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The Falcons and the reshaping of the NFC South this offseason

Sports / Football /

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — All of the teams in the NFC South have added a quarterback during free agency, and the Carolina Panthers made a mega-trade that will allow them to control the NFL draft.

While the Falcons signed Taylor Heinicke to back up Desmond Ridder, the Saints picked up Derek Carr from the Raiders to take over at quarterback.

The ...Read more

Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun/TNS

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson says business partner isn't negotiating with teams after NFL issues warning in memo

Sports / Football /

BALTIMORE — The Lamar Jackson saga has taken another bizarre twist.

The NFL on Thursday sent a memo to all teams instructing them not to negotiate with a person who is not certified by the NFL Players Association and may be contacting teams on behalf of the Ravens’ quarterback, a source with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed to ...Read more

Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times/TNS

Bucs release kicker Ryan Succop, save $3.75 million

Sports / Football /

TAMPA, Fla. ― The player who steadied the Bucs’ poor history of wayward kickers is moving on.

Ryan Succop, who ended a failed parade of drafted placekickers, such as Roberto Aguayo and Matt Gay, has been released in a move that will save the Bucs $3.75 million on the salary cap.

Succop, 36, had one year remaining on his contract that was ...Read more

Elias Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News/TNS

Dallas Cowboys RB Tony Pollard secures $10.1 million in 2023 by signing franchise tag

Sports / Football /

Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard signed the franchise tag on Thursday, guaranteeing him $10.1 million in 2023.

The Cowboys and Pollard have until July 17 to negotiate a long-term deal or he will have to play the season on the tag.

The Cowboys placed the tag on Pollard just days before releasing two-time rushing champion Ezekiel Elliott...Read more

John Lynch details why 49ers 'went really hard' after Javon Hargrave

Sports / Football /

STANFORD, Calif. — Fifteen years ago, the 49ers opened free agency in grand fashion, whisking Justin Smith on a helicopter tour around the Bay Area before the defensive tackle downed beers all night with his future defensive coordinator.

John Lynch chuckled Wednesday when asked of the 49ers’ courting process for this year’s top target: ...Read more

Michael Hickey/Getty Images North America/TNS

Rival Eagles among potential destinations for former Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott

Sports / Football /

The market has begun to reveal itself for former two-time NFL rushing champion Ezekiel Elliott, who was released by the Dallas Cowboys last week for salary cap reasons.

The NFC East-rival Philadelphia Eagles are among the known suitors along with the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals, a source confirmed.

The list is not final but a decision...Read more

Chris Christo/Boston Herald/TNS

Karen Guregian: Patriots' dynastic defense ends without McCourty, Hightower

Sports / Football /

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — One by one, the players who made it happen, the players who were instrumental in keeping the Patriots’ run of championships alive and kicking during a second decade, have either left or retired.

On Tuesday, the Patriots celebrated one of the last remnants of the club’s dynasty and, specifically, the wave of defensive ...Read more

Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Larry Stone: Why a Bobby Wagner-Seahawks reunion would make sense

Sports / Football /

SEATTLE — The longer Bobby Wagner sits on the open market, the more you can feel the gentle trade winds blowing him back toward Seattle.

Or maybe that's just the warm breath of former teammates advocating for Wagner's return. In particular, K.J. Wright and Quandre Diggs have been vocal in their insistence that a second act with the Seahawks ...Read more

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images North America/TNS

Ben Roethlisberger says 49ers gauged interest in his return to NFL

Sports / Football /

PITTSBURGH — The San Francisco 49ers' desperate quarterback situation last season almost brought Ben Roethlisberger back to the NFL.

In speaking with 105.9 The X host Mark Madden on Tuesday, the Steelers' future Hall of Fame signal caller said he was contacted by the NFC West power after injuries to Trey Lance and Garoppolo left an apparent ...Read more

Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun/TNS

Mike Preston: Ravens and QB Lamar Jackson could be in for a long offseason as free agent money dries up

Sports / Football /

These could be long and uneventful months for both the Ravens and star quarterback Lamar Jackson when it comes to negotiating a new contract.

There was hope that both sides would come to some type of resolution weeks before the NFL draft begins April 27, but there doesn’t appear to be enough serious interest in Jackson, 26, from any of the ...Read more

Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Heidi Fang

Ex-Raiders tight end Foster Moreau diagnosed with cancer

Sports / Football /

Former Raiders tight end Foster Moreau said Wednesday he is stepping away from football after being diagnosed with cancer.

Moreau, 25, learned about his diagnosis through the free agency process when he was undergoing a physical with doctors from the New Orleans Saints.

“Through somewhat of a miraculous process, this free agency period has ...Read more

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images North America/TNS

Jets wide receiver Elijah Moore traded to the Browns: source

Sports / Football /

NEW YORK — Last season, Jets wide receiver Elijah Moore requested to be traded.

On Wednesday, he finally got his wish.

The Browns acquired Moore and a third-round pick (No. 74 overall) from the Jets in exchange for a second-round pick (No. 42 overall), according to a source. Gang Green parted ways with Moore minutes after the team agreed to ...Read more

Sean Gardner/Getty Images North America/TNS

Why the Panthers picked Andy Dalton to mentor their new QB for this season and beyond

Sports / Football /

In a room full of notable quarterback minds, Andy Dalton stands out among the pack.

While Panthers head coach Frank Reich and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown both spent well over a decade in the NFL as players, and Reich won a Super Bowl during his notable coaching career, Dalton’s experience at the quarterback position is unrivaled.

Unlike ...Read more

Harry How/Getty Images North America/TNS

Chris Perkins: Dolphins follow familiar theme (talented player/elevated injury risk) with addition of David Long Jr.

Sports / Football /

Chalk one up for Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier.

Actually, I should say chalk up one more for Grier, and I mean that on a couple of levels.

The Dolphins recently signed inside linebacker David Long Jr. from the Tennessee Titans during free agency, and by most accounts Miami got a versatile and athletic player. A guy who is ...Read more

Nancy Lane/Boston Herald/TNS

Source: Patriots, DB Jalen Mills reach revised 1-year deal after expected release

Sports / Football /

BOSTON — The Patriots and defensive back Jalen Mills have agreed to terms on a revised 1-year deal four days after the team intended to release him, a source confirmed to the Boston Herald.

Mills’ new deal is a 1-year pact worth up to $6.1 million. His expected release was reported last week, a move that reduced the Pats’ already ...Read more

David Eulitt/Getty Images North America/TNS

Jets sign ex-Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman to one-year, free agent contract: source

Sports / Football /

NEW YORK — There have been rumors of the Jets being involved in the Odell Beckham Jr. sweepstakes.

But on Wednesday, Gang Green decided to add a different dynamic receiver to its offense.

The Jets have signed ex-Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman to a one-year contract, according to a source. Hardman’s deal is for $6.5 million, ESPN is ...Read more

Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun/TNS

Karen Guregian: Forget it -- Lamar Jackson to the Patriots is a pipe dream

Sports / Football /

BOSTON — On Sunday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler floated the idea that the Patriots were a “wild card” as a landing spot for Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

He’s not alone. Other NFL insiders have done the same, putting the Patriots in the mix as a dark horse to acquire the NFL’s 2019 MVP.

Whether the chatter is to be believed or not, it...Read more

Dirk Shadd/Tampa Bay Times/TNS

John Romano: Hey Baker Mayfield, good luck in Tampa Bay. You're going to need it.

Sports / Football /

TAMPA, Fla. — So, let’s be honest with ourselves:

Now that the signing is official and the news conference is over, it’s time to admit the odds of Baker Mayfield becoming an elite quarterback in Tampa Bay are not great. Heck, they’re not even good.

That’s not criticism, by the way. Merely an observation based on the evidence, the ...Read more

Bob Condotta: What to make of Seahawks' 2019 draft with L.J. Collier gone

Sports / Football /

It was no surprise Tuesday to learn that L.J. Collier — Seattle's first-round pick in the 2019 draft — was moving on, signing a one-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals.

After the fanfare of his selection at No. 29 overall died down, Collier's career never really worked out with the Seahawks.

On draft day, the Seahawks envisioned Collier ...Read more

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images North America/TNS

Former Patriots LB Dont'a Hightower announces retirement

Sports / Football /

Former Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower didn’t play last season, and he won’t be playing any NFL football moving forward.

On Tuesday, Hightower officially announced his retirement after playing nine seasons in New England. The 33-year-old shared his news in an article he published on The Players’ Tribune.

“They say time flies in...Read more