NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

After all the names that have been thrown out there, it appears now that the Bills' ongoing search for a new head coach could be coming to a close.

According to multiple reports from The Buffalo News, Chan Gailey has catapulted to the forefront as the Bills' next head coach. The former Dallas Cowboys and Georgia Tech head coach could become the next head coach in Buffalo within the next few days. Mark Gaughan's article also states that Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier is not going to be the Bills' choice for the job.

The Bills have been seeking a head coaching candidate with prior head coaching experience and an offensive mind, and Gailey matches that description. He was the head man in Dallas in 1998 and 1999, and reached the playoffs in both seasons. From 2002 until 2007, Gailey was the head coach at Georgia Tech comprising an overall record of 44-33. During his six seasons with the Yellow Jackets, Gailey guided Tech to six consecutive bowl games.

Gailey has had several stints in the NFL an offensive coordinator. He first cut his teeth as an offensive coordinator with the Denver Broncos in 1989 & 1990. He served as an offensive aid with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1994 until 1997. After his two years in Dallas, Gailey landed with the Miami Dolphins in 2000 & 2001. His most recent NFL gig was with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2008. Gailey was fired by new Chiefs head coach Todd Haley two weeks before the start of the season in 2009.

Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com, via his Twitter account, indicates that Gailey and the Bills met last week and that barring a breakdown over the next few days, it looks as though this could be a done deal and Gailey will be the guy.

Despite losing to the Jets on Sunday at home to put an end to their season, the Chargers today announced that head coach Norv Turner isn’t going anywhere. The coach Monday night inked an extension that will keep him in San Diego as coach through 2013.

Norv Turner has gotten his contract extension. The team will announce Monday night that Turner has agreed to terms on a deal through 2013. “I’m extremely proud of the job Norv has done with this team,” team president Dean Spanos said. “In three seasons he’s led the team to three division titles. I’m confident that if we strengthen our roster and continue to provide Norv the assets he needs, this team will have continued success.” Turner, whose team lost in the Divisional round of the AFC playoffs on Sunday, has guided the Chargers to three AFC West titles in his three seasons.

The Dolphins have been rejected twice so far this week by two of their top candidates for the open defensive coordinator position.

Both Al Groh, and Keith Butler, who were believed to be the front runners for the job, declined the Dolphins offers, and while Butler stayed put in Pittsburgh as their linebackers coach, Groh took the defensive coordinator spot at Georgia Tech.

The Dolphins now are down to only a few select guys, one of whom is already in their organization, in Todd Bowles.

It's shaping up as if Bowles will be almost handed the job. The Dolphins clock is running out to find a defensive mind to fill the empty spot. The Dolphins are on a schedule per say, as they signed themselves up to coach the South team in the Senior Bowl in the upcoming weeks.

The Dolphins are believed to be interested in Pepper Johnson, the young defensive lines coach for the New England Patriots, Bowles, our secondary coach, and Bryan Cox, the former linebacker for the Fins back in the '90s. I believe that there is somehow a darkhorse in all of this, and that it may be a guy along the lines of Rob Ryan.

In yet another baffling change in Denver,the Broncos have parted ways with defensive coordinator Mike Nolan after only one season. Nolan, who transformed the Broncos from the 4-3 to the 3-4, improved the Broncos ranking from 30th to 7th seventh overall in the NFL, allowing just 315 yards per game, but it was 26th against the run (128.7 ypg). It ranked third against the pass (186.3 ypg).

Nolan is reported to be interested in the defensive coordinator opening in Miami. Strange occurrences like this are becoming the norm in Denver ever since Josh McDaniels has taken over the helm in Denver.

Jclombardi grades the 2009 Season Packers.

Guest senior writer jclombardi @ http://lombardiave.com

OFFENSIVE PLAYER GRADES

QB: Rodgers: Rodgers had solid statistical numbers with some bad spotty early game performances. He has become a top quarterback, but he must improve in critical game situations to with games. GRADE: A-. Flynn: He has had little playing time. GRADE: Inc.

RB: Grant: After a slow start, he finished strong. GRADE: B. Jackson: He has become an all-around back. GRADE: B. Green: He passed Taylor to become Packers' leading rusher. GRADE: B. Wynn: put on I.R. Grade: D.

WR: Jennings: After a slow start, he had a great year. GRADE: B+. Driver: He is a solid veteran gamer, but he faded at the end. GRADE: B. Jones: He has improved to be a solid 3^rd receiver. GRADE: C+. Nelson: He is a solid 4^th receiver. GRADE: C.

FB: Kuhn: He is a solid pass catcher and average blocker. GRADE: C. Hall: Although injured throughout the year, he is a good blocker. GRADE: C. Johnson: The rookie bruiser progressed and must learn to catch the ball. GRADE: C.

OL: Clifton: He has not been able to stay healthy, can pass protect well, and is liability in run schemes. GRADE: C+. Colledge: He looked inconsistent with up & down games. GRADE: C-. Wells: He had good and bad games. GRADE: C+. Evan Dietrich-Smith: He did adequate sub work at center and guard. GRADE: C. Sitton: He has a solid future at right guard. GRADE: B+. Barbre: He cannot pass protect on the edge but adequate in run schemes GRADE: D. Spitz: After a disappointing early start, he got injured onto IR. GRADE: B-. Tauscher: In his midseason return, he saved the offensive line. GRADE: B. Lang: The rookie has struggled, needs to get stronger, and has a solid future. GRADE: C+.

TE: Finley: He has a stellar future as a go-to-player. GRADE: B+. Lee: His slipped blocking, dropped big passes, and faded at the end. GRADE: C-. Havner: He developed into a solid receiver and special teams player. GRADE: B-.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER GRADES

DL: Jenkins: He excelled against average competition, disappeared against good competition, and provides a pass rush. GRADE: B-. Jolly: He had an outstanding season. GRADE: B+. Pickett: He is the best interior lineman. GRADE: A-. Montgomery: He is simply an average player with no impact GRADE: D-. Raji: After a slow start, the rookie progressed and must improve to potential. GRADE: C+. Wynn: The rookie had a disappointing year. GRADE: C-.

LB: Matthews: The rookie is a solid future star. GRADE: A-. Barnett: He had a solid year coming back from knee injury. GRADE: B. Hawk: He had an inconsistent up and down season. GRADE: C. Kampman: His transition to the 3-4 defense was a shocking misfit and was injured onto IR. GRADE: C. Chillar: He had an early solid start but injury slowed performance. Grade: C+. Bishop: He is solid backup not-yet-ready for prime time but must avoid costly game mistakes. GRADE: C. Jones: The rookie has shown great potential after replacing injured Kampman. GRADE: C+. Thompson: He is just an average backup defensive player. GRADE: D. Poppinga: He faded to proper backup status. GRADE: D.

DB: Woodson: The all-pro defensive player had a great leader-of-the-defense year. GRADE: A. Harris: The slowing veteran had a decent year until his injury onto IR. GRADE: B-. Williams: He is a good future starter. GRADE: B. Underwood: The rookie is improving to be a future dime back. GRADE: D. Bush: He is just an awful coverage player lacking skills and instincts. GRADE: F. Bigby: He had a very average year. GRADE: C-. Collins: The all-pro defensive player had a solid year. GRADE: B+. Giordano: He was mainly inactive after his midseason pickup. GRADE: D. Martin: He looked awful in coverage but a solid special teams player. GRADE: C-.

Specialists: Crosby: For his good talent, he had an inconsistent year with a kicking problem making field goals from the right hash mark. GRADE: C. Kapinos: He is an awful punter. GRADE: D-. Goode: He is a solid long snapper. GRADE: B.

The Cowboys are keeping things as is, as reports say that owner Jerry Jones, despite the playoff loss to the Vikings, will be keeping coach Wade Phillips and the rest of the coaching staff around. Jones reportedly told the players that the team is closer to a title.

Several players left the team meeting saying that management wants to keep things the way they are, an indication that Jones will pick up the team option on Phillips' contract for next season.

The Cowboys had a winning record in the final month and won a playoff game, things they had not done since 1996. They also won the division for the second time in three years. Jones and Phillips did not speak with reporters Monday.

Now that the Cardinals season is over, the big question will be the future of Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, and if he will be back or not for the 2010 season. At 38-years old, Warner played as well or better than most quarterbacks 15 years younger than him. For now, he has one year, worth $11.5 million, left on the two-year contract he signed last offseason.

"I think we just continue to build on what a lot of people never expected for this organization," he said. "It's tough to go to the Super Bowl every year. It's tough to win your division two years in a row. You have to understand when it comes playoff time if you don't bring your best performance you get beat. That doesn't mean you had a lousy season."

When it comes to coming back in 2010, it’s going to be a answer that Warner says he’ll have sooner rather than later. For now, he said he and his wife planned to get away for a bit, but his decision won't be drawn-out, like that of a fellow NFC quarterback that is still playing.

"It won't be long. That's all I can say," he said. "I don't really have a date or a time but I want to make my decision real quickly for all parties involved, but I don't really know exactly when that will come."

Running backs can become very old – very quick. As we saw Sunday in San Diego, no one, not even LaDainian Tomlinson can stay young forever, and it’s not a surprise if he would be in a different uniform in 2010. Which leads to Brian Westbrook, the one-time outstanding running back for the Philadelphia Eagles.

It’s been tough as of late for Westbrook, who suffered a nasty concussion last season vs the Redskins, and also has been suffering from knee issues. Now it appears that the running back is talking about leaving the game, as there’s talk he may retire.

WIP’s Howard Eskin reported Sunday night on NBC Philadelphia’s Sports Final that the running back may have to retire. Eskin said that the issue is not only the concussions, but also his left knee. The back has had multiple surgeries on that knee, and he will be visiting doctors in the near future for additional opinions about whether he can still play.

PFT.com reports Eskin saying “there’s “almost no chance” Westbrook will play for the Eagles again (he’s due to earn a $7.25 million salary in 2010), and that he might have trouble passing a physical for another team.”

It would be a tough end for Westbrook, who at one point considered one of, if not the most dangerous back in football. In his 8-year career, he has rushed for 5,995 yards (4.6 per carry), and he has caught 426 passes for 3,790 yards. Westbrook also has scored 66 career touchdowns.