| At FoxSports.com, some thoughts on last week’s action with a bit of a look ahead can be found here. |
| NFC NORTH |
| CHICAGODespite the desultory end to Pittsburgh’s season, Steelers OC and former Falcons head man Arthur Smith remains on the interview dance card of the Bears and Jets. Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com: The Bears and Jets both requested interviews with Smith and those conversations are set to take place this week. Albert Breer of SI.com reports that Smith will meet with the Bears on Wednesday and then move on to an interview with the Jets on Thursday. Smith was 21-30 over three seasons as the Falcons head coach and then moved to Pittsburgh after being fired following the 2023 season. Smith’s work with quarterbacks Justin Fields and Russell Wilson early in the season drew some good reviews, but a season-ending five-game losing streak didn’t leave anyone around the Steelers looking too good. That won’t keep him from making his case to a couple of teams who would see a winning record and first-round playoff flameout as a significant improvement on their recent results. |
| DETROITIt looks like all systems are go for RB DAVID MONTGOMERY. Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com: – Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery was a full participant in Tuesday’s walk-through practice at the Meijer Performance Center. As the top-seeded Lions prepare to host the Washington Commanders on Saturday night at Ford Field, Montgomery said he is excited to return for the divisional round after missing Detroit’s final three regular-season games with a right MCL injury. “It’s refreshing,” Montgomery said. “Kind of to be back in the position to where I can help the team, yeah, I missed it, so happy to be back.” Montgomery was also a key contributor for the Lions in last year’s playoff run to the NFC Championship Game, rushing for 183 yards in three games, the most in one postseason in franchise history. Montgomery says he is confident in the knee and “wouldn’t be out there if I wasn’t ready.” His rigorous rehabilitation routine included physically strengthening the MCL, which he described as “pretty strenuous” but also necessary to reach his goal of returning within this time frame. After suffering the knee injury during a Week 15 loss to Buffalo, Montgomery received three medical opinions before choosing rehab over surgery with the optimistic outcome of a playoff return. He said he is happy with the decision. “I think the speculation that I was getting surgery or that was kind of the end-all, be-all. Nobody really ever knew,” Montgomery said. “So when it got put out, I didn’t know that I was getting surgery. So the media told me, so it was news to me, but I’m always pretty confident in who I am and how I prepare.” |
GREEN BAYWith Notre Dame on the eve of a national championship game, the quarterback who led the Irish to the 1973 title with a one-point win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl is retiring. Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com: At his season-ending press conference on Tuesday morning, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters quarterbacks coach Tom Clements is retiring. Clements, 71, previously came out of retirement to rejoin the Packers in 2022 after spending 2019-2020 with the Cardinals. “Man, it’s been a cool ride with him for the last three years,” LaFleur said. “He’s incredibly consistent. What a great man, great mind. “Obviously, he’s had the opportunity to coach some of the best. I mean, you talk about [Brett] Favre, [Aaron] Rodgers, and then the development of Jordan Love, I mean, that’s pretty cool. I know he’s meant a lot to this organization, his contributions. He will definitely be missed. I just can’t say enough great things about him. Really appreciate him.” Clements, 71, first joined the Packers in 2006 as QBs coach under Mike McCarthy, coaching Favre for his last two years with the franchise. He was then promoted to offensive coordinate in 2012 before serving as assistant head coach from 2015-2016. LaFleur said there are “potentially” in-house candidates for quarterbacks coach, but “we’ll see what happens.” Sean Mannion, a recent quarterback with various teams including the Rams and the son of a great high school coach, is on the Packers staff and would seem to be the leading in-house candidate. The iconic shot from the iconic Sugar Bowl game: ![]() The Irish were up a point, 24-23, in the final minutes when Alabama punted to the one-yard line. Hold Notre Dame, get the ball, possibly kick the winning field goal – that was the plan as ND 3rd-and-8 from the three-yard line. Dave Casper, who would go on to greatness with the Raiders, was the expected target down the middle, but Clements threw instead to Robin Weber, who had not caught a pass all season. Weber caught it for a 35-yard gain and Notre Dame ran out the clock as Irish fans, including students standing in the last row of the stadium in that end zone went crazy. Part of this 2023 ESPN.com story from Rob Demovsky on Clements and his relationship with Aaron Rodgers and how a corporate lawyer became a coach: Neither LaFleur nor Love knew Clements personally before last year, but both knew of him because of how often Rodgers raved about him. “Tom just understands the little things in the position and, so, every drill is working on one specific thing,” Rodgers said last year upon Clements’ return to the Packers. “And it’s really how I was able to polish my fundamentals and learn how to throw in rhythm and throw on time and not make premeditated decisions — one of the quarterback mortal sins.” When LaFleur had an opening on his staff following the 2021 season, he wondered if Clements might be interested. Clements was out of coaching following a two-year stint with the Arizona Cardinals (2019-20), when he worked with Kyler Murray during the No. 1 pick’s first two seasons. So, while LaFleur was in Los Angeles for the NFL Honors event at the Super Bowl, he met Clements at a restaurant near where Clements lives and where his wife runs Clements Design. (Her client list includes Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo, Scooter and Yael Braun, Kris Jenner, Bruno Mars and Jennifer Lawrence, according to Architectural Digest.) Clements never thought he would coach again after he left the Packers the first time. In 2015, McCarthy made Clements the offensive playcaller only to take the role back late in that season. Clements returned for one more year as the associate head coach/offense before he walked away. He said he tried to get another job following the 2016 season, but nothing materialized. He returned to Los Angeles and began to work with a friend who had a real estate development company. Two years later, then-Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury called Clements on a recommendation from David Raih, who had worked with Clements in Green Bay and then joined the Cardinals’ staff. After two years in Arizona, where he helped Murray become Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2019 and a Pro Bowler in 2020, Clements thought he was done. If he thought he was retired after his first stint in Green Bay, then he was — as he put it — “retired, retired” after the Cardinals. Clements never even saw himself getting into coaching in the first place. Despite finishing fourth in the 1974 Heisman Trophy vote as Notre Dame’s quarterback, he didn’t get any looks from the NFL right away. So he went to the CFL. After four years in Canada, he got a shot with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1980. He played in one game, completing 7 of 12 passes for 77 yards in an early-season loss to the San Diego Chargers, and then returned to the CFL. It was also in 1980 when he decided to go to law school part-time. He completed his law degree from Notre Dame in 1986, one year before his CFL playing career ended. Clements then worked for four years at a law firm in Chicago that handled corporate law. “The more I did it,” Clements said, “the less I liked it.” He then inquired about a football job at his alma mater, and sure enough, Holtz hired him to coach quarterbacks. After four years, he got his shot at coaching in the NFL, thanks to Ditka, who had just taken the New Orleans Saints job. The connection there was with Clements’ wife, Kathleen, who worked for Ditka’s charitable foundation when they lived in Chicago. “I just said, ‘If you ever get back in, I’d love to coach with you,'” Clements said. “And he got back in, and he gave me a call, and the rest is history.” |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASEDGE MICAH PARSONS is taking the departure of Coach Mike McCarthy hard per ESPN.com: Star Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons expressed his disappointment with head coach Mike McCarthy’s departure from the franchise, calling the development “devastating” Tuesday. “I’m obviously very sad because of the relationships we had with Coach McCarthy and everything he’s done for our program,” Parsons said on “The Edge” podcast. “Three straight 12-5 seasons, playoff appearances and obviously an unfortunate year due to injuries. … It is devastating. Coach Mike is a great father, great coach. One of the most winningest coaches. He’s always been good to us as a unit, coaches, players. Losing a great coach like Mike hurts.” McCarthy and the Cowboys parted ways Monday, with the sides never reaching the point of negotiating a new deal, ending his five-season run as the team’s head coach. McCarthy had a 49-35 record with the Cowboys, including 7-10 this season, which was marred by injuries. However, he went 1-3 in the postseason, including home flops in the wild-card round against the San Francisco 49ers (2021) and Green Bay Packers (2023). “It’s going to be a very interesting offseason. It’s going to be very interesting due to the free agents, coaching,” Parsons said. “It’s going to be a complete reset. So, it’s going to be a very interesting and challenging offseason.” However, Parsons said he trusts Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones in finding the team’s next head coach. Jones already has spoken with former Cowboys star cornerback and current Colorado coach Deion Sanders, doing so Monday night, and those talks are expected to continue, a source told ESPN. “But listen, I already know … I trust my owner, I trust our GM, I trust [vice president of player personnel] Will McClay that we’re going to make the right decisions when it comes to coaching,” Parsons said.– – -RJ Young of FoxSports.com on why hiring Deion Sanders is all about family and makes perfect sense to Jerry Jones: Perhaps no owner in the NFL understands the value of “keeping it all in the family” better than Jerry Jones, who got to say as much in episode 9 of the hit TV show “Landman.” In a cameo across from Jon Hamm and Billy Bob Thorton, Jones took five minutes to deliver a message that could only come from a place that is real, true and authentic. Playing himself, a wildcatter who dug holes in the ground and struck a fortune, Jones told the true story about his daughter Charlotte leaving Arkansas to study at Stanford. He couldn’t stand being so far away from her for such an extended period of time, so he picked up and moved to Palo Alto, California, in order to be near her. The only way he could make a move like that was if he also got to work out there. So he did. He found some land near Brentwood, California. “I bought 25 lots like I was gonna build 25 houses, except I drilled four gas wells,” Jones said. “And those four gas wells in 18 months paid me enough money for me to buy the Dallas Cowboys. Paying attention to my kids actually led to me getting involved into the passion of my life. And all along, all I was trying to do was hang out near my daughter.” All along, all Deion Sanders has been trying to do is hang out near his sons, and that has led to a passion for coaching football. Never mind that Sanders played with the Cowboys for five years, led the team to the Super Bowl and was an All-Pro in Dallas. Never mind that his forever home, a 5,000-acre Country Prime Ranch, is in Canton, Texas. Never mind that Texas residents don’t pay state income tax. No coach in America has a better understanding of why Jones employs all three of his children in high-ranking positions within the Dallas Cowboys. No owner understands better why Deion Sanders needed to have his sons play on a team he coaches. Not only did Prime get into coaching for his boys, but he has never coached a single season of football without his youngest son, Shedeur Sanders – who might be the first QB off the board in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft – on his team. Shedeur has started 47 collegiate games at quarterback with Deion as his head coach. In those games, Prime and Shedeur are 33-14 — with seven of those defeats coming in Year 1 at Colorado together. Pairing a new head coach with the quarterback he wants isn’t a new concept in the NFL. The Arizona Cardinals did just that when they hired Kliff Kingsbury, who made Kyler Murray, the man he wanted, the No. 1 selection in the 2019 NFL Draft. While Dak Prescott’s four-year, $240 million extension comes into play this season and his no-trade clause is still active, I have little doubt that if Jones wants to see the Cowboys move on from Prescott, that’s what will happen. The salary capologists will rage. The analytics dorks will vent, and Dallas sports talk radio will talk about it for hundreds of hours. Prescott and his big-number contract are not a problem for someone who has the kind of money Jones has. Meanwhile, Shedeur will leave Colorado having set every notable passing record in program history. He will also leave as one of the most popular players in the sport. And there is little doubt that Shedeur would like to continue playing for his father. Back in 2021 and 2022, Deion Sanders was constantly in and out of the hospital, having to undergo eight surgeries during that time to remove blood clots that could’ve proven fatal. Shedeur made it a point to visit his father every day as the season played out in 2021, and during that time, his play on the field suffered. Deion missed multiple games in his son’s career for the first time as a head coach, and Shedeur felt his father’s absence. “Shedeur came to me and said, ‘Dad, I need you,'” Sanders recalled. “You gotta understand he had never played a game without me in his life except for those.” After witnessing his son’s play suffer, Deion acquiesced. He’d lost 30 pounds in the hospital. But he kept his word, frail and weak. He watched Shedeur throw the game-winning TD pass, his son and safety Shilo Sanders make the game-clinching interception, and his Jackson State Tigers defeat the Southern Jaguars, 21-17. “I said, ‘God ,look at you,”‘ Deion told Shannon Sharpe on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast. “[You had] 21 points on the scoreboard with Shedeur making the game-winning pass and Shilo making the game-clinching interception.” Deion has made 21, the number he wore in the NFL and made famous with the Dallas Cowboys, as much a part of his image as his moniker, “Coach Prime.” Where there is a sign to see, Deion Sanders will notice it. He is the only head coach who succeeded in appearing on “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” “CBS This Morning,” a talk show on Tubi — “We Got Time Today” — and a documentary series on Prime Video. It’s the latter that led him to appear on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” where he gave an answer as to whether he’d pursue a head-coaching job in the NFL. “The only way I would consider [coaching in the NFL] is to coach my sons,” Deion said back on Jan. 8. By Jan. 13, Jones had fired head coach Mike McCarthy and put in a call to the only man who might be bigger than Jones in Texas. FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz broke the news. By Monday night, media members and take artists were in full flight around news that seemed preposterous to most folks who hadn’t been paying close attention to Prime’s rise through the coaching ranks. Those are the same folks who say this year’s Heisman Trophy winner, Travis Hunter, a talent unlike the sport has ever seen, can’t play both ways in the NFL. They forget that Hunter played for the only man who has done that in the modern NFL, and the only man who knows what it physically takes. Deion has said that he thinks of Hunter as a fourth son to him, which means Jones would need to find a way to not only add Shedeur to the Dallas Cowboys’ roster, but Shilo and Hunter, too. While there remains little doubt about when and where Shedeur and Hunter will be drafted — the first round — some still harbor concerns about Shilo’s place in the NFL. He is an undersized box safety who has made 137 tackles, forced five fumbles and made one interception over two seasons at Colorado. His ceiling compares favorably with Bob Sanders when he was the Indianapolis Colts’ box safety and a two-time All-Pro. While Bronny James might be unplayable in the NBA, Shilo can and should make an NFL franchise’s 53-man roster. There’s no doubt to me Jones would make the same concession for Deion that the Los Angeles Lakers did for LeBron James — even if he wanted to make his podcast partner his offensive coordinator or his head coach, like James did with J.J. Redick. Stars rule and stars make their own rules. Deion Sanders is on the short list of the most popular head coaches in North America and probably polls better than Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr and Ohio State coach Ryan Day. In fact, the only coach who might be more popular than Prime right now is Kansas Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, and that’s far from a sure thing. Knowing what we do about Jones, we shouldn’t doubt that he has both the power and money to bring Sanders to the Cowboys — and yes, that includes paying the $8 million buyout to secure him. Could anything short of making Prime the highest-paid coach in college football, alongside an extension, keep him in Boulder if Jones decides to press for him? Paying Prime more than double his current annual salary — $5.7 million — might not cut it, as USC coach Lincoln Riley, Florida State coach Mike Norvell and Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer each make more than $10 million annually, according to USA Today. Paying Prime a similar amount to Georgia coach Kirby Smart, who makes more than $13 million annually, or Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, who makes more than $11 million annually, might cause Boulder brass to blink, but that’s a far better fate than fading back into oblivion, which is where Colorado football was before Prime arrived. Colorado’s identity is tied to Deion Sanders — not the other way around. We know what happens to Colorado football if he leaves, and so do they. So ante up or prepare for nothingness to be thy name again, Colorado. Now tell the truth and shame the Devil. You knew damn well Deion Sanders was going to be up for the Dallas Cowboys coaching job. You knew because this is who Sanders has been all along. You knew from the moment Sanders got out of his chair for the eighth time at a youth football practice to correct a coach on the fly. You knew from the moment he took a hard look at how much he loved his family, knew about football, and had an ability to convey meaning that this was always going to be true. You’ve already made peace with it. If it comes to pass, you’ll don a Cowboy hat, sit back in your chair and turn on FOX in the Sunday afternoon window to watch Deion Sanders lead Dallas in the most compelling season the organization has seen since 1996. And you’ll smile about it. |
| PHILADELPHIAGood for Coach Nick Sirianni who is all in with WR A.J. BROWN doing some quick reading while on the bench. Tim McManus of ESPN.com: Eagles coach Nick Sirianni offered a strong defense of A.J. Brown on Tuesday, saying he was “definitely OK” with the star wide receiver reading a book on the sideline in-game, and pushed back on those who speculated what was behind Brown’s actions. Sirianni’s comments came Tuesday during a radio appearance on 94.1 WIP after Brown stirred conversation by reading “Inner Excellence” by Jim Murphy on the bench during the Eagles’ wild-card playoff win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. “Some guys pray in between, some guys mediate in between. A.J. reads in between. Whatever these guys need to do to put their mind in a place where they can play with great detail and great effort, I fully encourage them to do that,” Sirianni said. Brown had one catch on three targets in the game, leading to questions of whether he was acting out of frustration. “We don’t do any research, and we jump to a conclusion of, ‘Oh he must be disgruntled.’ That to me is lazy,” Sirianni added. “Everyone needs to figure out why he’s doing it before they jump to judgment on the man. Because the man, A.J. Brown is a great, great, great person. The man A.J. Brown is the best receiver — and I’ll say it without hesitation — the best receiver that this city has ever seen … It’s hard for me to watch when people are getting on him without doing the proper research of who the man is and what he’s doing in the first place.” Brown explained that he brings the book to every game and reads it because there are passages that bring him a sense of peace. And no, he wasn’t reading it because he was discontented. All of the attention has been very good for book sales. “Inner Excellence” took the top spot on Amazon’s trending list after previously being ranked 523,497th. |
| WASHINGTONLast year at about this time, negotiations between the Commanders and Lions OC Ben Johnson fell apart. Lake Lewis says it was because GM Adam Peters wanted a coach to work with QB JAYDEN DANIELS – and Johnson was good to go with QB SAM HOWELL III. @JayDanielsMVP#Lions OC Ben Johnson wanted former #Commanders QB Sam Howell to be the team’s QB in which GM Adam Peters told Johnson that he was drafting a QB, via @LakeLewisJr. Adam Peters made the decision to turn the plane around, cancelling the interview 😳😳😳 |
| NFC WEST |
| LOS ANGELES RAMSRams DC Chris Shula is in the limelight after he appeared on camera frequently while his defense solved the riddle of QB SAM DARNOLD on Monday night. But, he and his unit failed to get anything done the last time they met the Eagles, as his Coach Sean McVay reminds us through Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: In Week 12 against the Rams, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley ran for 255 yards and had 47 receiving yards. His total of 302 yards from scrimmage was the best of his career and the best in the NFL in 2024. On Sunday, Barkley gets another shot at the Rams in the divisional round of the playoffs. Rams coach Sean McVay talked this week about that 37-20 loss to the Eagles and why the Rams took a hard look in the mirror afterward. “When you have humbling experiences, with the right kinds of people, those are where the real growth opps exist,” McVay said. “We had a lot of guys as a team look inward and say, ‘Is this really what we want to be about? Where are the things that we can adjust, adapt, from a coaching perspective, and then where’s the sense of urgency that’s going to be required for coaches and players to be able to execute the way that we want? What kind of work needs to be put in throughout the course of the week? What do we need to do? How do we want to act, interact, and respond accordingly with how we move forward?’ That humbling night, when you have the right people, a lot of the scars that we’ve had as a team have been what led us to the point where we’re at.” McVay said Barkley is a special player but also that he thinks the Rams’ game plan and execution could have been better. “Saquon is probably gonna win offensive player of the year,” McVay said. “There were some things where we could have put our guys in better spots.” The Rams will need to be in better spots against Barkley on Sunday. |
| AFC NORTH |
| CLEVELANDThe disaster that is QB DESHAUN WATSON continues with word that he has re-torn his Achilles and will not be available in 2025 (which could be a good thing actually). ProFootballTalk.com is on the case that he was off his rehab plan when the calamity occurred and the Browns might be able to save $92 million. The second tear of quarterback Deshaun Watson’s Achilles tendon could give the Browns their last and best chance to avoid the remaining $92 million owed to him under his fully-guaranteed five-year deal. The primary question is whether he re-tore the tendon doing something that his contract specifically prevents him from doing, under the clauses that guarantee his $46 million salary in 2025 and his $46 million salary in 2026. Based on his contract, the guarantees void if Watson is injured “as a result of skydiving, hang gliding, rock or mountain climbing, racing of any kind including as a driver or passenger, motorcycling, use of any off-road or all-terrain vehicle, professional wrestling, boxing, use of firearms, scuba diving, jet skiing, surfing, bungee jumping, basketball, diving, and snow or water skiing.” The team’s announcement of Watson’s re-injury says that he rolled his ankle in Miami. If he rolled his ankle by doing any of the things he is expressly prohibited from doing and the injury happened because of it, the Browns have an avenue for avoiding $92 million. Even if the Browns can’t prove that Watson was engaging in activities that triggered a void of his guarantees, recent images on social media show him without a walking boot. Given the difficulty of rolling an ankle while in a walking boot, it’s possible that he wasn’t wearing a boot when he was supposed to be wearing a boot. If the team-specified rehab protocols required him to wear a boot, that could be another avenue for voiding the guarantees. For the Browns, here’s the question: Do they want to play hardball with Watson? If they do, the first step is to fully investigate what he was doing when he rolled his ankle. The second step is to assess whether he rolled his ankle while not wearing a walking boot when he possibly should have been. With $92 million at stake, and given that the contract has to date been a disaster for the Browns, why wouldn’t they explore every possible strategy for legitimately avoiding the obligation? And, since they employ a chief strategy officer, wouldn’t it be Paul DePodesta’s job to strategize a path toward avoiding $92 million in cash and cap commitments to a player they’d undoubtedly cut if they could? Given the magnitude of the remaining payments, a legal fight would be inevitable, if the Browns try to cut Watson off. And that opens the door for a settlement, with reduced guarantees and/or a reduced salary. Watson would have to decide whether to take an all-or-nothing risk in a grievance — or to manage the risk of losing by accepting less than he’s owed. However it plays out, the Browns specifically stating that Watson rolled his ankle in Miami becomes a strong hint that they’re thinking about their options. As they should be. Time will tell what they opt to do. Based on the facts as developed during the team’s investigation of how and where and when the ankle was rolled, the Browns might be able to get out from under the worst contract in NFL history. Jason Lloyd of The Athletic builds the case against Watson: To grasp how the Cleveland Browns spiraled into one of the worst teams in the NFL, it’s important to first return to the end of last season. The Browns dismantled their offense this year and rebuilt an inferior version in an attempt to appease Deshaun Watson. All of the changes failed miserably. The Browns bottomed out as one of the worst teams in the league and plummeted to a 3-14 finish. They hold the second pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. For three years, the Browns contorted themselves to match Watson’s strengths and desires. But teammates ultimately grew tired of the organization catering to an ineffective quarterback, and he never really fit in Cleveland. He received at least one death threat. Now as a second Achilles tear leaves Watson’s career in danger, the Browns can begin the painful process of officially moving on from the worst trade and biggest mistake in franchise history. How did it get to this? And how did it end so badly? Look to last year. After Watson’s 2023 season ended prematurely with a broken bone in his shoulder, Joe Flacco joined the Browns in December and resurrected his career by throwing for 300 yards in four consecutive games — something Watson failed to do once in 19 starts with the Browns. It was an embarrassing exposure of the franchise quarterback. The problem was never the scheme. Flacco’s performance during an 11-6 finish and improbable run to the playoffs earned him the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year and merited another contract to remain in Cleveland as Watson’s backup. “You have to bring Joe back; somebody has to teach Deshaun the offense,” one member of the organization said as the season neared its conclusion. “Joe picked it up faster in 30 days than Deshaun has in two years.” It was a stinging indictment of a quarterback the Browns invested three first-round picks and guaranteed $230 million to obtain. Coach Kevin Stefanski had shown Watson film clips of his offense during their first meeting in March 2022, demonstrating how Watson could thrive in this wide zone, play-action scheme crafted by Gary Kubiak and Mike Shanahan. But after he arrived in Cleveland, Watson never embraced Stefanski’s system. He wanted to be in shotgun, and Stefanski wanted him under center to make the play-action component more effective. The Browns tried giving Watson what he wanted. They fired offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt after the 2023 season and brought in Ken Dorsey, who had more experience with mobile quarterbacks like Josh Allen and Cam Newton. Two weeks after Van Pelt was fired, Bill Callahan departed as offensive line coach to join his son Brian’s staff in Tennessee. I’ve spoken to players who believe Callahan would have stayed had Van Pelt remained on staff — when Brian first started receiving head-coaching interviews in 2023, Bill made clear he was staying in Cleveland — but all of that seemed to change when Van Pelt was fired. Andy Dickerson was hired to replace Callahan. The changes were a disaster. Dorsey was supposed to deliver the type of offense Watson wanted — one with more choice routes between the quarterback and receivers, more shotgun formations and more freedom. None of it worked, partly because Watson never looked like the same quarterback he was in Houston. The Browns failed to score 20 points in any Watson start this season. They averaged 4 yards per play with him, the lowest mark in the league for any quarterback who made at least five starts, according to TruMedia. It was the third-lowest output by any Browns quarterback who made at least five starts in a season since the team returned to the league in 1999. Only Charlie Frye and Doug Pederson had worse production. The line under Dickerson struggled with injuries and protections. Watson was sacked 33 times in his seven starts, although he did little to help himself. He consistently missed getting proper depth in the pocket — when he was supposed to drop 8 yards, he was only getting 6, according to two players with knowledge of the Browns’ offensive schemes. Watson continually ran into his linemen on sacks because he was standing in places they didn’t expect him to be. What isn’t clear is how much Watson’s struggles can be attributed to the shoulder injury he suffered in 2023. A displaced fracture to the glenoid bone ended his season after six games. It was a common injury among baseball pitchers, but much rarer in quarterbacks, leaving the team with no way of knowing when or whether a full recovery was possible. At the start of a late August practice, all four Browns quarterbacks went through a standard footwork and accuracy drill that generally ends with each quarterback hearing a color on command from an assistant coach and firing passes toward a net with various colors marked above the targets. But with the early portion of practice open to reporters and cameras, it was odd to see Watson throwing passes to an equipment staffer nearby while the other three quarterbacks tried to hit the net targets. One rival executive who spoke with Browns officials before the start of the season was concerned about what lay ahead for them. “Not an ounce of positivity about the offense,” the executive said. “The vibes aren’t exactly high.” Watson routinely missed open receivers. Passes in the opener against the Dallas Cowboys sailed 5 yards out of bounds. In a September loss to the New York Giants, the Browns ran a slant/out combo route on a run-pass option on a key fourth down late in the game. Tight end Jordan Akins was open in the flat, but Watson didn’t see him and was stopped short of the first down on a keeper. At his weekly media availability three days later, Watson said Akins was “a decoy” on that play and not an intended receiver. “We all saw the same things,” one player said. “We all watch the film. Guys are open.” According to multiple players, those mistakes weren’t pointed out in film sessions, frustrating at least a few veterans who believed Stefanski wouldn’t criticize Watson in front of the team. When Jameis Winston replaced Watson after he tore his Achilles in October, players said Stefanski returned to pointing out the quarterback’s mistakes in film sessions. Off the field, Watson spent the year dealing with traumatic personal matters. His agent, David Mulugheta, received a disturbing email in June from someone threatening to shoot Watson or burn down his house, according to a police report obtained by The Athletic. Police later closed the investigation with no suspects identified. In the week leading up to the season opener, Watson’s father and a college teammate died within a span of a few days. “There are other things that are bigger than this,” Watson said. “It’s been a long week … it wasn’t even really about football.” Watson faced a new civil lawsuit during the season alleging he sexually assaulted a woman in 2020. The suit was quickly settled, and the league closed a brief investigation citing insufficient evidence. That’s how it has gone for Watson in Cleveland. He has settled more than 20 lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct since he arrived from Houston. He served an 11-game suspension and paid a $5 million fine for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. If this is the end of his Browns career, his three-year tenure in Cleveland will conclude with a 61 percent completion rate, 3,365 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and more settled lawsuits than games played. Watson’s EPA (expected points added) per dropback with the Browns was -0.19, according to TruMedia, which ranks 197th out of 201 NFL quarterbacks since 2000 (minimum 15 starts). The only quarterbacks who were worse: Zach Wilson (2021-24 New York Jets), John Skelton (2010-12 Arizona Cardinals), Blaine Gabbert (2011-13 Jacksonville Jaguars) and JaMarcus Russell (2007-09 Raiders). Watson is the only name on that list who wasn’t on a rookie deal. Players told me there was a constant heaviness surrounding Watson in the locker room and that they felt a different energy in the building upon his departure after his Achilles injury in October. A couple of veterans told me it felt like a cloud had been lifted. Dorsey and Dickerson were fired the day after the season ended. Former tight ends coach Tommy Rees, promoted to offensive coordinator Tuesday, will likely be tasked with helping Stefanski return to the wide zone, play-action scheme again in 2025. The Browns enter draft season perfectly positioned to select a new quarterback if they choose. Earlier this month, Bailey Zappe became the 40th quarterback to start a game for the Browns since they returned to the NFL in 1999, a shocking number for a team that has never enjoyed stability at the most important position. Watson was supposed to change all of that. Instead, those within the Browns had privately made clear they were moving on from him even before he reinjured his Achilles. Watson tore it for a second time when he rolled his ankle while in Miami, according to the team, and had a second surgery to repair it last week. Because Cleveland still owes him in excess of $170 million against its cap sheet, the Browns were expected to carry him on the 2025 roster before the reinjury. At the very least, the second Achilles tear means they could place him on injured reserve so he isn’t consuming a spot on the 53-man roster. In addition, Cleveland can get insurance relief against his salary and a portion of the cap hit on the $92 million still owed to him. The image of Watson being carted off the field with a towel draped over his head while a smattering of Browns fans cheered is a painful reminder of how messy the Watson era has been. Three years after handing out the richest guaranteed contract in NFL history, the Browns are back in the quarterback market. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| HOUSTONThe Texans have decided what the Steelers and Panthers and Ravens have before them, they don’t need WR DIOTAE JOHNSON around – even during the playoffs. The Houston Texans on Tuesday waived wide receiver Diontae Johnson as they prepare for their divisional-round playoff game on Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs. “Unfortunately, with Diontae it didn’t work out,” coach DeMeco Ryans said Tuesday. “We’re on to the Chiefs.” Following the Texans’ wild-card playoff victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday, Johnson was visibly upset in the locker room. He was fully dressed sitting at his locker staring in frustration because of a lack of playing time and targets. Running back Joe Mixon and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair tried to comfort and encourage him. Johnson played only 15 out of the Texans’ 70 offensive snaps and received only one target. He finished the game with one catch for 12 yards. Johnson had three catches for 24 yards in two games with Houston after the Texans claimed Johnson off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 23. Baltimore had moved on from the receiver after he refused to enter a game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 1. Before the Ravens waived Johnson, they suspended him one game for his refusal to play against the Eagles. Baltimore had acquired him in a trade with the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 29, but he played only 39 snaps for the team, catching one pass for 6 yards. The Panthers acquired Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers before the season. He had 30 catches for 257 yards and three touchdowns for Carolina when he was dealt to the Ravens. Best win that the team has had in a long time – and you’re “visibly upset” over a lack of targets… |
| INDIANAPOLISIt was announced Wednesday that it will be the Colts hosting the NFL’s first game in Berlin this fall. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| 2025 DRAFTDane Brugler of The Athletic gives us a two-round Mock Draft: There are still plenty of unknowns at this point in the NFL calendar, including multiple teams with head coach, general manager and coordinator openings yet to be filled. Between those soon-to-be hires and the impending roster upheaval that’ll happen in free agency, team needs will fluctuate over the next three months. What do we know at this point? We know the draft order for the first 24 picks. We know almost all of the underclassmen who have officially joined this draft class (players in the College Football Playoff championship have until Jan. 24 to declare). And we know that quarterback questions will drive draft debates over the next three months. This year’s quarterback class isn’t remotely close to last year’s — I don’t know any evaluator who would dispute that. But “quarterback desperation” is a real thing, and with very few options in free agency or the trade market, several teams will feel forced to reach or possibly even trade up into the top 10. As always, this mock is based on team needs and information gathered from conversations with sources in the NFL and college football, not my personal rankings or what I believe each GM should do. There also are not any projected trades in this two-round exercise. 1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, MiamiThe incoming general manager in Tennessee will inherit a great opportunity — either invest in a quarterback at No. 1 or trade the pick to a quarterback-needy team. Any other outcome would be surprising. If the Titans opt not to take a QB, the ideal scenario would be to trade back two spots with the Giants. The Titans wouldn’t receive close to what the Bears scored in compensation from the Panthers for the No. 1 pick two years ago, but they would gain additional draft capital and still be in position to take Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter at No. 3. However, in this mock, the Titans decide Ward is an upgrade over their current quarterback situation. His loose play style won’t be for everyone, but his ability to create explosive plays and the gradual improvements he has shown each year are promising aspects of his profile. Some scouts have compared Ward’s upside to that of Steve McNair, which would be music to the ears of fans in Nashville. 2. Cleveland Browns: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn StateIt’s likely that Deshaun Watson has played his final snap for the Cleveland Browns, so a quarterback certainly will be on the table here. But I don’t expect Cleveland to force the pick if the right fit isn’t there. Carter playing opposite Myles Garrett would be a scary thought for opposing offenses. 3. New York Giants: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, ColoradoIf the Giants are unable to move up for Ward, would they like Shedeur Sanders enough to draft him at No. 3? In this scenario, they don’t and instead opt for arguably the best player in the draft. Hunter would give New York an upgrade at corner — and he’d be a fun weapon for Brian Daboll to mix into the offense for the Giants’ TBD quarterback. 4. New England Patriots: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, ArizonaHow we view the Patriots’ needs at the moment compared to three months from now could vary wildly, based on the cap space this organization has to address key positions in free agency. With his tracking skills and fluid catch radius, McMillan has a skill set similar to that of Tee Higgins (who shouldn’t see a minute of free agency, if the Bengals are smart). 5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Will Johnson, CB, MichiganPersonally, I think this is too early for Johnson — but that will be the case for several prospects in this year’s first round. I do really like Johnson’s eyes, feet and coverage IQ to match and make plays on the ball. He has a starter-caliber skill set and would upgrade one of the Jaguars’ outside corner spots as a rookie. 6. Las Vegas Raiders: Shedeur Sanders, QB, ColoradoThere are a ton of mixed opinions in the league about Sanders, and it will be interesting to see how (or if) that changes throughout the draft process once coaches get involved. But with Mark Davis and Tom Brady heavily influencing this pick, I’m not sure the Raiders could pass on Sanders — although, hopefully the new head coach and general manager will have a say in that decision. 7. New York Jets: Mason Graham, DT, MichiganThe Jets are another team that feels in limbo because of question marks at quarterback. But the roster has plenty of other needs, as well, including on the defensive line. Graham isn’t super long, but he’ll have a high floor in the NFL because he knows how to deconstruct blocks and be a factor against the run or pass. 8. Carolina Panthers: Jalon Walker, Edge, GeorgiaWalker played an off-ball linebacker role in Athens and spent most of his time dropping in coverage or defending the run. But with his length, power and explosive movements, he is at his best rushing the passer. A native of North Carolina, Walker has the talent and mentality that fit what the Panthers are trying to build. 9. New Orleans Saints: Malaki Starks, S, GeorgiaSafety might feel like a luxury option for a Saints team that needs help at quarterback, pass catcher and on the defensive line. But Starks can play across the secondary and be a playmaker in different ways. With his athleticism, football IQ and makeup, he will be an easy sell in NFL war rooms. 10. Chicago Bears: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio StateSimmons was trending towards being OT1 in this draft class until he suffered a knee injury in mid-October, which required season-ending surgery. His draft stock will be in limbo until the combine, when teams receive medical feedback from their doctors. But if he’s healthy, Simmons is a natural left tackle with a high ceiling. 11. San Francisco 49ers: Armand Membou, OT/G, MissouriBased on the players expected to be available in this range, there is a decent chance the 49ers use this pick to address the trenches, either on the offensive or defensive line. Membou is incredibly underrated, but he plays with exceptional control, athleticism and finish. He would give San Francisco an ascending player with guard-tackle versatility. 12. Dallas Cowboys: Luther Burden III, WR, MissouriThe Cowboys have to find more answers in the passing game, outside of CeeDee Lamb. Burden is an explosive threat at all three levels but does his best work with the ball in his hands, becoming a running back after the catch. 13. Miami Dolphins: Will Campbell, OT/G, LSUCampbell earned the starting left tackle job in Baton Rouge shortly after he arrived as an 18-year-old freshman, then allowed only two sacks in his 38 career starts. Some scouts see him at tackle, while others believe he is a guard. But with potential shuffling to come on Miami’s offensive line this offseason, Campbell could help in multiple spots. 14. Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn StateThis pairing is going to be popular throughout the process — and it is easy to see why. Warren will have the testing numbers that general manager Chris Ballard covets, and he is NFL-ready and quarterback-friendly, exactly the combo the Colts should be targeting to help Anthony Richardson develop. Let’s be real: This regime must draft players who will help win games immediately. 15. Atlanta Falcons: Shemar Stewart, DL, Texas A&MIt will be fascinating to see how early Stewart goes on draft night. His production this season (5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks in 12 games ) was underwhelming, but NFL teams don’t draft stats — they draft traits. And Stewart has exceptional length and athletic tools for a player who’s 6-foot-6 and 285 pounds. 16. Arizona Cardinals: Derrick Harmon, DT, OregonThe Cardinals will continue to build up in the trenches this draft. No interior lineman in the FBS created more pressures than Harmon did this season. He has the strength, quickness and play violence to win in different ways, and from different alignments. 17. Cincinnati Bengals: Mykel Williams, Edge, GeorgiaLast year, the Bengals drafted a toolsy offensive lineman from Georgia in the first round (Amarius Mims). They flip to the other side of the ball and do it again in this mock. Williams looked like a future top-10 pick as a freshman, but he didn’t quite reach dominant status over his three seasons in Athens. The talent, however, is there for him to grow into a game-wrecker off the edge. 18. Seattle Seahawks: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT/G, TexasThere are plenty of differing opinions around the league on Banks. Some see him as a tackle; others as a guard. Some think he could sneak into the top 15; others see more of a late first-rounder. The Seahawks’ issues on the offensive line extend beyond their personnel, but Banks has “quality starter” written all over him and would help stabilize things. 19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: James Pearce Jr., Edge, TennesseeThe main reason the Buccaneers fell short in their playoff loss to the Commanders was that their defense couldn’t get off the field. Like most prospects, Pearce isn’t a finished product, but he brings juice to be disruptive as a pass rusher. He finished top three in the SEC in pressures each of the last two seasons. 20. Denver Broncos: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise StateShould Jeanty fall this far? Of course not. But if Dallas decides to pass, there aren’t many obvious landing spots for him in the top 18. From the Boise State Broncos to the Denver Broncos, Jeanty would add another level to Sean Payton’s offense and continue to help Bo Nix ascend as one of the league’s bright young quarterbacks. 21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio StateThe Steelers have had mixed results betting on talented-yet-undisciplined receivers in the early rounds. It’s time to invest in a pass catcher such as Egbuka, who might not have a sky-high ceiling but already plays with a pro-level skill set and would be a dependable target for the next decade. 22. Los Angeles Chargers: Colston Loveland, TE, MichiganLike Warren to Indianapolis, this is another potential pairing that should be popular in mock drafts. A big, fast and reliable pass catcher, Loveland would help fix several of the Chargers’ offensive woes. And, obviously, no other head coach will be more familiar with how to use his skill set than Jim Harbaugh. 23. Green Bay Packers: Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio StateThe Packers’ defensive line was disappointing this season, and the front office must balance the possibility of players already on the roster getting better against adding premium talent. If general manager Brian Gutekunst looks for an upgrade in the first round, Williams — and his disruptive nature — would make sense. 24. Minnesota Vikings: Kaleb Johnson, RB, IowaAnyone who watched the Vikings’ playoff collapse to the Rams knows Minnesota needs to address its offensive line in a major way this offseason. But assuming those upgrades come in free agency, the Vikings could look for help at running back here. Jeanty deservedly will command all of the Round 1 running back talk, but Johnson is worthy of landing in the top 32, as well. The Iowa back would be a great fit for Minnesota’s outside-zone scheme, and his impact would help open the passing game. 25. Houston Texans: Tyler Booker, G, AlabamaEven with one of the best passing connections in the league, the Texans want an offense that can shift to bully ball on the ground throughout the course of a game. And that has more to do with the offensive line than the running back. With his power and finishing demeanor, Booker should check a lot of boxes. 26. Los Angeles Rams: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, OregonIt’s hard to say how many more years Matthew Stafford will play, But investing in the offensive line, helping to keep him healthy and maximizing his final years with the organization would be a logical plan. After becoming a starter in 2023, Conerly took a big jump as a junior — he didn’t allow a pressure in 10 of Oregon’s final 12 games. 27. Washington Commanders: Mike Green, Edge, MarshallDan Quinn has done a great job getting functional pass-rush production out of Cowboys castoffs, such as Dante Fowler and Dorance Armstrong. But it would make sense for this front office to invest in young, promising players on the edges. Green could be part of a rotation before taking over the full-time starting role. 28. Baltimore Ravens: Donovan Jackson, OT/G, Ohio StateJackson has been the unsung MVP of Ohio State’s run to the national championship game. After starting at left guard as a sophomore, junior and for the first five games of 2024, Jackson kicked out to left tackle — a position he hadn’t played since high school — and helped save the Buckeyes’ season after they’d suffered a key injury up front. Jackson struggled in his first start at his new position against Carter, but he’s gone the last seven games without allowing a sack. 29. Buffalo Bills: Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East CarolinaRevel suffered a torn ACL in September, so his upgraded medical information at the combine will be key to his draft stock. But if fully healthy, he would be a lock as a top-15 pick. The Bills are getting a discount on him at No. 29 in this mock. 30. Philadelphia Eagles: JT Tuimoloau, Edge, Ohio StateWith Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham possibly moving on, the Eagles will be looking for reinforcements on the edges this offseason. Tuimoloau (6-4, 270) is a smart, alert player who plays the run well and also can get after the quarterback. In three College Football Playoff games this year, he has combined for 17 total pressures. 31. Kansas City Chiefs: Kenneth Grant, DT, MichiganAt 6-3, 340, Grant is a rangy big man who can take up space or make plays up and down the line of scrimmage. Adding his talent to the mix would help free up Chris Jones and strengthen the Chiefs’ defensive line. 32. Detroit Lions: Nic Scourton, Edge, Texas A&MThere should be a few options for the Lions to add key depth at edge rusher late in Round 1. Scourton has mostly Day 2 draft grades around the league, but he projects as a starter because of his ability to wear down blockers with a motor that doesn’t quit — something Dan Campbell (a former Aggie himself) would appreciate. Round 233. Cleveland Browns: Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota34. New York Giants: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama35. Tennessee Titans: Jack Sawyer, Edge, Ohio State36. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jonah Savaiinaea, G, Arizona37. Las Vegas Raiders: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina38. New England Patriots: Cameron Williams, OT, Texas39. Chicago (from CAR): Wyatt Milum, G/C, West Virginia40. New Orleans Saints: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas41. Chicago Bears: Landon Jackson, Edge, Arkansas42. New York Jets: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina43. San Francisco 49ers: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss44. Dallas Cowboys: TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State45. Indianapolis Colts: Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State46. Atlanta Falcons: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas47. Arizona Cardinals: Princely Umanmielen, Edge, Ole Miss48. Miami Dolphins: Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green49. Cincinnati Bengals: Marcus Mbow, OT/G, Purdue50. Seattle Seahawks: Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky51. Denver Broncos: Mason Taylor, TE, LSU52. Pittsburgh Steelers: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky53. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA54. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Burch, Edge, Oregon55. Los Angeles Chargers: Josaiah Stewart, Edge, Michigan56. Buffalo Bills (from MIN): Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College57. Carolina (from LAR): Alfred Collins, DT, Texas58. Houston Texans: Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss59. Baltimore Ravens: Jihaad Campbell, LB/Edge, Alabama60. Washington Commanders: Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford61. Buffalo Bills: Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame62. Philadelphia Eagles: Grey Zabel, G/C, North Dakota State63. Kansas City Chiefs: Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State64. Detroit Lions: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame |
