AFC Notes: Patriots, Ravens, Steelers

Patriots

  • While the Patriots have yet to finalize their 2018 coaching staff, Mike Reiss would be surprised if offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia isn’t back with the team.
  • Reiss says there’s optimism about how well Patriots LB Harvey Langi is recovering from a serious car accident that landed him on injured reserve.
  • According to Reiss, Langi expects to play again and sources close to him believe he could possibly be ready for the team’s offseason program in mid-April.

Ravens

Last offseason, Torrey Smith spoke to the Ravens about possibly returning to Baltimore, but he ultimately agreed to a contract with the Eagles.

Smith tells the Baltimore Sun that he felt like things never got all that close between him and the Ravens.

I don’t really think so. We talked, but with the way the timing was going, I kind of just had to make a decision,” Smith said. “For me, this time around, it wasn’t about finances at all. It was about the right situation and the right time and that’s really kind of how it’s going to probably end up being for the rest of my career. I really just want to be in a good spot in a place where I can be comfortable and be happy.”

Smith ultimately signed a three-year, $15 million deal with the Eagles and helped them win their first Super Bowl.

Obviously, I had interest in coming back. That’s home,” Smith said of a potential reunion with the Ravens. “I have a lot of respect for everyone over there. They know that. It’s love forever. But to have the opportunity to come up here with some guys I was familiar with and to play in my wife’s hometown, that was pretty cool as well. The way the timing and everything happened, I ended up here and it worked out.

Steelers

Steelers GM Kevin Colbert says that even though they’re on the hook for LB Ryan Shazier‘s fifth-year option salary of $8.718 million for the 2018 season after he suffered a very serious injury last year, they will continue to exercise these options moving forward.

“That’s the risk you run when you put that option into effect,” Colbert said, via Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “Any player can get injured on any play, and that is our game. We understand that, and we understand the risk involved, and we try to make those decisions knowing that those type of things can happen.”

The Steelers will have to decide on OLB Bud Dupree‘s fifth-year option this April.

Looking for the latest NFL Insider News & Rumors?

Be sure to follow NFL Trade Rumors on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NFL News and Rumors for all 32 teams!