Judging by the jump start, it looks like we're headed for a ninth consecutive season with at least a half-dozen NFL head coaches getting canned. The coaching carousel began whirling earlier than usual this season with Jay Gruden getting fired by the Washington Redskins in October after an 0-5 start and Ron Rivera getting dumped this week by the Carolina Panthers (5-7) in the midst of a four-game skid. They could be joined soon by Jason Garrett in Dallas (6-7), Dan Quinn in Atlanta (3-9), Doug Marrone in Jacksonville (4-8) and Pat Shurmur, whose New York Giants are 2-10, and maybe even by rookie head coach Freddie Kitchens in Cleveland (5-7) and second-year coach Matt Patricia in Detroit (3-8...
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NFL coaching carousel started spinning early this year
Friday, December 6th, 2019NFL Notes: Gronk solves post-playing stress with puzzles
Friday, December 6th, 2019
He's done a really good job for how much we've put on him,'' Cousins said. Cousins had a greater purpose in mind with his message, too, recalling a pick-me-up he received as a rookie for Washington when coach Mike Shanahan summoned him to his office for a positive review during spring practices. Going back to work that day and the next day and the day after that, to have confidence and belief that you're doing something right and you're going places, it makes all the difference,'' Cousins said.
NFL Notes: Gronk solves post-playing stress with puzzles
Friday, December 6th, 2019
Rob Gronkowski is enjoying life in retirement — one piece at a time. The former star tight end who helped the New England Patriots win three Super Bowls during his nine-year career uses jigsaw puzzles to lower his stress levels and to help his mental recovery. Gronkowski said in an interview with Reena Ninan for “CBS Sunday Morning” that airs Sunday on the CBS Television Network that he “just wasn't feeling like myself anymore” after retiring from playing football.
Antonio Brown apologises to ‘the organisations I offended’ and eyes NFL comeback
Friday, December 6th, 2019
Wide receiver Antonio Brown has apologised to "the organisations I offended" as he bids to return to the NFL and "repair what I broke". Brown is without a team after he was released by the New England Patriots earlier in the season amid allegations of sexual assault against him, which he strenuously denies, and misconduct. The 31-year-old's departure from the Patriots in September was the latest move of a chaotic 12 months, with the player having also left the Pittsburgh Steelers and then the Oakland Raiders.
NFL At 100: Rooney Rule has its positives and its faults
Friday, December 6th, 2019
Paul Tagliabue, then the NFL commissioner, put together a committee that established the "Rooney Rule," which requires all teams with coaching and front office vacancies to interview minority candidates. The rule, long overdue, was named for the late Dan Rooney, then president of the Pittsburgh Steelers and head of that committee. Rooney, one of the league's most enlightened and free-thinking owners, recognized that opportunities for minority coaching candidates were far too limited throughout the NFL - even in searches for assistant coaches.
Taysom Hill’s versatility is unlike anyone in the NFL today
Thursday, December 5th, 2019
METAIRIE, La. — There's only four weeks left in the 2019 NFL season, but there's still plenty to sort out. Is Lamar Jackson or Russell Wilson the MVP? Is this the season Jerry Jones will mercifully put Jason Garrett out of his coaching misery in Dallas?
The five most pressing NFL questions in Week 14: Can Ryan Tannehill keep up this hot streak?
Thursday, December 5th, 2019
Here, we'll attempt to lay out five of the most pressing in the NFL that week. The answers to those will reveal deeper truths about how the rest of the story of the 2019 NFL season will unfold. Perhaps the best coaching decision of the 2019 NFL season belongs to Mike Vrabel.
NFL Week 14 Over/Under picks and predictions
Thursday, December 5th, 2019
The second-ranked Cowboys have been a tale of two teams: they're 6-1 and average 32.5 ppg against teams who are likely to miss the playoffs, but 0-5 averaging 16.4 ppg against playoff-bound teams. On defense, the top stop units are mostly teams which are still in contention in large part because of their defense: the Steelers, Bills, Bears, Rams, Jets and Titans – none of which are exactly lighting it up on offense. The two (and a half?) exceptions are the Ravens and 49ers, who sit Top 10 on both sides of the ball.
Stop the Michael Vick comparisons — Michael Vick is no Lamar Jackson
Thursday, December 5th, 2019
Lamar Jackson needs to gain just 63 yards to break Michael Vick's single-season NFL record for most yards rushing by a quarterback. Jackson is averaging 81.4 per game, so if it somehow doesn't happen Sunday when his Baltimore Ravens visit Buffalo, then it won't be long. For Jackson, the thought of smashing Vick's 2006 record is overwhelming.
Rookie QB Lock leads Broncos after win in NFL debut
Thursday, December 5th, 2019
It wasn't that long ago that Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson was in the position Denver's Drew Lock is in now. Watson was thrust into the starting role after the season was underway as a rookie in 2017, just as Lock was last week for the Broncos. Watson made his debut in the middle of a game and won his first start the following week.