Tampa Bay Buccaneers
FILE - In this Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017 file photo, Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Mularkey watches from the sideline in the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams in Nashville, Tenn. The Atlanta Falcons are bringing back two familiar names by hiring Dirk Koetter as offensive coordinator and Mike Mularkey to coach tight ends. Koetter and Mularkey are joining coach Dan Quinn’s staff following stints as NFL head coaches. (AP Photo/James Kenney, File)
Los Angeles Rams at Tennessee Titans 12/24/2017

Feb. 13, 2019 04:38 AM EST

FILE - In this Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017 file photo, Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians watches during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis. Bruce Arians is the latest coach entrusted to transform the struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers into winners. The 66-year-old came out of a one-year retirement to fill the team's fifth coaching vacancy in a decade. Arians replaces Dirk Koetter, who was dismissed Dec. 30, 2018 after leading the Bucs to 19 wins and no playoffs berths over the past three seasons. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Arizona Cardinals at Indianapolis Colts 9/17/2017

Feb. 13, 2019 04:38 AM EST

FILE - In this Dec. 16, 2018, file photo, an official's flag sits on the field in the second half of an NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in Baltimore. Complaining about officials is a time-honored tradition that goes back to the days coaches _ and fans _ saw things only as they actually happened, without the benefit of super slow motion replays that at times get more study than the Zapruder tapes of the Kennedy assassination. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Baltimore Ravens 12/16/2018

Feb. 12, 2019 11:46 AM EST

FILE - In this Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018 file photo, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) works against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL football game in Atlanta. The NFL's six highest-paid quarterbacks in 2018 will be spectators this postseason. Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers ($33.5 million), Atlanta's Matt Ryan ($30 million), Minnesota's Kirk Cousins ($28 million), San Francisco's Jimmy Garoppolo ($27.5 million), Detroit's Matthew Stafford ($27 million) and Oakland's Derek Carr ($25 million) couldn't lead their teams to the playoffs. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons 10/14/2018

Feb. 12, 2019 11:41 AM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2018, file photo, New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) gives a stiff arm to Kansas City Chiefs free safety Ron Parker (38) after catching a pass during the second half of an NFL football game, in Foxborough, Mass. New England’s mettle has been tested weekly. But after nabbing yet another a first-round bye, it’s put the Patriots in position to make another deep playoff run. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots 10/14/2018

Feb. 12, 2019 11:41 AM EST

FILE - In this Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018 file photo, Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) attempts to evade a tackle by Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Jordan Whitehead (31) after Elliott caught a pass in the first half time of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas. Ezekiel Elliott won his second NFL rushing title in three seasons for a Dallas offense that has been defined by the ground game for several years now. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman, File)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys 12/23/2018

Feb. 12, 2019 11:41 AM EST

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) calls a play against the Tennessee Titans in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans 12/30/2018

Feb. 12, 2019 10:54 AM EST

New England Patriots' Jason McCourty (30) breaks up a pass intended for Los Angeles Rams' Brandin Cooks (12) during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Column: No love for the defense in Super Bowl 53

By Arnie Stapleton Feb. 05, 2019 02:05 AM EST

Actor Jamie Foxx, right, watches the teams warm up, before the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Gladys Knight, Chloe x Halle give thanks after performance

By Jonathan Landrum Jr. Feb. 04, 2019 12:35 AM EST

FILE - In this Dec. 2, 2018, file photo, Atlanta Falcons offensive guard Ben Garland walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Atlanta. Garland has won the NFL’s Salute to Service Award. Garland was recognized Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2019, by the league and USAA for his exceptional efforts to honor and support members of the military community. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik, File)
Atlanta Falcons' Ben Garland wins Salute To Service Award

Jan. 30, 2019 10:39 AM EST

File- This Dec. 30, 2018, file photo shows, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, in Pittsburgh. With only a handful of minorities in the stepping-stone positions of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, the NFL saw its sharpest-ever one-year drop in minority head coaches, causing concern among advocates for diversity declaring unsatisfactory progress 16 years after the Rooney Rule was implemented. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
AP analysis: Few minority NFL coaches in top offensive jobs

By Dave Campbell And Josh Dubow Jan. 30, 2019 09:36 AM EST

AFC safety Jamal Adams (33), of the New York Jets, celebrates after sacking NFC quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, of the Chicago Bears during the second half of the NFL Pro Bowl football game Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan Ebenhack)
AFC wins 3rd straight Pro Bowl, 26-7 over NFC in Orlando

By Mark Long Jan. 27, 2019 08:53 PM EST

Redskins hire Nate Kaczor as new special teams coordinator

Jan. 19, 2019 09:07 AM EST
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Nate Kaczor (KAT'-sir) has been hired by the Washington Redskins as their special teams coordinator. The team announced the move...

FILE - In this Jan. 31, 2013, file photo, former NFL quarterback Eric Hipple speaks during an NFL Player Health and Safety press conference in New Orleans. Atlanta Falcons guard Ben Garland and former Detroit Lions quarterback Eric Hipple are the finalists for the NFL's Salute To Service Award. The recipient of the award, presented by USAA, will be revealed on Feb. 2 during the NFL Honors show when The Associated Press announces its annual league awards, including MVP. (AP Photo/Doug Benc)
Falcons G Garland, former Lions QB Hipple award finalists

By Barry Wilner Jan. 17, 2019 01:08 PM EST

FILE - In this May 21, 2018, file photo, Los Angeles Rams' Marcus Peters leaves after practice at the NFL football team's training camp, in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Marcus Peters is ready to eat. The Rams' volatile cornerback promised to have "a nice little bowl of gumbo" with New Orleans coach Sean Payton after Peters felt disrespected in the wake of the Saints' win over Los Angeles earlier this season. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)
Soup's off: Peters, Payton downplay gumbo beef in big game

By Greg Beacham Jan. 16, 2019 08:55 PM EST

Leftwich joins Buccaneers as offensive coordinator

By Fred Goodall Jan. 16, 2019 07:01 PM EST
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made it official: Byron Leftwich is the team's new offensive coordinator. The Bucs announced the...

FILE - In this Aug. 30, 2018, file photo, Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper walks in the field during before an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh. Panthers owner David Tepper says it’s important for team to have a solid contingency plan in place at quarterback next season given the uncertainty surrounding franchise QB Cam Newton’s bothersome right shoulder. (AP Photo/Don Wright, File)
Panthers owner: Team needs backup plan if Newton can't play

By Steve Reed Jan. 15, 2019 07:32 PM EST

FILE - At left, in an Aug. 30, 2018, file photo, then-Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks looks on during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, in Glendale, Ariz. At right, in a Dec. 18, 2016, file photo, then-Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Todd Monken walks along the sideline during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas. New Browns coach Freddie Kitchens has hired Todd Monken as his offensive coordinator and Steve Wilks to run his defense. (AP Photo/File)
Browns' Kitchens hanging on to play-calling duties as coach

By Tom Withers Jan. 14, 2019 06:59 PM EST

New Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians gestures as he is introduced during a news conference Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Arians confident Buccaneers not far from playoff contention

By Fred Goodall Jan. 10, 2019 07:11 PM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2018, file photo, then-Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter, left, speaks with Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn after an NFL football game, in Atlanta. Falcons coach Quinn says the team's outside zone scheme won't change with newly hired offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. (AP Photo/John Amis, File)
Quinn wants new Falcons' assistants to revamp running game

By Charles Odum Jan. 10, 2019 03:45 PM EST