Tag: league meetings

Chiefs DB coach Dave Merritt to attend NFL accelerator program at league meetings

#Chiefs DB coach Dave Merritt is set to represent the team at the NFL’s coaching accelerator program later this month.

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The Kansas City Chiefs have selected defensive back coach Dave Merritt to represent the club at the NFL’s coaching accelerator program when the spring league meetings begin in Minneapolis next week. This is a continuation of the previous accelerator events that the NFL introduced last season to help strengthen diversity in coaching and front offices across the league.

Merritt came to Kansas City in 2019, replacing longtime DB coach Emmitt Thomas after spending the 2018 season coaching the defensive backs at the Arizona Cardinals. Merritt worked with Steve Spagnuolo during both of his stints with the Giants, including their Super Bowl-winning season of 2007.

He’s been a critical part of the team’s defensive success, notably coaching up a secondary comprised of a number of new pieces during the 2022 NFL season en route to a Super Bowl LVII win.

Here’s the pertinent information on the event from the NFL:

The Coach Accelerator aims to increase exposure between owners, executives, and diverse coaching talent, providing ample opportunity to develop and build upon their relationships. In a change to the nomination process this year, clubs were able to nominate those from outside of their organization.

. . .

In addition to networking, further development of the participants is a critical component of the accelerator, with curated content sessions scheduled that will further engage each participant on the advancement of their executive leadership skills and business acumen. 

Eric Bieniemy and Tim Terry represented the team at the inaugural accelerator programs for coaches and front office members last year.

“In the year since its inception, we’ve been encouraged by the positive response to the Accelerator from both club owners and participants,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said via press release.”We look forward to continuing to build on an incredible program that supports diverse talent.”

This could prove to be an opportunity for Coach Merritt to continue climbing the ladder in the NFL. Before long he could be considered for a defensive coordinator position, if not a head-coaching job.

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Report: Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy to skip league meetings, to spend time scouting instead

The Cowboys coach is said to have travel plans for several college pro days as the NFL’s GMs and coaches meet in Palm Beach, Florida. | From @ToddBrock24f7

The NFL’s annual league meetings, being held in person in Palm Beach, Florida this year after a virtual format the past two years, are always a well-attended event, with GMs and coaches from all 32 clubs sitting down to talk through issues and rules. And it’s traditionally been a chance for the media to get some up-close-and-personal time with the various team leaders.

This year, though, there will be at least one conspicuous absence.

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy will not attend the league meetings this year. Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News cited sources in a tweet Sunday morning.

Instead, McCarthy will spend the next several days on the college prospect trail, with plans to attend several unnamed schools’ pro days.

As pointed out, it is unusual for a head coach to not attend the meetings. But it perhaps less odd when one considers the offseason the Cowboys as an organization- and McCarthy himself- has had thus far. McCarthy certainly knows that the first question out of any reporter’s mouth will likely include one or all of the following phrases: job security, hot seat, prove-it year, Sean Payton.

McCarthy was asked about the then-fresh rumors at the NFL scouting combine several weeks ago. At the time, he called it “a narrative I don’t want to be a part of.”

Immersing himself in scouting trips all but ensures he won’t have to.

That’s the obvious knee-jerk reaction, anyway. And maybe there’s a hint of truth to it.

But given the holes on the current Dallas roster, McCarthy’s time is arguably better spent looking for new personnel to fill those holes. The Cowboys have re-signed several solid role players in free agency, but have also watched a handful of big names- Amari Cooper, La’el Collins, Randy Gregory, and Cedrick Wilson- walk out the door. And they’ve made no headline-grabbing signings (apologies to Dante Fowler and James Washington) in an offseason that’s provided nearly one a day.

In a still-flat NFC East and across-the-board weaker NFC than years past, the Cowboys likely sense that opportunity is real in 2022. This year’s draft haul simply must produce some bona fide playmakers to help push them over the hump and into a deep playoff run as they chase their sixth Super Bowl title before the window closes on stars like Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, and DeMarcus Lawrence.

“The lifeline is the draft,” the coach said last week during a stretch of several pro days including Georgia, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and Penn State.

“I want to see as many prospects as I can. This is the most involved I’ve been with the draft, McCarthy explained. “It’s awesome.”

The next rookie phenom won’t be found in a committee discussion about overtime rules at The Breakers in Palm Beach this week. But he just might be discovered at the next pro day McCarthy attends.

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