SABAN ‘COVETS’ GIANTS JOB, EXCARDS COACH ARIANS SAYS
Arians says Bama coach ‘covets’ open New York position.
A longtime flirtatious relationship between Nick Saban and the Giants may be back on the front burner, despite a Newsday report Wednesday shooting down rumors that Saban could become the team’s next coach.
“No way,” an anonymous source told the newspaper.
Saban was a candidate for the Giants’ job in 1997 when the team hired Jim Fassel, again in 2004 when the team hired Tom Coughlin, and he reportedly expressed interest in the position in 2016 right before the Giants promoted Ben McAdoo.
Saban finished his 11th season at Alabama on Monday night with his sixth national championship. With little left to accomplish at the college level, there is speculation that Saban, 66, might look for a return to the NFL.
“There’s a job he covets and it just happens to be open,” former Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said Tuesday on Fox Sports, later saying that it was the Giants job. “Why he would do it, I don’t know, but it would not shock me if he did.”
Arians was asked why the Giants in particular intrigue Saban, who coached the Dolphins in 2005-06.
“Because they’re the New York Giants,” he said. “When we grew up, they were the thing.”
New York has seemingly wrapped up its first round of interviews after meeting with Broncos running backs coach Eric Studesville on Wednesday. The 50-year-old has 21 years of NFL coaching experience, including three seasons (2001-03) as the Giants’ running backs coach.
Interim coach Steve Spagnuolo, who posted a 1-3 record after replacing McAdo, kicked off the process a week ago. New York also spoke with New England coordinators Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia, Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur and Carolina defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
Seahawks: What’s expected to be an offseason makeover in Seattle is starting with the coaching staff. The Seahawks fired offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and offensive line coach Tom Cable on Wednesday.
Bevell was in charge of calling plays, while Cable was responsible for a run game and offensive line that failed to meet expectations.
It was a stunning sweep for coach Pete Carroll, who has been immensely loyal to his assistants during his tenure. Carroll’s only other significant firing was offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates following the 2010 season, Carroll’s first in Seattle.
Steelers: Linebacker Ryan Shazier attended practice for the first time since injuring his spine against Cincinnati last month. Shazier posted a photo on Instagram from the team’s indoor training facility as Pittsburgh prepared to host Jacksonville in a divisional round game.
Shazier, who underwent spine stabilization surgery Dec. 6, is pictured in a wheelchair wearing sweatpants and a Steelers jacket. The extent of Shazier’s injury has not been released.
Shazier called his visit to the facility “a first down” in his recovery.
Browns: New general manager John Dorsey tapped into old connections to improve the front office, adding former Green Bay executives Eliot Wolf and Alonzo Highsmith.
Dorsey played linebacker for the Packers and spent time working in the club’s front office with Wolf and Highsmith, two highly regarded talent evaluators.
The 35-year-old Wolf will serve as Dorsey’s assistant while Highsmith, a former NFL running back, is the Browns’ new vice president of player personnel.
Falcons: Quarterback Matt Ryan said he’ll be ready for Saturday’s NFC divisional playoff game at Philadelphia after missing Tuesday’s practice for personal reasons.
Ryan was back with the team for Wednesday’s practice. He didn’t disclose details of his absence, but indicated he was attending to a family matter. Ryan and his wife, Sarah, announced in November they expect to become first-time parents in April with twins.
Coach Dan Quinn said there were “no setbacks for him or for us” due to Ryan’s absence on Tuesday, when the game plan was installed.
Titans: Coach Mike Mularkey said running back DeMarco Murray (knee) will not play against the Patriots in Saturday’s AFC divisional-round game. Derrick Henry will start his third straight game at running back. Cornerback Logan Ryan (ankle) was limited in his return to practice.
Jaguars: Starting linebackers Telvin Smith and Paul Posluszny missed practice with injuries, and backup Blair Brown sprained his left ankle during practice.
In last weekend’s wildcard victory against Buffalo, Brown came on to replace Posluszny, who left the game with an abdomen injury. Smith has a sprained ankle.
Ravens: Promoted linebackers coach Don Martindale to defensive coordinator, assuring a seamless transition in the wake of Dean Pees’ retirement.
Martindale has been coaching Baltimore linebackers since 2012. The 54-yearold was the defensive coordinator of the Broncos in 2010.
Chargers: Announced that defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt will return next season, and signed kicker Roberto Aguayo to a future contract. Aguayo was a second-round pick in 2016 by Tampa Bay but missed 9 of 31 field-goal attempts as a rookie. He was waived last August.