Former NFL GM Rod Graves criticized the Patriots' usage of the Rooney Rule by interviewing two black candidates before hiring Mike Vrabel.

Successful experienced coaches like Brian Flores remain available as they prepare for playoff games in the coming days. Young offensive-minded individuals like Joe Brady and Josh McCown remain available to talk to. Even Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn remains available and is a projected favorite for the job as well.

There were six NFL head coach openings, and now there are five. One search ended in an expected place: Mike Vrabel will be the next coach of the New England Patriots. This was the likely outcome from the moment Jerod Mayo was fired,

For some of those teams, that will involve finding new head coaches and/or General Managers. Three teams fired their head coaches during the season and two more have been dispatched as of 9 a.m. ET on January 6.

With Mike Vrabel ... Reference. Flores is coming for your quarterback, but might upset his own quarterback in the process. Flores is still in the playoffs so there will be a wait. Brian Flores ...

Aaron Glenn has filled an NFL coaching vacancy at the New York Jets, joining Ben Johnson at the Chicago Bears and Mike Vrabel at the New England Patriots. The Dallas Cowboys are among four teams still searching.

While the search process leaned toward Vrabel all along, having a legit coach, an exciting young quarterback, the No. 4 draft pick, and salary cap space shifts the momentum.

The trio increased the list to 15 coaching candidates to meet with the Jets, who have also conducted 15 interviews for their general manager job.

For better or worse, the Patriots have hired Mike Vrabel to save their sinking ship ... As for Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores, the Patriots still had to wait before interviewing ...

The NFL coaching carousel is in full swing.Six teams are officially looking for new leadership, while Dallas has until Jan. 14 to figure out what it wants to do with Mike McCarthy.Here's an early prediction for the hires made by each club.

Will Josh McDaniels, Wes Welker and Bryan Cox return? Here's a look at who might be Vrabel's assistant coaches.

The New York Jets interviewed Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley for their head coach vacan