Patriots Daily: Salute to Joe Cardona; Seahawks Hire Macdonald

New England Patriots long snapper Joe Cardona has been named a finalist for the NFL Salute to Service Award. Each NFL team nominates an employee for the annual award. Fewer than half of the nominees this year are active players, but the three finalists all are. Joining Cardona among the finalists are Green Bay Packers RB Aaron Jones and San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle.

The winner will be announced at the annual NFL Honors ceremony on Feb. 8, 2024. Cardona’s nomination letter from the New England Patriots can be viewed here: Joe Cardona. Also from Patriots.com:

“The Salute to Service Award is part of USAA and the NFL’s year-round commitment to honor, empower, and connect with our nation’s service members, veterans, and their families. The 32 nominees from each NFL team were announced in November and consisted of active and retired players, coaches, and team executives and personnel who best demonstrated support for the military community.”

The award was first given out in 2011. No New England Patriots nominee has won it to date.

Cardona joins an impressive list of Patriots players acknowledged for the work away from the field this season. This includes Jonthan Jones, David Andrews, and Lawrence Guy.

Seattle Seahawks Name Mike Macdonald Head Coach

Seattle found Pete Carroll’s replacement. The Seahawks have hired Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. The 36-year-old becomes the NFL’s youngest head coach, supplanting New England’s Jerod Mayo. Macdonald had been with Baltimore since 2014, serving as defensive coordinator the past two seasons. The lone exception was the 2021 season when he left to become the defensive coordinator on Jim Harbaugh’s staff at Michigan.

Macdonald’s hiring leaves only one vacancy among NFL head coaching positions. The Washington Commanders have yet to make a hire. Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson opted to return to Detroit. Johnson was considered the frontrunner for the job. Betting favorites for the Washington position currently include Dan Quinn (Cowboys DC), Anthony Pleasant (Raiders DL Coach), Aaron Glenn (Lions DC), Todd Monken (Ravens OC), and Eric Bienemy (Commanders OC).

Also in today’s Patriots Daily…

New England Patriots

Patriots Football Now – Tracker: 2024 New England Patriots Coaching Staff

Patriots Football Now – New England hires Jeremy Springer as Special Teams Coordinator

NFL Draft

Patriots Football Now – 2024 NFL Mock Draft 2.0: Pre-Shrine and Senior Bowls

Patriots Football Now – NFL Draft history: Top three picks helping teams win a Super Bowl

NFL News

Pro Football Network – NFL Pro Bowl Skills Showdown (how to watch)

Yardbarker –Green Bay hiring Boston College HC Jeff Hafley is a bad omen for college football

ESPN – Free agent decisions for all 32 NFL teams

Boston Bruins

Go over to our sibling site Boston Hockey Now to check out the great Boston Bruins coverage from Jimmy Murphy and the BHN team. The NHL season is underway and plenty is happening in the Bruins 100 Anniversary season.

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Fun Fact of the Day

Including the postseason, former Patriot Rob Ninkovich (who turns 40 today) had 1.0 career sacks through his first four NFL seasons. He finished with 52.0 sacks. Ninkovich earned a spot on the Patriots all-time team of the Bill Belichick Era.

Tweet of the Day

Tweet of the Day is wishing one and all a Happy Malcolm Butler Day…

It's Malcolm Butler Day (est. 2015). Hope New England Patriots fans enjoy their day. pic.twitter.com/omybMQvrCd

— Dan Kelley (@DanKelley66) February 1, 2024