Browns Part Ways With Gregg Williams
The Browns chose Freddie Kitchens as their next head coach on Wednesday, temporarily leaving interim head coach Gregg Williams in limbo. That’s no longer the case, as Williams is out in Cleveland and will not return, sources tell Pat McManamon and Dan Graziano of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
Williams is a highly-respected defensive mind, but the Browns will go with a new staff on that side of the ball as Kitchens puts the bulk of his focus on the offense. It’s not clear whether the Browns entertained bringing Williams back as their defensive coordinator (which was his role before the in-season firing of Hue Jackson), but in any case, it’s unlikely that Williams was interested in a role reversal with his former assistant.
The Browns went 5-3 under Williams in the second half, but the Browns are putting more stock into Kitchens’ impact on the offense than Williams’ defensive management or leadership. At this stage of the coaching cycle, it’s unlikely that Williams will garner consideration for the remaining head coaching vacancies, but he should be a top candidate for open DC jobs.
Browns To Hire Freddie Kitchens As HC
The Browns decided to stay in-house. Or, more accurately, in the kitchen. On Wednesday afternoon, the Browns will formally announce the promotion of offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens to the head coaching position, according to ESPN.com’s Chris Mortensen (on Twitter). 
[RELATED: PFR’s 2019 Head Coaching Search Tracker]
Kitchens proved his value after an in-season promotion gave him the keys to the Browns’ offense. Under Kitchen’s tutelage, rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield thrived and became a legitimate contender for the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award. The Browns closed the season 5-3 with Kitchens donning the headset and it appears that he is being given more credit for the turnaround than interim head coach Gregg Williams.
Early on, the Browns were connected to some big-name coaching candidates such as former Packers coach Mike McCarthy and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. The Browns did not seriously pursue either coach, choosing instead to talk with Williams, Jim Caldwell, Dan Campbell, Matt Eberflus, Brian Flores, Mike Munchak, Nick Sirianni, and Kevin Stefanski.
Stefanski, the Vikings’ offensive coordinator, was believed to be a finalist alongside Kitchens. Ultimately, he lost out, which means that Brad Childress is probably not on his way back to Cleveland after all.
Giants Rumors: Manning, Vernon, Jenkins
Eli Manning is less-than-certain about his future with the Giants. In a radio interview this week, Manning expressed doubt that he’ll be under center for the G-Men in 2019, as Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com writes.
“I do. I do,” Manning said when asked if he wants to play again. “I love playing football. I like my teammates and the coaches we have.”
However, when Manning was asked if we have seen the last of him, the quarterback simply said, “We’ll see.”
Recently, Giants GM Dave Gettleman had a “very extensive” and “no holds barred” conversation with Manning about his future. It’s not hard to read between the lines: despite Manning’s past success and a quietly solid second half to the 2018 season, the Giants are giving real consideration to cutting ties with the two-time champ.
Here’s more from the Meadowlands:
- Manning isn’t the only Giants notable who is in danger of being a cap casualty, Dunleavy writes. Outside linebacker Olivier Vernon ($11.5MM in potential savings; $8MM in dead money), cornerback Janoris Jenkins ($7.75MM savings; $7MM dead money), and linebacker Alec Ogletree ($6.5MM savings; $5.25MM dead money) are among several vets who could be shown the door. Others on the block include running back Jonathan Stewart, tight end Rhett Ellison, strong safety Michael Thomas, and outside linebacker Connor Barwin.
- The Giants have to fix their broken evaluation process before they enter the meat of a pivotal offseason, Matt Lombardo of NJ.com writes. Last year, the Giants put all of their eggs in the Manning basket by spending big on tackle Nate Solder, trading a fourth-round pick for linebacker Alec Ogletree, signing right guard Patrick Omameh to an ill-fated deal, and adding aging running back Jonathan Stewart. This time around, the Giants have to realistically evaluate their chances to win right away in 2019. In theory, they could spend big on another tackle to bookend Solder and hope for the best, but that won’t be a prudent move unless their truly in position to succeed in ’19.
Browns Could Hire Brad Childress
Brad Childress could be one step away from returning to the NFL. The Browns are reportedly down to Kevin Stefanski and Freddie Kitchens in their head coaching search, and if they pick Stefanski, Childress could wind up on Cleveland’s staff, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com hears. 
Childress and Stefanski have history, dating back to when the two first met in 2005. Childress was also the Browns’ offensive coordinator in 2012 and worked under GM John Dorsey from 2013-16 when he was running the Chiefs. There are significant ties all around, so Stefanski could be a natural fit as the next OC or a different type of assistant if Stefanski is the pick.
The original plan for Childress was to serve as the head coach of the AAF’s Atlanta Legends in 2019. However, he abruptly stepped down from the post on Tuesday, which could be a sign that he has something bigger in the works.
Latest On Eric Reid, NFL
Eric Reid claims he was drug tested six or seven times after joining the Panthers last season, leading the safety to openly question whether the league was specifically targeting him. On Wednesday morning, the NFL and NFLPA released a statement saying there’s “no evidence” of any tampering in the testing schedule. 
“We take any claim questioning the integrity of our collectively bargained performance enhancing drug policy seriously. We asked the independent administrator of the policy to review and produce a report on the claims of targeting,” the two parties said in the joint statement. “A copy of this report, which contains personal and confidential testing information, has been provided to Eric Reid. We will not breach any player’s confidentiality, but can confirm that the report documents the dates he was randomly selected for testing and the actual dates of the drug tests. The report also demonstrates that Mr. Reid’s tests were randomly generated via computer algorithm and that his selection for testing was normal when compared with the number of tests players were randomly selected for throughout the league during the time that he was on an active roster. There is no evidence of targeting or any other impropriety with respect to his selection for testing.”
Furthermore, the league and union inquire found that Reid’s claim of being tested six times in his first eleven weeks with the team was not accurate, a source tells Joe Person of The Athletic (on Twitter). Still, the findings of the investigation are unlikely to comfort Reid, who is at odds with the NFL. Reid still has a collusion grievance pending against the league and knelt during the national anthem in 2018.
Reid’s situation likely led to a prolonged stint in free agency last year, but the Panthers are already showing interest in keeping him off the open market this year.
Jaguars Sign RB Thomas Rawls
Running back Thomas Rawls has signed a futures deal with the Jaguars, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Rawls, who previously spent time with the Bengals and Seahawks, could help fortify Jacksonville’s depth. 
Rawls had 830 yards as a Seahawks rookie in 2015 and the league is still waiting on a revival. He averaged just 3.0 yards per carry for Seattle between 2016 and 2017 and was unable to make the Jets’ final cut last offseason. He hooked on with the Bengals soon after, but only dressed for one game and did not register a carry.
Reserve/futures contract deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2019 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters. These are low-cost and low-risk deals, so the Jaguars could easily drop Rawls between now and March if they have a change of heart. If he stays on the offseason roster, there’s no assurance that he’ll make the final cut in the fall.
Colts Place S Mike Mitchell On IR
The Colts will be without safety Mike Mitchell for Saturday’s game against the Chiefs, and the remainder of the playoffs should they win. Mitchell has been placed on injured reserve due to the calf strain he suffered last week. To take his place, the club promoted fellow safety Rolan Milligan to the 53-man roster from the practice squad. 
Mitchell was one of several veteran safeties who had a hard time finding work last offseason. In October, the Colts added him on a low-cost, one-year deal and he proved to be a brilliant signing. Mitchell served as a mentor to the club’s young secondary players and the team busted out of an early season slump as soon as he arrived. The Colts started 1-4 but rallied to win ten of their next 12 games after Mitchell came into the fold.
“He’s just savvy,” Colts head coach Frank Reich said of Mitchell in October. “I mean, just savvy and plays hard. Just seems to be in the right spot at the right time. Is disciplined, you know that’s really what we look for is when a guy can be savvy and instinctive but yet play with discipline. He’s just a real pro and he shows that.”
In his run as a spot starter for the Colts, Mitchell tallied 28 tackles, one interception, one pass defensed, and two forced fumbles.
Jets Not Considering Kris Richard?
Cowboys defensive backs coach Kris Richard is not believed to be a serious candidate for the Jets’ head coaching vacancy, according to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY. Richard interviewed with the Jets over the weekend, but it sounds like Gang Green will focus on their other six candidates. 
Richard, as far as we know, is still in play for the Dolphins’ vacancy. And, for what it’s worth, he has the full endorsement of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
“It doesn’t surprise me at all that clubs have the interest that they have in him,” Jones said. “There are no secrets in the NFL when it comes to people that can help you win football games. And he’s a winner.”
The Jets lost one potential candidate this week when the Cardinals hired former Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury to run the team. However, the Jets already knew that Kingsbury was Arizona-bound when they interviewed him on Monday, sources tell Manish Mehta of the Daily News. The meeting, Mehta hears, was more about picking Kingsbury’s brain, but they also made their own pitch to him in case he had second thoughts about the Cardinals.
Mike McCarthy Focused On Jets
Former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy doesn’t want to be considered, and isn’t pursuing, any other head coaching vacancy other than the Jets job, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Of course, McCarthy’s only other known interview was with the Browns, and he is not one of the two finalists, so his only real hope of being a head coach might be with the Jets anyway. 
[RELATED: PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker]
McCarthy did attract attention from the Cardinals, but Arizona was too far from his family in Wisconsin for his liking. It’s also too late for a change of heart – the Cardinals found their head coach on Tuesday when they agreed to hire Kliff Kingsbury from the college ranks.
The Jets have already interviewed Eric Bieniemy, Adam Gase, Matt Rhule, Kris Richard, Jim Caldwell, and Todd Monken. However, none of those candidates offer the same kind of resume as McCarthy. The Jets and McCarthy could be on course for a deal, though buzz is also building about Rhule’s candidacy.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/8/19
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2019 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:
Baltimore Ravens
- G Kofi Amichia
- T Randin Crecelius
- CB Robertson Daniel
- RB Tyler Ervin
- FB Christopher Ezeala
- S Bennett Jackson
- LB Alvin Jones
- TE Nick Keizer
Buffalo Bills
- WR Duke Williams
Chicago Bears
- OL Dejon Allen
- DL Abdullah Anderson
- DB John Franklin III
- WR Tanner Gentry
- WR Cyril Grayson
- DB Michael Joseph
- DB Jonathon Mincy
- RB Ryan Nall
- LB James Vaughters
- LB Josh Woods
Cleveland Browns
- OL David Bright
- DB Ashton Lampkin
Miami Dolphins
- LB Sam Eguavoen
New England Patriots
- C Jake Eldrenkamp
New York Jets
- WR Stacy Coley
- DE Harvey Langi
Philadelphia Eagles
Houston Texans
- TE Jerell Adams
- LB Davin Bellamy
- RB Josh Ferguson
- LB Chris Landrum
- OT Rick Leonard
- G Maurquice Shakir
- T David Steinmetz
- WR Jester Weah
- WR Issac Whitney
Philadelphia Eagles
- LB Alex Singleton
Pittsburgh Steelers
- K Matt McCrane
Seattle Seahawks
- CB Jeremy Boykins
- WR Caleb Scott
- WR Keenan Reynolds
- CB Simeon Thomas
- SS Marwin Evans
- TE Tyrone Swoopes
- LB Justin Currie
- C Marcus Henry
- G Jordan Roos