Looks like Giants, Lions, Colts have their new coaches ... Steelers line coach interviews again with Cardinals ... No secrets with Saints QB ... Jags rookie unhurt in crash
It appears three of the NFL’s five remaining headcoaching vacancies have been filled. If not four.
Official deals cannot be struck and announcements made until a coaching candidate’s current season concludes, but according a gazillion reports, it seems the following deals are all but done:
Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur to the New York Giants;
New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia to the Detroit Lions;
And New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to the Indianapolis Colts.
Understand, nothing is announced or official. Either party could walk away because nothing is signed, even if agreed to on the Q.T.
Numerous reports Tuesday said Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak — a former Tennessee Titans head coach — had been called back by the Arizona Cardinals for a second interview. So that vacancy could close imminently.
The Titans are the only other team without a head coach, after surprisingly (and mutually) parting ways with Mike Mularkey on Monday, two days after Tennessee got walloped 35-14 at New England in an AFC divisional playoff game, and just a week after the team won its first playoff game in 14 years at Kansas City behind a furious second-half rally.
Reports Monday said the Titans might want McDaniel most, but he appears headed to the Colts. Tennessee has reportedly requested to interview Houston Texans defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel, yet another Bill Belichick disciple. Other reported candidates could include Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur or Philadelphia Eagles QBs coach John DeFilippo.
Earlier this month, the Oakland Raiders hired Jon Gruden for the second time as head coach, and the Chicago Bears hired Matt Nagy (formerly Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator). FOURNETTE FINE Jacksonville RB Leonard Fournette is reportedly fine after being involved in a car crash locally. The club announced the rookie was uninjured when the car he was driving was rearended in the last of a chain, three-car accident. Fournette was not at fault, and apparently drove home.
Fournette autographed a dislodged bumper for a Florida Dept. of Transportation accident-cleanup worker. AS THE STEELERS TURN
Yet more melodrama in Pittsburgh, and I’m not referring to my evening flight home that was delayed some six hours until 2 a.m. EST Tuesday. (Thank you, Air Canada, for getting us out amid snowstorms.) Steelers head coach Mike
Tomlin, as he so frustrat- ingly does, refused to confirm or deny a report that said
Ben Roethlisberger is not empowered to audible into a QB sneak on any 4th-and-1, after a pair of such plays called by embattled offensive coordinator Todd Haley (toss sweep and deep pass) were foiled in a 45-42 AFC divisional playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Monday nigh reported that Haley’s job could be in jeopardy, after years of reported behindthe-scenes angst with Big Ben. Tomlin wouldn’t confirm or deny that either.
Roethlisberger let it be known Tuesday on his weekly radio she he has no issues with the coaching staff, Haley included, even if they butt heads sometimes in the natural process of competitive men having differing opinions.
Meantime, ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio reported that “some” minority owners of the Steelers intend to lobby the controlling Rooney family to fire Tomlin.
Hard to believe, believe what you want about reports on dissent inside New England Patriots headquarters, but the Steelers this season truly have been the NFL’s Team Turmoil. BREES WANTS TO STAY
Although New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees is set to become a free agent in March, and cannot be franchise-tagged due to a contract clause, he said Tuesday he wants to remain in the Bayou.
“I’m not in the mood to make anything secretive,” the freshly turned 39-year-old said. “It’s the same way I felt two days ago, it’s the same way I felt 12 years ago. That is, that I’ll be here as long as they’ll have me, hopefully.”
He’d easily be worth $25 million guaranteed in 2018 on the open market for any one-year deal. BROWNS EYE MCADON’T
Cleveland on Tuesday reportedly interviewed deposed New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo for its vacant offensive coordinator position. Sure. If McAdoo could rarely get
Eli Manning, OBJ, et al to score as many as 20 points in a game over much of the past two seasons, he’s gotta be the guy to keep ensuring the Browns don’t either. EXTRA POINTS
In related news, Atlanta is retaining Steve Sarkisian as offensive coordinator … The following players Tuesday were added to the Pro Bowl, which goes a week from Sunday in Orlando. Tampa Bay LB Kwon Alexander, Cleveland LB Joe
Schobert and Cincinnati LS Clark Harris. Green Bay WR Davante Adams was added too but is injured and cannot play. Coaching staffs were announced: Pittsburgh’s for the AFC, New Orleans’ for the NFC.