NFL Rumors: Latest Buzz on Alshon Jeffery, Sean Payton and More

As the NFL heads into its final week of the regular season, there is more on the minds of teams than just winning ball games—especially those not going to the playoffs this year.

One team looking to make a move to solidify their passing game for years to come is the Chicago Bears. The 6-9 NFC North team signed quarterback Jay Cutler to a seven-year deal in 2014 and now could be looking to lock up his top wide receiver, Alshon Jeffery.

Let's take a look at what could be on the horizon for the wideout, as well as the possible fates of two head coaches.

Bears Could Be Looking to Re-Sign Jeffery

At one point in the season, the Bears looked to trade Jeffery but are now thinking about re-signing him, per John Mullin of CSNChicago.com.

Mullin wrote that injuries at one point caused the Bears to question a long-term deal for Jeffery, but they may reconsider that option for the wideout, who already ranks eighth all time in Bears history in receiving yards and 10th in receptions:

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But indications now are that the Bears are seriously interested in the possibilities of a long-term deal with the highly productive wide receiver who is squarely in his playing prime. If contract numbers cannot be mutually agreed upon, the Bears still can secure Jeffery for one year with their franchise tag, or at least extend their negotiating window without Jeffery going uncovered into free agency next March.

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Jeffery had played in 37 consecutive games before a plethora of injuries forced him to miss seven games this year. He was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network said Jeffery will be popular among teams looking to upgrade their receiving corps once the season ends:

The former South Carolina Gamecock is a huge target, and when healthy, he is one of the best receivers in the league. Even with his injuries this year, he hauled in 54 receptions and four touchdowns.

It would be costly to keep Jeffery, but the Bears have already committed to the passing game long term with Cutler, and making sure he has someone he can trust to catch his passes is a must.

Could Sean Payton be Looking to Leave New Orleans?

Head coach Sean Payton won Super Bowl XLIV with the New Orleans Saints in his fourth season at the helm. After going 13-3 that season, the Saints won at least 11 games the next three years. However, heading into Week 17 the Saints have won just 13 games the past two seasons.

With an 86-57 record in nine seasons with New Orleans, Payton could be looking for a new gig in case he loses his current one, per Rapoport:

The NFL is a league that frequently asks, "What have you done for me lately?" And in Payton's case, the answer is "not much."

Even though he has been successful in New Orleans, it could be that he has worn out his welcome. Things have not been the same since Payton was suspended for the 2012 season for his alleged role—which at this point is still unclear—in a system that rewarded Saints players with cash for targeting opponents.

Since then, the Saints are just 24-23 and are missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Even the NFL weighed in on Payton's future:

If Payton is keeping his options open, it's a safe move on his part. When rumors are swirling, and the NFL is tweeting about your situation, the writing may very well be on the wall. 

Browns' Pettine Could be Gone After Week 17

After the Cleveland Browns won seven games for the first time since 2007 with head coach Mike Pettine at the helm in 2014, it looked like he was a great long-term solution.

With a 3-12 record with one game left to play in the 2015 season, the 49-year-old coach could be out of a job soon, per Rand Getlin of NFL Network:

In fairness to Pettine, it's not like he inherited a team on the rise. The Browns had won either four or five games in each of the six seasons before he arrived, and the first draft pick under his reign was polarizing quarterback Johnny Manziel.

Because of injuries and benchings, Pettine has seen five quarterbacks start for Cleveland in the past two years, including Manziel. They have combined for a 10-21 record.

To add insult to injury, the team's top wide receiver, Josh Gordon, was suspended for the 2015 season for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.

However, all NFL coaches deal with injuries and suspensions to players, and it doesn't appear Cleveland is going to give Pettine a pass, per Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

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Browns staffers emerged from a meeting with coach Mike Pettine Friday morning feeling like he'll be fired after the season. ...

The Browns close out the year Sunday against the [Pittsburgh] Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium. The last four head coaches have been fired following a season-ending loss to the Steelers.

The sources said Pettine talked to Browns owner Jimmy Haslam about the coaching staff and was told that a decision wouldn't be made until after the game and after a possible move in the personnel department on Monday.

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Per Cabot, Pettine admitted he's been frustrated with the Browns' struggling defense, an area that is supposed to be his strength:

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It's been a source of frustration. It's tough for me, too, when that's my area of expertise and it's an area where we've fallen short, especially this year where I felt like we've overachieved offensively. If you look at exactly what you're saying, the roster, the investment, we've underachieved [on defense].

We're not going to make excuses. It is a source of frustration, disappointment and something that myself and the defensive staff show up here every day to work and get corrected. Some areas we've gotten better and others we haven't.

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The chances of Pettine remaining in Cleveland seem to be low, as the frustration continues to mount for a team that has made the playoffs just once since the franchise was re-established in 1999 after it left for Baltimore before the 1995 season.