NFL Notes: HC Openings, Bengals, Buccaneers, Jaguars, & Saints

Head Coach Openings

• Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reports there could be as many as seven head-coaching jobs available after the end of the season. (NFLTR)

Bengals

• Bob Holtzman of ESPN reports that the decision to bench WR A.J. Green (hamstring) for Sunday’s Week 16 game came from the team’s ownership.
• According to Holtzman, people within the Bengals’ organization are “unhappy” with how Green is being handled after preparing for him to play all week. Additionally, neither the players nor coaches knew anything about him being inactive until Friday night.
• One source told Holtzman people within the team feel, “the rug got pulled out from under us.”

Buccaneers

• Buccaneers RB Doug Martin was a surprising healthy scratch for today’s game.
• Martin is in the first year of his five-year, $35.75 million contract that included $15 million guaranteed. He stands to make base salaries of $7 million and $6.75 million over the next two years.
• According to OverTheCap.com, releasing Martin next year would free up no cap space while creating $7 million in dead money, so it’s clear they’ll have to wait at least one more year before possibly moving on.

Jaguars

• Jay Glazer confirmed that Tom Coughlin will interview for the Jaguars’ head-coaching vacancy and noted that Coughlin is not fond of QB Blake Bortles. (NFLTR)

Saints

• Mike Triplett of ESPN reports there hasn’t been any indication of the Saints being willing or eager to part ways with HC Sean Payton this offseason, despite the recent reports that he could be interested in the Rams’ job.
• Triplett’s sources refuted a recent claim that the organization’s morale is lower due in part to the uncertainty regarding Payton. Instead, Triplett says that it’s actually higher this year than it was in 2015.
• Triplett writes that 2017 is shaping up to be a “must-win season” for the future of Payton, GM Mickey Loomis, and QB Drew Brees.