NFL Notes: Coaching Candidates, Peyton Manning, Jason Pierre-Paul, & Jets

Coaching Candidates

Albert Breer has complied a list of NFL coaching candidates who could be considered for college coaching jobs after the season. Here’s some names to keep an eye on, according to Breer.

• Seahawks OC Darrell Bevell
• Cowboys special teams coach Rich Bisaccia
• Jaguars HC Gus Bradley
• Colts assistant HC Rob Chudzinski
• Bengals OC Hue Jackson
• Buccaneers OC Dirk Koetter
• Dolphins OC Bill Lazor
• Jaguars OL coach Doug Marrone
• Colts HC Chuck Pagano
• Chargers OC Frank Reich
• Dolphins special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi
• Bills OC Greg Roman
• Eagles OC Pat Shurmur

Peyton Manning

NFL Media’s Albert Breer spoke to a number of people around the league regarding Broncos QB Peyton Manning and his struggles this season.

AFC Scout:

“I thought it was pretty clear he’s not the same guy, and he’ll probably never be the same guy. Now, it’s a matter of whether they can function the offense well enough with him. And with that defense, they can. The question is what happens later, when the conditions get even worse, does this all affect him even more? That’s why they’ve spent so much time getting the run game going. So it’s not just on Peyton.”

AFC Scouting Director:

“(The concern) is very valid. Teams are saying, ‘Let’s hit him, let’s make him make throws. And later in the year, he’ll have trouble. And you get him outdoors in the right spot, and he’ll be done.’ You can throw in the qualifier where you might get a game where he figures it out and throws for a lot of yards. But over the long haul, if you’re trying to make a run, you have to do that consecutively. You can’t have those bumps.

Jason Pierre-Paul

Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul spoke to reporters on Friday regarding the fireworks incident that led to him having his right index finger amputated. JPP said that he just feels thankful to be alive.

“I saw a kid die. Maybe 12 years old,” said Pierre-Paul, via FOXSports.com. “One, they had to cut off the whole finger. I’m just very fortunate I’m alive. I look up every day at my hand and say, ‘Thank you, Lord.’ I’ve seen worse.

“There were probably 12 people in the hospital and my hand is the best one. I’m just fortunate to have one.”

Pierre-Paul added that he’s not embarrassed about what occurred, and he knew he would return to playing football at some point.

“I wasn’t embarrassed by nothing,” Pierre-Paul said. “At the end of the day, the media’s going to say whatever they’re going to say, people are going to have their own opinions. I didn’t care about none of that because I knew one way or another I was going to return to football.”

He added, “I wasn’t worried at all. I wasn’t in shock or nothing. I looked at my hand and my fiancee was going crazy. But I kept calm through the whole situation.”

Jets

• Jets activated RB Stevan Ridley from the physically unable to perform list on Friday. (Ian Rapoport)
• Ridley is expected to suit up for Week 8’s game. (Ian Rapoport)
• WR Eric Decker, CB Buster Skrine and G Wille Colon are all questionable vs Raiders. (Manish Mehta)