AFC North Notes: Harbaugh, Browns, Maualuga
When John Harbaugh was originally interviewing for the Ravens head coaching position, he received a bit of help from one of his colleagues. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick gave owner Steve Bisciotti a call, endorsing the former Eagles special teams coach for the opening. Harbaugh eventually got the job, and as Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun writes, the coach still appreciates the recommendation from his upcoming playoff opponent:
“It meant everything. As far as probably getting the job, it didn’t hurt. You have to ask Steve and Ozzie [Newsome] if it made the difference or not. But the fact that he was willing to do that at the time, I was stunned when I heard the story much later.
“I would describe the relationship as very good, great admiration for coach. I’ve never worked with him, specifically, but for whatever reason he has been always willing to kind of take me under his wing in a way and give me time and insight and things like that.”
Let’s take a look at some more notes from the AFC North…
- Former Bears quarterback coach Matt Cavanaugh is on the Browns “radar” for the offensive coordinator opening, reports Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Cavanaugh previously worked with coach Mike Pettine at the University of Pittsburgh, and they reunited again in the NFL with the Ravens and Jets.
- Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com takes a look at some other potential candidates for the Browns offensive coordinator opening. His list includes Raiders quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo, former college coach/NFL coordinator Charlie Weis, former Bears coach Marc Trestman and Cowboys offensive coordinator Bill Callahan.
- Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther believes upcoming free agent linebacker Rey Maualuga will ultimately return to the Bengals. “I believe he does,” Guenther said (via ESPN.com’s Coley Harvey). “You saw when he came back the effect he had on us.”
- Harvey also focuses on five major questions surrounding the Bengals entering the offseason, including the future of tight end Jermaine Gresham.
49ers Links: Harbaugh, Gore, Crabtree, Smith
Jim Harbaugh isn’t the only member of the 49ers organization whose future is in doubt. The assistant coaches are uncertain about their jobs next season as they wait for an inevitable coaching change. As Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes, Harbaugh will certainly take some of his assistants with him wherever he lands, but some others will have to hope that the next 49ers coach retains them.
“The last game’s always a little different when you know it’s your last game,” said defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. “But you know, when we’re in meetings as coaches, whether it’d just be us as a defensive staff or with the players, it’s normal. It’s just all the stuff around that everybody notices it to some different degrees than others. It’s just part of the deal.”
Let’s take a look at some more notes from the 49ers…
- Daniel Brown of MercuryNews.com explores the potential complications of a Harbaugh trade. The writer suggests that the head coach could decide to play hardball and force the team to fire him if he doesn’t agree to be traded. Furthermore, Brown cites the NFL’s Anti-Tampering Policy, which states that “an employee under contract to a member club… who voluntarily resigns or retires prior to the expiration of his contract, is not free to discuss or accept employment with another NFL club without the consent of the prior-employer club.”
- We previously heard that Harbaugh’s family was pushing for the coach’s move to Michigan, but his brother, John Harbaugh, disputes that report. “My dad and I both . . . I will say this: The report that said that his family is encouraging him to go to Michigan by Adam Schefter is absolutely incorrect,” he said (via Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com). “There has been no family that I know of that has given him any advice at all because that’s a personal decision. It’s his to make, and that’s just absolutely false. I don’t know where that came from, but it didn’t come from the Harbaughs.”
- While the organization has apparently soured on Harbaugh, the coach’s lead running back has not. “He’s my best coach,” Frank Gore told Can Inman of MercuryNew.com (via Twitter). “I didn’t enjoy it here until we started winning. Since he’s been here, I’ve won.”
- Gore also didn’t mince words when he was asked where he wants to play next season. “I want to be here,” the upcoming free agent said (via Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee). “I was raised here, man.”
- Meanwhile, wideout Michael Crabtree is looking forward to free agency. “I’ve grown a lot, seen a lot and we’ve done a lot as a team,” Crabtree said (via Inman). “I feel I’ve contributed a lot to the team, and I can’t wait to see what’s the next chapter of my career, and to maximize my talent and my youth.”
- 49ers defensive end Justin Smith could retire this offseason, writes Maiocco. Of course, that doesn’t mean the organization doesn’t want him back. “We would welcome the opportunity to coach 94 one more season,” general manager Trent Baalke said. “And I think our fans would love to see 94 give it one more go. Whether he’s going to do that or not is really his decision. He’s earned that right to go out on his terms and I’m sure he’ll make the right decision for him and his family.”
AFC Notes: Tate, Dwyer, Harbaugh, Conner
New England is on the road tonight against the Chiefs but there are plenty of Patriots fans in attendance tonight. Erik Frenz of Boston.com caught up with some of them before kickoff and while they were enthusiastic at that point, they’re probably a bit down in the dumps now. Here’s tonight’s look around the AFC..
- Lions wide receiver Golden Tate matched a career-high with eight catches for 116 yards against the Jets and Gang Green probably wishes he was on their side of the affair. As Tate told reporters, including Birkett, that nearly happened. “Excited to be a part of this,” Tate said. “I‘m glad that Detroit decided to take a chance. Funny thing is that the Jets had a chance to get me also. They were deciding between me and Eric Decker and they went with Decker, a heck of a player also. But thankful for the opportunity to be here and help contribute, help win games and bring that championship mentality.” More from the AFC..
- Michigan may be interested in him, but Ravens coach John Harbaugh isn’t likely to reciprocate, according to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. There are a number of reasons why Harbaugh wouldn’t want to chase the job, according to a source, including his friendship with current Michigan coach Brady Hoke. Harbaugh said as much earlier today, as Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com tweets.
- Fullback John Conner visited the Jets today, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (on Twitter). Conner, who has appeared in 35 games for the Jets, was with the Giants during preseason. With fullback Tommy Bohanon hurt, Conner could have an opportunity to return to the Meadowlands.
Extra Points: Cutler, Harbaugh, Raiders
U.S. District Judge David Doty has been the arbiter of NFL labor matters for more than two decades but on Friday he recused himself from ruling on a dispute between NFL owners and the NFLPA over an alleged secret salary cap, writes Steve Karnowski of The Associated Press. The NFL Players Association alleges the league enforced a secret $123MM salary cap per club in 2010 when there was supposed to be no cap. In that year, the Cowboys and Redskins spent as though there was no cap but found themselves penalized anyway. As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes, the league probably wishes that Doty was still overseeing the trial. Here’s more from around the NFL..
- Some have questioned the Bears‘ decision to give Jay Cutler a contract that averages $18.1MM per year, but two NFL scouts told Pete Dougherty of the Press-Gazette that Chicago made the right call. “If you don’t want to pay (Cutler), that’s fine,” one scout said. “Don’t pay him. But who are you going to play? You going to play (backup Jimmy) Clausen? You going to play Tim Tebow? What are you going to do? That’s the reality.”
- Speculation looms about the University of Michigan going after 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, but sources tell Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (on Twitter) that they actually prefer Ravens coach John Harbaugh at this point.
- The authority that runs the O.co Coliseum is nearing a decision to hire former Republican lawmaker Guy Houston to be its next executive director, hoping to inject new leadership into the negotiations to keep the Raiders and A’s in town and build new ballparks, several people with close knowledge of the talks tell Matt O’Brien of the Bay Area News Group.
AFC North Links: McCarron, Ravens, Archer
With one preseason game down, Bengals website editor Geoff Hobson provides a position-by-position roster rundown. Of note, rookie quarterback’s A.J. McCarron’s 2014 prognosis is unknown because of his shoulder issue, and Hobson says “it looks like he’s not coming off PUP anytime soon and that the Bengals think he needs a long rehab.”
Keep reading for more NFC North links…
- The Ravens’ selection of Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley 17th overall was universally praised, and the rookie is justifying the pick and the praise, writes Aaron Wilson in the Baltimore Sun.
- Ravens 2013 fifth-rounder Rick Wagner, expected to take over the right tackle job, played well in the team’s first preseason game, according to Wilson, who quoted head coach John Harbaugh: “I think someone wrote it earlier, you don’t notice him much. That’s a good thing for a right tackle, and he seemed like he played that way. And at the end of the day, he was solid and on his targets, and footwork was good. He’s a good, solid football player.”
- Asa Jackson has taken an early lead over Chykie Brown for the Ravens’ third cornerback job, according to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. Jackson, 24, is a 5-10, 182-pound third-year pro out of Cal Poly who was drafted in the fifth round of the 2012 draft. Jackson has a skill set, including ball skills, to cover slot receivers, but he’s yet to play a defensive snap thanks, in large part, two a pair of Adderall-related suspensions totaling 12 games.
- Steelers veterans are anxious to see rookie Dri Archer put his rare speed on display, writes TribLive.com’s Mark Kaboly. Says Ike Taylor: “He is going to be a matchup problem for a lot of teams. He just has it. Dri just has it. Anytime he touches the ball or anytime you know he’s getting the ball, you kind of stand up and pay attention.”
- Everyone will be tuning into the Browns-Lions preseason contest to watch Johnny Football, but Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot provides four other things to watch, including the competition for carries between Ben Tate and rookie Terrance West.
AFC North Notes: Shazier, Smith, Hunt, Wilder
Steelers first-rounder Ryan Shazier looks like the “real deal,” according to Mike Prisuta of Steelers.com: “The Steelers knew Shazier was fast when they drafted him No. 1 from The Ohio State University. But since arriving on the South Side of Pittsburgh Shazier has gotten Maurkice Pouncey‘s attention with physicality in practice, stunned Bruce Gradkowski with leaping ability on the way to an interception and impressed Ben Roethlisberger as a potential defensive signal-caller someday. Shazier also has been running with the first-team defense since snap one of OTAs. He’ll still have to do it in pads this summer, but he created a consistent buzz this spring.”
Here’s a few more AFC North notes:
- Ravens head coach John Harbaugh says veteran inside linebacker Daryl Smith, who re-signed for four years and $16MM, played at a high level last season, writes Garrett Downing on BaltimoreRavens.com. That means first-rounder C.J. Mosley and 2013 second-rounder Arthur Brown will compete for playing time next to Smith.
- The Bengals have high expectations for 27-year-old, second-year Estonian defensive end Margus Hunt, writes Geoff Hobson on Bengals.com. A 2013 second-round project, Hunt is a “freakish,” 6-8, 291-pounder who might be ready to contribute at left end.
- Bengals running back James Wilder Jr., an undrafted free agent out of Florida State, claims he broke a team conditioning record, but he’s on the outside looking in for now, says ESPN’s Coley Harvey.
- Browns All-Pro Joe Haden is the latest to (delicately) express concern over Johnny Manziel’s partying ways (radio interview with 850 AM here), but says nothing Manziel is doing away from the team facility is negatively affecting his work. Haden merely suggests, “Just try to have fun without the whole world knowing.”
Ravens To Continue To Add To Roster
Ravens’ head coach John Harbaugh says the team plans on adding more pieces this offseason, reports Matt Zenitz of the Carroll County Times. Harbaugh and general manager Ozzie Newsome have a plan to put together the best roster possible.
“I think we’re aware of the guys that are still out there, free agents that would be more favorable to sign after June 1 and all that,” Harbaugh said. “We’re going to be watching the waiver wire real close. We’re going to try and get better.”
The team is looking to add to the cornerback position specifically, writes Zenitz. The team brings back starters Lardarius Webb and Jimmy Smith, but must replace nickel corner Corey Graham. The team only has four corners on the roster that are not undrafted free agent players.
Former fifth-round picks Chykie Brown and Asa Jackson are competing for the third corner spot, but the team will look to add outside competition as well.
The Ravens will also be focusing on right tackle as they look to improve their roster. The team is hoping a pair of 2013 late-round picks, Rick Wagner and Ryan Jensen, can fill the void left by Michael Oher, who joined the Titans this offseason. Eric Winston, who played for Gary Kubiak for six seasons with the Texans is also a viable option should the team look to bring in an outside veteran.
“We had a conversation, Ozzie and I, and I like to think on principle that we really believe this: We want to build as strong of a 53-man roster as we possibly can, and as we do that, try to get stronger every chance we get. We’ll be looking.”
Ravens Notes: Harbaugh, Zuttah, Jensen, Rice
The Ravens organization is “exasperated, as it should be, after receiving too many middle-of-the-night phone calls,” says BaltimoreRavens.com Columnist John Eisenberg, who passes along an “ominous warning shot” to his players: “…when the negativity over-balances your ability to help our football team, you’re not going to be here anymore. Or if we can’t trust your character anymore, then you can’t be a part of what we’re doing anymore.”
In other Ravens news and notes…
- The Ravens have shifted Ryan Jensen, a 2013 sixth-rounder out of Colorado State-Pueblo, from guard-center to right tackle, reports Aaron Wilson in the Baltimore Sun. Jensen started 44 games as a college left tackle, but suffered a broken foot during training camp and did not play in any games last season. He will provide competition/insurance at right tackle, where Ricky Wagner appears to have the inside track on the starting job. The Ravens have a history of successfully converting offensive line prospects, as their starting interior — center Jeremy Zuttah and guards Marshal Yanda and Kelechi Osemele — is comprised of players who were college tackles.
- Speaking of Zuttah, early reports suggest he’s fitting in very well after signing a five-year, $18MM deal, writes Wilson. Harbaugh praised the 27-year-old for his intelligence and maturity, while former NFL executive Louis Riddick said, “Jeremy’s a perfect fit for them. Based on what Gary Kubiak wants to do… that all plays right to Jeremy’s strengths. He’s very athletic… He can do all the things that won’t allow him to get exposed one-on-one as he did at times in the Tampa scheme.”
- In terms of depth, A.Q. Shipley‘s roster spot “is probably more in jeopardy” than Gino Gradkowski‘s, according to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.
- Ray Rice has had a tumultuous offseason, but perhaps lost in the shuffle is his weight change. According to Wilson (via Twitter), the veteran running back has shed 20 pounds.
- In a minor move, the team signed undrafted outside linebacker D.J. Roberts, who tried out during rookie minicamp. To make room, quarterback Nick Stephens was cut, reports Wilson.
Seahawks, Pete Carroll Agree To Extension
12:31pm: It’s a three-year extension for Carroll, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
FRIDAY, 8:05am: Carroll’s new deal will make him one of the league’s three highest-paid coaches, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
THURSDAY, 10:13pm: The Seahawks and head coach Pete Carroll have agreed to a contract extension, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The deal will be announced at a press conference on Friday.
Carroll was entering the final season of his five-year, $35MM deal, but it isn’t unprecedented for a championship-winning coach to sign an extension shortly after winning a Super Bowl. Carroll would follow John Harbaugh (Ravens), Tom Coughlin (Giants) and Mike McCarthy (Packers) in a line of coaches that signed extensions after winning a ring. Last offseason, Harbaugh signed a four-year deal worth nearly $7MM a season. Considering Carroll made about that much money in 2013, Carroll’s new deal may exceed Sean Payton‘s league-leading $8MM annual salary. The deal should also have an impact on a potential Jim Harbaugh extension. Harbaugh’s deal is set to expire after the 2015 season.
After eight seasons as an NFL head coach, Carroll won his first Super Bowl this past February. Since taking over as the Seahawks head coach in 2010, the 62-year-old helped take the team from a sub-.500 squad to a perennial contender. Prior to his time in Seattle, Carroll also coached the Patriots and Jets. From 2001-2009, Carroll coached the USC Trojans and led the team to an 83-19 record, establishing the Trojans as one of the premier teams in college football.
Ravens Notes: Smith, Rice, Harbaugh
With NFL owners meeting in Orlando, Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun provided an assessment of the Ravens following their busy month thus far. At this stage, the team is mostly monitoring the market in search of budget-friendly opportunities, but they’re not done spending. According to Zrebiec, the Ravens still need a starting offensive lineman, be it right tackle or left guard, as well as depth at running back, tight end, inside linebacker, defensive back and defensive line.
In other Ravens news:
- Also prominent on the agenda is Torrey Smith, whose contract owner Steve Bisciotti wants to extend prior to the draft, according to Matt Zenitz of the Carroll County Times (via Twitter). Zenitz says Smith’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, is scheduled to speak with team brass during this week’s meetings.
- Head coach John Harbaugh got a year tacked onto his contract, which now has four years remaining, per Zrebiec (via Twitter).
- Owner Steve Bisciotti told Zrebiec there is no circumstance in which Ray Rice is not a Raven in 2014 (via Twitter).
- Kelechi Osemele, who is recovering from back surgery and could play left guard or right tackle next season, is progressing well if a recent Instagram video is any indication.
- Finally, the team was awarded four compensatory picks (max allowed) in the upcoming draft: a third-round pick (No. 99 overall), two fourths (Nos. 134 and 138) and a fifth (No. 175). Since Ozzie Newsome’s arrival in 1996, the Ravens have been awarded 41 compensatory picks, eight more than any other team, points out Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post (via Twitter).