NFL Notes: Derrick Henry headlines college players leaving early for NFL draft
Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry and Ohio State stars Joey Bosa and Ezekiel Elliott are among 96 players granted early entry into the NFL draft.
The NFL also gave clearance to enter the draft to 11 other players who have graduated with eligibility remaining, including Florida State kicker Roberto Aguayo.
The 96 early entrants are up 22 from last year, but still short of the 98 who declared for the 2014 draft. That was the most players entering early in the last 10 years.
Ohio State, with nine, had the most players on the list of 107 released on Friday by the NFL. Joining Bosa, who could be the top overall pick, and Elliott are quarterback Cardale Jones and All-America safety Vonn Bell.
Clemson had seven players out of the 107, including All-America defensive end Shaq Lawson and second-team All-America cornerback Mackensie Alexander.
Notre Dame had four players declare early, three of whom could go in the first round: offensive tackle Ronnie Staley, receiver Will Fuller and linebacker Jaylon Smith, who injured his knee in the Fighting Irish’s bowl victory against Ohio State.
Henry is one of two players from national champion Alabama given permission to enter the draft despite not being a senior. His Crimson Tide teammate, defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson, also is on the eligible list for the draft this spring.
Jones is one of four quarterbacks who have entered the draft as underclassmen. The others are California’s Jared Goff and Memphis’ Paxton Lynch, who are considered contenders to be the first quarterback drafted, and Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg.
Amendola fined for block
New England’s Danny Amendola was fined $23,152 for a blindside block during a punt in the Patriots’ playoff victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
The NFL announced the fine on Friday.
Amendola was back as the return man when Kansas City’s Jamell Fleming circled under a kick in an attempt to down it inside the 5 yard-line. Amendola lowered his head and took the Chiefs’ coverage man out with a hit to the shoulder and head. He was flagged for unnecessary roughness.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick defended the hit, saying this week, “It was a legal play. We’re allowed to block him.”
The Patriots went on to win 27-20 and advance to Sunday’s AFC title game against the Denver Broncos.
Browns hire Horton, fill out staff
As he considered candidates to run his defense, new Browns coach Hue Jackson wanted someone familiar with the AFC North.
His coordinator had to know the Steelers, Ravens and Bengals inside and out.
Ray Horton played in Cincinnati and coached in Pittsburgh and Cleveland.
Jackson didn’t have to look further.
“He knows this division,” Jackson said in announcing Horton’s hiring. “He was raised in this division. He played in this division. He understands what needs to be done to get our defense back to where it needs to be. I wanted somebody that knew the lay of the land and understood the division, understands the culture here and understands the change that we need to make and someone who can lead our young players and develop players to get better.”
Jackson announced the addition of Horton and 10 other assistants on Friday.
In addition to Horton, Jackson’s staff will include Pep Hamilton (associate head coach-offense), Al Saunders (senior offensive assistant/WRs), Kirby Wilson (RBs/run game coordinator), Hal Hunter (O-line), Mark Hutson (assistant O-line), Greg Seamon (TEs) and Bob Saunders (offensive quality control). Shawn Mennenga (special teams assistant) and Stan Watson (special teams quality control) will rejoin special teams coordinator Chris Tabor, who has been with the club since 2011.
Wash sits through competitors’ interviews, gets job anyway
Jacksonville Jaguars coach Gus Bradley took an unusual approach to finding a new defensive coordinator: He brought the front-runner along for every interview.
Bradley asked defensive line coach Todd Wash to sit in during conversations with four other candidates.
It was unconventional, uncomfortable and maybe even unnecessary. But Bradley wanted his close friend and longtime colleague to know exactly why he went in the direction he did. In the end, Wash got the job.
Bradley promoted Wash on Friday, putting him in position to help turn around one of the league’s worst defenses. It’s a key position considering Bradley’s future probably depends on Wash getting it done.
“I got two phone calls from coaches who said, ‘That’s unbelievable and tells me something about Todd Wash,’” Bradley said. “He has enough humility to sit in there and do what he thinks best for the organization and take it as a learning opportunity. I mean, who does that? … For what I put him through and had him do, much respect.”
With Wash in the room, Bradley interviewed former Detroit head coach Jim Schwartz, Atlanta secondary coach Marquand Manuel, Miami secondary coach Lou Anarumo and Dallas secondary coach Jerome Henderson before making his decision.
“It was uncomfortable because in the back of your mind I think it’s just human nature that you want to be the defensive coordinator,” Wash said. “You think you can do a great job at it. And when you see other people who are very good coaches, well-established coaches, and you respect them, that you know they can do a good job too, it’s just up to the organization to make the decision.”
Wash replaces Bob Babich, who was fired earlier this month after Jacksonville gave up the second-most points (448) in franchise history.
Redskins reach back for outside linebackers coach
Greg Manusky is returning to the Washington Redskins as outside linebackers coach.
Manusky is a former player and, later, linebackers coach for the Redskins.
Manusky was the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts the past four seasons. He also held that title with the San Francisco 49ers from 2007-10 and the San Diego Chargers in 2011.
He was Washington’s linebackers coach in 2001.
Manusky played 12 seasons as a linebacker in the NFL, including from 1988-90 with the Redskins.
Lynch added to Buccaneers Ring of Honor
John Lynch is the latest addition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ring of Honor.
The hard-hitting safety played the first 11 seasons of his career with the Bucs and teamed with Hall of Famers Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks to form the nucleus of a defense that helped transform a franchise that was the laughingstock of the NFL into Super Bowl champions. He spent the final four seasons of a 15-year career with the Denver Broncos.
A four-time All-Pro selection, Lynch entered the NFL as a third-round draft pick out of Stanford in 1993. He was named to nine Pro Bowl teams, more than any safety in league history except Ken Houston (10). In addition to having a reputation as a punishing tackler, Lynch forced 16 fumbles and had 26 career interceptions.
Lynch and Tony Dungy, the coach who Lynch, Sapp and Brooks all blossomed under, are among 15 modern-era finalists for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame next month.
The 44-year-old joins Lee Roy Selmon, John McKay, Jimmie Giles, Paul Gruber, Sapp, Brooks, Mike Alstott and Doug Williams as members of the Bucs’ Ring of Honor at Raymond James Stadium. Lynch will be formally inducted on a game next season.