NFL news: Around the league in 32 plays

Could Del Rio already be on the way out? Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Oakland Raiders:  In an interesting piece of coaching news, the University of Southern California apparently reached out to Jack Del Rio about their head coaching vacancy.  Del Rio turned down the offer.  However, college teams do not often make moves like that to coaches they believe are secure in their job.  While the Raiders have been improved under his leadership, the team still has a good chance of finishing with a 10 loss record…something that the Davis family has not tolerated from previous coaches.

• Chiefs’ take: I know a lot of Chiefs fans say they like it better when the Raiders are relevant, but not me.  I love seeing them flounder in a mess of their own making.  Del Rio is absolutely the right coach to get that team going again, but there would be nothing more indicative of what that organization has become than to fire him.

Philadelphia Eagles:  The lead story last week was Chip Kelly’s future in Philly.  Well, there has been an interesting development as Ian Rapoport is reporting that the Titans are considering trading for Kelly.  It isn’t yet clear whether or not the Eagles are ready to move on, but one would have to assume that based on the compensation for acquiring coaches in the past, they would be ready to pounce on something like this.  Also on that front, Chip Kelly was another NFL head coach that was offered the job at the University of Southern California.  Much like with Del Rio, this could be a case of USC reading some tea leaves.  While Chip Kelly has assured his players that he will be in Philly until he isn’t…some fortune cookie wisdom there…it appears that many people and teams think it is a foregone conclusion that he is on his way out.

San Diego Chargers:  The Chargers have fired special teams coordinator Kevin Spencer following yet another terrible year for the third phase in San Diego.  I don’t worry as much about the firing of special teams coaches as I do other position coaches at this point, but it still seems foolish to do so.  What can we possibly learn about another coach in this short a time left?

Chiefs’ take

: The Chargers will likely be in even more disarray when the Chiefs face them next.  That’s obviously a good thing, as the Chiefs need every win they can get.

Jimmy Graham’s tenure in Seattle has been one to forget. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

Seattle Seahawks:  The Seahawks have lost tight end Jimmy Graham for the remainder of the season with a knee injury.  Of course, the more cynical NFL fans will be inclined to point out that it wasn’t like they were using him in the first place.

St Louis Rams:  Rams owner Stan Kroenke unveiled a proposal that would allow for either the Chargers or Raiders to buy into his Inglewood stadium project.  The current setback to the Rams moving proposal was the fact that the Raiders and Chargers had offered a joint venture in Carson City.  The two teams relocating together would have split the costs for the teams and the NFL, lessening the financial burden.  If either of those teams are willing to buy in with the Rams, that will be a huge step forward.  However, it is believed by many that St Louis is the closest of the three cities to offering up a suitable stadium deal.  That has, without a doubt, been prompted by multiple concerns coming out about the current facilities being dangerous to player safety.

• Author’s Note: I told you all last week that there weren’t enough facts available in the Stedman Bailey situation to comment further.  The situation, as of Thursday, has not changed much.  He is in stable condition, but still recovering, and I haven’t seen anything yet regarding the police case.  I assure you that I would never gloss over something like this.  However, there just haven’t been any further developments yet.

Well, that’s it for me Addicts.  Be sure to check back in next week to get up to speed with all the news from around the league.