NFC North Rumors: Pat Fitzgerald, Packers, Vikings

Pat Fitzgerald

Northwestern HC Pat Fitzgerald, who has drawn interest from the Packers, said after the Holiday Bowl that he is “not going anywhere.”

“Hashtag Go Cats, man. This is home. I’m not going anywhere. This is home forever,” Fitzgerald said, per Mike Garafolo.

Packers

• According to Tom Silverstein, the Packers are still hopeful they can interview Northwestern HC Pat Fitzgerald for their head-coaching job, despite his comments about staying where he is last night.
• Silverstein admits that it will be tough for the Packers to convince Fitzgerald to leave his alma mater. However, sources have told Silverstein that not being too far from home would play in the Packers favor.
• Silverstein believes it could take an offer of $8 – $9 million per year to convince Fitzgerald to move on.
• If the Packers were to hire Fitzgerald, Silverstein mentions Chiefs QBs coach Mike Kafka, who played for Fitzgerald, as someone worth watching.

Vikings

• Ben Goessling notes that Vikings WR Adam Thielen‘s 2019 cap figure has increased to $8.1 million due to a $2 million salary escalator and $1.1 million in incentives now considered to be “likely to be earned.“
• Goessling mentions that the Vikings can pick up some cap room by releasing OL Mike Remmers ($4.55 million), DE Everson Griffen ($10.7 million) and RT Riley Reiff ($5.1 million).
• According to Goessling, the Vikings could restructure TE Kyle Rudolph, who has a cap figure of $7.625 million for the 2019 season.