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NFL notebook: Vikings DE Hunter gets five-year extension

[June 28, 2018] Defensive end Danielle Hunter has agreed to a five-year extension with the Minnesota Vikings, the team announced on Wednesday.

According to multiple reports, Hunter's deal is worth nearly $72 million over five seasons and includes a $15 million signing bonus and about $40 million in guarantees.

Hunter, 23, was a third-round pick in 2015 and became a starter for the first time in 2017, posting 7.0 sacks. Hunter has 25.5 sacks, 36 tackles for loss and 125 quarterback hurries in 46 games (17 starts) with the Vikings.

Hunter is the second contract-year player to get a lucrative extension from the Vikings this offseason, after linebacker Eric Kendricks signed a five-year, $50 million deal in April. Linebacker Anthony Barr and wide receiver Stefon Diggs are two other core pieces who are entering the final season of their rookie deals, and GM Rick Spielman told reporters the team is working with their agents in hopes of reaching agreements before the regular season.

--William Jenkins, the brother of New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins, has been charged with aggravated manslaughter for the death of Roosevelt Rene, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office and Fair Lawn Police Department announced.

Rene, a 25-year-old Jenkins family friend whose body was found at Janoris Jenkins' New Jersey home Tuesday morning, had reportedly been living at the house recently. No cause of death has been indicated by authorities, although an NFL Network report on Tuesday said police were investigating a possible strangulation/suffocation.

Multiple reports have said Janoris Jenkins is not in New Jersey and has been staying in Florida since the Giants broke from their offseason practices, which ended June 14.

--Three months after the Kansas City Chiefs released him, linebacker Tamba Hali said he plans to retire from the NFL after 12 seasons.

Hali, 34, missed 11 games last season while battling a knee injury, after entering the year with four contests missed in his first 11 campaigns. He finished the 2017 season with just 99 defensive snaps played and no sacks, and Kansas City released him in March to save $7.7 million against the cap.

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Seahawks running back Fred Jackson (22) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter (99) in the first half of a NFC Wild Card playoff football game at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters Picture Supplied by Action Images

Since the Chiefs took him in the first round in 2006, Hali has collected 89.5 sacks, putting him in a tie for 45th on the all-time list (since sacks became an official statistic in 1983) and one or two seasons away from possibly reaching 100. But he indicated his long-term health is a bigger priority than reaching milestones.

--Annabel Bowlen, wife of Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, revealed she is suffering from Alzheimer's, the same neurodegenerative disease that led to her husband stepping down as CEO of the team in 2014.

Bowlen said she made the diagnosis public to help raise awareness.

"I feel that it is important for people to know that those in my situation do not need to completely withdraw from their daily activities," she said in a statement released by the team. "Based on my own experience with Pat, there will still be many joyous and rewarding moments for me as well as my family and friends."

--Former NFL referee Terry McAulay, who retired six days ago, is jumping into broadcasting as part of NBC's NFL coverage.

He'll work as an on-location rules analyst for Sunday Night Football, both in the booth and on the pregame and halftime set. McAulay will also work Notre Dame college football games.

McAulay was the third NFL referee to retire this offseason, joining Jeff Triplette and Ed Hochuli before Gene Steratore retired a day later.

--Field Level Media

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