AFC Rumors: Bengals, Colts, Patriots, Steelers

Bengals

• Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports that Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther is expected to be a candidate to replace Marvin Lewis as the Bengals’ head coach.
• However, Guenther is in line to be a free agent and he could move on if the Bengals elect to go in a different direction at head coach.
• Current Redskins HC Jay Gruden is expected to be a top target for the Bengals if he ends up being available. (NFLTR)

Colts

• Ian Rapoport reports that it seems like HC Chuck Pagano’s tenure as the Colts’ head coach is likely coming to an end.
• According to Rapoport, both Pagano and members of his coaching staff have been aware that the team could move in a new direction next year.

Patriots

• Jason La Canfora reports that the Patriots are among the teams that could end up losing multiple coaches during the upcoming coaching cycle.
• Both Patriots coordinators Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia have interviewed for head-coaching jobs in recent years and they’re expected to once again be highly sought after candidates next year.
• La Canfora says that McDaniels will have his pick of jobs if he’s ready to leave the Patriots for a second shot at being a head coach.
• According to La Canfora, “it’s hardly out of the question Bill Belichick loses both of his longtime trusted top assistants.”

Steelers

Jason La Canfora reports that the relationship between Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger and OC Todd Haley has run both hot and cold, which has led to Roethlisberger recruiting other members of the coaching staff to serve as buffers of sorts between them during games.

Sources have told La Canfora that Roethlisberger actually approached HC Mike Tomlin about a month ago and requested to have a buffer between him and Haley on the sidelines. According to La Canfora, Roethlisberger specifically asked that QBs coach Randy Fichtner move to the sidelines and Tomlin obliged.

La Canfora points to Roethlisberger’s recent remarks in which he said the decision to go with the fake spike at the end of last week’s game against the Patriots came from the sideline and wasn’t something he called at the line of scrimmage.