Extra Points: Draft, Ravens, Eagles, LeBeau
USC running back Javorius ‘Buck’ Allen has decided to forgo his final year of college eligibility and enter the 2015 draft, Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports reported today (via Twitter). The redshirt junior ran for 1,489 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Trojans in 2014, adding another 458 yards through the air on 41 receptions. For the most part, draft experts are in agreement on Allen’s stock, with ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, and CBSSports.com all ranking the USC back between eighth and 10th among 2015’s running back prospects — that makes him a likely third- or fourth-round pick.
Here’s more from around the NFL, in the midst of the league’s divisional playoff weekend:
- Now that the Ravens have been eliminated from the playoffs, Baltimore will have to make free agent decisions on Justin Forsett and Torrey Smith, shore up its secondary, and add a pass-catching tight end, among other things, writes Field Yates of ESPN.com (Insider-only link).
- In the view of Joel Corry of CBSSports.com (Twitter link), the Ravens should at least give Forsett a one-year deal worth the $3MM that Ray Rice had been scheduled to earn in 2015.
- Chip Kelly‘s interview with Chris Polian of the Jaguars for the Eagles‘ general manager position has taken place, a source tells Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com (Twitter link).
- Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) hears from a source close to Dick LeBeau that the longtime coach would still like to be a defensive coordinator, after resigning from his Steelers position today. Cole points to the Cardinals as a possible match for LeBeau if current DC Todd Bowles lands a head coaching job elsewhere.
- Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap examines the upcoming offseason for the Bears and new general manager Ryan Pace, writing that while Jay Cutler may have made a “convenient scapegoat” in 2014, the team’s problems ran much deeper than Cutler.
- A pair of 49ers defenders, cornerback Perrish Cox and outside linebacker Dan Skuta, played large roles for the club in 2014 after spending most of their respective careers in backups. With Cox and Skuta both facing potential free agency, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle takes a look at what’s next for the duo.
Eagles GM Search Notes: Fitterer, Dungy
The Eagles are still searching for their next general manager since announcing new roles for head coach Chip Kelly and executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman.
Kelly will have more control over the roster and the draft, and will also have a hand in choosing the team’s next general manager.
- The team is expected to interview Seahawks director of college scouting Scott Fitterer sometime next week, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN (via Twitter).
- Kelly has reportedly reached out to a number of football people for advice as he continues to look for a general manager. One notable name that is advising Kelly is former Colts coach Tony Dungy, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter).
- McLane also notes that Fitterer was the director of college scouting when the Seahawks selected current stars Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, Bobby Wagner, Kam Chancellor, and Russell Wilson.
- Dungy could push Kelly towards Lions general manager Martin Mayhew or someone close to him, based on his ties to him and coach Jim Caldwell, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter).
Extra Points: Shanahan, Packers, Draft
A source indicated to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (on Twitter) that if Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn gets a head coaching job, he’ll try to hire Kyle Shanahan away from the Browns to be his offensive coordinator. Cole adds there’s a good chance Quinn’s landing spot will be with the Jets. More from around the NFL..
- It’s extremely unlikely that the Packers will grant another team permission to interview Eliot Wolf, according to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer (on Twitter).
- The Texans have granted the Eagles permission to interview director of pro personnel Brian Gaine for their GM spot, according to Albert Breer of NFL.com (on Twitter).
- Rams owner Stan Kroenke says that he plans to build a stadium in Los Angeles on spec, but NFL owners doubt that he’d actually go ahead and do that, according to Brett Schrotenboer of USA Today Sports. It’s far to risky of a move for a billionaire like Kroenke and it seems like many feel that he is looking for leverage in St. Louis above all else.
- University of Louisville junior safety James Sample told Lars Hanson of 247 Sports (on Twitter) that he will forego his senior year and enter the 2015 Draft.
- Junior running back Dee Hart is leaving Colorado State to declare for NFL Draft, as Mike Brohard of the Reporter-Herald writes. Hart sent his paperwork into the NFL but has yet to receive a draft grade. The 5-foot-9, 190-pounder doesn’t have ideal size, but he profiles as a tough downhill runner. The Alabama transfer played only one season for Colorado State, leading the team with 1,275 yards rushing while scoring 16 touchdowns.
- Mike Shanahan would create a buzz, but Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group says he’d be a poor choice for the Raiders. Thompson notes that the 62-year-old coach hasn’t won anything significant since John Elway was his quarterback and he’s coming off of an ugly situation with Washington.
- Former Bears Director of College Scouting Greg Gabriel had great things to say about Chris Ballard, a finalist for the Bears‘ vacant GM position. “He’s very astute, very smart, excellent evaluator and he’s had the experience in the NFL of working on the college side and the pro side,” Gabriel told CSNChicago.com. “He knows the workings on both sides as far as the different scouting areas within the NFL.”
East Notes: Jets, Casserly, Ryan, Washington
Jets consultant Charley Casserly is open to hiring a new coach before a GM, as Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News writes. “In a perfect world,” Casserly said on 620 AM WDAE, “You hire the GM first and then hire the head coach…However, sometimes opportunities present themselves on a coach that you can get in competition with and you feel like you need to pull the trigger on the coach first. And then come back and hire a general manager..Now people will say, ‘Well, that can’t work.’ Well, Seattle won the Super Bowl and that’s exactly what they did.”
- The Bills will soon talk to Rex Ryan about their head coaching vacancy but they are concerned that he is leery of their quarterback situation, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. In Buffalo, EJ Manuel stands as the starter and without a first-round pick, there aren’t many clear options for fixing the position.
- The Chiefs denied permission to Washington to interview Gary Gibbs for their defensive coordinator opening, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Gibbs, for his part, says that he turned the interview down, according to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter).
- Eagles assistant DBs coach Todd Lyght is leaving to become the cornerbacks coach at Vanderbilt, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).
Coach/GM Notes: Falcons, Bears, Jets, Eagles
According to our head coaching search tracker, there are eight candidates involved in the Falcons‘ hunt for Mike Smith‘s replacement, and if no new names are added to that list, the team’s first round of interviews should conclude tomorrow after a meeting with Todd Bowles. So it makes sense that Ian Rapoport of NFL.com suggests today (via Twitter) that Atlanta intends to bring in its finalists for a second round of interviews. According to Rapoport, Rex Ryan will be among those finalists, though it’s not clear yet who will join him.
Here are a few more items from around the league related to coaches and front offices:
Coaching:
- Todd Bowles and Frank Reich completed their interviews with the Jets today, according to Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com (on Twitter). Bowles’ next visit will be with the Bears.
- A Tuesday report indicated that the Bears would likely meet with Mike Shanahan about their head coaching position after hiring a new general manager, but despite Shanahan’s past success with Jay Cutler (and Brandon Marshall), he’s not currently on Chicago’s list of candidates, says Ed Werder of ESPN.com (via Twitter). We’ll have to see if anything changes on that front after the team makes its GM hire.
- After sitting in on the Raiders‘ interview with Shanahan, John Madden is expected to be in attendance for Tony Sparano‘s meeting with the club as well, tweets Fallon Smith of CSNBayArea.com.
- In the wake of Perry Fewell‘s dismissal, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com offers a few suggestions for the Giants to consider for their defensive coordinator job, including Bills defensive line coach Pepper Johnson, who Graziano thinks could be among New York’s top candidates.
Front office:
- The Bears confirmed that they interviewed Chris Ballard and Ryan Pace for their GM vacancy, Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune tweets.
- Jon Robinson‘s interview with the Jets will take place tomorrow, according to Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com (on Twitter).
- The Jets announced today (via Twitter) that they’ve lined up an interview with Buccaneers personnel executive Jon Robinson for their general manager position. The club also confirmed the candidates they’ve spoken to so far: Chris Grier (Dolphins), Trent Kirchner (Seahawks), Bill Kuharich (Browns), Mike Maccagnan (Texans), Rick Mueller (Eagles), and their own Rod Graves.
- The Jaguars have granted pro director Chris Polian permission to interview with the Eagles for their GM job, according to Albert Breer of NFL Network (via Twitter).
- The Fritz Pollard Alliance, which works with the NFL on minority hiring issues, has filed a complaint with the league over Washington‘s general manager search, writes Mark Maske of the Washington Post. Washington spoke to Jets executive Rod Graves about the GM job, but didn’t run the request for permission by the league, and seemed to do it only as a formality while working out an agreement with Scot McCloughan, so as to abide by the Rooney Rule.
- Meanwhile, the Dolphins appear to have evaded a Rooney Rule violation by changing the role of recently-hired Mike Tannenbaum, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk explains. The club has altered Tannenbaum’s and Dennis Hickey‘s duties since first announcing the hiring, so that Tannenbaum doesn’t qualify as a GM-type hire, meaning the club wouldn’t have needed to meet the Rooney Rule.
Extra Points: Shanahan, Trestman, Ryan
Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan will consider leaving the Browns, even for a lateral move, because of friction within the organization, writes Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer. Shanahan is aiming to become a head coach somewhere (perhaps in Buffalo) but he’d also like to reunite with his father, Mike Shanahan. The 49ers, Raiders, and Bills are have interest in hiring Mike as a head coach with Kyle as the offensive coordinator. More from around the NFL..
- Washington interviewed Rod Graves on Monday for their GM position, according to Albert Breer of NFL.com (on Twitter). By interviewing Graves, Washington has satisfied the Rooney Rule, so that is not a roadblock in their talks with Scot McCloughan.
- Former Bears head coach Marc Trestman will interview for the Jaguars‘ offensive coordinator position, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Trestman has already interviewed with the Buccaneers.
- Rex Ryan will be meeting with CBS executives tomorrow to discuss a possible TV role if he doesn’t land a head coaching job, a source tells Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (on Twitter).
- The Eagles have requested permission to interview recently promoted Packers exec Eliot Wolf for their personnel opening, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Wolf was recently promoted by Green Bay, ostensibly to keep him in-house as the heir apparent to their own GM job.
- The Eagles requested GM interviews with Chris Grier (Dolphins), Chris Polian (Jaguars), and Brian Gaine (Texans), sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
- The Texans might have interest in former Chiefs GM Scott Pioli, according to Dan Pompei of Sports On Earth (on Twitter).
- Vikings running backs coach Kirby Wilson is scheduled to interview with the Jaguars for their offensive coordinator position on Thursday, a source tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
- Gaine and Lake Dawson, the Titans‘ vice president of player personnel, completed their interviews with the Bears for their GM opening, according to Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune.
- Saints GM Mickey Loomis says that the team will take linebacker Junior Galette‘s arrest “very seriously,” as Mike Triplett of ESPN.com writes. “If at some point we deem it necessary for the club to take some action, we’ll do that,” Loomis said.
- Loomis feels that the Saints are in better shape financially, Evan Woodbery of The Times Picayune (on Twitter). “I would say we’re in a better situation than we were a year ago — on pure salary cap.” He also scoffed at a recent report indicating that he will move into a new role with the team (link).
East Notes: Roman, Shanahans, Ballard, Bills
Add another name to the Bills head coaching candidate list, as Buffalo has requested permission to interview 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN (Twitter link). Roman isn’t expected to return as San Francisco’s play-caller, and unlike SF defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, he isn’t a candidate for head coach. Roman, who’s also in the running for the Buccaneers OC position, is the 14th coach linked to the vacancy in Buffalo. You can follow all the news surrounding the six open coaching slots with our tracker. Here’s more from the East divisions…
- One of the 14 with ties to the Bills job is Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, whom the club is hoping to interview by the end of the week, reports Josina Anderson of ESPN (via TwitLonger). Austin reportedly prefers to meet on Saturday.
- The Eagles have requested permission to interview Chiefs executive Chris Ballard for a personnel role (Twitter link via Schefter), but Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com writes that not only is permission expected to be denied, but Ballard probably wouldn’t take the meeting, as the job wouldn’t involve final say over the 53-man roster and draft decisions (which now belongs to head coach Chip Kelly thanks to Friday’s front office shakeup). Ballard is viewed as the favorite for the Bears GM post, where he presumably would have total control over the team’s makeup. The Eagles are also interested in Dolphins scouting director Chris Grier, Lions exec Sheldon White, and one internal candidate, assistant director of player personnel Ed Marynowitz (identified by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk over the weekend).
- We heard earlier tonight that several clubs could be aiming to reunite Mike and Kyle Shanahan as head coach and offensive coordinator, respectively, but the Bills might have another idea in mind. Per John Middlekauff of 95.7 The Game (Twitter link), Buffalo is interested in hiring Kyle as head coach, and installing Mike in a GM role. The Bills have already requested permission to interview Kyle, and the team did lose out on hiring Bill Polian to a football-czar position, so the alignment could make some sense.
- Washington is the latest team up in Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap’s offseason previews — the club has roughly $13.4MM in cap space, and in Fitzgerald’s view, should opt to let nearly all of its free agents walk.
Minor Moves: Monday
We’ll keep tabs on Monday’s minor transactions from around the NFL in this space, with the latest moves added to the top of the list throughout the day:
- The Rams have signed to two players to reserve/futures deal, adding tight end Brad Smelley and punter Michael Palardy, per Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter link).
- The Giants have added a veteran to their offseason roster by singing linebacker Victor Butler to a reserve/futures deal, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Butler, 27, played for the Cowboys from 2009-12, but has bounced around in recent years, spending time with the Saints, Cardinals, and Colts in the past two seasons.
Earlier updates:
- In addition to formally announcing the signing of DeMarcus Van Dyke (noted below), the Vikings also tweeted out word of their signings of defensive end Leon Mackey and defensive tackle Chigbo Anunoby.
- The Jaguars announced three signings today, two of which had been previously reported. The new one is kicker Derek Dimke, who inked a reserve/futures contract with the team, per John Oehser of Jaguars.com (via Twitter).
- Washington also confirmed a handful of signings that had already been reported, and added one more to the list. According to the club (via Twitter), former Abilene Christian wideout Braylon Bell has signed a futures deal.
- Tight end Dorin Dickerson has signed a reserve/futures contract with the Titans, tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. The team removed Dickerson from their IR list back in August with a settlement, but worked him out again in November.
- The Vikings have signed cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke to a one-year futures contract, a league source tells Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link). Van Dyke was placed on injured reserve by the Chiefs at the end of the 2014 preseason, and was later released with an injury settlement.
- The Buccaneers have added three players to their list of reserve/futures signings for 2015, according to Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com (Twitter link). The most notable player in the trio is safety M.D. Jennings, who spent his first three seasons with the Packers before being signed and cut by the Bears in 2014. Tampa Bay also signed tight end Taylor Sloat and punter Chase Tenpenny, whose agreement was previously reported.
- Having previously signed nine of their 10 practice squad players to reserve/futures contracts for the 2015 season, the Eagles made it a clean sweep today, announcing that linebacker Brandon Hepburn had inked a deal of his own (Twitter link).
NFC East Notes: Giants, Phillips, Eagles
Giants head coach Tom Coughlin is still evaluating his coaching staff, and has yet to make any formal announcements, but a source tells Newsday’s Tom Rock that it appears defensive coordinator Perry Fewell and special teams coordinator Tom Quinn will return to New York for the 2015 season. Fewell, in particular, was considered a candidate to be fired, though Coughlin strongly defended the DC at his end-of-season press conference, suggesting that he felt players responded to Fewell.
According to Rock, there may still be minor changes coming to the rest of the coaching staff, but it seems Fewell and Quinn are safe. Here’s more from around the NFC East:
- There’s a “strong sense” in Washington that Wade Phillips is positioned to become the team’s next defensive coordinator, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, who tweets that the former Cowboys head coach has “ample support.”
- As Chip Kelly looks to hire a new general manager in Philadelphia, one executive who figures to draw interest is Lions vice president of pro personnel Sheldon White, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Rapoport indicates that White is expected to interview for the Eagles‘ job.
- Andrew Kulp of CSNPhilly.com makes a case for why the Eagles ought to strongly consider extending quarterback Nick Foles this offseason. Foles’ rookie contract is set to expire after the 2015 campaign.
Pennsylvania Links: Steelers, Polamalu, Kelly
As Wild Card weekend comes to a close, a number of writers for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review have written their thoughts on the end of the 2014 NFL season, and begin looking forward to all the hope that 2015 will bring. Philly.com also published a few pieces regarding the Eagles’ new organizational structure.
- Among the offseason priorities for the Steelers, the back eight on defense has to be the first thing fixed, according to Joe Starkey. The cornerback situation has been a mess, and Cortez Allen has been a tremendous disappointment. The linebackers haven’t been much better, as James Harrison approaching the end of his career and Jason Worilds performed terribly in the playoff game against the Ravens, writes Starkey. He also doubts longtime Steeler Troy Polamalu, and questions whether young players Shamarko Thomas, Jarvis Jones, and Ryan Shazier will be able to make the leap and improve the defense.
- Of the biggest stories the Steelers will face this offseason, the futures of Allen and Worlids loom large, according to Mark Kaboly. Other big stories would be Ben Roethlisberger‘s contract situation, which could eclipse $20MM per year, and whether or not defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau will return for 2015. LeBeau is 77 years old.
- The most important change could be the Steelers moving on from Polamalu, writes Ralph N. Paulk. The former All-Pro safety is 34 years old and has two years left on his contract. Polamalu could consider retirement, but the team could also force his hand by releasing him this offseason.
- Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie is putting all of his eggs in the Chip Kelly basket, writes Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News. He notes that Patriots coach Bill Belichick took decades before acquiring that kind of organizational control. Many other examples of these situations have gone sour before, and although Bowen believes in Kelly, the new power structure is risky.
- The NFL draft reveals a lot about what teams are trying to do as they build towards a championship, and with Eagles head coach Kelly now in charge of personnel, we are about to find out exactly what Kelly believes in, writes Mike Sielski of the Philadelphia Inquirer.