Mr. Laz
12-30-2012, 11:20 AM
Bill O'Brien on NFL short lists
Updated: December 30, 2012, 12:06 PM ET
By Chris Mortensen | ESPN
Bill O'Brien Considering NFL Return
Chris Mortensen discusses the possibility of Bill O'Brien leaving Penn State and returning to the NFL.
Parting Shot: Penn State Saga Tough To Shake
As NFL owners and executives revisit the success of college coaches at the pro level, Penn State's Bill O'Brien may be on more short lists than Oregon's Chip Kelly and that would include the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles, according to league sources.
O'Brien would not necessarily jump at any NFL opportunity but if he did leave Penn State it would qualify as a surprise after the former Patriots offensive coordinator was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year in his first season as the Nittany Lions coach in 2012.
However, sources say teams that have gauged his interest have been informed by a third party representative that when O'Brien accepted the task of being the late Joe Paterno's successor, he was told by school officials that the Jerry Sandusky scandal was a criminal matter, not an NCAA concern. That proved to be bad information as Penn State was dealt a four-year bowl ban and scholarship reductions as part of its penalties.
O'Brien could not be reached for comment but the sources emphasized that he would not leave Penn State for just any NFL job.
He bypassed an opportunity to interview for the Jacksonville job last January.
Sources that he has a significant buyout in the neighborhood of $9 million but it is unknown whether it pertains to an NFL opportunity. The NCAA sanctions that O'Brien did not anticipate also could become a point of contention as it relates to a buyout, sources added.
Updated: December 30, 2012, 12:06 PM ET
By Chris Mortensen | ESPN
Bill O'Brien Considering NFL Return
Chris Mortensen discusses the possibility of Bill O'Brien leaving Penn State and returning to the NFL.
Parting Shot: Penn State Saga Tough To Shake
As NFL owners and executives revisit the success of college coaches at the pro level, Penn State's Bill O'Brien may be on more short lists than Oregon's Chip Kelly and that would include the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles, according to league sources.
O'Brien would not necessarily jump at any NFL opportunity but if he did leave Penn State it would qualify as a surprise after the former Patriots offensive coordinator was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year in his first season as the Nittany Lions coach in 2012.
However, sources say teams that have gauged his interest have been informed by a third party representative that when O'Brien accepted the task of being the late Joe Paterno's successor, he was told by school officials that the Jerry Sandusky scandal was a criminal matter, not an NCAA concern. That proved to be bad information as Penn State was dealt a four-year bowl ban and scholarship reductions as part of its penalties.
O'Brien could not be reached for comment but the sources emphasized that he would not leave Penn State for just any NFL job.
He bypassed an opportunity to interview for the Jacksonville job last January.
Sources that he has a significant buyout in the neighborhood of $9 million but it is unknown whether it pertains to an NFL opportunity. The NCAA sanctions that O'Brien did not anticipate also could become a point of contention as it relates to a buyout, sources added.