NFC East news: Eagles and Commanders bolster coaching staffs; Saquon Barkley is open to other options
Saquon Barkley has only ever been a running back for the New York Giants. Barkley is still adamant about wanting to stay a Giant for life, but he also realizes that if the team decides against offering him a multiyear contract that pays his market value, then the feelings may not be reciprocated.
It’s possible that Barkley’s final plays in a Giants uniform came from that possibility. There is still a chance that New York will use the franchise tag on the running back in the event that the two sides are unable to agree on the terms of a new multiyear contract, which general manager Joe Schoen stated they would start talking about with Bakrley’s agent during the upcoming combine.
In the event that the star running back decides against returning to the Giants, he appeared interested in playing for the Los Angeles Chargers. Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf claims that Jim Harbaugh, the team’s new head coach, is interested in signing the running back should he become available.
When Barkley was asked if he would consider joining the Chargers if things with the Giants didn’t work out, he was speaking on the Up&Adams podcast with Kay Adams. Barkley spoke slowly and said, “I have the utmost respect for Coach Harbaugh.” First and foremost, facing him in college and his prior NFL success.
“I consider Justin Herbert to be one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks, and I’m a huge fan of his. However, he added, “I wouldn’t be against it if the opportunity were to present itself.”
Barkley would join quarterback Justin Herbert and running back Austin Ekeler, should he be retained in free agency, in the backfield, giving the Chargers a potent offensive line that would also include receiver Keenan Allen.
Former Eagles OC on the Washington Commanders Coaching Tracker A “prominent offensive staff role” was filled by Brian Johnson, according to Scott Jennings of HogsHaven.com.
Another coach hired by Washington was previously employed by a division rival.
On Tuesday, January 9, managing partner Josh Harris named Adam Peters the Washington Commanders’ new general manager. Peters then spent the remainder of the month looking for a new head coach. The two youngest OCs on the list chose to remain with their current teams, which resulted in the list being reduced to 4 candidates. After being appointed as the Commanders’ next head coach, Cowboys DC Dan Quinn has evaluated the outgoing coaching staff and begun assembling his own. Yesterday, Kliff Kingsbury and Joe Whitt Jr. were appointed as the new offensive and defensive coordinators, respectively. In addition, he must determine whether Nate Kaczor, the coordinator of special teams, can withstand one more head coach switch.
Washington has been trying to appoint new coaches to their team. After stealing two of the Dallas Cowboys’ coaches, they made the team several demands. The majority were turned down by Dallas, but two of their defensive assistants were given the opportunity to speak with Washington. The Raiders and Giants also submitted requests for help from the Commanders.
Under OC Kliff Kingsbury, Washington supposedly made their first significant hire. Before selecting Kingsbury as their OC, the Commanders spoke with Brian Johnson, a former offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles. Johnson will still be a part of Dan Quinn’s coaching staff, but Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that he will play a “prominent offensive staff role.” There have been rumors that he will oversee the pass game in addition to serving as the quarterback coach.
Washington also signed former Las Vegas Raiders defensive pass-game coordinator Jason Simmons to the same role with the Commanders. He will also be the DBs coach, and will work with ne DC Joe Whitt Jr. who had that same job with Dan Quinn on the Dallas Cowboys. Washington’s secondary was a mess last year, and the only coach fired along with DC Jack Del Rio during the season was DBs coach Brent Vieselmeyer. These Eagles players should benefit the most with new coordinators in charge – Chris Franklin, NJ.com New coordinators on both sides of the ball should help these players in particular.
