NFL Notes: Bears, Buccaneers & Dolphins

Bears

• According to John Mullin of CSN Chicago, the Bears are converting DL Greg Scruggs to tight end this season.

Buccaneers

Buccaneers HC Dirk Koetter discussed his decision to hire Andrew Weidinger as game manager with with Jason Cole of Bleacher Report.

“Because I’m going to stay as the play-caller, and there are plenty of guys in the NFL who stay as play-callers as head coaches. There are just so many situations that come up in NFL game, whether it’s clock management or just game-ending situations, to have someone that they’re fully dedicated to that preparation in leading up to the game and on game day made sense,” Koetter said. “When I was the offensive coordinator, if I was up in the box, we always had a designated coach on the field that if I said, “This situation is up” and the head coach was on the other side of the phones talking to the defensive staff, that coach on the field would go remind the head coach about this or that. There is so much pressure when that clock is ticking, you have to have somebody who is on top of that and looking ahead.”

Dolphins

• A highly placed Dolphins’ source tells Armando Salguero that they are hoping to receive a third-, fourth- and seventh-round compensatory pick in 2017 for losing Olivier Vernon, Lamar Miller and Rishard Matthews in free agency.
• Salguero suggests veteran CB Antonio Cromartie as someone could be a fit for the Dolphins, considering his size and their lack of depth at cornerback.
• Another option could be CB Leon Hall, who has ties to DC Vance Joseph.