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Cincinnati Bengals News & Rumors

Bengals Plan To Hire External HC Candidate

By | at January 10, 2019 5:34 pm

The Bengals plan to hire an external candidate to fill their head coaching vacancy, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Therefore, provided they don’t conduct any more interviews, the Bengals appear set to tap either Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, former Buccaneers OC Todd Monken, former Broncos head coach Vance Joseph, Rams quarterbacks coach Zach Taylor, or Rams passing game coordinator/tight ends coach Shane Waldron as their next head coach.

[RELATED: 2019 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker]

Given that they’ve yet to select a new head coach, Cincinnati is likely targeting an assistant who is still coaching in the postseason. That would rule out Monken and Joseph, but Bieniemy, Taylor, and Waldron are each preparing for Divisional Round matchups with their respective teams. As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes, the speculation around the NFL has all signs pointing to Bieniemy, although that’s far from official.

The Bengals began dismissing members of their incumbent staff this morning, tweets Florio. All of Cincinnati’s assistants had one year remaining on their respective contracts, but whomever the Bengals have decided on for head coach has presumably told management which staffers he’d like to retain. Linebackers coach Jim Haslett, tight ends coach Jonathan Hayes, and running backs coach Kyle Caskey are among those who will not return in 2019, per Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link). Roughly half of the Bengals’ staff will be back next season, tweets Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Cincinnati interviewed a number of internal candidates as part of their head coaching search, including offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons, and special assistant Hue Jackson.

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Only Three NFL Head Coaching Vacancies Remain

By | at January 9, 2019 1:56 pm

Eight NFL teams were in search of a head coach to start the New Year, but five clubs have already found their man. Let’s quickly run down the jobs that are off the table and check in on where things stand for the three remaining vacancies:

“No Vacancy”:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator (USC): Hired

Cleveland Browns

  • Freddie Kitchens, offensive coordinator (Browns): Hired

Denver Broncos

  • Vic Fangio, defensive coordinator (Bears): Hired

Green Bay Packers

  • Matt LaFleur, offensive coordinator (Titans): Hired

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Bruce Arians, former head coach (Cardinals): Hired

Jobs Still Open:

Cincinnati Bengals

Miami Dolphins

New York Jets

The Bengals, so far, have cast a wide net, but the recommendation of Marvin Lewis and the club’s history with Jackson could lead to the ex-Browns coach landing on his feet. They’re also considering another recently fired head coach in Joseph and the group lacks general star power, so Jackson’s chances cannot be dismissed.

The buzz is slowly building around Richard in Miami, even though he is not believed to be a serious candidate in New York. From a pure knowledge standpoint, Allen may be the best bet of the free agent bunch. Overall, the Dolphins’ top choice could be Harbaugh, but he won’t be an option for them if he signs an extension with the Ravens. Even if he doesn’t, the Dolphins might not want to part with significant draft capital and shell out big bucks to land him.

The Jets never really had a chance at Kliff Kingsbury, but Jets fans probably won’t lose sleep over seeing the inexperienced young coach go to Arizona. What’s left is a mishmash of head coaching retreads (Caldwell, Gase, McCarthy), coordinators and assistants (Monken, Richard, Bieniemy), and one more college-to-pros candidate (Rhule). Some believe that Rhule, the head coach at Baylor, is the Jets’ No. 1 target.

The list above, derived from the 2019 Head Coaching Search Tracker, was edited to omit candidates that are no longer in consideration or have taken jobs elsewhere.

11 comments Cincinnati Bengals Miami Dolphins New York Jets PFR Originals

2019 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker

By | at January 6, 2019 5:00 pm

Several NFL teams are currently hunting for a new head coach, and amidst reports about interview requests and potential candidates, it’s easy to lose track of the latest updates in the shuffle. So we’ll use this space – which will be updated until every team has hired a new head coach – to keep track of the most recent news and rumors. It can be found on the right-hand sidebar under “PFR Features.”

Listed below are the head coaching candidates that have been linked to each of the teams with vacancies, along with their current status. If and when other teams decide to make head coaching changes, they’ll be added to this list. Here’s the current breakdown:

[Updated: 2/5/19, 8:17am CT]

Arizona Cardinals

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Miami Dolphins

New York Jets

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

30 comments Arizona Cardinals Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Denver Broncos Green Bay Packers Miami Dolphins New York Jets PFR Originals Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bengals Likely To Expand HC Search

By | at January 6, 2019 3:12 pm

The Bengals have already interviewed eight candidates (and attempted to meet with a ninth) for their head coaching position, but their search could expand in the coming days, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link). Cincinnati has interest in assistants who were coaching during Wild Card weekend, but preferred not to disturb those coaches in advance of such critical games. While no new names have yet surfaced, potential candidates who coached this weekend Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, Cowboys defensive backs coach Kris Richard, Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale, Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, and Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.

1 comment Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Denver Broncos Miami Dolphins New York Jets

Bengals Denied Permission To Interview Gary Kubiak For OC

By | at January 6, 2019 12:21 pm

  • The Broncos are blocking other teams from interviewing senior personnel adviser Gary Kubiak for offensive coordinator jobs, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Kubiak wants to remain in Denver anyway, but he has expressed interest in returning to the sidelines as an OC, and the Broncos would like him to serve in that role under whomever they hire as their next head coach (assuming that person is comfortable with such an arrangement). The Bengals and Falcons had requested interviews.
4 comments Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Cincinnati Bengals Denver Broncos Houston Texans Los Angeles Chargers New England Patriots New York Jets

Packers To Interview Todd Monken

By | at January 5, 2019 2:07 pm

The Packers’ search to find Mike McCarthy‘s replacement has become quite extensive. Another candidate is now in the mix.

Todd Monken will interview for the job on Saturday night, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (on Twitter). This makes nine candidates (so far) on Green Bay’s interview list.

Recently the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator, Monken’s docket is filling up fast. He has two interviews scheduled for next week, with the Bengals on Monday and Jets on Tuesday, Fowler adds.

While the Bucs again disappointed, their offense could be counted on for production. Tampa Bay ranked third in total yardage (and 12th in points) this season. No team in the franchise’s 43-season history had previously finished in the top three offensively.

The 2018 season was a critical one for Monken, as he took over play-calling duties for most of the campaign. Dirk Koetter had called plays previously, and did so again briefly this season, but Monken put himself on the map with his work in 2018.

The 52-year-old coach has spent most of his tenure on college staffs but did coach the Jaguars’ wide receivers from 2007-10. After serving as Oklahoma State’s OC for the following two years and then Southern Miss’ head coach over the next three, Monken became the Bucs’ OC. Though, he still served as Tampa Bay’s wideouts coach from 2016-17. Koetter rearranged Monken’s responsibilities in the 2018 offseason, allowing him to focus solely on his OC duties.

1 comment Cincinnati Bengals Green Bay Packers New York Jets Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bengals To Interview Taylor, Waldron

By | at January 3, 2019 8:43 pm

  • Two of Sean McVay‘s top assistants will take their interviews with the Bengals on Friday. Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor and pass game coordinator/tight ends coach Shane Waldron will meet with Cincinnati ownership tomorrow, tweets Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. Nearly every candidate in which the Bengals have expressed interest thus far have come from the offensive side of the ball, with the only exception being former Broncos head coach (and ex-Cincy defensive backs coach) Vance Joseph. The Bengals were turned down by Josh McDaniels, but they’ve also asked to meet with Bucs OC Todd Monken and Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy, among others. Bieniemy’s interview with the Bengals — originally scheduled for Friday — will now take place on Saturday, tweets Pelissero.
2 comments Cincinnati Bengals Denver Broncos Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams San Francisco 49ers

Josh McDaniels Turns Down Bengals Interview

By | at January 3, 2019 10:24 am

Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels declined an opportunity to meet with the Bengals regarding their head coaching job, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. McDaniels, who famously flip-flopped on the Colts last year, is still in the running for jobs elsewhere. 

Teams will undoubtedly be wary about getting in bed with McDaniels, but the Patriots continually boast one of the NFL’s best offenses and it’s hard to overlook McDaniels’ resume. The Packers are next up to interview McDaniels and the OC figures to have a loaded calendar in between film room sessions.

The Patriots finished fourth in scoring and fifth in total yardage in 2018, despite an uncharacteristically weak year from Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. McDaniels has undoubtedly benefitted from the tools given to him in New England, but teams may be impressed by his ability to keep things afloat when things got tough last year.

The Bengals won’t get to meet with McDaniels, but they will try to speak with Buccaneers offensive coordinator Todd Monken, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Given the Bucs’ upheaval and the team’s unwillingness to consider internal candidates for the head coaching vacancy, it’s likely that Monken will be heading elsewhere no matter what. The Bengals may see Monken as the coach to get the most out of the speedy John Ross given the success he has had with DeSean Jackson in Tampa.

23 comments Cincinnati Bengals New England Patriots

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/2/19

By | at January 2, 2019 9:58 pm

Here are Wednesday’s reserve/futures contract moves:

Cleveland Browns

Cincinnati Bengals

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Minnesota Vikings

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Redskins

 

* = part of the NFL’s International Player Development Program

0 comments Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Minnesota Vikings Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Transactions Washington Commanders

Bengals To Interview Hue Jackson For Head Coaching Job

By | at January 2, 2019 11:36 am

Could Hue Jackson return to the head coaching ranks? The Bengals are at least interested in hearing him out and could interview him as early as Wednesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 

The Bengals have a long history with Jackson and quickly scooped him up after he was fired by the Browns in 2018. Jackson has the support of longtime former head coach Marvin Lewis, which likely helped him secure a head coaching interview with the Bengals.

The Bengals have already interviewed in-house candidates Darrin Simmons and Bill Lazor for the gig, so they’re doing their homework internally before casting a wide net elsewhere. Old friend Vance Joseph will have a two-day chat with the Bengals this week and a meeting with Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is on tap for Friday. Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Rams assistant Zac Taylor are also among the names in the mix.

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