Williams to run Jets defense
Former interim coach of Browns would join new coach Gase’s staff
ESPN has reported that the New York Jets are finalizing a contract with former Cleveland Browns interim coach Gregg Williams to be their defensive coordinator.
Williams, 60, becomes the first big hire for new head coach Adam Gase, who was formally introduced on Monday. The Jets targeted Williams at the start of their head-coaching search, but Gase was on board with the hiring, Adam Schefter reported.
Williams wasn’t re-hired by the Browns, despite a 5-3 record after replacing Hue Jackson at midseason.
Bills: Buffalo hired Bobby Johnson to take over as offensive line coach, and is also offering its special teams coordinator’s job to Carolina Panthers assistant coach Heath Farwell. Patriots: New England was dealt a blow prior to its final two regular-season games when wide receiver Josh Gordon was suspended for a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy. But what could have created a hole in New England’s receiving group has been plugged by its oldest member, 32-year-old Julian Edelman. The 10-year NFL veteran has put together back-to-back vintage performances and is expected to again play a big role during Sunday’s AFC championship game. Edelman tied his regular-season high of nine catches and had a career playoff-best 151 yards receiving in New England’s win over the L.A. Chargers. With 98 playoff receptions during his career, he moved past Reggie Wayne (93) and is second all-time behind Jerry Rice with 151. Edelman’s five career 100-yard receiving games in the postseason trail only Rice’s eight and Michael Irvin’s six. Edelman missed last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and sat out the first four games of this season for violating the NFL’S policy on performance-enhancers.
Eagles: Coach Doug Pederson reiterated that Carson Wentz will be the team’s starting quarterback in 2019. Wentz missed the final three games of the regular season and two playoff games because of a back injury. Nick Foles led Philadelphia to four straight wins and was 27 yards away from taking the Eagles to the NFC championship game before his final pass bounced off Alshon Jeffery’s hands and was intercepted by Marcus Lattimore to clinch a 20-14 victory for the New Orleans Saints on Sunday night. The Eagles must decide by mid-february if they want to exercise a $20 million option to keep Foles for 2019. But Foles could decline it and pay back $2 million to become a free agent. Philadelphia could put a franchise tag on Foles, though $23 million-$25 million is a hefty price for a backup quarterback.