NFL News

[-Deborah-]

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[Futureshock]

Gee... imagine that. His health issues have cleared up again!

He got the COVID Vac

I'm sure they'll take a turn for the worse if Jax isn't winning games.

It obviously didn't work for him

[Futureshock]

Lions set to interview Todd Bowles Friday

Posted by Josh Alper on January 15, 2021, 8:01 AM EST

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The Lions know they won’t land Robert Saleh as their next head coach and it looks like Arthur Smith is headed elsewhere as well, so they’ll be continuing their search on Friday.

According to multiple reports, the Lions are set to interview Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles on Friday.

It will be the team’s first head coaching interview since hiring General Manager Brad Holmes on Thursday. That move could accelerate the process of making a hire, although there may also be second interviews to come if the Lions want Holmes to take part in conversations with candidates.

Former Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Saints assistant head coach/tight ends coach Dan Campbell, and Lions interim head coach Darrell Bevell are the others who have interviewed with the team.

[Futureshock]

Report: Falcons focused on Arthur Smith, no second interview with Lions

Posted by Josh Alper on January 15, 2021, 7:05 AM EST

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Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has been a popular man this month, but it looks like his tour of teams looking for a head coach is winding down.

Smith has interviewed twice with the Falcons and Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that he is the focus of their head coaching search. It seems Smith is also looking in the direction of Atlanta as Rapoport also reports that he has called off a second interview with the Lions.

Smith also interviewed twice with the Jets, but they hired Robert Saleh on Thursday night so that door is closed.

If all continues to go well between the Falcons and Smith, it may not be long before another vacancy has officially been filled.

[Futureshock]

Eric Bieniemy sees head coaching interviews “as an honor and a privilege”

Posted by Charean Williams on January 14, 2021, 10:06 PM EST

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Eric Bieniemy may or may not get a head coaching job in this cycle, but he has had a chance to interview for one.

The Chiefs offensive coordinator spent the team’s bye week doing virtual interviews with just about every NFL franchise with a vacant head coaching job. The Texans since have requested permission to talk to Bieniemy when the Chiefs’ season ends.

“Let me just say this: It was an honor and a privilege, but that’s not what we’re here for,” Bieniemy said Thursday, via Dave Skretta of the Associated Press. “We’re here to talk about the Browns. We eliminate all distractions. At the end of my day, my focus and my attention is on the Browns. They’re a great team. They’re playing great ball. We’re looking forward to this challenge. I know our guys are fired up and excited. They refreshed and hit the reset button. Now, it’s time to go out there and produce.”

The Jaguars became the first team to fill their vacancy, hiring Urban Meyer on Thursday.

Of the six remaining teams looking for a head coach, only the Eagles haven’t interviewed or requested to interview Bieniemy.

“Listen, I think he’s top-notch,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “At the risk of being redundant, I have not seen many guys that are as great a leader as he is of men, and in this business, that’s huge. You’re never going to have to worry about Eric, never — on the field, off the field. He’s going to be honest with you and straightforward, and then he knows the offense.”

[Futureshock]

That last part:

He’s going to be honest with you and straightforward...

I wonder if that sort of thing isn't what they (Lions) want. I think there are people that say they want that, but in actuality they just want to hear that when it fulfills their narrative.

[Mainevent]

You mean they got tired of Patricia saying they were close, and they just need to work harder?

[Futureshock]

Chris Ballard: There is a difference between drafting a QB and drafting the right QB

Posted by Charean Williams on January 14, 2021, 4:51 PM EST

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The Colts drafted Peyton Manning with the No. 1 overall choice in 1998. They drafted Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall choice in 2012. That gave them 19 years — not counting the one year each missed on injured reserve — of quarterback stability.

Luck’s unexpected retirement before the 2019 season has made the position uncertain for the Colts. They started Jacoby Brissett in 2019 before signing Philip Rivers to a one-year deal before this season.

Rivers and Brissett both are scheduled to become free agents this spring.

General Manager Chris Ballard said the team will give Rivers a month to decide whether he wants to play an 18th season. Either way, the Colts don’t have a quarterback of the future on their roster.

“Go back and look at first-round quarterbacks drafted over the last 10 years,” Ballard said Thursday, via video from Zak Keefer of TheAthletic.com. “It is not an exact science. Everybody just thinks you just take one, and you’re going to fix the problem.

“Look, taking one will get y’all off my ass for a little bit, but the second that guy doesn’t play well, I’m gonna be the first one run out of the building. I promise you we get the importance of the quarterback position. But the difference between just taking one and taking the right one is the key in our minds. We’ll explore it. We’ll examine it. We’ll go A to Z on it, I promise you. That position never leaves my mind, and it’s something we want to get fixed. But also there’s got to be a little bit of timing and luck that comes into play when you get it.”

Of the 31 quarterbacks drafted in the first round over the past 10 years, only 14 have made at least one Pro Bowl appearance. Only five of those — Cam Newton, Andrew Luck, Jared Goff, Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson — have multiple Pro Bowls.

[Futureshock]

One year of dealing with Ebron was too much...


Steelers tight ends coach James Daniel retires

Posted by Myles Simmons on January 14, 2021, 2:21 PM EST

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Mike Tomlin said there could be changes to the Steelers’ staff on Wednesday, and that is coming to pass.

After the club confirmed offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner, offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett, and defensive backs coach Tom Bradley won’t have their contracts renewed, Pittsburgh has now announced tight ends coach James Daniel will retire.

Daniel, 67, has been with the Steelers since 2004 when Pittsburgh’s former head coach Bill Cowher hired him for the position. Daniel remained in the same position when Mike Tomlin became head coach in 2007.

“I wish James all the best in his retirement following a long, productive coaching career in the National Football League,” Tomlin in a statement. “I worked with JD for the past 14 years and he coached a bunch of great tight ends, not only here in Pittsburgh but also in Atlanta and New York. His experience provided our tight ends group and our coaching staff with invaluable lessons throughout his career. He has been a tremendous part of our staff from my first day and I wish nothing but continued success in his retirement.”

Daniel started his NFL coaching career with the Giants in 1993 and went to the Falcons in 1997. He was with Atlanta until joining Pittsburgh in 2004.

[Futureshock]

Tick, tock...

RAHEEM MORRISHC, ATLANTA FALCONS

Jaguars coach Urban Meyer has reached out to Falcons interim HC Raheem Morris about Jacksonville's defensive coordinator job.


Morris interviewed for Jacksonville's head coaching job earlier this month. That may have been to gauge his interest in potentially linking up with Meyer, who is expected to bring most of his staff from the college ranks. The Jaguars want to pair Meyer with a proven coordinator like Morris, who was a head coach from 2009-2011 before replacing Dan Quinn on an interim basis last year. Steelers secondary coach Teryl Austin, Utah DC Morgan Scalley, and ex-Texas coach Charlie Strong have also been linked to Jacksonville.

RELATED:

• Jacksonville Jaguars

SOURCE: Josina Anderson on Twitter
Jan 15, 2021, 10:05 AM

[Futureshock]

Oh no! Not two newbies. This surely will fail. (sarc)




ARTHUR SMITHOC, TENNESSEE TITANS
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports the Falcons are "engaged in talks" with Titans OC Arthur Smith to be their next head coach.


This builds on reports that Smith is the frontrunner for the Falcons job. Smith has interviewed twice with Atlanta and cancelled his second interview with the Lions. All signs point to a deal getting done between the sides. The Falcons are expected to pair Smith with Saints VP Terry Fontenot as their general manager.

RELATED:

• Terry Fontenot
• , Atlanta Falcons

SOURCE: NFL Network
Jan 15, 2021, 9:25 AM

[Futureshock]

Tick, tock...


MIKE LAFLEURC, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERSESPN's Adam Schefter reports new Jets coach Robert Saleh is expected to hire 49ers passing-game coordinator Mike LaFleur as his offensive coordinator.


Saleh apparently doesn't have qualms about raiding now ex-boss Kyle Shanahan's cupboard. Matt's brother, this will be a big step up for LaFleur, as Shanahan ultimately runs his own show on offense. Only 33 (or 34, depending on the source) years old, LaFleur has been working with Shanahan since 2014 in Cleveland. Learning from his brother and Shanahan will be an excellent prep school for a young coordinator inheriting a broken offense. Aside from a world-class building block in LT Mekhi Becton, the Jets have questions at nearly every position on LaFleur's side of the ball.

RELATED:

• New York Jets

SOURCE: Adam Schefter on Twitter
Jan 14, 2021, 10:24 PM

[Futureshock]

SCOTT LINEHANC, UNSIGNED FREE AGENT

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports longtime NFL coach and current LSU passing-game coordinator Scott Linehan is a "prime candidate" to serve as Urban Meyer's offensive coordinator in Jacksonville.


The two coaches apparently have a "long relationship" despite never overlapping in the college ranks. A journeyman's journeyman coordinator, Linehan's primary function would presumably be to show Meyer the NFL ropes, though it is unclear if Meyer is planning to call his own plays. Linehan's hire certainly would not move the needle amongst the Jags faithful.

SOURCE: Jeremy Fowler on Twitter
Jan 14, 2021, 7:38 PM

[Futureshock]

TERYL AUSTINDL, PITTSBURGH STEELERS


The Titans are interviewing Teryl Austin, Pittsburgh's defensive assistant/secondary coach, for the team's defensive coordinator opening.


Austin lasted less than a year as the Bengals' defensive coordinator in 2018 before being axed and joining the Steelers as an assistant focusing primarily on the secondary. If the Titans hire him, Austin would take over a Tennessee defense that was regularly trampled on by opponents. The Titans in 2020 allowed an average of 27 points per game (ninth most), 127.5 rushing yards per game (eighth most), and 270.8 passing yards per game (fifth most).

SOURCE: Gerry Dulac on Twitter
Jan 14, 2021, 4:51 PM

[Cody_Russell]

Seahawks are interested in Anthony Lynn for OC too.

Kind of have interest in Lynn for OC with the Lions... especially if Marvin Lewis or Dan Campbell are hired as HC. Need strong coordinators!