Steelers' Tomlin: Porter arrest `disappointing'
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin called the arrest of outside linebackers coach Joey Porter “disappointing” and “unfortunate” and said there is no limit to how long he will remain on leave from the team, even indicating he could return for Sunday’s AFC divisional playoff game in Kansas City.
“It’s an honor and a privilege, it’s not a right,” Tomlin said about playing and working in the NFL. “We should accept it as such. There are consequences because of it.
“In this league we’re all held to a standard of decorum — coaches and frontoffice people even more so.”
Tomlin also made a point to say Porter’s incident will not be a distraction to the team as it prepares for the Chiefs.
Porter was arrested outside a South Side bar Sunday night following the Steelers 30-12 playoff victory against Miami. The Steelers announced Monday that Porter had been placed on “leave” pending review of the incident. When asked who will assume Porter’s responsibilities this week, Tomlin said, “We’re not ready to say he won’t be a part of it.”
“We’re not overly concerned with it being a distraction to us,” Tomlin said at his weekly televised news conference. “It’s our job to deal with distractions that come up from time to time. I see how it can be viewed as such, but inside this building it won’t be. It won’t change what’s expected from us and it won’t change our preparation.”
Niners still talking
The San Francisco 49ers yesterday interviewed Carolina defensive coordinator Sean McDermott for their head coaching vacancy and ESPN analyst Louis Riddick for their general manager job.
McDermott became the first defensive coach to interview with CEO Jed York for the coach opening in San Francisco as the team seeks replacements for fired coach Chip Kelly and general manager Trent Baalke following a 2-14 season that tied the worst mark in franchise history.
The four previous head coach candidates all served as offensive coordinators in the NFL this season: the Patriots’ Josh McDaniels, Atlanta’s Kyle Shanahan, Buffalo’s Anthony Lynn and Washington’s Sean McVay.
McDermott just finished his sixth season as coordinator for the Panthers. His unit ranked in the top 10 from 2012-15 and he was the only coordinator to oversee a top 10 defense in each of those four seasons.
Raiders change up
The Oakland Raiders are making changes on their coaching staff after their first playoff berth in 14 years.
A person familiar with the plans said that quarterbacks coach Todd Downing will replace offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave next season on coach Jack Del Rio’s staff. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the changes have not been announced by the team.
Musgrave’s contract was up and will not be renewed by the Raiders in the first changes to Del Rio’s staff since he was hired in 2015.
NFL Network first reported that Musgrave would not return next season.
Broncos look to Fish
The Denver Broncos met with Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, the third candidate to interview for their head coaching vacancy following Gary Kubiak’s resignation for health reasons.
“He has great leadership qualities and a strong vision of what it takes to win,” general manager John Elway tweeted after the interview that lasted several hours.
Joseph, 44, a former University of Colorado quarterback, just completed his first season as a defensive coordinator on Adam Gase’s staff in Miami, where the Dolphins ended an eightyear playoff drought.
Before that, he built a reputation as one of the NFL’s best secondary coaches while rising through the ranks in San Francisco, Houston and Cincinnati.