Steelers WR Coach Richard Mann Retires
The Browns are “in discussions” with former Titans head coach Mike Mularkey regarding their offensive coordinator vacancy, according to Pat McManamon of ESPN.com. Mularkey, who was fired by Tennessee on Monday, was loosely connected to Cleveland yesterday, with reports indicating Hue Jackson & Co. would be interested in Mularkey if he were to come available. As of yet, the Browns have not set up a formal interview with Mularkey, but such a meeting could soon occur. Mularkey would become the third definitive candidate for Cleveland’s OC job, joining Texans quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan and former Giants head coach Ben McAdoo. A three-time head coach, Mularkey has coordinated offenses for the Steelers, Dolphins, and Falcons.
- Steelers wide receivers coach Richard Mann is planning to retire, as Alex Marvez of the Sporting News writes. The 70-year-old Mann has enjoyed a long career in coaching, and has especially thrived since joining Pittsburgh’s staff in 2013. His arrival coincided with Antonio Brown‘s ascension to the league’s best wideout, while Mann has also helped guide young pass-catchers such as Martavis Bryant and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Mann, a long-time collegiate coach, entered the NFL ranks in 1985.
Ben Roethlisberger To Play 3 More Years?
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has privately told teammates that he wants to play for at least three more seasons, according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
The 35-year-old Roethlisberger indicated following Sunday’s Divisional Round loss that he plans to return for the 2018 season, an important disclosure given that he reportedly mulled retirement prior to the 2017 campaign. Coming off a season which was largely in line with his career norms (64.2% completion rate, 28 touchdowns, 92.4 quarterback rating), Roethlisberger sounds as though he’s eager to continue his career through at least next year, and potentially beyond. He’s under contract through 2019, with cap charges of $23.2MM in each season.
Roethlisberger’s relationship with offensive coordinator Todd Haley has reportedly been the source of some strain, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported Sunday that the rapport between the two Steelers “in in as bad of a place as it’s been in years.” Haley’s contract is now expired, per Bouchette, and it’s unclear if he’ll return to Pittsburgh in 2018 after failing to “build support among key players” on the club’s offense. If Haley leaves the Steelers, quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner would represent a “strong candidate” to become the team’s next offensive coordinator.
Appearing on his local radio show on CBS Pittsburgh this morning, Roethlisberger seemed to refute any concerns regarding Haley. “There’s always issues in a competitive field,” said Roethlisberger, noting that the reported rift is “perceived as a bigger deal” than reality might warrant (Twitter links via Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com). “You might butt heads at times, it doesn’t mean you have any personal problems.”
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/16/18
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2018 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:
Atlanta Falcons
- S Marcelis Branch
- CB Deante Burton
- OL Daniel Brunskill
- WR Reggie Davis
- TE Alex Gray
- QB Garrett Grayson
- DL Joey Ivie
- DL J’Terius Jones
- DL Taniela Tupou
New Orleans Saints
- LB Adam Bighill
- WR Travin Dural
- TE Alex Ellis
- CB De’Vante Harris
- DE Alex Jenkins
- OL Gabe Ikard
- LB Shayne Skov
- G Nate Theaker
- S Mykkele Thompson
- G Landon Turner
Pittsburgh Steelers
- DE Lavon Hooks
- LB Keith Kelsey
- WR Justin Thomas
- WR Marcus Tucker
Steelers, Mike Hilton Agree To Extension
The Steelers announced that cornerback Mike Hilton has agreed to a one-year extension. Hilton was scheduled to be an exclusive rights free agent in March, meaning that he was likely to be back on a one-year deal anyway. The move is something of a formality, though it does speak to his increased importance to the team. 
[RELATED: Todd Haley’s Contract With Steelers Expires]
Hilton served as Pittsburgh’s primary nickel cornerback in 2018 and played in more than 58% of the team’s snaps. He was productive in that role, amassing 64 tackles, four sacks (three of which came in the Steelers’ late season win over the Texans), two picks, and one forced fumble. Hilton ranked as the 27th best corner in the NFL last year, per Pro Football Focus’ metrics, and placed higher than teammates Artie Burns (44th) and Joe Haden (52nd).
Fellow would-be ERFAs Xavier Grimble and Kameron Canaday also inked one-year extensions with the Steelers this week.
Todd Haley’s Contract With Steelers Expires
Todd Haley‘s contract with the Steelers has expired, according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. As Bouchette explains, the team does not typically allow a coach’s contract to lapse if they intend to keep him, so this could indeed be the end of his time as the Steelers’ offensive coordinator. 
Haley is reportedly at odds with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and his off-the-field behavior probably doesn’t help matters. This season, Roethlisberger requested that QBs coach Randy Fichtner coach from the sidelines instead of the press box so that he can provide a buffer between him and Haley. Although the Steelers have enjoyed great success with Haley as the OC, this could be the offseason that they go in a different direction.
Fichtner has been with the team since 2007 and has served as the QBs coach for the last eight seasons, so he could be a candidate for the position if Haley is pushed out the door. His relationship with Big Ben could also help his case.
The Steelers have not allowed a coordinator’s contract to lapse without an extension since after the 2011 season. In that instance, Bruce Arians was nudged out the door in what was referred to as a “retirement.”
Cardinals To Interview Munchak, DeFilippo Again
The Cardinals are bringing Mike Munchak back in for a second interview, according to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link). The team is also expected to speak with Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo for a second time once Philly’s season is over, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
Munchak, the Steelers offensive line coach, first interviewed with Arizona on January 7. He went just 22-26 in three seasons as the Titans’ head coach, but he impressed in his initial meeting with the Cardinals and also made a strong impression on the Giants before they landed on Pat Shurmur as their likely hire.
DeFilippo helped mold Carson Wentz into one of the league’s top young quarterbacks and, under his guidance, the team has stayed afloat with Nick Foles under center. With uncertainty at QB, the Cardinals are intrigued by DeFilippo’s ability to groom an up-and-coming star – and his ability to work with secondary options. Although defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz holds a higher title and is also interviewing for HC jobs, it appears that DeFilippo is a stronger candidate around the league.
As shown on PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker, nine candidates have interviewed for the Cardinals job. With Shurmur and Patricia likely spoken for, there are seven coaches still in play, but Munchak and DeFilippo appear to be the frontrunners.
Steelers Minority Owners Pushing For Coaching Change
After this weekend’s defeat at the hands of the Jaguars, some Steelers minority owners are pushing for the team to fire coach Mike Tomlin, a source tells Mike Florio of PFT. This group of 13 limited partners has no authority over the management of the team, but they “have a pipeline” to main owner Art Rooney and they intend to make their case. 
It’s unlikely that this baker’s dozen of shareholders can push out Tomlin by themselves, but they could theoretically influence Rooney to make a move if he is giving any thought to making a change. It’s not clear if that is on Rooney’s radar, even after the disappointing loss to Jacksonville.
Tomlin, of course, led the Steelers to a Super Bowl victory after the 2008 season and guided the team back to the title game after the 2010 campaign. In Tomlin’s eleven seasons at the helm, the team has missed the playoffs only three times and has never finished worse than .500. The Steelers are also not known for making hasty decisions with their coaches. The team has had only three coaches since 1969 – Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Tomlin.
NFL Future/Reserve Contracts: 1/15/18
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2018 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:
Cleveland Browns
Philadelphia Eagles
Pittsburgh Steelers
- S Jordan Dangerfield
- LB Matt Galambos
- LB Farrington Huguenin
- TE Jake McGee
- CB Dashaun Phillips
Tennessee Titans
- CB Jeremy Boykins
- WR Darius Jennings
- S Denzel Johnson
- OL Tyler Marz
- DE Johnny Maxey
- WR Zach Pascal
- TE Tim Semisch
- DE Julius Warmsley
- OL Cody Wichmann
- DL Antwaun Woods
Martavis Bryant Wants To Return To Steelers
In a turn from a few months ago, it appears as if Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant wants to return to his team in 2018. Coming off a stunning defeat at the hands of the Jaguars in the AFC Divisional round, the 26-year-old expressed that he has now moved away from trade demand that he made back in October, reports Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
The former 2014 fourth round pick should’ve been eligible for free agency this offseason, but he’ll remain under contract for one more year after he sat out the entire 2016 season due to suspension. Bryant’s desire to be moved before the trade deadline stemmed from rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster‘s increased role in the offense. However, Bryant expressed doubt that he would want to leave the only team he’s ever known because of the track record that Pittsburgh has for winning.
“What’s changed from mid season? For one, Bryant acknowledges it would be hard to start over and wants to win a Super Bowl here,” tweeted Fowler.
The change of heart should be refreshing for an organization that is about to undertake a rough contract negotiation with free agent running back Le’Veon Bell. But with Ben Roethlisberger saying he’ll return in 2018, the Steelers need all the weapons they can get if they hope to bounce back in the playoffs a year from now. Aside from Bell, Mike Tomlin‘s offense is set to return every starter from this past season.
Bryant was inconsistent for most of this season, catching 50 balls for just over 600 yards and three scores. All of which marked the lowest totals in his three seasons in the NFL.
Steelers Agree With Grimble, Canaday On Extensions
A day after the Steelers were shockingly bounced from the playoffs, the team has already begun shaping their 2018 roster. The team announced this afternoon that they have signed backup tight end Xavier Grimble and long snapper Kameron Canady to one-year contract extensions.
Grimble, 25, played in his second season in the NFL this past year. The tight end had a minimal role on the offense, catching just five passes for 32 yards and a touchdown this past year. He’s firmly behind fellow tight ends Jesse James and Vance McDonald on the Steelers’ depth chart entering the offseason.
Canaday, 24, signed with Pittsburgh last February, but was released in May after the team drafted another long snapper this past April. However, the Canaday was ultimately brought back for training camp and went onto win the job in the preseason, going on to play in all of the Steelers games in 2017.