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Saints land WR Bryan Edwards

Saints land WR Bryan Edwards

The New Orleans Saints signed free agent wide receiver Bryan Edwards on Monday.

Terms were not released by the club. The move reunites Edwards with new Saints quarterback Derek Carr. The duo connected on four touchdown passes in their two seasons together in Las Vegas.

Edwards had just three catches for 15 yards in seven games (one start) for Atlanta in 2022. The Falcons released him in November and Edwards caught on with the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad for the rest of the regular season.

Edwards has 48 catches for 779 yards and four touchdowns in 35 career games (16 starts) for the Raiders and Falcons.

Jets coach 'confident' team will acquire Aaron Rodgers

Jets coach 'confident' team will acquire Aaron Rodgers

New York Jets coach Robert Saleh said he believes four-time Most Valuable Player Aaron Rodgers will be his quarterback in 2023.

While Rodgers has said he wants to play for the Jets in the upcoming season, the team and Green Bay Packers have yet to come to trade terms. Saleh told reporters Monday at the league owners meeting in Phoenix that he is "confident" a trade will happen.

"I'm not hitting the panic button," said Saleh, who didn't state Rodgers' name because of league tampering rules but made it clear who he was talking about.

He added: "I'm confident that things are going to work out. You guys know me. I'm a very positive person and optimistic, so I'm confident that things will go the way we're hoping. But at the same time, it's not going to eat at me."

Saleh also said he'd like to pair free agent receiver Odell Beckham Jr. with the future Hall of Fame quarterback.

ESPN reported Monday that the Packers want compensation for Rodgers that includes the Jets' first-round draft pick, No. 13 overall, but the Jets are balking at the request.

While it would be beneficial for Rodgers and the Jets for him to be on board when the offseason program begins in mid-April, Saleh implied he isn't in a hurry because of Rodgers' familiarity with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who held that job in Green Bay for three seasons.

"If there's a great rapport with the coordinator, there's really no urgency," Saleh said. "The quarterback, if he understands the system, if the quarterback knows it, it's just a matter of just refining skills and doing all that stuff. So, there's no hurry."

Speaking of Beckham, Saleh said the Jets are intrigued by the 30-year-old veteran.

"He's been a fantastic receiver in this league," Saleh said. "Everything you hear about him, he's a phenomenal person. That's something you're always going to look over, turn over every stone, cross your Ts, dot your Is, just make sure you're, you're not missing an opportunity to add a great player. And there's no guarantee anything will happen."

Broncos not 'interested' in dealing WRs Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton

Broncos not 'interested' in dealing WRs Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton

Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton acknowledged teams have called to inquire about Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton this offseason, but he reiterated Monday the team isn't "interested" in dealing either of its two leading receivers.

"I think it's pretty common every offseason," Payton said Monday of rumors the Broncos might part with one or both. "(There is a) new coach (and it's) not a real deep receiver draft.

"I would say a number of teams have called on those players. It's not something that we're interested in doing."

Asked Sunday about it, Payton said "we're not trading those two players."

Jeudy led the Broncos with 67 receptions for 972 yards and six touchdowns last season. Sutton was second with 64 catches for 829 yards, but only reached the end zone twice.

While Payton evaluates the entire roster of a team that stumbled to a 5-12 finish last season, receiver is a position of strength.

In addition to Jeudy and Sutton, Tim Patrick is returning from a torn ACL and KJ Hamler might be ready for training camp following surgery for a torn pec. The Broncos added veteran Marquez Callaway to a depth chart that also includes holdovers Kendall Hinton (33 catches in 2022), Brandon Johnson (six), Jalen Virgil (five) and Montrell Washington (four).

While Payton has denied an interest in parting with one of his top two wideouts, it may ultimately be a strong consideration as he attempts to rebuild the running game. He has very little draft capital to work with due to last season's blockbuster deal for quarterback Russell Wilson along with another first-rounder Denver parted with to get Payton from the New Orleans Saints.

"(The rumors will) continue, I'm sure, as we get closer to the draft," Payton said. "If you really look at the draft and you really look at the receiver depth in the draft, it's not a real deep draft.

"If you're a team that's looking for receivers - we're not the only team people called. I'm sure Houston with Brandin Cooks and other players like that. It's pretty common in the offseason, I think."

Speaking of Wilson, Payton declined to say much about last week's report that the quarterback underwent arthroscopic knee surgery after the 2022 season. Wilson resumed workouts and throwing and is expected to be ready for OTAs.

"Injury wise, I'll keep you posted," Payton said. "That's something we're not going to talk a lot about - probably ever."

Chargers DT Sebastian Joseph-Day accuses TSA of sexual assault

Chargers DT Sebastian Joseph-Day accuses TSA of sexual assault

Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day accused TSA agents of sexual assault following a security check in advance of a flight Friday out of John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, Calif.

Joseph-Day took to Twitter to describe an incident he described as "dehumanizing" and when he expressed objections, he said agents "threatened to call the sheriff on me."

"I really just got sexually assaulted by TSA at @JohnWayneAir," Joseph-Day posted to Twitter on Friday. "After I asked the gentleman to please stop BC I'm uncomfortable and I feel that this part of the check is unnecessary (After he felt what was needed). Then they told me I was the problem after 3 TSA agents swarmed me."

The official John Wayne Airport Twitter feed replied to Joseph-Day's concerns.

"Hello @SJD_51, thank you for bringing this to our attention," @JohnWayneAir replied. "Our priority is providing a comfortable and safe experience when traveling through John Wayne Airport. We are forwarding this information to TSA."

A sixth-round draft pick out of Rutgers by the Los Angeles Rams in 2018, Joseph-Day played three seasons with the Rams and won a Super Bowl with the team in 2022. He joined the Chargers last season as a free agent.

Joseph-Day, 28, had 56 tackles and two sacks in 16 games (all starts) last season. He has 193 tackles and eight sacks in 55 games (54 starts) over four NFL seasons.

49ers GM: Brock Purdy has edge at QB

49ers GM: Brock Purdy has edge at QB

San Francisco has three quarterbacks -- Brock Purdy, Trey Lance and Sam Darnold -- on its roster, but 49ers general manager John Lynch said one has a slight edge over the others in the race to be the 2023 starter.

"I think Brock has earned the right with the way he played that he's probably the leader in the clubhouse at that," Lynch said Monday at the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix. "If we were to line up, he'd probably take that first snap."

Purdy had surgery to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right arm earlier this month.

Purdy, 23, made a stunning rise from being the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft to leading the 49ers into the NFC Championship Game.

After quarterbacks Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo were injured in the regular season, Purdy took over and led the team to wins in each of the final five games. Purdy and the 49ers then defeated the Seattle Seahawks and the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs before falling to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC title game when the elbow injury occurred.

After fourth-stringer Josh Johnson went down with a concussion against Philadelphia, Purdy returned to action but was unable to throw the ball more than a few yards.

In the regular season, Purdy completed 67.1 percent of his passes for 1,374 yards with 13 scoring passes and four interceptions. In the playoffs, he had a 65.1 percent completion rate while throwing for 569 yards and three TDs with no interceptions.

Garoppolo signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. Lance, who entered the 2022 season as the starter, sustained a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2.

Report: Bills signing S Taylor Rapp to 1-year deal

Report: Bills signing S Taylor Rapp to 1-year deal

The Buffalo Bills are signing free agent safety Taylor Rapp to a one-year deal, ESPN reported Monday.

Rapp, 25, had two interceptions and six passes defensed in 16 starts last season for the Los Angeles Rams, who selected him in the second round of the 2019 draft out of Washington.

Rapp has nine career INTs in 57 games (48 starts), all for the Rams. He has 330 career tackles and 23 passes defensed.

Report: Gardner Minshew in the mix for Colts starting QB

Report: Gardner Minshew in the mix for Colts starting QB

The Indianapolis Colts are expected to select a quarterback with the No. 4 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, but that doesn't mean that QB will be handed the keys to the offense immediately.

Coach Shane Steichen told NFL Network that newly signed Gardner Minshew will be given the chance to compete for the starting job.

"Right now, obviously, he's coming in to just compete and be the best he can be, you know, and that's where we're going," Steichen said Sunday. "That's where we feel he's at right now, and that's his role right now."

The Jaguars selected Minshew in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and he started 20 games over two seasons, tallying a 7-13 record. He was the backup to Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia the past two seasons, going 1-3 in spot appearances.

Minshew, 26, has completed 62.8 percent of his passes for 6,632 yards, with 44 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 32 career games (24 starts).

Steichen, most recently the offensive coordinator with the Eagles, got to know Minshew in Philadelphia.

"Just the way he sees the game and processes the game," Steichen said of Minshew. "It's like a coach you know, he sees it really well. He was great. Every time he had a chance to go and play, he played well for us and obviously had a big year in Jacksonville his rookie year. Just a tremendous person, loves the game of football, loves the Xs and Os, so really fortunate to have him with us."

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson says he requested trade

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson says he requested trade

Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson took to social media Monday morning to announce that he requested a trade from the Ravens earlier this month.

Jackson tweeted just as Ravens coach John Harbaugh sat to meet with reporters at the owners meetings in Phoenix.

"As of March 2nd I requested a trade from the Ravens organization for which the Ravens has (sic) not been interested in meeting my value," Jackson wrote, in part, in a series of Twitter posts.

Harbaugh told reporters in real time that he still expects Jackson to be the team's quarterback in 2023.

"I haven't seen the tweet," Harbaugh said. "It's an ongoing process. I'm following it very closely, just like everybody else is here and looking forward to a resolution. I'm excited. Thinking about Lamar (Jackson) all the time. Thinking about him as our quarterback. We're building our offense around that idea. I'm just looking forward to getting back to football and I'm confident that's going to happen."

The Ravens placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson on March 7, five days after he says he requested the trade. The sides failed to reach agreement on a new contract despite negotiations that have lasted more than a year.

Jackson has until July 17 to sign the tender, or sign a long-term deal with the club, with the latter appearing unlikely now.

Until he signs the $32.41 million tender, Jackson is free to meet with other teams and agree to a long-term deal with one of them. The Ravens, by using the franchise tag, have refusal rights and can match any offer sheet Jackson receives. If the Ravens choose not to match a contract offer, they would command two first-round picks in exchange for Jackson.

If Jackson doesn't find a suitor and if the Ravens refuse to trade him, Jackson will be forced to play on the tender or sit out the 2023 season.

Jackson represents himself.

Jackson, 26, missed the final five games of the 2022 regular season, plus the wild-card playoff loss at Cincinnati, with a knee sprain. He did not travel with the Ravens for the game against the Bengals, sparking speculation he was ready to move on in the offseason.

In 12 games last season, Jackson threw for 2,242 yards with 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also led the Ravens in rushing with 764 yards and three touchdowns.

The 2019 league MVP, Jackson has played in 70 games (61 starts) since the Ravens selected him with the last pick of the first round in the 2018 NFL Draft. He has completed 63.7 percent of his passes for 12,209 yards with 101 touchdowns and 38 interceptions. He has run for 4,437 yards and 24 scores.

He has a 45-16 record as a starter.

Report: NFL owners unlikely to pass roughing-the-passer reviews

Report: NFL owners unlikely to pass roughing-the-passer reviews

The NFL's annual owners meetings are set to kick off this week, with a number of rules change proposals up for review. One such proposal, to make roughing-the-passer penalties reviewable via replay, is unlikely to pass, per a report from NFL.com.

There "does not seem to be enough support" for the rule, a person close to the Competition Committee conversations on the topic told NFL.com.

The proposal, put forth by the Los Angeles Rams, would allow for roughing penalties to be reviewed by officials and/or to be challenged by coaches, similar to the league's short-lived rule on pass interference.

Pass interference was reviewable during the 2019 season following a missed pass interference call in the 2018 NFC Championship Game between the Rams and New Orleans Saints that ultimately helped the Rams advance to the Super Bowl.

Other rules to be considered include giving referees more leeway on reviewing fourth down attempts and the ability to consult more freely on penalty enforcement, further penalization for crackback blocks and tripping, personal foul challenges, hip-drop tackles and potential kickoff changes.

Interestingly, the much-rumored and reported evaluation of "quarterback push" plays is not scheduled to be addressed, per a release from NFL communications.

The Philadelphia Eagles had great success running "scrum"-style plays on multiple occasions in 2022 with their physical quarterback Jalen Hurts. On the biggest stage during Super Bowl LVII against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Eagles ran six QB push plays in short-yardage situations.

Such plays were illegal prior to 2006 and have come under criticism.

"It amounts to a rugby scrum," former vice president of officiating Dean Blandino told the 33rd team in February. "The NFL wants to showcase the athleticism and skill of our athletes. This is just not a skillful play."

"I was talking to (Denver Broncos coach) Sean Payton during Sunday's game, and he said we're going to do this every time next season if they don't take it out," Blandino added.

Todd Bowles: Bucs can still win without Tom Brady

Todd Bowles: Bucs can still win without Tom Brady

Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles addressed the elephant in the room on Sunday, although the "animal" in question is more appropriately referred to as the "G.O.A.T."

Bowles spoke of his team's expectations at quarterback in the wake of Tom Brady's retirement.

"When you replace a player of that magnitude, first of all, you don't replace him," Bowles told NFL Network of Brady's departure from the team. "You lose aura. You lose the expectation of being great. That doesn't mean you can't be great. You just have to do it more as a team. We did it as a team when he was there, but he was such a great player and a great person that you focus all on that. And now that that is gone, the perception is that everything else is gone when really it isn't.

"We have a lot of good players on our team on both sides of the ball. We have some pieces to fill, but we have a lot of good football players on our team. And we just have to understand that and not go with the so-called outside narrative and do what we have to do to win ball games."

With Brady retired, all eyes will shift to free-agent acquisition Baker Mayfield and in-house candidate Kyle Trask at the quarterback position.

"I liked Baker when he was coming out," Bowles said of the former Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.

"We kind of hit it off when I was with the Jets. I went down to Oklahoma and we had this vibe between us. And not to say he had the strongest arm and everything else, but he's a leader. He has great understanding of the football game. He knows where to go with the football. And he has moxie. He's a guy's guy. The players love to be around him, and they will fight for him because he's a winner."

"... So, between him and Trask, I have no doubt that one of them will come out and be successful."

Tampa Bay is Mayfield's fourth team in three years. The 27-year-old helped his chances by finishing last season strong after being claimed by the Los Angeles Rams.

Trask, 25, completed 3 of 9 pass attempts for 23 yards in one game last season. He was picked in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Jets' Robert Saleh: Aaron Rodgers' interest 'pretty cool'

Jets' Robert Saleh: Aaron Rodgers' interest 'pretty cool'

Jets coach Robert Saleh called quarterback Aaron Rodgers' interest in playing for New York "pretty cool" during an interview Sunday with NFL Network.

"Two years ago when we first got here, just thinking about where we were and how far we've come," Saleh said. "To have a guy like him want to play for us is pretty cool and shows how far we've come. But we still have a long way to go and a lot of work to do."

Some of that work includes officially acquiring Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers.

Earlier this month, the four-time NFL MVP said he intended to play for the Jets in 2023.

"The Packers would like to move on. They've let me know that in so many words, they've let other people know that in direct words," Rodgers said during a March 15 appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show."

"And because I still have that fire and I want to play, I'd like to play in New York. It's just a matter of getting that done at this point."

Rodgers, 39, signed a three-year, $150.815 million contract extension in March 2022. He is set to make $59.5 million in 2023.

Rodgers was named league MVP in 2011, 2014, 2020 and 2021, but is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career in 2022. He completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 3,695 yards, 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions as the Packers (8-9) missed the playoffs.

There are familiar faces waiting for him in New York. The Jets signed former Packers receiver Allen Lazard to a reported four-year, $44 million deal earlier this month, and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett held the same position in Green Bay from 2019-21.

LB Bobby Wagner: 'Glad to be back in Seattle'

LB Bobby Wagner: 'Glad to be back in Seattle'

Linebacker Bobby Wagner didn't take long to share his feelings about returning for a second stint with the Seattle Seahawks.

The Seahawks posted a picture Saturday on Twitter of Wagner signing his contract. The team did not divulge terms, however multiple media outlets reported it was a one-year deal worth $7 million.

"Maaaan! Glad to be back in Seattle! It means a lot to be able to come back! Let's get to work," Wagner wrote on Instagram.

Wagner, 32, spent the first 10 seasons (2012-21) of his career with Seattle, where he was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and helped the Seahawks win Super Bowl XLVIII. The six-time All-Pro flourished as part of the "Legion of Boom" defense, leading the league in tackles twice (2016, 2019).

Wagner started all 17 games for the Los Angeles Rams in 2022 but was officially released on March 15 after just one season with the team.

During his lone season with the Rams, Wagner racked up a career-high six sacks, 140 tackles (10 for loss) and two interceptions.

In 168 career games (167 starts), Wagner has totaled 29.5 sacks, 1,523 tackles (78 for loss), 13 interceptions, six forced fumbles and nine fumble recoveries. He also has four defensive touchdowns, including one pick-six.

Former Eagles Pro Bowl LB Frank LeMaster dies at 71

Former Eagles Pro Bowl LB Frank LeMaster dies at 71

Former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Frank LeMaster has died at the age of 71.

The Eagles announced Saturday that LeMaster died on Thursday. There were no details regarding the cause of his death.

LeMaster spent all nine seasons of his NFL career with Philadelphia after being selected by the Eagles in the fourth round (89th overall) of the 1974 draft. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 1981, one season after helping Philadelphia reach its first ever Super Bowl before losing to the Oakland Raiders.

In 129 career games (115 starts), LeMaster recorded 10 interceptions and seven fumble recoveries. He scored three defensive touchdowns, two of which were pick-6s, and never missed a game in his career -- starting every game in each of his final eight seasons.

LeMaster played one season at Kentucky (1971) and was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007.

Reports: LB Bobby Wagner back to Seattle on 1-year deal

Reports: LB Bobby Wagner back to Seattle on 1-year deal

Free agent linebacker Bobby Wagner is returning to the Seattle Seahawks on a one-year, $7 million deal, multiple media outlets reported Saturday.

Wagner, 32, spent the first 10 seasons (2012-21) of his career with Seattle, where he was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and helped the Seahawks win Super Bowl XLVII. He started all 17 games for the Los Angeles Rams in 2022, but was officially released on March 15 after just one season with the team.

During his lone season with the Rams, Wagner racked up a career-high six sacks, 140 tackles (10 for loss) and two interceptions.

In 168 career games (167 starts), Wagner has totaled 29.5 sacks, 1,523 tackles (78 for loss), 13 interceptions, six forced fumbles and nine fumble recoveries. He also has four defensive touchdowns, one of which was a pick-6.

Reports: TE Zach Gentry to sign 1-year deal with Steelers

Reports: TE Zach Gentry to sign 1-year deal with Steelers

Free agent tight end Zach Gentry will return to the Pittsburgh Steelers on a one-year contract, multiple media outlets reported Saturday.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed for Gentry, who was acquired by the Steelers with the fifth-round pick they received from the Las Vegas Raiders in the trade for wide receiver Antonio Brown on March 13, 2019.

Gentry, 26, had 19 receptions for 132 yards in 17 games (13 starts) last season.

He has totaled 39 catches for 303 yards in 40 career games (26 starts) over four seasons since being selected by the Steelers in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Michigan.

Panthers trade kicker Zane Gonzalez to 49ers

Panthers trade kicker Zane Gonzalez to 49ers

The Carolina Panthers have traded kicker Zane Gonzalez to the San Francisco 49ers, his agent announced on Twitter on Friday.

"Excited for @ZGonzalez_5 being traded to the @49ers," agent Mike McCartney wrote.

The teams later announced that Gonzalez was headed to San Francisco for conditional late-round 2025 compensation. The Panthers had a surplus of kickers after signing Eddy Pineiro on Thursday to a new two-year deal.

Gonzalez did not play in a game last season. He was placed on the injured reserve after suffering a quad injury in the preseason contest.

Gonzalez is entering his sixth season in the NFL after a stellar collegiate career with Arizona State.

Report: WR Marquez Callaway to sign with Broncos

Report: WR Marquez Callaway to sign with Broncos

Free agent wide receiver Marquez Callaway plans to sign with the Denver Broncos, ESPN reported Friday.

He caught 16 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown in 14 games (three starts) with New Orleans in 2022.

Callaway, who turns 25 next week, had his best season with the Saints under new Broncos coach Sean Payton in 2021 with 46 catches for 698 yards and six touchdowns.

Undrafted in 2020 out of Tennessee, Callaway has 83 receptions for 1,069 yards and seven scores in 42 career games (17 starts) over three seasons with New Orleans.

Reports: Browns sign WR Marquise Goodwin

Reports: Browns sign WR Marquise Goodwin

Financial terms were not disclosed for Goodwin, who becomes the second wide receiver the Browns have added this week. Cleveland acquired Elijah Moore from the New York Jets, and those two players will join Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones in the wide receiver room for the Browns.

Goodwin, 32, had 27 catches for 387 yards to go along with a career high-tying four touchdowns in 13 games (two starts) last season with the Seattle Seahawks.

He has 187 receptions for 3,023 yards and 18 touchdowns in 102 career games (44 starts) with the Buffalo Bills (2013-16), San Francisco 49ers (2017-19), Chicago Bears (2021) and Seahawks (2022).

Report: Panthers signing WR DJ Chark to 1-year deal

Report: Panthers signing WR DJ Chark to 1-year deal

The Carolina Panthers have agreed to terms with wide receiver DJ Chark on a one-year deal, NFL Network reported Friday.

Chark, 26, caught 30 passes for 502 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games (10 starts) in his first season with the Detroit Lions in 2022.

Chark missed six games last season with an ankle injury after sitting out the final 13 games of 2021 with the Jacksonville Jaguars due to a broken ankle.

A second-round pick in 2018 and a Pro Bowl selection in 2019, Chark has 177 catches for 2,544 yards and 18 TDs in 54 games (40 starts) with the Jaguars and Lions.

Chark joins a revamped Carolina offense under new coach Frank Reich that includes fellow free-signees running back Miles Sanders, wide receiver Adam Thielen, tight end Hayden Hurst and quarterback Andy Dalton.

The Panthers also acquired the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft in a trade with the Chicago Bears. They are widely expected to select a quarterback.

Reports: WR Nelson Agholor signing with Ravens

Reports: WR Nelson Agholor signing with Ravens

Wide receiver Nelson Agholor is signing a one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens, multiple outlets reported Friday.

The $3.25 million deal for the 29-year-old free agent is worth up to $6.25 million with incentives, per the reports.

Agholor caught 31 passes for 362 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games (seven starts) with the New England Patriots last season.

The former first-round draft pick (20th overall in 2015) has 340 receptions for 4,246 yards and 31 scores in 118 career games (95 starts) with the Philadelphia Eagles (2015-19), Las Vegas Raiders (2020) and Patriots (2021-22).


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