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FanHouse Chris Mortensen

Latest Chris Mortensen Stories

Report: Jags Near Deal with Torry Holt

According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen -- please raise red flags when I say, "GO!" -- former Rams wideout Torry Holt is close to signing a contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. We should note that, according to our boy MortScoop, the deal isn't finalized. Of course it's not. That way when it doesn't get signed, Mort didn't actually make a mistake.

If Mort is correct, which we'll admit is possible, and the Jags complete the signing, this is a big move for them. The current receiving corps is Dennis Northcutt, Mike Walker, Troy Williamson, Nate Hughes and D'Juan Woods.

Matt Jones Released by Jags

Matt Jones has had his share of trouble over the past year or so. He was busted for possession of cocaine and then not-so-promptly suspended for the rest of the season by the NFL.

Things got worse when Jones violated his plea agreement by getting drunk and was jailed for seven days. Jones was eventually released from prison but, unfortunately for him, he was "released" again today, only this time by the Jags.

Word on the Street: Kurt Warner Looking for Two-Year, $18 Million Deal

Kurt Warner is a wily veteran who rediscovered his career in the Valley of the Sun. After a short stint with the Giants as Eli Manning's backup in 2004, Warner landed in Arizona where he shared starting duties with Josh McCown and Matt Leinart before head coach Ken Whisenhunt finally installed him as the full-time quarterback just prior to the 2008 season.

Almost six months later, Warner is largely responsible for the Cardinals' current situation: NFC Conference champions playing for a Super Bowl title. In about five hours' time, however, Warner's contract will expire.

Caveat Emptor: Chris Mortensen Says Titans Want Kerry Collins to Start in 2009

ESPN's Chris Mortensen might not always get the facts right, but he is persistent. After reporting that the Chiefs were in talks with Mike Shanahan about the head coaching vacancy, Mortensen later backed off the story after NFL Network's Adam Schefter kindly set him straight.

But you can't keep Mort down for long. Today one of his sources (hopefully not the same one who fed him the Shanahan-to-the-Chiefs scoop) spills the beans on Kerry Collins' future: Titans head coach Jeff Fisher wants Collins back as the team's starting quarterback in 2009.

Fuzzy Math: 49ers + Dan Reeves = Michael Vick? Maybe, Maybe Not

I typically don't follow the 49ers all that closely during the offseason, but I thought it was surprising that they would interview former Broncos and Falcons head coach Dan Reeves for the offensive coordinator job. Partly because he just turned 65 but also because he last coached in the NFL in 2003. (The last time a Bay Area team hired a coach who had been away from the game for some time the results were comically disastrous.)

That San Francisco interviewed Ravens quarterbacks coach Hue Jackson for the same job is less surprising; he has experience as a coordinator and played a big role in Joe Flacco's progress this season.

Adam Schefter: Chris Mortensen Is Wrong on Chiefs-Shanahan Report


Will Mike Shanahan replace Herm Edwards as the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs? ESPN's Chris Mortensen says they're close to a deal. NFL Network's Adam Schefter says they're not even negotiating. One of the NFL's top information men is flat-out wrong on this one.

NFL Veteran Dom Capers Named Packers' Defensive Coordinator

Perhaps it took longer than expected for Mike McCarthy, but the search is over. The Packers canned defensive coordinator Bob Sanders after a miserable season, and speculation on a replacement immediately began to center around former San Francisco head coach Mike Nolan.

When Nolan took the job in Denver, the talk turned to former Redskins and Jaguars coordinator Gregg Williams. He ended up going to New Orleans, leaving McCarthy to what was presumably his third choice for a coordinator.

The third choice for McCarthy is a veteran coach with a ton of credibility around the NFL. Former Carolina and Houston head coach Dom Capers, a very successful defensive coach, is going to take over the Packers' defense.

Creepy Catfight: Al Davis vs. Chris Mortensen -- Somebody's Fibbin'


(photos courtesy of Getty Images)

ESPN's Chris Mortensen seems mild-mannered enough. But apparently, there are only so many times you can accuse a guy of bearing false witness before he snaps. Or maybe that just applies to Al Davis, who appears to take great joy in refuting Raiders-related rumors, no matter how obvious or innocuous they may be.

Yesterday, Gretz pointed out that the Raiders disputed Mortensen's report that Davis was attempting to sell off a portion of the team. Seems harmless enough, right? WRONG.

Raiders executive John Herrera said that "once again, for reasons known only to him, Mortensen has fabricated a story which has no basis in fact." And then he punched an unsuspecting media member in the face to bring home his point. Okay, that didn't really happen, but it might've tempered Mortensen response if it had.

In an e-mail to the AP, Mort offered this:

Mort Alleges Parcells Can Walk From Dolphins Because of Huizenga Sale of Team

Obviously, Bill Parcells is getting a lot of credit for the turnaround of the Miami Dolphins.

There's no doubt that Tony Sparano has done a fantastic job, but Parcells is the architect who made Sparano's work possible.

The Dolphins are one win away from a division title, and on the morning of their showdown with the Jets, there probably aren't many players contemplating Parcells' future. After all, he signed a four-year deal last year, so why would he be going anywhere?

Because he's Bill Parcells, that's why.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported on Sunday NFL Countdown that Parcells' contract has one "out" in it. This "out" would allow Parcells to walk within the next month or so, and it would give the Dolphins no method of obtaining compensation should Parcells sign with another organization.

The "out"? If Wayne Huizenga closes on a sale of the franchise.

And guess what could happen as soon as Tuesday?

Jaguars Could Jettison Gregg Williams After Just One Season

There are certainly worse teams in the NFL, but few have been more disappointing than the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jags won 11 games a year ago and made it to the AFC Divisional round, but have fallen flat in 2008. They're currently sitting at 4-9, and if not for the bottom falling out of the U.S. economy, head coach Jack Del Rio would probably be on the ol' hot seat.

Still, when a team underachieves as spectacularly as the Jaguars, there's sure to be some scapegoatin' at season's end. Which is why first-year defensive coordinator Gregg Williams could be looking for work in a few weeks.
...Owner Wayne Weaver and coach Jack Del Rio will shake things up on the field, in the front office and with the coaching staff after a disappointing season, sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen.

The first change involves defensive coordinator Gregg Williams not returning to Jacksonville. A one-year marriage to Williams is headed for divorce, sources told ESPN. Philosophically, it hasn't worked, and it wasn't an expensive hire because Williams had one year left at more than $2 million when he was let go by the Washington Redskins.

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