Coaching Rumors: Jets, Gase, Cardinals, Lions
The Jets likely preferred Baylor’s Matt Rhule to Adam Gase, but as previously reported, things fell apart when Rhule refused to allow the Jets to pick his staff for him. The Jets especially wanted to choose his offensive coordinator and Rich Cimini of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears the Jets floated Todd Monken to him as an option.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- The Cardinals asked, but were denied, permission to interview 49ers run game coordinator Mike McDaniel for their offensive coordinator position, Matt Barrows of The Athletic tweets. McDaniel is tight with head coach Kyle Shanahan and the team was not prepared to lose him, especially to a divisional rival.
- “It appears” that Steve Sarkisian and Nathaniel Hackett are in the mix for the Lions‘ offensive coordinator vacancy, Alex Marvez of SiriusXM tweets. The Lions have been looking for a new OC ever since Jan. 1 when they announced that Jim Bob Cooter‘s contract would not be renewed.
- Sarkisian has also spoken with the Cardinals about their OC job, Marvez tweets. Sarkisian has been on the market since Dec. 31 when he was fired by Atlanta.
- Both the Cardinals and Browns have sought permission to interview Jets running backs coach Stump Mitchell, a source tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The position(s) he’ll be discussing with those teams are unclear, however.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/4/19
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2019 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:
San Francisco 49ers
Laken Tomlinson Suffers MCL Tear
The 49ers aren’t the only club with interest in former Colts general manager Ryan Grigson, as the Raiders also want to speak to the ex-Indy exec about a front office role, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). Oakland is rebuilding its front office after firing general manager Reggie McKenzie and top lieutenant Joey Clinkscales. Grigson would join a front office that now includes first-time GM — and former NFL Network analyst — Mike Mayock, who was hired earlier this week. The 46-year-old Grigson was fired by the Colts in 2016 after a tumultuous five-year term as GM, and has since worked with the Browns and Seahawks’ front offices.
- 49ers left guard Laken Tomlinson suffered a torn MCL on Sunday, according to a team announcement. That’s relatively good news since the longtime starter was carted off of the field, leading to fears that he had suffered a torn ACL. Tomlinson will not need surgery, so he should be good to go for offseason activities. Tomlinson is under contract with San Francisco through 2021 thanks to the three-year, $18MM extension he signed last summer.
49ers Eyeing Grigson For Front Office Role
Since being fired by the Colts from their general manager post, Ryan Grigson has spent the past two years with two different teams. He served in both the Browns’ and Seahawks’ front offices.
The 49ers are now interested in bringing the veteran executive to the Bay Area, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (on Twitter).
While John Lynch is entering his third offseason as 49ers GM, he has former Lions GM Martin Mayhew working in the front office as well. Grigson, 46, would add a third exec with experience as a team’s top personnel man.
The Browns let Grigson go just after the 2017 season ended. He caught on with the Seahawks in June of last year, now serving in the role of senior football consultant.
Grigson ran the Colts for five years. His first draft brought Colt cornerstones Andrew Luck and T.Y. Hilton, but the team struggled to build a roster around Luck as the years progressed.
49ers Retaining DC Robert Saleh
- Despite going 4-12, the 49ers will not shake up their staff. Robert Saleh will stay on as San Francisco’s DC, doing so after his unit set NFL records for fewest interceptions (two) in a season and takeaways (seven) in a season. Kyle Shanahan said (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle) his entire staff will be back in 2019.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/1/19
Here are the New Year’s Day reserve/futures contract decisions:
Cincinnati Bengals
- K Tristan Vizcaino
Detroit Lions
- QB Connor Cook
Miami Dolphins
- LB James Burgess
- C Connor Hilliard
- S Chris Lammons
- DT Jamiyus Pittman
- LB Quentin Poling
- DE Jeremiah Valoaga
Oakland Raiders
- WR Saeed Blacknall
- RB James Butler
- LB Cayson Collins
- LB James Cowser
- WR Rashard Davis
- DB Makinton Dorleant
- P Drew Kaser
- QB Nathan Peterman
- FB Ryan Yurachek
San Francisco 49ers
- OL Christian DiLauro
- TE Marcus Lucas
- DB Tarvarus McFadden
- WR Jordan Smallwood
- G Najee Toran
- S Terrell Williams
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/29/18
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Andre Chachere
- Placed on IR: CB DeShawn Shead
New York Giants
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Alonzo Russell
- Placed on IR: WR Jawill Davis
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Ryan Delaire, WR Max McCaffrey
- Placed on IR: RB Matt Breida, WR Dante Pettis
Washington Redskins
- Promoted from practice squad: TE J.P. Holtz
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/26/18
Here are today’s minor moves:
Houston Texas
- Signed: LB Tyrell Adams
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Steven Dunbar
Washington Redskins
- Signed: LB Marquis Flowers
NFL Workout Updates: 12/25/18
Today’s workouts, all courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (on Twitter):
Green Bay Packers
- TE: Evan Bayliss
Houston Texans
- LB: Cory James
San Francisco 49ers
- DE: Damontre Moore
Seattle Seahawks
- CB: Quinten Rollins; SS’s: Keith Tandy, Shamarko Thomas
Tennessee Titans
- DEs: Christian LaCouture, Kendall Vickers; DT: Dee Liner
Washington Redskins
- TE: Jace Amaro; Ts: Isaiah Battle, Cyrus Kouandjio, Darius James; DL: Kwaku Boateng (EDM CFL); QBs: Max Browne, Joe Callahan; LBs: Marquis Flowers, Hau’oli Kikaha, Corey Nelson, John Timu; WRs: Carlos Henderson, ArDarius Stewart, Tre McBride, Devin Smith.
49ers' Rich Scangarello An OC Option?
- Teams with coaching vacancies have been heavily connected to offensively oriented candidates. With a supply-and-demand issue potentially arising, certain teams will have to pivot to consolation prizes or defensive coaches. For a team eyeing a possible up-and-comer for the future as an offensive coordinator, Matt Barrows of The Athletic (subscription required) mentions an under-the-radar possibility in 49ers quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello. Kyle Shanahan‘s QBs coach in his two 49ers seasons, Scangarello was a quality control coach with the Falcons in 2015 and Wagner’s OC in 2016. Rampant injuries have affected an already-limited offense, and Scangarello has helped UDFA Nick Mullens (18th in QBR) to some decent performances.
- Although the Raiders have discussed playing at the San Francisco Giants’ AT&T Stadium next season, the team has not picked a 2019 home yet. Listing possibilities, NBC Sports Bay Area suggests Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, Calif. The Cardinal’s home field seats just more than 50,000 and is located a bit south of the 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium. This has not been mentioned as a consideration, and many cities have emerged as such thus far. The NFL wants the Raiders to decide on their 2019 home by Super Bowl LIII.