NFL News

[Mainevent]

The point about the coordinators is a valid one. That said, a number of these things are likely package deals. Saleh was going to take LaFleur with him. These coaches should already have a plan for who they want and likely have already reached out to put together a shadow staff. There is certainly some risk, but it's probably not as bad as it may appear.

[The King]

I like Lynn as an OC. He’s fine in that role, just as long as he’s not able to make any major decisions.

I like Schotenhiemer. Russ was cooking until Carroll went back to being a vagina.

[Tom]

I know Daboll seems to be the candidate for the Chargers but I’m kind of surprised they’re not looking at Pederson.

[Masspartan]

I get that Pederson was part of a Super Bowl, but the team has been mediocre at best since. Additionally he completely mismanaged Wentz & Hurts to the point that neither guy is happy and his team was ridiculed for tanking. Let's face it, he's made a mess of that team and it's obvious management was not on board with the tank job to gain 3 draft spots and stick it to the G-men. Pederson will need to go to finishing school again if he's ever gonna get another shot at a head job.

[JGSpartan]

I still don't understand that tank job narrative. People are making assumptions about the quality of Hurts' play that were completely undeserved. He was playing horrendously, the team had 100ish total yards and he was barely a 50 percent passer coming into the game. I would not have had any confidence in him at that point

That said none of those QB's were ever gonna succeed with that O-line. I don't know how much of that is on Pederson and how much was on the GM.

[Forsh]

Sounds like it's more about the fractured relationship with Wentz

[Futureshock]

Philip Rivers: “The next chapter begins”

Posted by Mike Florio on January 20, 2021, 9:21 AM EST

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Former Chargers and Colts quarterback Philip Rivers has issued a statement regarding his decision to retire.

“Every year, January 20th is a special and emotional day,” Rivers said. “It is St. Sebastian’s Feast day, the day I played in the AFC Championship without an ACL, and now the day that after 17 seasons, I’m announcing my retirement from the National Football League. Thank you God for allowing me to live out my childhood dream of playing quarterback in the NFL.

“I am grateful to the Chargers for 16 seasons, and the Colts for the 17th season.

“Thank you to all my coaches that helped me grow as a player and person.

“Thanks to the support staff.

“I appreciate the opposing defenses making it challenging physically and mentally every week . . . I also enjoyed the banter.

“I appreciate the referees for putting up with all my fussing. I think I was right most of the time dadgummit!

“Thanks to the fans in San Diego and around the nation that both cheered and booed.

“Special thanks to my teammates. Without a doubt my favorite part of the game, being a teammate. Thank you for being mine.

“Lastly, thank you to my wife and best friend Tiffany, and our children Halle, Caroline, Grace, Gunner, Sarah, Peter, Rebecca, Clare, and Anna. Could not have don’t it without y’all’s unwavering support.

“As my playing career comes to an end, the next chapter begins.”

The next chapter will include coaching high-school football. It also could include serving as a commentator for NFL football games. The latter will likely include a significant annual salary, making it an offer that Rivers will have a difficult time refusing.

[Futureshock]

Doug Pederson “leaning toward taking the next year off”

Posted by Myles Simmons on January 20, 2021, 8:22 AM EST

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The Eagles are reportedly searching far and wide for their next head coach.

Their previous one is apparently going to take some time away from the spotlight.

Doug Pederson said Tuesday night that he’s “leaning toward taking the next year off and preparing for [the] next season,” via Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Though Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said after firing Pederson that the coach may have another job within a week, Pederson has not been reportedly connected to Houston — the only remaining head coaching opening aside from Philadelphia.

Pederson did, however, speak with the Seahawks about potentially becoming their offensive coordinator. Nothing has materialized from the team on that front.

If Pederson does choose to sit out 2021, he’s likely to be a hot candidate for the 2022 coaching cycle. It wasn’t that long ago he was hoisting the Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl LII.

[Futureshock]

Sean McDermott on trading Patrick Mahomes pick: Both teams fared awfully well

Posted by Josh Alper on January 20, 2021, 7:25 AM EST

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The Bills had the No. 10 pick in the 2017 draft, but they opted to trade it to the Chiefs in exchange for the No. 27 pick, a third-round pick, and a 2018 first-round pick.

Patrick Mahomes became the 10th pick and trading away a pick that turned into a player who has won MVP and Super Bowl MVP would usually be seen as a bad moment for an NFL team. The Bills’ role in that deal hasn’t led to much scorn, however, and what they did with the picks has something to do with that.

They took cornerback Tre'Davious White with the 27th overall pick in 2017 and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds with the 2018 first-rounder while also landing left tackle Dion Dawkins after other trades involving the third-round pick they acquired in the deal. Quarterback Josh Allen wasn’t acquired with a pick from that deal, but head coach Sean McDermott still mentioned him while saying things worked out for both sides.

“They got a good player in Patrick, and I think we made out as well with Josh, Tremaine and Tre’Davious — however you kind of shape that, in terms of picks that became picks,” McDermott said, via Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com. “I think both teams fared awfully well.”

Knowing how things would turn out for Mahomes in the NFL, the Bills might do something different with the benefit of a time machine but a win this Sunday would make that a more difficult decision.

[Futureshock]

We should go get this guy....



Offensive line coach James Campen won’t return to Chargers

Posted by Curtis Crabtree on January 20, 2021, 1:00 AM EST

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After just one season with the Los Angeles Chargers, offensive line coach James Campen is back in search of a new job. Campen will not remain with the Chargers under new head coach Brandon Staley, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.

It will be the third straight year Campen has moved on to a new team after spending 15 years as a staple with the Green Bay Packers coaching staff. He left the Packers to become assistant head coach/offensive line coach on Freddie Kitchens’ staff with the Cleveland Browns. After that one-year odyssey, Campen joined the Chargers last offseason under head coach Anthony Lynn. With Lynn being let go after this season, Campen is again in search of a new landing spot.

Campen was the offensive line coach in Green Bay as David Bakhtiari and Corey Linsley rounded into form as two of the best at their positions in the league. He began his coaching career with the Packers in 2004 as an offensive line assistant and quality control coach. He became the head line coach in 2007 and stayed in the role for the remainder of his tenure with Green Bay,

Campen also had an eight-year playing career from 1986-1993 with the New Orleans Saints and Packers.

[Futureshock]

Report: Bears interview Colts DBs coach Jonathan Gannon for defensive coordinator

Posted by Curtis Crabtree on January 19, 2021, 11:30 PM EST

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The Chicago Bears interviewed Indianapolis Colts defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon for their defensive coordinator vacancy on Tuesday, according to Kevin Fishbain of TheAthletic.com.

Gannon just completed his third season with the Colts as their defensive backs coach. He joined Frank Reich’s staff in 2018 after a four-year run as an assistant defensive backs coach and quality control coach with the Minnesota Vikings. He has also spent time with the Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Rams and Atlanta Falcons.

The Bears are looking for a new coordinator after Chuck Pagano elected to retire at the end of the season. Chicago has also been interested in Cowboys assistant George Edwards and former New York Giants defensive coordinator James Bettcher.

[Futureshock]

Report: Jaguars hiring Trent Baalke as G.M.

Posted by Charean Williams on January 19, 2021, 8:03 PM EST

USA TODAY Sports

The Jaguars did their General Manager hiring a little differently than other teams. The team hired is head coach first, before the G.M.

The Jaguars announced Urban Meyer as their head coach Thursday. They are nearing an announcement on their G.M.

NFL Media reports that Jacksonville has settled on Trent Baalke, giving him a promotion from director of player personnel.

Baalke joined the Jaguars in that role last February. He became interim G.M. when the team fired Dave Caldwell in November.

Baalke is a veteran of 20-plus years in the NFL. He spent 12 seasons with the 49ers, including six as the team’s General Manager.

The 49ers fired Baalke after the 2016 season.

San Francisco went 51-44-1 during Baalke’s time as G.M., with three consecutive NFC title game appearances and a Super Bowl appearance.

In 2011, Baalke earned NFL executive of the year, as selected by Pro Football Weekly and the Pro Football Writers of America, after helping transform a 6-10 team into a 13-3 team in his first season as G.M.

The 49ers produced 24 All-Pro selections and 35 Pro Bowl nods during Baalke’s time.

The Jaguars also interviewed former Browns General Manager Ray Farmer, former Giants General Manager Jerry Reese, ESPN analyst Louis Riddick and former Texans G.M. Rick Smith.

[Futureshock]

Good. They need to continue to put pieces around Trevor Lawrence.

[Futureshock]

Terry Fontenot: Falcons plan to draft best player available

Posted by Myles Simmons on January 19, 2021, 6:26 PM EST

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New Falcons General Manager Terry Fontenot will have myriad important decisions to make in his time with the franchise. But one coming up sooner than later will be who the Falcons choose to draft at No. 4 overall.

Atlanta hasn’t made a selection in he top five since drafting Matt Ryan with the third pick in 2008. Ideally, they won’t pick that high again for another decade, so it’s important that they get this pick right.

To that end, Fontenot made it clear all positions are on the table and Atlanta won’t be drafting for need.

“You definitely want to take the best player available,” Fontenot said, via William McFadden of the team’s website. “There’s not going to be a position where you say, ‘Oh, we’re good there, we’re not going to draft there.'”

That leaves open a lot of possibilities for the Falcons, not just at the fourth pick, but also throughout the draft. And with a team that’s gone 18-30 over the past three seasons, there are plenty of areas for improvement.

[Futureshock]

Ravens officially waive Mark Ingram

Posted by Josh Alper on January 19, 2021, 6:03 PM EST

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The writing was on the wall for running back Mark Ingram when he was a healthy scratch for two of the final three games of the 2020 regular season and remained on the bench for the team’s two postseason games.

Baltimore did not wait until the offseason to part ways with Ingram, however. Word that they’d waive him broke on Monday and the team made it official with a farewell from General Manager Eric DeCosta on Tuesday.

“We are making the tough business decision to terminate Mark Ingram’s contract,” DeCosta said in a statement. “Mark is a talented winner who brought passion, toughness, leadership and chemistry to the Ravens. He contributed in so many meaningful ways on and off the field, and we wish him the very best as he continues his career.”

Ingram has one year left on his contract if a team wants to claim him on waivers. The move would not go through until after the Super Bowl and they’d be taking on a $5 million salary for next season.