The Denver Broncos didn’t waste much time finding a successor to Gary Kubiak as the team hired Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph as its head coach on Wednesday.
Joseph signed a four-year deal with the Broncos, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Financial terms were not disclosed. He interviewed for nearly four hours with Denver on Tuesday and was scheduled to meet with representatives from the San Diego Chargers the following day. However, the 44-year-old Joseph elected to return to the Broncos’ Englewood facility, the Denver Post reported.
Joseph was the last of three candidates to interview for the Broncos. Denver also interviewed Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub and Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.
The Buffalo Bills agreed to hire Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott as their head coach two weeks after firing Rex Ryan.
A source close to the negotiations told the Buffalo News that details were still being worked out between the Bills and McDermott’s agent but everything was on track for a deal. The contract is expected to cover five years, the same length the Bills gave Ryan in 2015.
The 42-year-old McDermott interviewed for a second time Wednesday with Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula at their home in Boca Raton, Fla. McDermott spent Tuesday being interviewed by the San Francisco 49ers.
The Bills interviewed four candidates, including Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin and Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Kris Richard.
Patriots RB Blount sidelined
New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount sat out practice for the second day in a row on Thursday due to illness.
Blount was seen by reporters at Gillette Stadium but did not participate on the field. The workhorse back is expected to play on Saturday night as the top-seeded Patriots host the AFC South champion Houston Texans in a divisional round playoff game.
Blount had an NFL-best 18 rushing touchdowns and team-leading 1,161 yards on 299 carries this season. The 30-year-old erupted for 105 yards and two scores in New England’s 27-0 rout of Houston on Sept. 22.
Should Blount be sidelined, Dion Lewis and James White likely would see an increase in their respective workloads while fellow running backs D.J. Foster and Brandon Bolden could also see an uptick in playing time.
Ravens hire Greg Roman
The Baltimore Ravens hired former Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Greg Roman as the team’s senior offensive assistant/tight ends coach on Thursday.
Roman was fired by the Bills just two games into the 2016 season, his second with the club. The 44-year-old also spent the previous four years as the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive coordinator and two years with Stanford in 2009-10, working with Baltimore coach John Harbaugh’s brother Jim at both stops.
“I am very excited to join the Ravens’ staff and help coach (John) Harbaugh and Marty Mornhinweg in any way I can,” Roman said. “The building blocks are there for this team, and we’re all looking forward to being better. I’ve been with the Ravens before and know firsthand what a great organization they have. My family and I are happy to be back.”
Roman also served as an assistant offensive line coach in Baltimore in 2006 and 2007.
“Greg had other opportunities over the last few days, and we’re pleased that he has decided to join the Ravens,” John Harbaugh said. “I’ve known Greg for a long time, and he’s a hard worker and very creative. Our football team just got better.”
Steelers LB Dupree fined for hit
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree told ESPN that he was fined $18,231 by the NFL for his hit on Miami Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore during Sunday’s AFC wild-card game.
The NFL’s fine schedule calls for that sum to be the minimum for a first roughing the passer offense.
Dupree, who said that he would appeal the fine, was penalized on the play in which he blasted Moore in the facemask midway into the second quarter. Moore remained on the field for several moments before retreating to the sideline for one play, prompting the NFL and players’ association to open an investigation on the Dolphins.
Dupree has recorded 24 tackles and 4.5 sacks in his last seven contests after sitting out the first 10 games of the season with an injured groin. The 23-year-old has collected 50 tackles and 8.5 sacks in two seasons since being selected with the 22nd overall pick of the 2015 draft.
Cowboys RB Elliott in car accident
Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott was involved in a minor two-car accident close to the team’s headquarters on Wednesday morning, but the rookie was not injured.
The accident occurred at 7:05 a.m. CT in Frisco, Texas.
Elliott finished as the NFL’s leading rusher with 1,631 yards on 322 carries. He also ran for 15 touchdowns, and caught 32 passes for 363 yards and a score.
Rams RB Mason arrested
Embattled running back Tre Mason of the Los Angeles Rams was arrested as a result of an ATV incident that occurred in July, the Palm Beach Post reported.
Mason, who remains on the Rams’ roster after a season during which he did not report, was taken into custody on Tuesday after a warrant for his arrest was issued in December.
Officers in Palm Beach County attempted to speak to Mason on July 27 when they saw him spinning the tires of an ATV at a public park. Mason drove off and police followed him to a home in Lake Worth, Fla., where the 23-year-old locked himself in and was eventually convinced by family members to speak to the officers. He had been charged with fleeing and eluding without regard for the safety of others and was released on $5,000 bond.