Redskins To Fire Bruce Allen
Bruce Allen may not have the chance to continue into a second decade with the Redskins. The franchise plans to fire its 10th-year football operations boss, J.P. Finlay of NBC Sports Washington reports. This move has been in the works for a bit now, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Ben Standig of The Athletic writes that Allen may remain with the club as part of its stadium detail.
Dan Snyder has operated independently from his football staff during part of the Redskins’ coaching search, and the longtime owner has done work on GM candidates as well. Allen’s tenure as team president has not brought Washington much success, with this season producing a 3-12 record.
Allen has overseen a somewhat chaotic Redskins decade. From the Robert Griffin III chapter to an ugly divorce with GM Scot McCloughan to Kirk Cousins‘ departure to the Trent Williams fiasco, the franchise has seen its stock plummet during the 2010s. The Redskins are 62-96-1 during Allen’s 10-year tenure — one that has produced two playoff berths and one 10-win season (2012).
The son of former Redskins NFC champion coach George Allen, Bruce came over after a five-year stay with the Buccaneers. Prior to that, he spent nine years in the Raiders’ front office. The Redskins have only employed two full-time coaches under Allen — Mike Shanahan and Jay Gruden — but they have gone through several quarterbacks and have only completed back-to-back winning seasons once.
While the Redskins have not been particularly successful throughout Snyder’s 21-year tenure, the owner looks set to commence a full-scale overhaul. Coaches Bill Callahan and Kevin O’Connell have a chance to stay on, potentially with a defensive-minded HC, but it certainly looks like the Redskins will have a new front office structure soon. Former Texans GM Rick Smith and ex-Redskins exec-turned-ESPN analyst Louis Riddick have been mentioned as potential candidates to oversee Washington’s football operations. Current Panthers GM Marty Hurney may also be in play, as Joe Person of The Athletic tweets.
Meanwhile, Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network says Redskins senior VP Eric Schaffer, who handles contract negotiations for the team, could see his role increase following Allen’s ouster (Twitter link).
Latest On Redskins’ HC Plans, Front Office
After little emerged on the Redskins front for weeks following Jay Gruden‘s firing, the struggling franchise is dominating the early-weekend news cycle. Bruce Allen‘s role as team president is not safe, with a Black Monday dismissal being considered.
The Redskins are considering firing their 10-year front office czar, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports, adding that Allen may have a chance to remain with the organization in a non-football role. That would be an interesting setup given Allen’s tumultuous tenure in Washington, but Dan Snyder is pondering widespread changes to his football operations department.
Replacement options for Allen include ex-Texans GM Rick Smith and former NFL executive-turned-TV analyst Louis Riddick, La Canfora adds, noting Snyder has done research on a few personnel execs. Smith resigned from his Houston post after the 2017 season but is open to returning to the league. Riddick worked with the Redskins from 2001-07, serving as a scout and pro personnel director. He subsequently held the same role with the Eagles.
As for Washington’s HC opening, Snyder has “strong interest” in Ron Rivera, per JLC. The longtime Redskins owner is also interested in Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, ex-Jets HC and current Buccaneers DC Todd Bowles, longtime Bengals HC Marvin Lewis and former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer. These are consolation prizes, though, with La Canfora reporting Snyder’s primary hope is to work out a trade for Mike Tomlin. Snyder is not optimistic about such a deal. The prospect of bringing the Virginia native to Washington surfaced two-plus months ago.
The prospect of bringing aboard a defensive coach opens the door to Washington sticking with top offensive incumbents Bill Callahan and Kevin O’Connell. Snyder is high on both his interim HC and first-year OC, according to La Canfora. Callahan expressed interest in staying on, though it’s not known if he would stick around under another head coach, and O’Connell has been the primary Dwayne Haskins developer this season. Snyder was the driving force behind the Redskins’ Haskins pick, overruling Gruden.
Allen has not excelled in Washington, but neither have most of the head coaches under Snyder. The Redskins have not made the playoffs in consecutive seasons under the 21st-year owner.
Redskins Interested In Ron Rivera
The Redskins may have experience in mind during their latest coaching search. In addition to their Marvin Lewis interest, the franchise looks to have Ron Rivera as a target.
Rivera has generated interest for a quick rebound, with Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweeting the recently fired Panthers HC has told people he expects a deal to come together quickly. This does not necessarily mean a pact with Washington. The nine-season Carolina leader has drawn interest from the Redskins, but Rapoport notes other teams are in the mix as well. “Significant buzz” around the league has emerged connecting Rivera to the Redskins, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets.
Dan Snyder has coordinated with a search party that is not believed to have included members of the Redskins’ front office. Team president Bruce Allen does not look to be a lock to return, which makes sense given the state of the franchise. It would be interesting to see the Redskins move on Rivera so quickly, however, being days away from requesting interviews with active coordinators. But the former NFC champion coach may be in demand.
Rivera, 57, went 76-63-1 as Panthers HC, guiding the franchise to three NFC South championships and four playoff berths. The Redskins have gone 62-96-1 during Allen’s 10-year tenure and have won 10 games in a season once in the past 14 years.
Snyder has sought experience previously, hiring Mike Shanahan in 2010, Marty Schottenheimer in 2001 and bringing back Joe Gibbs in 2004. However, Snyder went with an offensive coordinator — Jay Gruden — in 2014 and hired Seahawks QBs coach Jim Zorn in 2008. The Steve Spurrier two-year experiment occurred this century as well. None of these coaches provided the sustained success Gibbs did during his 1980s-’90s tenure with previous ownership.
Redskins Eyeing Marvin Lewis For HC
It sounds like the Redskins already have their eye on a potential head coach. SiriusXM’s Alex Marvez reports (via Twitter) that Marvin Lewis is a strong contender for the Redskins’ coaching vacancy. In fact, Marvez says Lewis may have already interviewed with owner Dan Snyder in the Bahamas.
Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com echoes that report, and the reporter also provides context to Washington’s interest. Lewis previously served as the team’s defensive coordinator and assistant head coach under Steve Spurrier.
That stint in Washington preceded the coach’s 16-year stint as the Bengals head coach. While Lewis didn’t help the Bengals achieve any playoff success (0-7 in seven appearances), he did finish his Cincy career with a 131-122 record, including 10 seasons with at least eight victories.
While the Bengals struggled between 2016 and 2018 (20-28), it was still a bit of a surprise when the organization moved on from Lewis last year. We heard that the 61-year-old would be well-positioned to secure another head coaching gig this offseason. However, Lewis didn’t take any interviews last offseason, and he later revealed that he didn’t expect to coach again. He joined his friends Ray Anderson and Herm Edwards at Arizona State University as a special advisor back in May, and it’s believed that Lewis would consider an NFL gig if the right opportunity presented itself.
In recent years, the trend has been for teams to hire younger, more offensive-minded coaches. Some front office insiders believe Lewis will be considered one of the most accomplished coaches available, so he may have options beyond Washington.
We heard yesterday that Snyder has been working on the team’s head coaching situation for several weeks. Former Panthers head coach Ron Rivera was mentioned as a potential name to monitor. Interim HC Bill Callahan would like to be considered, but it’s unlikely given Washington’s post-Jay Gruden performance that the team will go with the 63-year-old coach as its next full-time leader. The Redskins moved on from Gruden back in October, with the team going 0-5 before the move and 3-7 after the move.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/27/19
Here are Friday’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Jordan Franks, WR Trenton Irwin
- Placed on IR: CB William Jackson
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Anthony Pittman
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: TE Ross Travis
New York Giants
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Chris Slayton
- Placed on IR: TE Rhett Ellison
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Kevin Givens
- Placed on IR: DT Jullian Taylor
Washington Redskins
- Promoted from practice squad: S Kenny Ladler, WR Jester Weah
- Placed on IR: CB Fabian Moreau, S Montae Nicholson
Latest On Redskins’ HC Search, Front Office
Bruce Allen is wrapping up his 10th season in the Redskins’ front office, but Washington’s team president has not been given the lead role in identifying the franchise’s next head coach.
Dan Snyder has been working on the team’s HC situation for several weeks, with Albert Breer of SI.com reporting he’s assembled a group of football people to help on this front. None of those in this committee of sorts are Redskins employees, Breer notes (on Twitter).
The longtime Redskins owner has kept his football staff in the dark on some of the changes he’s mulling, Breer adds, inviting speculation Allen will not be in the team’s future plans. This would undoubtedly please a sizable sect of Washington’s fanbase, but as of now, the veteran exec remains the top cog in Washington’s football operations staff.
Allen has plans of his own on how the franchise should proceed, per John Keim of ESPN.com, who confirms Snyder has left him out of certain parts of this process (Twitter link). A November report indicated Allen’s status for 2020 was uncertain, so these next several days will be critical for the Redskins.
Snyder is believed to be far along in this search, which has yet to produce any known candidates. Though, Breer identifies Ron Rivera as a name to monitor. Interim HC Bill Callahan would like to be considered, but it’s unlikely given Washington’s post-Gruden performance that the team will go with the 63-year-old coach as its next full-time leader.
The Redskins are 62-96-1 during Allen’s tenure, one that has now included three head coaches. Should they lose to the Cowboys on Sunday, they will secure the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 draft.
Redskins, Tress Way Agree To Extension
The Redskins and punter Tress Way have agreed to terms on a four-year extension worth more than $15MM, sources tell NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). The new deal, which will be formally inked on Monday, will keep the Pro Bowler under club control through the 2024 season. 
Way signed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma in 2013. After losing out on punting competitions in back-to-back offseasons, he found his home with the Redskins in 2014 when he took over for Robert Malone.
Since then, Way has averaged 46.6 yards per punt. This year, he’s been averaging a career-high 49.2 yards per try, thanks in part to a 79-yard bomb against the Panthers in Week 13. Way was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his work against Carolina and he received his Pro Bowl nod soon after.
Fans of the 3-12 Redskins haven’t had much to cheer for this year, but they do have one of the league’s better punters in Way. On Sunday, Way & Co. will have a chance to spoil the Cowboys’ season in their finale.
Terry McLaurin In Concussion Protocol
Dak Prescott bet on himself and will finish with statistical benchmarks in several categories this season — including touchdown passes (26) and passing yards (4,599). The fourth-year Cowboys quarterback has a good chance of eclipsing his previous single-season passing high by over 1,000 yards. Despite Dallas’ disappointing season, team brass remain bullish on a long-term Dak re-up. Prescott and the Cowboys have been negotiating for months.
“I’m just not surprised,” Prescott said, via Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams, of the lack of a new contract. “… It’s the business. It’s my first time going through it. Not surprised by anything that comes from it — from the league, from the team, from whatever. Learning as I go.”
With March 10 being the deadline for franchise tenders to be applied, the Cowboys not reaching an extension with their quarterback opens the door to the prospect of tagging Prescott and letting Amari Cooper hit free agency. As of now, with no CBA in place, teams would be permitted to use both their franchise and transition tags come March. Just as they were throughout this past summer, the Cowboys’ negotiations will be a key component of the upcoming offseason.
One of two divisions still up for grabs, the NFC East features the Eagles and Cowboys vying for the division’s 50th championship. Here is the latest from the two contending teams, along with the Giants and Redskins.
- With the Eagles cutting Jay Ajayi, the expectation was they’d have Jordan Howard back in the fold for Week 17. But that’s not necessarily the case. The fourth-year back met with doctors on Thursday, per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com, who adds Howard has not yet been cleared for contact (Twitter link). Howard has not played since Week 9 due to a shoulder injury. The Eagles are using Miles Sanders and Boston Scott as their primary backs, but Howard was the team’s rushing leader before going down.
- The Redskins have already seen several starters’ seasons end early; they may see their breakout wide receiver miss the season finale as well. Terry McLaurin is in Washington’s concussion protocol, John Keim of ESPN.com tweets. McLaurin (919 receiving yards) is just seven yards away from Gary Clark‘s 34-year-old franchise record for most by a rookie. A loss to Dallas would lock Washington in the No. 2 draft slot, which could well be Ohio State edge-rushing dynamo Chase Young.
- Markus Golden‘s value-reestablishing Giants season included another positive development for the contract-year pass rusher. A stat correction turned a Golden half-sack into a full sack, giving him 10 for the season and a $1MM incentive bonus, per Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. The Giants gave Golden a one-year, $3.75MM deal this offseason. After two lost seasons, due largely to a 2017 ACL tear, Golden has his second 10-plus-sack campaign. He profiles as a Giants extension candidate and an intriguing UFA pass rusher, should he hit the market.
Peterson Can See Playing Until Age 40
Adrian Peterson has consistently said he wants to push the boundaries for his position and play into the next decade. At the conclusion of his 13th season, the 34-year-old running back set a loftier goal.
“I can see myself playing to 40,” Peterson said, via NFL.com’s Jane Slater (Twitter link). “People look at that and say, ‘oh my god; that’s crazy.’ But they’ve been doing that for the past two years and surprise, surprise I’m still able to do it at a high level.”
A three-time rushing champion and four-time first-team All-Pro, Peterson has found a home with the Redskins after a lengthy stay in free agency. The future Hall of Famer has rushed for 1,862 yards and 12 touchdowns in two Washington seasons, averaging north of 4.0 yards per carry in each. Peterson is sitting on 842 yards this year, one when the Redskins again saw top running back Derrius Guice battle injuries.
The Redskins signed Peterson to a two-year, $5.03MM deal in March. Guice’s issues may well prompt Washington to bring Peterson back for 2020.
Playing even into his late 30s will be a lofty goal. Thirty-seven has been the ceiling for true tailbacks, with Marcus Allen being the most recent to get there. Allen, though, saw his role minimized in his final Raiders seasons and was part of a committee with the Chiefs. He logged 3,022 carries in 16 seasons; Peterson is at 3,023 in Year 13. Frank Gore could well play into his age-37 season, however; he’s at 3,542 totes.
Peterson sits fifth on the league’s all-time rushing list — two spots behind Gore. He needs over 1,000 more yards to move past Barry Sanders for fourth. While getting to 40 seems highly unrealistic, Peterson looks to exit this season in better shape than he did in 2016 or ’17. A knee injury slowed him during his final Minnesota slate, and he spent 2017 in New Orleans and Arizona, finishing that season on IR before a five-month free agency stay. Peterson, however, has missed just one game in two Washington seasons.
Redskins’ Bill Callahan Wants To Stay
Redskins interim head coach Bill Callahan wants to shed the interim label, as Kareem Copeland of the Washington Post writes. Callahan, who took over in October, believes the team has made significant strides under his watch. 
“I look at the fight of our players,” Callahan said. “I look at the resiliency, and [I] tried to bring back a work ethic into the program that I thought was lacking. I thought our players could have been better fundamentally. . . . I saw our players get better and compete for four quarters. I saw our players have stamina through four quarters of play. I thought long and hard about improving the team and what aspects I would really focus on. A lot of that was the second-half finish, and I thought we did that.”
The Redskins were 0-5 under Jay Gruden, but they’ve gone 3-7 under Callahan in the last ten games. Many believe that the Redskins will opt for a splashy hire, rather than staying the course with Callahan, but the 63-year-old isn’t giving up hope.
As Copeland notes, veterans were freelancing outside the scheme under Gruden in an effort to pad their stats. That didn’t necessarily stop under Callahan, but there have been fewer instances of players operating outside of play calls in recent weeks. Still, the Redskins still rank 31st in scoring offense and 24th in scoring defense.
Callahan will reportedly be considered for the gig, but he’s certainly not the frontrunner.