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The latest
1-on-1 With Earl Thomas: This Is a Refreshing Start | Ravens.com
Earl Thomas tells the Ravens website he thought he was going to the Chiefs on “a two year deal, one year deal.”
Russell Wilson: ‘Great potential’ to become top-paid QB | NFL
Asked by giggly talk-show host Jimmy Fallon this week whether he expects to become the league’s highest paid QB with his next deal, 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.”
Other notable quarterbacks who are up for new mega-deals soon are Jared Goff, Carson Wentz, Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes.
The Eight Teams That Have Defined the 2019 NFL Offseason | The Ringer
Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs GM Brett Veach and his front office are responsible for three of the most shocking moves of the week. First, Kansas City signed safety Tyrann Mathieu to a three-year, $42 million deal that ties him for the highest average annual value at the position. Adding Mathieu makes sense, considering the Chiefs fielded an abysmal defense in 2018 (they finished 26th in Football Outsiders’ defensive DVOA) and came into the offseason desperate for secondary help. But with so much money allocated to Mathieu, Kansas City decided to release fellow safety Eric Berry, who was set to count for $16.5 million against the salary cap in 2019. Berry has been a pillar of the Chiefs defense for years, but between the Mathieu signing and growing concerns about Berry’s availability (he played just three games over the past two seasons), the team couldn’t justify spending close to $30 million on safeties this season
Updated NFL Division-by-Division Rankings After 1st Week of Free Agency | Bleacher Report
5. AFC West
A lot has been going on in the AFC West the past week, but this division was going to be in decent shape regardless, considering reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes is the starting quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs.
The good news for Chiefs fans is that despite losing Justin Houston, Eric Berry and Dee Ford, the team signed a huge playmaker in safety Tyrann Mathieu. If the defense can add a few more pieces, the Chiefs should be a Super Bowl contender again in 2019.
2019 NFL free agency: Updated top 101 NFL free agents | NFL
While there are some concerns about Houston’s age (30) and previous injuries, he’s played nearly 2,000 snaps at a very high level over the last two seasons, with 112 total pressures, according to PFF. Houston remains a pro’s pro.
NFL suspends Kareem Hunt 8 games following investigation into multiple assaults | SB Nation
The NFL has wrapped up its investigation into multiple accusations of violence against Cleveland Browns tailback Kareem Hunt. The third-year player will sit out the first eight games of the 2019 season as a result, the league announced Friday.
In Dorsey’s quest to upgrade the tight end position in his second season as Browns GM, he couldn’t get Kelce, but he did land the 6-foot-6 Harris.
With 47 catches across the last three seasons, Harris seems barely a ripple amid Dorsey’s Odell Beckham Jr. splash. Yet, there is a strong sense incumbent Browns tight end starter David Njoku is under the microscope, and that Harris will be given a chance to carve out a big role.
Around the league
Browns open as favorites to win AFC North | ESPN
Their Super Bowl odds shifted from 25-1 to 14-1 at the SuperBook at the Westgate Las Vegas after their trade for wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., and they’re now the most bet-on team to win the Super Bowl by tickets and money at DraftKings Sportsbook in New Jersey.
Raiders part ways with OT Penn after 5 seasons | NFL
The Oakland Raiders released offensive tackle Donald Penn on Saturday, cutting ties with the longest-tenured player on their roster.
The Raiders said they came to a mutual decision to release Penn, who became expendable this week after Oakland signed Trent Brown to a four-year, $66 million contract that is the richest ever for an offensive lineman.
Dolphins agree to two-year deal with Ryan Fitzpatrick | NFL
Less than a week after trading Ryan Tannehill to Tennessee and failing to sign Tyrod Taylor and Teddy Bridgewater, the Dolphins have landed a viable starting quarterback for the 2019 season: Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick has agreed to a two-year, $11 million deal with the Dolphins, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Sunday, per a source informed of the situation.
Browns open as favorites to win AFC North | ESPN
Their Super Bowl odds shifted from 25-1 to 14-1 at the SuperBook at the Westgate Las Vegas after their trade for wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., and they’re now the most bet-on team to win the Super Bowl by tickets and money at DraftKings Sportsbook in New Jersey.
Vic Fangio drew Bryce Callahan to Denver | NBC Sports
“Coach Vic just knows how to call the right plays,” Callahan said. “I don’t know what it is, he has us in the right position. He really makes it easy for the defense. . . . You want to make plays for [him]. He calls the right plays at the right time. You just want to go out there and lay it on the line for him.”
Steelers signing linebacker Mark Barron to 2-year deal | NFL
The former Los Angeles Rams linebacker is signing a two-year, $12 million deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, a source told NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport on Sunday. Barron will also receive a $5.75 million signing bonus. ESPN first reported the signing.
In case you missed it at Arrowhead Pride
Jacksonville Jaguars sign Chris Conley
Conley will likely play a more significant role in Jacksonville than he did in Kansas City, and the Chiefs are left to make up for his 802 offensive snaps (77 percent) in 2018. The Chiefs wide receiver room currently includes Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Demarcus Robinson, Gehrig Dieter, Marcus Kemp, Byron Pringle, Sammie Coates, Josh Crockett and Davon Grayson.
It’s official: the Chiefs will be back to the Black Hole (at least) one more time
On Friday, East Bay Times reporter David DeBolt reported that the Oakland Coliseum Authority board has voted to give final approval to the deal that would keep the Raiders in Oakland for 2019, and in 2020 if their new stadium in Las Vegas isn’t ready in time.
Alex Okafor: length, strength, and football IQ
Thursday evening, Alex Okafor joined the Chiefs on a three year deal worth up to $24 million. After losing both Dee Ford in a trade and Justin Houston in a cap-saving release, the Chiefs were in dire need of a player on the edge of Steve Spagnuolo’s four-man fronts.
Report: Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill involved in investigation for alleged battery
According to a report in the Kansas City Star, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill is involved in an investigation for an alleged incident that reportedly involves his son.
According to the Star’s reporting, they are in possession of an Overland Park Police Department report dated Thursday concerning an alleged battery incident involving a juvenile as the victim. Hill’s fiancee Crystal Espinal is also listed on the report as being involved in the incident but Hill is not.
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