Former Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is finalizing a two-year deal to join UCLA’s staff as the Bruins’ associate head coach/offensive coordinator, sources told ESPN on Saturday night.

The move marks a significant hire for new UCLA coach DeShaun Foster, who intends to forge an NFL identity with the Bruins. It also marks a homecoming for Bieniemy, who grew up in the area and was a Bruins assistant from 2003-05.

“Southern California,” Bieniemy wrote in an email Saturday. “I attended high school there. I started my career in the league here [with the Chargers]. It’s obviously great to be back with the Bruins, where I was previously employed.”

Bieniemy had opportunities to remain in the NFL. He interviewed for the Commanders’ head-coaching job, and two other offensive coordinator jobs. Bieniemy said one NFL team offered him its assistant head coach/running backs job. But ultimately, he took his time and found his way back to school.

“I have had countless conversations and interviews with many teams, and I have been applauded and lauded,” Bieniemy wrote. “I can’t say why certain decisions were or were not made but it had nothing to [do] with a lack of anything on my end.

“My self-dignity, worth, integrity, personhood, manhood will never be questioned or compromised. It is not always about money, either. With everything in life, it is often all about timing. At this time in my life, the opportunity affords me the pleasure of continuing to be a maker and leader of men, to do what I love, follow my passion and my dreams while not compromising on who I am as a man.”

It will be Bieniemy’s first college job since working as Colorado’s offensive coordinator from 2011 to 2012. Foster prioritized hiring a coach with Bieniemy’s experience — and Bieniemy was equally as excited about trying to help UCLA’s rookie head coach.

For Foster, who is entering his first season as a head coach, the hire is a crucial one. Foster does not have coordinator experience. By bringing in someone with Bieniemy’s breadth of experience, he has begun to set the vision of what UCLA will look like on that side of the ball. Former head coach Chip Kelly served as UCLA’s offensive playcaller in recent seasons.

“This is a great opportunity for me to help support DeShaun as a head coach, to work with him and to work for him as well,” Bieniemy wrote. “My goal is to help him to be a successful head coach in our profession.

“It’s an opportunity for my family and I to return back to a place that we once called home.”

– – –

The NFL’s biggest thorn during the Competition Committee meetings is the kickoff.  After all the safety rules, the play now is a boring preamble to real action.  Does the XFL have the answer?  NFL.com:

NFL kickoffs could be in line for more tweaking this offseason.

The Competition Committee has discussed the XFL kickoff at length and could propose a version of the XFL model for a vote during the Annual League Meeting from March 24-27, NFL Network’s Judy Battista reported on Sunday, per a source.

Rich McKay, the chairman of the Competition Committee, did not commit to a change definitely happening in 2024 and would want the new rule ready for consideration a month from now if it’s to be proposed — rather than hashed out during meetings between coaches and owners — according to Battista.

Part of the reason for another desired change to the kickoff formula is to find the best balance between safety, including the reduction of high-speed collisions, and maintaining returns as a part of the game.

In May 2023, NFL owners approved a one-year rule change that allowed returners to fair catch any kick behind their own 25-yard line and begin the ensuing possession on the 25.

Only 22% of kickoffs were returned last season. As noted by Battista, all 13 of the kickoffs in Super Bowl LVIII resulted in touchbacks.

The aforementioned XFL model has the kicker kicking from the 30-yard line while the rest of the kickoff team begins at the opposite 35-yard line, separated from 10 members of the receiving team by 5 yards. Apart from the kicker and the returner, none of the other special teamers are allowed to move until the ball is fielded.

That differs greatly from the current NFL kickoff, which is set at the 35-yard line, where the kickoff team is also lined up, and allows both teams to move and gather steam once the ball is kicked.

To approve a rule change to something closer to the XFL model will require 24 votes in favor — a high bar.

“We have to be open-minded enough to say can we bring plays back in the game that have gone out of the game,” said McKay, who also revealed special teams coaches will have a role in coming up with the new proposal.

The committee will convene again Monday and in the weeks leading up to the Annual League Meeting, and will also discuss hip-drop tackles and the tush-push play.

According to Battista, the committee is still working on the right language regarding hip-drop tackles but is aligned in removing it from the game.

CHICAGO

Peter King thinks the Bears could and should hang on to QB JUSTIN FIELDS, make two trades and they will be all set:

I suppose the Bears are going to trade the top pick. I know nothing, but that seems to be the way the wind is blowing. What I say: The Bears could keep Justin Fields (and should), and trade the first pick down once or twice, and build the kind of supporting cast a team needs to contend. Suppose GM Ryan Poles traded the top pick down one spot to Washington (which would take Caleb Williams), and got the second pick, a second-round pick and a 2025 first-round pick in return. Then suppose Poles traded the second pick to Atlanta at eight, and the Falcons picked one of the other quarterbacks. In return, Chicago gets the eighth pick, Atlanta’s second-round pick, and first- and second-round picks next year. Imagine moving from 1 to 8 and ending up with this draft haul:

The eighth and ninth (their own) overall picks in round one this year.

Second-round picks from Washington and Atlanta this year.

Three first-round picks and two second-round picks in 2025.

For moving down seven picks in the first round, the Bears could end up with nine picks in the first two rounds of the next two drafts. Instant infrastructure.

GREEN BAY

This from Warren Sharp highlights how young the Packers are on offense (and how old the Saints might be):

@SharpFootball

% of offensive snaps from players in the NFL for 7+ years:

48% – NO

47%

46%

45%

44%

43% – NE

42%

41% – CLE

40% – SF

39%

38% – DET

37%

36% – LV

35% – HOU

34% – KC, WAS

33% – BAL

32% – TEN

31% – LA

30% – JAX

29% – DAL, ARI

28% – BUF

27% – ATL

26% – DEN

25%

24% – NYJ

23% – CHI, MIA

22% – CIN, LAC, NYG

21%

20% – CAR

19% – PHI

18% – TB

17% – PIT, SEA

16%

15% – MIN

14%

13%

12%

11% – IND

10%

  9%

  8%

  7%

  6%

  5%

  4%

  3% – GB

*2023 regular season

And the converse:

% of offensive snaps from players in their first 3 years in the NFL:

63% – GB

62%

61%

60%

59%

58%

57%

56%

55% – TB

54%

53% – PIT

52%

51% – NYJ, IND

50% – JAX

49%

48% – CAR, ATL

47%

46%

45% – CHI, LAC

44%

43% – TEN

42% – KC, DET

41% – WAS, LA, NE, SEA

40%

39%

38% – HOU

37%

36% – NYG

35% – BUF

34% – ARI

33%

32%

31% – LV, PHI

30% – CLE, BAL, DAL

29% – SF

28%

27% – MIN

26%

25%

24%

23% – DEN

22% – MIA

21% – NO

20% – CIN

*2023 regular season

WASHINGTON

Everyone is wondering who will snatch up QB JUSTIN FIELDS from the Bears, but Ralph Vacchiano of FoxSports.com says the Commanders expect action for QB SAM HOWELL.

When Josh Harris bought the Washington Commanders last July, there wasn’t time for him to fix the broken franchise. He knew he’d have to wait until this offseason to rebuild.

Well, maybe not “rebuild.”

“Your words. Not mine,” new Commanders coach Dan Quinn said earlier this month at his introductory press conference. “I would say this is a ‘recalibrate’ — you know, finding our north again.

“So no, you will not hear me say the word ‘rebuild’ at all.”

Well, whatever Quinn calls it, there is still a lot of work to do on the $6.05 billion fixer-upper that Harris bought — a franchise whose last winning season came in 2016 and one that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2005. The work began when the new owner hired former 49ers executive Adam Peters as his first general manager, and continued three weeks ago when they hired Quinn — their third choice — to be the new head coach.

Now, as Quinn begins his work on the rebuilding — or recalibration — project, he’ll see up close what everyone else sees: The Commanders have a crumbling roster with what Peters called “a few cornerstone pieces,” but not many. They have a lot of salary-cap space (an estimated league-high of $73.6 million, according to OverTheCap.com) to use, and five picks in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft this April.

But they have so many holes to fill.

So where does that recalibration start? Here’s a look at the three biggest issues facing the Washington Commanders as the offseason begins:

1. Choose a quarterback for the future (and present)

In the first half of last season, it sure looked like the Commanders had struck gold in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft with quarterback Sam Howell. By the end of the season, he looked more like slightly tarnished silver. There’s value, but clearly a lot to clean up first.

If it weren’t for the regime change, Howell might have a bright future with the franchise. But with a new brain trust taking over and holding the No. 2 overall pick in a quarterback-rich draft, it’s hard to believe they won’t start over with their own elite prospect. The only question is which one they’ll take. People around the NFL believe new Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury loves USC’s Caleb Williams, but they might have to trade up to get him — and if the Bears are amenable to that, they’d reportedly set an enormous asking price.

The Commanders would surely be happy with North Carolina’s Drake Maye, too, and maybe even LSU’s Jayden Daniels. But it’s a really strong bet that a new quarterback is coming, whoever he is. They’d be wise, then, to re-sign veteran Jacoby Brissett as veteran insurance and to be the rookie’s mentor.

What about Howell? Multiple NFL sources believe several teams would be interested in trading for the 23-year-old who threw for 3,946 yards and 21 touchdowns in 17 starts last season (albeit with an NFL-worst 21 interceptions). They could potentially get a third-round pick for him — maybe more — if they decide they’re willing to deal him sometime around the draft.

A team like the New York Jets, who know they’ll need a quarterback of the future when their experiment with 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers ends, would be wise to make a call.

2. Completely rebuild the offensive line

If there’s one big lesson Quinn should take with him from his time in Dallas, it’s this: Spend money and assets on the offensive line. Without a strong line, nothing else works on offense. And if he needs proof, just look at the Commanders’ 2023 season when their quarterbacks were sacked 9.3 percent of the times they dropped back to pass — 65 times in all.

That’s even more important if the Commanders do go with a rookie quarterback. Next season will be about learning and developing, but he can’t do that if he’s running for his life on every play the way Howell seemed to be last season.

And they need help at every position along the line. Of the current group, maybe Sam Cosmi (a second-rounder in 2021) is a keeper — maybe. But they should use a bunch of their cap room to bring in young veterans everywhere else. The free-agent tackle crop isn’t great, but they could find a lot of interior help with players like center Connor Williams or guards Kevin Dotson and Robert Hunt. If they sign a couple of interior linemen, they could back that up by taking a tackle or two in the second and third rounds of the draft.

If they don’t do that, it won’t matter what else they do. Kingsbury’s offense simply won’t work if the quarterback is constantly under duress. And they run the risk of stunting the growth of their new franchise quarterback.

3. Replace what they lost on defense

When Quinn was asked about the personnel he inherited in Washington, the first thing he mentioned was “the inside of the defense.” That’s not surprising given that he’s a defensive coach and the Commanders’ defensive tackle duo of Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen is one of the league’s best.

But it wasn’t that long ago that Washington had, arguably, one of the NFL’s best defensive lines — not just defensive tackles. Of course, they traded edge rushers Montez Sweat and Chase Young near last year’s deadline and they had no one on the roster to replace them. They could also lose promising young safety Kam Curl in free agency. Their best corner — Kendall Fuller — is about to be one of the best corners on the free agent market, too.

The Commanders just don’t have the depth to replace two edge rushers and the two best members of their secondary, so they’re going to have to look outside for help. They probably should try to re-sign the 24-year-old Curl, though he might cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $13-15 million per year. Regardless, though, once they’re done spending on offensive linemen, they need to extend a little for an edge rusher and a corner.

The corner market isn’t great beyond Jaylon Johnson, L’Jarius Sneed and Fuller, but there might be a few relative bargains in the second week. One good idea would be for Quinn to try to lure veteran Stephon Gilmore from Dallas to anchor a young secondary and be a mentor to 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes.

The same is mostly true for the edge rusher market after Josh Allen, Brian Burns and Danielle Hunter, though bidding big on the 25-year-old Burns could have a huge, immediate impact on Quinn’s defense. He’s exactly the kind of player the Commanders should invest in — young, talented and transformational for his new team.

Free agency has never offered teams a quick fix, and the Commanders shouldn’t try for one. But for a “recalibrating” team it can help jump-start the process if they spend smart.

TAMPA BAY

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com hears that the Buccaneers are striving to bring back both QB BAKER MAYFIELD and WR MIKE EVANS.  Nick Kosco of On3.com:

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers want to keep Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield together as a “package deal,” according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Evans could command big money on the free agent market, but wants to stay in South Florida. As far as Mayfield, he expressed interest in staying with the Bucs after a successful 2023 campaign.

But it seems like Evans will have to be the first domino to fall, whether the two stay with the Bucs or go elsewhere.

“The Bucs are trying to re-sign this guy in a major way,” Fowler said on SportsCenter. “They’ve had preliminary talks, Mike Evans wants to retire a Buccaneer but I’m told he’s also willing, at least open to, the possibility of going to the open market because he would have a huge market. The Bucs now they gotta pay him well over $20 million per year … His game has not fallen off.

“And Baker Mayfield as he’s trying to resign with the Bucs. He’s watching Mike Evans’ deal closely. It could be sort of a package deal. They could both go their separate ways. A lot could happen, but the team is trying to keep them together.”

Evans topped 1,000 yards once again as he has every single season of his career. In 17 games, Evans had 79 catches, 1,255 yards, 13 touchdowns and 15.9 yards per catch.

In his career, Evans has 762 catches, 11,680 yards, 94 touchdowns and 15.3 yards per catch. When you can have successful seasons with multiple quarterbacks throughout your career and now Mayfield, Evans might want to stay with the former Heisman Trophy winner.

It was a bit of a career resurgence for Mayfield in 2023. He went 9-8 as a starter, led the Bucs to an NFC South title and 1-1 in the playoffs.

With Evans in the fold, Mayfield finished the year with 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 64.3% completion percentage.

The Bucs are expected to use their franchise tag on safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and not Evans or Mayfield this offseason.

New offensive coordinator Liam Coen definitely wants the quarterback back, but as Fowler reported, perhaps Evans has to be there for Mayfield.

DENVER

When he moves on from the Broncos, his time there a failure, QB RUSSELL WILSON will be demanding a starting role from his new team. But, as Mike Florio explains, he won’t be looking for a boatload of cash:

When the Broncos benched quarterback Russell Wilson and it quickly became obvious that they’ll cut him before his 2025 salary of $37 million becomes fully guaranteed on March 17, a sense emerged that Wilson will take the league minimum elsewhere ($1.21 million) and stick the Broncos with the balance of his $39 million fully-guaranteed compensation package for 2024.

However, Wilson won’t be doing that as a backup. He’ll want, in exchange for his willingness to take so little, a commitment that he’ll be the starter.

That’s the only way he’ll resurrect his career for 2025. Not by sitting on the bench behind Aaron Rodgers for a year, as former Jets G.M. Mike Tannenbaum recently suggested. Wilson will want someone to roll out the red carpet while peeling off $1.21 million. (Also, Wilson probably wouldn’t want to be reunited with Nathaniel Hackett.)

The possibility of getting a starting quarterback for one year at $1.21 million should tempt any team with an unsettled quarterback situation. The Raiders were the first team mentioned after Wilson was benched. The Steelers are the current betting favorites to land him. The Falcons, for $1.21 million, should be in the mix. The Vikings should compare what they could get from Wilson for one year at $1.21 million to what it would cost them to keep Kirk Cousins.

Wilson, by the way, is younger than Cousins. And Wilson isn’t recovering from a torn Achilles tendon.

It’s a matter of basic personnel management. How much will the player cost and what can the team expect to get?

Every player is an interchangeable piece of a broader football machine that continues to operate, year after year. If a team can get a serviceable engine for a bargain-basement price, why not consider the possibility?

So, yes, if (as expected) the Broncos cut Wilson before March 17 and if (as believed) Wilson would take $1.21 million because he’s getting $39 million no matter what, why wouldn’t a team consider giving him the starting job?

With money not an issue, he’ll be looking for a place where he’ll know he’s going to play — and where he thinks the team will be good enough to allow him to restore his status as a player who could end up with a bronze bust in Canton. The last two years have muddied if not drowned his case for the Hall of Fame. He arguably needs a Kurt Warner-style closing stretch to his career that makes 2022-23 a donut hole that can be overlooked when considering his case for enshrinement.

Wilson needs to start that stretch in 2024, not by sitting on the bench but by playing — and by playing well.

On the other hand, Wilson is saying he wants to still be a Bronco, even if that’s not the desire of team management.  Ryan Young of YahooSports.com:

Despite what was a very chaotic end to the season last year in Denver, Russell Wilson hopes to spend the rest of his career with the Broncos.

Wilson, who was benched for the final two games of last season, said he not only wants to return to the franchise next fall, but he has a goal to win two more Super Bowls before he hangs it up for good.

“I’ve got more fire than ever, honestly, especially over the past two years and what I’ve gone through,” Wilson said on the “I Am Athlete” podcast on Sunday. “Whether it’s in Denver or somewhere else, I hope it’s in Denver. I hope I get to finish there. I committed there. I wanted to be there. I want to be there.

“For me, it’s about winning. In the next five years, I want to win two. I want to feel the chill of that trophy again. I love the city and everything else, but you also want to be in a place that loves you, too. I want to win, that’s all I care about.”

KANSAS CITY

Peter King:

John Madden coached his last NFL game at age 42. Andy Reid has coached 429 NFL games since turning 42.

And the end does not seem to be near for Reid.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

Andy Reid confirmed he will continue to coach shortly after leading the Chiefs to their second straight Super Bowl title and their bid for a third championship in a row will likely come with a new contract.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that Reid is expected to start talking with the team about a new contract in the coming weeks.

Reid’s last contract extension came after the Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV in Miami and it is believed to pay him $12 million per season. That’s not at the top end of compensation for coaches, which makes it a bargain for the Chiefs as they have gone to three Super Bowls and won two of them since Reid signed that deal.

That standing will likely change in the coming weeks and General Manager Brett Veach, who signed his last extension at the same time as Reid, is also in line for a new deal in Kansas City this offseason.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

Scott Pioli has some comments on Chargers QB JUSTIN HERBERT:

The Los Angeles Chargers have completely reinvented their decision makers beyond the field this offseason, but as of this writing have yet to fully reconfigure the club’s roster around talented young Pro Bowl quarterback Justin Herbert.

Scott Pioli, who won three Super Bowls with the dynasty-era Tom Brady/Bill Belichick New England Patriots, unpacked how LA can best serve Herbert in the podcast Bleav In Chargers, hosted by Matt “Money” Smith and Lorenzo Neal.

“When I talked about when I took about production from the quarterback position, it has nothing to do with statistics,” Pioli revealed. “There’s a lot of people that put up great statistics, but if they don’t have the infrastructure around them, they don’t necessarily win. And to me, the only metrics that matters with the quarterback in terms of production is winning.”

Elsewhere, Pioli explained how LA GM Joe Hortiz could best serve Herbert.

“Here’s what I’ll say about Chargers,” Pioli added. “Part of what you need to be as a good quarterback is you do need to have the right coach, the right coordinator and the right people around you and folks are going to buy in. You have to have the right offensive line.”

“It doesn’t mean you have to have five Pro Bowlers, but you have to have, I think, one of the best awkward offseason acquisitions that the Chargers have made this year already is Mike Devlin,” Pioli noted. “He’s going to make that offensive line better and that’s really going to help Justin Herbert. They have the right guy. They’ve just got to get him becoming productive in terms of wins, if that makes sense.”

CINCINNATI

Matt Verderame of SI.com looks at five teams that could be interested in either of two pending free agents – WR TEE HIGGINS of the Bengals or WR MIKE EVANS of Tampa Bay:

There’s no shortage of receivers available this offseason for needy teams. Yet arguably the two biggest names this round of free agency are Tee Higgins and Mike Evans.

Higgins, 25, is coming off a terrific four-year stretch with the Cincinnati Bengals. The 2020 second-round pick notched a pair of 1,000-yard seasons alongside Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase and is now slated for free agency, should he avoid the franchise tag.

Evans, 30, is one of the most consistent receivers in NFL history. In his 10 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Evans has eclipsed the 1,000-yard barrier each year and also won Super Bowl LV. A two-time All-Pro, Evans is extremely durable, missing only nine games throughout his career.

Should the two leave their respective teams, which new franchises make the most sense? Let’s take a look.

5. New York Giants

The Giants are in dire need of receiver help. Nobody posted more than 800 receiving yards last season, and if Daniel Jones is going to work out for New York at some point during his current deal, upgrades must be made.

Higgins or Evans would certainly provide that for a Giants team that ranked 31st in receiving yards in 2023, only better than the Carolina Panthers. Ultimately, Higgins would be a more ideal target considering his age and where New York is in its contention cycle. Still, Evans likely comes cheaper, giving general manager Joe Schoen more money to use elsewhere on the roster.

4. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts have their own star receiver to retain in Michael Pittman Jr., but there’s an argument to be made for even more firepower.

Sep 11, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (11) scores a touchdown against Houston Texans Houston Texans safety Jonathan Owens (36) in the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium.

While keeping Pittman is a must for general manager Chris Ballard, he should also be looking to add a running mate on the other side. And although Josh Downs was a nice complement as a rookie with 771 yards, bumping him to the third spot on the depth chart would create a host of weapons for second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson.

If the Colts are going to make a move in the AFC, it starts with making Richardson the best version of himself. Adding Higgins or Evans wouldn’t hurt that cause.

3. Carolina Panthers

No team needs to fix its offense this offseason more than the Panthers. But despite being a two-win disaster in 2023, Carolina can’t use the draft to upgrade after trading its first-round selection to the Chicago Bears last offseason.

Thus, new general manager Dan Morgan must get creative when the market opens in March. The Panthers may have a small advantage in recruiting Higgins considering he played his college ball at nearby Clemson.

Frankly, Carolina will probably need to outbid other teams to land either Higgins or Evans considering the state of the franchise, but that’s a worthwhile tax to pay if it helps Bryce Young develop.

2. New England Patriots

It’s a new era in New England, and the Patriots have to start the Jerod Mayo experience off by revamping the offense.

Last season, their passing attack was lacking. Rookie wideout DeMario Douglas led the team with 561 yards. With New England potentially using the No. 3 pick on a quarterback, it must find a legitimate weapon on the outside to threaten defenses with.

Higgins is a perfect fit given his youth, allowing him to play his prime out while the incoming quarterback is on a cheap contract. As for Evans, he’d provide a reliable weapon with a wealth of experience. And although neither will be cheap, the Patriots can afford them with a projected $66 million in cap space.

1. Tennessee Titans

For the Titans, this is more geared toward Higgins.

Higgins is from Tennessee, having played his high school football at Oak Ridge. He’s also very familiar with the scheme given former Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan is now the Titans’ head coach. If there’s any team with significant advantages in bringing Higgins in, it’s Tennessee.

The Titans also have a glaring need at wideout. DeAndre Hopkins is still terrific but has only one year left on his deal. General manager Ran Carthon also has to make a decision on Treylon Burks’ fifth-year option after 2024. Armed with an AFC-high $67.7 million of projected cap space, the Titans have the motive and money to make a big move.

BUFFALO

Coach Sean McDermott thinks the Bills title window is still wide open – and he’s confident they can drive through it.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:

The Bills fell short of a trip to the Super Bowl once again this season, but that hasn’t changed head coach Sean McDermott’s view of what is coming Buffalo’s way in the future.

McDermott has gone 73-41 in the regular season since becoming the Bills’ head coach in 2017 and the Bills have advanced to the postseason in all but one of his seasons with the team, but they have not been able to get past the Chiefs or Bengals over the last five seasons. While that’s led to questions from others about whether McDermott is the right coach to push the Bills over the finish line, there’s no inner doubt about what the future holds for the team.

“It’s not a matter of if. It’s just a matter of when,” McDermott said, via Tim Graham of TheAthletic.com. “That is the relentless pursuit.”

McDermott said that he understands “the fans’ frustration” with a team that keeps getting to the doorstep without being able to actually cross the threshold, but adds that “there’s not too many organizations that can say” they’ve had the Bills’ level of success over the course of his time in Buffalo. As long as there are teams that keep beating the Bills in the biggest games of the year, that’s going to be of little comfort in Buffalo and another year that ends short of the desired goal isn’t going to make life any easier for McDermott.

MIAMI

The torn Achilles for LB JAELEN PHILLIPS and the late season decline of the Dolphins somewhat matched up.  Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com on his rehab.

Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips tore his right Achilles on Nov. 24. On Saturday, he was walking in tennis shoes at Dolphins Challenge Cancer, the team’s annual marquee charity initiative which raises funds for cancer research.

“Check me out, man. No boot. No scooter,” Phillips told David Furones of the Sun Sentinel.

Phillips’ season ended on a non-contact play in a game against the Jets, and he underwent surgery not long afterward.

Phillips said he was uncertain whether he was ahead of schedule.

“I don’t know. I don’t know what the schedule is,” Phillips said. “All I know is I feel strong; I feel great. Just been attacking rehab. It’s been awesome so far. “

Phillips said he has leaned on his belief that God has a bigger plan for him after he missed the final seven games, including the postseason loss to the Chiefs.

His goal is to be back for the season opener.

“Definitely different,” Phillips said of his offseason. “It’s something that’s kind of new to me, because I’ve never had a lower extremity like that, long term at least. So, it’s been cool. It’s been a new experience. Just learning my body and figuring out what to do, what’s best for me. It’s been great.

“Honestly, I haven’t had any bad days throughout this whole process. Since surgery, I’ve been locked in and just motivated to get back for the season.”

Phillips totaled 6.5 sacks, 11 quarterback hits and an interception in eight games. He played every game in his first two seasons.

THIS AND THAT

COLLEGE PLAYOFF NEWS

If we read this, the 12-team playoff format for the first two expanded playoff series is just a stopgap until the Big Ten and SEC get more guaranteed money and more guaranteed teams.  Pete Thamel and Heather Dinich of ESPN.com:

The idea of a 14-team College Football Playoff starting in the 2026 season was discussed at CFP meetings in Dallas on Wednesday, just months before the start of the first season with a 12-team playoff.

CFP executive director Bill Hancock acknowledged the idea was discussed but declined to provide specific details, saying, “There’s work still to be done.”

With CFP officials pushing to finalize a deal for a television contract for the next eight years, three lingering issues remain unresolved: access, distribution of money and governance. Hancock said the issues need to be resolved within the next month.

The CFP management committee, which is made up of the commissioners and incoming Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua, met Wednesday and discussed potentially expanding the field after the current contract runs out following the 2025 season.

According to sources, the most dominant discussion of a new model revolved around a 14-team playoff, and CFP leaders left Wednesday’s meeting feeling there was momentum. The bump from 12 to 14 teams, as opposed to 16, would mostly address the issue of access rather than finances.

Officials will still need to discuss how a 14-team playoff would split up automatic qualifiers — for example, could the Big Ten and SEC get as many as four automatic bids? Those early discussions were had Wednesday, with no definitive conclusions.

Everything, of course, boils down to finances. The Big Ten and SEC have made it clear the next contract will be more financially favorable than the current one, where 80% of the money is split evenly among the Power 5 leagues. Now there are four power conferences, and the Big Ten and SEC have a combined 34 teams.

While officials didn’t dive too deep into financial issues at Wednesday’s meeting, Hancock said there was “more ground-level, detailed conversation than we’ve been able to have.”

“I think everybody rolled up their sleeves and just said, ‘We need to get to work and share what’s on our mind,’ and they all did,” he said.

There has been a push, especially from the Big Ten, for an increase in automatic qualifiers for the CFP. Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti has made it clear that he values the regular season and believes that increasing automatic qualifier spots could assure that late-season games have higher stakes.

“We want fans to think that you know a game in the second week of November, even if you’ve already lost two or three games, still has a lot of value,” Petitti told ESPN last week. “That’s the goal.”

A 14-team playoff would likely mean that the highest-ranked conference champions end up with a bye, which would incentivize those league title games. From there, the format would play out like the 12-team playoff that is debuting this season.

ESPN reported earlier this month that Petitti discussed bigger formats for the CFP in a fall meeting. The reasoning is simple math: His league will have 18 teams starting next season with the addition of USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington. The SEC will have 16 teams with the addition of Oklahoma and Texas.

“Today included lengthy and in-depth discussions about the future of the CFP — 2026 and beyond,” ACC commissioner Jim Phillips told ESPN. “Overall, it was a full day of candid conversations that included both positive elements as well as difficult differences that need further collaboration.

“Three areas in particular were addressed — governance, access/format and revenue distribution. All voices were heard, and we collectively agreed to move forward together as there is more work to be done.”

RICHARD SHERMAN

Another interaction with police for Richard Sherman.  The AP:

Former NFL star Richard Sherman was arrested early Saturday on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to the Washington State Patrol.

In a probable cause statement, Trooper Jordan Hazzard-Thomas, who helped respond to the traffic stop, reported talking to Sherman and noticing “the odor of intoxicants” and that Sherman’s eyes appeared to be “bloodshot and watery.”

Emails seeking comment on Sherman’s arrest were sent Saturday to a representative listed on his social media sites and to an attorney who has represented him in the past. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said in a statement that Sherman was expected to have a court hearing Monday.

Sherman, a three-time All-Pro cornerback, had an 11-year career in the NFL and helped lead the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl title during the 2013 season.

Sherman spent seven seasons in Seattle before going to San Francisco for three. He also played for Tampa Bay, and during his college years at Stanford University.

More recently he worked as a football analyst.

Sherman in 2022 pleaded guilty in Seattle to two misdemeanor charges stemming from a drunken driving and domestic disturbance the year before. He also admitted to a criminal infraction of speeding in a roadway construction zone.

2024 DRAFT (FREE AGENCY STYLE)

Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com asks us to imagine free agency as a draft:

Every NFL offseason, mock drafts captivate fans eager for the next crop of high-profile rookies to find their new homes. But so often the exercise overlooks the fact that free agency comes first — and often ends up reshaping certain draft priorities.

So what if we applied the mock draft format to free agency? Below, we’ve done just that, imagining where some of the best available veterans might end up if teams were allowed to “sign” them in a designated order.

Rather than list teams in reverse order of last season’s records, we’ve created the draft order based on projected 2024 salary cap space, so the teams with the most money to spend get the better pick of this year’s top free agents.

We’ve included all unrestricted free agents in the exercise except for the following players, who are widely expected to either re-sign with their current teams or receive a franchise tag:

Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr.

Jaguars OLB Josh Allen

Chiefs DL Chris Jones

Dolphins DL Christian Wilkins

Ravens DL Justin Madubuike

Bears CB Jaylon Johnson

Buccaneers S Antoine Winfield Jr.

Now, without further ado, the 2024 NFL free agency mock draft:

1. Commanders: DE Brian Burns

A reunion with Kirk Cousins would be intriguing, but presuming they address quarterback in the actual draft, the Dan Quinn-led Commanders instead look to replenish their stripped-down pass rush with the best edge presence available.

2. Titans: WR Tee Higgins

A match made in heaven, Higgins gives the Titans the No. 1-caliber wideout they’ve lacked since A.J. Brown’s exit. Plus, the move reunites Higgins with his former Bengals offensive coordinator in new head coach Brian Callahan.

3. Bears: WR Mike Evans

QB will be addressed one way or another, likely at the top of the real draft. Regardless, Evans finally gives them a formidable 1-2 punch out wide, pairing Evans’ big-bodied dominance with D.J. Moore’s electricity.

4. Patriots: QB Kirk Cousins

Hold onto your hats. While drafting a QB feels more likely (and smarter), who’s to say Jerod Mayo, Robert Kraft and Co. wouldn’t prefer a more proven technician, if given the chance to “burn some cash” on Cousins? In reality, of course, Cousins might be hesitant to join such a rebuilding organization, but New England’s still got a historic reputation and reliable defense.

5. Bengals: OT Trent Brown

A year after paying Orlando Brown Jr. to protect Joe Burrow’s blind side, the Bengals shore up the other bookend spot with free agency’s top right tackle. You can never do too much to help your QB’s front.

6. Colts: CB L’Jarius Sneed

With Chris Jones set to cost the Chiefs a pretty penny, Sneed figures to sneak onto the market. The Colts, meanwhile, are eager to inject some proven playmaking into their secondary, making him their No. 1 cover man.

7. Texans: WR Marquise Brown

“Hollywood” has struggled to stay on the field in recent years, but he’s got elite downfield ability, and the Texans should be all over additional weapons for young QB C.J. Stroud. It’s not hard to envision them connecting.

8. Lions: DE Danielle Hunter

Aidan Hutchinson headlines Detroit’s front four, but the Lions need more off the edge coming off their playoff run. So they rob their division-rival Vikings for Hunter, one of the most physically imposing pass rushers in the game.

9. Cardinals: WR Calvin Ridley

Even if Marquise Brown had returned, they would’ve needed to prioritize more weaponry for Kyler Murray. While Ridley is already approaching 30 coming off an uneven 2023, he remains a slippery big-play threat.

10. Buccaneers: QB Baker Mayfield

If ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Kirk Cousins would’ve been a spicy consideration here had he slid, but Mayfield settled in as a playoff-caliber starter in his 2023 resurgence. He stays put, giving Tampa Bay short-term peace of mind at QB.

11. Raiders: CB Kendall Fuller

Antonio Pierce needs help at every level of the defense now that he’s running the show. Fuller provides it on the back end, instantly becoming Vegas’ top corner after steady stints in Washington and Kansas City.

12. Panthers: OLB Bryce Huff

With Brian Burns cashing in elsewhere (see above), the Panthers quickly address their gaping hole at edge rusher by betting on the ascending Huff, who shined in limited snaps for Robert Saleh’s stingy Jets defense.

13. Rams: OLB Za’Darius Smith

At 31, Smith isn’t necessarily the ideal free agent target for the youth movement they began in 2023, but the Rams also badly need edge-rushing help, and he’s a plug-and-play starter who could help them return to the playoffs.

14. Falcons: OLB Leonard Floyd

Perpetually in need of pass-rushing reinforcements, the Falcons reunite Floyd, an annually underrated sack artist, with old Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, who’s now running the show in Atlanta.

15. Vikings: DL Leonard Williams

Brian Flores got the most out of the Vikings defense in 2023, but he could use more strength in the trenches. Williams gives them just that, offering positional versatility to help the entire front improve against both the run and pass.

16. Eagles: OLB Andrew Van Ginkel

A younger defensive starter would fit their M.O., but with Haason Reddick’s future in the air, the Eagles instead opt to bolster the pass rush, giving new coordinator Vic Fangio one of his high-effort standouts from the Dolphins.

17. Giants: WR Gabe Davis

The Giants can’t afford to let any of their QBs take snaps behind their current O-line again. But they also desperately need more juice out wide. Davis is mercurial but explosive, offering ridiculous speed on the perimeter.

18. Chiefs: OT Tyron Smith

The Chiefs took a one-year flyer on Donovan Smith at left tackle in 2023, and it worked just well enough. Smith is far more talented, even with an injury history, and makes sense as another stopgap blind-side protector for Patrick Mahomes.

19. Jaguars: OG Kevin Dotson

Jacksonville needs to tighten the screws across its O-line if it wants Trevor Lawrence to settle in for an improved Year 4. Dotson, meanwhile, really took it up a notch for the Rams in 2023, making him a top-tier upgrade on the interior.

20. Ravens: CB Stephon Gilmore

Patrick Queen is on the board here, but having already paid big bucks to Roquan Smith, Baltimore instead looks for a more affordable defensive upgrade, adding the seasoned Gilmore opposite Marlon Humphrey in the secondary.

21. Jets: OL Connor Williams

Aaron Rodgers could use another weapon out wide, but there’s nothing the Jets need more than help up front. Williams can play both guard and center, and this move also weakens a key divisional rival in the Dolphins.

22. Packers: S Kamren Curl

Green Bay has a clear need at safety, and new DC Jeff Hafley has a background prioritizing the defensive backfield. Curl, meanwhile, was rarely flashy but often steady in Washington, promising more stability in Lambeau.

23. Seahawks: LB Patrick Queen

Now under the direction of Mike Macdonald, the Seahawks reunite the old Ravens DC with one of his top players from 2023. Queen can step into the heart of Seattle’s defense, replacing Bobby Wagner with sideline-to-sideline tenacity.

24. 49ers: OG Robert Hunt

Barring a trade of Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk, the 49ers don’t have a ton of pressing needs across the board. But Hunt offers improved competition and depth along the interior, which is critical to Kyle Shanahan’s well-oiled offensive machine.

25. Steelers: LB Frankie Luvu

A QB like Ryan Tannehill would make sense here, but the Steelers have been swinging at linebackers for years. Luvu finally gives them a fast, physical, ascending playmaker whose blitzing skills should pair nicely with those of T.J. Watt.

26. Browns: DT D.J. Reader

Cleveland struck gold by adding Dalvin Tomlinson in 2023. Now they double down on the trench building by poaching Reader from the rival Bengals, banking on the former gap-plugger staying healthy enough to keep Cleveland’s “D” dominant.

27. Cowboys: OL Andre James

Tackle is arguably a bigger need than guard/center, considering Tyron Smith’s uncertain future, but James has played all over the line during his career. Keeping Dak Prescott’s front intact should be a top priority in Dallas.

28. Broncos: OLB Jonathan Greenard

Greenard has been effective when healthy in Houston, and the Broncos badly need some help off the edge after purging Frank Clark and Randy Gregory from their roster in 2023. He could be a potential steal of the free agent class.

29. Chargers: RB Saquon Barkley

The first running back off the board, Barkley lacks the steadiness of Derrick Henry or the intradivisional reputation of Josh Jacobs. But his unteachable talents should be appealing to Jim Harbaugh as the latter tries to surround Justin Herbert with playmakers.

30. Bills: CB Steven Nelson

Knocking on the door of a deep playoff run every year, the Bills really just need some stability at corner, and Nelson has provided just that in stops with the Chiefs, Steelers, Eagles and Texans. He’s a low-risk, high-reward addition.

31. Dolphins: OL Lloyd Cushenberry

If we’re expecting both Connor Williams and Robert Hunt to walk (see above), then Miami should be all in on any OL help it can get for Tua Tagovailoa. And Cushenberry graded out well at the heart of Denver’s line in 2023.

32. Saints: DE Jadeveon Clowney

The Saints refuse to rebuild, and Dennis Allen is back atop the staff, signaling another defensively minded march toward the wild-card round. Clowney fits in perfectly as a mercenary to aid the aging pass rush opposite Cameron Jordan.