Two interview with Raiders to direct defense
The Raiders interviewed Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and former Seattle and Dallas defensive assistant Kris Richard for their defensive coordinator position, a person familiar with the process confirmed Friday.
Bradley, 54, who helped build the Seahawks’ famed Legion of Boom defense as coordinator from 2009 to 2012, has been with the Chargers since 2017. In between the Seahawks and Chargers jobs, coached Jacksonville from 2013 to 2019.
Richard, 41, worked under Bradley as Seattle secondary coach from 2010 to
2012 and was the Seahawks’ defensive coordinator from 2015 to 2017. He was the Cowboys’ secondary coach and defensive play-caller in 2018 and 2019.
In Dallas, Richard worked with Raiders interim defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, who is expected to remain on the Raiders’ staff upon the hiring of a permanent defensive coordinator.
Bradley has a long connection with Raiders coach Jon Gruden, who hired Bradley from North Dakota State in 2006 to be his Tampa Bay linebackers coach.
■ All-pro Team: Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald and Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce were unanimous choices for the 2020 Associated Press All-pro Team. The selection was the sixth for Donald, 29, and the third for Kelce, 31. The squad has 15 repeat picks and 14 newcomers. Eighteen players represent the AFC, and 11 are from the NFC. Exactly half of the 32 teams have a 2020 All-pro. See Scoreboard for first- and second-team selections.
■ Browns: The NFL cleared the team to practice for the first time this week. Cleveland’s training facility had been closed since Tuesday, after coach Kevin Stefanski and four others tested positive for COVID-19. Stefanski, Pro Bowl guard Joel Bitonio, safety Ronnie Harrison and potentially several other key players won’t play Sunday because of virus protocols. All-pro right tackle Jack Conklin (illness) missed practice and is questionable for Sunday.
■ Bears: Linebacker Roquan Smith (elbow) and wide receiver Darnell Mooney (ankle) didn’t practice all week and are questionable for Sunday. Smith had a team-high 139 tackles and ranked second in the league in tackles for loss with 18 in 2020. Mooney, a rookie, was the team’s second-leading receiver.
Saints: Defensive end Trey Hendrickson (neck) and guard Nick Easton (concussion) were ruled out for Sunday, and safety C.J. Gardner-johnson was activated from the reserve/covid-19 list. Hendrickson, 26, had a team high 13½ sacks this season.
■ Cowboys: Defensive coordinator
Mike Nolan and defensive line coach Jim Tomsula were fired after the team allowed a franchise-record 473 points (29.6 per game) and finished 31st in the league against the run in 2020.
■ Packers: The team is making about 6,000 tickets available to season-ticket holders for its divisional playoff game, the first time paying spectators will attend a home game this season.
■ Bills: Stefon Diggs (oblique) and
Cole Beasley (knee) are questionable for Saturday, and fellow wide receiver Duke Williams was promoted from the practice squad.
■ Eagles: Senior offensive assistant Rich Scangarello and senior offensive consultant Marty Mornhinweg, on expiring contracts, won’t be retained, ESPN reported.
■ Jets: San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Saleh became the third known candidate to interview for New York’s coaching vacancy.
■ Rams: Defensive tackle Michael Brockers was activated from the reserve/ COVID-19 list.