Browns, Vikings assistant GM meet again
New Browns coach Kevin Stefanski could be reuniting with an old friend in Cleveland.
The team is interviewing Vikings assistant general manager George Paton for the second time to be their new GM, a person familiar with the meeting told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Paton, who met with the team over the weekend to discuss its opening, is at the team’s headquarters in Berea, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team is not making its plans public during its search.
Paton worked in Minnesota for 13 years with Stefanski, who since being hired by Cleveland has been part of the search committee with owner Jimmy Haslam and others to hire a general manager. Stefanski was the Vikings’ offensive coordinator this season.
A Paton-Stefanksi connection could help the Browns have early alignment as they put the pieces together following a 6-10 season, which ended with the firing of coach Freddie Kitchens and GM John Dorsey leaving after declining an offer to take a lesser role in the organization.
The Browns seem to have zeroed in on Paton, who has come close to leaving the Vikings before and may be ready for a new challenge.
Paton is the only candidate they’ve met with twice. The team also interviewed Eagles vice president of football operations Andrew Berry and New England college scouting director Monti Ossenfort.
Paton has worked alongside Vikings GM Rick Spielman for most of his career. They were together in Chicago and Miami before joining the Vikings in 2007. During their 13 seasons together in Minnesota, Stefanski and Paton went to the playoffs six times and twice went to the NFC Championship.
Jags hire Jay Gruden as assistant coach
The Jacksonville Jaguars have hired former Washington coach Jay Gruden as their offensive coordinator.
Gruden signed his contract Wednesday and replaces John DeFilippo, who was fired earlier this month after just one season. DeFilippo has since been hired as Chicago’s quarterbacks coach.
The Redskins fired Gruden in early October following an 0-5 start. Gruden was 35-49-1 in five-plus seasons in Washington and reached the playoffs once. He previously served as Cincinnati’s offensive coordinator (201113) and guided quarterback Andy Dalton to his best season before leaving for Washington.
Gruden was one of four former head coaches who interviewed with the Jaguars. Coach Doug Marrone met with former New York Giants coach Ben McAdoo, former Detroit coach Scott Linehan and former Arizona and Tennessee coach Ken Whisenhunt.
Pro Bowl will feature rule changes
The Pro Bowl is adding a new twist that could reward teams for taking a risk.
The NFL announced Tuesday that its upcoming all-star game in Orlando will feature a rule change that allows a team to keep the ball after it scores. The scoring team can retain possession at its own 25-yard line and face a fourth-and-15 play. Pick up a first down, and the offense gets a new set of downs. Fail to gain 15 yards, and it’s a turnover on downs and good field position for the other conference.
The scoring team also could elect to give the opponent the ball at the opponent’s 25-yard line, much like a kickoff that results in a touchback.
The 2020 Pro Bowl also tweaked rules regarding presnap penalties.
It is no longer a false start if a flexed, eligible receiver in a two-point stance flinches or picks up one foot as long as his other foot remains partially on the ground. He also must reset for a second before the snap. A receiver who fits this exception is not considered to be in motion.
It is a false start if all 11 offensive players are set for at a full second and any flexed, eligible receiver breaks his stance by picking up both feet.