NFL Notes: Mike Shula, 49ers, Browns, & Lions

Mike Shula

According to Jason Cole of B/R, Panthers OC Mike Shula does not have an agent and instead has a lawyer who handles his contract.

Shula said that he doesn’t believe he needs an agent to get a job as a head coach. Cole mentions that there’s some question as to whether this decision will ultimately impact his ability to get a head-coaching job.

Shula confirmed Monday that he did not receive any interest from teams looking for a new head coach.

49ers

• Adam Caplan reports that 49ers new HC Chip Kelly has hired another of his former assistants in J.P. Crowley Hanlon, who will be their logistics coordinator.

Browns

Lance Zierlein of NFL Media suggests Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg or Ohio State’s could be potential fits in new Browns HC Hue Jackson’s offensive system if there were to wait on the position.

“(Jackson) gave up a first- and second-rounder to trade for Carson Palmer (with the Oakland Raiders in 2011). That should tell you something. With the Bengals, he attacked down the field. He likes a quarterback with an arm that can attack down the field vertically,” Zierlein said. “Andy Dalton is a guy he’s had who takes shots down the field. That’s kind of how he’s called his plays and that’s what he sought out in Oakland. (Christian) Hackenberg’s got a big arm and some touch down the field with it. If you want to take a (later) chance with it, it could be Hackenberg or Cardale Jones. I think the guys in the second part of the draft have as big an arm (as the top QB prospects).”

In Cleveland were to use their No. 2 overall pick, Zierlein believes California QB Jared Goff could be their guy.

“If it’s early (in the draft), Goff could be that guy,” Zierlein said. “And there might be a time they want to trade out of that pick, too, and go get multiple picks.”

Lions

• Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports that there have been no real contract talks between the Lions and CB Darius Slay.
• Detroit is projected to have $20 million in cap space and they could pick up another $11 million if Calvin Johnson does, in fact, retire. However, they’ll need to decide whether to sign players such as DE Ziggy Ansah, G Larry Warford, DE Devin Taylor, RB Theo Riddick and P Sam Martin to extensions.