NFC Coaching Notes: Quinn, 49ers, Rams
Here are some updates on open NFC coaching positions:
- If Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn gets a head coaching job, potential offensive coordinators he could hire include Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable or former Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
- Since losing offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to the University of Georgia, the Rams have expressed interest in 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman and former Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan to fill the open position, reports Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com.
- The 49ers announced that it would take seven to ten days to hire a new coach, but made the announcement on December 29th, and have yet to make significant progress, reports Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com. Gutierrez notes that three candidates are still coaching playoff teams, and lists the eight coaches interviewed so far.
- The three candidates for the 49ers job that will be coaching this weekend are Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase, and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. If everything breaks perfectly, all three could be available by Sunday night.
- Six coaching jobs have opened up this offseason and six jobs remain unfilled. Everyone may have their own theory for why it is taking so long to hire new head coaches, and Matt Miller of Bleacher Report believes it is because teams are waiting for the Seahawks‘ season to be over and for Quinn to become available (via Twitter).
- As the Giants continue to search for a new defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo is among leaders in the clubhouse for the job, reports Jordan Raanan of NJ.com (via Twitter). Spagnuolo was the defensive coordinator under Tom Coughlin during the team’s 2007-08 Super Bowl run.
AFC Links: McCourty, Chargers, Titans
Ravens wideout Steve Smith will be facing off against the Patriots this weekend, and the veteran acknowledged that he was pursued by New England during the offseason.
“Yeah, I talked to [Bill Belichick] and it was a great opportunity as well,” Smith told Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. “Anytime you have an opportunity to go to some teams, it’s always good. When your phone stops ringing, you need to start thinking about if I’m in the right profession.”
Let’s see what else is going on around the AFC…
- Following news that Patrick Chung signed an extension with the Patriots, Albert Breer of the NFL Network says (via Twitter) there’s been no movement on fellow safety Devin McCourty. The writer suggests that the All-Pro defensive back could be “destined” for the franchise tag.
- ESPN.com’s Eric D. Williams writes that the Chargers should bring back veteran Jarret Johnson if it makes sense financially. The linebacker is set to make $5MM next season, but Williams points out that the 33-year-old has already shown that he’s willing to take a pay cut.
- John Glennon of The Tennessean examines the Titans‘ most expensive players in 2015, and the writer suggests that guard Andy Levitre, tackle Michael Oher, tight end Craig Stevens, running back Shonn Greene and safety Bernard Pollard could all be cap casualties.
Patriots Extend Brandon Bolden Through 2016
Following news that the Patriots extended safety Patrick Chung, the team has locked up another complimentary member of the squad. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that the Patriots have signed running back Brandon Bolden to a two-year, $2.32MM deal. Ben Volin of The Boston Globe tweets the specific details: Bolden will receive a $660K salary (first season) and $760K salary (second season), roster bonuses of $200K and $350K, a $300K signing bonus and a $25K annual workout bonus.
Bolden was set to hit restricted free agency this offseason, but the 24-year-old will now compete with at least four other running backs for a spot on next season’s roster. Via Volin (on Twitter), the team currently has Bolden, LeGarrette Blount, Jonas Gray, James White and Tyler Gaffney signed for next year, and he notes that Blount will be the highest paid among the group with a $750K salary. Meanwhile, both Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen are set to become free agents, and it’s uncertain whether the Patriots will bring back both of their young, talented backs.
Bolden joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2012, and the former Mississippi standout quickly made a name for himself. In only his third career game, the running back rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown against the Bills. Since then, he hasn’t produced much on the ground, and he only compiled 28 carries for 98 yards and a score in 2014.
Bolden makes most of his impact on special teams, where he forced a pair of fumbles and blocked a kick this past season. The running back ranked among the team’s ten-best special teamers, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), and he joined Logan Ryan and Danny Amendola as the only players to receive positive rankings on both the kicking and punting units.
Pats, Patrick Chung Agree To Extension
The Patriots recently extended offensive lineman Marcus Cannon and special teams ace Matt Slater, and they continued to take care of their depth players this morning. ESPN’s Field Yates tweets that the team has signed safety Patrick Chung to a three-year extension worth up to $8.2MM, with $3.4MM guaranteed.
The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin clarifies (via Twitter) that Chung will make $1MM, $1.4MM and $1.8MM as the contract progresses. Volin adds that the veteran will receive a $2.4MM signing bonus, as well as $200K in annual roster bonuses and $500K for incentives in 2016 and 2017. Due to the relatively low cap hit, Volin states his belief that Chung should at least stick around for two more seasons (Twitter link).
The Patriots inked Chung to a one-year deal this offseason with the mindset that he’d compete for a starting safety role. The 27-year-old has rewarded the organization with one of the best seasons of his career, as he’s compiled 85 tackles and an interception while playing in 16 games for the first time since his rookie season. The advanced statistics suggest that Chung was one of the best safeties in the league in 2014, as Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked him as the 12th-best at his position.
Chung will now be sticking with the organization that selected him in the second round of the 2009 draft. Chung signed a one-year deal with the Eagles two years ago, but a mediocre 2013 season prompted his release.
Earlier this season, coach Bill Belichick spoke about Chung’s tenure in Philadelphia and his reunion with the Patriots (via ESPNBoston.com’s Mike Reiss):
“I think some of the circumstance of the ’12 season didn’t work out as well as we all hoped, for a combination of reasons. Pat and I talked about that last year after he was released from Philadelphia. Pat and I talked about that. We had a long conversation about a lot of things. I don’t think it was anybody’s fault. It was just one of those things that didn’t work out.
“We both felt that we would want to try to give it another shot and we were able to come to an agreement on that contractually, and I think he has done a real good job for us. He’s filled a lot of different roles. He’s played well, helped us in the kicking game, helped us defensively in a number of areas. He’s been around the ball, productive.”
AFC East Notes: Manuel, Bills, Jets, Pats
Let’s round up the latest out of the AFC East….
- In interviews with head coaching candidates, Bills general manager Doug Whaley is suggesting that E.J. Manuel‘s struggles can be attributed more to coaching than to the player himself, a source tells Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News. Per Carucci, Whaley has spoken in “glowing terms’ about the young quarterback, and is conveying to interviewees that he wants the team’s next head coach to make the progress in developing Manuel that Doug Marrone and his staff couldn’t.
- Speaking of those Bills‘ head coaching interviews, the team has one lined up for Thursday with ex-Jets coach Rex Ryan, according to Kimberly Jones of NFL.com (via Twitter). Ryan is drawing interest not only from multiple NFL teams, but also from multiple TV networks – he has spoken to ESPN and CBS so far.
- Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap previews the Jets‘ offseason, as the team enters the winter armed with approximately $50MM in potential cap room. In Fitzgerald’s view, the club should target pass rushers, a second-tier cornerback, a running back, a backup quarterback, and a guard in free agency.
- As he prepares to face the Patriots in this weekend’s divisional playoff game, Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith discussed the offseason meeting with New England that he never made it to. As Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun writes, Smith’s meeting with the Pats was always viewed as tentative, since the Ravens had the first chance to sign him during his visit to Baltimore.
AFC East Notes: Bradham, McDaniels, Dolphins
As two teams from the AFC East – the Bills and the Jets – continue to hunt for a new head coach, let’s check in on a few unrelated items from out of the division….
- The Bills are interested in extending the contract of linebacker Nigel Bradham, who is coming off a breakout season, tweets Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports. Bradham, who established new career highs with 104 tackles, a pair of forced fumbles, and seven passes defended, is eligible for an extension on his rookie deal for the first time this offseason.
- Asked in his weekly conference call about his discussions last week with the Falcons and 49ers for their head coaching vacancies, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said those meetings were “fine,” as Mike Reiss of ESPN.com details. “I just had an initial meeting with them and it hasn’t really gone any further in either direction,” McDaniels said. “So, again, I’m back to focusing on the next task at hand for us, which is the Ravens. I’m sure they’ll do what they need to do on their end. I’m sure those things will take care of themselves in the future.”
- Because he spent the 2013 season on the reserve/non-football injury list, Bills offensive lineman Chris Hairston finishes his rookie contract this winter eligible for restricted free agency rather than unrestricted free agency, per Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (via Twitter). As Rodak points out, linebacker Kiko Alonso will be in the same situation a year from now.
- Given the lack of star head coaches available this winter, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald can understand why Dolphins owner Stephen Ross elected to retain Joe Philbin for the 2015 season.
Thomas Dimitroff’s Job Not Safe
Although Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff survived “Black Monday,” which saw the firing of head coach Mike Smith, Dimitroff’s job is far from safe. When Smith was fired, we heard that owner Arthur Blank was still undecided on Dimitroff’s future, and Blank’s approach in hiring a new head coach has made that clear. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network tweets that Blank has informed all the head coaching candidates he has interviewed thus far that they would have a say in who the team’s general manager will be.
Rapoport’s colleague, Albert Breer, affirms that report. Breer notes that Blank will hire the best coach he can, and then “chart the course from there.” If the new coach does not mesh with Dimitroff, then changes could come (Twitter links).
As Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes, Dimitroff’s fate could be determined by Josh McDaniels. Dimitroff has championed McDaniels, with whom he and top assistant Scott Pioli worked in New England, as a candidate for the team’s head coaching vacancy. McDaniels has said that it would take a “perfect set of circumstances” to leave his comfortable position as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator, especially since his first head coaching attempt with the Broncos was a decidedly unsuccessful one. La Canfora adds that, although Matt Ryan‘s presence makes the Falcon’s job at least somewhat attractive, the behind-the-scenes turmoil in Atlanta has given him pause.
As Brian McIntyre tweets, Dimitroff’s lack of job security is relatively surprising. Although the Falcons have underachieved in each of the last two seasons, Dimitroff does have a track record of success and has established a strong foundation in Atlanta. It seems counter-intuitive to allow a head coaching candidate who may not have ever held a position above coordinator to effectively dismiss Dimitroff, but Blank is apparently prepared to do just that.
East Notes: Jets, Fitzgerald, Phillips
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes that all signs are pointing to Doug Marrone as the next head coach of the Jets. La Canfora notes that many of the candidates that New York is interviewing for its general manager position have strong ties to Marrone, including top candidate Mike Maccagnan. Maccagnan once signed Marrone to quarterback the London Monarchs of the now extinct World League of American Football in 1991, and the two men have developed a close personal relationship since then.
Other GM candidates like Rick Mueller, Bill Kuharich, and Ryan Pace also have ties to Marrone. Jets owner Woody Johnson would like to announce his new GM and head coach no later than the end of this week, and some believe the Jets could be the first team to do so. At the moment, the smart money appears to be on a Maccagnan/Marrone pairing in New York.
Now for some more notes from the league’s east divisions:
- Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News believes that if the Jets end up hiring Marrone, “Jets fans will have every right to believe the thing was fixed fight from the beginning.” The “thing,” of course, is Marrone’s opting out of his contract with the Bills. If he is subsequently hired by New York, it will appear as though he had a back-door agreement with Charley Casserly, who is acting as Johnson’s primary adviser in the hiring process (Twitter link to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, who described in a full-length piece how Marrone alienated members of the Bills administration during his two years in Buffalo).
- After being snubbed by Bill Polian, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes that Bills owner Terry Pegula is still interested in hiring a “football czar” as he focuses in the short term on finding a new head coach.
- Ben Volin of the Boston Globe writes that, even though the Larry Fitzgerald-to-the-Patriots rumors have swirled for the past several seasons, those rumblings might have some legs this offseason.
- Rich Tandler of CSN Washington.com notes that Wade Phillips‘ age (68) has some wondering if Washington should opt for a younger candidate to fill its vacant defensive coordinator position, but Tandler believes Phillips’ recent pedigree suggests that his age should not be a major consideration.
- We learned earlier today that the Raiders have requested permission to interview Cowboys‘ passing game coordinator Scott Linehan, and Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports (via Twitter) that Dallas is also in danger of losing defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. The contracts of both men expire at the end of this season, and Rapoport tweets that Marinelli may be wooed by the Buccaneers if talks with the Cowboys do not progress.
- Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram adds (via Twitter) that the Cowboys also stand to lose offensive coordinator Bill Callahan, whose contract is also set to expire at season’s end.
- Mark Eckel of NJ.com provides a list of five candidates the Eagles should consider in filling their GM position.
AFC Notes: Berry, Steelers, Dolphins, Pats
As the Ravens and Steelers prepare to kick off the AFC’s playoff slate tonight, let’s round up a few items from around the conference….
- The Chiefs are focused on Eric Berry’s health and not his contract, as Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star writes. Berry, who was diagnosed with lymphoma, is scheduled to have a cap number of $8.357MM in 2015 and is slated to receive $5.455MM in total salary. If he’s placed on the non-football injury list in 2015, the Chiefs are technically under no obligation to pay him, but it’d be a highly questionable PR move for the team.
- The Steelers are missing Le’Veon Bell and probably wish they had a better Plan B right now. Tyler Dunne of the Journal-Sentinel (on Twitter) notes that the Steelers made a play for James Starks in free agency, but ultimately whiffed. The Steelers then signed LeGarrette Blount, who is no longer with the team.
- James Walker of ESPN looks at a number of offseason decisions the Dolphins are set to make over the next few months in his mailbag. Walker sees Miami having a need at running back but passing on Wisconsin runner Melvin Gordon in the first round. He also can see the club moving on from backup quarterback Matt Moore, and possibly cutting guard Shelley Smith.
- The Patriots will likely need to cut receiver Danny Amendola and restructure the contracts of Darrelle Revis and Jerod Mayo this offseason in order to open up cap room to sign other players, says Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (via Twitter).
Rob DiRe contributed to this post.
AFC Mailbags: Chiefs, Revis, Raiders, Jags
It’s Saturday morning, and that means ESPN.com’s NFL writers have opened up their mailbags and are answering questions from readers. Let’s check out some interesting whispers from the AFC…
- Adam Teicher wonders if Alex Smith‘s tendency to be a checkdown quarterback may hurt the Chiefs in their pursuit of free agent wideouts. The writer cites the team’s pursuit of Emmanuel Sanders last offseason, who was originally expected to sign with Kansas City.
- Speaking of the Chiefs and wide receivers, Teicher believes the organization will part ways with veteran Dwayne Bowe if the sides can’t agree on a new contract.
- If cornerback Darrelle Revis doesn’t end up sticking around with the Patriots, Rich Cimini basically guarantees that the Pro Bowler will eventually reunite with Rex Ryan.
- The Raiders and free agent center Stefen Wisniewski have discussed a new deal but are not close to an agreement, writes Bill Williamson. The former second-round pick has expressed interest in staying in Oakland, but the writer believes the lineman could ultimately test free agency.
- As long as the Broncos don’t place the franchise tag on tight end Julius Thomas, Michael DiRocco believes the Jaguars “have a chance” at signing the offensive weapon.