Taking a weekend spin around the NFL with a focus on the Patriots...
1. The news the Giants interviewed Louis Riddick for their GM job on Thursday is impactful when it comes to the possibility of Josh McDaniels leaving the Patriots for a head coaching gig. Riddick is an avowed disciple of the Patriots’ system — he played for Bill Belichick in Cleveland for three years and has praised him and Nick Saban consistently over the years. He’d clearly be disposed to the idea of working with a Belichick descendant as his head coach. In addition, Riddick has marketed himself as a package deal with McDaniels before — last offseason when he and McDaniels interviewed for the open GM and coach position in San Francisco, Riddick told reporters that the Niners were looking for a good GM/coach match, and that “Josh McDaniels and myself are very close. We share a lot of the same philosophical ideas.” There are still a bunch of steps in the process that have to take place, as the Giants are still trying to settle on a GM, while head coaching interviews with assistant coaches on playoff teams are still a few weeks away. But if Riddick does land the job, expect him to come calling on McDaniels sooner rather than later.
2. If he does get an interview with the Giants (or with one of the other handful of teams that are expected to have head coaching vacancies) McDaniels is expected to be competing with a handful of candidates who were part of the annual list assembled by the NFL’s Career Development Advisory Panel that was revealed this week. (The panel, which was created by commissioner Roger Goodell in 2014 as a way to make sure all teams are aware of qualified candidates, consists of former GMs and coaches who are tasked with helping teams identify strong candidates for career advancement.) This year’s list includes McDaniels, as well as Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, former Patriots (and current Houston defensive coordinator) Mike Vrabel, former Dolphins interim head coach Dan Campbell and Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and special teams coach Dave Toub. Overall, six of the 12 are offensive-based coaches, five are from defense and one is a special teams coach. In addition, seven are based in the NFC, while five are in the AFC. The longest-tenured coaches at their current jobs? Patricia and McDaniels, both of whom started their current gig in 2012.
3. Three possibilities to consider if either McDaniels or Patricia leaves this offseason.
a) The Patriots try and lure Brian Daboll back to serve as the offensive coordinator. Two different league sources have told me that if McDaniels leaves for a head coaching job, one of Belichick’s first calls would be to Alabama, where the former New England tight ends coach is currently serving as the offensive coordinator for Saban and the Crimson Tide.
b) Brian Flores steps in to become the new defensive coordinator. Considered by some to be the next hot name among New England assistants, he’s worked as a defensive assistant (2011), safeties coach (2012-2015) and linebackers coach (2016-present). The 36-year-old, who was a linebacker at Boston College, fits the mold of others who have climbed the coaching ladder in Foxborough.
c) The job remains open. Remember, Belichick has gone without a coordinator in the past. Given his history, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see it happen again.
4. Given the situation surrounding Alex Guerrero and the Patriots over the last week, this video of T.J. Houshmandzadeh talking about Guerrero and his impact on his career was certainly interesting. Houshmandzadeh saw Guerrero when he was having some physical problems before college, and said that he had a positive experience. He also said he understands why Belichick has an issue with Guerrero as it exists now.
"I was dealing with problems for months. I go see this dude four times and I was fine." — T.J. Houshmandzadeh explains why Tom Brady's trainer poses a threat to the Patriots medical team pic.twitter.com/6MHi7RT4vX
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) December 22, 2017
Got one for you, @cpriceNFL Brady hasn’t thrown an INT in 5 straight games since 2002. Could happen this week.
— Bud Ice Bandit (@TheBudIceBandit) December 22, 2017