Footballguys #268 - 1/15 - News & Notes From Around The League

To unsubscribe {EMAIL} from these mailings, click [here](. --- [Footballguys.com]( Volume 19, #268 -- Monday Night, January 15th, 2018 Note: Unsubscribe instructions are at the bottom of this email --------------------------------------------------------------- Hi Folks, Good Tuesday to you. We've got the News and Notes you need so let's get to it. J [] INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. [TEN - Mike Mularkey leaves Titans](#1) 2. [PIT - QB Ben Roethlisberger returning](#2) 3. [BUF - Buffalo hires Brian Daboll](#3) 4. [SEA - Ken Norton Jr. joins Seattle](#4) 5. [PIT - QB Ben Roethlisberger wants three more years](#5) 6. [SEA - DE Cliff Avril wants to play again](#6) 7. [TEN - Tennessee signs 10 players](#7) 8. [NYG - New York expected to hire Pat Shurmur](#8) 9. [PIT - WR Martavis Bryant wants to stay](#9) 10. [LAC - CB Jason Verrett should return for workouts](#10) 11. [ATL - Atlanta signs nine to futures deals](#11) 12. [LAC - RB Melvin Gordon's option should be picked up](#12) 13. [KC - CB Darrelle Revis plans to play](#13) 14. [TEN - Tennessee to talk with OLB Mike Vrabel](#14) 15. [NFL - Roquan Smith entering 2018 draft](#15) 16. [JAX - WR Allen Robinson making progress](#16) 17. [BUF - WR Kelvin Benjamin to have surgery](#17) 18. [JAX - S Tashaun Gipson in a boot](#18) 19. [CLE - Curtis Luper interviewing with Browns](#19) 20. [CLE - TE Gavin Escobar to Browns](#20) 21. [NE - RB Rex Burkhead due back next week](#21) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 1. [TEN - Mike Mularkey leaves Titans]() Source: ESPN.com - Field Yates Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Mularkey mutually agreed to part ways with the Titans Monday, Jan. 15, according to a source. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Things change pretty quickly around here. Mularkey's job was safe when the Titans beat the Chiefs in the Wild Card Round and there were talks about getting him an extension. That fell apart and now Mularkey finds himself looking for work (reports indicate he could be the Browns OC). The Titans may get their wish of getting Patriots OC Josh McDaniels after all. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 2. [PIT - QB Ben Roethlisberger returning]( Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Kevin Gorman Pittsburgh Steelers QB [Ben Roethlisberger]( indicated that he will return for another season in 2018. 'So I look forward to next year with these guys,' Roethlisberger said Sunday, Jan. 14. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Had the Steelers made it to and won the Super Bowl, then perhaps Roethlisberger would've called it a career. He's danced around the subject before, but after the disappointing loss to the Jaguars Roethlisberger must feel like he's still got more to give. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 3. [BUF - Buffalo hires Brian Daboll]( Source: BuffaloBills.com The Buffalo Bills have hired Alabama offensive coordinator Brian Daboll to fill their vacant offensive coordinator position. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] It's an interesting hire coming off another title for Alabama, but Daboll has already had three coordinator jobs with the NFL (Browns, Chiefs, Dolphins) and none of them were overly successful. The situation in Buffalo is going to look different next year, especially at quarterback as we expect them to move on from Tyrod Taylor. The centerpiece of the offense should still be RB LeSean McCoy. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 4. [SEA - Ken Norton Jr. joins Seattle](=) Source: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo San Francisco 49ers assistant coach Ken Norton Jr. signed a three-year deal to become the new defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks Monday, Jan. 15. Norton recently accepted an assistant coaching position with the 49ers, but he has an out in his contract that allowed him to take the Seattle job. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Norton worked under Pete Carroll in Seattle from 2010-2014 as the linebackers coach. His Raiders defenses were atrocious over the last two years, and Norton needed a reset on his coaching career. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 5. [PIT - QB Ben Roethlisberger wants three more years]() Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Ed Bouchette Pittsburgh Steelers QB [Ben Roethlisberger]( has informed teammates that he would like to play three more years in the NFL. Roethlisberger had already announced that he would be returning for the 2018 season. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Roethlisberger has suggested that retirement was close, during the offseason and even dancing around the subject during the 2017 regular season. If the Steelers move on from OC Todd Haley nobody should be surprised. Reports indicate a frosty relationship between the two, and if Roethlisberger is staying then Haley is likely going. Stay tuned. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 6. [SEA - DE Cliff Avril wants to play again]() Source: NFL.com - Steve Wyche Seattle Seahawks DE Cliff Avril (neck) plans on trying to play again despite undergoing neck surgery and missing most of last season. Avril will turn 32 years old this offseason. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Avril would have a 'hard time' returning to football after this neck injury. The decision will be up to him, but Avril's future in the NFL remains cloudy at best. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 7. [TEN - Tennessee signs 10 players]( Source: TitansOnline.com - Jim Wyatt Tennessee Titans CB Jeremy Boykins, WR [Darius Jennings](, S Denzel Johnson, OL Tyler Marz, DE Johnny Maxey, WR Zach Pascal, TE Tim Semisch, DE Julius Warmsley, OL Cody Wichmann and DL Antwaun Woods were signed to Reserve/Future contracts Monday, Jan. 15. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Undrafted out of Old Dominion in 2017, Pascal was originally added by Washington after last year's draft. He was waived during final cuts and wound up with the Titans, spending most of this year on their practice squad. Pascal was consistently productive in college and has strong hands plus good concentration. We'll monitor him in super deep dynasty leagues. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 8. [NYG - New York expected to hire Pat Shurmur](=) Source: CBSSports.com - Jason La Canfora The New York Giants are expected to hire Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur as their next head coach, according to sources. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Shurmur has done a great job running the Vikings offense this year, especially as they've gone through changes at the QB position. Reports have often speculated that wherever Shurmur lands, QB Case Keenum would follow. That might not happen if Shurmur winds up with the Giants as they're expected to keep Eli Manning for one more season (for now) and perhaps select a QB with a premium pick in the 2018 NFL draft. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 9. [PIT - WR Martavis Bryant wants to stay]( Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler Pittsburgh Steelers WR [Martavis Bryant]( said he wants to return to the Steelers next season and will be ready for offseason workouts. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Bryant has had an...interesting...career with the Steelers so far. In addition to missing the 2016 season due to suspension, Bryant has had some verbal jabs with both QB Ben Roethlisberger and WR JuJu Smith-Schuster. A fourth-round pick in 2014, Bryant was scheduled to be a free agent in 2018 but his contract tolled due to the suspension. The Steelers have him under contract for one more year at the low, low price of $705,000 (in NFL terms of course!) [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 10. [LAC - CB Jason Verrett should return for workouts]() Source: ESPN.com - Eric D. Williams Los Angeles Chargers CB Jason Verrett (knee) is expected to be on the field at some point during offseason workouts, according to general manager Tom Telesco. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] If Verrett can just stay healthy, the Chargers would have yet another playmaker on their defense. He's on schedule to return for OTAs and expect the Chargers to ease him back into action upon his return. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 11. [ATL - Atlanta signs nine to futures deals](=) Source: AtlantaFalcons.com - Will McFadden The Atlanta Falcons signed S Marcelis Branch, OT Daniel Brunskill, CB Deante Burton, WR Reggie Davis, TE Alex Gray, QB Garrett Grayson, DT Joey Ivie, DE J.T. Jones and DT Taniela Tupou to Reserve/Future contracts Monday, Jan. 15. Terms of the contracts were not disclosed. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] We were watching Grayson in super deep QB-needy dynasty leagues. A third-round pick of the Saints (2015, Colorado State), Grayson spent the 2017 season on the Falcons practice squad. He's shown little during the preseason and his dynasty stock is low. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 12. [LAC - RB Melvin Gordon's option should be picked up]( Source: ESPN.com - Eric D. Williams Los Angeles Chargers RB [Melvin Gordon]('s fifth-year option likely will be exercised this offseason, in the opinion of ESPN.com's Eric D. Williams. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] When healthy, Gordon is proven as a dangerous runner with the ability to take it to the house anytime (and from anywhere) he touches the ball. Their 2015 first-round pick finally played a full 16-game season in 2017, and Gordon had the first 1,000-yard rushing season of his pro career. We'd be shocked if Gordon wasn't retained with the fifth-year option. That would give the Chargers more time to see if he could agree to a long-term deal. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 13. [KC - CB Darrelle Revis plans to play]() Source: ESPN.com - Adam Teicher Kansas City Chiefs CB Darrelle Revis said he plans to play again next season. He believes can play better if he participates in offseason workouts and training camp. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Revis did not look like his old self in a handful of games with the Chiefs, but he hasn't looked like "Revis Island" for some time. There's an $8.8 million bonus due in March, so expect the Chiefs to move on from that deal. When released, there's a chance the Chiefs could bring Revis back on a smaller contract. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 14. [TEN - Tennessee to talk with OLB Mike Vrabel]( Source: Houston Chronicle - John McClain Houston Texans defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel will interview for the Tennessee Titans head coaching position. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Vrabel has gotten some interest from a couple of other teams, most notably the Colts where he seems to be in the running (although likely behind Josh McDaniels). With Mike Mularkey mutually parting ways with the team, the Titans are behind in the coaching search that others have been on for a couple of weeks. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 15. [NFL - Roquan Smith entering 2018 draft]() Source: ProFootballTalk.com - Josh Alper Georgia LB Roquan Smith has announced that he is entering the 2018 NFL Draft. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Smith is one of the best defensive playmakers entering the league in 2018. He has drawn comparisons to Thomas Davis (Panthers) because of his nose for the ball, disruptive play and thirst for hitting. We should see Smith go off the board as a top-10 pick in the 2018 NFL draft. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 16. [JAX - WR Allen Robinson making progress]() Source: The Florida Times-Union - Ryan O'Halloran Jacksonville Jaguars impending free-agent WR [Allen Robinson]( (knee) said he believes he will be able to pass a physical when free agency begins. He suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Week 1. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Robinson won't be 100 percent healthy when free agency opens in March, but this injury should not set back his market. It's not that long ago that Robinson snared 80 passes for 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns. Robinson should have a healthy market for teams looking for an upgrade at the WR position. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 17. [BUF - WR Kelvin Benjamin to have surgery]() Source: BuffaloBills.com - John Murphy Buffalo Bills WR [Kelvin Benjamin]( (knee) said he will undergo knee surgery at some point this offseason. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Good news for Benjamin and the Bills here. For most of his time with the Bills this year, Benjamin was basically playing on one leg. Bills head coach Sean McDermott said, "We know what Kelvin Benjamin is capable of when he's healthy. He showed his leadership while playing injured and we're excited to get him healthy this offseason." [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 18. [JAX - S Tashaun Gipson in a boot]( Source: FirstCoastNews.com - Mike Kaye Jacksonville Jaguars FS Tashaun Gipson (foot) is in a walking boot Monday, Jan. 15. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Gipson insists that he'll be ready for the AFC Championship Game. They'll need him as the Jaguars travel to play the Patriots for the right to represent the conference in the Super Bowl. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 19. [CLE - Curtis Luper interviewing with Browns]( Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport Texas Christian University co-offensive coordinator Curtis Luper is interviewing for the Cleveland Browns running backs coach position Monday, Jan. 15. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Luper has been a coach in the college ranks for some time. As a player, Luper played running back at Oklahoma State behind Hall of Famers Thurman Thomas and Barry Sanders. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 20. [CLE - TE Gavin Escobar to Browns]( Source: Medina County Gazette - Scott Petrak Free-agent TE [Gavin Escobar]( (Ravens) signed a Reserve/Futures deal with the Cleveland Browns Monday, Jan. 15. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] A second-round pick in the 2013 NFL draft (Cowboys), Escobar has bounced around the league a bit during his short career. He's a huge target, measuring in at 6'6" but Escobar has never paid off on that potential as a pass catcher. His career high in catches and yards came in his rookie season, nine catches for 134 yards. As you can see, that's not much...about what someone like Travis Kelce could do in one game. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 21. [NE - RB Rex Burkhead due back next week]( Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport New England Patriots RB [Rex Burkhead]( (knee) is expected to play in the AFC Championship game Sunday, Jan. 21, against the Jacksonville Jaguars. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The initial plan was to have him ready for the Divisional Round. Instead, Burkhead wasn't quite ready to play against the Titans so the team shut him down. We'll see if he can practice fully at some point before the AFC Championship Game against the Jaguars. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- That'll do it for today, Folks. Thanks for reading and thanks for being part of Footballguys. We'll see you tomorrow with the Update. Peace, J = --- Thank you for subscribing to our Footballguys Daily Update Email! Get your 3 Free Downloads [here](=). You are currently subscribed as {EMAIL} To unsubscribe, click [here](. * Footballguys.com * PO Box 937 * Cabot, AR 72023-0937 * News Items Powered By: =