Friday's NFL: Commanders finalizing hire of Bieniemy as OC

Eric Bieniemy is finalizing terms of a deal to become the Washington Commanders' offensive coordinator and assistant head coach, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because the deal was not yet completed. It’s expected to be done Saturday.

Bieniemy, a two-time Super Bowl-winning assistant with Kansas City, now gets the chance to show what he can do without Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes.

Bieniemy, who turns 54 in August, emerged from a pool of more than a half-dozen candidates as Washington's choice for the job following the Chiefs' second championship in his five seasons as their offensive coordinator. The longtime NFL assistant has interviewed for numerous head coaching jobs, but Reid calling plays for an offense featuring a two-time MVP in Mahomes clouded Bieniemy's stock.

The decisions by teams not to hire Bieniemy, who is Black, as a head coach have been an ongoing talking point for critics of the NFL's minority hiring practices.

Bieniemy will get the chance to call plays and run every aspect of Washington's offense under Ron Rivera, a defensive-minded coach and former linebacker who's going into his fourth season in charge of the team's football operations.

Bieniemy inherits second-year quarterback Sam Howell, who goes into spring as the starter, and an offense that includes running backs Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson and top receiver Terry McLaurin.

A running back for nine seasons in the 1990s, Bieniemy has coached at the college and pro levels. He coached running backs with Kansas City for five years before being promoted to offensive coordinator and before that worked at the University of Colorado and for the Minnesota Vikings as a position coach.

QB Derek Carr meeting with Jets this weekend

Free agent quarterback Derek Carr is meeting with the New York Jets this weekend, according to a person familiar with the situation.

The 31-year-old Carr, who spent his first nine NFL seasons with the Raiders, was released by Las Vegas on Tuesday after he declined to waive the no-trade clause in his contract. Las Vegas needed to trade or release him by Wednesday or $40.4 million of his contract over the next two years would have become fully guaranteed.

The Jets are looking for a veteran quarterback to lead their offense after Zach Wilson struggled mightily after being the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft. Carr is a potential replacement and New York is bringing him in for a visit, the person told The Associated Press on Friday on condition of anonymity because the team didn't announce its plans.

NFL Network first reported Carr will visit with the Jets, who are the second team that the quarterback has met with; he also visited New Orleans shortly before his release.

New York is also expected to be interested in Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers if he is made available. The four-time NFL MVP told “The Pat McAfee Show” earlier this week he was going to spend four days in isolation on a personal retreat and determine whether he wants to continue his playing career.

Carr, the Raiders’ second-round pick in 2014, threw 24 touchdown passes with 14 interceptions this season. After struggling late in the season, Carr was benched with two games remaining and acknowledged he was angry about the decision.

He said in a social media post “it breaks my heart” to stay away from the team as the season ended.

“I once said that if I’m not a Raider, I would rather be at home and I meant that, but I never envisioned it ending this way,” Carr wrote.

Carr confirmed he wasn’t retiring from playing and “that fire burning inside me to win a championship still rages.”

The Jets are looking for a quarterback who can team with new offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett to jumpstart an offense that was among the NFL’s worst during the last two years under Mike LaFleur.

If he signs with New York, Carr would also be reunited with Todd Downing, the former Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator who was recently hired by the Jets as their passing game coordinator. Downing was the Raiders' quarterbacks coach from 2015-16 before serving as offensive coordinator in 2017.

RB Aaron Jones staying with Packers under restructured deal

Running back Aaron Jones has agreed to remain with the Green Bay Packers on a restructured deal with a reduced salary for the upcoming season.

Drew Rosenhaus, Jones’ agent, said Jones will make $11 million in 2023 — including an $8.52 million signing bonus — rather than the $16 million he had been projected to make. Jones confirmed his return to Green Bay by tweeting, “Year 7 is Gonna be crazy in Lambeau. Honored to carry the G and blessed to be back.”

ESPN first reported Jones’ restructured deal.

Rosenhaus noted the $11 million salary will increase Jones’ total pay since 2021 to $31 million, the most for any running back other than San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey during that stretch.

Jones, 28, rushed for a career-high 1,121 yards on 213 carries and caught 59 passes for 395 yards last season as part of a running-back tandem with 2020 second-round pick A.J. Dillon. Jones scored seven touchdowns — five receiving and two rushing.

He also was the Packers' nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, which recognizes players for community service off the field as well as achievements on the field

The 2017 fifth-round pick from UTEP joined Jim Brown and Adrian Peterson as the only players in NFL history to combine 5,000-plus yards rushing, 60-plus touchdowns from scrimmage while averaging at least 5 yards per carry over their first six NFL seasons.

Jones, who is listed at 5-foot-9 and 208 pounds, has a career average of 5.11 yards per rush that ranks fourth in league history among running backs with at least 850 carries.

“When we got first here, you’re thinking, ‘Hey, this probably won’t last long because the way he’s built and his size,’ and he just keeps on defying the odds,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said last month during his season-ending news conference.

Patriots captain Matt Slater returning for 16th NFL season

Foxborough, Mass. — After the New England Patriots' season came to an end last month, Matt Slater said he'd given everything he had during his 15 years in the NFL.

But for now, retirement can wait.

The Patriots announced Friday that the 37-year-old and two-time All-Pro has decided to return for his 16th season in 2023.

“I thank God for His continued grace and provision over my career," Slater said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing to play under the leadership of coach (Bill) Belichick. Thank you to the Kraft family and the entire Patriots organization for allowing me to continue to pursue my childhood dream.”

A fifth-round draft pick by New England in 2008 and son of Hall of Famer Jackie Slater, he has grown into a locker room leader and embodiment of Belichick's “Patriot Way” culture. Along the way Slater has been voted as the special team captain 12 times while winning three Super Bowl rings.

“Matt’s incredible career is a testament to his preparation and will to succeed,” Belichick said. “We are thrilled he will be playing this season.”

The longest-tenured player on the 2022 roster, he has appeared in 222 games and is second only to Tom Brady in games played for the Patriots. He hasn’t missed a game over the past five seasons.

Last season Slater finished with 13 special teams tackles. His 11 seasons with double-digit special teams tackles is the most in the NFL since 2000.