Lions Work Out RB Mike Gillislee
The Lions hosted and worked out free agent running back Mike Gillislee on Thursday, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Lions showed interest in him after he missed the Patriots’ cut in 2018, Rapoport notes, so this could be a good fit for the 28-year-old. 
Gillislee enjoyed a breakout season in 2016 as he averaged 5.7 yards per carry on 101 handoffs with the Bills. In the following offseason, the Pats signed him to a two-year, $6.4MM deal, but he didn’t get a ton of opportunities in 2017, outside of his three-touchdown performance in Week 1. After missing the cut in 2018, Gillislee hooked on with the Saints. He averaged just 2.7 yards in the first four games of the year and was pushed aside after Mark Ingram returned from suspension.
The Lions could view Gillislee as a decent backup option behind star Kerryon Johnson. LeGarrette Blount didn’t do much last year with the Lions and he’s scheduled to reach free agency on March 13. Like Blount, Gillislee also has experience with coach Matt Patricia dating back to their days in New England.
Falcons Will Not Tender CB Brian Poole
The Falcons informed cornerback Brian Poole that he will not be tendered as a restricted free agent, Mike Florio of PFT tweets. 
Poole has been the Falcons’ primary nickel cornerback for the past three seasons, so the news comes as a bit of a surprise. Last year, Poole set new career highs in tackles (74), sacks (3.0), and interceptions (3), but the team is unwilling to tender him even at the lowest level, which would cost just over $2MM.
The door is still open to a return, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears. However, Poole would have to agree to a lesser deal than the RFA tender, and it’s possible that the 26-year-old (27 in October) will prefer to take his chances on the open market.
Falcons coach Dan Quinn has indicated in the past that Damontae Kazee could take over at nickel, so the Falcons may already have Poole’s replacement in-house.
Last year, Poole graded out as just the No. 81 cornerback in the NFL out of 110 qualified players, according to Pro Football Focus.
Broncos To Part Ways With Brandon Marshall
The Broncos are set to part ways with linebacker Brandon Marshall, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The Broncos informed Marshall that they are not planning to pick up his option, making him a free agent in March. 
Free agency officially kicks off on March 13, but Marshall’s injury history could force him to wait a week or two before landing anywhere. If he does sign quickly, it’ll be for a lesser sum than the $7MM he was set to earn in 2019 with Denver.
Marshall, 30 in September, was injured for much of the 2018 season. He finished out with just 42 tackles in eleven games, giving him his lowest number of stops since becoming a starter in the 2014 season.
The Broncos inked Marshall to a four-year, $32MM extension in the summer of 2016, tacking multiple years on to his RFA tender season. After he finished out with 102 tackles, it was an easy decision for GM John Elway & Co. But, given his injuries in 2016 and 2018, the Broncos felt compelled to cut him loose.
“I love the organization, they gave me my first chance to play,” Marshall said, via Mike Klis of 9News (Twitter link). “I love all my teammates. I really love city. I felt embraced on and off the field. I’m just sorry I was injured two of the last three years. … It’s a really great organization so we’ll see what happens.”
Bengals Request Interview With Aaron Glenn
Aaron Glenn is in the running for the Bengals’ defensive coordinator job. On Thursday, the Bengals requested an interview with the Saints secondary coach, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). 
Glenn caught the Bengals’ eye earlier this month after deals with Jack Del Rio and Dom Capers went south. Glenn lacks the previous DC experience of Del Rio and Capers, but he is a highly respected coach with recent playing experience.
Glenn played for the Jets, Texans, Cowboys, Jaguars, and Saints over the course of his 15-year career, which ended in 2008. In 2012, he hooked on with the Jets as a personnel scout and later joined the Browns as their assistant DB coach. The Saints brought him on board as the top DB coach in 2016 and he may now have a chance to vault up the coaching ladder.
The Saints’ secondary has lacked talent in recent years, but Glenn has been lauded for developing the younger players in his group.
NFL Owners Eyeing NBA’s Adam Silver?
Could Adam Silver go from the pages of Hoops Rumors to Pro Football Rumors? NFL owners have asked Silver if he would be willing to switch leagues and replace Roger Goodell as commissioner, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com. For what it’s worth, Silver claims he has given no thought to the possibility. 
“I’ll just say I have not given it any thought,” Silver said. “I feel very fortunate to be in this position. As a longtime fan, as a longtime league employee, the opportunity to become the commissioner of this league was beyond anything I even ever dreamed of as a kid. I’ve loved every day I’ve been in this job, and I think there’s nothing but enormous opportunity ahead for this league. And ultimately, I realize I’m just passing through like every player who’s gone through this league and ultimately like every owner, and I feel an enormous obligation to the fans and to this greater NBA family to do my best and try my hardest every day. But that’s where 100 percent of my focus is.”
The NBA has gained serious traction under Silver, but the NFL still reigns supreme in American sports. A move to football would represent a major step up for the young exec and would likely mean a larger salary.
In Silver’s five years as the NBA’s head honcho, league revenues have increased from $4.8 billion to roughly $9.1 billion. Meanwhile, team valuations have shot up 267%. Those results have some NFL owners salivating and there are some owners who would like to move on from the bad PR associated with Goodell.
Of course, the NFL has also seen enormous growth under Goodell, so it’s far from certain that they’ll give him the hook before his contract runs out after the end of the 2024 season. Instead, Silver could be a potential successor for Goodell – his own deal with the NBA expires after the 2023-24 campaign.
Todd Grantham Turns Down Bengals
Todd Grantham opted to stay at the University of Florida instead of pursuing the Bengals’ defensive coordinator job, according to Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). Grantham is intrigued by the possibility of returning to the NFL, but he’s apparently not interested in the Bengals job this year.
After Grantham oped to stick with Dan Mullen & Co., the Bengals are in familiar, yet uncomfortable territory. Over the last several weeks, the Bengals have been on the precipice of deals with several established DCs only to watch things fall apart. Jack Del Rio and Dom Capers both seemed close to signing at different points, but things went sideways in both pursuits. You can add Grantham to that list, leaving the Bengals to scan for a Plan D.
Before the club’s second meeting with Grantham on Wednesday, the Bengals also showed interest in Rams cornerbacks coach Aubrey Pleasant and other younger candidates.
49ers To Part Ways With Pierre Garcon
The 49ers will not pick up their option on wide receiver Pierre Garcon, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). The move terminates his five-year, $47.5MM contract just two years into the deal. 
Despite Garcon’s past accomplishments, his release does not come as a total surprise. Last year, he played in just eight games and finished out with just 24 catches for 286 yards and one touchdown. In 2016, the season before he signed with the Niners, Garcon put up 79 catches for 1,041 yards and three touchdowns, which is the kind of production SF expected.
Unfortunately, injuries slowed Garcon during his time in SF, limiting him to just eight games in each of the last two years. But, in 2017, Garcon showed promise with a 40/500 line that had him on pace for a very solid season.
Garcon will enter a thin free agent WR market, which could enable him to land a solid deal. However, with his 33rd birthday coming up in August, he’ll have to brace for a lesser salary and a shorter deal than his last pact.
Falcons Sign Steven Means To Extension
The Falcons inked defensive end Steven Means to a new one-year extension, according to a team announcement. Means was initially set for free agency in March. 
[RELATED: Falcons Re-Sign LB Bruce Carter]
Means, 29 in September, played in eight games (four starts) for the Falcons in 2018. In that span, he recorded 14 stops, three tackles for a loss, and one sack.
The defensive end has traveled around the league since being selected in the fifth round of the 2013 draft by the Bucs, so this is a welcome bit of stability for him. Before coming to Atlanta, he also spent some time with the Eagles and had stints on the Ravens’ and Texans’ practice squads.
Jaguars, Josh Lambo Agree To Extension
The Jaguars signed Josh Lambo to a new four-year extension, according to a tweet from the kicker. Lambo was set for free agency in March, but the new deal could keep him in place through the 2022 season.
Lambo will receive $15.5MM over the four-year term, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who adds Lambo will collect $6.5MM in full guarantees. That $3.875M annual average will tie for seventh among kickers, while Lambo’s guarantees also rank seventh at the position.
Lambo has been one of the Jaguars’ most consistent players over the past two seasons, and that was especially true in 2018 as the team faltered on the whole. Since joining Jacksonville in October 2017, Lambo has nailed 38 of 41 field goal tries and has missed only three PATs. During that run, the fantasy hero made a franchise-record 24 straight FG attempts (Nov. 19, 2017 to Nov. 11, 2018).
Lambo missed some time down the stretch of the 2018 season with a groin injury, but the new deal is an indication that those worries are behind him. Still in his prime, he’ll look to keep things going as he enters his age-29 season
Lions Re-Sign LS Don Muhlbach
The Lions announced re-signed long snapper Don Muhlbach, according to a press release. This has become something of a yearly tradition for the team as Muhlbach has been routinely retained on short-term deals.
Muhlbach first joined the Lions as a free agent in the 2004 season. He’ll now return for his 16th season with the club. He’s just one of three players in franchise history to play 15 seasons for the club and has appeared in the second-most career games with 228.
Last year, Mulhbach earned his second-career Pro Bowl, a significant personal achievement after a woeful season for the franchise.
Kicker Jason Hanson holds the Lions’ all-time record with 327 games played, so the 37-year-old Muhlbach is unlikely to take the crown unless he plays into his mid-40s.