Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Thursday 15 March 2018
Promises turn into paydays as NFL business year begins

By BARRY WILNER New York agreed with of-
All those promises worth fensive tackle Nate Solder,
millions upon millions to free late of the Patriots, to be-
agents turned into paydays come its starter on the left
Wednesday when the NFL's side. Solder, 29, will get a
business year began. four-year contract worth
Of course, teams needed about $62 million.
to clear salary cap space The Giants can move 2015
or rejigger their ledgers to first-round draft pick Ereck
make it work, and they'll still Flowers to the right side as
be doing so for months. they rebuild a line that has
While the likes of Drew struggled for years.
Brees, Malcolm Butler and TITANS
Andrew Norwell cashed in Tennessee kept right guard
bigtime, having reached Josh Kline and defensive
agreements in the past two end David King with new
days before everything be- contracts after making a
came official, some value splash in free agency by
entered the marketplace. getting Butler for $60 million
Arizona released safety over five years ($30 million
Tyrann Mathieu when it guaranteed) and also tak-
couldn't rework his deal. ing running back Dion Lew-
On Tuesday, the Cardinals is away from New England.
let running back Adrian Pe- BILLS
terson go. In adding defensive end
Baltimore cut receiver Jer- In this Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017 file photo, Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers (90) Trent Murphy from Wash-
emy Maclin. Detroit said tackles San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brian Hoyer during the first half of an NFL football game ington, the Bills get a need-
goodbye to tight end Eric in Santa Clara, Calif. ed pass rusher, albeit a
Ebron. Pittsburgh tore up a Associated Press player coming off a major
secondary that often was injury.
torn up by opposing quar- Chiefs in 2015. Murphy had 15 sacks in 47
Then the Ravens agreed to
terbacks, releasing Mike games, including nine in
Mitchell, Robert Golden deals with receivers John 2016, then sat out last sea-
Brown and Ryan Grant.
and William Gay. son after tearing two liga-
But Carolina had more suc- Brown, 27, spent four years ments in his left knee in a
in Arizona and is a speedy
cess with a veteran, com- preseason game.
pleting a one-year deal deep threat, something The Bills finished tied for 30th
Baltimore
desperately
with defensive end Julius in the NFL with just 27 sacks
Peppers. needs. He can also return last season.
kicks.
The 38-year-old Peppers, The Bills added defensive
who contemplated retire- Grant, also 27, was with backfield depth by agree-
Washington for four sea-
ment after 17 pro seasons, ing with safety Rafael Bush
remains with the Panthers sons. on a two-year contract,
49ERS
for $5 million, with $2.5 mil- and got linebacker Julian
lion guaranteed, a person San Francisco agreed to a Stanford on a two-year
four-year contract with run-
familiar with the situation In this Aug. 15, 2013, file photo, Cleveland Browns tackle Joe contract.
said. The person spoke to Thomas celebrates after a 24-6 win over the Detroit Lions in a ning back Jerick McKinnon FALCONS
and a five-year deal with
The Associated Press on preseason NFL football game, in Cleveland. The Falcons addressed a
Wednesday on condition Associated Press center-guard Weston Rich- need by signing offensive
burg. McKinnon replaces
of anonymity because the guard Brandon Fusco, who
team does not release fi- ficult decision, but the right had five interceptions and departing starter Carlos started 16 games for San
Hyde and Richburg could
nancial terms of contracts. one for me and my family," 17 passes defensed. Francisco last season, to
"I am fired up to have him Thomas said. "Playing in the But he also has been start anywhere in the inte- a three-year deal. Fusco,
back," Panthers coach Ron NFL has taken a toll on my plagued by injuries and only rior line. who began his career with
Rivera said. "It was amazing body and I can no longer last season did Mathieu ap- "We see Weston as one of the Vikings, could immedi-
to have him as part of what physically compete at the pear in all 16 games. the top young interior of- ately start at right guard.
we are trying to build and I level I need to." RAVENS fensive linemen in the NFL," DOLPHINS
think he can help us get to CARDINALS Baltimore frees up an es- GM John Lynch said. "His Five-time Pro Bowl defen-
the next level." Mathieu was due for $18.75 timated $5 million in sal- athleticism, intelligence sive tackle Ndamukong
Cleveland, meanwhile, did million of his contract to ary cap space by releasing and attitude are a perfect Suh officially was released,
nothing more than listen be guaranteed when the Maclin, who signed on as fit for our scheme. Jerick when the trades to ac-
to one of its greatest play- league year officially be- a free agent in June. But has proven to be an ex- quire defensive end Rob-
ers, tackle Joe Thomas , gins. By cutting him, Arizona Maclin missed two games tremely versatile football ert Quinn and send Jarvis
announce his retirement. will save close to $5 million with a shoulder injury, two player whose speed, elu- Landry to the Cleveland
The Browns save his $10.3 in cap space. more with knee issues, siveness and tackle-break- Browns were formalized.
million salary for 2018 and Mathieu became a star in and finished with only 40 ing ability make him a very Miami also released tight
a $3 million bonus but lose the Arizona secondary af- catches for 440 yards and difficult matchup for de- end Julius Thomas, which
their best player and lead- ter being selected in the three touchdowns. The 84 fenses. We can't wait to get had been expected, but
er in the expansion era third round of the 2013 draft receptions he had over them on the field with their decided to keep right tack-
(1999-present), a 10-time following a troubled col- the past two seasons (2016 teammates and coaches le Ja’Wuan James, which
Pro Bowler. lege career at LSU. He was with Kansas City) are three later this spring." guarantees him $9.34 mil-
GIANTS
"This was an extremely dif- an All-Pro in 2015, when he fewer than he had with the lion in 2018.q