AFC Rumors: Bengals, Broncos, Browns, Raiders

Bengals

• Bengals HC Marvin Lewis announced Wednesday that they will retain Darrin Simmons as their special teams coordinator. (Paul Dehner Jr)
• Bengals OL coach Paul Alexander announced that he won’t be back with the team next year: “I’d like to thank the Bengals for the career of a lifetime as I was honored to coach and work with the tremendous men in this organization. Mike Brown and Marvin Lewis are great men who I love and respect. But, as Coach Jim McNally passed the baton to me 23 years ago, it’s time for me to do the same. It’s just time. On behalf of my family, we are both grateful and excited to discover our next NFL experience.” (Katherine Terrell)

Broncos

Former Buccaneers GM Mark Dominik sounds convinced that the Broncos will make a run at signing Kirk Cousins to a contract this offseason.

“I think they’re gonna be huge players for Kirk Cousins, I think John Elway is gonna go back to getting a veteran QB who’s been there, done that instead of the guessing game of whether Paxton Lynch is the right choice,” Dominik said on Sirius XM NFL Radio.

• Nicki Jhabvala reports that the Broncos interviewed Sean Kugler for their offensive line coaching job.
• Jhabvala hears that there could be a role for both Kugler and Chris Strausser on the Broncos’ staff.

Browns

Former Packers executive Alonzo Highsmith has agreed to become the vice president of football operations with the Browns.

Highsmith tells Rob Demovsky that he really enjoyed how things went with the Browns yesterday and is looking forward to this new opportunity.

“We discussed so many ideas and all kinds of stuff,” Highsmith said. “I was exposed to so much stuff today. That’s why I thought it was as great opportunity. It feels good to go somewhere that you feel like you’re trusted.”

“This is an opportunity to build something from the ground up, having an input, working with John Dorsey, who I respect a great deal,” Highsmith said. “To watch his work ethic today — we watched film all day. He made me feel rejuvenated. It was a lot of fun today.

“I understand they’ve had their difficulties in the past, but I kind of feel like when I went to the University of Miami. Every recruiter from Alabama to Notre Dame to Michigan told me if you go to Miami, you’ll never go to a bowl game. We became a dominant program. It kind of feels like that all over again, and that’s my mindset. I’ve never lost, and I don’t plan on losing now.”

Raiders

• According to Michael Lombardi, it sounds like Cowboys special team coach Rich Bisaccia might be heading to join Jon Gruden in Oakland as the Raiders special teams coach, assuming Gruden takes the position.
• Adam Caplan reports that Raiders LBs coach Sal Sunseri is taking a job with the Florida Gators as their DL coach.
• Earlier this morning, Gruden said there’s a “good chance” he takes the Raiders’ job if offered. (NFLTR)