Bears Adjust Kyle Fuller’s Contract
The Bears carved out some cap room, with a little help from Kyle Fuller. The team added two voidable years to the cornerback’s contract, creating some fiscal flexibility in 2020, as Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune writes. 
Fuller’s original contract ran through 2021 with $13MM coming in 2020 and a cap hit of $17.5MM. In the revised pact, he’ll get a $7.5MM option bonus, prorated over five years. Meanwhile, his base salary for 2020 will go down to $4.5MM, lowering his cap hit to $11.5MM. All in all, it means $6MM in additional cap room for the Bears as they retool their roster in the spring. Then, in 2021, Fuller’s cap hit will jump from $18.5MM to $20MM.
As of this writing, the Bears have about $16MM in cap space. They’ll likely shed some other veteran contracts between now and the start of free agency, giving them more room to work with.
Fuller, 28 in February, earned Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro nods for his work in 2018, including a league-leading seven interceptions. In 2019, he started in all 16 games and came away with three INTs.
Browns To Interview Eric Bieniemy
Eric Bieniemy turned down the Cardinals, but he’s open to joining the Browns. The Chiefs offensive coordinator will sit down with Cleveland brass on Friday afternoon, per a club announcement.
Bieniemy will be the third candidate to meet with the Browns regarding their HC vacancy. On Thursday, the club chatted with former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy and Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman.
He won’t be the last to chat with the team, either. Per PFR’s 2020 Head Coaching Search Tracker, there are upwards of ten candidates on the Browns’ radar:
- Eric Bieniemy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): To interview on 1/3
- Brian Daboll, offensive coordinator (Bills): To interview on 1/5
- Mike LaFleur, pass-game coordinator (49ers): Expected to interview
- Mike McCarthy, former head coach (Packers): Interviewed on 1/2
- Mike McDaniel, run-game coordinator (49ers): Expected to interview
- Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator (Patriots): Expected to interview
- Urban Meyer, former head coach (Ohio State): Mentioned as candidate; team denied interest
- Matt Rhule, head coach (Baylor): Turned down interview opportunity
- Greg Roman, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed on 1/2
- Robert Saleh, defensive coordinator (49ers): To interview on 1/4
- Kevin Stefanski, offensive coordinator (Vikings): Expected to interview
Redskins To Interview Scott Turner
Panthers offensive coordinator Scott Turner will interview with the Redskins for their OC vacancy, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Incumbent Kevin O’Connell remains the frontrunner for the job, but Rapoport hears that Turner could wind up as the team’s quarterbacks coach if he doesn’t land the OC post. 
The Redskins wasted little time in hiring new head coach Ron Rivera and, in turn, Rivera started building out his staff immediately. On New Year’s Day, Rivera tapped Jack Del Rio as his new defensive coordinator.
Rivera is already familiar with Turner’s skillset – Turner served as Rivera’s QB coach in Carolina, up until Rivera’s dismissal. After Rivera was ousted, Turner was bumped up to OC as his father, Norv Turner, was transitioned to a different role.
The Turner family, of course, also has history with the Redskins. Norv served as the Redskins’ head coach from 1994-2000.
Latest On Cowboys, Jason Garrett
There’s no official word on Jason Garrett‘s status, but it sounds like the Cowboys will be moving on from their longtime head coach. The saga is “expected to conclude soon” with Garrett’s dismissal, ESPN.com’s Ed Werder (on Twitter) hears. After that, the Cowboys will move on quickly and begin interviewing candidates for the job. 
[RELATED: 2020 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker]
Werder’s report stops just short of saying that a final determination has been made, but it sure sounds like the two sides are headed for divorce. The Cowboys, reportedly, were only planning to retain Garrett if the Cowboys made a deep playoff run. Unfortunately for the Princeton grad, the Cowboys finished 8-8, missed the playoffs, and ceded the division to the rival Eagles.
The Cowboys were scheduled to meet with Garrett at The Star on Thursday, but that meeting was scrapped. Before the 86’d sit-down, the Cowboys were rumored to be considering a middle-ground scenario in which Garrett would remain with the organization in a different role. At this moment, a clean break seems more likely.
If this is the end of the line for Garrett, he’ll leave the Cowboys as their second-winningest coach of all time and an overall record of 85-67. Only Tom Landry won more games for the franchise, but Garrett has just career two playoff wins to his credit. Under Garrett’s guidance, the Cowboys have never advanced beyond the divisional round.
Cole Kmet To Enter NFL Draft
On Thursday, Notre Dame’s Cole Kmet announced that he’ll enter the 2020 NFL Draft. Kmet, regarded as one of the best tight ends in this year’s crop, was widely expected to forgo his remaining eligibility and turn pro this year. 
Kmet is a jack-of-all-trades tight end with powerful blocking and reasonably soft hands. Kmet had no touchdowns to his credit before the 2019 season, but he broke out with 43 catches, 515 yards, and six TDs in his final season for the Fighting Irish.
The Patriots could theoretically use a tight end like Kmet to fill the void left by Rob Gronkowski‘s retirement last offseason. The Panthers and Bengals are also among the teams with potential needs at tight end, though they may or may not be in the market for one by the time the draft rolls around.
The NFL committee that advises underclassmen gave Kmet a second-round grade, but there aren’t many TEs in this year’s crop that offer a skillset like Kmet’s. If his workouts go as expected, Kmet seems likely to be a Day 1 pick.
Dolphins, Vince Biegel Discussing Extension
The Dolphins have told linebacker Vince Biegel that they would like to re-sign him, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. The two sides have already discussed the possibility of a multiyear deal, so it sounds like a fresh contract could come his way before he hits restricted free agency in March. 
“We’ll get something done,” Biegel said, adding that he wants to remain in Miami.
The Dolphins acquired Biegel in August when they shipped linebacker Kiko Alonso to the Saints. This year, Biegel notched 59 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and an interception in 15 games for Miami while making ten starts. In his two previous pro seasons with the Saints, the 26-year-old had never started a game.
Armed with upwards of $100MM in cap space, the Dolphins should have plenty of cash available to re-up Biegel and address their many needs on both sides of the ball. Biegel will turn 27 in July, so a new pact could lock him down through his prime years.
In other Dolphins news, Chan Gailey was hired on New Year’s Eve to serve as the club’s new offensive coordinator. He replaces Chad O’Shea, who was canned after just one season in South Beach.
Browns To Interview Greg Roman
The Browns will interview Greg Roman on Thursday night, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). The Ravens offensive coordinator is one of the hottest coaching candidates out there and would be a logical fit for the playing style of quarterback Baker Mayfield. 
[RELATED: Browns To Interview Mike McCarthy]
Under Roman’s tutelage in 2019, Lamar Jackson threw for 3,127 yards and a league-leading 36 touchdowns against just six interceptions. He also rushed for 1,206 yards and seven touchdowns – all inside of just 15 games.
The Ravens dominated the AFC North in 2019 even though many expected this to be a breakthrough year for the Browns. That didn’t come to fruition, thanks in large part to their dysfunctional offense. Mayfield’s production fell off of a cliff under Freddie Kitchens – he completed just 59.4% of this throws with 22 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.
The Browns have made a point to utilize Mayfield more as a pocket passer than a runner, but Roman could flip the script, somewhat. Even though he has never served as a head coach at any level, he could be an appealing option for Cleveland. He’ll be the second candidate to interview for the HC post, following Mike McCarthy.
Lions DC Paul Pasqualoni Steps Down
The Lions’ staff turnover continues. On Thursday, head coach Matt Patricia announced that defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni and veteran offensive line coach Jeff Davidson are stepping away from football. 
“Coach Pasqualoni notified me this week that he will be stepping away from the Lions to be closer to his family,” Patricia said in a statement issued by the team. “Coach P is one of the best men I’ve ever been around, on both personal and professional levels. I owe him so much and I’m grateful of the impact he had on our players, coaches and support staff. He will continue to be a great sounding board for me as a coach, father and leader. I wish him and his family well as they begin the new year together.”
Pasqualoni joined the Lions in the same offseason as Patricia. In their first year together, Pasqualoni called the plays on defense. Reportedly, at some point in 2019, Patricia quietly took back the reins.
Coach P celebrated his 70th birthday before the start of the 2019 season. After nearly two decades as an assistant coach, he made a name for himself as the head coach of the Syracuse Orange between the years of 1991 and 2004. Other highlights on his lengthy resume include turns as UConn’s head coach and a two-year stint as the Dolphins’ DC.
Davidson, meanwhile, is taking an indefinite leave from football for undisclosed reasons. The 52-year-old has served as an assistant for a number of teams since retiring from his playing career after the 1994 season.
The Lions will have fill at least eight assistant positions to support Patricia and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell in 2020.
Browns Won’t Consider Urban Meyer?
It doesn’t sound like the Browns will hire Urban Meyer to be their next head coach. 
“Right now we’re just focusing on people with NFL coaching experience,” owner Jimmy Haslam told reporters at a press conference on Thursday.
Haslam’s statement could be interpreted one of two ways. Taken at face value, this means the Browns do not have Meyer atop their list of head coaching candidates. It’s also quite possible that Meyer, who figures to have a number of suitors in this cycle, has already rejected overtures from the team.
Either way, the Browns’ head coaching search will – for now – be limited to NFL circles. That head coach will be hired before the GM, Haslam says, with the head coach collaborating on the GM hire. Then, the HC and GM will have roughly equal footing in the organization, with both men reporting directly to Haslam.
Curtis Weaver To Enter NFL Draft
Curtis Weaver is going pro. This week, the Boise State outside linebacker announced that he will enter the 2020 NFL Draft and forgo his senior season.
“I came here as a fat boy and I’m leaving as a young man,” Weaver announced on social media. “I poured my heart and soul into Boise State Football every time I set foot onto the field. I am forever grateful and honored to be a Bronco.”
After notching 52 tackles, 13.5 sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble, most expected Weaver to make the jump. He leaves Boise State with 34 career sacks and a strong chance of being a first-round pick in April.
On his latest big board, Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller slotted Weaver as the biggest riser of any edge rusher, though he has him ranked behind eleven other edge players. Other analysts are higher on him – ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has him ranked as the second-best outside linebacker in this year’s class. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Todd McShay had him going No. 20 overall in his latest mock draft.
Ohio State’s Chase Young, who is also expected to skip his final year of eligibility, is universally considered to be the best edge rusher in this year’s class.