Tag: Smith

Dec 15, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith during warmups against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Reports: Jets’ search heats up with interview requests

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The New York Jets requested interviews with at least a half-dozen coordinators and other assistants as their coaching search intensified Monday, per multiple reports.

Offensive coordinators Arthur Smith (Steelers), Bobby Slowik (Texans) and Joe Brady (Bills), defensive coordinators Aaron Glenn (Lions) and Vance Joseph (Broncos), and quarterbacks coach Brian Griese (49ers) were candidates named in multiple reports.

The Jets (5-12) fired head coach Robert Saleh after a 2-3 start this season and went 3-9 under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich.

In addition, the Jets reportedly completed first interviews with former two-time head coach Ron Rivera and former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.

Smith, 42, is in his first season with Pittsburgh after posting three consecutive 7-10 seasons as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2021-23.

Smith’s Steelers, who will visit the Baltimore Ravens for a wild-card game on Saturday night, finished the regular season ranked 16th in scoring (22.4 points per game) and 23rd in total offense (319.4 yards per game).

Slowik, 37, is in his second season with the Texans after working as an assistant for the 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan from 2017-22. The Texans were 19th in scoring (21.9) and 22nd in total offense (319.7).

Brady, 35, joined the Buffalo staff in 2022 and is in his first full season as the offensive coordinator. The Bills ranked second in scoring (30.9) and 10th in total offense (359.1).

Glenn, 52, has been the Lions’ DC since 2021. Detroit finished seventh in the league this season in scoring defense (20.1) and 20th in total defense (342.4).

Joseph, 52, compiled an 11-21 record in two seasons as head coach of the Broncos from 2017-18. In his second season as head coach Sean Payton’s DC in 2024, Denver finished third in scoring defense (18.3) and seventh in total defense (317.1).

Griese, 49, just finished his third season coaching the San Francisco quarterbacks. He was a QB in the league for 11 seasons with four teams from 1998-2008, earning one Pro Bowl selection.

–Field Level Media

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jonathan Mingo (15) makes a diving catch against the Chicago Bears during the third quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

NFL Trade Deadline: Cowboys acquire WR Jonathan Mingo from Panthers

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Edge rusher Za’Darius Smith is back in the NFC North, acquired by the conference-leading Detroit Lions from the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday for a fifth-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft and a sixth-round pick in 2026.

Pushing for a pass rusher since losing Aidan Hutchinson to a broken leg, the Lions landed Smith and also receive a seventh-round pick in 2026.

A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Smith has five sacks this season playing opposite Myles Garrett in Cleveland.

He has 65 career sacks, 321 tackles and 10 forced fumbles in 132 career games (89 starts) with the Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Browns.

–Bengals bolster RB room, trade for Bears’ Khalil Herbert
Displaced by the arrival of free agent D’Andre Swift at the start of the 2024 season, Khalil Herbert could step into an immediate role in the Bengals’ backfield after Cincinnati traded a seventh-round pick to acquire the 26-year-old.

Herbert provides depth in the Bengals’ backfield with Zack Moss dealing with a neck injury and deemed out indefinitely by head coach Zac Taylor on Monday.

Herbert had eight carries for 16 yards and a touchdown with the Bears this season. He has rushed for 1,791 yards and nine touchdowns to go along with 45 catches for 291 yards and two scores in 48 career games (12 starts) with the Bears.

–Cowboys deal fourth-round pick for Panthers WR Jonathan Mingo
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jonathan Mingo was traded to the Dallas Cowboys for a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Adding Mingo, 23, gives backup quarterback Cooper Rush another big, talented target as he steps in for injured starter Dak Prescott. As part of the announced trade, Dallas also nets a seventh-round pick in 2025.

Mingo started 14 games as a rookie last season. The emergence of rookie first-round pick Xavier Legette and undrafted free agent Jalen Coker pushed Mingo down the depth chart in 2024.

Rebuilding Carolina traded wide receiver Diontae Johnson and a 2025 sixth-rounder to the Ravens last week in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2025.

Drafted 39th overall by the Panthers in the 2023 NFL Draft, Mingo caught 43 passes as a rookie and has 12 receptions this season. During the 2023 draft, Mingo was a receiver the Cowboys “really liked,” according to owner Jerry Jones. Dallas used its second-round pick, 19 spots after Mingo went off the board, to select Michigan tight end Luke Schoonmaker.

–Trades completed prior to Tuesday
Early action from the Kansas City Chiefs to bolster their injury-dinged offense and pass rush brought in Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in exchange for a conditional fifth-round pick, and edge Josh Uche from the New England Patriots for a sixth-round pick 2026.

Hopkins caught two touchdown passes from Patrick Mahomes in Monday’s 30-24 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, helping the Chiefs improve to 8-0.

–Field Level Media

Sep 16, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) celebrates his touchdown catch during the second quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Eagles WR DeVonta Smith clears protocol, available Sunday

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Philadelphia Eagles receivers DeVonta Smith and Johnny Wilson have cleared concussion protocol and are available for Sunday’s game against the visiting Cleveland Browns, per multiple reports Friday.

Smith, 25, was injured during the Eagles’ 15-12 win at New Orleans on Sept. 22 and did not play in the 33-16 loss at Tampa Bay on Sept. 29. Philadelphia (2-2) had a bye last weekend.

Smith caught 21 passes for 239 yards and one touchdown in the first three games. The 2021 first-round pick posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2022 and 2023.

He returns along with fellow wide receiver A.J. Brown and right tackle Lane Johnson, giving Philadelphia three key contributors back on offense against the Browns (1-4).

Wilson, 23, has one catch for 9 yards through four games. The 6-foot-6 rookie was a sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Florida State.

–Field Level Media

Sep 16, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) celebrates his touchdown catch during the second quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Eagles WR DeVonta Smith (concussion) leveled by fierce hit

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Philadelphia Eagles standout receiver DeVonta Smith exited Sunday’s 15-12 victory over New Orleans after sustaining a concussion via a vicious hit from Saints defensive tackle Khristian Boyd.

Smith caught a short pass and his forward progress was stopped. He was being driven backward by two players before Boyd came from behind and blindsided Smith with a fierce helmet-to-helmet hit with 13:45 remaining in the game.

Smith lay prone on the ground for several minutes as his teammates and coaches gathered around. He was eventually able to walk off the field and went to the medical tent for evaluation before later heading to the locker room.

Smith caught seven passes for 79 yards before exiting. He has 21 receptions for 239 yards and one touchdown in three games this season.

Philadelphia also lost star right tackle Lane Johnson to a concussion in the first half. Right guard Mekhi Becton (finger) and returner/receiver Britain Covey (shoulder) also departed with injuries.

–Field Level Media

Sep 8, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) is tackled by Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the first half at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Browns star DE Myles Garrett (foot) misses practice

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Cleveland Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett missed Thursday’s practice with a foot injury.

Garrett was added to the team’s injury report on Thursday after not being part of it Wednesday.

Garrett is the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year after racking up 14 sacks and four fumble recoveries last season.

In Week 1, Garrett had a strip-sack during Sunday night’s 33-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Fellow defensive end Za’Darius Smith (back) also was added to the injury report and missed practice Thursday.

Standout offensive tackle Jack Conklin practiced on a limited basis for the second straight day. He hasn’t played since sustaining a serious injury to his right knee in the 2023 season opener.

Cleveland also placed cornerback Myles Harden (shin) on injured reserve.

–Field Level Media

Nov 5, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) sacks Arizona Cardinals quarterback Clayton Tune (15) during the fourth quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Browns re-sign edge rusher Za’Darius Smith, DT Mitchell Hurst

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Browns edge rusher Za’Darius Smith and defensive lineman Maurice Hurst Jr. plan to re-sign with Cleveland, multiple outlets reported Monday.

Smith plans to sign a two-year, $23.5 million contract and Hurst’s deal is reportedly a one-year, $3.2 million pact, ESPN reported.

Smith, 31, was acquired prior to last season in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings and was second on the team with 5.5 sacks as the starter opposite Myles Garrett.

Hurst, 28, is recovering from a season-ending pectoral injury. He was a critical part of the interior defensive line rotation under first-year coordinator Jim Schwartz last season.

A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Smith has bounced from the Packers to Minnesota and Cleveland in exchange for a pair of fifth-round picks.

He has 60 career sacks.

–Field Level Media

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith has been worth every pick and penny the front office invested to acquire him from the Chicago Bears. Mandatory Credit: Jessica Rapfogel-USA TODAY Sports

LB Roquan Smith restored Ravens’ rough and ready mindset

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When paying Roquan Smith on a tier with the richest defenders in the league fell outside the realm of responsible accounting for the rebuilding Chicago Bears, one general manager sprinted to the phone armed with the Baltimore Ravens’ checkbook.

Eric DeCosta sent second- and fifth-round picks, along with linebacker A.J. Klein, to the Bears in the Halloween 2022 trade that has since helped define the rebirth of the Ravens’ defense.

“He brought the Ray Lewis juice back for our generation,” Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson said of Smith, the QB of Baltimore’s defense. “The grit, the everything, the leadership, his poise. His aggression. We needed that from our linebacker. Ro, he’s unbelievable. I’m glad we got him. Eric did a great job.”

The No. 8 pick in the 2018 draft, Smith’s stardom wasn’t exactly a secret. A standout at Georgia who regularly played on the national stage, he was the leading tackler in the NFL when the Ravens traded for him. Representing himself in negotiations, Bears general manager Ryan Poles talked Smith out of a holdout in August 2022 but never met the then 25-year-old’s demands for a $100 million deal.

DeCosta did just that.

Smith, who said negotiations with DeCosta were anything but easy, signed a five-year, $100 million deal with $45 million guaranteed to become the highest-paid off-ball linebacker in the league just over 12 months ago.

Head coach John Harbaugh didn’t fret whether that deal would lead to a divorce with Jackson, who is the frontrunner for NFL Most Valuable Player after self-represented contract talks with DeCosta resolved a season-long standoff over his own pay. Smith’s leadership, and work ethic, guided what defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald considered an easy decision to hitch the defense to the middle linebacker long-term.

“It’s a secret sauce,” Macdonald said. “There’s a magnetism to it, guys gravitate towards him naturally. He has great energy. … The way he plays, in terms of just getting to the football. If you aren’t playing with him, it pops out on tape, and guys realize that.”

The Ravens were No. 1 in the NFL in scoring defense (16.5 points per game), opposing passer rating, rushing touchdowns allowed and sacks in the regular season.

Cash in hand, Smith continues to star on the field and in the locker room. He was just named All-Pro for the second time and last week racked up seven tackles, with two stops behind the line of scrimmage, in the divisional playoff win over the Houston Texans.

To head coach John Harbaugh, Smith’s success is a billboard for Baltimore and beyond revealing all the work he put in to get to this point.

“He wants to do the things that are required to be a great player and to be a great unit and then to impact your team,” said Harbaugh. “That’s what he’s all about – 100 percent – that’s what I love about him. He’s one of the top guys I’ve ever seen that way, and I think that does always impact everybody as a leader, for sure.”

Smith gets another chance to lead Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs with a Super Bowl trip hanging in the balance. With headlines naturally spotlighting 2023 MVP Patrick Mahomes and Jackson, Smith plans to nudge his way back into the narrative.

“We all know he’s an elite quarterback,” Smith said of the matchup with Mahomes. “He does everything well. I think personally just his ability to read coverages, extend plays. … He’s a great quarterback, we all know that, but so are we on defense.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 24, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith shown on the field after the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons fire Arthur Smith after three 7-10 seasons

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The Atlanta Falcons fired coach Arthur Smith on Sunday night after finishing a 7-10 season earlier in the day.

The Falcons dismissed Smith after a meeting Sunday night involving owner Arthur Blank and CEO Rich McKay.

“Decisions like this are never easy and they never feel good,” Blank said in a news release. “We have profound respect for Coach Smith and appreciate all the hard work and dedication he has put into the Falcons over the last three years. He has been part of building a good culture in our football team, but the results on the field have not met our expectations.

“After significant thought and reflection, we have determined the best way forward for our team is new leadership in the head coaching position.”

The Falcons scheduled a press conference for Monday to discuss the firing as well as their upcoming coaching search.

Smith, 41, went 21-30 in three seasons with Atlanta. The team went 7-10 in all three campaigns.

The Falcons said Blank and McKay will lead their coaching search with general manager Terry Fontenot also having input.

Atlanta was mauled 48-17 by the New Orleans Saints on Sunday to conclude the season with four losses in five games.

The Saints tacked on a rushing touchdown with 1:10 left instead of taking a knee. After the game, Smith refused to shake hands with New Orleans coach Dennis Allen and verbally expressed his disapproval with some curse words.

Atlanta will select eighth in the 2024 draft. The Falcons have a run of six consecutive losing seasons since last reaching the playoffs in 2017.

–Field Level Media

Jan 7, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith looks on against the New Orleans Saints during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Coaches get heated after Saints pile on late TD, spank Falcons

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Testy words were fired before cooler heads prevailed when losing coach Arthur Smith and Saints counterpart Dennis Allen met for the usual postgame salutations moments after New Orleans’ 48-17 win over the Falcons went final on Sunday.

Frustrated by the Saints scoring a touchdown in the final minute with a 24-point lead, Smith gave Allen his blunt assessment of that decision, saying “that’s f—- BS.”

Allen apologized to open his media session after the game, which ended Atlanta’s season with a 7-10 record for the third time in Smith’s three seasons as Falcons head coach.

“You can do whatever you want,” Smith said. “I just gave them my opinion about it.”

Offensive guard Cesar Ruiz took the blame for the decision by the offense not to following instructions and take a knee as the final 60 seconds ticked off the clock. Instead, Ruiz said the offensive line wanted to get running back Jamaal Williams his first rushing touchdown of the season.

“Whatever heat comes with that, put that on the (offensive) line,” he said.

New Orleans (9-8) won to keep its playoff chances alive and tuned in to root for the Green Bay Packers to lose at home to the Chicago Bears in the late afternoon slate of games Sunday.

In Allen’s first statement to reporters after the game was final, he explained the Saints’ players made the decision to get Williams the late score.

“That’s not who we are, not what we’re about,” Allen said.

–Field Level Media

Injured Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) walks to the locker room at halftime of the NFL 16 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. The Steelers led 24-0 at halftime.

Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase (shoulder) to decide Sunday if he can play

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Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase said Friday that he plans to inform coach Zac Taylor on Sunday per whether he can play in that day’s road contest against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Chase is listed as questionable for the game due to a right shoulder injury. The ailment forced him to miss last weekend’s 34-11 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Chase was limited in practice the past two days and admitted he won’t be healthy on Sunday.

“I’m getting (range of motion) back,” Chase said on Friday. “It’s going to come down to tolerating pain from a hit, for real. If anything, that will be the biggest test. You can’t test that pregame. You’ll hurt yourself before you play. We’ll find out.”

Chase has caught a career-high 93 passes in 14 games this season. He also had 1,156 yards and seven touchdowns.

Cincinnati will get cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (ankle) back from injured reserve after he missed four games.

“He’s been a really quality player for us,” Taylor said of Taylor-Britt. “Brings a lot of energy to the table. So we’re excited to get him back.”

Cornerback Jalen Davis (groin) also is listed as questionable for the Bengals (8-7), who badly need a victory to bolster their playoff hopes.

For Kansas City, receiver Kadarius Toney (hip) and offensive tackle Donovan Smith (neck) have been ruled out for the second straight game.

Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed (calf) is listed as questionable after not practicing all week.

Running backs Isiah Pacheco (concussion, shoulder) and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness) and receiver Mecole Hardman (thumb) are also questionable for Kansas City.

Complicating the running back situation for the Chiefs is that Jerick McKinnon (groin) was placed on injured reserve last Sunday.

Kansas City (9-6) also can use a win after losing five of its last eight games.

–Field Level Media