. The Falcons, after losing in heartbreaking fashion, will have the penultimate selection in the first round.
Here is the complete order, via ESPN.com’s Field Yates (Twitter links):
1. Browns
2. 49ers
3. Bears
4. Jaguars
5. Titans
6. Jets
7. Chargers
8. Panthers
9. Bengals
10. Bills
11. Saints
12. Browns
13. Cardinals
T-14. Eagles (via the Vikings)
T-14. Colts (Note: The Vikings and Colts have identical records and the same strength of schedule. The tie will be broke by coin flip with the winner getting pick No. 14 and the other team getting the No. 15 pick.)
16. Ravens
17. Redskins
18. Titans
19. Buccaneers
20. Broncos
21. Lions
22. Dolphins
23. Giants
24. Raiders
25. Texans
26. Seahawks
27. Chiefs
28. Cowboys
29. Packers
30. Steelers
31. Falcons
32. Patriots
Patriots Win Super Bowl 51
On Sunday night, the Patriots pulled off an incredible comeback win to defeat the Falcons by a score of 34-28 in overtime. This is the Patriots’ fifth Super Bowl victory and it is unquestionably their most thrilling. 
At one point, the Falcons held a 28-3 lead, but the Pats went on to score 25 points to force the game into OT. The Pats, of course, have Tom Brady to thank for leading the offensive charge. The legendary QB now has more Super Bowl rings than Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana (four) and finds himself tied with defensive end Charles Haley for the most championships in the Super Bowl era. A misread by Brady led to a costly pick six in the first half, but he went on to redeem himself in a major way. All in all, he completed 43 of 62 passes for 466 yards and two touchdowns.
We here at PFR congratulate the Patriots on their remarkable win.
Patriots Interested In Re-Signing Michael Floyd
The Patriots are interested in re-signing wide receiver Michael Floyd this offseason, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets. Floyd was made a healthy scratch for the Super Bowl, leaving many to wonder about his future with the team beyond Sunday night. Last week, Floyd expressed a desire to re-sign with New England, so the interest now appears to be mutual. 
“I hope to be back in Foxborough,” Floyd said. “I love it here. I hope that I can make that happen, for sure.”
Reportedly, the Patriots tried to fit Floyd on the active roster for SB51, but they ultimately decided against it as they did not want to thin out their special teams or goal line offense. Without him, the Pats left themselves with four available receivers: Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, Malcolm Mitchell, and Danny Amendola.
The Cardinals cut ties with Floyd when he was arrested for a DUI in December. Floyd’s blood alcohol content level was remarkably high, meaning that he was charged with Arizona’s “Super Extreme DUI” designation. As a result, Floyd could face a mandatory 180 days in jail. At minimum, he can expect punishment from the NFL in the 2017 season.