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NFC North Notes: Tillman, Bell, Keisel, Lions

January 30th, 2014 at 11:19am CST by Luke Adams

Charles Tillman earned about $8MM in 2013, the last year of his contract with the Bears. Although he had another solid season when he was healthy, recording three INTs and forcing three fumbles in eight games, Tillman likely won’t be offered a similar salary by the Bears in free agency, given his age and the team’s limited flexibility. Still, as Adam L. Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times details, the 32-year-old defensive back appeared on 670 The Score in Chicago on Wednesday and didn’t sound like someone eager to play elsewhere.

“In perfect world, I will finish as a Bear,” Tillman told Laurence Holmes. “I guarantee I will retire a Chicago Bear. I guarantee that.”

While we wait to see if the two sides can work out a deal that will keep Tillman in a Bears uniform, let’s round up a few other notes from out of the NFC North….

  • “I would like to just bypass all this and sign a long-term deal,” Joique Bell said of his impending free agency, according to Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. Since he only has three years of experience, Bell will be a restricted free agent, meaning the Lions will have the ability to match any offers he receives. Still, it sounds as if the running back would rather negotiate a multiyear contract directly with the Lions, rather than hoping they match.
  • While longtime Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel hopes to re-sign with Pittsburgh, he would definitely consider joining the Lions this spring, as he tells 105.1FM in Detroit (quotes via Justin Rogers of MLive.com). “They’ve got a great team,” Keisel said. “I really like their quarterback. They’ve got Megatron. Who wouldn’t want to play with those guys?”
  • Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com takes a closer look at the Bears‘ situation at cornerback, where Tillman isn’t the only player facing free agency.
  • Kellen Davis, who will play for the Seahawks in this weekend’s Super Bowl, tells Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times that he felt “a little bit slighted” by the Bears when Chicago cut him last March.

NFC North Notes: McCown, Tillman, Turner

January 29th, 2014 at 4:20pm CST by Rob DiRe

Without an extension or a new contract from the Bears, Charles Tillman will be the most accomplished of all the free agent cornerbacks this offseason. Despite that, his age might take him out of the running for a large contract, according to Joel Corry of the National Football Post (via Twitter). Corry sees that Tampa Bay would be a logical fit, where Tillman could reunite with Lovie Smith. Here are some other notes from the NFC North:

  • Josh McCown has been a prominent name after filling in for Jay Cutler for five games this season, and there was thought to be an opportunity to compete for a starting job next season, but Scott Krinch of CSNChicago.com believes that McCown is sincere in saying he wants to return. “It’s going to have to look really good for me to go someplace else,” McCown stated. “Because my heart is in Chicago and that is where I want to be.”
  • Norv Turner will join Mike Zimmer’s staff in Minnesota to be the Vikings offensive coordinator, reports Derek Wetmore of ESPN (via Twitter). Turner was the offensive coordinator for the Browns in 2013.
  • The Lions have been looking for a second receiver to supplement Calvin Johnson‘s production for years, but Hall of Fame receiver and ESPN analyst Cris Carter does not believe that should be the team’s top priority, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. While Carter states that the team already passes for 5,000 yards as it is, he believes that a healthy Nate Burleson will be enough of an upgrade as to allow the organization to focus on its other shortcomings. Birkett does note that the Lions had the highest drop percentage in the NFL last year, and that general manager Martin Mayhew has taken a receiver in every draft he has been in that position.

Coaching Notes: Cowboys, Browns, Eagles

January 27th, 2014 at 8:50pm CST by Ben Levine

There were a handful of coaching moves today. Here are the highlights from around the league…

  • The Cowboys will hire former Lions‘ offensive coordinator Scott Linehan as their passing game coordinator, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Linehan had been Detroit’s offensive coach since 2009, but was fired at the end of the December. Rapoport also mentions that Linehan will be hired to call plays on offense, the Cowboys’ third playcaller in three seasons.
  • The Browns have continued to poach the Bills coaching staff, announcing today that linebackers coach Jim O’Neil will be joining Mike Pettine in Cleveland as the team’s defensive coordinator. Pettine will also take Buffalo coaches Brian Fleury and Jeff Hafley along with him. The Bills defense set a franchise record in 2013 with 57 sacks.
  • The Eagles filled some roles on their coaching staff, signing Bill Musgrave as their quarterbacks coach and promoting Mike Dawson from defensive quality control coach to assistant defensive line coach, according to Zach Berman of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Additionally, 22-year-old Michael Clay, will take over Dawson’s former role. Clay played for Eagles’ head coach Chip Kelly at Oregon for four seasons.

NFC North Coaching Notes: LeBeau, Prince

January 25th, 2014 at 8:49pm CST by Peter Sowards

Embattled Green Bay defensive coordinator Dom Capers is aware of the criticism from Packers fans, but he won’t get any from fellow coaches in the league. According to Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the overwhelming consensus is that Capers is still one of the brightest minds in the game. Dunne spoke with Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, with whom Capers worked in Pittsburgh from 1992-94.

“We’re in the business of concurrency,” LeBeau said. “People have a tendency to remember what’s happening today. That’s life. But I know that wherever he goes, they’re going to receive excellent preparation, coaching. There’s none better than Coach Capers. There is none better.”

LeBeau continued: “He’s as good a football coach as anybody. I don’t care who you’re talking about. He is in my opinion.”

  • The Lions hired former Boise State offensive coordinator Robert Prince to be their new wide receivers coach, tweets Alex Marvez of Fox Sports. Prince has NFL coaching experience, spending time as wide receivers coach with the Falcons, Jaguars and Seahawks from 2004-09.
  • Kirby Wilson is leaving Pittsburgh to become the Vikings new running backs coach, according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Wilson had interviewed twice with the Ravens for their vacant offensive coordinator position, but learned today that he was not a final candidate.
  • The Bears have added Clint Hurtt to their staff as an assistant defensive line coach, writes Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. Hurtt’s role as a college assistant in the Miami booster scandal ended up with him receiving a two-year show-cause penalty from the NCAA last fall. Hurtt fills the void left by Michael Sinclair‘s depature, the third Bears assistant fired this offseason. Finley said the move was surprising, noting that the Bears said the rest of their staff was safe earlier this month.

Extra Points: Stafford, Packers, Seahawks

January 24th, 2014 at 10:51pm CST by Rob DiRe

New Lions offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi discussed his new quarterback, Matthew Stafford, with Eric Edholm of Yahoo Sports.

“The good news is that he’s not broken, that much is clear,” Lombardi said. “There’s an awful amount of talent there. His arm is something to behold. We used to sit in the Saints quarterback room and just marvel at his passes — all the depths, the whole field in play. He really can sling it. That’s a great thing to have.”

Stafford, a former first overall pick, should evoke higher praise at this point in his career than “not broken.” While he has put up huge number the past few years, he has struggled with turning the football over, and the Lions were perceived to have underachieved, only reaching the playoffs one time with Stafford under center. Still, the Lions quarterback is here to stay, on an big contract that runs through 2017. Hopefully for Lombardi and new head coach Jim Caldwell, they can get him from “not broken” to “very good” in a short amount of time. Here is some other news from around the league:

 

Bills Hire Jim Schwartz As DC

January 24th, 2014 at 8:18pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Bills have hired former Lions head coach Jim Schwartz to be their defensive coordinator, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (via Twitter).

Schwartz was the defensive coordinator for the Titans under Jeff Fisher from 2001-2008, before getting the head coaching job with the Lions. In five years with the Lions, he amassed a 29-51 record, making the playoffs once. He was fired at the end of this season.

His defenses with the Titans achieved varying success, only finishing in the top 10 in points allowed twice and yards allowed three times during his tenure as a coordinator, according to Pro Football Reference. Schwartz has historically always ran a 4-3 defense marked by a desire to pressure with the front four. The Bills recently switched to a 3-4. There is no word yet on whether he will be bringing his defensive scheme with him, but with Mario Williams, Marcell Dareus, and Kyle Williams on the roster, they should have the versatility to play either scheme.

Schwartz replaces Mike Pettine, who left the Bills to become the head coach of the Browns. Pettine’s defense finished in the top five in DVOA last season.

Ndamukong Suh Fires Agent, Could Consider Jay-Z?

January 23rd, 2014 at 9:08pm CST by Zachary Links

The Lions have made it known that they want to keep Ndamukong Suh in Detroit beyond his final contract year in 2014 and the defensive lineman apparently wants to stay put. Today, Jason Phil Cole of National Football Post learned from two agents at the Pro Bowl that he fired agent Eugene Parker in advance of these talks and is interviewing candidates to represent him.

Meanwhile, Jason LaCanfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter) says he would not be surprised in the least if Suh winds up signing with Jay-Z. In fact, he says, any other outcome would be a surprise. Of course, the rapper entered the world of sports representation in 2013 and became the agent for Jets quarterback Geno Smith, Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz, Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano, and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant.

Suh, 27, will earn a base salary of $12.5MM this season. With a new deal, the Lions will hope to lock Suh up for the long-term while creating financial flexibility for this offseason by reducing his cap number. The Nebraska product racked up 49 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, and roughly $217K in fines.

Team Facebook/Twitter/RSS

January 21st, 2014 at 11:45am CST by Luke Adams

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NFC Rumors: 49ers, Bucs, Burleson, Falcons

January 20th, 2014 at 3:37pm CST by Luke Adams

A day after being eliminated from the postseason by the Seahawks, the 49ers are already looking ahead to the offseason. Kicker Phil Dawson and center Jonathan Goodwin both expressed interest in re-signing with San Francisco, according to Steve Corkran of the Bay Area News Group (Twitter links). The team is also in talks with McLeod Bethel-Thompson about a return for the backup QB, and has signed defensive lineman Lawrence Okoye and wide receiver Devon Wylie to futures deals, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (Twitter links).

Here’s more from around the NFC:

  • All indications right now suggest that the Buccaneers are deciding between Jason Licht of the Cardinals and Marc Ross of the Giants as their next general manager, reports Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports 1 (via Twitter). Falcons vice president of player personnel Lionel Vital, who had been in the running for the Bucs job, told D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution today that he’ll remain in Atlanta.
  • Nate Burleson acknowledges he’ll likely have to restructure his contract in order to return to the Lions next season, but he hopes to play out his deal and eventually retire in Detroit, as Eric Lacy of MLive.com details.
  • The Falcons have interest in bringing back offensive lineman Mike Johnson, but only at the right price, tweets Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com.
  • The Seahawks and 49ers are among the early favorites to come out of the NFC a year from now, but both teams will have multiple players in line for raises before then. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk takes a look at a few offseason issues for the NFC’s top two teams.