In Phoenix, Kent Somers noted Cardinals President Michael Bidwill “expects to sign” coach Bruce Arians and GM Steve Keim to extensions this offseason. The only timetable Bidwill would put on the signings was "sometime after the Super Bowl.” Re-signing Arians and Keim would “make a powerful statement about the organization's future.” Keim “has two years left on his contract; Arians, three, including a team option” for ’17 (AZCENTRAL.com, 1/16).
TOP TO BOTTOM: In S.F., Scott Ostler wrote new 49ers coach Jim Tomsula at his introductory press conference last week “came off as ill-suited to be the front man leading the 49ers to the next level.” However, the “deeper problem is a growing concern about the brains and power of the organization.” 49ers CEO Jed York and GM Trent Baalke are “as cemented in place as Levi’s Stadium.” Baalke is York’s “football guide and mentor, so Jed will always side with and give power to Baalke, putting the head coach in a weak spot” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/18). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio wrote Tomsula, in an interview with CSN Bay Area, came off as a guy who “has no desire to be there, who doesn’t necessarily realize everything he says is being recorded, and who desperately wants to put the microphone down and leave” (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 1/16). The MMQB's Peter King writes the pressure on Tomsula to follow Jim Harbaugh "already was going to be massive." However, the introductory press conference and the CSN interview "was, to put it kindly, an unmitigated disaster" (MMQB.SI.com, 1/19).
READY FOR TAKE OFF?: In N.Y., Brian Costello reported new Jets GM Mike Maccagnan on Friday began to “clean house,” firing Senior Dir of College Scouting Terry Bradway and Dir of College Scouting Jeff Bauer. Bradway served as the team’s GM from ’01-05 (NYPOST.com, 1/16). Meanwhile, in N.Y., Mike Lupica wrote Jets Owner Woody Johnson, in his revamping of the franchise’s front office, “listened to football people this time, and to some other smart people who had his ear.” Johnson “somehow managed to make it through this process and make up his mind on his own; to hire the people he wanted to hire in the end” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/18).
FLIGHT PATTERNS: In Pennsylvania, Ed Kracz wrote in light of the recent changes in the Eagles’ front office, there reportedly is “confusion among agents as to whom they are supposed to be dealing with.” Maybe there are “hard feelings” between coach Chip Kelly and Exec VP/Football Operations Howie Roseman that “need soothing” after Kelly was placed in charge of player personnel earlier this month. Kracz: “But nobody is talking right now. Not Kelly, Roseman or owner Jeffrey Lurie. That leaves the perception that the Eagles most definitely do not have a clue what they are doing” (Doylestown INTELLIGENCER, 1/18).
