Colts, Giants, Lions Request Interviews With Panthers DC Steve Wilks
A Panthers defensive assistant for the past six seasons, Steve Wilks could have a chance to interview with three teams for HC vacancies soon. The Colts, Giants and Lions have requested permission to meet with the first-year Carolina DC, Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer tweets.
Wilks cannot interview this week due to the Panthers’ wild-card assignment, but the 48-year-old coach could factor into the interview process soon after. The longtime assistant confirmed he’s received requests from each of these teams, Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer notes.
The Rams interviewed Wilks last year, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (video link) that powwow went well. This, and the leadership skills that have circulated about the first-time DC, have generated interest in Wilks, Rapoport notes.
Taking over for Sean McDermott this season, Wilks has the Panthers entering the playoffs as the league’s No. 7 defense and one that is No. 3 in rushing deterrence.
Chuck Pagano Out As Colts Head Coach
Following Indianapolis’ 22-13 win over the Texans in the season finale, head coach Chuck Pagano was let go as the team’s head coach, WISH-TV in Indianapolis’ Anthony Calhoun reports (Twitter link). 
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that the team was expected to part ways with the coach following Sunday’s performance. The team followed through, firing the head coach less than hour after the final whistle.
Pagano, who was two years into a four-year deal with the team, served as the Colts head coach since 2012 and amassed a record of 53-43 that included three postseason appearances. During his tenure, Pagano ushered the team into a new era after the release of Peyton Manning. With the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the team tabbed Andrew Luck and pulled off three consecutive 11-5 campaigns with the Stanford product under center. In 2014, the Colts advanced to the AFC Championship game but were defeated by the eventual Super Bowl-champion Patriots, 45-7.
In 2015, Luck missed nine of 16 games and the team skidded to an 8-8 mark. Following another .500 campaign in 2016, Indianapolis parted ways with GM Ryan Grigson but decided to keep Pagano on for another season.
The writing was on the wall early for Pagano in 2017. Luck never got on the field following a lingering shoulder injury and the team posted its worst record since 2011.
Team owner and CEO Jim Irsay issued a statement following the firing, saying:
“Chuck Pagano provided Colts fans with many exciting wins and memories as head coach of the Colts. Throughout his tenure in Indianapolis, he impacted the lives of the players he coached, those who he worked with in the organization and Colts fans across the globe. Chuck’s first season was one of the more inspirational stories in NFL history as he courageously battled and overcame leukemia. As a result, his CHUCKSTRONG Foundation has raised millions for cancer research. We are thankful for Chuck’s contributions to our franchise and community and we wish him, Tina and the entire Pagano family nothing but the best moving forward.”
Colts HC Candidates Include Dave Toub, Matt Nagy
- Colts GM Chris Ballard has strong ties to several members of the Chiefs‘ coaching staff — special teams coach Dave Toub and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy — and Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports that both men will get consideration for Indianapolis’ head coaching job. La Canfora points out, however, that Colts owner Jim Irsay may prefer to make a “splashier” hire if possible.
Andrew Luck Set To Resume Throwing Soon
Andrew Luck spent time in the Netherlands recently for additional rehab on his troublesome throwing shoulder, and the Colts quarterback addressed his status Friday.
Luck plans to resume throwing soon and has a considerably lofty recovery goal. Going into his seventh NFL offseason, Luck does not expect to miss any of it — not OTAs, minicamp or training camp — as he prepares for a return for the 2018 season (Twitter link), one he does not feel is in jeopardy despite the murkiness of his 2017.
The 28-year-old passer also does not expect to undergo another surgery. He noted the only rehab he did in Europe featured soft tissue work with a therapist he’d worked with in the past (Twitter link). None of the exercises performed are illegal in the United States; Luck simply traveled to the Netherlands because that’s where this trainer is stationed.
“I feel stronger, more stable, more confident in it. It’s better,” Luck said of his shoulder.
He has not thrown a pass since the Colts shelved him from practice earlier this season prior to placing him on IR, but he’s preparing for another throwing program soon. The quarterback’s strength levels are a self-described issue, and this area will be addressed before said throwing sessions commence.
This remains a drawn-out process that would make it seem like OTAs are an unrealistic conclusion, given what’s transpired over the past year and considering training camp is nearly eight months away.
Breer’s Latest: Black Monday Preview
With the final week of the NFL’s regular season approaching, that only means two things; 12 teams will soon be focusing on reaching the Super Bowl, while the rest will start to look ahead to next season. One major part of looking forward is addressing who on the coaching staff will be returning in 2018. Many of these coaching questions are answered on the day following Week’s 17 conclusion, conveniently called “Black Monday”.
Veteran reporter Albert of Breer of Sports Illustrated, gave a preview of the coaches he expects to stay and the ones that will likely be shown the door in his most recent column. Breer ranked the potential firings as “Likely/Done”, “We’ll See”, and “It’s Complicated”. In total, there were 15 head coaches mentioned who could see their situations change starting next week.
Here’s a quick look at Breer’s takes on some of the league’s hottest coaching questions:
- There were five head coaches included in the “likely/done” category including: Bears‘ John Fox, Bengals‘ Marvin Lewis, Lions‘ Jim Caldwell, Colts‘ Chuck Pagano and and the Giants‘ interim coach Steve Spagnuolo. The four full-time head coaches on this list have all had their fair share of success in the league. In fact, three of them led their current teams to multiple playoff appearances during their tenure. However, Caldwell and Lewis have been unable to win a postseason game with Pagano and Fox having failed at continuing the past success they have shown during their careers in football. Breer notes that while the “expectation is that Fox will be gone”, the decision on the fate of general manager Ryan Pace is true question facing the franchise this offseason. There’s been rapid speculation about Lewis, Caldwell and Pagano throughout the year, so their inclusion on this list is no surprise. Finally, the Giants are currently interviewing general manager candidates who will almost certainly be looking to lead their own head coaching search once hired.
- Breer puts six current head coaches in the ‘we’ll see” part of the list. This portion mentions the Cardinals‘ Bruce Arians, Broncos‘ Vance Joseph, Raiders‘ Jack Del Rio, Buccaneers‘ Dirk Koetter, Titans‘ Mike Mularkey and the Redskins‘ Jay Gruden. There’s a variety of situations going on here with Breer noting that Arizona could see Arians retire, which could lead them to other current NFL head coaches: Todd Bowles and Bill O’Brien. Del Rio and Gruden have had their fair share of success because of quality quarterback play, but both have managed to decrease confidence because of an inconsistent 2017 season. However, Breer points out that both are signed long-term so their owners would have to eat the remaining years of their current deals. Mularkey and Koetter were rewarded for the relationships they formed with their QB’s, but there’s been disappointment with how this season has unfolded for their teams. Breer notes that should Mularkey lose this Sunday, he could be on the chopping block come Monday morning with the team looking to hire an offensive-minded coach like Josh McDaniels. Finally, Joseph has forced himself to the hot seat even in his first year of coaching the Broncos, though Breer says himself that this situation is “unpredictable” given that team president John Elway is just “not pleased with how the season’s gone”.
- Browns head coach Hue Jackson, and the two previously mentioned O’Brien and Bowles of the Texans and Jets, find themselves on the “it’s complicated” section of Breer’s roundup largely because of just the many factors are at play in regards to their situations. Jackson got a vote of confidence from owner Jimmy Haslam himself, but new general manager John Dorsey could have his sights on implementing his own guy after a winless season. O’Brien has made the playoffs before, but has struggled committing to a QB even after the team selected Deshaun Watson in the first round. Bowles has done a lot with a little in New York this season, but ownership could go in a different direction with a new starting signal caller likely walking into the building next year. Also, there is the potential that all three coaches could move onto new head coaching gigs with the number of openings that could be available this offseason. The final and definitely most surprising inclusion on this list was Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, who Breer mentions could retire at age 66 with a roster about to see major turnover in the next few years. Although, I would venture that nothing he’s said this season would indicate that being the case.
Frank Gore Intends To Play In 2018
Colts running back Frank Gore reiterated on Wednesday that he expects to return in 2018 for his 14th NFL season and that quarterback and offensive line will factor into his decision, ESPN’s Mike Wells writes. 
“Quarterback, O-line, have to be my type of style of team,” he said. “Nasty, physical, punch you in the mouth. I don’t want to finish like this. I know I can still play. I want to help a team.”
Gore, an impending free agent, would be 35 years old at the start of the 2018 campaign and hasn’t averaged at least 4.0 yards per carry since 2014, his final season in San Francisco. Still, if a team needs an experienced back to groom a a first- or second-year ball carrier or a physical, goal-line back, it’s hard to bet against the veteran.
Gore has cracked 1,000 yards nine times in his career and enters Week 17 just 139 yards away from his 10th such campaign. If he were to reach the mark, Gore would join Emmitt Smith, Walter Peyton, Curtis Martin and Jerome Bettis as players to achieve the feat 10 times.
Though he is among the league’s elder statesmen, Gore is sure to impress some general manager with his passion for the game. That’s what happened with Colts first-year GM Chris Ballard, who planned on cutting the back before the start of the season, MMQB’s Peter King writes.
“Frank picks up the phone in the middle of a party he was attending, and I could feel his passion and love for football,” Ballard told King. “He went on for 10 minutes about how much he wanted to win. So the next day I went to the office and watched all of his carries from 2016 and came to the conclusion that there was absolutely no way I was letting him out of the building.”
Gore is determined to go out on a high note and there’s no reason to think he won’t have the opportunity in 2018.
Colts To Send Rashaan Melvin To IR
By far the Colts’ highest-graded cornerback this season, in the opinion of Pro Football Focus, Rashaan Melvin has missed all of December with a hand injury. That won’t change in Week 17.
The Colts will place Melvin on IR, Chuck Pagano confirmed (via Mike Chappell of IndySportsCentral.com, on Twitter). Melvin will finish his season with 10 games played but having made a career-high 10 starts. The fourth-year player will be an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Melvin started nine games for the Colts in 2016 as well. This year, he currently is PFF’s No. 19-graded corner. The Colts are paying him $775K. Odds are, he’s going to make a lot more than that next season — either in Indianapolis or elsewhere.
A former UDFA out of Northern Illinois, Melvin made 36 tackles and deflected 13 passes this season. He grabbed three interceptions as well.
Colts Sign QB Brad Kaaya Off Lions Practice Squad
The Colts signed rookie quarterback Brad Kaaya off the Lions’ practice squad on Tuesday, ESPN’s Mike Garafolo reports (Twitter link). 
It’s yet another move for the Miami product, who was drafted by the Lions and cut entering the regular season. He was then claimed by the Panthers on Sept. 3 and then released on Oct. 17. Detroit swooped in to reclaim him on Oct. 18, but was cut yet again just five days later. He rejoined the team and was assigned to the practice squad just days later and served there until the Colts snagged him.
With the Hurricanes, Kaaya appeared in 38 games in his first three seasons and amassed 9,968 yards before declaring for the draft following his junior season. Though he was projected as a third- or fourth-round pick in 2017, Kaaya slipped all the way to the sixth round.
With Andrew Luck set to return in 2018 and current starter Jacoby Brissett under contract through 2019, it seems unlikely Kaaya will contribute with the Colts in the future.
Trent Cole Announces Retirement
Edge rusher Trent Cole, who spent time with the Eagles and Colts during a 12-year NFL career, has announced his retirement from the league, per a press release from Philadelphia.
“As a person playing ball, I’ll never be satisfied,” said Cole. “I’m going to move on to the next thing. It was a great career, but it just doesn’t stop there. Being successful is never going to stop me. I’m not going to stop being successful. I’m going to go on to the next thing and try to be successful.”
A fifth-round pick out of Cincinnati in 2005, Cole started seven games as a rookie and never looked back, proceeding to make 147 more starts and appear in 176 total games over the course of his career. Cole, who recently turned 35 years old, earned a Pro Bowl nod in both 2007 and 2009, and topped 10 sacks four times. While he was the 146th player chosen back in 2005, Cole produced the ninth-most approximate value (Pro Football Reference’s catch-all metric) of any player in that draft.
Cole left the Eagles prior to the 2015 season, inking a two-year deal to join the Colts. While he initially planned to continue playing once that contract expired, Cole never generated any known interest this offseason. He’ll now enter the next phase of his life, which includes co-hosting an outdoor television program titled Blitz TV. PFR extends its best wishes to Cole in retirement.
Colts Place TE Brandon Williams On IR
The Colts have placed tight end Brandon Williams on injured reserve. To take his place, the team is elevating safety Ronald Martin to the active roster. 
Williams suffered a scary head injury against the Broncos in Week 15. He was taken off the field on a backboard, but fortunately was able to rejoin his teammates at the Colts’ practice facility days later. Hopefully, he’ll be ready for offseason activities in 2018.
Injury aside, this has been a strong year for Williams. As the Colts’ No. 2 TE, Williams hauled in 13 catches for 121 yards, topping his combined totals from the previous four seasons.
The 3-11 Colts round out the season against the Ravens and Texans.