Jags to interview McCoy for head coaching position

Add McCoy, O’Brien to the Jags interview list
profootballtalk.nbcsports.com

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Jags will interview Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.  John Clayton of ESPN reports that Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy also will be interviewed.

O’Brien can be interviewed during the bye week.  McCoy can be interviewed, with Denver’s consent, after the wild-card game, if the Broncos win.  Neither man can be hired until his team’s season ends.

Mike McCoy has become the latest whipping boy of the Tebowites, but he did extract seven wins out of a QB who can't throw. Just a few weeks ago, McCoy was seen as a coach molding the Denver offense to his QB's strength(s). Apparently that's the impression that has stuck around the league...

Ryan Harris back in orange and blue

Broncos re-sign Ryan Harris to help offensive line
www.denverpost.com

Tackle Ryan Harris, a starter from 2008-2010, re-signed on Monday, according to a team source, filling the roster spot left by guard Chris Kuper, who was placed on injured reserve. Kuper broke his lower left leg and suffered a dislocated ankle in Sunday’s 7-3 loss to Kansas City. Harris, a 2007 third-round draft pick, was an unrestricted free agent before this season and nearly re-signed with the Broncos then. He chose instead to sign with Philadelphia, but suffered a back injury during training camp.

AJ “The Head” Smith and Norv Turner likely to remain

Source: Turner, A.J. could return to Bolts
www.cbssports.com

There seems to be a lot of waffling on the future of San Diego coach Norv Turner, and, according to a source close to the organization, there’s good reason. He believes that Turner and general manager A.J. Smith will be retained. Of course, that’s not set in concrete. Nothing is this time of year. But it’s the first tangible sign that both will return next season. Turner has two years left on his contract at $3 million per, and Smith has three years left at $2 million per season. According to the source, he believes that ownership is reluctant to fire each or both, then have to pay them.

But there’s more to it than that. Quarterback Philip Rivers is a big fan of Turner and voiced his support Sunday for his embattled head coach. Owner Dean Spanos is reluctant to fire Turner, too, one reason he wants time to sit on the decision.

In a related story, a lot of Broncos fans experienced group orgasm.

So, you’re telling me there’s a chance

Steelers lose Rashard Mendenhall to torn ACL
profootballtalk.nbcsports.com

The news is in on Rashard Mendenhall’s right knee injury, and it’s as bad as it could be. Mendenhall has suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, ESPN’s Josina Anderson reports. Obviously, Mendenhall won’t be playing for the Steelers in the playoffs, and the question with an ACL tear is whether he can even be ready for the start of next season. He may be at less than 100 percent when the 2012 regular season begins.

When I wrote yesterday that I would get excited if the Steelers went into the playoffs with their starting QB, RB, and WR all going down, I didn't, at the time, realize that Mendenhall had sustained an injury.  Things may suddenly get more interesting.  I wonder if Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Wallace want to play some pick-up basketball today.  Stranger things have happened to the Broncos' opponents this year (see Culter, Jay and Forte, Matt).

There are no silver (and black) linings in Oakland

Raiders' Carson Palmer considers season a failure
www.sfgate.com

Carson Palmer was asked after the Raiders’ season-ending loss Sunday whether the midseason trade for him - at the cost of a first-round pick and a second-rounder - was a failure. “It was this year,” he said. “It didn’t work out for us this year. I always feel like when you don’t win, the quarterback can always play better, and I can definitely play better. It stinks to sit here and say next year, what are we going to do next year.

I am completely amused by this, I must say.  Hue-bris Jackson (Jason Whitlock's nickname for Jackson) got exactly what he deserved.

You mess with the Manning, you get the horns

Source: Polians out with Colts
espn.go.com

Colts vice chairman Bill Polian and general manager Chris Polian are out in Indianapolis, a source told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen.

The Colts (2-14) finished with fewer than three wins for only the second time since moving to Indianapolis in 1984, and fans have been calling for the ouster of the Polians and coach Jim Caldwell.

As they say, the fluttering of Peyton Manning's wings can create climate change on the other side globe. Oh, and close to home?  It can get you fired in a matter of 16 games.  

All kidding aside, this probably means the end of the Manning era in Indy.

The Daily Lard 1-2-12

Good Morning, Broncos fans! Believe it or not, your Denver Broncos are the 2011 AFC West Champions and the AFC's fourth seed; they will host the Pittsburgh Steelers (the fifth seed) in the first round of the playoffs on Sunday at 4:30PM ET on CBS; Jim Nantz and Phil Simms will again be excusing every Tim Tebow misstep calling the game.

As for how they got there, the Broncos may have redefined the term "backing into the playoffs" as they lost a 7-3 stinker to the Chiefs which was characterized by the same brand of inept offensive Foxball they've played for most of the past eleven weeks. It was the team's third straight loss and included two more turnovers by Tim Tebow, but San Diego's 38-26 victory over Oakland enabled the Broncos to take the division title via common opponents tiebreaker over both the Raiders and Chargers, who also finished at 8-8.

On a day when the scoreboards at SAFaMH did not display the score of the Oakland/San Diego game, the Broncos and Tebow were playing what they knew to be a must-win game, and what they came up with amounted to three gifted points (after taking over on the KC 20 following a muffed punt by Javier Arenas) and 266 yards of offense on 71 plays. On 11 of its 12 possessions, Denver failed to move the ball more than 36 yards, and the one time they did so (a 70-yard march to start off the second quarter), yet another fumble by Tebow (his 13th of the season) during a rare would-be third-down conversion snuffed out what was an almost guaranteed three points and perhaps even seven.

Continue reading "The Daily Lard 1-2-12"

Broncos’ 2012 opponents set

Gut Reaction: Week 17 - Broncos vs Chiefs

John Elway said he was willing to risk his Broncos legacy with a turn on the dance floor as Executive Vice President.

His headband and leotard were predominately orange, his leg warmers and wrist bands blue; he was ready to strut his stuff.

His decision to unload his previous dance partner, Kyle Orton, after Week 7 saved the Broncos $2.6 million.

Today that decision didn't matter much. The Broncos limped into the playoffs despite Elway's move.

In the street (and on the turf) a pitiful b-boy battle ensued between Tim Tebow and Kyle Orton. It was marked by some really bad quarterback play.  Kyle Orton hardly mattered.  Tim Tebow mattered even less.  In the end, however, it was an attempted headspin by the Oakland Raiders that won the day for the crew from Denver.  As it turns out, Hue Jackson's trade for Carson Palmer was one of the worst in history, not the best.  Palmer slipped badly on the linoleum.

Welcome to the real dance, Broncos fans--the NFL playoffs.  I guess we should be glad the Broncos fell backwards based on the third tiebreaker.  Somehow, right now, that's not comforting.  Perhaps the Steelers will lose their starting running back, starting QB, and, just perhaps, their first wide receiver. Then we can get excited.

Continue reading "Gut Reaction: Week 17 - Broncos vs Chiefs"

Open Thread - Sunday Week 17

Enjoy the games everyone, and Go Broncos and Chargers! Denver's inactives today are S Brian Dawkins, FB Austin Sylvester, LB Mike Mohamed, G Manny Ramirez, T Tony Hills, TE Julius Thomas, and DE Derrick Harvey. For KC, QB Tyler Palko, S Jon McGraw, OL David Mims, WR Jerheme Urban, TE Jake O’Connell, DL Brandon Bair, and DL Jerrell Powe are scratched.

Continue reading "Open Thread - Sunday Week 17"