Lions, Charlie Weis Discussed OC Job
The Lions have a new offensive coordinator in Darrell Bevell, but they checked in with an interesting name before making the hire. Former Notre Dame head coach and Patriots assistant Charlie Weis “talked” with Matt Patricia about the job, Weis tells Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. 
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“We talked, but it never got to that point,” Weis said. “There was no interview. Matt and I are too close to go through an interview. If it ever would have happened, it would have been, ‘Hey, you want to come?’ And I would have said yes or no. It wouldn’t have been anything other than that.”
Weis put himself on the map as the Patriots’ OC from 2000-2004 and he parlayed that into the head coaching job at Notre Dame. After a spotty run with the Fighting Irish, Weis became the Chiefs’ OC (2010), then took the same job with the University of Florida (2011), and later coached at Kansas (2012-2014).
These days, Weis is working in radio, but it sounds like he’s at least open to a return to coaching.
Redskins Hire Rob Ryan
The Redskins hired longtime defensive coordinator Rob Ryan as their new inside linebackers coach, according to a team announcement. Ryan last served as the Bills’ assistant head coach (defense) in 2016 and is now set to enter his 20th season as an NFL coach. 
Before hooking on with the Bills, Ryan served as the DC for the Saints (2013-15), Cowboys (2011-12), Browns (2009-10) and Raiders (2004-08). He found success with the Saints early on, leading their defensive unit to Top 5 rankings in points allowed and passing defense in 2013. Things unraveled a bit afterwards, but Ryan remains a respected defensive mind.
Clearly, the ILB coach role is a step down from where Ryan has been in the past, but this could be an opportunity for him to springboard into a larger role. For now, he’ll work under Greg Manusky, who was retained as DC after some flirtations with outside candidates this offseason.
Chargers’ Tyrell Williams: I’m A No. 1 WR
Chargers receiver Tyrell Williams is set to hit free agency in March. Based on his own self-evaluation, it sounds like he’ll be looking to make big bucks on the open market. 
“I definitely feel like I’m a No. 1 receiver,” Williams said while exiting the Chargers’ facility earlier this month (via Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com). “So I want to make sure that I clean up all of the little things in route running and blocking, to make sure I solidify myself as a No. 1.”
Frankly speaking, Williams did not put up WR1 numbers in 2018 – he finished out with 41 catches for 653 yards and five touchdowns. However, he did show serious promise in 2016 when he caught 69 passes for 1,059 yards and seven scores as an NFL sophomore.
The Chargers, meanwhile, are interested in a new deal, but it remains to be seen whether they’ll be close on terms.
“This past year, his game had already been solid, and he kind of took it to the next level this year,” Chargers general manager Tom Telesco said. “He’s certainly earned his second contract. Those are discussions we have to have, but I just don’t have hard answers at this point in the offseason.”
The WR market at large will dictate Williams’ asking price. In the 2017 offseason, wide receivers like Terrelle Pryor were met with disappointment in free agency. But, last year, players like Sammy Watkins and Paul Richardson found free agent riches. Williams is not expected to approach Watkins’ $16MM AAV, but he could be in line for a solid multi-year payday.
Teams Wanted Redskins’ Kevin O’Connell
Kevin O’Connell is the Redskins’ new offensive coordinator, but things could have played out differently. Before Washington promoted him to the OC role, other teams inquired about trying to hire him for the same position, sources tell ESPN.com’s John Keim. Right now, it’s not clear which teams reached out to O’Connell, but it sounds like there was interest from multiple clubs. 
O’Connell, 33, was bumped up on Tuesday, putting him in the role formerly occupied by Matt Cavanaugh. Cavanaugh, meanwhile, has been moved to a role as the team’s senior offensive assistant.
Prior to the big promotion, O’Connell was Washington’s quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator in 2018. He’s young, but, lately, NFL teams have been happy to eschew experienced candidates for more energetic personalities.
Meanwhile, the Redskins have yet to determine whether O’Connell will call plays, Keim hears. Cavanaugh did not call plays as the team’s OC, but Sean McVay did when he donned the headset in D.C.
Tony Romo To Hold Off On Coaching
Someday, Tony Romo hopes to be a coach, as David Moore of the Dallas Morning News tweets. But, for now, Romo likes being in the broadcast booth, which means that Cowboys fans hoping to see him as the team’s new offensive coordinator will have to cool their jets. 
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“Well, they’ll have to wait,” Romo said. “I’m sure one day I’ll coach. Right now, I’m happy with where I’m at.”
Romo retired from playing before the 2017 season, but the NFL world wasn’t convinced that his on-field days were over. Two years later, Romo has one of the top jobs in sports broadcasting, and pressure is mounting for him to take a job on the sidelines.
Romo admits his interest in coaching, but it’ll be hard for him to walk away from his current gig at CBS. Romo reportedly earns $4MM/year from the network and he’s expected to earn a significant bump on his next extension. If Romo earns, say, $6MM/year on his new CBS deal, it’s hard to imagine an NFL team topping that salary to hire him as an offensive coordinator.
Giants, Connor Barwin To Part Ways
Connor Barwin will not return to the Giants next season. The veteran outside linebacker still has one more year to go on his contract, but the two sides will be “parting ways,” according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
Reading between the lines, it sounds as though Barwin will be released before his $250K roster bonus hits on March 7. His two-year, $3.5MM deal calls for him to carry a $1.865MM cap number in 2019 if he stays on the roster. By releasing him, the Giants would save $1.5MM against just $365K in dead money.
The Giants appreciate Barwin’s experience and leadership, but they want to take a longer look at younger players, Raanan hears. With 56.5 career sacks, it’s likely that Barwin will draw interest elsewhere, assuming that he wants to continue playing.
Barwin’s playing time dipped as the season progressed, a sign that the Giants did not have him in their long-term plans. The 32-year-old appeared in 15 games but started in just three and had just one sack to his credit in 2018.
Patriots Rumors: Gordon, McDaniels, Gronk
Here’s a look at the Patriots as they get set for the Super Bowl:
- The Patriots are gearing up for the Super Bowl in Atlanta, but Josh Gordon is miles away at an inpatient facility in Florida, a source tells Doug Kyed of NESN.com. The Patriots are paying for Gordon’s treatment, which may be a sign that a return is possible. For what it’s worth, the receiver will get a ring if the Pats are victorious on Sunday.
- Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels says he regrets his handling of the Colts situation last year, as Charean Williams of PFT writes. “It’s a lot that goes into it,” McDaniels said. “I think at the end of the day you have to make the best decision for yourself and your family. I’ve said this a number of times: The timing of all that stuff was not. . . . I wasn’t proud of any of that stuff.” McDaniels likely paid the price for his flip-flop in this past cycle. There were eight head coaching vacancies, but McDaniels only landed an interview with the Packers and declined to speak with the Bengals.
- The Rob Gronkowski retirement chatter is picking up steam again, but the tight end pretty much offered a no-answer when asked if the Super Bowl will be his last game. “I don’t know,” Gronkowski said when asked about his plans (via PFT).
Colts Sign Mark Glowinski To Extension
The Colts didn’t want to let Mark Glowinski get away. On Tuesday, the Colts formally signed the guard to a brand new extension, according to a team announcement. It’s a three-year deal worth $18MM, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. 
The Colts claimed the 6’4″ lineman off waivers from the Seahawks towards the end of the 2017 season and he found a role with the club in 2018. Last year, he appeared in eleven games (nine starts) at right guard and finished out as the No. 17 ranked guard in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.
On the whole, the Colts’ offensive line enjoyed a major turnaround in 2018. The unit allowed the fewest sacks in the league (18) and even went six straight games without allowing Andrew Luck to be put on his back. The Colts dumped offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo earlier this month, but the return of Glowinski should help a bit to keep things consistent.
Panthers Re-Sign TE Chris Manhertz
The Panthers re-signed tight end Chris Manhertz, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Manhertz was scheduled to be a restricted free agent this offseason, but he’ll instead return on a new two-year deal. 
Manhertz began training camp on the PUP list thanks to a Jones fracture in his left foot. Fortunately, he rebounded in time for the season and saw a larger role during Greg Olsen‘s absence. The 26-year-old (27 in April) appeared in all 16 games and started in four, playing primarily as a blocking tight end. He had just two catches on the year for 52 yards, bringing his grand career total to five grabs for 79 yards. He did, however, catch his first touchdown pass in Week 15 against the Saints.
Terms of the deal are not yet known, but Manhertz will presumably see a bump from his 2018 salary of $630K.
Patriots’ Devin McCourty Considering Retirement
If the Patriots win on Sunday, it could mark the final game of Devin McCourty‘s career. This week, the safety told NFL Network’s Deion Sanders that he’s thinking about walking off into the sunset if he’s able to capture another Super Bowl ring. 
“I don’t know for sure, man, but I do look at (retirement),” McCourty said (via NFL.com). “If we can win this game, win it with my brother [Jason McCourty], I don’t know what else I could do that’ll top that. So I’m just trying to make sure I enjoy this season and enjoy these last couple days with these guys.”
McCourty, 31, has two Super Bowl rings and is looking to add a third this weekend. After nine seasons in the NFL, no one could fault him for leaving on a high note.
On the other hand, McCourty is still playing at a high level. In 2018, the veteran finished out with 82 tackles and one interception – an 84-yard pick six against the Bills in Week 8. All in all, he finished out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 16 ranked safety in the NFL, putting him ahead of guys like Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Tyrann Mathieu, and Bradley McDougald.