The Panthers are interviewing former Giants GM Jerry Reese for their vacancy, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Meanwhile, they’ve also requested an interview with Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter) hears.
Reese was fired by the Giants towards the end of the 2017 season, leaving the Meadowlands with a pair of Super Bowl rings. On the flipside, the Giants went just 91-85 in Reese’s decade-long tenure as GM.
His recent meeting with the Jaguars marked his first interview since then, but he’s been on the GM radar over the last few years. Reese declined to interview for the Raiders’ GM job in 2018, and last year there was “heavy support” for him to return to the NFL. The Lions may also give him consideration in their current search.
Reese and Dodds join a growing list of GM candidates in Carolina. The Panthers are also seeking interviews with Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio (if they can keep him away from the Texans), Saints assistant GM Jeff Ireland, 49ers vice president of player personnel Adam Peters, Bills assistant GM Joe Schoen, and Browns VP of football ops Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
The Jets and Texans requested interviews with Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). There will likely be more on the way for Eberflus, who is considered one of the hottest coaching candidates in this year’s cycle.
After sacking Adam Gase over the weekend, the Jets are expected to cast a wide net in their search for his replacement. In addition to Eberflus, assistants Eric Bieniemy (Chiefs OC), Matt Eberflus (Colts DC), Don Martindale (Ravens DC), Arthur Smith (Titans OC) and Brandon Staley (Rams DC) are on the radar. Ditto for college coaches Jim Harbaugh (Michigan), Matt Campbell (Iowa State), and Dan Mullen (Florida).
Eberflus is in his third year as the Colts’ defensive coordinator, following seven seasons as the Cowboys linebackers coach. With the dysfunctional Jets, he’d have a chance to groom one of this year’s top draft picks and snap the team’s lengthy playoff drought. And, after going with an offensive “guru” last time around, no one would be surprised to see the Jets go back to a defensive specialist.
The Texans have already interviewed Jim Caldwell and Marvin Lewis. Now, they’ll have the opportunity to chat with coaches from all 31 clubs, though they’ll need permission in some cases. It’s believed that the Texans are focused on hiring a coach with pro experience, rather than plucking a candidate straight from the NCAA ranks.
The relationship between Eagles head coach Doug Pederson and quarterback Carson Wentz is fractured beyond repair, according to Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com. Wentz is expected to ask the Eagles for a trade this offseason and will do whatever he can to facilitate a deal out of Philadelphia.
Wentz was benched for rookie signal-caller Jalen Hurts a few weeks ago, but shortly thereafter, it was reported that Philadelphia had not lost faith in Wentz and had no intention of trading him (though that may have simply been a tactic to maintain its leverage in trade negotiations). Wentz, however, was said to be rattled by the team’s decision to select Hurts in the second round of this year’s draft and was upset with how his benching unfolded. As a result, he is looking for a fresh start elsewhere.
Just yesterday, we learned that the Eagles plan to retain Pederson for the 2021 season, so assuming Mortensen’s report is accurate, the club may be choosing its head coach over its former MVP-candidate quarterback. However, Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network says the Eagles still believe the situation is salvageable (Twitter link), so it remains to be seen how aggressive the team will be in trade talks.
If the club does elect to move on from Wentz, a trade is much more feasible than a release. Trading Wentz before the third day of the 2021 league year would result in a dead cap charge of just under $34MM for 2021, but given that Wentz’s cap number for next season is set to be just above $34MM, the Eagles would actually save a bit of cap space and would at least have some draft pick compensation in their pocket. Releasing Wentz would result in a massive dead cap hit of nearly $60MM, and while the Eagles could spread out that hit over two years by designating him a post-June 1 cut, carrying $30MM on the books for two consecutive seasons for a player no longer on the roster wouldn’t make much sense.
Because of the presence of former Eagles OC Frank Reich and their abundance of cap space, the Colts have been rumored as the most likely destination for Wentz in the event a trade is consummated. Indeed, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network says Wentz would prefer Indianapolis over several other clubs (video link), and if incumbent Colts signal-caller Philip Rivers elects to retire at season’s end, Indy will certainly be in the market for a QB.
Rapoport says that Rivers, who signed a one-year, $25MM pact with the Colts this offseason, is very much open to retirement, and his decision may hinge on whether the team advances to the playoffs. TV networks are said to be eyeing Rivers, who could easily transition to the broadcast booth if he hangs up the cleats.
Colts quarterback PhilipRivers has acknowledged that Sunday’s game against the Jaguars could be his last. The 39-year-old may have some extra incentive to retire, because multiple TV networks are already eyeing him for the broadcast booth, Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports hears.
Rivers, who is rounding out a one-year, $25MM deal, is seen by some network execs as the next Tony Romo. ESPN and CBS both showed interest in Rivers around this time last year, before he ultimately decided to continue playing. This time around, there could be new suitors in the mix. If Apple or Amazon wind up airing games, they could turn to Rivers for name value and high-level analysis.
With Rivers under center, the Colts have won three of their last four to keep their playoff hopes alive. After falling short against the Steelers, the Colts will look to punch their ticket with a win over the Jaguars. They’ll need a Titans loss to go along with that, in order to seal the division, or three favorable outcomes to make it as a Wild Card team.
Despite the NFL expanding its playoff bracket to 14 teams, one 10-win AFC squad’s season will end Sunday. The historic depth on display in this year’s AFC may well exclude an 11-win team from the playoffs for just the third time since the 1970 merger.
The conference’s Nos. 4-7 spots are not yet determined; the Titans, Dolphins, Ravens, Browns and Colts sit at 10-5. Only the 1985 Broncos and 2008 Patriots — who were left out of five- and six-team AFC brackets, respectively — missed the post-merger playoffs at 11-5. But with none of the 10-win quintet playing one another Sunday, the Colts could join that list.
With the Steelers indicating they will restBen Roethlisberger, the Browns would appear to have a strong chance to snap the NFL’s longest playoff drought (18 years). Although they lost 38-6 in the teams’ October meeting in Pittsburgh, the Steelers have not played nearly as well since and have lost key defenders Devin Bush and Bud Dupree. The Browns beat the Mason Rudolph-quarterbacked Steelers 21-7 in Cleveland last year, though the game result became obviously obscured. Football Outsiders gives the Browns a 44% chance to hold at the No. 6 seed and a 20% chance to qualify as the seventh seed.
Sean McDermott has not indicated if he will rest starters against the Dolphins. Doing so would certainly hurt the Colts’ qualification chances, with Indianapolis needing at least one of the other four 10-win teams to lose. The Bills can only drop to the No. 3 spot with a loss and a Steelers win, and given Mike Tomlin‘s decision to rest Roethlisberger, it would not be surprising to see McDermott give Josh Allen a rest or an abbreviated assignment Sunday.
The Dolphins have made the playoffs once in the previous 11 seasons and have benched Tua Tagovailoa twice since naming him their starter. Tagovailoa remains Miami’s QB1, however. Football Outsiders gives Miami a 28% chance to hold at the No. 5 seed and a 29% chance to earn the No. 7 seed in this year’s expanded bracket. While the Bengals knocked the Ravens out of the 2017 playoffs in Week 17, this version is less talented and down its starting quarterback (Joe Burrow) and top running back (Joe Mixon). Of the five 10-win AFCers, Baltimore’s path may be the least daunting.
The Colts have seen their Philip Rivers signing produce mixed results, and it is not certain the sides will reunite in 2021. Although Rivers has helped the Colts return to the playoff precipice, the 39-year-old quarterback ranks 18th in QBR. While that figure is north of Rivers and Jacoby Brissett‘s 2019 placements, the Colts have also endured defeats to the Jaguars — their Sunday opponent — and lost by at least two scores to the Browns, Ravens and Titans.
Tennessee also lost to Indianapolis in a blowout and brings a less reliable defense (29th overall) into Week 17. Houston also nearly pulled a Week 6 upset in this matchup, losing in overtime. However, the Texans are without some key players — including Will Fuller and Bradley Roby — going into the rematch. Football Outsiders views a Titans loss in Houston and a Colts win as the most likely way Indy can return to the playoffs, slotting this scenario at 33%.
So which of this quintet will wrap its season early? Vote in PFR’s latest poll (link for app users) and weigh in with your thoughts on this Week 17 gridlock in the comments section.
December 30th, 2020 at 1:08pm CST by Zachary Links
The Colts are set to sign tackle Jared Veldheer to the practice squad, as NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. Veldheer will likely be elevated to the varsity squad between now and Sunday to help fill the void for Anthony Castonzo.
Veldheer, 33, spent some time with the Packers late last year and even started in a playoff game. After that, he retired for the second time in his career. Now, he’s making yet another return with yet another opportunity for postseason action.
With the season on the brink, the Colts are left paper thin at left tackle. Veteran Will Holden, who started against the Steelers, has an ankle injury of his own that will keep him out this weekend. The Colts may turn to Chaz Green, but the right tackle hasn’t performed well on the opposite side. On short notice, Veldheer could see snaps against the Jaguars.
Another option as the Colts shuffle the front five: All-Pro left guard Quenton Nelson. Nelson does his best work on the interior, but he’s also played some LT in emergency spots.
December 30th, 2020 at 12:58pm CST by Zachary Links
Colts left tackle Anthony Castonzo will miss the rest of the year due to an ankle injury, head coach Frank Reich announced. It’s a major blow to the offensive line as the team enters a make-or-break Week 17 tilt against the Jaguars.
“You feel sick for AC going down like he did on a Thursday practice,” quarterback Philip Rivers said (via ESPN.com’s Mike Wells). “Maybe it was a matter of time before something happened. He’s had a heck of a year, a big part of what we do offensively, run game and pass protection. He’ll be missed.”
Castonzo is set for surgery, taking their long-tenured starter out of the lineup. When healthy, the Colts’ offensive line has been their greatest strength, thanks in large part to Castonzo. He’s anchored the blindside since his rookie year in 2011, showing consistency and durability for much of his pro career. Though Castonzo has never made the Pro Bowl, he’s started in all 144 of his games with quality performances.
In 2019, the Boston College product graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 7 ranked tackle in the league. And, his 81.3 overall score was even stronger than his 2017 and 2018 showings. He still has plenty of football left in the tank, though he’s got just one non-guaranteed year left on his deal, which carries a $16MM cap hit.
Right tackle Chaz Green, who has struggled on the left side in the past, could be tasked with snaps on the blindside.
