Patriots DB Coach Josh Boyer Joins Dolphins
- Former Dolphins defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle has resurfaced as the head coach of the Atlanta Legends of the AAF, ESPN’s Michael Rothstein writes. He originally joined the team expecting to be the defensive coordinator but assumed head coaching duties after former NFL head coach Brad Childress abruptly resigned. Miami’s defensive coordinator for four seasons, Coyle last appeared in the NFL as the Bengals’ defensive backs coach from 2016-17.
Dolphins Hire Jim Caldwell
The Dolphins have officially announced Jim Caldwell as their assistant head coach/QBs coach. Interestingly, their press release did not mention the hiring of Dom Capers as defensive coordinator, a move that has been expected over the last week. 
Caldwell, the former Colts and Lions head coach, interviewed with the Browns, Cardinals, and Jets this offseason for their head coaching vacancies. The Lions made the postseason twice during Caldwell’s tenure in Detroit. And, with the Colts, his teams went 26-22 with one AFC title and two divisional championships.
New Dolphins head coach Brian Flores does not have previous head coaching experience, but Caldwell can provide valuable counsel for him in his first year at the helm.
Capers, 68, recently turned down the Bengals’ DC job, leading many to believe that he would be sign on for the same role in Miami. As of this moment, that has not happened.
Dolphins’ Reshad Jones Has Surgery
Dolphins safety Reshad Jones had surgery on his partially torn right labrum, as Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com tweets. Jones played most of 2018 with the injury and the operation, hopefully, will enable him to play without pain or setbacks in 2019. 
Jones’ timetable for recovery is currently unknown, however, so its possible that his rehab will interfere with offseason preparation and possibly the beginning of the season. The 30-year-old avoided missing significant time due to the shoulder in 2018, but he did see his tackles per game average drop – he had 6.7 stops per contest from 2015-2017, but had only 5.1 tackles per game last year.
Last year proved to be bumpy between Jones and the Dolphins for non-injury reasons. In November, he yanked himself out of a game after just ten plays. Jones was angry at then-defensive coordinator Matt Burke and head coach Adam Gase for having him split time at safety, but the new regime led by Brian Flores may handle him differently.
Jones finished out 2018 with 72 tackles and three interceptions across 14 games. He graded out as the 33rd best safety in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.
Dolphins Re-Sign LS John Denney
The Dolphins have re-signed long snapper John Denney, according to Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Denney has been with the ‘Fins since 2005 and is the club’s longest-tenured player. 
Denney, 40, hooked on with Miami as an undrafted free agent out of BYU and has not missed a game in his entire career. His perfect attendance record and steady hands have kept him employed in sunny Miami for 14 seasons, and he’ll be back for a 15th year in 2019.
Along the way, Denney picked up Pro Bowl nods in 2010 and 2012 for his special teams work. He’s also shown to have a nose for the football – he has two fumble recoveries to his credit, one in 2013 and one in 2014.
Denney also boasts a streak of playing in 224 consecutive games, which is the longest active streak in the NFL. He’s tied for the longest streak ever for a long snapper and he’ll own that record outright if he plays in Week 1.
Dom Capers Declines Bengals DC Job
Dom Capers has turned down the chance to become the Bengals’ defensive coordinator under new head coach Zac Taylor, according to Alex Marvez of SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link). Capers’ likeliest destination is now the Dolphins, where he’d serve as a senior defensive assistant, while the Jaguars are also a possible landing spot, per Marvez.
At age 68, Capers is 33 years old than Taylor, and like the other defensive coordinator candidates linked to the Bengals’ DC job, he’d bring a wealth of experience. Not only has Capers served as a defensive coordinator for multiple clubs, but he’s been a head coach at two stops (Panthers, Texans), meaning he could presumably offer counsel to Taylor as he enters his first head coaching job.
Capers was one of six coaches who have been tied to the Bengals. Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen received an extension from New Orleans, while former Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio is no longer considering the job. Ex-Bears head coach John Fox and Saints linebackers coach Mike Nolan have been mentioned as candidates, while Cincinnati earlier tonight requested an interview with Rams cornerbacks coach Aubrey Pleasant.
Capers was thought to be a candidate for the Cardinals defensive coordinator job under Kliff Kingsbury, but that position ultimately went to former Broncos head coach Vance Joseph. If he joins Miami, Capers would advise a first-time head coach in Brian Flores and a rookie defensive coordinator in Patrick Graham. In Jacksonville, Capers would join a relatively established staff lead by head coach Doug Marrone and DC Todd Wash.
Dolphins Notes: McCain, Underwood
- As part of a contract extension he signed last summer, Dolphins cornerback Bobby McCain had $3.018MM of his $5.475MM 2019 base salary fully guaranteed this week, tweets Joel Corry of CBSSports.com. McCain, 25, inked a four-year deal in July that guaranteed him nearly $10MM. With an average annual value of $6.75MM, McCain is one of the NFL’s highest-paid slot corners.
- Former NFL wide receiver Tiquan Underwood is joining the Dolphins‘ staff as an offensive quality control coach, per Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The ex-Rutgers speedster spent time with the Patriots in 2011 and 2012, which is where he first met new Miami coaches Brian Flores and Chad O’Shea.
Dolphins Hire Patriots’ Chad O’Shea
It’s a done deal. On Wednesday, the Dolphins formally hired Chad O’Shea as their new offensive coordinator, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
O’Shea follows new head coach Brian Flores from New England to South Beach. Flores was not formally hired until after the day after the Super Bowl, but his staff is in place, for the most part. Former Colts and Lions coach Jim Caldwell is expected to serve as Flores’ assistant HC and former Packers linebackers coach Patrick Graham will be the defensive coordinator.
Flores and O’Shea have been working together since 2009. O’Shea is regarded as an up-and-coming offensive mind and he was set to become the Colts’ OC last year before Josh McDaniels bailed on Indianpolis.
Last year, McDaniels was effusive in his praise of O’Shea.
“Chad’s unbelievable,” McDaniels told Mark Daniels of the Milford Daily News. “He’s incredibly responsible for any and all of our success in the red zone. He does a lot of that work and prepares us well for that situation in the game.“
O’Shea, 46, offers 15 years of NFL head coaching experience. Prior to joining the Pats’ staff in 2009, he had stints with the Vikings and Chiefs. As a wide receivers coach, he’s tutored Wes Welker, Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, and other NFL notables.
Dolphins, Brian Flores Ink Five-Year Deal
The Dolphins believe that Brian Flores is the right man to turn their franchise around and they showed their confidence in him in the form of a unique contract. Flores’ deal is a fully guaranteed five-year pact, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
For the most part, this year’s other head coaching hires inked four-year contract with a team option for a fifth-year. Reading between the lines, it sounds like the Dolphins felt compelled to go the extra mile in order to secure their top candidate. In addition to the Dolphins, the Browns, Broncos, and Packers also considered the former Patriots de facto defensive coordinator.
The Patriots ranked 21st in yards allowed but seventh in scoring this past season, and they’ve only had one non-top-10 scoring defense in the past 13 seasons. Of those 13 years, Flores was with the organization for eight.
In a recent poll, PFR readers said they were not as high on Flores as other hires this offseason. 26% of PFR readers said that new Bucs head coach Bruce Arians was the best hire of the bunch while Flores came in at just 6.26%.
Dolphins To Add Another Patriots Assistant
- Another Patriots assistant will be following Brian Flores to Miami. The Dolphins are expected to name Jerry Schuplinski as their new quarterbacks coach, according to Alex Marvez of Sirius XM Radio (on Twitter). Schuplinski served as New England’s assistant QBs coach for the past three seasons and has been a Pats staffer for six years. The Patriots gave Schuplinski his first NFL job; prior to that, he was an assistant at Division III program Case Western Reserve for six years.
Dolphins: No Ryan Tannehill Decision Yet
- Although Ryan Tannehill is not expected to return to the Dolphins, GM Chris Grier said no decision has been made on that front. The Dolphins are expected to trade or release Tannehill, and the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson tweets a photo of the seven-year Dolphin quarterback has been removed from their press room. Grier wants input from Brian Flores and his new staff on the 30-year-old quarterback, but the Dolphins are expected to move on from their six-season starter. With an eye on the 2020 quarterback class, they are not believed to be targeting a high-priced free agent to replace Tannehill, either.