Vontaze Burfict wasn't out of work long, as the former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker signed with the Oakland Raiders on Tuesday .The veteran received a one-year contract worth around $5 million including incentives, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The Bengals released Burfict on Monday, ending his tenure with the club after seven seasons. The former Pro Bowler registered 33 tackles over seven games in 2018.The 28-year-old will become teammates in Oakland with Antonio Brown, who he concussed on a dirty hit to the head during the 2016 playoffs."We're on the same team," Burfict said of Brown to Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal after inking his deal. "It's one goal. It's all positive, man. He's a great player. ... I'm going to approach him just like I do all my other teammates. ... There's nothing negative here. We're on the same team. We're trying to win a championship here."

The Los Angeles Rams have signed former Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews to a two-year contract, the team announced on Tuesday.Matthews, who spent his first 10 NFL seasons with the Packers, can make up to $16.75 million on his new deal, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports.The 32-year-old celebrated the move on Twitter.

The Detroit Lions signed running back Malcolm Brown, a restricted free agent from the Los Angeles Rams, to an offer sheet Tuesday.The offer sheet is worth $3.25 million over two years and contains $1 million guaranteed, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB.The Rams now have five days to match the offer.Brown rushed for 212 yards on 43 carries for the Rams last season before finishing the campaign on injured reserve.The 25-year-old wasn't drafted and was tendered at an original-round level, meaning L.A. won't receive compensation from Detroit if the team lets him go.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys have signed former Green Bay Packers receiver Randall Cobb to a one-year contract, the team announced on Tuesday.The deal is worth $5 million, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The 28-year-old has spent all eight of his NFL seasons with the Packers.Cobb was sidelined for the majority of the 2018 campaign after suffering a hamstring injury and a concussion. He's missed 11 games over the past three years due to various injuries.After the departure of Cole Beasley, who signed with the Buffalo Bills last week, Cobb will join Amari Cooper, Allen Hurns, and Michael Gallup on the Cowboys' wide receiver depth chart.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After a busy week of trades and free-agent signings, the focus is on players who joined new teams and how those changes will impact their fantasy values.Here's our early analysis on:

After a busy week of trades and free-agent signings, the focus is on players who joined new teams and how those changes will impact their fantasy values.The first, second, and third waves of free agency were highlighted by:

Tom Coughlin and the Jacksonville Jaguars have moved past their frustrations with Leonard Fournette and are counting on the running back to rebound from his miserable sophomore campaign."With Leonard, a prepared Leonard coming into camp with a mindset that he discussed and we talked about ... I have full confidence in him," said Coughlin, the Jaguars executive vice president of football operations, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN."He does have some things he's got to prove when he comes back about his preparation, but he's a young, young player, he loves football, had an outstanding year, had a very disappointing year," Coughlin said. "I think he wants to - we want him to be a great player and I think he's in the same mindset."Fournette was slowed last season by a lingering hamstring injury, which he later attributed to poor physical conditioning. He also received a suspension from the NFL for fighting in Week 12 versus the Buffalo Bills.In total, the former No. 4 overall pick rushed for 439 yards and five touchdowns over eight games, averaging a woeful 3.3 yards per carry.Coughlin criticized Fournette at the end of last season and labeled his behavior "selfish." The Jaguars voided the remaining guarantees in his rookie contract late last year, though Fournette reportedly challenged the decision.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Florida prosecutors are offering to drop charges against New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and others charged with soliciting prostitution in February, as first reported by Andrew Beaton of the Wall Street Journal. The Palm Beach state attorney confirmed the news later Tuesday, according to ESPN.However, the proposed agreement would require Kraft to admit he would have been proven guilty during a trial. He'd also need to complete a course about prostitution, put in 100 hours of community service, be screened for sexually transmitted diseases, and pay $5,000 for each of the two counts of solicitation against him.Legal experts deem the proposed deal to be unusual, Beaton noted, and have questions regarding how Florida police originally obtained search warrants that resulted in the charges.Kraft is one of 25 men being charged with solicitation, and police say they have video evidence concerning the men involved. According to court documents, the Patriots owner initially pleaded not guilty to the charges and denied participating in any illegal activities.The 77-year-old Kraft's arraignment is set for March 28. It remains to be seen whether or not he'll accept the deal, and he could still face punishment from the NFL regardless.If he does accept the deal, however, the video evidence would likely be sealed under state law.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent pass-rusher Bruce Irvin reportedly reached an agreement on a one-year contract with the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Irvin finished the 2018 season with the Atlanta Falcons after being released by the Oakland Raiders in November. He amassed six sacks and one forced fumble between the two clubs.The 31-year-old signed a four-year, $37-million contract with Oakland in 2016 after spending the first four seasons of his career with the Seattle Seahawks.Irvin joins a Panthers defense in need of pass-rush help. The team ranked 27th in the NFL with 35 sacks in 2018.As it currently stands, he'll compete for snaps with Mario Addison, Bryan Cox Jr., and Marquis Haynes at defensive end.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's no debate, even among NFL players. After news broke that baseball star Mike Trout is reportedly finalizing a 12-year, $430-million dollar deal, even those employed to play football are considering changing sports.

Ryan Fitzpatrick joined the eighth team of his 15-year career when he signed with the Miami Dolphins this week. On Tuesday, he revealed what in particular made Miami an alluring destination.Speaking on a conference call with local reporters, the well-traveled quarterback said he received similar offers to the two-year, $11-million deal he signed with the Dolphins, but Miami was the only team providing an opportunity to start, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.There remains the possibility the rebuilding Dolphins could draft a quarterback in April, and that's not lost on Fitzpatrick."We'll see what happens. I know this is the NFL and nothing is promised," he said, according to Hal Habib of the Palm Beach Post.The 36-year-old has enjoyed a late surge in his career. He threw a career-high 31 touchdowns with the New York Jets in 2015, although he threw 17 interceptions the following year. He spent the past two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, starting in 10 games.He's come to be identified by his propensity for spurts of magical play - or "Fitzmagic" - and a now iconic beard, something he'll continue to rock in the South Florida heat."It's become a part of who I am. It will definitely be in full effect," he said, according to ESPN's Cameron Wolfe.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Martellus Bennett won't be joining his brother on the New England Patriots.After the Patriots acquired defensive end Michael Bennett from the Philadelphia Eagles, reports surfaced that Martellus was interested in coming out of retirement to join his brother in New England. However, the former tight end put those reports to bed with an Instagram post.

The Los Angeles Rams signed former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles to a one-year deal Monday, the team announced.Bortles will operate as a backup behind Jared Goff, who guided the Rams to Super Bowl LIII last season. He'll also work under head coach Sean McVay, who helped turn Goff into a successful quarterback after he struggled mightily as a rookie under Jeff Fisher."I mean, I think as a quarterback, there's not really anybody else you'd rather be around if you had your pick," Bortles said of his new coach, according to the team's website. "What he's done, the people that have been taken out of here for head coaching jobs and OC jobs in other places, I think is a testament to how good he is at what he does, how good of a teacher and a coach he is."And you watch them play, and the effort and intensity that they play at speaks to the type of head coach he is and how he gets the guys going."The 26-year-old was released by the Jaguars after five seasons. Jacksonville drafted him third overall in 2014.In 13 games last season, Bortles threw for 2,718 yards with 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, and he was benched in favor of Cody Kessler late in the campaign.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears ESPN is trying to lure Peyton Manning into the booth.Company president Jimmy Pitaro and content chief Connor Schell traveled to Denver last week in an attempt to court the former quarterback as an analyst for its Monday Night Football team, according to Marisa Guthrie of The Hollywood Reporter.ESPN is looking to replace Jason Witten, who ended his retirement and time in the Monday Night Football booth after one year to rejoin the Dallas Cowboys.It's currently unclear whether Manning is interested in pursuing a broadcasting career at this time. He has experience analyzing players and breaking down plays for the ESPN+ show "Detail" and has appeared on a number of commercials following his retirement.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry will visit the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday, a source told NFL.com's Ian Rapoport.The Chiefs released Berry last week.The five-time Pro Bowler, who suffered an Achilles injury in 2017, has only played four games over the last two seasons.Berry has spent all nine years of his career with the Chiefs after they drafted him fifth overall in 2010. However, major injuries and a Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis in 2014 kept him sidelined for large chunks of time.The Cowboys were rumored to be targeting Earl Thomas during free agency to fill their need at safety. Thomas, however, signed a four-year, $55-million deal last week with the Baltimore Ravens.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Redskins have signed offensive tackle Ereck Flowers, the team confirmed on Monday. He's inking a one-year deal worth $4 million, a source told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.Flowers finished last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars after the New York Giants waived him. The Giants drafted the 24-year-old with their ninth overall pick in 2015, and Flowers became a weakness on their offensive line.Washington plans to try Flowers at guard, but the team could also move him back to tackle in the event of an injury, according to John Keim of ESPN.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles and former Minnesota Vikings safety Andrew Sendejo have agreed to a one-year contract, the team announced Monday.Sendejo is coming off an eight-year stint with Minnesota, where he served as an enforcer in the secondary. The Vikings made him a free agent by declining his $5.5-million team option for 2019.Sendejo appeared in just five contests last season because of injury, posting 27 tackles and one pass breakup.The 31-year-old made headlines last summer for wearing a "Make Football Violent Again" cap in protest of the NFL rule changes designed to improve player safety.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vontaze Burfict's roller-coaster tenure with the Cincinnati Bengals has come to an end.The oft-fined, oft-suspended linebacker has been cut by the Bengals after seven seasons, the team announced Monday.The Bengals reached the playoffs in each of Burfict's first four seasons with the team, winning the AFC North twice. However, after playing full 16-game campaigns in his first two years, the linebacker appeared in just 43 of 80 regular-season games across the five seasons since.Burfict has dealt with injuries and reportedly suffered the seventh concussion of his career in December.He's also been suspended in each of the past three calendar years.The intimidating and ferocious hitter ranks sixth in Bengals history in tackles with 397. He's often waged heated battles with the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.During his career, Burfict has racked up more than $400,000 in fines, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, for various infractions that included spearing, hitting a defenseless player, and stepping on an opponent.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs reportedly added to their secondary on Monday, signing free-agent cornerback Bashaud Breeland, a source told ESPN's Rob Demovsky.The former Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins defender will sign a one-year, incentive-laden deal that carries a max value of $5 million, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.Breeland's addition to Kansas City's defense will be a welcomed one, as the unit currently fields little experience at cornerback beyond Kendall Fuller.The Chiefs ranked 31st in pass defense last season and lost Steven Nelson to the Pittsburgh Steelers on the open market.Breeland signed a three-year contract with the Carolina Panthers last offseason, but he failed his physical and eventually joined Green Bay three weeks into the 2019 campaign. He recorded two interceptions in seven games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman answered to the media Monday, six days after trading franchise star Odell Beckham Jr.In late February, Gettleman declared that the Giants didn't sign their top wideout to a five-year, $90-million extension last year to trade him. Then they did."We didn't sign Odell to trade him, but things change. Another team made an offer we couldn't refuse," Gettleman said on a conference call with reporters.The Cleveland Browns landed Beckham in exchange for a first- and third-round pick in this year's draft and safety Jabrill Peppers. Gettleman referred to the deal as an acquisition of two first-rounders, considering Peppers was the 25th overall selection in 2017."This was purely a football decision. Odell was a tremendous talent making him a valuable asset. With football being the ultimate team sport, we turned that fact into three assets," Gettleman said, according to Tom Rock of Newsday.Gettleman said he only made one trade call shopping Beckham; he reached out to the Buffalo Bills after learning of their failed pursuit of Antonio Brown. He also admitted to numerous conversations with the San Francisco 49ers last year, though nothing materialized.He said he didn't shop around for a better deal because the team making the call plays at a disadvantage."I completely understand why people would debate the merits of this deal. This trade really won't be able to be fully evaluated until we get further down the road. We did not enter this decision to trade Odell lightly," Gettleman said.Entering his second season overseeing the Giants, Gettleman admitted the team is undergoing a rebuild and has multiple holes on the roster to plug."We have positions to address. Our plan is to address those positions, plain and simple," he said. "We'll do that through whatever means necessary."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dave Gettleman is once again standing behind his veteran quarterback.During a conference call Monday, the New York Giants general manager confirmed Eli Manning will receive his $5-million roster bonus for the upcoming campaign, according to USA Today's Art Stapleton."On offense, you gotta have a QB run out there," Gettleman said, according to NFL Network's Kim Jones. " ... This narrative that Eli is overpaid and can't play is a crock. It really is."Gettleman added that keeping Manning on the Giants' 2019 roster "really wasn't a hard decision to make," according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.The 38-year-old passer was more effective toward the end of last season, as the GM's noted multiple times this winter, but struggled overall, averaging 7.5 yards per attempt while tossing 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.New York's front office is so committed to starting Manning that the team's reportedly not interested in selecting top prospect Dwayne Haskins in the 2019 draft.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Even Earl Thomas was surprised to receive the Baltimore Ravens' offer of four years and $55 million on the first day of NFL free agency.The former All-Pro free safety broke his leg for the second time in three seasons during 2018 and was set to hit the open market at the age of 30. With that in mind, he was prepared to accept a guaranteed one-year deal for $12 million with an undisclosed team.And then the Ravens came calling."I was shocked. I was blessed," Thomas told Peter King of NBC Sports."I thought I was signing for one year somewhere else and my agent said, 'I think you're going to like this.'"Thomas went on to ink the eighth-richest deal that's been agreed upon in the new league year.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Haloti Ngata shouted it from the mountaintop.The 13-year veteran defensive tackle is retiring from the NFL, and made the announcement Monday from atop Mount Kilimanjaro - the highest mountain in Africa.

The New Orleans Saints are signing former Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Nick Easton to a four-year, $24-million deal, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Easton, who mostly played left guard for the Vikings, is expected to play center for New Orleans, Schefter added. He'll be replacing Max Unger, who retired on Saturday.The 26-year-old missed the 2018 season due to a neck injury.Easton went undrafted in 2015 before the Baltimore Ravens signed him. He was also briefly a member of the San Francisco 49ers before heading to Minnesota, where he made all 17 of his career starts.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baker Mayfield didn't get into a Cactus League game while visiting Milwaukee Brewers spring training, but his weekend on the diamond sure was eventful.The Cleveland Browns quarterback was a guest of his friend, Brewers star and reigning NL MVP Christian Yelich, at the team's camp in Phoenix over the weekend. He took batting practice on Friday, and on Saturday Mayfield filled in as the team's first-base coach during an exhibition contest against the Colorado Rockies.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed former Los Angeles Rams linebacker Mark Barron to a two-year, $12-million deal, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Barron recorded 60 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble in 2018.The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected the 29-year-old with their seventh overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, and he's spent the last five seasons with the Rams.Barron's the second defensive addition the Steelers have made during free agency this offseason following the signing of cornerback Steven Nelson. He'll join Vince Williams and Jon Bostic on the team's inside linebacker depth chart.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

FitzMagic isn't out of tricks just yet, and Twitter can't believe it.The Miami Dolphins reportedly signed veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to what feels like his millionth NFL contract (it's actually his eighth team in 15 seasons) on Sunday amid what's expected to be a dramatic rebuild for the AFC East outfit.Unless Miami drafts a quarterback, the 36-year-old Fitzpatrick will likely be handed another starting job. And immediately after the news broke, social media couldn't resist poking fun at the signing.

Defensive end Montez Sweat required a closer look from NFL combine doctors after tests revealed he had a pre-existing heart condition that was unknown beforehand, sources told NFL.com's Ian Rapoport.However, the doctors reportedly deemed the heart condition to be "low-risk" and allowed the Mississippi State product to participate in Indianapolis, where he went on to post the fastest 40-yard dash by a defensive lineman in combine history.Sweat's agent issued the following statement to NFL.com regarding the condition:"Because of privacy issues we are not allowed to comment specifically. But I will tell you that this is not news. Montez is the same person that was medically cleared to play and dominate the SEC, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL combine. No change in health and no change in domination!"At the combine, the 6-foot-6, 260-pound Sweat ran the 40 in 4.41 seconds. He also cracked the top five in the three-cone drill, the 20-yard shuttle, and the broad jump.It's yet to be known what NFL teams will make of Sweat's physical.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins are signing quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to a two-year contract, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter, a day after trading away longtime starter Ryan Tannehill to the Tennessee Titans.Fitzpatrick's deal is worth $11 million and has a maximum value of between $17 million and $20 million depending on whether he hits incentives, Schefter added, citing a source.Meanwhile, Miami sits with the No. 13 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. It's been widely speculated the Dolphins will target a quarterback - at that spot or via a trade up - but they could opt to roll with Fitzpatrick as their starter in what's expected to be a rebuilding year.This will be the veteran passer's third stint in the AFC East. He played in 55 games for the Buffalo Bills from 2009-12 before spending two years as the New York Jets' starter from 2015-16.Overall, the Dolphins will be the journeyman's eighth NFL franchise.The 36-year-old Fitzpatrick started 10 games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the past two seasons, splitting time with Jameis Winston. He threw eight touchdowns in the first two games of the 2018 season while Winston was suspended, but lost the job to the former No. 1 overall pick after throwing seven interceptions from Weeks 9-11.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Russell Wilson is the next superstar quarterback in line for a massive payday as he's set to enter a contract year, and the Seattle Seahawks might have to make history to keep him in the building.Asked by Jimmy Fallon if his deal could exceed Aaron Rodgers' league-leading $33.5 million per year contract, Wilson said, "There's a great potential in that. We'll see what happens ... It's not like it's gonna make me feel bad."Wilson inked a four-year extension worth $21.9 million annually in 2015, but the quarterback market has exploded since then. Eleven passers now average more money per season than the former third-round pick, per Spotrac.Wilson has been one of the league's most productive signal-callers since signing his first extension. His passer rating of 101.5 ranks fifth since 2015 and his 124 touchdown passes trails only Tom Brady. He also has 11 game-winning drives and 11 fourth-quarter comebacks over that period.While the Seahawks are widely expected to give Wilson the contract he desires, there's been rumblings about a potential trade to the New York Giants. However, the quarterback laughed off the possibility of leaving Seattle."I'm not sure the Seahawks are going to let me get away," Wilson said. "I love Seattle. Seattle's a special place. I've won a Super Bowl there, been to two Super Bowls, multiple playoff games and everyone else."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was happy to see star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. shipped out of the NFC East.Jones expressed gratitude toward the Cleveland Browns while discussing the team's acquisition of Beckham on FOX Sports Saturday night."Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" he said prior to the Errol Spence-Mikey Garcia fight at AT&T Stadium. "I'm so behind the Haslams and what they're doing there in Cleveland. When you're in a league, you really want the competition to be there."Beckham has caught 35 passes for 477 yards and five touchdowns in seven career games against the Cowboys.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The reports came in this order: Le'Veon Bell would skip training camp but not miss any games in 2018. Then he would miss Week 1. Then Week 2. Then he would sit out the first four games of the season.By October, reports emerged that he would rejoin the Pittsburgh Steelers during the team's Week 7 bye.Ultimately, Bell skipped the entire season. But when speaking to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler recently, the veteran confirmed he initially planned to report in Week 7.At the time, Bell thought he needed to play six games to gain an accrued season and become a free agent in 2019. The three-time Pro Bowler learned through social media that he didn't need to play at all, as long as he wasn't franchised tagged for the third time."That was the biggest mix-up the whole time. I thought I had to sit out until Week 10 or else they can tag me again. Around before the bye week, that's when I found out I didn't have to play," Bell said.Rather than risk injury while playing on a one-year contract, he elected to stay away and focus on netting long-term security through free agency.However, Bell again considered rejoining the Steelers in Week 10."I was so close to doing it. At the same time, I was so torn. Do I go through that? Will they embrace me or will they not? I eventually decided I sat out 10 games, I can sit six more," he said."At the time, the team was malfunctioning, having problems, a lot of blame on me. I didn't want to come back and not feel welcome."Bell signed a four-year, $52.5-million deal with the New York Jets this week and said he has no regrets about losing a year of his prime."The fact that I took last year off, it sucked having to watch football, but at the same time in December and January, it was the best my body felt in my entire life," he said on Thursday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Johnny Manziel has played in the NFL, CFL, and The Spring League. Now he's signed an agreement to join the Alliance of American Football, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The AAF team with the lowest win-loss percentage held the first crack at Manziel through the league's waiver process. As a result, he's landed with the 1-5 Memphis Express, CBS Sports' Ben Kercheval confirms. He'll be immediately eligible to play with his new team."We are pleased to welcome Johnny Manziel to Alliance of American Football, which we've always described as a league of opportunity for talented players to launch or revitalize their pro football careers," league co-founder Bill Polian said in a statement."We completed extensive background work to determine whether it would be appropriate for Johnny to play this season," Polian added, "and after consulting with many people familiar with his situation, we concluded that it would be good for him to resume his pro football career here at The Alliance."The 2012 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback is the third high-profile passer on the team's roster, slotting in alongside Zach Mettenberger and Christian Hackenberg. Brandon Silvers replaced Mettenberger after he suffered an injury during Saturday's loss.Manziel spent 2018 in Canada, playing five games with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and 11 for the Montreal Alouettes following a midseason trade. He completed 64 percent of his passes for 1,290 yards, with five touchdowns and seven interceptions.The CFL directed the Alouettes to release Manziel in February due to an agreement breach.The AAF's San Antonio Commanders initially held the first dibs on Manziel, but they released his college allocation rights.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns are now the AFC North favorites following the trade for Odell Beckham Jr., an unfamiliar position for a team only one year removed from going 0-16.The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook has the Browns as +140 favorites to win their division next season, according to ESPN's Ben Fawkes. The Pittsburgh Steelers trail at +160, and the defending division champion Baltimore Ravens sit at +250.The Browns last won the AFC North way back in 1989."They have the most talented roster in the division and they are the team the public will be looking to bet," SuperBook director John Murray told Fawkes."Multiple big-name stars means public fascination and I think they would've won the division last season had they gone with the Kitchens/Mayfield duo from Week 1."The Browns are even being mentioned in Super Bowl conversations, and they currently hold 14-1 odds to win Super Bowl LIV.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Oakland Raiders and tackle Donald Penn mutually agreed to part ways Saturday after five years together, the team announced.Penn signed with the Raiders in 2014, re-signed in 2016, and inked a two-year extension in 2017. He played left tackle his first four years in Oakland but moved to the right side of the line to accommodate 2018 first-round draft pick Kolton Miller.The decision appeared inevitable after the Raiders signed Trent Brown to a four-year, $66-million deal in free agency.Penn, 35, announced on Twitter that he intends to continue his career and believes he's still a starting left tackle.

Center Max Unger is retiring from the NFL, ESPN's Field Yates reports.Unger played for 10 seasons, spending the first six with the Seattle Seahawks followed by a four-year stint with the New Orleans Saints.His retirement is a surprise loss for the 2018 NFC conference finalist Saints. One year remained on Unger's contract, and he was the anchor of an offensive line that allowed quarterback Drew Brees to be sacked just 17 times in 2018.Unger won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks in 2013, was named an All-Pro in 2012, and was selected to three Pro Bowls, including this past January's event. He was traded to New Orleans, along with a first-round pick, for tight end Jimmy Graham in 2015.His departure clears $6.9 million in cap space for the Saints, according to ESPN's Mike Triplett.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams cornerback Aqib Talib and free-agent wide receiver Michael Crabtree are apparently on better terms after bumping into each other at a go-kart track.Talib and his family were at Kartland in Frisco, Texas when Crabtree walked in with his family, a witness told TMZ Sports. There were some "tense moments" between the players, but they spent several minutes talking outside and appeared to smooth things over, according to the report.

The Cincinnati Bengals have re-signed veteran tight end Tyler Eifert to a one-year contract, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Eifert saw action in four games last year before a broken ankle ended his campaign. He's managed only 14 appearances over the last three seasons due to a variety of significant injuries.The Bengals selected Eifert, a former Notre Dame star, in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He had his most productive season in 2015, posting 615 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier was the latest recipient of a Dwyane Wade jersey as the Miami Heat star nears the final game of his NBA career.Postgame jersey swaps have become a customary part of Wade's farewell tour, so when Shazier reached out to him on Twitter in January, he promised to make it happen.

The San Francisco 49ers were unwilling to include the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft in a potential trade for superstar receiver Odell Beckham Jr., an official from the New York Giants told Jay Glazer of The Athletic.The Niners were rumored to be in the mix for Beckham before the Giants shipped him to the Cleveland Browns for safety Jabrill Peppers, the 17th overall selection, and a third-round pick.It's unclear whether the Giants asked the 49ers to include other assets with the second pick in exchange for their top pass-catcher.San Francisco made several attempts to acquire Beckham going back to last season, according to Glazer.Beckham hauled in 5,476 yards and 44 touchdowns over 59 career games with the Giants.- With h/t to Pro Football TalkCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free agency's first wave has crashed into the NFL, and green is flying everywhere.Teams around the league wasted little time handing out hundreds of millions of dollars to capture the top players on the open market. But as history tells us, there are likely to be just as many busts as success stories when players are handed such lucrative contracts.Here are the five most perplexing deals from the first three days of free agency.LB C.J. Mosley ➡️ New York Jets5 years, $85M ($51M guaranteed)Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Jets blew the ceiling off the inside linebacker market with their deal for Mosley. A day after the San Francisco 49ers raised eyebrows by making Kwon Alexander the best-paid inside linebacker with a deal that averages $13.5 million, New York said, "hold my beer" and handed over $17 million annually and $51 million in guarantees to the former Baltimore Ravens standout.Luke Kuechly and Bobby Wagner, widely considered the cream of the position, earn a now relatively modest $12.36 million and $10.75 million per year, respectively. Mosley's average salary is so enormous compared to his compatriots that he's actually more in line with the NFL's elite pass-rushers; all eight of the defenders who earn more than the former first-rounder recorded double-digit sacks last season, while Mosley notched just 1.5 takedowns over the last three years.The linebacker is an elite run defender, but in addition to his nonexistent pass-rushing abilities, he lacks the cover skills that have become the more sought-after talent for inside linebackers in recent years. The Jets weren't even in dire need of an upgrade after a solid 2018 from Avery Williamson and Darron Lee.Mosley's a four-time Pro Bowler for a reason, but it's highly unlikely he'll have the kind of impact that would make such an investment worthwhile.WR Golden Tate ➡️ New York Giants4 years, $37M ($23.5M guaranteed)Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / Getty"We do have a plan," Giants general manager Dave Gettleman said Wednesday after trading Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns for what was widely considered pennies on the dollar.But is the plan to rebuild from the ground up or try to win in Eli Manning's final stretch? Trading away OBJ and Olivier Vernon and allowing Landon Collins to walk indicates the former. Still, retaining their 38-year-old quarterback and his $23.2-million cap hit (New York would save $17 million by releasing Manning) a year after taking a running back at No. 2 overall instead of a quarterback makes it appear like the Giants are trying to have their cake and eat it too. It's a tactic that often leaves teams stuck in no man's land.Tate will turn 31 in August but received more guaranteed money than all but 11 other free agents, and nine of those are between 25 and 27 years old. While a contender could've justified spending the guaranteed money that likely locks in an aging player for two or three seasons, it's the exact type of bloated, unnecessary contract that hinders rebuilding franchises. It's already cost the Giants, as Tate's deal cancels out the fifth-round compensatory pick they'd have gained by losing Jamon Brown to the Atlanta Falcons, not to mention that the NFC East rival Eagles will gain one of their own because of it.The signing makes about as much sense on the field as it does financially. As one of the league's top slot receivers, Tate would fit with most teams. But the Giants' Sterling Shepard, who's set to earn just $1.9 million in 2019, has the third-most yards from the slot since 2016. One of the two will be forced outside, where they'll likely struggle to replicate past production. Seriously, Dave, what is the plan?QB Nick Foles ➡️ Jacksonville Jaguars 4 years, $88M ($50.13M guaranteed)Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / GettyFoles earned almost mythical status - and easily the NFL's best nickname - during his magical second stint with the Philadelphia Eagles. But the Jaguars paid for the hype rather than the average quarterback, at best, he's proven himself to be outside of one dream Super Bowl run.The veteran's average salary of $22 million ranks 11th among quarterbacks, ahead of the likes of Russell Wilson, Ben Roethlisberger, and Philip Rivers (all three are entering contract years). More importantly, the $50 million in guarantees locks Foles into the Jaguars' starting job for at least the next two years and likely stops the team from drafting a quarterback this year.Even though Jacksonville appeared to be bidding against itself, it failed to leave itself with significant flexibility despite knowing from recent experience how a poor quarterback contract can drag down a franchise (the $16.5-million dead money hit from releasing Blake Bortles should've been a glaring reminder).While Foles' postseason stats over the past two years are impressive, he ranks 20th in passer rating and 22nd in QBR during the regular season since 2012, according to ESPN, and he'll have a far inferior supporting cast in Jacksonville. Foles is definitely an upgrade over Bortles, but that isn't exactly a high hurdle to clear. The Jaguars overpaid for a player who'll likely end up a stopgap rather than the final piece of a championship puzzle.LB Za'Darius Smith ➡️ Green Bay Packers4 years, $66M ($20M signing bonus)Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettySecond-year GM Brian Gutekunst finally gave the Packers fanbase the big-money additions it long coveted under Ted Thompson's frugal regime. Linebackers Za'Darius Smith and Preston Smith, as well as safety Adrian Amos, were signed to bolster a fledgling defense, while Billy Turner was added to the offensive line.The two Smiths will replace the unproductive duo of Clay Matthews and Nick Perry, and there's little doubt they'll be an upgrade. Matthews and Perry combined for just five sacks in 2018 while the Smiths had 12.5; however, Za'Darius was a relative unknown before last year, and his 8.5 sacks were almost equal to his first three years of production (10). Preston is the more established player but actually received $14 million less from the Packers.Green Bay was interested in Dee Ford, whom the San Francisco 49ers paid a hefty price to acquire by sending the Chiefs a 2020 second-rounder. Still, it would've been a better move for the Packers as they'd have secured a far more proven pass-rusher at a financial cost that was only marginally higher, as Ford immediately inked a deal worth just $1 million more per season than the ex-Raven.Aaron Rodgers will turn 36 years old during the 2019 season and the Packers are clearly feeling the pressure to deliver a contender. But with two first-rounders in this year's draft, Green Bay might've been too hasty in its attempts to fix its pass-rush.OT Bobby Hart ➡️ Cincinnati Bengals3 years, $21M ($5.5M guaranteed)Diamond Images / Diamond Images / GettyIn free agency, you don't necessarily have to spend big money to make a big mistake. Case in point: The Bengals re-signing their right tackle to a three-year deal despite him being one of the worst offensive linemen in football last season.A 16-game starter, Hart was one of just four offensive tackles who allowed 10 or more sacks, according to Pro Football Focus. When Hart wasn't letting pass-rushers blow past him, the former seventh-round pick of the New York Giants was a constant flag magnet. Only three players committed more penalties than Hart's 14, which included a mind-boggling nine false start calls.Hart looked more like someone fighting to stay in the NFL than a player worthy of a contract that will put him inside the top 10 highest-paid right tackles if he hits incentives to increase the $16.15-million base value. The deal won't make or break Cincinnati's season, of course. But for a team short on optimism heading into 2019, rewarding poor players isn't the way to get the Bengals fanbase to believe the Zac Taylor era will be any different to the one that preceded it.(Contract details courtesy: Spotrac)Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent cornerback Bryce Callahan and the Denver Broncos agreed to a three-year deal on Friday, the team announced.The agreement is reportedly worth $21 million with $10 million guaranteed, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Callahan previously played for the Bears under current Broncos head coach Vic Fangio, who served as Chicago's defensive coordinator.The 27-year-old recorded 45 tackles, two sacks, and two interceptions before being placed on injured reserve late in the 2018 season with a foot injury.Callahan signed with Chicago as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He's played his whole career with the Bears so far, and will now join corners Chris Harris Jr. and newly signed Kareem Jackson in the Broncos' secondary.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater re-signed with the New Orleans Saints on Friday, even after the Miami Dolphins made a strong push to acquire him.The 26-year-old will continue to serve as Drew Brees' backup, a role that doesn't bother him after spending last season with the club."They made playing football fun, they made learning the game fun ... and that's something I appreciate," Bridgewater told WWL Radio, via ESPN's Mike Triplett. "I was able to be part of that for 18 weeks last season, and it was nothing but positive things that occurred."The Saints will reportedly sign Bridgewater to a one-year deal worth a fully guaranteed $7.25 million, with a maximum value of $12.5 million.Bridgewater still visited his hometown of Miami on Wednesday. However, he was always leaning toward re-signing with the Saints."I think for me, you ultimately play this game to compete and to start. But at the same time, I'm still 26 years old. And the way I look at it is that I'll have another opportunity to start in this league at some point," said Bridgewater.Bridgewater suffered a brutal knee injury in 2016, and he's started only one game since the 2015 season ended. He was patient when tempted with the offer to start again for the Dolphins."So I look at it as this year I get the opportunity to continue to learn from a guy who's gonna be a Hall of Famer," he said. "And I get to be a part of a team that was a call away from getting to the Super Bowl. And I get to work with a coaching staff that grinds on a daily basis, that spends numerous nights at that facility to make sure their players are in the best positions to win."I look at those things, and I tell myself, 'Hey this is what I play this game for. And eventually my time will come that I can start.'"Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent quarterback Blake Bortles is reportedly set to visit the Los Angeles Rams on Monday, a source told NFL Network's Michael Silver.The Jacksonville Jaguars released Bortles on Wednesday after they acquired Nick Foles the previous day.Los Angeles may be looking for someone to play behind Jared Goff as last season's backup, Sean Mannion, entered free agency this week.Bortles, the No. 3 pick in the 2014 draft, spent all five years of his career with Jacksonville.After competing in the AFC title game in 2017, he wasn't able to repeat the same success in 2018, accumulating a 3-9 record when starting for the Jaguars in 2018. He threw for 2718 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 13 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It seems Tom Telesco will be sticking around with the Los Angeles Chargers.The general manager reportedly signed a multi-year extension with the Chargers at the end of the 2018 season, sources told ESPN's Eric Williams.Terms of the deal are not yet known, Williams added.The reported agreement marks Telesco's third since joining the organization in January 2013.Telesco was apparently instrumental in the hiring of Anthony Lynn two years ago. The head coach has led the Chargers to a cumulative 21-11 regular-season record.Los Angeles finished the 2018 season with a 12-4 record.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants reportedly don't have their sights set on Dwayne Haskins in the 2019 NFL Draft.It's widely been assumed the Giants will draft Eli Manning's successor with the No. 6 overall pick. However, the team isn't hot on Haskins, who's one of this year's top quarterback prospects."About a week after the Combine, I circled back with some people like, 'What are you thinking Haskins? Do you guys like him? Do you think you are going for it with your No. 6 pick?'" ESPN's Diana Russini said on the Breaking Big Blue podcast. "It was, 'No, actually. We are not doing a lot of work on him.'"I spoke to a few people. I'll paraphrase one: 'He doesn’t fit with us.' The idea that they are not going go after a quarterback with the No. 6 pick solidifies they are not giving up on Eli (Manning)."Kyler Murray, Drew Lock, and Daniel Jones also lead the quarterback class and are in contention to be selected in the first round.The Giants have retained Manning for 2019, and he'll likely be the team's starting quarterback to open the season.After trading Odell Beckham Jr., New York will have the No. 17 overall pick to accompany its earlier selection. This year's draft class is full of defensive prospects, which is the direction Russini believes the Giants will go with their first pick."I think we should be pretty confident they are going to go defense with that (No. 6) pick," Russini said. "I think they are going to draft a quarterback. I just don’t think it’s going to be Haskins."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill is under investigation for an alleged battery, according to Steve Vockrodt and Brooke Pryor of the Kansas City Star.The team confirmed it's aware of the investigation."We’re in the process of gathering information and have been in contact with the league and local authorities," the Chiefs said in a statement. "We’ll have no further comment at this time."The Overland Park Police Department report lists a juvenile as the victim, according to the KC Star. Hill's fiancee has reportedly been in contact with the police. A source told Vockrodt and Pryor the battery involves the couple's 3-year-old son, and the child suffered a broken arm.As of Friday afternoon, the three-time Pro Bowler hasn't been charged.In 2015, Hill pleaded guilty to domestic assault and battery after punching and choking his pregnant girlfriend. He received three years of probation and was dismissed from the Oklahoma State football team.The 25-year-old was the Chiefs' leading wide receiver in 2018, and he's been in talks to receive a lucrative contract extension this offseason.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles are bringing back cornerback Ronald Darby on a one-year contract, the team announced Friday. His deal is worth $8.5 million, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Darby tore his ACL in November. While other teams reportedly offered him multi-year pacts, he opted to sign a prove-it deal with hopes of cashing in next offseason, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.The 25-year-old may not be ready for the start of the regular season, notes Rapoport.Darby, a former second-round pick of the Buffalo Bills, was considered one of the top defensive backs on the market despite his knee injury. He racked up 43 tackles, 12 pass defenses, and one interception before being hurt in Week 10.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins have traded quarterback Ryan Tannehill to the Tennessee Titans, according to the quarterback's agency.Tennessee will acquire Tannehill and a 2019 sixth-round pick in exchange for a 2020 fourth-round pick and a 2019 seventh-rounder, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The quarterback will also receive a new contract as part of the trade. He'll earn $7 million fully guaranteed on the one-year pact, according to Schefter, and has a chance to earn over $5 million more in incentives. Miami will also pay $5 million of Tannehill's fully guaranteed money in the form of a signing bonus.He's expected to be Marcus Mariota's backup this upcoming season.The Titans also released Blaine Gabbert on Friday, general manager Jon Robinson announced, according to ESPN's Turron Davenport. Gabbert served as Tennessee's backup last season and started three games in relief of an injured Mariota.The Dolphins were expected to move on from Tannehill in 2019, but currently have just two other quarterbacks on their roster: Luke Falk and Jake Rudock.The trade wraps an up-and-down tenure in Miami that began with high expectations. Tannehill never eclipsed his 27 passing touchdowns thrown in 2014 and failed to take the next step as a franchise pivot. He's also missed 24 games over the last three seasons with various injuries.Tannehill was the Dolphins' first-round pick (No. 8 overall) in 2012. He's been the team's starting pivot for six seasons, missing the 2017 campaign with a torn ACL.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.