Seahawks Audition Alex Collins, Roc Thomas
Even after signing Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin, the Seahawks’ search for running back help continues. This week, they auditioned RBs Alex Collins and Roc Thomas. 
In their season finale against the 49ers, the Seahawks eased Lynch and Turbin into their new roles. Lynch saw time on 23 snaps and Turbin played on just eight special teams snaps. Meanwhile, rookie Travis Homer carried the brunt of the load with 50 of 75 offensive snaps. The Seahawks ultimately came up short, losing 26-21 to their divisional rivals.
It’s not clear whether the Seahawks are to sign Collins and Thomas in advance of their Wild Card game, or if they’re simply keeping their emergency lists up to date. Collins, a fifth-round pick of the team back in 2016, has been out of football throughout 2019. Ditto for Thomas, who hasn’t played since his five-game stint with the Vikings last year.
The Seahawks and their new-look backfield will face the Eagles on Sunday in Philadelphia.
Cowboys Considering New Role For Jason Garrett?
Could Jason Garrett return to the Cowboys in a different role? That’s what some members of the organization are wondering as Garrett gets set to meet with team brass (once again) on Thursday, Ed Werder of ESPN.com tweets. 
Garrett will chat with Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones on Thursday, his third face-to-face with the duo since the end of the season. Many have speculated that Garrett could be dismissed after failing to get the Cowboys into the playoffs. Now, it sounds like Garrett could be offered some sort of an alternative to being fired outright.
Garrett has been with the Cowboys for ten years, but this contract – which expires on January 14th – may be his last. Throughout the year, the buzz was that Garrett needed to get the Cowboys to the NFC championship game to keep his job. The team’s .500 finish, of course, came up short.
If Garrett is ousted – or moved to some other position – the job figures to hold appeal for just about every head coaching candidate out there. Baylor’s Matt Rhule, who has been selective in the past, might have the Cowboys on his NFL short-list. Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman and former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer may also be on the radar.
Colts GM: “Jury’s Still Out” On Jacoby Brissett
The Colts aren’t sold on Jacoby Brissett as their starting quarterback. Brissett has one more year to go on his contract, but GM Chris Ballard says “the jury’s still out” on the 27-year-old. 
“That’s why we did a short-term deal with Jacoby,” said Ballard. “Jacoby did some good things. I don’t want to just look at the second half of the season and say he didn’t, because Jacoby did some good things. I think as a whole, not just the quarterback position, but our passing game has to improve. Unequivocally. That has to get better. You have to be able to throw the ball to win in this league.”
This all jibes with a December report from NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport – the Colts, armed with the No. 13 overall pick in the draft, could look for a new signal caller. One can’t help but wonder if their QB search could lead them back to old friend Andrew Luck, but Ballard did his best to downplay that possibility when speaking with reporters on Thursday.
“Andrew’s retired,” Ballard said. “Do I talk to Andrew? Yes, I do. Haven’t talked to him in a few weeks, I’m sure he’s been busy being a father. But Andrew’s retired, and I think we all need to accept that. That’s where he’s at. He’s retired.”
After being thrust into the starting QB role, Brissett completed 60.9% of his throws in 2019 for 2,942 yards. He also threw for 18 touchdowns against just six interceptions and advanced the ball on the ground a bit as well. Brissett averaged 4.1 yards on 56 rushing attempts in 2019, scored four rushing touchdowns, and picked up 20 first downs with his feet.
Colts Won’t Re-Sign Eric Ebron
Eric Ebron won’t be back with the Colts in 2020. When asked about the tight end, GM Chris Ballard told reporters that the team will “probably move on” from Ebron. 
Ebron, a former first-round pick, struggled early on in his career with the Lions. But, when he joined the Colts in 2018, things were looking up. The tight end had fewer drops en route to a 14-touchdown season with 66 catches for 750 yards and a whopping 13 TDs.
This year, without quarterback Andrew Luck, Ebron was far less productive. The 26-year-old (27 in April) had just 31 grabs for 375 yards and three scores before landing on IR in late November with an ankle injury.
Then, the two sides clashed. The Colts said they were not aware of Ebron having any sort of serious ankle issue. Ebron fired back and issued a statement saying that the team was aware of his severe pain since the beginning of the season.
The Colts, apparently, aren’t interested in mending fences. Ebron will look for work elsewhere when he hits the open market in March.
Browns Have “Strong Interest” In Urban Meyer
The Browns have “strong interest” in former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer, Bruce Feldman of FOX Sports (on Twitter) hears. Meyer retired from coaching one year ago today, citing health issues, but he has been connected to multiple NFL teams in recent months. 
[RELATED: Paul DePodesta To Run Browns’ Coaching Search]
The Cowboys, Redskins, and Browns have all been linked to Meyer. The Redskins job, of course, is already spoken for – former Panthers head coach Ron Rivera inked a deal with the club before the New Year. The Cowboys, meanwhile, still have Jason Garrett as their head coach, as of this writing.
The Browns are casting a wide net in their coaching search but, as far as we know, they have yet to schedule an interview with Meyer, who is currently employed by FOX Sports (as is Feldman). Publicly, Meyer has downplayed the possibility of a return to coaching, but it sure sounds like he wants to make a jump to the pros.
The Browns’ head coaching search will be run by Paul DePodesta, the former baseball exec who serves as the Browns’ chief strategy officer. Today, they’ll chat with 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and they might also meet with offensive assistants Mike McDaniel and Mike LaFleur.
Patriots Grant Giants Permission To Interview Josh McDaniels, Joe Judge
The Patriots have granted the Giants permission to interview assistants Josh McDaniels and Joe Judge for their head coaching vacancy, according to Jim McBride of the Boston Globe. They’ve also given their blessing to the Browns and Panthers to speak with McDaniels, McBride hears. 
Both men will have to wait until next week to interview as candidates coaching in Wild Card games are not permitted to interview next week. But, after the Patriots face the Titans on Saturday night, they’ll have a busy schedule ahead of them.
McDaniels, the Patriots’ offensive coordinator, famously left the Colts at the altar following the 2017 season. Two years later, teams are still intrigued by what he can bring to the table, though they may be concerned about a potential flip-flop. For his part, McDaniels believes that teams will still be willing to consider him for HC positions.
As the Broncos’ head coach in 2009 and (most of ) 2010, McDaniels coached Denver to an 11-17 mark. Judge, the Patriots’ special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach, joined the Pats in 2012 after a three-year stint at Alabama.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/1/20
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad updates here:
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DE Curtis Cothran, CB Kemon Hall
- Released: C John Keenoy
- Placed on PS-IR: TE Stacy Keely
Ohio State CB Jeff Okudah Enters NFL Draft
On Wednesday, Ohio State standout Jeff Okudah announced that he’ll enter the 2020 NFL Draft. Okudah profiles as the best cornerback in this year’s class and could wind up as a top ten selection.
Okudah, a 6’1″, 195-pound junior, tallied three interceptions, 34 tackles, and nine pass breakups last year. He was one of three finalists for the Thorpe Award, which is given to the best defensive back in college football.
“It has been an honor to be a part of a brotherhood as strong as the one here at Ohio State,” Okudah wrote on social media. “I hope that during my time here, that I did not only grasp, but embodied what it means to be a Buckeye.”
Redskins To Part Ways With Bill Callahan
Offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell could keep his job under new head coach Ron Rivera, but the same can’t be said for Bill Callahan. The Redskins will move on from the offensive line coach and one-time interim head coach, according to John Keim of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
[RELATED: Redskins To Hire Jack Del Rio]
Callahan expressed interest in staying in Washington, though his comments came before the Rivera hire. It’s not clear if he would have been open to staying on as an assistant, however.
The Redskins went 0-5 under Jay Gruden and didn’t fare much better with Callahan at the helm. After a 3-8 showing in the final eleven games, they gave Callahan some consideration full-time post, but it might have been more of a courtesy than anything.
There should be plenty of opportunities out there for Callahan if he wants to serve as an assistant elsewhere.
Giants To Interview Don Martindale
The Giants have set a date for their interview with Ravens defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale. They’ll meet on Saturday, as Peter Schrager of FOXSports.com tweets. 
[RELATED: Latest On Eli Manning’s Plans]
Martindale has no head coaching experience, but he has guided Baltimore’s top-rated defense in each of the past two seasons. The league has taken notice and Martindale seems likely to land a head coaching job, if that’s what he wants. The veteran coach has expressed a desire to stay in Baltimore, but you’ll often hear a similar refrain from coordinators weeks before they accept a head coaching gig elsewhere.
If the Giants hire Martindale, he’ll reportedly tap LSU passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach Joe Brady as his offensive coordinator. Martindale, naturally, would keep the majority of his focus on the other side of the ball.
The Giants need help everywhere, essentially, so they’re casting a wide net in their search. Former Packers coach Mike McCarthy and Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy are among the candidates to replace Pat Shurmur as the head coach of the G-Men.