LDN - Sports

National Football League roundup

[April 18, 2017] April 17 (The Sports Xchange) - Defensive tackle Kawann Short signed a five-year contract with the Carolina Panthers worth $80 million.

The Panthers kept Short from free agency with the non-exclusive franchise tag on Feb. 27, but coach Ron Rivera called him one of the team's most important players and "too valuable to lose."

Short, a second-round pick in 2013, has 22 career sacks.

--

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck revealed he originally injured his surgically repaired right throwing shoulder early in the 2015 season and played through pain the last two years.

Luck and the Colts decided to hold off on surgery after the 2015 season and go with rehab in his recovery. The franchise quarterback aggravated the injury last season and decided on surgery this offseason.

Luck said he aggravated the shoulder in Week 2 of the 2016 season against the Denver Broncos.

The surgery on Luck's shoulder is expected to keep him out of most of the team's nine-week offseason workout program.

--

Cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones of the Cincinnati Bengals yelled at a reporter in his first meeting with the media since his arrest in January on multiple misdemeanor charges.

Jones was incensed after asked by a local television reporter if he had anything to prove to fans in the wake of the arrest on Jan. 3, and the player ordered him out of the room.

Multiple media reports said Jones followed the reporter and cursed him, eventually causing Bengals coach Marvin Jones to intercede.

Jones had said he would not be taking any questions relating to his arrest on a felony charge of harassment and misdemeanor charges of assault, disorderly conduct and obstructing official business stemming from an altercation with a security guard at a Cincinnati hotel.

--

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin was back for the first day of the team's voluntary offseason conditioning program.

Late in December, Martin left the team to enter a treatment facility after announcing he violated the league's performance-enhancing drug policy and would serve a four-game suspension.

--

[to top of second column]

Newly acquired Jacksonville Jaguars left tackle Branden Albert was not present for the start of the team's voluntary offseason workouts.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Albert missed the Jaguars' first team meeting because he is holding out for a new contract.

The Jaguars acquired Albert, 32, from the Miami Dolphins this offseason in exchange for a 2018 seventh-round pick. Albert will earn $8.875 million in 2017 and $9.575 million in 2018.

--

Wide receiver Andre Johnson will sign a one-day contract with the Houston Texans in order to retire with the team.

The ceremony will occur on Wednesday for the 35-year-old Johnson, who was the Texans' first-round draft pick in 2003.

Seven-time Pro Bowler Johnson is Houston's all-time leader in nearly every receiving category including career receptions (1,012), receiving yards (13,597) and receiving touchdowns (64).

--

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed six exclusive rights or restricted free agents, including tight end Cameron Brate and wide receiver Adam Humphries.

Brate and Humphries signed their exclusive rights contracts, along with cornerback Jude Adjei-Barimah, linebacker Adarius Glanton and wide receiver Freddie Martino.

The Bucs also announced that quarterback Ryan Griffin signed his restricted free agent contract.

--

The Indianapolis Colts signed tight end Erik Swoope and wide receiver/returner Quan Bray to their exclusive rights free agent tenders.

--

Detroit Lions offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas signed his restricted free agent tender and took part in the start of offseason workouts.

Lucas, 25, appeared in 30 games with six starts over the 2014-15 seasons.

Back to top