New coaches set for Lions, Colts, Giants?
Cardinals may also be part of hiring list
It appears three of the NFL’s fi ve remaining head coaching vacancies have been filled. If not four.
Official deals cannot be struck and announcements made until a coaching candidate’s current season concludes, but according to a gazillion reports it seems the following deals are all but done: ❚ Minnesota Vikings offensive co- ordinator Pat Shurmur to the New York Giants; ❚ New England Patriots defensive co- ordinator Matt Patricia to the Detroit Lions; ❚ Patriots offensive co-ordinator Josh McDaniels to the Indianapolis Colts.
Understand, nothing is announced or official. Either party could walk away because nothing is signed, even if agreed to on the QT.
Numerous reports Tuesday said Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak — a former Tennessee Titans head coach — had been called back by the Arizona Cardinals for a second interview. So that vacancy could close imminently.
The Titans are the only other team without a head coach, after surprisingly (and mutually) parting ways with Mike Mularkey on Monday, just two days after Tennessee got walloped 3514 at New England in an AFC divisional playoff game, and a week after the team won its first playoff game in 14 years at Kansas City behind a furious second-half rally.
Reports Monday said the Titans might want McDaniels most, but he appears headed to the Colts. Tennessee has reportedly requested to interview Houston Texans defensive co- ordinator Mike Vrabel, yet another Bill Belichick disciple. Other reported candidates could include Los Angeles Rams offensive co- ordinator Matt LaFleur or Philadelphia Eagles QBs coach John DeFilippo.
Earlier this month, the Oakland Raiders hired Jon Gruden for the second time as head coach, and the Chicago Bears hired Matt Nagy ( formerly Chiefs offensive co-ordinator). ❚ FOURNETTE OK: Jacksonville RB Leonard Fournette is reportedly fine after being involved in a car crash locally. The club announced the rookie was uninjured when the car he was driving was rear-ended in the last of a chain three- car accident. Fournette was not at fault and apparently drove home.
Fournette autographed a dislodged bumper for a Florida Dept. of Transportation accident cleanup worker. ❚ AS THE STEELERS TURN: Yet more melodrama in Pittsburgh, and I’m not referring to my evening flight home that was delayed some six hours until 2 a. m. EST Tuesday ( Thank you, Air Canada, for getting us out amid snowstorms).
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, as he so frustratingly does, refused to confirm or deny a report that said Ben Roethlisberger is not empowered to audible into a QB sneak on any 4th and 1, after a pair of such plays called by embattled offensive co-ordinator Todd Haley ( toss sweep and deep pass) were foiled in a 45- 42 AFC divisional playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
Ed Bouchette of t he Pittsburgh Post- Gazette reported on Monday night that Haley’s job could be in jeopardy, after years of reported behind- the- scenes angst with Big Ben. Tomlin wouldn’t confirm or deny that either.
Roethlisberger let it be known Tuesday on his weekly radio show that he has no issues with the coaching staff, Haley included, even if they butt heads sometimes in the natural process of competitive men having differing opinions.
Meantime, ProFootballTalk. com’s Mike Florio reported that “some” minority owners of the Steelers intend to lobby the controlling Rooney family to fire Tomlin.
Believe what you want about reports on dissent inside New England Patriots headquarters, but the Steelers this season truly have been the NFL’s Team Turmoil. ❚ BROWNS I NTERVIEW McADON’T: Cleveland on Tuesday reportedly interviewed deposed New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo for its vacant offensive co- ordinator position. Sure. If McAdoo could rarely get Eli Manning, OBJ, et al to score as many as 20 points in a game over much of the past two seasons, he’s gotta be the guy to keep ensuring the Browns don’t either. ❚ EXTRA POINTS: In related news, Atlanta is retaining Steve Sarkisian as offensive co-ordinator … The following players Tuesday were added to the Pro Bowl, which goes a week from Sunday in Orlando ( 3 p. m. EST, TSN/ ESPN): Tampa Bay LB Kwon Alexander, Cleveland LB Joe Schobert and Cincinnati LS Clark Harris. Green Bay WR Davante Adams was added, too, but is injured and cannot play. Coaching staffs were announced: Pittsburgh’s for the AFC, New Orleans’ for the NFC.