NFL Rumors - ProFootballRumors.com

Giants Request Interview With Doug Marrone

By Zachary Links | at January 5, 2016 9:03 pm

Could a former Bills coach be on his way back to the New York area? The Giants have requested an interview with Jaguars offensive line coach Doug Marrone, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Marrone, who led the Bills to a 9-7 record in 2014, narrowly missing a playoff spot, opted out of his contract following the team’s final regular season game. Marrone’s agreement with the Bills allowed him to receive his full $4MM salary for 2015 despite the fact that he’s no longer coaching the team. In January of 2015, Marrone agreed to sign on as the Jaguars’ offensive line coach.

When Marrone made his decision to opt out, there was some speculation that he may have had another opportunity lined up, but it doesn’t appear that was the case. The former Bills coach interviewed with the Falcons, Bears, Jets, and the 49ers for their head coaching openings last season and also had a meeting lined up with the Broncos before he canceled it. All five teams ultimately went in other directions.

Marrone has interviews lined up with the Browns and Dolphins, as shown in PFR’s 2016 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker. It was reported at one time that he was expected to chat with the Eagles, but Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com (on Twitter) hears that he is not on the team’s list.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

0 comments Jacksonville Jaguars New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles Doug Marrone

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/5/16

By Zachary Links | at January 5, 2016 8:53 pm

Today’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves:

The Panthers announced that they have promoted practice squad cornerback Lou Young to the active roster after placing starting cornerback Charles Tillman on IR, as Max Hanson of Panthers.com writes. Carolina first signed Young to its practice squad in November of the 2014 season but he has yet to make his NFL debut. The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder from Georgia Tech will give Carolina additional depth in the postseason.
The Chiefs announced that they have signed offensive lineman Daniel Munyer to the 53-man roster from the taxi squad.
The Texans officially placed tackle Duane Brown on IR with a torn quad tendon, as Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.

Giants To Interview Sean McDermott

By Zachary Links | at January 5, 2016 8:36 pm

The Giants plan to interview Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott, according to league sources who spoke with Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News (on Twitter). McDermott now becomes the fourth known candidate to be lined up for an interview, according to the PFR Head Coaching Search Tracker.

McDermott is eligible to talk to teams about head coaching jobs this week since the Panthers have a bye. The Browns will interview McDermott about their own head coaching vacancy on Thursday but it’s not immediately clear when the Giants will get to sit down and talk with him. McDermott has also been cited as a potential candidate for the Eagles, but no interview has been scheduled yet.

Under McDermott’s guidance, the Panthers gave up only 322.9 yards per game in 2015, good for sixth in the league and virtually just as good as the Cardinals at No. 5 (321.7 YPG) and the Jets at No. 4 (318.6 YPG). The front seven in particular was successful, surrendering only 91.2 yards per contest to opposing teams. Prior to joining the Panthers, McDermott was a longtime coach with the Eagles who was eventually elevated to the role of DC.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

0 comments Carolina Panthers New York Giants Sean McDermott

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/5/16

By Luke Adams | at January 5, 2016 7:09 pm

Only the 12 teams in the playoffs can still make changes to their practice squads, so there were a handful of made by Wild Card clubs today. Here’s are today’s PS signings and cuts:

Cincinnati Bengals

Signed: LB Jayson DiManche (Twitter link via Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer)

Green Bay Packers

Signed: DT William Campbell (Twitter link via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com)
Placed on PS-IR: DE B.J. McBryde

Kansas City Chiefs

Signed: T Reid Fragel (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)

Pittsburgh Steelers

Signed: RB Abou Toure (Twitter link via team)

Washington

Signed: CB Al Louis-Jean (press release via team)
Cut: LB Derrick Mathews

0 comments Cincinnati Bengals Derrick Mathews Green Bay Packers Kansas City Chiefs Pittsburgh Steelers Transactions Washington Commanders Abou Toure Al Louis-Jean B.J. McBryde Jayson DiManche Reid Fragel William Campbell (DL)

Ohio State WR Michael Thomas To Enter Draft

By Zachary Links | at January 5, 2016 7:01 pm

Three noteworthy wide receivers are set to enter the NFL Draft, including one potential first-round pick. The latest:

Ohio State wide receiver Michael Thomas became the eighth underclassman on his team to enter the 2016 NFL Draft, as Chase Goodbread of NFL.com writes. Thomas caught 56 passes for 781 yards and nine touchdowns during the 2015 season and is currently projected to go in the first or second round. Wide receiver Jalin Marshall, defensive end Joey Bosa, linebacker Darron Lee, defensive back Tyvis Powell, running back Ezekiel Elliott, quarterback Cardale Jones and cornerback Eli Apple have also declared for the draft. Safety Vonn Bell is considering early entry as well, Goodbread writes.
First-team All-Pac-12 wide receiver Kenny Lawler is going pro instead of returning for his senior year at Cal, Jeff Faraudo of the Bay Area News Group writes. “I’m very thankful for what the NFL had to say,” he said. “After the bowl game, I had another talk with my parents and made the best decision.” Lawyer joins Jared Goff in this year’s class, though he’s not expected to go as high. CBSSports.com rates Lawler as the ninth-best receiver in the 2016 draft class.
Stanford wide receiver Michael Rector has been telling people that he will go pro as well, Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net tweets.

0 comments 2016 Franchise Tag Candidates Kenny Lawler Michael Rector Michael Thomas (WR)Vonn Bell

Ex-USC Coach Steve Sarkisian Seeking NFL Job

By Zachary Links | at January 5, 2016 6:02 pm

Former USC head coach Steve Sarkisian is putting out feelers to NFL teams and expressing interest in a coaching job, sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Sarkisian is interested in becoming a quarterbacks coach or an offensive coordinator at the pro level.

Sarkisian lost his job at USC in October amidst allegations that he had a problem with alcohol. Sarkisian’s assistants reportedly believed he was drunk during a contest against Arizona State and, after he was placed on a leave of absence, he reportedly tried to show up to a pre-practice meeting while intoxicated. Sarkisian has since filed a $30MM wrongful termination lawsuit against the school.

Sarkisian, 42 in March, played quarterback at BYU and later had a short career as a QB for the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders. After that, he returned to his first school, El Camino Community College, and served as their quarterbacks coach. Eventually, Sarkisian found himself in the same role at USC and later spent a year on the Raiders’ coaching staff. Sarkisian became the head coach at Washington in 2009 and, in 2014, he came back to USC to man the sidelines. Unfortunately, that homecoming was short lived.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

3 comments Steve Sarkisian

Washington Activates C Kory Lichtensteiger

By Luke Adams | at January 5, 2016 6:02 pm

Washington’s decision to use the designation to return when it placed center Kory Lichtensteiger on injured reserve earlier this year has paid off. The team announced today that it has activated Lichtensteiger from IR-DTR, waiving center Brian De La Puente in a corresponding move.

Nearly two months ago, Washington placed Lichtensteiger, Washington’s regular starting center since 2014, on IR with the designation to return due to a neck injury. The move meant that he wouldn’t be eligible to return until after Week 17, and at that point in the season, Jay Gruden‘s club trailed the Giants by a game and a half in the NFC East, so it seemed like a long shot that Lichtensteiger would get the opportunity to play in the postseason.

Assuming he returns to the starting lineup for Washington’s Wild Card game, Lichtensteiger will reclaim the starting center job from Josh LeRibeus, who has played there for the team’s last 11 games. If the club prefers not to change what has worked in the second half, Lichtensteiger would step into De La Puente’s old role, providing veteran depth on the interior offensive line.

To make room for cornerback Cary Williams, whose deal was previously reported, the club also placed defensive back Kyshoen Jarrett on IR.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

0 comments Transactions Washington Commanders Brian De La Puente Kory Lichtensteiger Kyshoen Jarrett

Rams Request To Interview Browns OC John DeFilippo

By Zachary Links | at January 5, 2016 5:50 pm

The Rams have put in a request to interview Browns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). His work with a variety of quarterbacks was noticed by St. Louis, even though he hasn’t had the easiest hand dealt to him in Cleveland in that regard.

DeFilippo guided the Browns offense this season and had mixed results with an unusual cast of players. Of course, much of the attention on the Browns was centered on quarterback Johnny Manziel, who has had a number of run-ins with alcohol after spending last offseason in rehab. Even after Johnny Football was benched mid-season, DeFilippo expressed confidence that the Texas A&M product could turn things around.

“I like what I’ve seen,” said DeFilippo. “I really do. Even the jump he made from the Cincinnati game to the Pittsburgh game was a huge jump. I think we’d all agree on that. I think Johnny has played enough football where we know what we have in him.”

Now, DeFilippo will get a crack at the Rams’ OC job, if Cleveland allows him to interview. Rams interim OC Rob Boras will reportedly also get a chance to take the permanent job.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

1 comment Cleveland Browns Los Angeles Rams John DeFilippo Rob Boras

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/5/16

By Luke Adams | at January 5, 2016 5:33 pm

Here are today’s reserve/futures contract signings from around the league. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2016 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ 90-man rosters.

Arizona Cardinals

Taylor Boggs, C (Twitter link via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com)
Valerian Ume-Ezeoke, C
Mike Reilly, OLB
Tyrequek Zimmerman, S