Mr. Scot

The answer would probably be something like, "Well first off, you went to this lunch where meatballs were served..."

Also...

Yeah

What kind of coach does Adam Peters want?

Also Canales...

Feel like the best route to go would be to have veteran competition for Young, not just a veteran mentor.

Mike Sando on a dumb narrative that's arisen again in the playoffs... 5. Can we please kill one of the more disingenuous narratives out there? Your team was not going to get Lamar Jackson, OK? One year ago, the Ravens were in a rough spot with their quarterback. Jackson was injured and seemed emotionally estranged from the team as a contract stalemate drew on. Now that the relationship is whole and Baltimore is making a playoff push, a common refrain holds that teams with lesser quarterbacks committed malpractice by failing to pursue Jackson during the months last offseason when the franchise tag provided a window. The idea that teams preferred Desmond Ridder or Sam Howell to Jackson is laughable. The question is whether teams with those types of quarterbacks should have tried to negotiate with Jackson. Hey, why not, right? Well … Landing a franchise-tagged quarterback from another team would require entering into a really, really bad deal that no smart team would ever enter into, and then surrendering two first-round picks on top of the really, really bad contract. Nobody in the league thought that would have been a good idea at the time. To turn around now and suggest Jackson was there for the taking feels disingenuous. “People constantly saying these other teams had no interest in Lamar Jackson is not true,” a longtime NFL exec said. “Jackson made it clear he wanted the Deshaun Watson contract. Teams don’t just get to say, ‘We want the player.’ He comes with a package.” In this case, the package would have included signing Jackson to a deal so over the top that Baltimore would not have matched, and then sending two first-round picks to the Ravens as compensation. Jackson’s production had been in decline, he had struggled to finish seasons healthy and he didn’t even have an agent for teams to contact. Even if those complicating factors had not existed, there was no smart deal to get done. “Everybody was interested in the player,” the exec said. “They were not interested in the package. Because he was so vociferous about getting that guaranteed deal, those franchises made it clear, there is nothing to talk about. It wasn’t until Baltimore convinced him to take the non-guaranteed contract that the Ravens got a deal done.” Mike Sando's Pick Six

Nice post script to the game... Meanwhile, dad somewhere: "That drunk shirtless guy is carrying my daughter"

I've never understood why Cole Spencer keeps getting promoted when people say our draft evaluations are a problem. You never know what goes on behind the scenes but...

Joe Person's comments on Morgan's future (Link) As the Carolina Panthers’ simultaneous searches for a head coach and general manager move into the next phases, it’s looking more and more likely that assistant general manager Dan Morgan has a good chance of sticking with the organization in a high-ranking role. Morgan, the former Panthers linebacker who returned to Carolina in 2021 as Scott Fitterer’s assistant, could succeed Fitterer, his best friend and former colleague. Morgan is among the candidates who interviewed a second time for the GM job, according to a league source with knowledge of the process. In addition, the 45-year-old Morgan and two other members of the personnel department have been a part of the Panthers’ head coach interviews, league sources told The Athletic. The fact owner David Tepper has included Morgan in the process — along with vice president of player personnel Adrian Wilson and director of player personnel Cole Spencer — would seem to suggest Tepper is considering keeping at least some members of the front office during the transition. Morgan is one of three known GM candidates to receive a second interview. The others were Philadelphia Eagles assistant general manager Alec Halaby and New York Giants assistant general manager Brandon Brown, according to a league source. Some in league circles believe Tepper could be looking to pair Morgan with an executive with a salary cap and contracts background such as Halaby or Kansas City Chiefs vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis, who interviewed with the Panthers this year and in 2021 before Fitterer was hired. Morgan, the Panthers’ first-round pick in 2001, had more than a decade of personnel experience when he followed Fitterer to Charlotte three years ago. The two worked together in Seattle before Morgan joined former Panthers assistant GM Brandon Beane as the Buffalo Bills director of player personnel in 2020. That Morgan is getting strong consideration from Tepper (and presumably the consulting firm Sportsology) is interesting given Morgan’s close association with Fitterer. The Panthers had a 14-37 record in Fitterer’s three seasons, a .275 winning percentage that was the NFL’s lowest over that span. Fitterer is well liked around the league and viewed as a consensus builder. Fitterer made several shrewd acquisitions as GM, most notably linebacker Frankie Luvu. But he also picked up Sam Darnold’s fifth-year option before the former New York Jets quarterback ever played a down for the Panthers and passed on the Los Angeles Rams’ offer of two future first-round picks and a Day 2 selection for edge rusher Brian Burns in 2022. Morgan has close ties to two of the Panthers’ head coach candidates. He was in Seattle when Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales were on Pete Carroll’s coaching staff.

Speculation the Eagles could replace Brian Johnson too...

Couple of notes from Joe Person in The Athletic (link) Dan Morgan's status As the Carolina Panthers’ simultaneous searches for a head coach and general manager move into the next phases, it’s looking more and more likely that assistant general manager Dan Morgan has a good chance of sticking with the organization in a high-ranking role. Who's doing the interviews In addition, the 45-year-old Morgan and two other members of the personnel department have been a part of the Panthers’ head coach interviews, league sources told The Athletic. The fact owner David Tepper has included Morgan in the process — along with vice president of player personnel Adrian Wilson and director of player personnel Cole Spencer — would seem to suggest Tepper is considering keeping at least some members of the front office during the transition. Morgan's connections Morgan has close ties to two of the Panthers’ head coach candidates. He was in Seattle when Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales were on Pete Carroll’s coaching staff. Brian Johnson out The Panthers appear to have quietly moved on from Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson, whom they had previously requested to interview. The Panthers have announced their completed interviews on their website or social media platforms, which they had done with 11 of the 12 known candidates — everybody but Johnson. And with the Panthers now starting second interviews, Johnson apparently won’t get a first one. (A league source confirmed Johnson is no longer expected to interview with Carolina.)

Person believes Morgan is likely to stick around in some capacity, even if it isn't in the GM role... Where Dan Morgan fits in the Panthers searches Excerpts: As the Carolina Panthers’ simultaneous searches for a head coach and general manager move into the next phases, it’s looking more and more likely that assistant general manager Dan Morgan has a good chance of sticking with the organization in a high-ranking role. Morgan, the former Panthers linebacker who returned to Carolina in 2021 as Scott Fitterer’s assistant, could succeed Fitterer, his best friend and former colleague. Morgan is among the candidates who interviewed a second time for the GM job, according to a league source with knowledge of the process. In addition, the 45-year-old Morgan and two other members of the personnel department have been a part of the Panthers’ head coach interviews, league sources told The Athletic. The fact owner David Tepper has included Morgan in the process — along with vice president of player personnel Adrian Wilson and director of player personnel Cole Spencer — would seem to suggest Tepper is considering keeping at least some members of the front office during the transition. Morgan is one of three known GM candidates to receive a second interview. The others were Philadelphia Eagles assistant general manager Alec Halaby and New York Giants assistant general manager Brandon Brown, according to a league source. Some in league circles believe Tepper could be looking to pair Morgan with an executive with a salary cap and contracts background such as Halaby or Kansas City Chiefs vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis, who interviewed with the Panthers this year and in 2021 before Fitterer was hired. Morgan, the Panthers’ first-round pick in 2001, had more than a decade of personnel experience when he followed Fitterer to Charlotte three years ago. The two worked together in Seattle before Morgan joined former Panthers assistant GM Brandon Beane as the Buffalo Bills director of player personnel in 2020. That Morgan is getting strong consideration from Tepper (and presumably the consulting firm Sportsology) is interesting given Morgan’s close association with Fitterer. The Panthers had a 14-37 record in Fitterer’s three seasons, a .275 winning percentage that was the NFL’s lowest over that span. Fitterer is well liked around the league and viewed as a consensus builder. Fitterer made several shrewd acquisitions as GM, most notably linebacker Frankie Luvu. But he also picked up Sam Darnold’s fifth-year option before the former New York Jets quarterback ever played a down for the Panthers and passed on the Los Angeles Rams’ offer of two future first-round picks and a Day 2 selection for edge rusher Brian Burns in 2022. Morgan has close ties to two of the Panthers’ head coach candidates. He was in Seattle when Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales were on Pete Carroll’s coaching staff.

Albert Breer on Brian Callahan... Brian Callahan is in high demand, and anyone who’s been around the Bengals offensive coordinator knows why. So I’d say it’s not surprising at all that he’s gotten through the first round of interviews in Tennessee, Carolina and Atlanta, in the first year he’s been seen as a candidate for, more or less, every job. Now, obviously, there’s a lot of talent in his unit. With that established, he’s coached Joe Burrow (who swears by him), been able to balance touches-egos in a loaded skill group with Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, overseen the complete, on-the-fly overhaul of an offensive line and, this year, managed a major quarterback injury in keeping his group competitive with a backup who was starting for the first time. Add to that his pedigree (his dad is Browns line coach Bill Callahan), the fact that he came up coaching and having to earn the respect of quarterbacks such as Peyton Manning and Matthew Stafford, and you’ll understand why a lot of Callahan’s colleagues would approve of him landing one of these jobs. Including his current boss. “He’s as ready for this as anyone can be,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor texted Sunday. “He’s made an enormous impact on our team, and I’ve learned a ton from him because of the experience he brought to our team from other places he’s been and the success he’s had over his career. Whoever hires him won’t regret it, and we will have big shoes to fill.”

Will try this week... Combo of busy / not feeling well has been affecting me for a bit.

It's possible

FYI: Been reported three NFL teams are talking to Chip Kelly about an OC job. Don't think we're one.

Yeah. Theoretically, this structure elevates somebody like Suleiman to a status nearly equal to that of the personnel chief, both reporting to the owner. Not a big fan of that idea.

His background is all in scouting, and mostly in the pro personnel area