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Browns WR Amari Cooper absent at minicamp
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper was a no-show for the first day of a mandatory minicamp on Tuesday. Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that Cooper's absence was not excused. He did not confirm if the five-time Pro Bowl selection's non-attendance was contract related. Cooper, who turns 30 next week, is due a non-guaranteed base salary of $20 million in 2024, the final season of a five-year, $100 million deal he signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 2020. Stefanski said "there's been a dialogue" between the team and the agent for Cooper, who also was not seen at any of Cleveland's earlier OTA practices that were open to the media. Cooper caught 72 passes for 1,250 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games in 2023 after catching 78 for 1,160 yards and nine scores in 17 games in his first season with Cleveland in 2022. He has 667 receptions for 9,486 yards and 60 TDs in 140 games (133 starts) with the then-Oakland Raiders (2015-18), Cowboys (2018-21) and Browns. The Raiders drafted him No. 4 overall in 2015. --Field Level Media
49ers' Christian McCaffrey on cover of Madden NFL 25
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is the cover athlete on the Madden NFL 25 video game, EA Sports announced Tuesday. The video game will be released Aug. 16. McCaffrey is the first member of the 49ers to don the cover of the series. He also becomes the first running back to receive the...
NFL: Super Bowl LVIII-San Francisco 49ers at Kansas City Chiefs
Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) scores a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs in the first half of Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jets' Aaron Rodgers, Haason Reddick not at mandatory minicamp
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and edge rusher Haason Reddick did not report to the start of the New York Jets' two-day mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, leaving both players subject to fines. Reddick, 29, who came over in a March trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, skipped all voluntary offseason workouts due to a contract dispute. In the final season of a three-year, $45 million contract he signed in 2022 with the Eagles, he's slated to earn a non-guaranteed $14.25 million in base pay. Meanwhile, Jets coach Robert Saleh told reporters that Rodgers' absence was "unexcused" despite the 40-year-old Rodgers telling him ahead...
Chiefs' BJ Thompson out of hospital after cardiac arrest
Kansas City Chiefs defensive end BJ Thompson was released from the hospital on Monday night, four days after he had a seizure and went into cardiac arrest, his agent told NFL Network. Thompson, 25, endured his medical ordeal on Thursday while at the Chiefs' practice facility in a team meeting. He received CPR from the Chiefs medical staff before being taken to The University of Kansas Health System. "The family thanks everyone for their prayers and wants to especially thank the Chiefs medical and training staff for their rapid response and professionalism throughout this situation," agent Chris Turnage said in a statement. Thompson recorded two tackles in one game as a rookie last season. He was selected by Kansas City in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Stephen F. Austin. --Field Level Media
NFL: Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers
Jan 7, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive end BJ Thompson (53) looks on during the first half against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Reports: Cowboys, Panthers eye UFL players
The Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers are reportedly looking to the UFL ranks this offseason, with one team interested in defense and the other in offense. The Cowboys, who lost linebacker Leighton Vander Esch to retirement, are going to work out linebacker Willie Harvey Jr. of the St. Louis Battlehawks, according to NFL Media. In 10 games this season, Harvey led the Battlehawks with 78 tackles, including nine tackles for a loss. Harvey, 28, was undrafted out of Iowa State before appearing in four games for the Cleveland Browns between the 2019 and 2021 seasons. The Panthers are looking for...
10 from NC State's 1983 title team in sue, allege NIL misuse
Thurl Bailey and Cozell McQueen are among 10 members of North Carolina State's 1983 national title basketball team who are suing the NCAA, alleging misuse of the players' names, images and likenesses (NIL) without their approval, multiple media outlets reported Monday. In the lawsuit filed Monday in Wake County Superior Court in North Carolina, the players want a jury trial and "reasonable compensation for the appropriation" of facets of their NIL, according to The Atlantic. The lawsuit also targets the Collegiate Licensing Company, which represents the brands for over 700 schools, conferences, bowl games, conferences and other entities, according to...
RB Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots close to extension
Running back Rhamondre Stevenson is nearing an agreement on a contract extension with the Patriots, he told reporters at the first day of New England's mandatory minicamp Monday. Stevenson, 26, is slated to earn a base salary of $3.116 million in the final year on his rookie contract, which he signed after the Patriots selected him in the fourth round of the 2021 draft. "Right now, I'm trying to get the deal done and get it locked in. We'll see where that goes. It's pretty close," Stevenson told reporters. Last season, Stevenson suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 13 and...
West Virginia receives commitment from pass rusher Romando Johnson
Pass rusher Romando Johnson has given a commitment to West Virginia after visiting over the weekend. Johnson, who can play either defensive end or outside linebacker, visited Rutgers the previous weekend. Johnson, who is 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, reportedly also received interest from Penn State, Pitt, Miami, Florida, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Boston College, among others. Johnson, a three-star prospect from Monarch High in Coconut Creek, Fla., is the 11th commitment in West Virginia's 2025 class. --Field Level Media
Four-star S Faheem Delane verbally commits to Ohio State
Highly sought four-star safety Faheem Delane verbally committed to Ohio State over the weekend. Delane is the No. 2 safety in the 247Sports composite national rankings and the 34th overall player. He also is the top-ranked high school recruit in the state of Maryland. Delane selected Ohio State over Alabama, LSU, Virginia Tech and Tennessee. Ohio State had done well in securing commitments from defensive backs, earlier landing five-star cornerbacks Devin Sanchez of Houston and Na'eem Offord of Birmingham, Ala. --Field Level Media
Steelers sign coach Mike Tomlin to 3-year extension
The Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday signed head coach Mike Tomlin to a three-year extension, keeping him on the sidelines through the 2027 season. Financial terms were not disclosed by the team. Tomlin was entering the final year of his contract. "Mike Tomlin's leadership and commitment to the Steelers have been pivotal to our success during his first 17 years as head coach," Steelers President Art Rooney II said in a...
Report: All-Pro returner Jakeem Grant trying out with Jets
Decorated return specialist Jakeem Grant will try out for the New York Jets at this week's minicamp, NFL Network reported Monday. Grant, 31, last played in the NFL in 2021 when he made the Pro Bowl and earned his second consecutive All-Pro second-team selection. Grant missed the 2022 season after tearing his left Achilles tendon at training camp with Cleveland. He missed the 2023 season after sustaining a ruptured patellar tendon in the Browns' final preseason game. A sixth-round pick by Miami in 2016, Grant has 100 receptions for 1,140 yards and seven touchdowns in 81 games with the Dolphins (2016-21) and Chicago Bears (2021). He has returned 119 punts for 1,228 yards (10.3 average) and four touchdowns, and has returned 110 kickoffs for 2,699 yards (24.5 average) and two scores. --Field Level Media
4-star CB Daryus Dixson commits to Penn State
Penn State picked up a commitment from four-star cornerback Daryus Dixson on Monday following his official weekend visit to the campus. Dixson plays at Southern California powerhouse Mater Dei, and the 247Sports composite ranks him as the No. 10 overall cornerback in the Class of 2025. He announced his decision with a video posted to social media. "It is about family there," Dixson told On3. "That was big, and the relationships are genuine, so that had an impact on my decision. Then it was about player development. That is big for me, too. I trust in the coaches and believe...
NFL: Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars
Dec 31, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars punter Logan Cooke (9) holds the ball and kicker Brandon McManus (10) make the field goal against the Carolina Panthers in the second quarter at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports
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