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49ers Meet With Chip Kelly, Anthony Lynn

Fantasy Football
January 7, 2016

The 49ers’ head coaching search is underway, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, who reports (via Twitter) that the team has interviewed Bills assistant head coach and running backs coach Anthony Lynn about the position. Maiocco adds (via Twitter) that the Niners have also met with former Eagles coach Chip Kelly to discuss the job.Chip Kelly

Based on Maiocco’s wording, it’s not clear if San Francisco conducted a formal interview with Kelly for the team’s head coaching vacancy. But either way, it appears there’s some mutual interest between the two sides. Kelly reportedly reached out to the Niners earlier this week to express interest in the job, while Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets that the club begin considering Kelly before officially parting ways with Jim Tomsula.

[RELATED: 49ers to interview Mike Shanahan]

There has been some speculation that Kelly would be a good fit in San Francisco to help Colin Kaepernick bounce back, based on his past success with mobile quarterbacks. Of course, if the Niners were to seriously pursue the ex-Eagles head coach, the club would have to confident he could comfortably co-exist with general manager Trent Baalke and CEO Jed York. Kelly’s departure from Philadelphia stemmed in part from him wearing out his welcome within the organization, having been at odds with former Eagles GM Howie Roseman.

As for Lynn, the Niners’ job is one of two head coaching positions he has interviewed for this week. The Buffalo assistant also spoke to the Dolphins about their head coaching job.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Extra Points: Dolphins, Gruden, Browns, Titans

Fantasy Football
January 7, 2016

As the Dolphins search for their next head coach, the areas they’re prioritizing when talking to candidates are quarterback and defense, writes Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Dolphins brass wants to hear from prospective head coaches how they plan to help the two improve after an up-and-down fourth season from Ryan Tannehill and a year in which the defense finished 25th overall.

Further, per Salguero, interim head coach Dan Campbell‘s only chance to get a promotion to the full-time role is if he presents Miami’s hierarchy with two proven coordinators willing to join his staff. Whether it’s Campbell or someone else, the Dolphins want someone who has a real solution to repair their problems on both sides of the ball.

More from around the NFL:

  • A report Thursday night stated that ex-head coach Jon Gruden is interested in the Eagles’ job, but CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora tweets otherwise. Gruden to the Eagles is “not happening and not discussed,” La Canfora offers.
  • With perennial Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas facing an uncertain future with the Browns, Cleveland.com took a look at which teams could be candidates to acquire the 31-year-old during the offseason. The list consists of the Packers, Broncos (who tried to acquire Thomas at this season’s trade deadline), Colts, Titans, Jaguars, Chiefs, Vikings and Patriots.
  • It was reported earlier Thursday that the Titans received permission to speak with Chiefs director of football operations Chris Ballard regarding their vacant general manager job. The two are likely to powwow Monday, reports Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com (Twitter link).
  • Marc Ross, another candidate for the Titans’ GM job, might make the most sense for Tennessee if the club is looking to promote interim head coach Mike Mularkey, notes Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com. Ross, who’s currently the Giants’ vice president of player evaluation, was a member of Buffalo’s front office when Mularkey was its head coach from 2004-05.
  • The NFL has chosen the staffs of the Cowboys and Jaguars to coach the 2016 Reese’s Senior Bowl from Jan. 25-30, according to a press release. The Cowboys will coach the North team against the Jags-led South squad.

Dolphins Making Strong Push For Adam Gase

Fantasy Football
January 7, 2016

THURSDAY, 8:17pm: The Dolphins completed their interview with Gase on Thursday, per a team press release.

WEDNESDAY, 7:40pm: The Dolphins will make a “strong, strong” push for Adam Gase, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets. Miami has been targeting him for some time, he adds, and they will make their best effort to keep him from getting back to the Eagles for a second interview. Adam Gase

[RELATED: Eagles Plan To Interview Adam Gase Again]

So far this offseason, the Dolphins have been casting a wide net in their coaching search, as Nerdy Football’s 2016 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker shows. The Dolphins already have interviews in the books with Teryl Austin, Mike Shanahan, and Mike Smith from earlier in the week. On Wednesday night, the Dolphins also announced that they have completed their interview with Bills assistant head coach Anthony Lynn, who has long been identified as a head coaching candidate for the 2015/16 offseason. Gase is scheduled to meet with Miami brass on Thursday.

After working with Peyton Manning in Denver as the Broncos’ offensive coordinator, Gase joined John Fox in Chicago in 2015, and contributed to a strong bounce-back season for Jay Cutler. A year after leading the league with 18 interceptions, Cutler threw just 11 in 2015, the lowest full-season mark of his career. The Bears also ranked in the top 10 in the NFL in offensive DVOA under Gase.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Colts Name Rob Chudzinski O-Coordinator

Fantasy Football
January 7, 2016

Hours after announcing former Ravens assistant Ted Monachino as their new defensive coordinator, the CRob Chudzinski (vertical)olts have made another significant move with respect to their coaching staff. This time, though, the Colts are staying in house, promoting interim offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski to the full-time job, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Chudzinski, 47, has extensive experience as an O-coordinator, having held that post in Cleveland (2007-08) and Carolina (2011-12) before joining Indy’s staff as an assistant in 2014. Chudzinski took over as the Colts’ coordinator in November after the firing of Pep Hamilton.

With the promotion of Chudzinski and, more importantly, the return of star quarterback Andrew Luck from injury next season, the Colts will hope to revive an offense that finished the 2015-16 campaign 28th in yardage and 24th in points. In Luck’s only game with Chudzinski calling plays this season, Nov. 8 against Denver, he completed 21 of 36 passes for 252 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers in a 27-24 upset win, also adding 34 yards on six rushes.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/7/16

Fantasy Football
January 7, 2016

Here are Thursday’s reserve/futures contract signings from around the league. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2016 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ 90-man rosters in March:

Arizona Cardinals

  • T Edawn Coughman (Twitter link via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com)

Cleveland Browns

  • OL Conor Boffeli (Twitter link via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal)

New Orleans Saints

  • WR Shane Wynn (Twitter link via Evan Woodbery of the Times-Picayune)

New York Jets

  • DB Kendall James (Twitter link via Brian Costello of the New York Post)
  • G Craig Watts (Twitter link via Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune)

San Francisco 49ers

  • WR DiAndre Campbell (Twitter link via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle)
  • T Colin Kelly (Twitter link via Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com)
  • DT Kaleb Ramsey (via Branch)
  • DT Garrison Smith (via Branch)