Category: Around the North

Around the North: NFL Insider reiterates possibility Lamar Jackson leaves Baltimore

The Ravens are saying he will be back but will it actually happen?

Over the weekend a report from NFL Network came out that the Baltimore Ravens will franchise tag quarterback Lamar Jackson if a long-term deal can’t be agreed upon. In that same report head coach John Harbaugh said he believed there was a 200% chance Jackson will be with the team in 2023. However, on the Pat McAfee show on Monday, Ian Rapoport said he isn’t so sure that is true.

It will be interesting to follow this story in the offseason but if Lamar leaves the division it’s a win for the Cleveland Browns. Finding a franchise quarterback is hard and replacing one quickly is nearly impossible if you let him walk.

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Around the North: Cardinals HC gig down to Bengals DC Lou Anarumo and Jonathan Gannon

The Cardinals are down to two finalists, and there are implications in Cleveland regardless.

The Arizona Cardinals are down to two finalists for their head coaching gig, and both have implications for the Cleveland Browns. Between Lou Anarumo, the defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals, and Jonathan Gannon, the Cardinals may be ready to name their next head coach as early as tonight. If Anarumo is the choice for the Cardinals, then a rival of the Browns loses a top-notch defensive coordinator.

If Gannon is the choice, then the Browns may lose their quarterbacks coach as Drew Petzing is rumored to be a top choice to become Gannon’s offensive coordinator. Regardless, this is a situation to monitor closely.

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Around the North: Will the Ravens trade Lamar Jackson?

Has the former MVP played his last snap in Baltimore?

NFL Network is reporting that the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens will use the franchise tag on former MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson if an extension cannot be reached. Earlier this offseason there were reports that the two sides were at least $100 million apart in negotiations.

“The Baltimore Ravens will place the franchise tag on quarterback Lamar Jackson if the sides cannot agree to a long-term deal in the coming weeks — and there is a possibility other teams could tempt Baltimore to trade the former NFL MVP for a windfall of draft picks, per sources.” -NFL Network Report

Very interesting that the possibility of a tag and trade is being mentioned by a major news outlet. This starts to give teeth to the idea that Jackson could end up somewhere other than Baltimore next season. However for now the team is publically saying all the right things.

“Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said there was a “200% chance” that Jackson stays in Baltimore and general manager Eric DeCosta said they were excited to restart negotiations, even after Jackson missed the end of a second consecutive season because of injury.” -NFL Network

This is something for Browns fans to keep an eye on as a division rival may push reset on their quarterback situation this offseason.

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Around the North: Eric Bieniemy ‘remains a prime candidate’ for the Ravens

The Ravens do not appear to be winding down their search for a new offensive coordinator.

As the Kansas City Chiefs prepare to take on the Philadelphia Eagles this weekend, they may have to prepare to land a new offensive coordinator as well. The contract of Eric Bieniemy is set to expire after the Super Bowl, and according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, he is considered a “prime candidate” to land the same role with the Baltimore Ravens.

They have also interviewed the likes of former Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Byron Leftwich, Brian Angelichio, and Dave Canales for the role. The AFC North continues to turn over coaches, and we may have more to follow as well.

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Around the North: Ravens and Lamar could be $100M off in contract talks

Will the division rival have a new QB in 2023?

The Cleveland Browns gave quarterback Deshaun Watson an unprecedented amount of guaranteed money, and that may impact how other teams handle QB contracts. Lamar Jackson of the division rival Baltimore Ravens has finished his rookie deal and is looking for a massive extension. Fans can understand why the onetime league MVP would want to be paid what he thinks he is worth.

But according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the two sides are nowhere close in negotiations. Fowler suggests that they could be as much as $100 million apart in the negotiations. So now the questions are: Which side caves first, and will the Ravens be in search of a new franchise quarterback this offseason?

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Around the North: Steelers lose key defensive coach to the Vikings

A key defensive coach is now departing the AFC North

As the Cleveland Browns look to be competitive within the AFC North in a make-or-break 2023, their rival has lost a key defensive assistant. Departing from the Pittsburgh Steelers, Brian Flores has been hired as the next defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings. Flores was a candidate for the defensive coordinator job in Cleveland before they opted for Jim Schwartz instead.

This has other repercussions for the Browns and the rest of the AFC North as well, as Flores was a finalist for the head coaching gig for the Arizona Cardinals, along with the defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals Lou Anarumo. Now the chances are growing that two bright defensive minds may be departing the division.

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Around the North: A third Bengals coach is interviewing for a promotion elsewhere

Could a Bengals assistant be heading out of town?

Another Cincinnati Bengals assistant is interviewing this week for a promotion. Despite the Bengals giving quarterback coach Dan Pitcher a raise the assistant is still set to interview with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fans can understand why as he would be getting a chance to call plays as the team’s offensive coordinator.

Bengals fans are upset with the idea as many think he is a well-respected and talented coach. He is credited with helping Joe Burrow elevate his game to a franchise quarterback level the past couple of seasons. Cleveland Browns fans however would be happy to see him leave the division and the conference.

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Around the North: Former Bengals WR A.J. Green hangs up his cleats

A.J. Green will no longer give the Browns fits as the former Bengals wide receiver has hung up his cleats.

The 2010s were littered with games where wide receiver A.J. Green and cornerback Joe Haden would go toe-to-toe in epic showdowns when the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals would faceoff. And now both players have decided to hang up their cleats as Green announced his retirement today. The AFC North will not be the same.

Playing for both the Bengals and the Arizona Cardinals, Green stacked together a career with seven Pro Bowls to his name. He finished his 12-year career with over 10,500 yards receiving and 70 touchdowns on 727 catches. With Haden and Green now both out of the league, we truly are in a new era of NFL football.

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Around the North: Bengals DC Lou Anarumo one of three finalists for Cardinals HC gig

The heat is picking up between the Cardinals and the defensive coordinator of the Bengals, Lou Anarumo

Much to the joy of those who follow and cheer for the Cleveland Browns, the Cincinnati Bengals are getting closer to needing to replace their top-tier defensive coordinator. As the Arizona Cardinals are wrapping up their head coaching search, Lou Anarumo has been named as one of three finalists to replace Kliff Kingsbury according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Along with Brian Flores and the offensive coordinator of the New York Giants, Mike Kafka, Anarumo is left in great company.

Getting an elite defensive mind out of the AFC North would do wonders for the Browns and the rest of the division as the Bengals have now hit back-to-back AFC Championship games.

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Around the North: Ravens up to four finalists for offensive coordinator gig

A divisional rival has been busy looking for their new offensive coordinator.

As we continue to follow news around the AFC North as well, the offensive coordinator search of the Baltimore Ravens is among the most interesting among divisional rivals. After the Ravens parted ways with Greg Roman, they have been quite busy looking for their new man to run the offense. Thus far, it looks like five names are among the coaches in contention.

While it was already reported that former Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Todd Monken has received a second interview, so have two others as the pass game coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings, Brian Angelichio, and Dave Canales, who is the quarterbacks coach of the Seattle Seahawks, have also received second interviews. The former offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Byron Leftwich, has also spoken to the Ravens about their vacancy.

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