Oklahoma’s Riley is Eagles’ top target for coaching gig
Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley is a trusted confidant of Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman. According to multiple media reports, they could also share a workspace in the near future.
Riley was contacted by the Eagles on Monday as Philadelphia dismissed head coach Doug Pederson, according to multiple reports.
Owner Jeffrey Lurie fired Pederson after he compiled a 46- 39-1 in five seasons, including winning Super Bowl LII.
Riley’s specialty is offense and his expertise is quarterbacks. He groomed current Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts in one season with the Sooners, this after helping Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray each win the Heisman Trophy and get drafted No. 1 overall in back-to-back years.
Riley, 37, has been on the NFL radar before. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones called Riley “intriguing” and hoped to bring him in prior to hiring Mike McCarthy last January, but Jones said talks never moved off of home plate.
Much like Riley’s predecessor at OU, Bob Stoops, convincing the coach to leave Norman, Okla., will not be easy. Oklahoma is likely to be a top five team in college football again next season and current Sooners quarterback Spencer Rattler is a 2022 Heisman candidate. Oklahoma (9-2) finished at No. 6 this season and is 45-8 in four seasons under Riley.
It is not known whether Roseman and Riley have had detailed discussions, including how Riley might walk the line between Hurts and Carson Wentz, who is championed by management and under contract at franchise QB salary numbers.
Lurie’s concerns reportedly included Pederson’s plan to fix an offense that underperformed in 2020, the future at the quarterback position and the makeup of the coaching staff.
Pederson repor ted ly preferred to fill the offensive coordinator role with Press Taylor, the team’s 32-year- old quarterbacks coach. ESPN reported Lurie wanted the position filled from outside the organization.
T he Eagles’ of fense ranked 24th in the NFL in yards per game (334.6), 26th in scoring (20.9 points) and 28th in passing yards (207.9). Pederson removed Wentz as the starting quarterback after 12 games and replaced him with the rookie Hurts.
BILLS REPLACE INJURED RB MOSS WITH FREEMAN >> The Buffalo Bills signed running back Devonta Freeman to their practice squad to add veteran depth after placing rookie Zack Moss on injured reserve.
Freeman is a seventhyear player who was released by the New York Giants last week. He joins Buffalo (14- 3) after Moss suffered a season- ending ankle injury in a 27-24 wildcard playoff victory over Indianapolis last Saturday.
Freeman is eligible to begin practicing this week, though it’s unclear if he’ll be up to speed in time for Buffalo’s divisional-round game against the Baltimore Ravens (12-5) on Saturday.
COLTS’ CAST O NZ O ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT >>
Anthony Castonzo, the Indianapolis Colts longtime left tackle, announced his retirement. The 32-year- old had been an anchor on Indy’s offensive line since he was the No. 22 overall draft pick in 2011.
The move was not a complete surprise. Castonzo considered retiring last year, but eventually agreed to a two-year contract extension with the Colts. But this season, the Illinois native and Boston College alum missed four regularseason games and the playoff game with rib, knee and ankle injuries.
COVID -19 POSITIVES FOR PLAYERS DROP TO 3 >> The NFL says there were three new confirmed positive COVID-19 tests among players and 22 new confirmed positives among other personnel in the latest round of testing by the league.
In all, 6,850 tests were administered to 1,037 players and 10,609 tests were given to 1,896 personnel in a seven- day period that ended Saturday.
The previous week a season-high 34 players tested positive along with 36 other personnel.
SEAHAWKS SIGN GM SCHNEIDER TO CONTRACT EXTENSION >> Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider, the architect of two Super Bowl teams, signed a contract extension to remain with the team for six more years.
Schneider is in his 11th season in the role.