Bucs Sign RB Blake Sims To Three-Year Deal
- About two weeks ago, the Buccaneers signed running back Blake Sims to a reserve/futures contract. Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times reports (via Twitter) that the league disapproved the player’s original two-year contract. The team ultimately inked the running back to a three-year contract, and Auman notes that the change is purely “semantics.”
[SOURCE LINK]
Buccaneers Sign LB Jeff Knox
The Buccaneers have added an intriguing talent to their offseason roster. Greg Auman of TampaBay.com reports that the team has signed linebacker Jeff Knox to a reserve/futures contract.
Knox has been a standout for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL over the past two seasons. As a rookie in 2015, the linebacker compiled 112 tackles, breaking a team-record set by current Bears linebacker Jerrell Freeman. Knox finished 2016 with 84 tackles, including 19 on special teams.
The 24-year-old started his collegiate career at Pittsburgh, but he was dismissed from the team following an arrest for assault. As Auman notes, the linebacker later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor simple assault. Knox then caught on with Division II California University of Pennsylvania, where he compiled 7.5 sacks as a senior in 2014.
Auman notes that Knox will certainly have an uphill battle when it comes to making the roster. However, the Buccaneers are rather thin at linebacker, which could bode well for his chances. As Roster Resource shows, the Bucs ended the season with only four linebackers on their roster in Daryl Smith, Kwon Alexander, Lavonte David, and Adarius Glanton.
This is the second CFL player the Buccaneers have signed this month. The organization signed wideout Derel Walker to a reserve/futures contract in early January.
Buccaneers Extend DC Mike Smith
The Chargers’ coaching search will no longer include Mike Smith, who signed an extension to remain the Buccaneers’ defensive coordinator, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). Smith also withdrew his name from the Chargers’ HC search earlier today, per Schefter (via Twitter).
Smith will now coach a second season with the Bucs, who hired the former Falcons coach to replace Leslie Frazier last year. The newly branded Los Angeles Chargers will continue to go through their options after Smith, Vance Joseph and Sean McDermott removed their names from consideration due to respective job offers elsewhere.
Anthony Lynn remains a strong candidate for the Bolts’ HC gig, with the former Bills interim head coach entering his interview today as the frontrunner to become the relocating franchise’s next sideline leader, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Lynn remains at his Chargers interview, Tom Pelissero of USA Today tweets. The Chargers have interviewed six coaches for their HC vacancy, with Lynn being the only one to do so after news of the team’s relocation to Los Angeles became public.
Smith interviewed for the Chargers’ job last week, becoming the first candidate to do so. The 57-year-old coach also interviewed for the Jaguars’ HC job. His initial Tampa Bay defense ranked 23rd, with the unit falling off its top-10 perch from 2015. Frazier’s defense slotted 10th in 2015.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/10/17
Today’s minor moves:
Reserve/Futures Contracts
Miami Dolphins
- LB Lamin Barrow
- CB Daniel Davie
- T Jesse Davis
- QB Brandon Doughty
- RB Storm Johnson
- LB Deon Lacey
- DE Arthur Miley
- TE Chris Pantale
- RB Senorise Perry
- TE Terry Poole
- DE Julius Warmsley
- LB Brandon Watts
San Diego Chargers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Practice Squad
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DE Lenny Jones
- Cut: DT Shelby Harris
Bucs DC Mike Smith Was "Close Second" For Jags HC Gig
- Mike Smith was thought to be a close second for the Jaguars job, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports tweets. The former Falcons head coach served as the Buccaneers defensive coordinator this past season. In seven seasons in Atlanta, Smith led his squad to a 66-46 record and four playoff births. Roy Cummings of FloridaFootballInsiders.com writes that Smith is still in the running for the Chargers‘ head coaching gig.
[SOURCE LINK]
2017 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Tracker
While at least six NFL teams are making head coaching changes this offseason, the number of clubs replacing offensive and/or defensive coordinators figures to be much higher than that. In addition to all those teams hiring new head coaches, who may want to bring in their own assistants, several clubs also figure to make changes on one side of the ball or the other after getting disappointing results in 2016. And, of course, the teams whose coordinators landed head coaching jobs will need to replace them.
With reports circulating on potential candidates, interview requests, and actual meetings, we’ll use the space below to keep tabs on all the latest updates on teams hiring new offensive and/or defensive coordinators. This post, which will be updated daily, can be found under the “PFR Features” menu on the right-hand side of the site.
Updated 2-13-17 (2:30pm CT)
Offensive Coordinators
Atlanta Falcons (Out: Kyle Shanahan)
- Steve Sarkisian, offensive assistant coach (Alabama): Hired
- Chip Kelly, former head coach (49ers): Falcons have expressed interest
- Matt LaFleur, quarterbacks coach (Falcons): Viewed as candidate
- Mike McDaniel, offensive assistant (Falcons): Viewed as candidate
Buffalo Bills (Out: Anthony Lynn)
- Rick Dennison, former offensive coordinator (Broncos): Hired
- Brad Childress, co-offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Viewed as a top candidate; out of running?
- Ken Dorsey, quarterbacks coach (Panthers): Interviewed
- Greg Olson, former offensive coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed
- Mike McCoy, former head coach (Chargers): Viewed as likely choice
Denver Broncos (Out: Rick Dennison)
- Mike McCoy, former head coach (Chargers): Hired
- Bill Musgrave, former offensive coordinator (Raiders): Interviewed; named QBs coach
Houston Texans (HC Bill O’Brien will call plays, replacing George Godsey)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Nathaniel Hackett, interim offensive coordinator (Jaguars): Hired
- Chip Kelly, former head coach (49ers): Interviewed
Los Angeles Rams (Out: Rob Boras)
- Matt LaFleur, quarterbacks coach (Falcons): Hired
- Bill Callahan, offensive line coach (Redskins): Mentioned as possible candidate
- Chris Foerster, offensive line coach (Dolphins): Interview requested, permission denied
New York Jets (Out: Chan Gailey)
- John Morton, wide receivers coach (Saints): Hired
- George Godsey, former offensive coordinator (Texans): Could interview
- Matt Nagy, co-offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Mentioned as possible candidate
- John DeFilippo, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Interview requested, permission denied
- Mike McCoy, former head coach (Chargers): Mentioned as possible candidate
- Eric Studesville, Running backs coach (Broncos): Interviewed, withdrew from consideration
Oakland Raiders (Hired/Promoted: Todd Downing, replacing Bill Musgrave)
Washington Redskins (Hired/Promoted: Matt Cavanaugh, replacing Sean McVay)
Defensive Coordinators
Atlanta Falcons (Out: Richard Smith)
- Marquand Manuel, secondary coach (Falcons): Hired
- Jerome Henderson, pass game coordinator (Falcons): Mentioned as candidate
- Raheem Morris, wide receivers coach (Falcons): Mentioned as candidate
- Jeff Ulbrich, linebackers coach (Falcons): Mentioned as candidate
Buffalo Bills
- Leslie Frazier, defensive backs coach (Ravens): Hired
- Al Holcomb, linebackers coach (Panthers): Viewed as frontrunner
Carolina Panthers (Hired/Promoted Steve Wilks, replacing Sean McDermott)
Cleveland Browns (Hired: Gregg Williams, replacing Ray Horton)
- Wade Phillips, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Contacted about job
Denver Broncos (Out: Wade Phillips)
- Joe Woods, defensive backs coach (Broncos): Hired
- Reggie Herring, linebackers coach (Broncos): To be interviewed
Houston Texans (Hired/Promoted Mike Vrabel, replacing Romeo Crennel, who was named assistant head coach)
Los Angeles Chargers (Out: John Pagano)
- Gus Bradley, former head coach (Jaguars): Hired
- Ron Milus, defensive backs coach (Chargers): Would have been hired if Bradley went elsewhere
Los Angeles Rams (Out: Gregg Williams)
- Wade Phillips, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Hired
Miami Dolphins (Hired/Promoted: Matt Burke, replacing Vance Joseph)
San Francisco 49ers (Hired: Robert Saleh, Out: Jim O’Neil)
- Robert Saleh, former linebackers coach (Jaguars): Hired
- Brian Flores, linebackers coach (Patriots): Mentioned as candidate
- Jerome Henderson, pass game coordinator (Falcons): Interviewed
- Vic Fangio, defensive coordinator (Bears): Expressed interest, move blocked by Bears
- Gus Bradley, former head coach (Jaguars): Mentioned as candidate
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Signed Mike Smith to extension; Smith withdrew name from Chargers’ HC search)
Washington Redskins (Out: Joe Barry)
- Greg Manusky, outside linebackers coach (Redskins): Hired
- John Pagano, defensive coordinator (Chargers): To be interviewed
- Mike Pettine, former head coach (Browns): Interviewed
- Rob Ryan, former assistant head coach/defense (Bills): Interviewed
- Jason Tarver, linebackers coach (49ers): To be interviewed
- Dennis Thurman, former defensive coordinator (Bills): To be interviewed
- Gus Bradley, former head coach (Jaguars): Hired by Chargers
- Romeo Crennel, assistant head coach (Texans): Denied permission to interview
- Paul Guenther, defensive coordinator (Bengals): Denied permission to interveiew
- Steve Wilks, AHC/DB coach (Panthers): Interview requested, promoted by Panthers
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/5/17
Arizona Cardinals
- WR Aaron Dobson
- P Richie Leone
Atlanta Falcons
- WR Anthony Dable
Carolina Panthers
Jacksonville Jaguars
- S Elijah Shumate
New York Jets
- LS Zach Triner
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- G Jarvis Harrison
- WR Derel Walker
Washington Redskins
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/4/17
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2017 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters.
Los Angeles Rams
- DB Jerome Couplin
- LB Cassanova McKinzy
- LB Reggie Northrup
- DB Kevin Peterson
- WR Brandon Shippen
- DB Kevin Short
- RB Brandon Wegher
- TE Bryce Williams
New Orleans Saints
- LB Adam Bighill
- DB Forrest Hightower
New York Jets
- K Ross Martin
Philadelphia Eagles
- WR Rasheed Bailey
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- TE Kivon Cartwright
- K John Lunsford
Latest On Chargers’ Head Coaching Search
The Chargers’ list of candidates to take over for fired head coach Mike McCoy continues to grow. Former Falcons head coach and current Buccaneers defensive coordinator Mike Smith is likely to interview with the Chargers, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Meanwhile, Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub will meet with the Bolts this week, per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, and FOX Sports’ Peter Schrager adds that San Diego has asked Carolina’s permission to interview defensive coordinator Sean McDermott (all Twitter links)
The Chargers now have five potential successors to McCoy – and no offensive coordinators – on their radar, as PFR’s head coaching search tracker shows, though Smith is the only one with previous experience.
The 57-year-old was at the helm with the Falcons from 2008-14 in a stint that began swimmingly but ended poorly. Atlanta started Smith’s tenure with five straight above-.500 seasons, four of which resulted in double-digit-win campaigns and playoff berths, and then went a combined 10-22 during his final two years on the job. All told, the Falcons posted a 66-46 regular-season record and a disappointing 1-4 playoff mark under Smith. Of the other five teams in need of head coaches, only the Jaguars have shown interest in Smith to this point.
Toub, who’s on a bye with the AFC West champion Chiefs, will also meet with the Broncos this week, relays Biggs. McDermott has a Wednesday interview set up with the Bills.
Buccaneers To Bring In Competition For Roberto Aguayo
- Buccaneers coach Dirk Koetter said he will bring in competition for kicker Roberto Aguayo, as Jenna Laine of ESPN.com writes. “We’ve got to have competition at every position,” Koetter said Monday. “Nothing’s given and if they’re not the best player, then I can be pretty certain in saying that they won’t be out there.” The Bucs traded back into the second round in 2016 to select the Florida State product, making him the highest-drafted kicker since Mike Nugent. Many criticized the pick but GM Jason Licht later said he assigned Aguayo a first-round grade. The rookie ultimately connected on 71-percent of his field goals this season, the lowest mark in the league.
[SOURCE LINK]
- Buccaneers coach Dirk Koetter said he will bring in competition for kicker Roberto Aguayo, as Jenna Laine of ESPN.com writes. “We’ve got to have competition at every position,” Koetter said Monday. “Nothing’s given and if they’re not the best player, then I can be pretty certain in saying that they won’t be out there.” The Bucs traded back into the second round in 2016 to select the Florida State product, making him the highest-drafted kicker since Mike Nugent. Many criticized the pick but GM Jason Licht later said he assigned Aguayo a first-round grade. The rookie ultimately connected on 71-percent of his field goals this season, the lowest mark in the league.