Harbaugh, Ravens travel road to win
Home-field advantage in the playoffs is overrated for Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who has found that the road to success in the postseason usually involves packing his bags and getting the heck out of Baltimore.
Last week’s 20-13 victory in Tennessee was Harbaugh’s eighth on the road in the playoffs, the most by any coach in NFL history, breaking a tie with Tom Landry and Tom Coughlin.
Harbaugh was unaware of the accomplishment until he got home and received a congratulatory call from his father, a former college coach who knows quite well how difficult it is to win a big game in a hostile environment.
“He was fired up, so it was neat in that respect,” Harbaugh said. “But really, it’s the players. They’ve played great on the road all year. We’re on the road, so we have to keep doing it.”
Harbaugh’s next task is to win Saturday night at Buffalo. It’s no easy chore, but then again, he’s guided the Ravens to playoff victories in Denver, New England, Pittsburgh and Kansas City since taking over in 2008.
In fact, Harbaugh has a better road record in the playoffs (8-5) than at home (2-2). Last year, the Ravens earned home-field advantage as the top seed in the AFC before opening with a lopsided defeat at home against the Titans.
“It’s just the mentality that he has, and the mentality of the team,” said cornerback Jimmy Smith, who’s been with the Ravens since 2011. “He’s always had the mentality of being a warrior, going into the lion’s den and coming out victorious.”
Broncos hire Vikings’ Paton as new GM
John Elway’s hand-picked successor as Broncos general manager is Vikings executive George Paton.
Elway announced the hiring Wednesday, a day after Paton visited the team’s state-of-the-art headquarters
Paton, who agreed to a six-year contract, spent the last 14 seasons working alongside Vikings GM Rick Spielman in Minnesota, including the last six as assistant general manager. Since 2018, he also served as the team’s vice president of player personnel.
“Paton will be in charge of the draft, free agency and roster.
The 24-year NFL executive and longtime Spielman disciple has been one of the hottest names on the GM circuit in recent years, drawing interest from a dozen teams over the last decade, including the Lions this cycle.
Saleh has in-person interview for Jets’ job
The search for a new coach continues for the New York Jets after they completed an in-person interview with San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh on Wednesday without apparently reaching a deal.
Saleh was the first of the nine known candidates to speak remotely with the Jets last week to be hosted by the team at its facility in Florham Park, New Jersey.
Saleh arrived Tuesday night and spent several hours with the team before meeting again Wednesday. It’s believed Jets chairman and CEO Christopher Johnson, team president Hymie Elhai and general manager Joe Douglas all met in person with Saleh over the two days.
The Jets announced on social media they had completed their second interview with Saleh, which typically has indicated that a candidate has left the facility.
Sources: No repercussions for Eagles tanking game
The Philadelphia Eagles won’t be penalized after the NFL looked into the way the team handled its quarterback decisions in the final regular-season game against Washington, two people familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Doug Pederson, who was fired by Philadelphia on Monday, removed Jalen Hurts for thirdstring quarterback Nate Sudfeld in the fourth quarter of a 20-14 loss on Jan. 3. The Eagles trailed by a field goal when Sudfeld, who hadn’t thrown a pass in a game since 2018, entered. He was picked on his second attempt and also lost a fumble.
The loss gave Philadelphia the sixth pick in the draft instead of the ninth.
Bears will continue with Pace and Nagy
The Chicago Bears plan to keep general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy for at least another season.
The team opted against sweeping changes in leadership after the Bears slipped into the playoffs despite going 8-8 for the second year in a row, chairman George McCaskey said Wednesday.
The announcement comes on the heels of the Bears’ wild-card loss at New Orleans on Sunday.