Page 25 - Florida Sentinel 3-3-17

Sports
Jets Releases CB Darrelle Revis
Steelers Make
Adrian Peterson Set To Become NFL Free Agent
Brown Highest
Paid WR In NFL
The Minnesota Vikings have had the same running back for the better part of the past decade, but a change could be on the horizon. The team announced on Tuesday that it will not pick up Adrian Peterson’s option for 2017, making him a free agent next week.
“Adrian is an important part of the Minnesota Vikings organization,” said Vikings General Manager Rick Spiel- man. “We will continue to have conversations with his representatives and leave our future options open while de- termining what is best for both parties moving forward.”
Peterson was set to make
Two years after bringing home Darrelle Revis with the richest contract in fran- chise history, the New York Jets have informed their for- mer Pro Bowl cornerback that they will release him on March 9, the start of the league calendar.
The announcement, made Tuesday night by the team, came as no surprise and cul- minated months of specula- tion. Revis, 31, suffered a sharp decline in skill and was scheduled to count $15.3 mil- lion against the 2017 salary cap.
Revis' ouster came 11 days after he was charged with four felonies, including aggravated assault, stem- ming from his alleged role in a street fight in his home- town of Pittsburgh. He is due in court March 15 for a pre- trial hearing.
His legal issues didn't fac-
DARRELLE REVIS
tor into the team's decision to release him, a source said, adding that it was "100 per- cent football related." The Jets are in rebuilding mode, and sources said the organi- zation had decided weeks ago to release Revis.
In a span of four days, the Jets parted ways with Revis and center Nick Mangold, two of the most accom- plished players in franchise history.
Revis took to Twitter to thank the organization.
ANTONIO BROWN
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Antonio Brown have reached an agreement on a four-year, $68 million exten- sion that makes him the high- est-paid wide receiver in the NFL, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Brown is now tied to the Steelers through the 2021 season. He tweeted after he signed his new deal, which is front-loaded; Brown stands to make less money in the fourth and final year of the extension. The breakdown: Brown will make $18.5 mil- lion in the first three years of the contract and $12.5 million in the fourth, sources told Schefter. The deal also in- cludes a $19 million signing bonus.
Antonio Brown signs his new contract, which makes him the highest-paid wide re- ceiver in the NFL.
The Steelers announced the extension as a five-year deal. Brown's contract for the 2017 season, with a scheduled base salary of $4.7 million, stands as is, the sources told Schefter.
The team had promised to rework Brown's contract this offseason. It restructured his contract in August, ad- vancing $4 million of his 2017 salary into his base salary for 2016.
Brown, 28, is considered one of the best receivers in the league and has been a key piece of the Steelers' offense for the past several seasons. He had one year left on a five- year, $42 million contract he signed in 2012.
ADRIAN PETERSON
$18 million next season if the Vikings had picked up his op- tion, keeping him as the high- est-paid running back in the NFL. At 31 years old and com- ing off of a season in which he played just three games, the Vikings clearly felt they would better themselves by opening up cap space.
Free Agent LeGarrette Blount 'Definitely' Wants To Re-Sign With The Patriots
Browns WR Josh Gordon To Apply For Reinstatement
Fresh off a fifth Super Bowl win, the New England Patri- ots don't have many con- cerns. Tom Brady is still playing at a high level, the de- fense led the league in scor- ing, and Rob Gronkowski is going to be back in the mix relatively soon. The few ques- tions they do have come in the form of pending free agents like Dont'a High- tower, Martellus Bennett and LeGarrette Blount.
It's unclear which direction the Patriots will go, but on Monday, Blount made his feelings known about where he wants to be in 2017.
"I just want to make sure
LEGARRETTE BLOUNT
that I go to this free agency with an open mind knowing that I definitely want to go back to New England," Blount said on "NFL Total Access." "I love it there. I love the culture. I love the players. I've become close with a lot of the guys.
Cleveland Browns wide re- ceiver Josh Gordon, who has not played since 2014, is applying for reinstatement Wednesday, his business manager said.
"Josh is living with me and is in the best place men- tally that he has been in dat- ing back years before entering the NFL," Michael Johnson said. "He has taken the proper steps to treat his issues and has fol- lowed a very strict protocol that the league and our team here has laid out for him.
"He's also in the best shape of his life and feels even better than he did when he had his breakout year in 2013. This will be a special year for Josh and we are all very proud of the way he has taken the necessary steps to turn his life around."
Gordon spent 30 days in a New Hampshire rehab fa- cility in October.
The Browns have made it clear they are moving on without Gordon, who was suspended for the entire 2015 season for multiple vio- lations of the NFL's sub- stance abuse policies.
Gordon's off-field issues began in college. The tal-
JOSH GORDON
ented yet troubled wideout was dismissed from the teams at Baylor and Utah for failing drug tests. The Browns selected him in the second round of the 2012 supplemental draft.
The NFL suspended Gor- don for 10 games in 2014 for violating the substance abuse policy, and the Browns suspended him for the sea- son finale for missing the final walk-through the day before. The NFL also sus- pended him for two games in 2013 for violations of the substance abuse policy.
The Browns welcomed Gordon back after the 2015 suspension, but they also drafted four receivers and gave ex-quarterback Ter- relle Pryor a full look at the position.
James Harrison Re-Signs With Steelers On Two-Year Deal
The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed linebacker James Harrison to a two- year contract, the team an- nounced Wednesday.
The deal is worth $3.5 mil- lion, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
With 79.5 career sacks in Pittsburgh, Harrison owns the franchise record previ- ously held by Jason Gildon.
Harrison, 38, injected life into the Steelers' defense late last season with 7.5 sacks in his last 11 games, including playoff contests against the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs.
Harrison, who outplayed his previous two-year, $2.75 million contract, has lost some speed from previous years, but he has maintained his elite strength, which he
JAMES HARRISON
uses along with veteran savvy to effectively rush the passer.
He has become part of the fabric of Steelers football. He and coach Mike Tomlin are very close, and Harrison's presence bought the Steelers time to develop young pass- rushers in recent years.
Although Harrison con- sidered retirement after the 2015 season, he came out sternly in January with the message, "I'm not done."
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