AFC West

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels believes he tried to copy Bill Belichick too much during his last stint as a head coach. 

"I'm not Bill...I can't be," McDaniels told reporters Thursday. "I'm just going to be myself and hopefully a good leader for this team."

McDaniels went 11-17 across two seasons with the Denver Broncos in 2009 and '10 after he spent the previous eight years under Belichick with the New England Patriots. He returned to the Patriots in 2012, spending 10 years as the team's offensive coordinator before landing a head coaching job with the Raiders this offseason.

The 46-year-old had a lot of success in his previous role, leading the Patriots to at least seventh in the NFL in points scored in eight of the last 10 years. The squad finished third in points last season despite being led by a rookie quarterback in Mac Jones.

McDaniels was also on the staff for all six of the franchise's Super Bowl titles, including the last three as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Despite his success in New England, significant questions loom regarding whether he can win without Belichick.

The Raiders are set up for contention after they reached the playoffs with a 10-7 record last season. Derek Carr is an established quarterback who set a career high with 4,804 passing yards in 2021, and he has an elite new weapon in All-Pro wideout Davante Adams.

The defense should also be improved after it added Chandler Jones and Bilal Nichols to the front seven.

It will be up to McDaniels to get the most out of the roster while he finds a path outside the Patriot Way and the Raiders look to contend for a Super Bowl.    

It appears former NFL running back LeSean McCoy is not a fan of Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. 

During an appearance on the I Am Athlete podcast, McCoy said Bieniemy hasn't been hired as a head coach in the NFL because of his coaching ability, not because of his race.

McCoy also called out how Bieniemy interacts with players and added that he is the reason he stopped playing for the Chiefs. 

"... Listen, because some players he talks to them a certain way and some players would take it," McCoy said. "I wouldn't take it, like 'whoa.' ... That's the reason why that every year they hype him up to get a job, and then when the time comes, nobody hires him because they know what type of coach he really is."

McCoy spent the 2019 season with the Chiefs after splitting the first 10 years of his career between the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills. He appeared in 13 games that season, rushing for 465 yards and four touchdowns in addition to catching 28 passes for 181 yards and one score. 

The 33-year-old played just 35 percent of Kansas City's offensive snaps during the 2019 campaign and was a healthy scratch for one game after head coach Andy Reid said he wasn't "getting any younger" and needed some time off for load management.

McCoy appeared to blame Bieniemy for his diminished role, though Reid did make a good point that the veteran running back wasn't nearly as effective at 31 years old, which is likely why he saw less playing time. 

That said, former Chiefs safety Ron Parker responded to McCoy's comments, essentially saying he should have kept his thoughts to himself. 

As for Bieniemy, he has served as offensive coordinator for the Chiefs since 2018 after being promoted from running backs coach (2013-17). Kansas City has had one of the league's best offenses since Bieniemy took over, and many can't understand why he hasn't received a head coaching job. 

During the 2018 season, the Chiefs offense ranked first in yards and scoring. In 2020, the team's offense again ranked first in yards, and it has never finished lower than sixth in yards and points under Bieniemy.

In January 2021, Bieniemy interviewed for head coaching vacancies with the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, Los Angeles Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions and the Houston Texans, who all chose to go in a different direction. 

Reid has expressed optimism in the past that Bieniemy would land a head coaching job and even thought that the 2022 hiring cycle would be his year. 

However, despite interviewing for the New Orleans Saints' and Denver Broncos' openings this offseason, he was passed over in favor of Dennis Allen and Nathaniel Hackett, respectively. 

If the Chiefs offense is once again one of the best in the NFL in 2022, Bieniemy will surely be mentioned as a head coaching candidate for the 2023 hiring cycle. Maybe then he will finally get a shot. 

In addition to the Las Vegas Raiders, two other NFL teams reportedly showed interest in quarterback Colin Kaepernick this offseason, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

The news comes after the Raiders hosted the free agent for a workout on Wednesday, Kaepernick's first audition with a team since 2017. He last appeared in an NFL game in 2016 with the San Francisco 49ers.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the workout "went well and he impressed." 

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports added that the workout was a "legitimate effort to assess his ability and take a close look at what he can do."

The interest is a significant change from recent years when the 34-year-old struggled to get the attention of NFL organizations.

Kaepernick notably led the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance after the 2012 season and was a dual-threat star under center during his next four years as a starter. He threw 16 touchdowns with four interceptions in 12 appearances in 2016. 

Yet the quarterback's play became overshadowed by his decision to kneel during the national anthem as a protest against racial injustice and police brutality. He went unsigned the following offseason, and he filed a grievance against the NFL alleging collusion before settling with the league in 2019.

Though he has continually said he was ready to return to the field, he has been more aggressive this offseason and held a workout at the Michigan spring game alongside former coach Jim Harbaugh. 

The Raiders are seemingly now a legitimate landing spot for Kaepernick as a backup behind Derek Carr, but he may have other options if that falls through.     

Colin Kaepernick "impressed" Las Vegas Raiders officials during his workout with the team, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Rapoport added that "the door is open," seemingly alluding to an increased chance of Kaepernick signing a contract with the Raiders.

This was the 34-year-old's first workout for an NFL team since 2017.

Kaepernick has been out of the league since the conclusion of the 2016 season. That year, he began protesting by kneeling during the national anthem to raise awareness of police brutality and racial inequality.

Many thought the NFL and its owners retaliated against Kaepernick for his activism and froze him out. In 2019, he and former San Francisco 49ers teammate Eric Reid settled grievances with the NFL after alleging the league and owners had colluded to blackball them.

Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh, who coached Kaepernick in San Francisco, named the veteran signal-caller an honorary captain for the Wolverines' spring game in April. While attending the event, Kaepernick told Jeanna Trotman of WXYZ Detroit he was prepared to work his way back to a starting role if he landed with an NFL team again.

Derek Carr is firmly entrenched as Las Vegas' starter after signing a three-year, $121.5 million extension. The quarterback situation behind Carr is a little less assured for the Raiders.

Nick Mullens went 20-of-30 for 147 yards and one touchdown in his only start with the Cleveland Browns in 2020. Jarrett Stidham threw for 270 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions in his two years with the New England Patriots.

At the very least, it might be worth it for the Raiders to bring Kaepernick into training camp to see whether he can outperform Mullens or Stidham.

A judge dismissed the NFL's motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden, according to The Athletic's Tashan Reed.

Reed noted the case could now go to discovery and speculated the NFL might want to head that off by reaching a settlement.

Gruden resigned from his post last October after emails surfaced in which he used anti-gay, racist and misogynistic language in correspondence. The emails were unearthed as the NFL investigated the workplace culture of the Washington Commanders.

In November, Gruden filed suit against the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell and alleged he was the victim of a "malicious and orchestrated campaign."

NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy responded to say the "allegations are entirely meritless and the NFL will vigorously defend against these claim."

The league filed its motion to dismiss the suit in January and also tried to get the case moved into arbitration.

This lawsuit's connection to the Commanders investigation might open the door for significantly damaging information to be made public in discovery.

Following the investigation, Washington received a $10 million fine, and Tanya Snyder assumed day-to-day duties running the organization from her husband. The NFL declined to supply the full findings of the investigation, though, with Beth Wilkinson sharing a verbal summary to league officials.

Through the Gruden lawsuit, some of those findings could presumably come to light if the discovery phase proceeds.

Former Denver Broncos cornerback Brendan Langley was charged with simple assault after getting into a fight with a United Airlines employee at Newark Liberty International Airport, according to TMZ.

A video captured Langley and the employee engaged in a physical altercation. He throws multiple punches at the employee and knocks him down at one point.

Per TMZ, local authorities declined to arrest the United employee, though Langley alleged the employee hit him first.

The Daily Mail's Jennifer Smith and Jack Newman shared a statement from United: "United Airlines does not tolerate violence of any kind at our airports or on board our planes and we are working with local authorities to further investigate this matter."

Smith and Newman reported the situation may have started when Langley attempted to use a wheelchair to transport his luggage rather than a designated cart.

The Broncos selected Langley in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft. He made 16 appearances, largely as a return specialist.

Denver waived the 27-year-old in August 2019, and he returned to the professional game when he signed with the CFL's Calgary Stampeders in 2022. 

In his latest Football Morning in America column, Peter King of NBC Sports dropped his latest 2022 NFL power rankings following the draft, and his top teams certainly don't come as a surprise. 

Here's a look at the top 10:

1. Buffalo Bills 
2. Los Angeles Chargers
3. Kansas City Chiefs
4. Los Angeles Rams
5. Green Bay Packers
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7. Cincinnati Bengals
8. Baltimore Ravens
9. Philadelphia Eagles
10. San Francisco 49ers

It's no surprise that King ranked the Bills first in his latest column. The franchise was extremely close to reaching the Super Bowl last season and also made some solid upgrades to its roster for 2022.

The most significant addition came in the form of eight-time Pro Bowler Von Miller, who agreed to a six-year, $120 million deal with the Bills this offseason after winning the Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams. 

Miller is expected to supplant Boogie Basham on the opposite side of Greg Rousseau. The 33-year-old hasn't had a double-digit sack season since 2018 but was still effective in 2021, recording 9.5 sacks in 15 games. 

In addition to Miller, the Bills also signed wide receiver Jamison Crowder to complement with Gabriel Davis and Stefon Diggs as well as drafted cornerback Kaiir Elam, who is expected to join Tre'Davious White as a starter in the secondary. 

The Chargers are in King's top 10 because they "attacked their needs better than any teams in this offseason." 

L.A. traded for Khalil Mack to pair with Joey Bosa on the edge, signed cornerback J.C. Jackson, re-signed wide receiver Mike Williams and drafted guard Zion Johnson to help protect quarterback Justin Herbert. 

King also notes the Chargers have an advantage with their schedule, facing the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks and Atlanta Falcons through Week 8. 

As for the Chiefs, King said he was "at a loss where to put Kansas City," which doesn't come as a surprise. 

The Chiefs traded star wide receiver Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins this offseason and let Tyrann Mathieu sign with the New Orleans Saints in free agency. Those two players were significant in Kansas City's 2020 Super Bowl victory, and it'll be hard for the Chiefs to replace that production. 

Kansas City enters the 2022 campaign with Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mecole Hardman and JuJu Smith-Schuster as its top wide receivers. The team also drafted Skyy Moore this offseason. 

As for the replacement of Mathieu, Justin Reid should slot in as the team's top safety. 

One team that might be viewed as a surprise in King's top 10 is the Eagles. However, he noted that he views Philadelphia "as the best team" in the NFC East after addressing many of their needs this offseason.

The Eagles acquired wide receiver A.J. Brown from the Tennessee Titans, signed edge-rusher Haason Reddick and cornerback James Bradberry and drafted defensive tackle Jordan Davis and inside linebacker Nakobe Dean.

With those additions, the Eagles could surprise everyone in 2022, provided quarterback Jalen Hurts also holds up his end of the bargain. 

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is just as productive as many of the elite wide receivers in the NFL, yet he's not paid like it, and San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle doesn't understand why.

Speaking with Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, Kittle said the fact that Kelce doesn't get paid like a wide receiver "just boggles my mind":

I mean, Travis Kelce, six seasons in a row, 1,000 yards. I'm pretty sure he has the most receiving yards over any wide receiver, skill position in the last six years. He gets paid half of what a wide receiver makes, which just boggles my mind. I mean, to me, Travis Kelce, he's been doing it for so long and at such a high level. And he doesn't have an off game. I think he has one bad game a year, and it's just because he's getting triple-teamed.

Kittle added: "Every NFL team ... that's won a Super Bowl or been to the Super Bowl for like the last five years has had an All-Pro tight end a part of the team. I feel a tight end's not just like a cog in the wheel; it's an important position that can really add to your offense or diminish it."

Kelce, a seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro, has been one of the Chiefs' top targets since 2014 and has been their leader in receiving yards four times.

As Kittle noted, the 32-year-old has also recorded six straight seasons with more than 1,000 receiving yards and figures to be even more of an offensive threat in 2022 following Tyreek Hill's trade to the Miami Dolphins.

Kelce signed a four-year, $57 million extension in August 2020. For comparison, Hill just signed a four-year, $120 million deal with the Dolphins.

According to Over The Cap, Kittle is the highest-paid tight end at $15 million per year. Like Kelce, he should also probably be paid more similarly to an elite wide receiver.

Kittle, a three-time Pro Bowler, has two seasons of more than 1,000 receiving yards and has led San Francisco in receiving yards twice. During the 2021 campaign, he caught 71 passes for 910 yards and six touchdowns in 14 games.

But like Kelce, Kittle will likely see one of his wide receiver teammates get a massive extension. Deebo Samuel, who had a breakout 2021 campaign with 1,405 receiving yards, 365 rushing yards and 14 total touchdowns, is in line to become one of the highest-paid wide receivers in the league.

That said, the tight end market could change in the future based on the production of players such as Kelce, Kittle, Mark Andrews, Darren Waller, Kyle Pitts and others.