Jimmy Gone

The Jimmy Garoppolo era in Las Vegas has come to an unceremonious end.  

After testing positive for a banned performance enhancing substance, the quarterback will be suspended for the first two games of the 2024 NFL season. The Raiders will also reportedly release him, per ESPN. 

Story of Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo being suspended two games for violating the NFL's Performance Enhancing Substances Policy, league sources told ESPN. Raiders also plan to release Garoppolo.https://t.co/Pa0ejUaYVE

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 16, 2024

The 32-year-old quarterback signed a three-year deal with the Raiders in March for $67.5 million with the expectation of reuniting with former Patriots offensive coordinator-turned-Vegas-Head-Coach Josh McDaniels, where two Super Bowls were won during Garoppolo’s time as New England’s backup QB  

Jimmy G would start six of the first eight games, posting two wins and four losses while throwing seven touchdowns to nine interceptions on 65% completion percentage. His time as a starting quarterback ended with the firing of McDaniels in favor of rookie Aidan O’Connell. 

Now, Garoppolo will be looking for his third team in three years with potential starting opportunities limited. 

Dallas Defense

Mike Zimmer, the new defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles’ NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys, has begun to replace the pieces left behind by the departing Dan Quinn.

The Cowboys are hiring Paul Guenther and Jeff Zgonina to their staff. 

The team can confirm the hiring of Paul Guenther as run game coordinator and Jeff Zgonina as defensive line coach.

Guenther worked with Mike Zimmer in Cincinnati and Minnesota and was DC for the Bengals and Raiders.

Zgonina has served as DL coach for San Fran and Washington. pic.twitter.com/C9iYaM9ohV

— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisDC) February 16, 2024

Guenther, a previous guest on the Inside The Birds Patreon page, has been a key member of several Zimmer staffs, serving under him in Cincinnati before taking his place as DC in 2014, and then in 2021 as a senior defensive assistant for the Minnesota Vikings. 

Zgonina, last with the Washington Commanders, replaces Aden Durde who is now the Seattle Seahawks DC.

Zimmer returns to the NFL for the first time since the 2021 season, the last in his eight-year tenure as the head coach for the Vikings. He spent the next two seasons consulting with Deion Sanders at the collegiate level, first at Jackson State and then at Colorado. 

Another Extension

Michael Clay is not the only special teams coordinator to earn a new contract.

Longtime Kansas City Chiefs STC and Assistant Head Coach Dave Toub has agreed to a new three-year deal.

We have signed Assistant Head Coach and Special Teams Coordinator Dave Toub to a contract extension. pic.twitter.com/nte7XYFlVB

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) February 16, 2024

Toub has been on Andy Reid’s staff with the Chiefs since 2013. Previously, he was with Reid and the Eagles from 2001-03 as a special teams and quality control coach.

The 61-year-old joins DC Steve Spagnuolo as the team’s coordinators that 

received an extension following their second consecutive Super Bowl win, making the 2022-23 Chiefs the first team to repeat since the 2003-04 Patriots

– Benjamin Paul is a staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.