Georgia Tech QB Jeff Sims transferring to Nebraska
Georgia Tech transfer quarterback Jeff Sims, a former 4-star prospect, announced his commitment to the Cornhuskers on Sunday. Sims officially visited Lincoln last weekend, which was the first visit weekend for Matt Rhule and his new staff. Sims, who was ranked by 247Sports as a top 15 quarterback in the 2020 class, arrived at Georgia Tech after having initially committed to Florida State. Last year’s starter Casey Thompson, who struggled with injuries throughout the year, has not declared if he will return in 2023. Nebraska also has several other scholarship quarterbacks on its roster and has entertained other transfer portal QBs since the season ended.
mlive.comBig Ten power rankings: Bowl projections after exciting end to regular season
The regular season is over, and so these will be the last Big Ten power rankings of the season. NorthwesternLast week’s ranking: 14; Overall record (Big Ten): 1-11 (1-8)Northwestern went 0-11 in 1989. RutgersLast week: 13; Record: 4-8 (1-8)Rutgers lost five straight to end the season, culminating with a 37-0 defeat to Maryland. MarylandLast week: 9; Record: 7-5 (4-5); Up next: Duke’s Mayo Bowl vs. ACC teamMaryland beat Rutgers, Northwestern, Indian, and Michigan State this year in the Big Ten. MinnesotaLast week: 8; Record: 8-4 (5-4); Up next: Music City Bowl vs. SEC teamIt was a good but not great year for Minnesota.
mlive.comHuskers pay premium for Rhule to bring back program's glory
Matt Rhule said he had plenty of options after he got fired by the Carolina Panthers. Nebraska introduced Rhule as its coach on Monday, exactly seven weeks after the Panthers fired him five games into his third season. Awaiting him is the daunting task of taking over a team coming off a sixth straight losing season and a program that's a shell of what once was one of the biggest brands in the college game. “I am here because this is the right fit, it’s the right time,” Rhule said.
news.yahoo.comNebraska signs Matt Rhule to 8-year contract as coach
Nebraska has signed Matt Rhule to an eight-year contract to be the Cornhuskers' next football coach, the school announced Saturday. The 47-year-old Rhule has been out of work for less than two months since getting fired by the Carolina Panthers. One of eight Football Bowl Subdivision programs with at least 900 wins but more than 20 years removed from its 1990s heyday, Nebraska is pinning its hopes on Rhule to recreate his success at his previous two college stops.
news.yahoo.com2 coaches fired, several others remain on hot seat
There has already been two coaching changes halfway through the NFL season with Indianapolis firing Frank Reich this week four weeks after Carolina did the same to Matt Rhule. The NFL had a record-tying 10 coaching changes last offseason and three-quarters of the teams have changed head coaches at least once in the past five years. Here's a look at some coaches who figure to be on the hot seat if things don't turn around in the second half of the season and some assistants who could be in line for head coaching jobs.
news.yahoo.comEx-Detroit Lions defensive coordinator fired by Carolina Panthers
ALLEN PARK -- Paul Pasqualoni, a former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator and veteran coach, has been fired by the Carolina Panthers. But the Panthers have been going through sweeping changes since last month’s firing of head coach Matt Rhule, and it hasn’t been pretty on either side of the ball. The veteran coach served as ex-Lions head coach Matt Patricia’s defensive coordinator for two seasons in Detroit. Pasqualoni is most remembered for his decade-plus tenure as the head coach at Syracuse University and three-year run at the University of Connecticut. Pasqualoni was also the Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator for two seasons between 2008 and 2009.
mlive.comCarolina Panthers fire coach Matt Rhule after 1-4 start
The NFL season is only five weeks old, but one team is ready to move on from their head coach. The Carolina Panthers announced Monday that it is parting ways with third-year head coach Matt Rhule. The Panthers hired Rhule before the 2020 season after his successful stints at Temple and Baylor, during which he turned both programs around. The 53-year-old Wilks spent one year as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, and six years on the Panthers staff from 2012-17. The Panthers travel to take on Matthew Stafford and Rams (2-3) in Week 6.
mlive.comMayfield's transition to Carolina anything but smooth so far
Baker Mayfield’s transition to the Carolina Panthers hasn't been a smooth one. “Not good enough yet,” Mayfield said when asked to assess his play through three games. Perhaps it’s that Mayfield missed all of OTAs and minicamp with his new team, but the quarterback hasn’t been on the same page with his receivers and too often hasn't trusted his offensive line to provide protection when it has been there, too often needlessly shifting in a clean pocket.
news.yahoo.comCorral's decision sweetens Ole Miss-Baylor Sugar Bowl tilt
Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral wasn't about to miss a chance to make history in the Sugar Bowl. The potential first-round NFL draft choice has spent four years helping the Rebels (10-2) rise from the bottom of the Southeastern Conference standings to a No. 8 ranking and the cusp of the program's first 11-win season — if they can beat sixth-ranked Baylor (11-2) on Saturday night. Corral said the bond he has formed with Ole Miss teammates over several seasons outweighs the risk of an injury that could sink his draft stock — and his rookie pay day along with it.
news.yahoo.comBrady, Bucs rout Panthers 32-6 to clinch NFC South title
Tom Brady threw for 232 yards and a touchdown, Antonio Brown made a grand return to the lineup after missing the last eight games and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Carolina Panthers 32-6 on Sunday to clinch their first NFC South title since 2007.
Patriots, Bucs among those making biggest waves so far
(AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)Bill Belichick never was one to spent wildly in free agency. Whether by trade, free agency or re-signings, the group brings a good mix of offense, defense and special teams. In addition to keeping Von Miller, Justin Simmons and Shelby Harris, Paton filled his biggest defensive pothole by signing free agent cornerbacks Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller. FUTURE CONSIDERATIONSThe Lions didn’t do much in free agency but nobody in Detroit should be bothered. The Lions are focused on rebuilding through the draft after sending QB Matthew Stafford to the Rams and then letting star wide receiver Kenny Golladay walk in free agency.
Franks-to-Yeboah TD seals National's 27-24 Senior Bowl win
American Team quarterback Kellen Mond of Texas A&M (12) has his throw tipped by National Team offensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa of UCLA (92) during the first half of the NCAA Senior Bowl college football game in Mobile, Ala., Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)MOBILE, Ala. – Texas A&M's Kellen Mond was the Senior Bowl Most Valuable Player but two fellow Southeastern Conference Western Division products made the decisive big play. Fitzpatrick had six catches for 90 yards in the showcase game for senior and graduate NFL prospects, earning offensive player of the game honors. Obviously, kind of shaky at the beginning but it definitely shows a lot of poise to be able to bounce back.”North Carolina running back Michael Carter also had a big game. Jamie Newman completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Trevon Grimes with 49 seconds left for the American team after Franks and Yeboah made it a two-score game.
Alabama QB Mac Jones heads into Senior Bowl on gimpy ankle
The next game he plays is for his NFL draft stock, provided the Alabama quarterback's gimpy left ankle is good to go. Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy said the plan is for Jones to dress out and see how his ankle feels. “Just being in that room, I already learned so much about NFL football,” he said. Mond started 44 games for the Aggies, Ehlinger logged 43 starts for the Longhorns,Mond led the Aggies into College Football Playoffs contention in his final season. I just wanted to come and kind of learn more about NFL football and learn a new playbook, which I thought I did a good job with.
Players who opted out look to shake off rust at Senior Bowl
Newman is hardly alone among the players trying to shake off the rust after long layoffs leading up to Saturday's Senior Bowl for senior NFL prospects. A number of the Senior Bowl players had shortened seasons or none at all because of the coronavirus pandemic. He was the lone quarterback at the Senior Bowl not made available for post-practice media interviews. But I think he’s done a really good job.”AdThere are number of players at the Senior Bowl returning after a long absences from the field. Darby trained in Las Vegas for the Senior Bowl and the now-canceled combine.
Lions will reportedly lose QB coach Sean Ryan for same gig with Carolina Panthers
ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions have made the hiring of their new head coach and general manager official, meaning the team’s staff should start coming into focus. Now, ESPN reports quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan will leave to take the same job with the Carolina Panthers. Ryan previously served on the same staff as Panthers coach Matt Rhule when both were with the New York Giants. The team also made Dan Campbell’s hiring as head coach officially official. Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley previously interviewed in Cincinnati for the same job, but the Bengals hired Frank Pollack.
mlive.comFalcons interview Hackett, Brady for head coaching job
Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady is becoming a popular name for NFL teams seeking to fill head coaching vacancies. A person familiar with the situation says the Chargers, Falcons and Texans have all asked for and received permission from the Panthers to interview Brady for their head coaching jobs. (AP Photo/Brian Westerholt, File)ATLANTA – The Atlanta Falcons have interviewed a pair of offensive coordinators, Nathaniel Hackett of the Green Bay Packers and Joe Brady of the Carolina Panthers, for their head coaching job. The Falcons conducted a virtual interview with Hackett on Thursday, one day after meeting virtually with Brady. “I think one of the (prerequisites) to being a good head coach is presence in front of a room," Rodgers said.
Saints rout Panthers 33-7 to earn No. 2 seed in NFC playoffs
The Saints (12-4) will host the seventh-seeded Chicago Bears in the wild-card round next weekend. He also ran for five TDs, but the Panthers struggled to make winning plays late in games all season with Bridgewater at the helm. That leaves questions about his future as the Panthers starting QB, especially with the team having a top 10 draft pick in 2021. UP NEXTSaints: The four-time defending NFC South champions host the Bears next weekend in the playoffs. Panthers: After failing to make the playoffs for the third straight season, Carolina will look to the NFL draft to upgrade a number of pressing needs.
Panthers fire GM Marty Hurney after another losing season
FILE - In this April 17, 2019, file photo, Carolina Panthers general manager Marty Hurney speaks to the media in Charlotte, N.C. The Panthers have fired Hurney after the team lost eight of its last nine games and failed to make the playoffs for a third straight season. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Marty Hurney is out again as Carolina's general manager. The Panthers are the fifth team this season to fire their general manager, joining the Lions, Jaguars, Texans and Falcons. He was the general manager from 2002-12 before being fired by former owner Jerry Richardson.
Panthers QB Teddy Bridgewater reportedly inching closer to missing Week 11 game vs. Lions
The NFL Network reports the Carolina Panthers quarterback is “unlikely” to start against the Lions in Week 11 after another limited practice. Bridgewater suffered an MCL sprain in his knee last week, with Panthers coach Matt Rhule describing the quarterback as “extremely limited” so far this week. It’s worth noting the Panthers coach said the same of Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is practicing through a partially torn ligament in his throwing hand. “Well, I think when you take veteran guys like, you know, Stafford and Bridgewater, especially on a Wednesday when they’re limited,” Rhule said. I love watching Stafford play.
mlive.comLooking ahead: Panthers clicking on offense while youthful defense deals with growing pains
ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions-Carolina Panthers Week 11 matchup is highlighted by banged-up starting quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater has proven to be a fit for Matt Rhule’s offense, getting the ball out in space to receivers D.J. Mike Davis has been strong in relief of McCaffrey, but it’s been the growing pains on defense holding this group back. “So you have to be very disciplined in the run defense or otherwise this guy will hurt you very quickly. See below for the previous five meetings (or click here for the full rundown):2018 -- Lions 20, Panthers 19 (highlights below)2017 -- Panthers 27, Lions 242014 -- Panthers 24, Lions 72011 -- Lions 49, Panthers 352008 -- Panthers 31, Lions 22
mlive.comBrady, Buccaneers bounce back with 46-23 win over Panthers
Brady threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns, Ronald Jones set a franchise-record with a 98-yard touchdown run, and the Buccaneers bounced back from a dreadful defeat with a resounding 46-23 win over the Carolina Panthers. Panthers coach Matt Rhule described Brady’s play as “elite” and “fantastic.”The Bucs ran the ball just five times last week. Tampa Bay racked up 544 yards on offense and outgained the Panthers 322-35 in the second half and outscored them 29-6. Chris Godwin had 92 yards receiving for the Buccaneers (7-3), who swept the season series and handed the Panthers (3-7) their fifth straight loss. Rhule said the Panthers were unaware the ball had hit the ground or else he would have just had Bridgewater spike the ball.
Rhule: McCaffrey's injury not expected to be season ending
Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (22) runs against Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Bashaud Breeland (21) during the second half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020. Rhule said McCaffrey has a separation of the AC joint, which is located at the tip of the shoulder where the shoulder blade and collarbone meet. “I'm anticipating from I know being much more day to day and week to week than that. McCaffrey injured the shoulder in the fourth quarter of Carolina's 33-31 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. McCaffrey has six touchdowns in the three games he's played this season, including two in a 31-17 loss to Tampa Bay in Week 2.
From season-altering to bizarre, injuries hit NFL yet again
From the season-altering (Dak Prescott, Barkley) to the bizarre (Tyrod Taylor, Trent Brown), injuries are playing their traditionally significant role in the NFL. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)ARLINGTON, Texas – From the season-altering to the bizarre, injuries are playing their traditionally significant role in the NFL. Brown also recently went back on the COVID-19 list, a newcomer among potential ailments with the NFL playing during a pandemic. Few teams have had the volume of injuries that have hit defending NFC champion San Francisco. New Orleans' star receiver, Michael Thomas, has had a tumultuous season in part because of ankle and hamstring injuries.
Panthers list McCaffrey as 'day to day' with shoulder injury
Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (22) celebrates after scoring against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Panthers coach Matt Rhule says running back Christian McCaffrey is “day to day” with a shoulder injury he suffered in the closing seconds of Carolina’s 33-31 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Rhule would not say if McCaffrey has already had an MRI or an X-ray, adding that he should know more about the extent of the injury on Wednesday. McCaffrey left the game for a few plays and was seen holding his shoulder on the sideline. I thought he had some really nice runs, obviously scored a couple touchdowns.”If McCaffrey can't play, Mike Davis would get the start.
Chiefs escape with 33-31 win when Panthers FG is wide right
Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (22) runs toward the end zone to score against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020. Chiefs coach Andy Reid liked it so much that he put it in the game plan. The Panthers' onside kick was recovered by Kansas City, but they used their three timeouts to get the ball back, and Teddy Bridgewater's 23-yard pass to Curtis Samuel with 9 seconds remaining gave them hope. It took nine plays and consumed nearly nine minutes before McCaffrey reached the end zone, keeping the potent Kansas City offense on the sideline. The Panthers still led 17-13 after the teams traded missed field goals to start the second half, but the Chiefs finally hit their offensive stride.
The Latest: Home teams now 65-65-1 in this pandemic season
That means that going into tonight’s Saints-Buccaneers showdown, home teams are 65-65-1 so far this season. That homefield advantage has largely been erased with sparse crowds or no fans at games because of the coronavirus pandemic. Las Vegas though has taken control on its first two drives of the second half. Neither had started an NFL game, but both have been in the league much longer than DiNucci. The Tennessee Titans already lost left tackle Taylor Lewan for the season, and now they are without left guard Rodger Saffold.
NFL recommends some sideline players wear masks during games
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)The NFL is recommending that players on the sidelines who are not participating in a game or about to go on the field wear protective masks. Although the NFL stopped short of mandating masks for all players not on the field, it “strongly encouraged” all active players in the bench area who are not about to enter the game to wear masks while standing on the sideline and/or sitting on the bench. While the NFL considers expanding the bench area further down the sideline, teams may consider reconfiguring or adding benches. Earlier Friday, the NFL said that the Los Angeles Chargers’ game at Denver this weekend isn’t in jeopardy after players on both teams tested positive for the coronavirus. There’s no change to the status of the game,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told The Associated Press.
Ryan, Falcons avenge earlier loss to Panthers, 25-17
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan gets sacked by Atlanta Falcons linebacker Foye Oluokun during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)CHARLOTTE, N.C. – This time, the Atlanta Falcons finished. Carolina was driving late, but Atlanta stopped the rally when Blidi Wreh-Wilson intercepted Teddy Bridgewater near the Falcons' 10-yard line with 1:04 remaining. Moore on third and 18 to move the Panthers into Falcons territory. Bridgewater was limited to 176 yards passing as the Panthers (3-5) lost their third straight game without injured Christian McCaffrey. UP NEXTFalcons: Host the Broncos on Nov. 8Panthers: Open the second half of the season at the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs on Nov. 8.
NFL owners don't like Carolina Panthers' $60 million deal for new head coach Matt Rhule. Coaches love it
Usually, NFL head coaching deals don't exceed five or six years, but Gruden changed that with this agreement. "It raised the bar," former NFL head coach Tony Dungy told CNBC in an interview. In the NFL, coaching contracts are not included in a team's salary cap, so those numbers don't typically get released. Head coach Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers is congratulated by head coach Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks after their 28-23 win in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Lambeau Field on January 12, 2020 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Tepper also signed Rhule for seven years when owners typically don't commit to first-year head NFL coaches for more than four years.
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