Reich, Brady, Quinn, Hackett, Rest, Bucs

Details on the first HC hiring of the 2023 cycle + Jeff Darlington's expose on Tom Brady  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Jan 27, 2023 [Sign up]( [Legit Football]( Together With: Stathead [Stathead](  Reich [Frank Reich] Panthers hire Frank Reich as next head coach Details: Reich has [agreed]( to a four-year deal that will be finalized on Monday. - Carolina interviewed nine candidates for the position. - The final three were Reich, interim HC Steve Wilks, and Cowboys OC Kellen Moore. Neat Connection: Reich started at quarterback in the Panthers’ [first-ever]( game in 1995. He played in the NFL from 1985 to 1997 (mostly as a backup). Colts: Reich was fired by the Colts in November after a 3-5-1 start to the season. He went 40-33-1 across four-plus seasons in Indianapolis. - The 61-year-old is regarded as a strong leader and bright offensive mind. Current State: Reich inherits a Panthers’ team that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2017. The team went 7-10 in 2022. Building Blocks: Carolina has some special young talent in DE Brian Burns, CB Jaycee Horn, S Jeremy Chinn, DT Derrick Brown, LT Ickey Ekwonu, and WR DJ Moore. QB: The team doesn’t have a starting-caliber quarterback on the roster. Reich will help management determine whether to pursue a vet (Derek Carr, Jimmy Garoppolo) or draft a long-term solution (the Panthers pick ninth overall). Image: Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire Brady [Tom Brady] Jeff Darlington details Tom Brady’s frustrating 2022 season Details: Darlington, who has sources close to Brady, revealed that the 45-year-old [lost]( 15 pounds during the season while coping with challenges in his personal life. - Darlington also indicated that Brady struggled with mental focus and was among many Buccaneers frustrated with the team’s offensive play calling. Breathe: Brady will take some time to “breathe” and “heal” before making a decision on the future of his playing career. Two Teams: Darlington said there are at least two teams interested in signing the 7x Super Bowl champion, if he opts to return for a 24th season. - The two interested teams are likely the Raiders and the Titans. Interesting: According to Vincent Bonsignore (Las Vegas Review-Journal), Brady “sits atop the Raiders’ wish list.” - Bonsignore is also reporting that the signing of Brady would [satisfy]( Davante Adams, who needs “assurances that his next two seasons aren’t wasted with a quarterback playing at a diminished level.” Image: Brennan Asplen/Icon Sportswire Quinn [Dan Quinn] Dan Quinn to return as Cowboys’ defensive coordinator Details: Quinn informed teams that he has decided to [stay]( in Dallas. - Quinn was a head coaching candidate for the Cardinals, Colts, and Broncos. Impressive: Under Quinn, the Cowboys’ defense allowed the 12th fewest yards and 5th fewest points during the regular season. The 52-year-old is deeply respected in the Dallas locker room. Moore in Limbo: During his end-of-season press conference on Thursday, Mike McCarthy stated that OC Kellen Moore’s [future]( with the team is under evaluation. - Moore has been under scrutiny ever since the Cowboys scored just 12 points in last week’s season-ending loss to the 49ers. Gone: The Cowboys have already parted with six assistant coaches — senior defensive assistant George Edwards, RBs coach Skip Peete, OL coach Joe Philbin, assistant DL coach Leon Lett, assistant HC Rob Davis, and quality control analytics coach Kyle Valero. Image: Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire Hackett [Hackett] Jets hire Nathaniel Hackett as next OC; fueling further Aaron Rodgers speculation Details: Hackett, who lasted fifteen games as the Broncos' head coach, will [replace]( Mike LaFleur at offensive coordinator. - The Jets interviewed 15 candidates for the position. Rodgers: Hiring Hackett is — at least in part — an attempt by the Jets to lure in Aaron Rodgers, who appears somewhat likely to be traded in the offseason. - Hackett served as the Packers' offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2021 and has a good relationship with Rodgers. Other QB Options: The Jets are intent on securing an established veteran quarterback this offseason, so if it isn't Rodgers, expect either Jimmy Garoppolo or Derek Carr to soon be wearing Gotham green. Talent: Hackett will inherit an offense with three emerging stars — WR Garrett Wilson, RB Breece Hall, and RG Alija Vera-Tucker. Image: Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire Rest [McCaffrey] 49ers and Eagles resting key players ahead of NFC Title Game 49ers: Christian McCaffrey (calf) and Elijah Mitchell (groin) have been [held out]( of every practice this week. - Despite the missed reps, Kyle Shanahan expects both running backs to play on Sunday. Worth Monitoring: McCaffrey appeared to be limited by his calf last week, as he was not very effective (3.6 yards per touch) against the Cowboys. Eagles: The Eagles rested eleven players (with a limited designation) on Thursday — CB James Bradberry, WR AJ Brown, DT Fletcher Cox, G Landon Dickerson, DE Brandon Graham, RT Lane Johnson, C Jason Kelce, DE Robert Quinn, G Isaac Seumalo, CB Darius Slay, and DE Josh Sweat. - All eleven are fully expected to play. Maddox: The only Eagle in question is slot corner Avonte Maddox, who has been practicing on a limited basis this week. Maddox (71.3 PFF grade) has been out since Christmas Eve with a broken toe. Odds: The Eagles are a 2.5-point favorite. Weather: The forecast is calling for mostly cloudy skies with a high of around 50 degrees. Image: Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire Bucs [Fournette] Buccaneers could cut LT Donovan Smith, RB Leonard Fournette, and TE Cam Brate Details: The Bucs are expected to be $55 million over the salary cap in 2023. Greg Auman (FOX Sports) expects the team to [release]( numerous starters to create relief. Smith: Cutting Smith would save $9.95 million in cap space. The 29-year-old left tackle is coming off a rough season (58.1 PFF grade, 6 sacks allowed, 12 penalties). - Tampa does not have an in-house replacement for Smith. Fournette: Cutting Fournette would save $3.5 million. The 28-year-old running back averaged just 3.5 yards per carry in 2022. Rashaad White — who flashed promise as a rookie — will assume the starting job if Fournette is let go. Brate: Cutting Brate would yield $2 million in savings. The 31-year-old tight end only totaled 174 receiving yards on the season. Cade Otton (42-391-2 as a rookie) is poised to take on the full-time job in 2023. Safe: Auman does not think the Bucs will trade or release Mike Evans, who is entering the final year of his contract. An extension may be more likely, as it would actually free up cap space. Image: Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire More News - [Forecast]( for CIN-KC is calling for freezing temperatures - [Chiefs]( QB Patrick Mahomes (high ankle sprain) got in another full practice - [Chiefs]( WR Mecole Hardman (pelvis) could return on Sunday - [Chiefs]( now a 1.5-point favorite over Bengals - [Broncos]( want Demeco Ryans as next HC - [Vikings]( to interview Steelers LBs coach Brian Flores for DC vacancy Together with Stathead Question of the Day Who has the record for single-game receiving yards in the Conference Championship Round? - Cliff Branch - Julio Jones - Michael Irvin - Fred Biletnikoff Sign up for a monthly subscription and get your first month free, or use “[LEGIT20](” to save $20 off one year of Stathead Football. [See Answer]( Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up [here](. [Unsubscribe]( Copyright © 2022 Legit Football. All rights reserved. 710 Main Street South #572, Southbury CT 06488