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Chris Ballard leads candidates for Colts’ GM opening

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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When the Colts fired general manager Ryan Grigson last week, it seemed almost immediately as if the person to replace him would be Jimmy Raye III.

Six days later, that isn’t so certain.

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported Friday that it’s Chris Ballard of the Chiefs at the head of the pack, not Raye, near the latter stages of the first round of interviews. Currently serving as the director of player personnel in Kansas City, Ballard interviewed with the Colts on Wednesday. It’s not certain that there will be a second round of interviews, but the process is expected to last about another week, Garafolo added. Continue reading →

Injuries: Cowboys’ Lawrence, Crawford have surgery

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The Cowboys are spending the rest of January and first week of February doing the same as 29 other NFL teams. For a group of players, that includes surgery.

Add two Cowboys to that company.

DeMarcus Lawrence and Tyrone Crawford had separate, successful surgeries, coach Jason Garrett said on Friday, via the Dallas Morning News. Lawrence had an operation on his back, while Crawford’s was on his shoulder, and neither have a timetable to return. With plenty of time to heal and rehabilitate, this shouldn’t be a cause for concern. Continue reading →

Marvin Lewis hopes to sign contract extension

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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For much of the last decade and a half in Cincinnati, three things have been constant: the sun rising and setting, winter coming and going, and Marvin Lewis remaining entrenched as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals.

That’s quietly been questioned in recent years, especially after yet another first-round exit from the playoffs at the end of the 2015 season, and a regression year in 2016 following the departure of several key free agents. The ceiling in the Lewis era seems to be Wild Card playoff berth and prompt end to the campaign.

That isn’t stopping the coach from seeking more security, though. Continue reading →

Tannenbaum: No decision yet on surgery for Tannehill

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Ryan Tannehill did a whole lot to solidify his standing as the franchise quarterback in Miami in 2016, but the way his season ended leaves room for uncertainty.

Tannehill saw a campaign heading toward the playoffs with promise screech to a halt thanks to a knee injury on Dec. 11. First believed to be a torn ACL, Tannehill’s injury turned out to be the less-severe ACL and MCL sprains, so less that he even returned to practice before Miami’s Wild Card contest against Pittsburgh. He wasn’t healthy enough to go in that game, though, leaving Miami with Matt Moore in what ended up being a blowout loss.

With the offseason in full swing for the Dolphins, the question now is what to do next with Tannehill? Continue reading →

Brent Musburger to retire after nearly 50 years in broadcasting

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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You are looking live at the end of one of the most storied careers in sports broadcasting.

Brent Musburger is retiring at the end of January, ESPN announced. Musburger will call two more contests before hanging up the headset for good, with his final college basketball game (Georgia at Kentucky) coming at 9 p.m. EST on Jan. 31.

Watch the Reese’s Senior Bowl on NFL Network at 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Musburger, who turns 78 in May, spent nearly 50 years in broadcasting, with the last 27 coming with ABC/ESPN. Cue up any old footage from the earlier days of sports television and you’re sure to find Musburger, whether it’s courtside, in the booth or behind the anchor’s desk in studio, working for CBS or ABC/ESPN. As sports took over more and more of the American public’s consciousness, Musburger was there to call a good amount of it.

Musburger became one of the network’s go-to broadcasters for college football and basketball in the early 2000s, calling seven BCS Championship Games. Musburger also served as either the host and/or play-by-play man for golf tournaments, NBA and Little League World Series games, NASCAR and IRL races and the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Musburger’s retirement is the latest departure in what has become a gradual changing of the guard at the network, which has also bid adieu to Chris Berman and Tom Jackson in recent months.

Brent Musburger to retire after nearly 50 years in broadcasting

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
Read full post on NFL.com

You are looking live at the end of one of the most storied careers in sports broadcasting.

Brent Musburger is retiring at the end of January, ESPN announced. Musburger will call two more contests before hanging up the headset for good, with his final college basketball game (Georgia at Kentucky) coming at 9 p.m. EST on Jan. 31.

Watch the Reese’s Senior Bowl on NFL Network at 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Musburger, who turns 78 in May, spent nearly 50 years in broadcasting, with the last 27 coming with ABC/ESPN. Cue up any old footage from the earlier days of sports television and you’re sure to find Musburger, whether it’s courtside, in the booth or behind the anchor’s desk in studio, working for CBS or ABC/ESPN. As sports took over more and more of the American public’s consciousness, Musburger was there to call a good amount of it.

Musburger became one of the network’s go-to broadcasters for college football and basketball in the early 2000s, calling seven BCS Championship Games. Musburger also served as either the host and/or play-by-play man for golf tournaments, NBA and Little League World Series games, NASCAR and IRL races and the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Musburger’s retirement is the latest departure in what has become a gradual changing of the guard at the network, which has also bid adieu to Chris Berman and Tom Jackson in recent months.

Jordy Nelson battles rib injury to play well in loss to Falcons

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Last week, we were thanking our lucky stars for a guy named Aaron Rodgers. This week, not even he could keep the Packers in serious contention. It was that kind of Championship Sunday.

The home teams dominated, and left little room for the stars of the road squads to flourish. The bar has been lowered on this week of two games with two hosts now heading to the Super Bowl. Worry not — we’ve found a few fellas worth highlighting.

Here are your greatest on the road from Championship Sunday. Continue reading →

Steelers’ James Harrison on future: ‘I’m not done yet’

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The ageless wonder and terrorizing linebacker with the dark-tinted visor isn’t riding off into the sunset just yet.

More than two years after Harrison retired as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers and then was convinced to come out of retirement to rejoin the franchise, the 38-year-old linebacker didn’t leave anyone hanging concerning his future in the moments after falling to New England 36-17 in the AFC title game. Continue reading →

Vikings exec George Paton a favorite for 49ers’ GM job

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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And then there were two.

Packers executive Brian Gutekunst elimnated himself from the race for the 49ers‘ general manager job by signing a new deal to stay in Green Bay, leaving just Vikings executive George Paton and Cardinals executive Terry McDonough in the running for the position, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday.

Paton is expected to meet with the 49ers and Kyle Shanahan — San Francisco’s expected new head coach — next week, Rapoport reported on NFL Total Access. If the two sides find themselves to be a good fit, it’s expected the Niners will offer Paton the job, Rapoport said. Continue reading →

Jadeveon Clowney, Sean Davis fined for hits in divisional round

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By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Jadeveon Clowney had quite a postseason coming out party, but it ultimately proved costly.

The Texans star was fined $18,231 for his hit on Patriots quarterback Tom Brady early in the fourth quarter of their divisional playoff game, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday via a league spokesman. Clowney’s hit drew a roughing the passer penalty as the Patriots went on to win 34-16.

Other fine news from the divisional round:

1. Steelers defensive back Sean Davis was fined $24,309 for his hit on Chiefs receiver Chris Conley at the goal line with 4:53 left in Pittsburgh’s 18-16 win over Kansas City. Davis’ hit drew an unnecessary roughness penalty, giving the Chiefs a fresh set of downs on the Steelers‘ 12.

2. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was fined $12,500 for his verbal attack on an official after Kansas City’s loss to the Steelers.