Football – Page 86 – North Platte Post Archive

Chiefs Sign CB Owens, Waive DL Moore

Posted on March 21, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs have signed cornerback Chris Owens, who will likely take over the nickel position and provide depth behind starters Sean Smith and Brandon Flowers.

Kansas City waived defensive lineman Brandon Moore on Friday to make room for Owens, who spent last season with Miami and Cleveland after four seasons with the Falcons.

The 5-foot-9 Owens doesn’t fit the mold of big, physical cornerbacks preferred by Chiefs general manager John Dorsey and coach Andy Reid, but he does have the kind of speed and toughness that helps him make up for his size.

The Chiefs were desperate for depth in the defensive backfield after they let free safety Kendrick Lewis go in free agency and parted ways with veteran Dunta Robinson.

NFL Faces New Concussion Case in Los Angeles

Posted on March 21, 2014

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The estate of NFL Hall of Famer Mike Webster and dozens of former players suing the league over concussion injuries have agreed to wait to see if their lawsuit will join other similar cases being reviewed by a judge for possible settlement.

Webster’s estate and 65 former players and their families are suing the NFL in Los Angeles. On Friday, attorneys for the players and the NFL agreed to stay the case to see if it should join other concussion lawsuits currently assigned to a judge in Pennsylvania.

That judge is considering whether a $765 million settlement is enough to resolve all claims against the NFL for players who are dealing with dementia and other serious cognitive conditions caused by concussions sustained during their pro careers.

Webster, who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs, died in 2002. The NFL declined to comment on the Los Angeles case, which was filed in February.

Pats, Broncos Still Fighting for AFC Supremacy

Posted on March 20, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Two months after meeting in the AFC championship, the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots are squaring off in the wine and dine game.

They’ve been the conference’s most aggressive teams in trying to upgrade their rosters in free agency.

After watching Seattle win the Super Bowl, both Denver and New England have focused on beefing up their defenses.

New England added two cover cornerbacks and Denver signed three Pro Bowl defenders.

Broncos general manager John Elway, who committed $66 million in guaranteed money to four players in the first week of free agency, acknowledged the additions of safety T.J. Ward, cornerback Aqib Talib, pass rusher DeMarcus Ware and receiver Emmanuel Sanders weren’t made in a vacuum but with the Patriots in mind.

Chiefs GM Dorsey Says Sanders Fiasco ‘Put to Bed’

Posted on March 18, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs general manager John Dorsey says the controversial signing of wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders by AFC West-rival Denver has been “put to bed” and that he’s focused on what he can do during the rest of free agency and in the draft.

Sanders had visited the Chiefs last week when reports began to surface he had agreed to a contract. His agent, Steve Weinberg, said that was never the case, and reports citing unnamed sources that claimed he was “shopping” the Chiefs’ offer to other teams were inaccurate.

Sanders ultimately signed an $18 million, three-year deal with Denver, and the Chiefs’ lengthy and frustrating pursuit of a wide receiver to help out quarterback Alex Smith rolls on.

Dorsey said Tuesday in his first availability since the start of free agency that “that deal was put to bed, we have to move forward and we have to build for this organization.”

Chiefs Sign Former Raiders DT Vance Walker

Posted on March 14, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs filled one of their pressing needs by signing former Raiders defensive tackle Vance Walker to a three-year contract on Friday.

The Chiefs also announced the signing of linebacker Frank Zombo, who had agreed to terms earlier in the week. Zombo appeared in 16 games for Kansas City last season.

Walker was a seventh-round pick of the Falcons in 2009, and provided valuable depth while appearing in 58 games for them over his first four seasons. He started 15 games for the Raiders last season, making 29 tackles and three sacks.

Walker figures to replace Tyson Jackson, who signed with Atlanta in free agency.

Vikings Host NFL Super Bowl Committee

Posted on March 14, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings and the Twin Cities hosted members of the NFL this week to prepare their bid for the 2018 Super Bowl.

Frank Supovitz, the NFL’s senior vice president of events, toured the area and took a look at the plans for the new Vikings stadium. The Twin Cities are competing with New Orleans and Indianapolis for the bid. They will make their final pitches at an NFL owners meeting in May.

The Twin Cities previously hosted a Super Bowl in 1992.

Supovitz says building a new stadium doesn’t guarantee that a Super Bowl will come to Minneapolis. But he did note that the NFL has a history of rewarding communities that do build new stadiums with the league’s marquee event.

Fowler to Call ‘Saturday Night Football’ on ABC

Posted on March 13, 2014

BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) — Chris Fowler is taking over play-by-play responsibilities for the marquee Saturday night college football game on ABC.

ESPN announced Thursday that Fowler had signed a nine-year contract extension through 2023. The network said a day earlier that Brent Musburger was leaving “Saturday Night Football” and doing games for SEC Network.

Fowler will continue to host “College GameDay” on Saturday morning, then travel to the site of the prime-time game if it’s in a different location, as analyst Kirk Herbstreit already does.

Fowler and Herbstreit have worked together on “GameDay” since 1996 and will now team up on the Saturday night games.

Fowler joined ESPN in 1986 and has hosted “GameDay” since 1990.

He called ESPN’s Thursday night college football games from 2006-09. Fowler will continue to host and announce tennis coverage from the Grand Slam tournaments.

Jets Agree to Terms with Former Broncos WR Decker

Posted on March 13, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Jets have agreed to terms with former Denver Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker, considered by many the top free agent at his position.

Decker spent all day Wednesday at the Jets’ facility and had dinner with a contingent of team officials, including coach Rex Ryan. He gives quarterback Geno Smith and the offense a sorely needed playmaker and No. 1-type wide receiver.

The 6-foot-3, 214-pound Decker, who’ll be 27 on Saturday, set career highs last season catching passes from Peyton Manning with 87 catches and 1,288 yards receiving to go along with 11 touchdowns. He had 85 receptions for 1,064 yards and a career-best 13 TDs in 2012.

Getting a top receiver was a priority as the Jets headed into free agency.

Chiefs Land Linebacker Mays, O-Lineman Linkenbach

Posted on March 12, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs signed linebacker Joe Mays and offensive lineman Joe Linkenbach on Wednesday, while also confirming the signing of defensive back and special teams standout Husain Abdullah.

Linkenbach joined the Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2010, and started all 16 games the following season. He only started eight games in 2012 and five last season.

His ability to play tackle and guard on both sides of the line made him appealing to the Chiefs, who lost left tackle Branden Albert and guards Jon Asamoah and Geoff Schwartz on Tuesday.

Mays could take the place of Akeem Jordan, who also became a free agent. He was drafted by current Chiefs coach Andy Reid when he was in Philadelphia in 2008.

Abdullah had agreed to a contract on Tuesday.

Broncos, DeMarcus Ware agree to deal (Updated)

Posted on March 12, 2014March 12, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos kept their free agency focus on defense as they agreed to a three-year, $30 million deal with pass rusher DeMarcus Ware.

Ware didn’t fully intend to agree to a deal right away with Denver when he flew into town Wednesday morning, but was persuaded by Broncos boss John Elway. The Hall of Fame quarterback turned executive stressed to Ware the Broncos’ commitment to defense even with a prolific offense led by Peyton Manning.

It was backed up by agreements with defensive backs T.J. Ward and Aqib Talib to open free agency on Tuesday. The 31-year-old Ware says the Broncos are “trying to make a statement — a statement we’re a team to be reckoned with.”

Ware was let go Tuesday by Dallas in a salary-cap move.