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 Amid some jokes about deflated balls, coach Bill Belichick's
wardrobe and Rob Gronkowski, the president congratulated the
Patriots for their sustained success and for their thrilling 28-24
win over the Seattle Seahawks in February's Super Bowl.
"The Patriots organization is as good an organization as there has
ever been in professional sports," Obama said, referencing the Pats'
four Super Bowl titles under Belichick.
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The Tennessee Titans will pick up the fifth-year option on wide
receiver Kendall Wright's rookie contract, per the Tennessean.
Teams have until May 3 to exercise the 2016 options on players
selected in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. The Titans would
be exercising a $7.3 million option on Wright's contract.
After catching 94 passes for 1,079 yards in 2013, his production
dipped to 57 receptions for 715 yards and six touchdowns last
season.
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The New York Jets picked up the fifth-year option on outside
linebacker Quinton Coples' rookie contract, according to NFL Media's
Albert Breer.
Coples, 24, has only 16.5 career sacks and picking up the $7.8
million option gives the Jets another year to evaluate the 16th
overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft before considering a long-term
deal next offseason.
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Restricted free agents Justin Tucker and Will Hill signed their
tenders with the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday.
Tucker, the team's standout kicker, had been tendered at $2.36
million. Hill, a safety, was offered $1.54 million.
Tucker, an undrafted free agent in 2012, is the most accurate kicker
in NFL history at 89.8 percent (97 of 108).
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Tight end Bear Pascoe signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears.
The seventh-year veteran has 34 starts in 82 games since he was
drafted in the sixth round in 2009.
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Veteran wide receiver Greg Jennings signed a two-year, $8 million
contract with the Miami Dolphins.
Jennings, released in March by the Minnesota Vikings, was in Miami
to take a physical on Wednesday.
In two seasons with Minnesota, he caught 127 passes for 1,546 yards
and 10 touchdowns. Jennings played his first seven seasons in Green
Bay and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2010 and 2011.
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Missouri edge rusher Shane Ray met with a foot specialist on
Thursday whose recommendation was that surgery will not be necessary
on Ray's toe injury, according to NFL.com.
Ray is the No. 11 prospect by NFLDraftScout.com, but the toe injury
could affect his draft position.
Ray led the SEC with 14.5 sacks during his first season as a starter
in 2014.
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New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz, recovering from a torn
patellar tendon, said he expects to be ready for the season opener.
"There's zero doubts that I'll be playing in that first game," Cruz
said of the Giants' Sunday night game at Dallas.
"I do feel like I can continue to be the same guy that I was
before," said Cruz, a two-time 1,000-yard receiver who had 241
receptions from 2011 to 2013.
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Denver Broncos general manager John Elway said he disagrees with
wide receiver Demaryius Thomas' decision to skip the team's
offseason program while angling for a new contract.
"To be dead honest, I see absolutely zero value in him being away
from here -- zero value for him," Elway said.
The Broncos placed the franchise tag on Thomas, guaranteeing him
$12.8 million next season. The sides can continue to negotiate on a
long-term deal, but Thomas' absence does not help the installation
of a new offense under new coach Gary Kubiak.
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Running back Maurice Jones-Drew will be honored by the Jacksonville
Jaguars with a retirement ceremony next week.
Jones-Drew, a second-round pick of the Jaguars in 2006, spent the
first eight of his nine NFL seasons in Jacksonville. He played
sparingly for the Oakland Raiders in 2014.
Jones-Drew compiled 8,167 yards rushing, 2,944 yards receiving and
81 touchdowns. (Editing by Larry Fine) ))
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