Some fans are shaking their heads in wonderment at the performances

Others are campaigning to get rid of an incumbent.Yet there’s an impressive number of men doing terrific jobs who deserve to be praised as we approach the halfway mark of the NFL schedule.Try Pete Carroll in Seattle. Jay Gruden in Washington (while his older brother’s return has been a fiasco in Oakland). Ron Rivera in Carolina. Anthony Lynn in Los Angeles. Matt Nagy in Chicago. And Bill O’Brien in Houston.The key measurement with that half-dozen is talent. More specifically Will Grier Jersey , none of those six has a ton of talent at his disposal, though all have some star players.But Gruden has a first-place team. So does O’Brien.Rivera’s Panthers look like a solid bet for the playoffs. Lynn’s Chargers are 5-2 and in good position to be in the postseason. Nagy’s Bears are vastly improved over John Fox’s group of 2017, and Carroll — the only Super Bowl winner in this group — might be doing his best job in a highly distinguished career with the Seahawks.In a year when so many coaches are being lambasted, from newcomers Pat Shurmur in New Jersey to Steve Wilks in Arizona to newcomer/oldtimer Gruden in Oakland, it’s worthwhile and refreshing to take a look at some jobs well done. Very well done.PETE CARROLLWhile the Seahawks aren’t in full-blown rebuild mode, they are remaking the roster and reaffirming themselves as a hard-hitting, run-first (and effectively), aggressive squad that doesn’t back down. Their victory at Detroit was their best in a 4-3 season during which they started 0-2.Carroll is fitting in new parts, particularly in the secondary and at running back. He’s getting strong leadership from Bobby Wagner, Russell Wilson and Doug Baldwin, but lots of credit needs to be thrown his way for doing quite a bit with less than usual.BILL O’BRIENWhen the Texans dropped their first three games http://www.panthersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-christian-miller-jersey , people were placing O’Brien on a Lone Star hotseat. Now, he’s sitting atop the AFC South with a club that should win that division of underachievers.Not that Houston is underachieving. The poor start had much to do with returning players such as the Texans’ best, J.J. Watt, and quarterback Deshaun Watson not being back to full strength. Now they are.This is a balanced team when all the parts are available. O’Brien doesn’t panic, he instructs well, and his is a team on the rise.JAY GRUDENIs Washington the most-talented team in the NFC East? Nope.Is it the most consistent? Nope.What the Redskins do is protect the ball (just five giveaways, trailing only Atlanta’s four), stymie opposing offenses, and rely on some excellent veterans such as Ryan Kerrigan, Josh Norman and Alex Smith. Plus, Gruden was willing to reach out to Adrian Peterson Jordan Scarlett Jersey , who has shown he has plenty left — so much so he might be the front-runner for Comeback Player of the Year.While there’s turmoil in Dallas and New York, and rumblings fostered by the mediocre performance by the defending champion Eagles, all is going smoothly in D.C. Credit GrudenRON RIVERAYes, in 2015 he guided the Panthers to the NFC title. He still has Cam Newton and Greg Olsen and Luke Kuechly.But these Panthers, who have beaten the Eagles, Bengals and Ravens, aren’t at the level of the team that fell to the Broncos in the Super Bowl 2 ½ years ago. Their offensive line is shaky, their receivers are inconsistent, and they’ve shuffled their secondary.They’re also 5-2 and Rivera has one of the best relationships, on and off the field, with his players of any coach in football.ANTHONY LYNNLynn’s best defensive player David Montgomery Jersey , Joey Bosa, has been sidelined all year. The Chargers have relied on rookies — safety Derwin James is among the top defensive newcomers in the league — and a few other youngsters, and it’s working to the tune of nine picks to three allowed, 18 sacks to 10 allowed.Philip Rivers is having one of his best seasons of a borderline Hall of Fame career, in great part because Lynn gives his quarterback lots of freedom.You hear criticism that the Chargers haven’t beaten anyone good. Well, a large number of teams would love their 5-2 record.MATT NAGYEvery week, the Bears play an opponent tough. Their defense is rugged, particularly if Khalil Mack is healthy. Their offense is developing, not rapidly but steadily. Where Mitchell Trubisky has progressed in his second season and first under Nagy is where the Jets, Cardinals, Bills and Browns hope their first-rounders of this year get to in 2019.He’s aggressive with the ball and without it http://www.bearsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-riley-ridley-jersey , playing to win rather than playing not to lose. Whether he can keep the Bears in contention in the rough NFC North is problematic, but they certainly are headed in the right direction — and in an entertaining fashion. CLEVELAND — The NFL suspended Browns running back Kareem Hunt for eight games after a video showed him kicking a woman and his involvement in a fight at a resort.The league on Friday cited a violation of its personal conduct policy “for physical altercations at his residence in Cleveland last February and at a resort in Ohio last June.” Hunt will not be paid during the half-season suspension, which he will not appeal.The league recently completed an investigation that included a review of law enforcement records, video and electronic communications and interviews with witnesses as well as Hunt, who said he met with Commissioner Roger Goodell last week.The 23-year-old said he wants to “again apologize for my actions.”Hunt will be allowed to practice with the Browns through training camp until the suspension begins Aug. 31 after the final roster reduction. Hunt has been working out at the Browns’ facility in Berea, Ohio, and is scheduled to take part in the team’s offseason program starting April 1.Hunt was released last season by the Kansas City Chiefs after a video surfaced showing him pushing and kicking a woman. The footage drew a public outcry and led to the Chiefs cutting ties with one of their best players amid a Super Bowl push. Hunt later admitted lying to the Chiefs.In February the Browns signed Hunt, who said he was remorseful. General manager John Dorsey drafted Hunt while he was in Kansas City and felt the Ohio native was contrite and deserved a second chance.“I know that he has really done a nice job of being committed and of doing that work so that he can be the best version of himself,” Dorsey said Thursday. “I know he has been diligently working on that.”The league said Hunt has told them he’s committed to “available resources” and he has pledged to live up his obligations.“I want to again apologize for my actions last year,” Hunt said in a statement released by the Browns. “I know that my behavior hurt a lot of people, and I again apologize to them. I respect the league’s decision on discipline Jonah Williams Jersey , and I appreciate the time I spent with Commissioner Goodell last week. I’m grateful for my time with the Browns over the last month and thankful to all the people in the organization that have welcomed me.“I also appreciate all of the support I received from my union through this process. My commitment to earning the trust of the league, my teammates, the organization and this community through my actions will continue, and I understand there is a lot of hard work ahead of me before I’m able to fully return to playing the game I love.”Hunt’s suspension comes during a busy week for the Browns, who acquired star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. on Tuesday in a trade with the New York Giants.The Browns signed Hunt to a one-year contract Feb. 11 knowing he was facing a potential long suspension. Dorsey didn’t excuse Hunt’s behavior and said he was willing to help a young man who had made a mistake.Hunt led the league in rushing as a rookie with 1,327 yards, scoring eight touchdowns. He also showed his versatility by catching 53 passes for 455 yards and three TDs. In 11 games last season, he ran for 824 yards and seven touchdowns.