NFL Notebook: Who could replace Brian Flores as the leader of the Patriots’ defense?

In this week’s edition of the NFL Notebook, we talk with Devin McCourty about his penalty-free streak, catch up with a former New England wide receiver taking another shot at professional football, and look at some of the similarities between Jason McCourty and … Roman Phifer? But first, we take a look at a few of the candidates to possibly replace Brian Flores if the Pats’ offensive play-caller leaves for the Miami head coaching position.

1. So if Brian Flores does leave for Miami — and the one thing we learned last year was that nothing is completely done until they have the introductory press conference — the Patriots would need to find their third defensive play-caller in three years. Who could end up replacing Flores? Here are four possibilities for New England to consider:


a. Greg Schiano: The former Rutgers and Tampa Bay coach and Ohio State defensive coordinator was in Foxborough for a spell as a member of Belichick’s kitchen cabinet, and so he knows his way around the facility and has a background with the coach. It’s reasonable to assume he has the same overall defensive philosophy as Belichick, and considering the fact he was just let go by the Buckeyes, is available.

b. Brendan Daly: If New England is interested from promoting from its current staff, the current defensive line coach could follow the same career path — spending one year as a play-caller, and then, moving up the food chain to bigger and better things sooner-rather-than-later.

c. Bret Bielema: Plenty of experience on the defensive side of the ball, he already has a year in the system (with a vaguely defined role), and is considered a favorite of guys like Trey Flowers and Deatrich Wise, both of whom played for him at Arkansas. This move seems to make sense on a bunch of levels.

d. No one at all: We’ve been down this road before. Basically, Belichick would take the reins on the defensive side of the ball. It could mean more overall responsibility (and maybe more overall autonomy) for offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, and could also serve as a potential grooming approach for McDaniels if they indeed see him as Belichick’s ultimate successor.

2. If Flores leaves, he will depart with an impressive legacy — a smart and thoughtful guy who rose quickly through the ranks, he earned the respect of just about everyone he came in contact with. As a reporter, one of the things I appreciated was the fact he was always a little self-deprecating, and he was always self-aware enough to know about the buzz around the team. On one occasion when he was the safeties coach, I was talking to him about the popular acronym “GTFB,” a philosophy espoused by many safeties when it came to making sure you didn’t give up a big play. Flores initially pretended he wasn’t aware of the saying, but then quickly smiled and pointed at me. “Oh, yeah. Get the bleep back,” he said with a smile. “That sounds familiar.” His good nature and thoughtful approach with the media will be missed.

3. Ultimately, the changeover rolls on in the AFC East. We’ve already referenced the ridiculous amount of times the rest of the league has changed head coaches since Bill Belichick took over as head coach in 2000. (We posted this before the Jets hired Gase to replace Todd Bowles, FWIW.) Since the end of the 2000 season, there have been 18 offseasons in the NFL. In that time, there have been only five offseasons where there were no coaching changeovers in the AFC East — including just three times in the last decade.

4. Jason McCourty is already setting up to be one of the feel-good stories of the playoffs — the veteran is getting his first taste of postseason football in his 10th year in the league and 138 regular-season games. His situation reminds me a bit of linebacker Roman Phifer, who didn’t break through until his 11th year in the league. Phifer was nicknamed “Jinx” by former teammate Bryan Cox because of his strange inability to just miss out on the postseason prior to his arrival in Foxborough. (By way of example, Phifer broke in with the Rams in 1991 — two years earlier, the 1989 Rams made it all the way to the NFC title contest.) Of course, Phifer was a part of the 2001 Patriots team that won it all, and he ended up winning three rings and playing in nine career playoff games before he ended his career in 2005. When it comes to enjoying a late-career postseason debut, McCourty should wish for half the success that Phifer enjoyed. (Of course, the gold standard in that department is still Brandon Marshall, who has played 178 regular-season games — 13 seasons — without reaching the playoffs.) Oh, and make sure you read McCourty's piece this week in The Players' Tribune, a smart and funny tale of his journey to the NFL.