Bears, Pro Bowl CB Jaylon Johnson agree to 4-year, $76M contract extension
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears and Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson agreed Thursday to a four-year, $76 million contract that guarantees him $54.4 million. Two people familiar with the situation confirmed the financial terms of the deal, which was first reported by the NFL Network. “We’re extremely excited to be...
Broncos releasing star safety Justin Simmons in cost-saving move
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos are releasing safety Justin Simmons in the fallout from the Russell Wilson separation, according to multiple reports. Simmons immediately becomes one of the best veterans available when free agency begins next week. A second-team All-Pro in four of his last five seasons, Simmons intercepted...
Mitch Trubisky signs 2-year contract with Buffalo Bills
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Quarterback Mitch Trubisky is returning to Buffalo to reprise his role as Josh Allen’s backup after signing a two-year contract with the Bills on Thursday. The player selected No. 2 overall in the 2017 draft rejoins the Bills after failing to re-establish himself as a starter...
Source: Eagles to release former Pitt CB Avonte Maddox
PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles are releasing starting slot cornerback Avonte Maddox, according to a league source who confirmed an ESPN report Wednesday. The 27-year-old spent the first six seasons of his career with the Eagles and was entering the final season of a four-year contract extension signed in 2021 with...
From Herschel Walker to Russell Wilson, a look at some of the worst NFL trades ever
In a span of just a few days in the 2022 offseason, the Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns made aggressive trades to acquire what they hoped would be franchise-altering quarterbacks. The results so far have been underwhelming. The Broncos are cutting ties already with Russell Wilson after investing heavy draft...
Bills releasing Jordan Poyer, Mitch Morse; Tre’Davious White also will be cut
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills underwent a drastic makeover on Wednesday, with salary cap constraints forcing the four-time AFC East defending champions to cut into their core by releasing five players, including safety Jordan Poyer and center Mitch Morse. Also cut was cornerback Tre’Davious White, a person with...
QB Joe Flacco, Islanders forward Anders Lee among new investors in Irish soccer team
DUBLIN — Veteran NFL quarterback Joe Flacco’s new team is St Patrick’s Athletic — as an investor in the Irish soccer club. The Dublin team announced Tuesday that Flacco, New York Islanders forward Anders Lee and former NFL players Matt Birk and Chad Greenway are part of a group that...
Last year’s free-agent frenzy offers hope, caution for NFL teams
NFL teams are set to dole out billions in free-agent contracts in the coming weeks as teams around the league hope bold moves in March will pay off with wins on the field once the season starts. But in a league with a sharp aging curve and specific systems that...
Giants giving star running back Saquon Barkley chance to test free agencyVideo
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Star running back Saquon Barkley moved another step closer to free agency Tuesday when the New York Giants elected not to put a franchise tag on the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. The Giants used the tag last season and eventually worked out...
Seahawks’ makeover begins with releases of safeties Jamal Adams, Quandre Diggs
RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks’ remodel under new coach Mike Macdonald started Tuesday as the team released safeties Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs as well as tight end Will Dissly in moves that will give the team a boost of salary cap space ahead of the start of the...
Colts place non-exclusive franchise tag on WR Michael Pittman Jr.
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on starting receiver Michael Pittman Jr. on Tuesday. The move was announced less than an hour before the league’s deadline and less than a week after general manager Chris Ballard promised Pittman would be a Colt next fall. The two...
Bears place franchise tag on Pro Bowl CB Jaylon Johnson
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears placed the franchise tag on cornerback Jaylon Johnson on Tuesday after he made his first Pro Bowl in the final season of his rookie contract. Johnson would earn $19.8 million in 2024 if he doesn’t agree to a multiyear deal before the July 15 deadline....
Jaguars place franchise tag on standout pass rusher Josh Allen
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jaguars used their franchise tag on standout pass rusher Josh Allen on Tuesday, essentially guaranteeing he will play at least another year in Jacksonville. Allen, the seventh overall pick in the 2019 draft, set a single-season franchise record with 17½ sacks in the final year of...
Ravens put franchise tag on DT Justin Madubuike after career-high 13 sacks
The Baltimore Ravens put the franchise tag on Justin Madubuike on Tuesday after the defensive tackle finished his rookie contract with a breakout season in 2023. The franchise tag for defensive tackles comes with a one-year cost of just over $22 million, although Madubuike and the Ravens can continue negotiating...
AP mock NFL draft: Bears keep the No. 1 pick, take USC star QB Caleb WilliamsVideo
The Chicago Bears passed up C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young last year because they had Justin Fields. Now, they’ve got a shot at Caleb Williams. They can’t miss another chance at a franchise quarterback. The Bears traded away the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft to the Carolina...
Decisions made by Caleb Williams, Marvin Harrison Jr. could impact future NFL combinesVideo
INDIANAPOLIS — The NFL scouting combine’s evolution from hidden gem into the league’s second-most anticipated offseason event has come with all sorts of twists. The question is whether this year’s new ones could affect future combines. All-American receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. skipped media interviews, while Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams...
Chiefs use franchise tag on CB L’Jarius Sneed as work on Chris Jones deal continues
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs placed the franchise tag on L’Jarius Sneed on Monday, though it is uncertain whether that means one of the top cornerbacks due to hit free agency will remain with the Super Bowl champions next season. The Chiefs entered the offseason with Sneed...
Former Browns WR Braylon Edwards saves life in YMCA assault
DETROIT — Former NFL player Braylon Edwards stepped in and saved the life of an 80-year-old man who was being attacked in the locker room at a suburban Detroit YMCA, police said Monday. “If it wasn’t for that intervention, we could very easily be talking about someone’s death,” said Jeff...
Denver Broncos inform QB Russell Wilson they’ll release him when new league year beginsVideo
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos told Russell Wilson on Monday that they’re going to release him next week, just 18 months after signing the Super Bowl-winning quarterback to a five-year, $242 million contract extension. The Broncos still owe Wilson his $39 million salary for 2024 minus whatever he’d sign...
Jaguars release veteran DT Foley Fatukasi on his 29th birthday to save $3.5M against the cap
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars cut veteran defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi on his 29th birthday. The Jaguars made the move Monday a few hours after wishing Fatukasi a happy birthday on social media. Releasing him will save the Jaguars roughly $3.5 million against the 2024 salary cap. Fatukasi will...
Mike Evans agrees to 2-year, $52M deal with Buccaneers
TAMPA, Fla. — There’s still a chance Mike Evans could play his entire career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Instead of testing his worth in free agency this winter, the team’s career receiving leader agreed to a two-year, $52 million contract to remain with the club that drafted him seventh...
Eagles center Jason Kelce retires after 13 NFL seasons and 1 Super Bowl ring
PHILADELPHIA — Jason Kelce has retired after 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. The 36-year-old Kelce officially called it quits Monday at the Eagles’ NovaCare Complex, ending a career in which he became not only one of the great centers of his era who played a key role in the...
Family ties link group of NFL Combine invitees to famous fathers
INDIANAPOLIS — Joe Alt had the perfect role model. He grew up in Minnesota, became a big-time recruit and joined a major college football program. He made the same seamless transition from tight end to dominant left tackle. And now, he could be eight weeks away from becoming a first-round...
Chris Mortensen, an award-winning reporter who covered the NFL, dies at 72
Chris Mortensen, the award-winning journalist who covered the NFL for close to four decades, including 32 as a senior analyst at ESPN, died Sunday morning. He was 72. ESPN confirmed Mortensen’s death on Sunday. There was no immediate word on the cause or place of death. “Mort was widely respected...
WR Marvin Harrison Jr., QBs Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels vie for top spot
INDIANAPOLIS — Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels arrived in Indianapolis as Heisman Trophy winners. Drake Maye is seeking to add to his family’s impressive athletic legacy. And the only player who might prevent those three talented quarterbacks from going 1-2-3 in this year’s NFL Draft appears to be All-America receiver...
