Friday, January 19, 2018
TENNESSEE TITANS
Houston’s Mike Vrabel interviews for HC job
NASHVILLE, TENN.
The Tennessee Titans have finished interviewing Houston defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel, the first candidate for their head coach opening.
The Titans announced they concluded the interview Thursday afternoon.
Tennessee is looking to replace Mike Mularkey, fired Monday after he went 21-22 and won the franchise’s first playoff game in 14 years.
Vrabel is coming off his first season as defensive coordinator for the Texans. He played 14 years in the NFL with Pittsburgh, New England where he won three Super Bowl titles and Kansas City before going into coaching. He started coaching in 2011 at his alma mater, Ohio State. He coached linebackers and defensive linemen.
He went to Houston in 2014 and coached linebackers with the Texans for three seasons before becoming coordinator.
ATLANTA FALCONS
Sarkasian to return
FLOWERY BRANCH, GA.
Steve Sarkasian will return as the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive coordinator despite a decline in production in his debut 2017 season.
Meanwhile, Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff says reaching an agreement on a contract extension with quarterback Matt Ryan will be “the number one focus” of the offseason.
Sarkasian has been the target of criticism as the Falcons, who lost at Philadelphia in the divisional round of the playoffs last week, fell short of a return trip to the Super Bowl.
Coach Dan Quinn announced Thursday that Sarkasian will return in 2018. Quinn says Sarkasian doesn’t deserve the full blame for the offense’s struggles. After leading the league in scoring in 2016, the Falcons fell to 15th this season.
Ryan is entering the final year of his six-year, $103.75 million contract.
OAKLAND RAIDERS
Ex-coach Tom Cable returns as O-line coach
ALAMEDA, CALIF.
Former Raiders head coach Tom Cable is back on the Oakland staff to coach the offensive line.
The team made the announcement that Cable was rejoining the organization as fellow returning head coach Jon Gruden filled out his coaching staff Thursday with the addition of 13 assistants.
The 53-year-old Cable coached the Raiders for three seasons from 2008-10 and finished with a record of 17-27. He had been the assistant head coach and offensive line coach with the Seattle Seahawks since 2011 until his firing last week from Pete Carroll’s staff.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Sendejo, Thielen limited in practice
EDEN PRAIRIE, MINN.
Minnesota Vikings safety Andrew Sendejo is working his way back from a concussion that forced him out of the previous game.
Sendejo took part in a limited portion of practice Thursday for the second straight day, after a hit to the head from New Orleans wide receiver Michael Thomas knocked him to the turf and out of the game. The Vikings beat the Saints to advance to the NFC championship game at Philadelphia.
Wide receiver Adam Thielen was also a limited participant at practice Thursday after being held out the day before because of a lower back injury.
Associated Press