Bills Plan To Keep RB LeSean McCoy
Changes are coming in Buffalo, but LeSean McCoy is still a part of the team’s plans in 2019. This week, Bills GM Brandon Beane told reporters that Shady is staying put. 
“LeSean will come back in 2019 and we’ll go from there,” the GM said.
Beane also indicated in November that McCoy would be retained. The team’s belief in him, in some respects, is surprising. McCoy will turn 31 in July and he’s coming off of a season in which he averaged a career low 3.2 yards per carry and was hit with ugly accusations. The Bills, in theory, could dump McCoy to save $6.425MM against the cap with just $2.625MM left in dead money, but that move is apparently not in consideration.
For what it’s worth, McCoy also says that he’s happy in Western New York. Recently, McCoy said that while “a lot of teams” wanted to trade for him at this year’s deadline, he wants to stay put and be a part of the team’s future.
McCoy still offers serious burst and cutting ability, even at his advanced age, so there’s reason to believe that he can get back to his old form in 2019. The veteran would also benefit from a beefing up of the offensive line.
Bucs Rumors: Winston, McCoy, Monken
Here’s the latest out of Tampa:
- The Buccaneers say they’re looking for a new head coach, but not looking for a new starting quarterback. “Jameis Winston will be here. We have him under contract for a year,” GM Jason Licht said (via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times). “He has done some amazing things for a young 24, turns 25 in a week, quarterback. He’s accomplished more than most of the elite quarterbacks have at his age throughout that time span. There’s a lot to like about Jameis. Jameis will be here next year.” The Bucs picked up the fifth year option on Winston’s contract, which should keep him in place for another season at a rate of $20.92MM. Of course, the option is guaranteed for injury only, so the Buccaneers could theoretically get out of the deal.
- Licht cannot guarantee that defensive tackle Gerald McCoy will be back with the team in 2019 (Twitter link via Stroud). “We have a lot of tough decisions to make,” Licht said. Thanks to the seven-year, $95.2MM contract extension he signed with the Bucs in 2014, McCoy is slated to be back with the team in 2019 at a $13MM cap number. However, it is a non-guaranteed deal. Despite Tampa Bay’s problems on defense and McCoy’s injury trouble, he still turned in a decent year for the Bucs. McCoy graded out as the No. 27 ranked defensive tackle in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus.
- Licht says the Buccaneers will not consider in-house candidates for the head coaching job, as Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. That automatically rules out offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who may be up for the Jets job.
Latest On Jets’ Coaching Search
The Jets don’t know who their next coach will be yet, but they do have an idea of how they want to structure things. The Jets are not interested in hiring a coach who will demand total control over the 53-man roster, CEO Christopher Johnson says.
“I think that would be the wrong person for the job,” Johnson said (via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com). “That would be off the table.”
Of course, that could take the Jets out of the running for some big-name candidates who are eager to control the roster. And, given GM Mike Maccagnan‘s lackluster track record in the draft, it’s an especially likely request.
Meanwhile, Johnson says the next head coach will report directly to him and not to Maccagnan, which indicates that the GM, unsurprisingly, is on the hot seat. Maccagnan will have $100MM+ in capital to work with this offseason, and if that does not produce results in 2019, he’ll likely be looking for another job for the 2020 season.
For now, Maccagnan appears to be safe. Despite his missteps, Johnson seems happy with at least some of the team’s young talent acquired under Maccagnan, including quarterback Sam Darnold and safety Jamal Adams.
“We’ve developed what I think is a good plan,” said Johnson when asked why he decided to stick with Maccagnan. “It’s a plan we’re in sync on, and it really came together with Sam. Now we’re going to be able to build with Sam, and build around Sam and with great players we have on this team already.”
Bucs, Dolphins Request Interviews With Eric Bieniemy
The Buccaneers and Dolphins have requested interviews with Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, according to Terez Paylor of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). Bieniemy, 49, was among those recommended by the Fritz Pollard Alliance for head coaching consideration this year and should be a hot candidate given the success of the Chiefs’ explosive offense in 2018.
The Jets also requested an interview with Bieniemy on Monday, a job that could hold more appeal than the Bucs or Dolphins. Aside from the Jets playing in the country’s biggest market, they have a young and promising quarterback in Sam Darnold. The draft could bring new QBs to Tampa Bay and Miami, but Darnold could be closer to NFL success than any prospect in the 2019 class.
Bieniemy’s first NFL coaching gig came between 2016-2010 with the Vikings as a running backs coach. He dipped back into the college ranks as Colorado’s offensive coordinator, but returned to the pro level in 2013 as the Chiefs’ running backs coach. When Matt Nagy left for Chicago, Andy Reid promoted him to the OC post.
Bears’ Vic Fangio To Interview With Broncos, Dolphins
Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has two interviews lined up. He’ll meet with both the Broncos and Dolphins on Monday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
The Broncos and Dolphins submitted interview requests for the Bears DC earlier this week and they were quickly granted, even though the Bears are gearing up for a playoff showdown against the Eagles. Their interest is understandable – Fangio produced a top-10 defense without a Pro Bowler in 2017 and now has the top DVOA unit with three Pro Bowlers. Khalil Mack has certainly boosted the Bears D, but Fangio has a track record of results.
Fangio was largely overlooked in last year’s cycle, but things should be different this time around. Assuming the experience works in his favor, Fangio’s five career stints as an NFL defensive coordinator should make him an attractive candidate for even more teams.
Cardinals To Interview Adam Gase
Former Dolphins head coach Adam Gase may not be on the block for long. Gase will interview with the Cardinals on Wednesday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
Gase, at least at one time, had a reputation as a quarterback whisperer. That’s exactly what the Cardinals need as they look to groom 2018 first-round pick Josh Rosen for the big time. It has been said that Gase was a big fan of the UCLA quarterback last year and that he was a consideration for Miami at No. 11, so this could be a match.
Gase made a name for himself as the Broncos’ offensive coordinator and managed to go 10-6 in his first year with the ‘Fins despite having journeyman Matt Moore under center. He couldn’t work the same magic with Jay Cutler last year, resulting in a 6-10 record, and the Dolphins finished just 7-9 this past season. Still, even as the Dolphins struggled in 2018, Ryan Tannehill had a solid season from an individual perspective. If given a proper offensive line to work with, the Cardinals may feel that Gase is the man to rejuvenate their offense.
Packers To Interview Josh McDaniels
Josh McDaniels will interview with the Packers on Friday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). McDaniels’ availability to interview (and ability to ultimately accept a job) is complicated by the Patriots being in the playoffs, but the Pats’ first-round bye could give McDaniels time to do two interviews before New England’s postseason gets underway. 
Last year, McDaniels agreed to become the next head coach of the Colts but ultimately left them at the altar. Despite his offensive knowhow, it remains to be seen whether the Packers or any other team in this cycle will be able to trust McDaniels. For what it’s worth, McDaniels does not believe he is “burned” when it comes to future opportunities.
Of course, there are factors working in McDaniels’ favor, starting with his resume as the chief strategist of one of the league’s most potent offenses. He also fits the profile of a young and energetic coach, which is what led to the hirings of Sean McVay and Matt Nagy in recent years. Teams who want to go for the young and bubbly type this year may consider the likes of Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley, but he lacks pro experience and claims that he is staying put at OU.
McDaniels also has experience in managing an elite quarterback, which should be a focus of the Packers after Mike McCarthy‘s relationship with Aaron Rodgers went south.
Bucs Request Interview With George Edwards
The Buccaneers have requested an interview with Vikings defensive coordinator George Edwards for their head coaching job, sources tell Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Serving under Mike Zimmer, Edwards has had a significant role in game planning and has been in the mix for head coaching jobs in the past. 
[RELATED: Bucs Interested In Mike McCarthy?]
Last year, Edwards reportedly did well in his interview with the Bears, though that job ultimately went to offensive specialist Matt Nagy. Given his experience with six different NFL clubs since 1998, Edwards may be due for a step up the ladder. Before joining Zimmer and the Vikings, Zimmer held two DC jobs with the Redskins and Bills and was a linebackers coach for the Cowboys, Browns, and Dolphins.
The Bucs moved on from Dirk Koetter before the end of 2018, ending a run that started with lots of promise and ended with very little in the way of results. Koetter went 9-7 his first year but the Bucs finished 5-11 in each of the last two seasons.
The Buccaneers have also been connected to former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, though he figures to have multiple suitors this offseason.
Saints Re-Sign OT Derek Newton
Derek Newton is back with the Saints. On Thursday, the Saints re-signed the offensive tackle, along with fellow OT Cornelius Lucas. To make room, the club cut defensive back Josh Robinson and defensive lineman Mitchell Loewen.
The Saints signed Newton to a two-year deal in early December, even though he had not played since October 2016, then released him a few weeks later. The Saints needed healthy bodies up front due to a recent rash of injuries last week, but they’re now able to accommodate him on the roster.
A 2011 seventh-round pick out of Arkansas State, Newton was the Texans’ starting right tackle from 2012’s first game until that career-altering night in Denver when Newton shredded both of his knees. The Texans waived Newton via failed physical designation in April, and he filed a $500K grievance. This year, Newton worked out for the Jets, Cardinals, and Saints and showed enough in New Orleans to warrant an opportunity.
The Saints kept Newton on speed dial, and he now has a chance to contribute to a contender.
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