Here we go — it’s December, Christmas is lower than three weeks away, the common season is winding down, and the playoff race is heating up. My apologies, I’m not attempting to hurry issues; blame the three groups which have already punched their tickets to the postseason: the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions. That’s a transparent signal we’re getting near the tip.
It’s additionally the tip of the highway for a couple of groups. The New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants are formally out of the playoff image, with work towards subsequent season already underway of their buildings. NFL house owners will meet in Irving, Texas, subsequent week and I anticipate numerous dialog in regards to the subsequent wave of head coach firings and hirings. At this level, Cleveland Browns advisor and former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel and Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson are the 2 prime names groups are discussing internally.
We’ll have lots to share over the following few weeks on the hiring and firing entrance. For now it’s crunch time within the NFL. Here’s what I’m listening to:
• How the Falcons are dealing with Kirk Cousins’ droop
• Ahead of his return to Minnesota, a glance again on the tip of Cousins’ Vikings days
• Bill Belichick, school coach? It may actually occur
• How enticing is the Bears job?
• The Al-Shaair suspension stays a dialog matter throughout the NFL
• What that Broncos-Browns shootout can train us about vacation purchasing
Falcons’ religion in Cousins nonetheless holds
Despite latest struggles, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris has been clear: He’s standing by Cousins. Often, we see head coaches open the door to hypothesis in moments like this, after Atlanta’s depressing loss to the Chargers, wherein Cousins threw 4 interceptions and the remainder of the offense seemed misplaced. But Morris is assured Cousins will bounce again.
Around the league, different coaches have identified Morris’ steadiness and perception within the quarterback, figuring out it’s by no means straightforward when you’ve gotten a prime draft decide sitting on the bench behind you. There is not any denying Cousins performed poorly final week, however the workforce isn’t listening to these clamoring for Michael Penix Jr. I’m instructed no inside discussions of a QB change have occurred at this level. Atlanta is displaying religion in Cousins, significantly with the added motivation of going through his former workforce, the Vikings, on Sunday.
We’ll see if something shifts because the season winds down — particularly if the workforce decides it wants a spark to assert the division it was anticipated to dominate.
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How it led to Minnesota
From what I perceive, Cousins has no regrets about leaving Minnesota. It was by no means going to get messy when he left both — Cousins simply isn’t that sort of man, and neither is Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell. Everyone knew they needed to maintain working collectively for the 2024 season and past, however generally, plans change. And like all breakup, it stung. Cousins was upset and O’Connell needed to modify.
Anticipating a powerful market in a quarterback-needy league, O’Connell knew his possibilities of retaining Cousins had been slim. For months main as much as free company, contained in the Vikings’ facility, GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah led some robust discussions in regards to the future. Cousins was recovering from an Achilles damage — a problem for any quarterback, particularly one in his mid-30s. The Vikings had a call to make. O’Connell believed in Cousins and was assured he may bounce again and proceed because the starter, however not everybody within the group shared that optimism. The workforce additionally had its eyes on the long run, figuring out the upcoming draft class was loaded with quarterback expertise. Ownership was clear: They needed to draft a younger QB. That information didn’t sit nicely with Cousins, who had been hoping for a vote of confidence, not a smaller window with the Vikings.
Still, as resolution day in March drew nearer, Cousins was optimistic it will work out and Minnesota would step up. He and O’Connell had been staying in contact and each had been hoping the workforce’s provide can be enough. At the identical time, rumblings of curiosity from the Falcons grew louder. Rumors had been swirling that, with a powerful roster already in place, Atlanta was keen to provide a number of years of assured cash to land a seasoned quarterback.
Kevin O’Connell and Kirk Cousins had been each hoping for the quarterback’s return to Minnesota final offseason. (Quinn Harris / Getty Images)
When the authorized tampering interval opened, the Falcons swooped in with a four-year, $180 million deal, $100 million assured. It was the sort of contract that mentioned, “You’re our man.” As for the Vikings, they didn’t budge when it got here to that sort of assured cash.
Minnesota weighed different choices. It had monitored Matthew Stafford’s tough contract negotiation with the Rams (O’Connell was Stafford’s offensive coordinator through the Super Bowl season in LA), however Sam Darnold emerged as their first selection. One day after Cousins left for the Falcons, Minnesota agreed to a one-year take care of Darnold.
For Cousins, the Falcons represented a contemporary begin and stability — one thing he craved after the uncertainty in Minnesota. He additionally wasn’t apprehensive about his group drafting a rookie quarterback. However, that safety lasted lower than 60 days.
On April 25, the primary night time of the NFL Draft, every little thing modified once more. As Cousins instructed the “Scoop City” podcast final summer season, he was heading house from a Falcons draft celebration at Mercedes-Benz Stadium when his cellphone rang. It was Zac Robinson, Atlanta’s offensive coordinator, calling with a heads-up: The Falcons had been about to draft a quarterback with the No. 8 decide. The name was temporary, and moments later, Penix grew to become a Falcon.
That night time, the shock was palpable across the league. I referred to as Cousins’ agent, Mike McCartney, who answered instantly. He was getting calls from dozens of reporters wanting to know the dynamic. I may inform he was additionally shocked by the transfer. When I requested if he knew in regards to the decide, McCartney mentioned they knew Atlanta had mentioned taking a quarterback sooner or later within the draft, however they didn’t anticipate it will be within the first spherical. Cousins, he instructed me, was additionally surprised and upset.
This was presupposed to be Cousins’ final cease, a spot the place he may settle together with his household and play and not using a rookie respiratory down his neck. Yet right here he was, as soon as once more going through uncertainty. Cousins dealt with the sudden change with class, reaching out to Penix to welcome him to the workforce. Since then the Falcons have been up and down. Cousins began out sizzling, however the workforce is presently on a three-game dropping streak and questions nonetheless linger concerning Cousins’ consolation within the pocket since his Achilles surgical procedure.
Meanwhile, O’Connell is a powerful contender for the NFL Coach of the Year award after one other stellar season with yet one more quarterback. The expectation is that the Vikings will provide O’Connell a contract extension — 2025 is the ultimate 12 months of his present deal — although at this level, there have been no discussions.
For now, although, the Vikings are centered on preserving their momentum and making a deep playoff run. And for Cousins, the problem now could be proving that, regardless of all of the twists and turns, he’s nonetheless the man Atlanta can belief to ship them into January.
Belichick again to highschool?
Eight NFL groups modified coaches through the earlier cycle, and Belichick — a six-time Super Bowl winner, and arguably probably the most achieved head coach in professional soccer historical past — attracted shockingly little curiosity. Belichick, fired by the Patriots in January after 24 seasons, formally interviewed for under one of many different seven openings, rising as a finalist for the Falcons job that in the end went to Morris. Since then, Belichick has turn out to be extremely seen by way of numerous media ventures, and I’ve been instructed by a number of folks that he’s centered on a head-coaching place in 2025. That additionally consists of school jobs.
Belichick was in attendance for a recreation between the University of Washington, the place his son Steve is defensive coordinator, and the University of Michigan in October. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
If we’ve realized something from his time without work the sector, you continue to get a powerful sense that Belichick loves speaking and instructing soccer. But because it seems, Belichick could also be bored with ready for NFL house owners to name. He has had a number of conversations with the University of North Carolina about its teaching emptiness. He’s one in every of a number of candidates for the job beforehand held by Mack Brown — and the talks are usually not for present. The curiosity is actual, and if Belichick is obtainable the job, a supply conversant in his considering expects him to take it.
Why would Belichick, 72, blink early and take a school job? Well, for one, he was turned off by January’s expertise and the shortage of motion he obtained. There’s the traditional knowledge that Belichick desires to return to the NFL and surpass Don Shula’s file for profession victories (Belichick, with 333, trails the previous Dolphins and Colts teaching legend by 14 wins). Breaking that file would imply quite a bit to Belichick, nevertheless it’s not the be-all, end-all. Keep in thoughts, Belichick desires to run a program with out interference, and primarily based on the NFL jobs which might be anticipated to be accessible, there aren’t many organizations who match that mould.
Though he has spent his whole profession within the NFL, Belichick usually had school coaches like Kirk Ferentz, Greg Schiano and Urban Meyer go to through the offseason, and spent high quality time with Nick Saban. He has additionally turn out to be extra conversant in the school recreation this season as his son, Steve, has served because the University of Washington’s defensive coordinator. Presumably, the Belichicks may reunite in Chapel Hill. But the underside line: Coaches coach.
Coaching candidates dimension up Chicago
There’s chatter across the league — and loads of combined opinions — about whether or not the Bears’ head-coaching job is as interesting as workforce president Kevin Warren claims it to be. On paper, you possibly can see his argument. They’ve obtained a younger quarterback on a rookie deal and a good salary-cap scenario, that are massive promoting factors to any coach.
But that’s not the problem. There are many years value of cautionary tales concerning the group from the highest down, and any candidate goes to desire a clear understanding of the connection between Warren and GM Ryan Poles. Who has the ultimate say, and the way will that dynamic have an effect on the pinnacle coach’s authority?
It’s no shock that teaching brokers and potential candidates are already doing their homework on Chicago’s possession and management dynamic. They’re attempting to determine if this can be a steady scenario, or if it’s a dangerous touchdown spot. The workforce claims it’s looking for a “chief of males,” and that is perhaps true — however in Chicago, it appears the boys already within the constructing is perhaps beneath analysis as nicely.
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The Al-Shaair debate
Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair is formally out for the following month after the NFL spent about 45 minutes listening to arguments within the attraction of his three-game suspension. The ruling stood. With the Texans on a bye this week, Al-Shaair received’t be allowed close to the workforce’s amenities, assembly rooms or video games till after the workforce’s Christmas Day recreation towards the Ravens.
It’s no secret Texans GM Nick Caserio, head coach DeMeco Ryans and Al-Shaair himself are pissed off with the league’s course of and what they think about inconsistencies in it. This suspension has sparked widespread debate across the NFL, with loads of differing opinions about how the league dealt with the scenario. One NFL head coach supplied some perception into the league’s perspective: “The NFL has to guard its $250 million investments — it’s that straightforward. Nobody desires to observe video games with backup quarterbacks, and the league understands that. The refs do a strong job recognizing the ball the place the primary physique half touches, and pretend slides aren’t actually a difficulty anymore. After Kenny Pickett’s transfer, they modified the rule to mark gamers down in the event that they faux a slide, in order that’s been addressed.
“But issues occur quick on the sector, and late slides are all the time going to be a grey space. Sometimes quarterbacks are going to get hit, however the secret’s ensuring defenders aren’t focusing on the pinnacle or neck with a helmet, shoulder or forearms — that’s the place the large penalties are available in. Defenders have to be coached to guide with their palms, not their heads. Sliding QBs decrease their goal space, which makes it harder to land a clear hit.
“I inform my quarterbacks to go for the Superman dive, like Carson Wentz used to do. You can get a couple of further yards whereas nonetheless being protected against head and neck hits. The guidelines are what they’re.”
Lessons in worth purchasing
Finally, a lesson as gift-giving season enters its most frenzied time: It seems, you don’t all the time get what you pay for.
Monday night time’s recreation between the Broncos and Browns was an ideal instance. The two groups lit up the scoreboard, combining for 71 factors and 952 yards of offense. Leading the best way? Jameis Winston and rookie Bo Nix, quarterbacks making a mixed complete of lower than $9 million this 12 months.
Bo Nix and Jameis Winston put up monster numbers, whereas enjoying on comparatively paltry quarterback salaries, on Monday night time. (Justin Edmonds / Getty Images)
But right here’s the bogus half: Both groups are nonetheless shelling out large quantities of cash for quarterbacks who didn’t even go well with up. Denver is paying Russell Wilson greater than $39 million, and Cleveland is forking out $45 million-plus for Deshaun Watson. That’s roughly $84 million mixed.
Denver and Cleveland are prime case research within the dangers of swinging massive on the quarterback place — buying and selling for veteran stars and inking them to large contract extensions. Fast ahead to at the moment, and Wilson is having fun with a profession resurgence in Pittsburgh after flaming out as a Bronco, and Watson has suffered his second season-ending damage in as a few years.
Sean Payton endured criticism for benching Wilson late final season earlier than in the end reducing him and rolling with Nix, the No. 12 decide of the draft. Watson nonetheless hasn’t recorded a 300-yard passing recreation since becoming a member of Cleveland in 2022. But each groups are examples of the significance of figuring out worth. Joe Flacco led the Browns to the playoffs final 12 months. Winston has injected life into his workforce, even when a postseason look isn’t within the playing cards. And Payton — bolstered by an bettering Nix and one of many league’s stingiest defenses — has an inside observe on ending the NFL’s second-longest energetic playoff drought.
So as you’re racing by means of shops or scrolling on-line for presents, bear in mind: It isn’t in regards to the price ticket — it’s about getting the fitting match.
(Top picture: Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)
