AP source: Jaguars close to landing Jay Gruden as next OC

A person familiar with the search says former Washington coach Jay Gruden is close to finalizing a deal to become Jacksonville's offensive coordinator.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity Tuesday night because the sides have not agreed to terms. The person said work remains, but a deal is expected Wednesday.

The Redskins fired Gruden in early October following an 0-5 start. Gruden, who previously served as Cincinnati's offensive coordinator (2011-13), was 35-49-1 in five-plus seasons in Washington and reached the playoffs once.

Gruden was one of four former head coaches who interviewed with Jaguars coach Doug Marrone, following former New York Giants coach Ben McAdoo, former Detroit coach Scott Linehan and former Arizona and Tennessee coach Ken Whisenhunt.

It was clear Marrone was looking for an experienced play-caller to pair with second-year quarterback Gardner Minshew and one of the league's youngest offenses.

It could be a nice landing spot for Gruden, who would have a chance at becoming Jacksonville's interim coach if Marrone doesn't get the team turned around early next season. The Jaguars have lost 20 of their last 28 games.

Owner Shad Khan opted to keep Marrone and general manager Dave Caldwell despite a public outcry for change. Marrone and Caldwell have two years remaining on their contracts, and Khan has made it clear that expectations will be high going into 2020.

It could mean a win-or-else situation for Marrone and his staff. Gruden will replace fired offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, who lasted just one year in Jacksonville.

Gruden will become Jacksonville's fourth play-caller in the last three years. Marrone fired Nathaniel Hackett in the middle of the 2018 season, replacing him with quarterbacks coach Scott Milanovich. Milanovich returned to his position as quarterbacks coach this season and worked alongside DeFilippo, who was hired in part to be reunited with Nick Foles. “Flip” and Foles helped bring Philadelphia a Super Bowl victory in 2018.

Jacksonville still needs a quarterbacks coach after Milanovich became head coach of the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos.

Tua, Young among juniors granted eligibility for NFL draft

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, Ohio State defensive end Chase Young and Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor were among 99 juniors granted eligibility by the NFL into the draft.

The NFL on Tuesday released the official list of 120 players who gave up college eligibility to enter the draft. Most, such as Tagovailoa, Young and Taylor, previously made their intentions public.

Players less than four years removed from high school who have not completed a degree need to be granted special entry to the draft by the NFL.

Among the 120 are 16 players with college eligibility remaining who notified the NFL they had completed degree requirements and were therefore eligible to be selected in the April 23-25 draft to be held in Las Vegas.

That group of 16 includes Clemson All-America linebacker Isaiah Simmons and Utah State quarterback Jordan Love. Five more players with eligibility remaining inquired about draft status but did not need special entry, including Michigan linebacker Josh Uche.

The total of 120 players who left behind college eligibility to enter the draft is down from the record 132 last season. The 99 juniors granted early entry by the league is also down from 103 last year. A record 106 juniors entered the draft without completing degrees in 2018. That was the first year that number reached triple digits.

Since 2014, at least 95 underclassmen entered the draft without completing their degrees in every season but 2015, when the number was 74.

Defending national champion LSU had nine of the 120 players to leave behind college eligibility, the most of any school, including safety Grant Delpit, receiver Justin Jefferson and running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

Alabama was next with six players. Receiver Jerry Jeudy and tackle Jedrick Wills were among the Crimson Tide players joining Tagovailoa.

Taylor was one of 20 running backs who decided to enter the draft with eligibility remaining, though three star runners notably returned to school.

Clemson's Travis Etienne, Alabama's Najee Harris and Oklahoma State's Chub Hubbard, who led the nation in rushing last season, will be back in college 2020.

Pro Bowl to let scoring team keep possession, face fourth down

The Pro Bowl is adding a new twist that could reward teams for taking a risk.

The NFL announced Tuesday that its upcoming all-star game in Orlando will feature a rule change that allows a team to keep the ball after it scores. The scoring team can retain possession at its own 25-yard line and face a fourth-and-15 play. Pick up a first down, and the offense gets a new set of downs. Fail to gain 15 yards, and it's a turnover on downs and good field position for the other conference.

The scoring team also could elect to give the opponent the ball at the opponent's 25-yard line, much like a kickoff that results in a touchback.

The 2020 Pro Bowl also tweaked rules regarding pre-snap penalties.

It is no longer a false start if a flexed, eligible receiver in a two-point stance flinches or picks up one foot as long as his other foot remains partially on the ground. He also must reset for a second before the snap. A receiver who fits this exception is not considered to be in motion.

It is a false start if all 11 offensive players are set for at a full second and any flexed, eligible receiver breaks his stance by picking up both feet.