Dolphins Sign Former Olympian
- The Dolphins have signed former Olympian and San Francisco defensive lineman Lawrence Okoye, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. The 12th-place finisher in the discus throw at the 2012 London Summer Games, the 25-year-old Brit spent time with the Bears this season but did not see any game action. Chicago relocated Okoye to the offensive line, though, so it will be interesting to see where Miami uses him.
Dolphins Notes: Jordan, Stills, Branch, Sims
Following the Dolphins‘ season-ending loss to Pittsburgh, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald looks at potential changes to the squad. The writer believes that defensive end Dion Jordan has probably played his final game for the organization. The former No. 3 overall pick has been suspended twice and has undergone a pair of knee surgeries, and Salguero reports that “he’s having “issues” again that effectively will get him cut this offseason.”
Salguero doesn’t specify what kind of issues the oft-banned pass-rusher is having, but should this mark the end of Jordan’s tenure in Miami, it will conclude the tenure of one of the worst draft picks in team history. Jordan has not played in a game since 2014 and has just three career sacks. Waiving Jordan would save the Dolphins $3.225MM.
Here’s more from out of Miami.
- Kenny Stills comprises part of the Dolphins’ UFA contingent, and the former Saints wideout unequivocally wants to return to Miami. Stills enjoyed a bounce-back year after a down first season in south Florida, hauling in 42 passes for 726 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns. ESPN.com’s James Walker notes Stills could be the team’s top free agent. “I want to be back here,” Stills said. “I love this team. I love these guys. We did something special, just starting 1-4. So we’re going to do whatever we can to try to make it happen.” The Dolphins don’t have a veteran wideout contract on their payroll but are lining up a Jarvis Landry extension, and Stills could be an attractive commodity on the market, being just 24.
- Andre Branch wants to be back with the Dolphins as well but may be less enthralled than Stills about the certainty of a return. He could be a key part of this equation, with Cameron Wake set to turn 35 this month and Mario Williams almost certainly being a cap casualty. “I love this place,” the fifth-year defensive end said, via Walker. “They believed in me when not too many people did. I appreciate them for that. But we will see how it goes.”
- When assessing the Fins’ priorities in terms of their UFA strategy, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes re-signing Stills will be high on the list, along with finding a replacement for right guard Jermon Bushrod. But a Dion Sims re-up will factor in as well. An impending UFA, Sims said Adam Gase views him as a starter going forward. Miami does not intend to re-sign Jordan Cameron, who wants to keep playing despite rampant injury struggles. More known for his blocking, Sims caught 24 passes for 256 yards and four TDs this season. Beyond Sims, Miami didn’t boast much at tight end this season.
- When accounting for the $8.4MM in carryover from this year, the Dolphins figure to enter the offseason with approximately $36MM in cap space. The team moving on from Jordan, Williams and linebacker Koa Misi as expected should push that total up to $52MM, Jackson notes.
- Earlier today, the Dolphins filled Vance Joseph‘s DC position by promoting linebackers coach Matt Burke.
Ben Levine contributed to this report
Dolphins Promote Matt Burke To DC
The Dolphins announced that linebackers coach Matt Burke has been promoted to defensive coordinator. The move was expected after Vance Joseph was hired to be the Broncos’ new head coach. 
[RELATED: PFR’s 2017 NFL Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Tracker]
The Fins hired Burke away from the Bengals roughly one year ago today as a contingency plan in the event that Joseph left. Joseph did not get a head coaching job in the last cycle, but he was quickly scooped up the Broncos this time and the Fins are glad that they had their replacement already queued up.
In other Dolphins news, the team signed a number of players to reserve/futures deals this week.
Dolphins Could Lose Jeremiah Washburn
- Dolphins assistant offensive line coach Jeremiah Washburn is a candidate for the Broncos’ O-line coach role, tweets Mike Klis of 9News. That would mean following ex-Dolphins defensive coordinator and now-Broncos head coach Vance Joseph to Denver. Washburn previously worked as Detroit’s offensive line coach from 2013-15. For now, Clancy Barone is atop the Broncos’ O-line, though it appears that won’t be the case for much longer as a result of previous head coach Gary Kubiak‘s retirement.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/10/17
Today’s minor moves:
Reserve/Futures Contracts
Miami Dolphins
- LB Lamin Barrow
- CB Daniel Davie
- T Jesse Davis
- QB Brandon Doughty
- RB Storm Johnson
- LB Deon Lacey
- DE Arthur Miley
- TE Chris Pantale
- RB Senorise Perry
- TE Terry Poole
- DE Julius Warmsley
- LB Brandon Watts
San Diego Chargers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Practice Squad
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DE Lenny Jones
- Cut: DT Shelby Harris
Chargers, 49ers, Rams To Interview Vance Joseph
The Broncos have completed their head coaching interview with Vance Joseph, and the Dolphins defensive coordinator will now continue his busy schedule with three more meetings this week. Joseph will interview with the Chargers, 49ers, and Rams over the course of the next three days, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link). 
[RELATED: 2017 Head Coaching Search Tracker]
Joseph, 44, is among the hottest head coaching candidates of this year’s hiring cycle, as five of the six clubs — all but the Jaguars — have requested permission to interview the Miami DC. Joseph will have one interview per day during the next three days, but no date has yet been set for a meeting between Joseph and the Bills, the remaining team that has expressed interest.
Thought to be the favorite for the Denver job after Gary Kubiak announced he was stepping away from the NFL, Joseph has apparently completed his interview without being offered the head coaching position, as general manager John Elway tweeted a message signalling the meeting had come to a close. At last check, however, Joseph was still in the Broncos facility, per Mike Klis of 9NEWS (Twitter link).
Joseph interviewed for Denver’s vacant head coaching position during the 2015 offseason when he was still the Bengals’ defensive backs coach. Though the Broncos ultimately hired Kubiak, the club maintained strong interest in bringing Joseph in as defensive coordinator, but Cincinnati blocked the move. Since that time, Joseph has moved on to Miami, where he’s helped improve the team’s defense from a No. 25 DVOA rank in 2015 to No. 17 this year.
Dolphins Eyeing Matt Burke As Potential DC
Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is in the mix for five different head coaching gigs and the Dolphins have a funny feeling that he might leave the nest. With that in mind, the Dolphins are likely to promote linebackers coach Matt Burke to DC, sources tell Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald.
[RELATED: Dolphins Release DE Jason Jones]
Joseph is scheduled to interview with the Broncos on Tuesday and the 49ers on Thursday. The Rams, Bills, and Chargers also have been granted permission to interview Joseph. Reportedly, he is the frontrunner for the Denver gig and he already has guys in mind to serve on his staff.
The Fins hired Burke away from the Bengals roughly one year ago today for this exact reason, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Miami won’t be left scrambling if Joseph goes and that’s a good thing, because seems more and more likely every day that he will be someone’s else head coach in 2017.
2017 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Tracker
While at least six NFL teams are making head coaching changes this offseason, the number of clubs replacing offensive and/or defensive coordinators figures to be much higher than that. In addition to all those teams hiring new head coaches, who may want to bring in their own assistants, several clubs also figure to make changes on one side of the ball or the other after getting disappointing results in 2016. And, of course, the teams whose coordinators landed head coaching jobs will need to replace them.
With reports circulating on potential candidates, interview requests, and actual meetings, we’ll use the space below to keep tabs on all the latest updates on teams hiring new offensive and/or defensive coordinators. This post, which will be updated daily, can be found under the “PFR Features” menu on the right-hand side of the site.
Updated 2-13-17 (2:30pm CT)
Offensive Coordinators
Atlanta Falcons (Out: Kyle Shanahan)
- Steve Sarkisian, offensive assistant coach (Alabama): Hired
- Chip Kelly, former head coach (49ers): Falcons have expressed interest
- Matt LaFleur, quarterbacks coach (Falcons): Viewed as candidate
- Mike McDaniel, offensive assistant (Falcons): Viewed as candidate
Buffalo Bills (Out: Anthony Lynn)
- Rick Dennison, former offensive coordinator (Broncos): Hired
- Brad Childress, co-offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Viewed as a top candidate; out of running?
- Ken Dorsey, quarterbacks coach (Panthers): Interviewed
- Greg Olson, former offensive coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed
- Mike McCoy, former head coach (Chargers): Viewed as likely choice
Denver Broncos (Out: Rick Dennison)
- Mike McCoy, former head coach (Chargers): Hired
- Bill Musgrave, former offensive coordinator (Raiders): Interviewed; named QBs coach
Houston Texans (HC Bill O’Brien will call plays, replacing George Godsey)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Nathaniel Hackett, interim offensive coordinator (Jaguars): Hired
- Chip Kelly, former head coach (49ers): Interviewed
Los Angeles Rams (Out: Rob Boras)
- Matt LaFleur, quarterbacks coach (Falcons): Hired
- Bill Callahan, offensive line coach (Redskins): Mentioned as possible candidate
- Chris Foerster, offensive line coach (Dolphins): Interview requested, permission denied
New York Jets (Out: Chan Gailey)
- John Morton, wide receivers coach (Saints): Hired
- George Godsey, former offensive coordinator (Texans): Could interview
- Matt Nagy, co-offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Mentioned as possible candidate
- John DeFilippo, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Interview requested, permission denied
- Mike McCoy, former head coach (Chargers): Mentioned as possible candidate
- Eric Studesville, Running backs coach (Broncos): Interviewed, withdrew from consideration
Oakland Raiders (Hired/Promoted: Todd Downing, replacing Bill Musgrave)
Washington Redskins (Hired/Promoted: Matt Cavanaugh, replacing Sean McVay)
Defensive Coordinators
Atlanta Falcons (Out: Richard Smith)
- Marquand Manuel, secondary coach (Falcons): Hired
- Jerome Henderson, pass game coordinator (Falcons): Mentioned as candidate
- Raheem Morris, wide receivers coach (Falcons): Mentioned as candidate
- Jeff Ulbrich, linebackers coach (Falcons): Mentioned as candidate
Buffalo Bills
- Leslie Frazier, defensive backs coach (Ravens): Hired
- Al Holcomb, linebackers coach (Panthers): Viewed as frontrunner
Carolina Panthers (Hired/Promoted Steve Wilks, replacing Sean McDermott)
Cleveland Browns (Hired: Gregg Williams, replacing Ray Horton)
- Wade Phillips, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Contacted about job
Denver Broncos (Out: Wade Phillips)
- Joe Woods, defensive backs coach (Broncos): Hired
- Reggie Herring, linebackers coach (Broncos): To be interviewed
Houston Texans (Hired/Promoted Mike Vrabel, replacing Romeo Crennel, who was named assistant head coach)
Los Angeles Chargers (Out: John Pagano)
- Gus Bradley, former head coach (Jaguars): Hired
- Ron Milus, defensive backs coach (Chargers): Would have been hired if Bradley went elsewhere
Los Angeles Rams (Out: Gregg Williams)
- Wade Phillips, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Hired
Miami Dolphins (Hired/Promoted: Matt Burke, replacing Vance Joseph)
San Francisco 49ers (Hired: Robert Saleh, Out: Jim O’Neil)
- Robert Saleh, former linebackers coach (Jaguars): Hired
- Brian Flores, linebackers coach (Patriots): Mentioned as candidate
- Jerome Henderson, pass game coordinator (Falcons): Interviewed
- Vic Fangio, defensive coordinator (Bears): Expressed interest, move blocked by Bears
- Gus Bradley, former head coach (Jaguars): Mentioned as candidate
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Signed Mike Smith to extension; Smith withdrew name from Chargers’ HC search)
Washington Redskins (Out: Joe Barry)
- Greg Manusky, outside linebackers coach (Redskins): Hired
- John Pagano, defensive coordinator (Chargers): To be interviewed
- Mike Pettine, former head coach (Browns): Interviewed
- Rob Ryan, former assistant head coach/defense (Bills): Interviewed
- Jason Tarver, linebackers coach (49ers): To be interviewed
- Dennis Thurman, former defensive coordinator (Bills): To be interviewed
- Gus Bradley, former head coach (Jaguars): Hired by Chargers
- Romeo Crennel, assistant head coach (Texans): Denied permission to interview
- Paul Guenther, defensive coordinator (Bengals): Denied permission to interveiew
- Steve Wilks, AHC/DB coach (Panthers): Interview requested, promoted by Panthers
Ryan Tannehill Not Expected Back Next Week If Dolphins Win
As the Dolphins and Steelers do battle, let’s take a look at some notes from around the league:
- Even if the Dolphins were to pull off the upset in Pittsburgh this afternoon, the team is not counting on Ryan Tannehill to return next week, according to Rapoport (via Twitter). Tannehill was, at least, able to practice on Friday.
Dolphins Give LB Deon Lacey Signing Bonus
- Players who are signed to reserve/future contracts rarely get any guaranteed money, but Deon Lacey is apparently an exception. ESPN’s Field Yates tweets that the Dolphins linebacker received a $200K signing bonus when inking his contract.
[SOURCE LINK]