NFL Off Season News, Rumors And Discussion

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Jaguars OL coach Doug Marrone will interview for the Giants' head-coaching vacancy.
Marrone is clearly still highly thought of around the league despite quitting on the Bills after the 2014 season. He's already drawn interest from the Browns and Dolphins in addition to the Giants.

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Sources tell Yahoo's Charles Robinson that Browns QB Johnny Manziel would "love" to end up in Dallas.
It's the rumor that won't go away. Per Robinson's sources, "there is a real possibility (or hope) that team owner Jerry Jones will make that dream happen." Jones was infatuated with Manziel during the 2014 Draft, and Manziel has reportedly been pining for a return to Texas as his Browns "career" disintegrates.

Sources tell Yahoo's Charles Robinson that Robert Griffin III would "love" to end up with the Cowboys.
It's not exactly a surprise. Griffin is a Texas native, and rather comically, his uncle was spotted on the Dallas sideline Sunday wearing a custom "RGIII" Cowboys jersey. The Redskins hold a $16.2 million team option on Griffin that will either be declined or traded once the new league year begins.

Lions DC Teryl Austin's Browns interview will take place on Wednesday.
ESPN's Josina Anderson reported Austin's preference was to interview with the Dolphins first. It's unclear if he'll do so. Austin has done a strong job over the past two seasons in Detroit, especially considering that he lost All-Pro Ndamukong Suh for 2015.

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports the Giants have requested permission to interview Bears OC Adam Gase for their head-coaching vacancy.
The Giants join the Eagles, Browns and Dolphins in pursuit of perhaps this year's hottest coaching candidate.

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Re: NFL Off Season News, Rumors And Discussion

Calvin Johnson released a statement Wednesday confirming he is considering retiring from the NFL this offseason.
"Like many players at this stage of their career, I am currently evaluating options for my future," Johnson said. "I would expect to have a decision regarding this matter in the not-too-distant future." Set to turn 31 this year (in September) and coming off myriad injury-plagued seasons, Johnson simply seems worn down. Hopefully he'll sit down, rest up, and decide to continue his career after his body heals. But it's clear that this could be it for Megatron.

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CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reports the Dolphins will make a "strong, strong push" to land Bears OC Adam Gase as their head coach during his Thursday interview.
Per La Canfora, the Dolphins' goal is to "try to keep from getting back to Philadelphia." On Wednesday, the Miami Herald's Adam Beasley predicted the Dolphins' head coach would come from a four-man list consisting of Mike Shanahan, Hue Jackson, Adam Gase, and Doug Marrone.

A source told ESPN's Ed Werder that Calvin Johnson told his mother "he wasn't sure wanted to play any more," and cleaned out his locker unlike other Lions veterans.
A source told Werder that "Calvin is the kind of guy who says, 'If I don't feel I'm into this 100 percent, then I need to decide if want to be in at all.'" These are indications Megatron is seriously contemplating retirement, though the season just ended. It's entirely possible Johnson gets the "itch" again in a matter of months, if not weeks or days.

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Re: NFL Off Season News, Rumors And Discussion

Buccaneers fired head coach Lovie Smith.
He went 8-24 in two years with Tampa. Early rumors have the Bucs staying in-house and potentially promoting OC Dirk Koetter to head coach. Smith's defense improved over the course of 2015, but his principles and defensive philosophy seem largely outdated at this stage. Smith's offenses have always been committed to the run -- arguably to a fault -- and that remained the case with the 2015 Bucs.

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A league source tells Philly.com that ESPN analyst Jon Gruden has expressed interest in the Eagles' head-coaching vacancy.
It's a juicy rumor, but Gruden himself has told FOX Philadelphia's Howard Eskin he's "not interested." Of course, even direct denials can't be taken at face value while the coaching carousel is spinning. Gruden rumors are an annual phenomenon, but he's never seemed truly close to leaving his friendly perch opposite Mike Tirico in the Monday Night Football booth.

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CSN Bay Area reports ex-Eagles coach Chip Kelly has interviewed with the 49ers.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported earlier in the week that Kelly had reached out to the 49ers, and they were clearly receptive. Kelly might be a best-case scenario for Jed York's club. He flamed out spectacularly in Philadelphia, but had great success in 2013-14 despite never having a quarterback. Trent Baalke is not a great general manager, but he's certainly an improvement on the disaster that was Kelly picking his own players last year. Colin Kaepernick has regressed mightily, but would be the most exciting QB prospect Kelly has had as a big-league coach.

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The Lions are expected to hire Patriots director of pro scouting Bob Quinn as their general manager.
Quinn, 39, has spent his entire career in New England, directing the scouting department the last three seasons. His player evaluations are highly regarded, but Quinn is a relative unknown among front-office executives. He beat out Giants assistant GM Kevin Abrams, Seattle co-director of personnel Trent Kirchner and in-house candidate Sheldon White for the job.

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The Miami Herald reports Bengals OC Hue Jackson is no longer expected to meet with the Dolphins.
Jackson was reported as the "clear front-runner" to become the 49ers' head coach by the San Jose Mercury News on Friday.

The Miami Herald reports "all signs point" to Bears OC Adam Gase becoming the next Dolphins head coach.
The Dolphins scheduled a second interview for Gase on Saturday, and there appears to be a realistic chance this marriage will be consummated during the meeting. Per reporter Armando Salguero, owner Stephen Ross pinpointed Gase as his "favorite" before the Dolphins' head-coaching search began.

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NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports Lions coach Jim Caldwell's job is not safe.
Ownership reportedly wants to retain Caldwell, but they will leave the decision up to new GM Bob Quinn, who has no known ties to the veteran coach. The best arguments for retaining Caldwell are the Lions' turnaround over the second half of the season and the possibility of retaining OC Jim Bob Cooter and DC Teryl Austin, although Austin is a strong candidate for several head-coaching positions.

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Re: NFL Off Season News, Rumors And Discussion

Dolphins hired Adam Gase as head coach.
It is reportedly a five-year deal fro the man who will become the youngest coach in the league at just 37. After striking out in offseasons past, owner Stephen Ross finally landed his man. A strong offensive mind who coaxed an efficient season out of Jay Cutler and helped Peyton Manning to some of his best performances, Gase will now be responsible for elevating Ryan Tannehill from an average NFL starter into the franchise quarterback he is paid like.

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The Detroit Free Press reports "some people believe" that new Lions GM Bob Quinn is targeting Patriots OC Josh McDaniels as a head coach.
The Lions haven't made a decision on whether to retain Jim Caldwell, but there's an obvious Patriots connection between Quinn and McDaniels. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Caldwell's job "isn't safe." McDaniels has turned down interviews ahead of New England's Divisional Round matchup, so the Lions can take their time on Caldwell's future.

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NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports the Redskins will release Robert Griffin III this offseason.
This is not exactly breaking news. Washington was never going to pay Griffin's $16.155 million, fifth-year option, and Griffin was not going to restructure his deal just to spend another season sitting behind Kirk Cousins.

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NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports the "momentum" is "building" for a Rams and Chargers partnership in Los Angeles.
Chargers owner Dean Spanos has been working with Raiders owner Mark Davis on a project in Carson, but the other owners are pushing him towards partnering with Rams owner Stan Kroenke on a stadium deal in Inglewood. Spanos and Kroenke have a rocky history, but Spanos seemed reluctantly open to the idea this week.

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The Sacramento Bee considers the Browns "a possible destination" for Colin Kaepernick.
New Browns coach Hue Jackson loved Kaepernick coming out of college, and Jackson's 2011 Raiders "strongly considered" trading up for Kaepernick in that year's draft. Jackson had Kaepernick rated higher than Cam Newton as a quarterback prospect. The 49ers have said Kaepernick's San Francisco future will be determined by their next head coach.