Joe Lombardi’s Biography | Houston Texans Head Coach Search

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The Texans have completed an interview with Joe Lombardi for the head coaching position.

Joe Lombardi, a 16-year NFL coaching veteran, finished his first season as offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers after serving as the quarterbacks coach of the New Orleans Saints for the previous five seasons.

Lombardi coached quarterbacks for 10 seasons over two stints with the Saints (2007-13 and 2016-20) as Drew Brees solidified his legacy as one of the greatest quarterbacks in history, while also helping in the development of Taysom Hill and Teddy Bridgewater. Under Lombardi, Brees completed 69.9 percent of his passes for 44,278 yards and 338 touchdowns with 116 interceptions — good for a 104.6 passer rating — and was an all-star in nine of their 10 years together.

While in New Orleans, the Saints captured the team’s fourth-straight NFC South Division title in 2020. In a division-clinching home win on Christmas Day, Brees became the first quarterback in NFL history to accumulate over 80,000 career passing yards. Over the last two seasons while Brees was sidelined due to injury, the Saints went 8-1 with Teddy Bridgewater and Taysom Hill, as the pair of signal-callers helped New Orleans continue on their quest toward eventual NFC South Division titles in 2019 and 2020.

Despite missing five regular season games in 2019, Brees still led the NFL with a league-best 74.3-percent completion mark, one season after setting the NFL record with a 74.4 completion percentage and 13-2 record as the starter. His historic 2018 season was capped with another Pro Bowl acknowledgement, being named the starting QB for the NFC, and receiving second team All-Pro acknowledgement from The Associated Press.

With the help of Lombardi in 2016, Brees set the NFL single-season completions record with 471 completed pass attempts, accounting for his fifth career season with 5,000-plus passing yards.

Between his stints with the Saints, Lombardi was the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. In 2014 with Detroit, the offense featured Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate as the first pair of Lions teammates since 2006 to each reach 1,000 receiving yards in a season. Johnson, Tate and quarterback Matthew Stafford were each selected to the Pro Bowl. Of Detroit’s 11 wins in 2014, five were fourth-quarter or overtime comeback efforts, led by Stafford.

Before Detroit, Lombardi spent seven seasons with New Orleans, working directly with Brees as the Saints’ quarterbacks coach for the latter five seasons (2009-13). During the pair’s first stint together, Brees owned an NFL-record 54-game passing touchdown streak from 2009- 12. Lombardi spent his first two seasons with the Saints in an offensive assistant role.

Lombardi broke into the NFL as a defensive assistant for the Falcons in 2006 before joining the Saints as an offensive assistant from 2007-08. He served as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Mercyhurst (2002-05) after coaching in various roles for the N.Y./N.J. Hitmen of the XFL (2001), Bucknell (2000), Virginia Military Institute (1999) and Dayton (1996-98).

From 2002-05, Lombardi gained game-planning and play-calling experience as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Mercyhurst College.

In his final season with the Lakers, Lombardi’s quarterback room featured a transfer from the University of Dayton, Brandon Staley.

Lombardi broke into the coaching ranks in 1996, working with the defensive line at the University of Dayton. He spent three years at Dayton, a time period which featured a stretch of 20-straight wins for the Flyers.

A graduate of the United States Air Force Academy in 1994, Lombardi, a three-time letter-winning tight end for the Falcons, also earned a varsity letter in lacrosse at the Air Force Academy. Lombardi went on to serve a four-year tour of active duty as a United States Air Force officer following graduation. An active contributor to the Saints’ military-supporting initiatives, Lombardi was named the club’s 2018 NFL Salute to Service Award nominee.

Wyman: Seahawks’ 2020 draft class has a chance to be ‘really good’

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The Seahawks’ decade-plus long run of success under head coach Pete Carroll started off with quite a bang as from 2010 to 2012, the team drafted a number of Pro Bowl players who were central figures in Seattle’s Super Bowl win in 2013.

Could Seahawks part ways with Chris Carson and retain Rashaad Penny?

In 2010, the Seahawks drafted left tackle Russell Okung and safety Earl Thomas in the first round, receiver Golden Tate in the second round and safety Kam Chancellor in the fifth.

The next year, Seattle drafted linebacker K.J. Wright in the fourth round, cornerback Richard Sherman in the fifth, cornerback Byron Maxwell in the sixth and linebacker Malcom Smith, the Super Bowl 48 MVP, in the seventh.

And in 2012, the Seahawks added linebacker Bobby Wagner in the second round and quarterback Russell Wilson in the third.

That run of draft success is extremely rare in the NFL, so naturally there’s been some regression in Seattle’s more recent drafts, but the Seahawks have not done nearly as well in that department overall since that 2012 draft class.

There have been some major hits, such as Frank Clark and Tyler Lockett in 2015, Jarran Reed in 2016, Shaquill Griffin and Chris Carson in 2017 and DK Metcalf in 2019, but there have also been some tremendous misses along the way as well.

Bob Stelton and former NFL linebacker Dave Wyman discussed the draft’s importance, how the team has done in recent years and, in particular, one draft class that will likely be remembered very fondly during Thursday’s edition of Wyman and Bob on 710 ESPN Seattle.

“As the years have gone on, they haven’t been that lucky or that good at it,” Stelton said of the Seahawks’ drafts since 2012. “And you’re wondering, all right, well, we can’t go out there and buy every player, there is a salary cap and as much as they do have room they’ve got to sign their their own free agents. So you need those young guys the cheaper guys to step up and be impact players at times.”

Wyman noted that in the summer of 2020, he did research on the Seahawks’ more recent drafts compared to perennial playoff teams like the Packers, Saints, Patriots and Ravens, and that the Seahawks have been better in the draft department than people give them credit for.

Wyman: Seahawks have had more success in recent drafts than you’d think

Wyman pointed specifically to Seattle’s 2020 draft class as one that will likely be remembered fondly.

“This 2020 draft has a chance to be really, really good,” he said. “… You got here what I would call Rasheem Green-type of players.”

Green was the Seahawks’ third-round pick in 2018 and quietly had a solid season in 2019 and then finished second on the team in sacks with 6.5 in 2021.

Wyman thinks four members of Seattle’s eight-man draft class (seven are still with the team), have a chance to be impact role players like Green has been.

“You’ve got Freddie Swain, although he might be a step above that … Alton Robinson, DeeJay Dallas and Colby Parkinson,” Wyman said. “Those four guys could be like a Rasheem Green. Not a superstar, but just like filling your roster really nicely.”

Swain, a receiver, was the Seahawks’ sixth-round pick in 2020 and he has just over 500 yards and six receiving touchdowns in his first two seasons. He’s also a core special teamer.

Robinson, a defensive end, was taken in the fifth round and after recording four sacks as a rookie in 2020, he recorded just one in 2021 while playing just 31% of Seattle’s defensive snaps.

Dallas and Parkinson were both fourth-round selections. Dallas, a running back. has played a decent amount at running back and on special teams, and he has 500 total yards on offense in his career and five touchdowns. Parkinson battled injuries as a rookie and had just two catches in 2020 and the big tight end caught only five in 2021.

“Alton Robinson was disappointing this year, and I blame the defensive scheme,” Wyman said. “And you’re talking about Parkinson having a chance to be pretty good.”

And while the hope is those four can emerge into larger contributors, the team appears to have hit in a big way with its first three picks that year.

“Your first three are (Jordyn) Brooks, Darrell Taylor and Damien Lewis,” Wyman said. “So this has a chance to be one of those drafts that going forward as you look back and go, ‘Wow, they hit on a lot of players.’”

Brooks was a first-round linebacker and he finished 2021 with the most tackles in Seahawks history in a single season.

Taylor was drafted in the second round to rush the quarterback and after missing his rookie year, he finished second on the team with 6.5 sacks and regularly flashed with “wow” plays.

Lewis was drafted in the third round and was immediately starting for the Seahawks at right guard. He started every game for the Seahawks in 2020 and started 15 for Seattle this season at left guard.

What made that draft more impressive, Wyman noted, was that the Seahawks, as is usually the case were drafting near the bottom of each round as they were coming off a playoff berth.

That won’t be the case in the 2022 draft, though, as Seattle finished 7-10. The Seahawks don’t have their first-round pick due to the Jamal Adams trade, but they do have picks in every other round but the sixth, and also have two fourth round picks.

“With their second, third and fourths, those are going to be pretty high draft choices there,” Wyman said.

And regardless of who the Seahawks take this year, Wyman wants to see them on the field right away, something the Seahawks haven’t done as much of in recent years.

“You got to play him too. I think they’ve gotten away from playing the young guys,” he said. ” … Get those guys out there. Get him some experience.”

Listen to the full discussion on the Seahawks and the NFL Draft at this link or in the player below.

Heaps: The 6 ‘no-brainers’ the Seahawks must re-sign this offseason

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Kelly Stafford, wife of Rams quarterback, recalls wild encounter with Leonardo DiCaprio on vacation

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Kelly Stafford, wife of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, recalled on her podcast Tuesday the moment she ran into Leonardo DiCaprio while on vacation.

Stafford explained on “The Morning After with Kelly Stafford” that she and her quarterback husband were on a vacation in the Bahamas with Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan and his wife, Sara. They were at a bar called Baker’s Bay in the Bahamas when the encounter occurred.

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“We go to the owner of this place’s house, ‘cause he’s having a dinner, he’s hiring this new chef. We sit down and there’s four seats next to us that are completely empty. And we’re like, ‘Okay, we got sat at the loser’s table, it’s just us four, whatever,’” she said.

That’s when DiCaprio, supermodel Nina Agdal and two others joined them.

“So they walk in, and we’re immediately kicking each other under the table,” Stafford added. “Anyways, we get to know them and they’re like, ‘Hey, let’s play volleyball tomorrow,’ and we’re like, ‘OK, yeah, we’ll play you in volleyball, why not?’”

MATTHEW STAFFORD’S WIFE HAS A MESSAGE FOR RAMS FANS AHEAD PLAYOFF GAME VS CARDINALS

Stafford said the next day the boys went to play golf while her and Sara Ryan went to the volleyball court and were met by DiCaprio, Agdal and the others. The wives got their husbands to come back, but Stafford described a moment in which the ball hit off of Agdal’s face.

She said Agdal came away unscathed.

Later in the day, the group started some drinking games.

“So as the game goes along, the challenges get, I would say, a little dirtier. So we’re getting to this point, and we are all hammered, Leo gets the phone, and it says, ‘Leo, lick Sara’s ear four times or drink six sips,’” Stafford said.

“He gets up quickly and slowly walks over to Sara, and I’m looking at Sara like, ‘Holy s—.’ He like squats slowly and just goes after Sara’s ear … Licks her ear, I don’t know, about four seconds, gets up, sits back down, and I swear Sara didn’t move.”

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Stafford hopes to avoid an early vacation this year. The Rams are set to play the Arizona Cardinals Monday night. She called on Rams fans to show out at SoFi Stadium.

Detroit Lions: Sifting through Amon-Ra St. Brown’s historic rookie season

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Alex Nedeljkovic continues to be one of the Detroit Red Wings saviors by Tyler Kotila

His head coach called him ‘better than gold’ following the season’s final game, which saw the Detroit Lions upset the Green Bay Packers, but how good was Amon-Ra St. Brown as a rookie? Spoiler; real good.

Well, to put it frankly, he’s the best rookie receiver in Detroit Lions history. I’m not saying he’s the next Calvin Johnson or anything, but he’s sure exceeded the expectations of a fourth-round draft choice in year one.

St. Brown needed just 14 yards this past Sunday to pass the mark previously set by Roy Williams to break Detroit’s rookie receiving record and got it on his first of eight receptions on the day. With his eight grabs Sunday, St. Brown also passed the aforementioned Johnson setting a new NFL record for rookie receivers to record eight or more receptions in six consecutive regular-season games.

If you are wondering, Johnson made 48 catches totaling 756 yards and four touchdowns in 15 games as a rookie. Williams totaled 817 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 54 grabs in 14 contests in 2004. And while we’re at it, I am curious how Lions legend Herman Moore fared as a rookie. He made 11 catches totaling 135 yards without a score in 13 games.

Entering Sunday’s contest with the Packers, St. Brown was fully aware that he was set to make history.

“I’d be lying to you if I said no,” he said after the game. “I knew it was 14 yards, so once I caught that first pass, I thought it was over 14, but had to make sure and waited to see where the ball was going to be spotted. …I just tossed the ball back to our ball boy, because I want to keep that ball. That’s something I’ll never forget.”

It’s crazy to see how much the fourth-round selection progressed as a rookie; over his first 11 games, he made just 39 catches totaling 352 yards without scoring a touchdown. Ironically, almost right after head coach Dan Campbell took over the play-calling duties, St. Brown and a host of Lions began to excel on the offensive side of things.

Amon-Ra St. Brown and the Detroit Lions offense vastly improved during the second half of the season.

St. Brown finished his rookie campaign totaling 912 receiving yards while hauling in 90 passes on just 112 targets scoring five touchdowns. St. Brown also did his best Deebo Samuel impersonation from time-to-time rushing seven times for 61 yards adding another score.

Stop and think about that for a second; I know it was a small sample size, meaning just one season, but St. Brown provided the Detroit Lions with a catch rate of 75.6%. In comparison, the great Calvin Johnson had a career catch rate of 55.7% and a single-season best of 60.8% back in 2011. Since I was curious, I looked at Golden Tate‘s catch rate.

Tate is one of the first players that I thought of when I was trying to think of a receiver with what I’d call ultra-sticky hands. Tate’s career catch rate comes in at a stellar 66.8%, with a single-season best of 76.7%, making 92 catches on 120 targets with the Detroit Lions in 2017. Tate totaled 1,003 yards hauling in five receiving touchdowns that season.

As the year progressed, the Detroit Lions went from a check-down-happy, short quick conservative offense to a unit focused on wearing a defense down with their ground and pound rushing attack that also had its share of downfield passing attempts, not to mention a plethora of trick plays.

Lions tight end coach Ben Johnson who appears to be the front-runner to replace Lynn as offensive coordinator, served as the passing coordinator while Campbell focused on the play-calling.

Also, enough can’t be said about Detroit’s positional assistants, such as offensive line coach Hank Fraley who is widely considered to be one of the best in the business. Along with running backs coach Duce Staley and receivers coach Antwaan Randle El overseeing Detroit’s surge of offense over the second half of the season.

The future is bright on the offensive side of things, and when the Detroit Lions bring in some pieces to compliment St. Brown with whether it is via the NFL Draft or in free agency, Jared Goff may become a middle-of-the-road, serviceable signal-caller.

NFL World Reacts To Buccaneers’ Significant Injury News

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are down another receiver after Chris Godwin went down a few weeks ago.

Cyril Grayson Jr. injured his hamstring during the game against Carolina and has been ruled out for the rest of the evening.

WR Cyril Grayson Jr. is OUT for the remainder of the game (hamstring). pic.twitter.com/xqkyhi0g3b — xz – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 9, 2022

Grayson Jr. caught the game-winning touchdown last week against the Jets with less than 30 seconds remaining. It got the Bucs to 12-4 after they were trailing the entire game.

He’s appeared in just three games this season but has 80+ yards in two of them. Coming into this game, Grayson Jr. had 212 yards and two touchdowns on 10 receptions.

The NFL world wasn’t happy with Grayson Jr. being ruled out as the Bucs are now down to Mike Evans and that’s almost it.

We are so boned in the playoffs https://t.co/6fSVYL3tZk — Pableezy F Baby (@Pableezus) January 9, 2022

Brady can’t catch a break https://t.co/41FMF1RmpT — ESR (@abboudi_x) January 9, 2022

One Bucs fan even wants the team to go get Golden Tate.

Tampa Bay is down 7-3 as halftime is on the horizon. You can see the rest of the game on FOX (if it’s on in your region).