2015 nfl off season notes,trades,cuts etc !

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Packers release linebacker A.J. Hawk

February 25, 2015

MILWAUKEE (AP) - The Green Bay Packers have released inside linebacker A.J. Hawk, cutting ties with the nine-year veteran and respected locker room presence.

Hawk leaves Green Bay with 1,118 tackles, tops in the franchise since 1975. He appeared in 142 out of a 144 possible regular-season games with 136 starts since being drafted in the first round in 2006.

But Hawk lost playing time in the second half of this past season as Green Bay tried to shore up its run defense

General manager Ted Thompson in a statement called Hawk a ''consummate Packer'' and a durable, consistent contributor to the team's success.

Hawk said he had nine great seasons in Green Bay, and that he would always cherish his time as a Packer.

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RB Reggie Bush released by Lions

February 25, 2015

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) - The Detroit Lions have released running back Reggie Bush.

After joining the team as an unrestricted free agent from Miami in 2013, Bush played started 23 of 25 games and had 299 carries for 1,303 yards and six touchdowns. He also had 94 catches for 759 yards and three touchdowns.

Last season, Bush finished with 76 carries for 297 yards and two touchdowns, and 40 catches for 253 yards. His 40 receptions ranked third on the team.

Bush was the No. 2 overall selection by the New Orleans Saints in the 2006 draft. Bush played five seasons with the Saints (2006-10) before spending two seasons with the Dolphins.

In nine NFL seasons, Bush has started 94 of 116 games and has 1,266 carries for 5,465 yards and 35 touchdowns.

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WR Jacoby Jones cut by Ravens

February 25, 2015

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) - Jacoby Jones was cut Tuesday by the Baltimore Ravens. The wide receiver and kicker returner was a major contributor to the Ravens' Super Bowl championship.

The 30-year-old Jones played three seasons with Baltimore after a five-year run with Houston.

Jones' most memorable plays with the Ravens both occurred in the 2012 postseason. He caught a 70-yard touchdown throw from Joe Flacco to force overtime against Denver and a returned a kickoff 108 yards to spark a Super Bowl win over San Francisco.

He returned a kickoff 108 yards last season against Pittsburgh, but he had only nine catches compared to 37 in 2013.

"We don't win (the) Super Bowl without Jacoby," general manager Ozzie Newsome said. "Jacoby was an outstanding Raven and a good teammate on and off the field."

The move makes some salary-cap room for the Ravens and gives Jones a few months to latch on with someone else.

"We think he can still play in the NFL," Newsome said, "and releasing him now allows him a better opportunity to land with another team."

Jones was selected to the Pro Bowl after the 2012 season. In 44 games with Baltimore, he returned six kicks for touchdowns and owned franchise-record a 30.1-yard career kickoff return average.

He also caught 76 passes for 992 yards and three touchdowns in regular season play.

"He was invaluable to our success," coach John Harbaugh said. "Opponents, especially on special teams, schemed to stop him. What a compliment to him."

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Cop: Shell casings in Hernandez car

February 25, 2015

FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) - A shell casing found in a car rented by ex-New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez and at the scene of a killing near his home were fired from the same weapon, a state police sergeant testified Wednesday.

Five shell casings were found near where Odin Lloyd was shot to death June 17, 2013, in an industrial park not far from the Hernandez home in North Attleborough. An employee of a rental car business has previously testified that she found one shell casing under the driver's seat of Hernandez's rented Nissan Altima, which he returned the day of the killing.

Police later found that shell casing in a trash bin at the business.

Sgt. Stephen Walsh testified Wednesday that his examination determined all six .45-caliber casings were fired by the same gun. He said they were consistent with having been fired from a Glock.

The murder weapon has never been found.

During cross-examination, the defense went after Walsh for not looking more thoroughly for ways to match the bullets, such as by contacting the manufacturer or by checking a national database for comparing bullets.

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Carroll to get honorary degree from USC

February 25, 2015

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is going back to Southern California to pick up an honorary degree.

The university said Wednesday that Carroll will be among six recipients of honorary degrees at the May 15 graduation ceremony in Los Angeles. Mellody Hobson, a money management expert and the wife of filmmaker George Lucas, will deliver the commencement address.

Carroll returns to the campus where he restored the Trojans' football program to national prominence as coach from 2001-09. He helped the Trojans win a national championship before leaving to coach the Seahawks, who won the Super Bowl under him in 2014 and lost in this year's Super Bowl to New England.

He will be inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame the day after graduation.

Carroll founded A Better LA and A Better Seattle, gang-violence prevention and community organizations that empower inner-city youth.

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Marijuana case continued for RB Bradshaw

February 25, 2015

EATON, Ohio (AP) - The Ohio marijuana possession case involving an Indianapolis Colts running back was continued Wednesday while authorities wait for crime lab results.

Eaton Municipal Judge Paul Henry rescheduled a pretrial conference for Ahmad Bradshaw to April 8. Bradshaw pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor count after being stopped this month by state troopers on a western Ohio interstate.

A Super Bowl player while with the New York Giants, Bradshaw, 28, would become a free agent in March after signing one-year Colts contracts the last two years. The team's website had carried a story earlier in which Bradshaw said he hoped to remain with the Colts.

A Colts spokesman didn't immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment on Bradshaw's status.

Bradshaw had 725 total yards and eight touchdowns in 10 games for the Colts in 2014 before suffering a season-ending fractured fibula.

His Dayton attorney, David Williamson, didn't immediately return a call for comment.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol said Bradshaw was stopped for a traffic violation on Interstate 70 on Feb. 5. A trooper said he found 1.5 grams of marijuana in the vehicle and sent some unidentified substances and other items to the patrol's crime lab.

Bradshaw was charged with possessing a small amount of marijuana and with following another vehicle too closely.

Trooper J.A. Barhorst said in a statement that he ''smelled the strong odor of raw marijuana'' coming from inside the Cadillac driven by Bradshaw after he pulled it over.

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2015 Heisman Odds

February 26, 2015


The 2015 college football season doesn’t begin until September but bettors can start placing wagers on future odds and on the most prestigious individual award, the Heisman Trophy.

Oddsmakers at 5Dimes.eu, a major offshore sportsbook, opened up numbers in February and to no surprise another quarterback is favored.

The top betting choice is Trevone Boykin, the dual-threat signal caller from TCU.

Behind Boykin is Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott at 8/1 (+800) odds. Bettors could be indecisive of backing Elliot considering three of his teammates can be wagered on too.

The Buckeyes have three quarterbacks Cardale Jones (15/1), Braxton Miller (25/1) and J.T. Barrett (25/1) listed as Heisman contenders according to the offshore outfit.

Listed below are all of the betting odds provided by 5Dimes.eu.

Odds to win 2015 Heisman Trophy

Trevone Boykin QB (TCU) +750
Ezekiel Elliott RB (Ohio State) +800
Dak Prescott QB (Mississippi State) +850
Leonard Fournette RB (LSU) +1150
Nick Chubb RB (Georgia) +1200
Paul Perkins RB (UCLA) +1200
Cody Kessler QB (USC) +1300
Derrick Henry RB (Alabama) +1400
Samaje Perine RB (Oklahoma) +1400
Cardale Jones QB (Ohio State) +1500
Jeremy Johnson QB (Auburn) +2000
Connor Cook QB (Michigan State) +2000
Joshua Dobbs QB (Tennessee) +2000
Jarrett Solomon QB (Arizona) +2000
Deshaun Watson QB (Clemson) +2250
J.T. Barrett QB (Ohio State) +2500
Braxton Miller QB (Ohio State) +2500
Royce Freeman RB (Oregon) +3000
Brad Kaaya QB (Miami Florida) +3300
Corey Clement RB (Wisconsin) +3300
D.J. Foster RB (Arizona State) +3300
Dalvin Cook RB (Florida State) +3300
James Conner RB (Pittsburgh) +3300
Justin Thomas QB (Georgia Tech) +3300
Nick Wilson RB (Arizona) +3300
Seth Russell QB (Baylor) +3300
Mason Rudolph QB (Oklahoma State) +4000
Jacoby Brissett QB (North Carolina State) +5000
Jalen Hurd RB (Tennessee) +5000
Jared Goff QB (California) +5000
Marquise Williams QB (North Carolina) +5000
Laquon Treadwell WR (Mississippi) +6600
Scooby Wright LB (Arizona) +6600

How to read the Odds:
Ex. Bet $100 on Trevone Boykin +750 to win $750
Ex. Bet $100 on James Conner +3300 to win $3,300
Ex. Bet $100 on Scooby Wright +6660 to win $6,600

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Miss State's Mullen gets 4-year extension

February 26, 2015

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi State has announced a contract extension for coach Dan Mullen that will pay him more than $4 million per season for the next four years.

The school announced the extension on Thursday night. The four-year contract is the longest allowed by state law.

The school says Mullen will be paid $4 million in 2015 and the average yearly salary of the contract is $4,275,000. Mullen's previous deal paid about $3 million annually.

Mullen led the Bulldogs to a 10-3 record last season, including a five-week stay at No. 1 in the national rankings. He has a 46-31 overall record at MSU over six seasons.

In the school's release, Mullen thanked the administration for providing ''the tools and resources to be successful and develop Bulldog football into a national brand.''

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Nacita admits ignoring Baylor compliance

February 26, 2015

WACO, Texas (AP) - Former Baylor running back Silas Nacita says he made a mistake by ''disregarding guidance'' from the school's compliance department and accepting benefits that led to him being removed from the team.

Baylor announced Tuesday that Nacita, whose story of overcoming an unstable family situation to play major college football made him a fan favorite, was no longer part of the program. The school's announcement came not long after Nacita posted on Twitter he had been ruled ineligible.

Nacita posted another statement Wednesday on his Twitter account - (at)Salsa-Nacho - clarifying his original post.

He says it was misleading to call the people who provided him an apartment when he was unable to afford housing ''close family friends.''

''Although at this point in time we consider ourselves as such, at the time I was only close friends with one member of the family,'' he wrote. ''The family members who offered assistance were merely acquaintances who I met at home in Bakersfield, CA.''

He said he did not think he was doing anything wrong but, ''now I can see that I made a mistake by disregarding guidance from Baylor compliance on what benefits I may accept.''

''I take full responsibility for my choice to accept these inappropriate benefits,'' Nacita wrote.

Nacita thanked Baylor coach Art Briles, athletic director Ian McCaw and university president Ken Starr for ''rallying around'' him throughout his time in Waco.

Nacita, who picked up the nickname Salsa Nacho because his name autocorrects to that on smartphones, had 191 yards rushing on 31 carries as a fourth-stringer and played on special teams last season.

Local and national media outlets profiled his road from growing up mostly fatherless in California to a year playing at Cornell for a year to walking on at Baylor. Nacita was described in those stories as once being estranged from his mother and homeless at times.

Nacita can remain a student at Baylor. He was a sophomore last season.

McCaw said in his statement Tuesday Nacita would no longer be part of the program because of rules violations that affect his eligibility, though no details were given.

The NCAA said it was not involved in Baylor's decision.

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Oklahoma State adds 5 to coaching staff

February 26, 2015

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) - Oklahoma State announced the addition of five new members to the football coaching staff Thursday.

Marcus Arroyo, Greg Adkins and Jason McEndoo joined the Cowboys as assistant coaches. Their specific roles have yet to be determined.

Arroyo spent last season as quarterbacks coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After a health procedure sidelined Buccaneers offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford, Arroyo became the play caller.

Adkins spent the last two seasons in the National Football League, coaching tight ends for the Buffalo Bills.

The American Football Coaches Association named McEndoo its 2011 FCS assistant coach of the year, a highlight of his 12-year run as Montana State's offensive line coach.

Bill Clay and Darrell Wyatt will serve as analysts within the program.

''Today is a really encouraging day for Oklahoma State football,'' Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said. ''We have five great additions to our staff who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in the game.''

Arroyo has been either offensive coordinator or quarterbacks coach in each of his last six jobs.

Adkins has 24 years of coaching experience, with eight of those coming in the Southeastern Conference. He has coached on both the offensive and defensive sides, but all of his positions except one have involved coaching tight ends or the offensive line.

McEndoo, the longest-tenured assistant coach in Montana State history, helped the program win five Big Sky Conference championships.

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LSU hit with minor recruiting sanctions

February 26, 2015

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - LSU says its football program has been penalized by the Southeastern Conference because coaches communicated too frequently with a recruit who had signed a financial aid agreement, but later decided to play elsewhere.

NCAA rules allow coaches more leeway to contact recruits who have submitted financial aid forms, but coaches are deemed retroactively in violation if such recruits decide to enroll at another school.

LSU spokesman Michael Bonnette says the Tigers received a two-year ban on offering financial aid agreements to freshmen enrolling in the spring semester - called early enrollees. Also, coaches will have the number of days they can evaluate recruits cut by 10 percent in 2015.

Bonnette says LSU informed the SEC of the violations, which were first reported Thursday by The Advocate of Baton Rouge.

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Browns agree to terms with QB McCown

February 27, 2015

The Browns have agreed to terms with veteran quarterback Josh McCown on a contract.

McCown, who went 1-10 as Tampa Bay's starter last season, reached agreement with Cleveland on Friday. The 35-year-old had also been in contract talks with the Buffalo Bills.

McCown's signing likely means the Browns will not re-sign Brian Hoyer, who won 10 games for them the past two seasons and is poised to become a free agent next month. Hoyer made 13 starts last season before he was benched in favor of rookie Johnny Manziel. It's not clear if the Browns view McCown as their starter for next season or as a mentor for a young quarterback like Manziel or any QB they may select in the NFL draft.

Manziel entered a rehab facility last month.

McCown previously worked with new Browns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo in Oakland.

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Report: LA stadium near airport terror risk

February 27, 2015

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A report commissioned by the developer of a downtown Los Angeles football stadium warns that a rival project nearby could be a potential terrorist target because of its proximity to Los Angeles International Airport.

The report was released Friday at a time when several potential stadium projects are competing to bring an NFL team to Southern California, two decades after the Rams and Raiders pulled out.

The 14-page report was commissioned by Anschutz Entertainment Group, which wants to build a stadium in downtown Los Angeles. A development venture linked to Rams owner Stan Kroenke has proposed a stadium in Inglewood, about 10 miles from downtown.

The report by former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge finds that constructing an 80,000-seat stadium in Inglewood - as close as 2.5 miles from an airport runway - ''materially increases the risk of a terrorist event.''

Ridge concluded that in a world when terrorism is a recognized threat that ''the peril of placing a National Football League stadium in the direct flight path of (the airport)'' ... outweighs whatever benefits it would bring over its lifespan.

The Hollywood Park Land Co., which is developing the Inglewood site, declined comment. AEG also declined comment.

The Los Angeles area has become the hottest market for stadiums in the country, though the NFL must approve any plan for relocation, a lengthy and complex process.

The Raiders and the San Diego Chargers announced last week that they are planning a shared stadium in Carson, also in the Los Angeles suburbs, if both teams fail to get new stadiums in their current hometowns. Another stadium has been proposed in the city of Industry, near Los Angeles.

The study was first reported by the Los Angeles Times.

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Dolphins release WR Hartline

February 27, 2015

MIAMI (AP) - Receiver Brian Hartline was been released Friday by the Miami Dolphins in the wake of a severe drop-off in productivity last season.

Hartline was due to make $5.9 million in 2015, the third year of a $30.8 million, five-year deal he signed in 2013.

He started every game last season but had only 39 catches for 474 yards and two scores. He has spent his entire six-year career with Miami and was a 1,000-yard receiver in 2012 and 2013.

Hartline's salary cap hit this year was $7.35 million. His release clears cap space as the Dolphins prepare for free agency beginning March 10.

The Dolphins are still weighing whether to keep their other starting receiver, Mike Wallace, who has three years left on a $60 million, five-year contract. He was unhappy not to be targeted more last season, and coach Joe Philbin benched him in the second half of the final game after an argument between the star receiver and coaching staff.

Wallace led the Dolphins with 10 touchdowns in 2014, but they may release or trade him to avoid paying his $9.85 million salary for this season.

Jarvis Landry, who led Miami with 84 receptions as a rookie last year, is expected to move into a starting role. Receiver may also be a priority in free agency and the draft.


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Ravens cut defensive end Chris Canty

February 27, 2015

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) - The Ravens have released defensive end Chris Canty, who played two seasons in Baltimore.

Canty was inactive for five games last season and had three games without a tackle. He finished with 33 tackles and a half-sack in 11 starts.

The 32-year-old Canty intends to extend his 10-year NFL career. He says, ''I am going to continue to prepare to play again and will explore other possibilities to play.''

Canty played four years in Dallas and won a Super Bowl during a four-year run with the New York Giants. In Baltimore, the 32-year-old was an asset on the field and in the locker room.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh says Canty added maturity and leadership to the team.

Canty says, ''I am very proud to be a Raven.''

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Progress pleases AP; doesn't thank Vikes

February 27, 2015

The Minnesota Vikings have repeatedly praised Adrian Peterson during the offseason, with his status slowly moving toward resolution.

Peterson hasn't had the same warmth for the Vikings.

The NFL returned the star running back to the exempt list Thursday after a federal judge ruled in his and the NFL Players Association's favor. They've been seeking dismissal of league arbitrator Harold Henderson's denial of Peterson's appeal of his suspension under the NFL's divisive personal conduct policy.

Peterson said Friday he was pleased by U.S. District Judge David Doty's decision that the NFL immediately appealed.

''It is a positive step in protecting players' rights and preserving due process for all players. It also brings me one step closer to getting back on the football field and playing the sport I love,'' Peterson said in a statement issued through his agency. ''As I prepare for my return to football, I am still focused on my family and continue to work to become a better father every day. I want to express my gratitude for all of the support I have received from the fans, NFLPA, Jeffrey Kessler, and my agents Ben Dogra, Tracy Lartigue, and Mark Heligman of Relativity Sports.''

Kessler is the union's lead lawyer who argued the case in Doty's courtroom in Minneapolis three weeks ago. That's about four blocks from the construction site of the team's new stadium, where the surrounding fence is decorated with a purple mesh banner featuring pictures of several key players including Peterson.

Whether he'll actually suit up for the Vikings there in 2016, or with them at their temporary home in 2015, remains a big question. Peterson glaringly skipped the Vikings in his list of thanks and made no mention of his future with the only team he has ever played for professionally.

''Any NFL team will be fortunate to have Adrian on its roster as he will consistently serve as a strong leader and impactful performer,'' Dogra said in his statement.

General manager Rick Spielman, one of several high-ranking officials who have professed confidence in Peterson and his character and a desire for him to return, said last week that his expectation is that Peterson will be back with Minnesota. Peterson's contract runs through 2017, carrying a $15.4 million salary cap hit for 2015, but the Vikings could cut him and owe him no more money and take only a $2.4 million hit to their salary cap this year. They could trade him starting March 10.

The NFL's appeal to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis has been set up with a briefing schedule that would call for a hearing between June 8-12, according to clerk of court Michael Gans. Currently, the NFL's first written arguments will be due by April 8.

''It'll be up to the parties if they want to move this more quickly and seek a hearing sooner than that,'' Gans said.

Peterson's suspension is supposed to last through at least April 15. The league said Thursday that Peterson's status on the exempt list will be ''pending further proceedings'' by Henderson or a determination by the 8th Circuit.

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Bears sign TE Miller to 1-year extension

February 27, 2015

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) - The Chicago Bears have agreed to a one-year contract extension through 2015 with tight end Zach Miller.

He spent last season on injured reserve with a foot injury after signing with the Bears. Miller played in 33 games with Jacksonville from 2009-11, catching 45 passes for 470 yards and four touchdowns.

The Bears announced the move on Friday.


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NFL hires Nicole Gustafson as lobbyist

February 27, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) - The NFL has hired Nicole Gustafson as a lobbyist.

The league says in a statement that Gustafson will be based in the NFL office in Washington, where as vice president for public policy and government affairs, she will help develop public policy and legislative initiatives and work with NFL teams on local and state issues.

The league announced Friday that she will begin the new position next month. Gustafson will report to Cynthia Hogan, the NFL's senior vice president for public policy and government affairs.

Gustafson recently worked in the office of Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, the Republican whip in the House, where she advised on policy issues that included homeland security, education, and oversight and government reform. In December, Scalise said he regretted speaking before a white supremacist organization in 2002.

Gustafson worked for then-House Majority Leader Eric Cantor from 2009-14.

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Redskins release Bowen, Cofield

February 27, 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Redskins announced Friday that they have released defensive end Stephen Bowen and defensive lineman Barry Cofield, both of whom spent the last four years with Washington.

Cofield, 30, was limited by injuries to eight games last season, finishing with seven tackles and a sack, after starting every game his first three years in Washington. Overall, he totaled 100 tackles and nine sacks.

The 30-year-old Bowen was also limited to eight games due to injury in 2014, compiling 11 tackles. Bowen appeared in 50 games, starting 45, for Washington and compiled 96 tackles and seven sacks.

The moves came as the Redskins confirmed the signing of free agent defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois. His contract is $9 million for three-years and includes $4 million in guaranteed money according to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, who confirmed the details to The Associated Press Thursday night.

The 6-foot-3, 295-pound lineman spent four seasons with the 49ers before playing two with the Colts.

The Colts had signed him to a $22 million, four-year contract in 2013, but the club decided to take salary-cap savings of nearly $5 million by cutting ties Monday. He had three sacks and made 13 starts for the Colts last season.

In his six NFL seasons, Jean-Francois has been active for 77 games, making 28 starts and collecting 8 1/2 sacks.

The Redskins also announced the re-signing of offensive tackle Tom Compton, 25, a restricted free agent. Compton played in 16 games last season, starting nine.


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Falcons release WR Douglas, others

February 27, 2015

ATLANTA (AP) - The Atlanta Falcons released wide receiver Harry Douglas, starting offensive guard Justin Blalock and defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi on Friday, a day after cutting running back Steven Jackson.

Douglas, a third-round pick in 2008, had career-high totals of 85 receptions for 1,067 yards in 2013, when he started in 11 of 16 games. Douglas, a third-round draft pick from Louisville in 2008, usually was the No. 3 receiver behind Julio Jones and Roddy White.

Blalock, a second-round pick from Texas in 2007, started all 125 games in which he played, including 15 in 2014.

On his Twitter feed on Friday, Douglas said ''Thanking (at)AtlantaFalcons for my 7 years in ATL & the opportunity to play in the city I grew up. First class organization. Much luv 2 fans.''

Blalock also reached out to fans through his Twitter feed, saying ''I'd like to sincerely thank the Atlanta Falcons, all my teammates and especially the fans. I've had an unbelievable 8 years and only wish I could have helped bring a championship to the ATL.''

Massaquoi, a fifth-round pick from Troy in 2012, started seven games in three seasons, including three in 2014 when he had two sacks. Massaquoi had a career-high four sacks in 2013.

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Cardinals release DT Darnell Dockett

February 27, 2015

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - The Arizona Cardinals released defensive tackle Darnell Dockett on Friday, allowing the three-time Pro Bowl lineman to test the free agency market.

The move gives the 33-year-old Dockett the chance to find out his fair market value before the free agency signing period begins March 10. He could well wind up re-signing with Arizona, the only team he's known in his 11 NFL seasons.

General manager Steve Keim said that the Cardinals ''have been very clear about our feelings for Darnell and our desire to have him back.

''After speaking with him and his representatives, we decided that this move today makes the most sense for both the team and the player and allows each to keep all of its options open.''

Dockett missed all of last season after tearing his right MCL in training camp. Before the injury, he had missed only two games during his NFL career.

He was drafted in the third round out of Florida State in 2004, the same year the Cardinals selected Larry Fitzgerald in the first round. Fitzgerald recently signed a restructured two-year, $22 million contract. The release of Dockett leaves Fitzgerald as the longest-serving player on the Arizona roster.

The two sides couldn't agree on what Dockett's value was, so allowing him to look elsewhere will determine at least what other teams are willing to pay and whether re-signing with Arizona is his best option.

Dockett was due to make $6.8 million next season, a figure that was too high for the Cardinals considering his age and the fact he's coming off a serious knee injury.

The sometimes brash and always colorful lineman was the emotional leader of the Cardinals' defense, voted captain by his teammates four times. He tied the Super Bowl record with three sacks in Arizona's loss to Pittsburgh in 2009. Dockett had 75 tackles and nine sacks, both career highs, in 2007.

He has 40 1/2 career sacks and 530 tackles.

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Vikings have had 'dialogue' with AP

March 2, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The Minnesota Vikings have been taking advantage of their opportunity to communicate with Adrian Peterson.

General manager Rick Spielman said Monday the organization has had ''open dialogue'' with the star running back since the NFL tabled his suspension and returned him to the special exempt list where he spent much of the 2014 season while the child abuse case he was involved in played out in court.

The league made that move Thursday after U.S. District Judge David Doty overruled the arbitrator who denied Peterson's appeal. Under his suspension, the Vikings weren't allowed to have direct contact. Now they're able to - for the time being. That's critical with the NFL's transactions period starting March 10.

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Lions won't put franchise tag on Suh

March 2, 2015

DETROIT (AP) - Ndamukong Suh can test the open market when free agency begins March 10 after the Lions decided not to use the franchise tag on the star defensive tackle, according to a report on the team's website.

Monday is the deadline for teams to designate franchise or transition players. The Lions did not officially confirm the decision to let the deadline pass without franchising their 28-year-old All-Pro, but the report on the team's website said Detroit concluded that the franchise tag's price of around $27 million for Suh proved too daunting.

Last month, general manager Martin Mayhew said he was optimistic about getting a deal done with Suh, but the franchise tag was probably the team's best source of leverage, and even that would have come at a prohibitive cost.

Suh has been a force in the middle of Detroit's defensive line ever since the Lions drafted him with the second overall pick in 2010. He has 36 sacks in five seasons, including 8 1/2 in 2014, when the Lions made the playoffs as a wild card while boasting one of the league's top defenses.

Suh has been hit with several fines in his career for his aggressive on-field actions, and he was nearly suspended for Detroit's playoff game at Dallas last season - a one-game ban for stepping on Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers was overturned on appeal. But that occasional drama has done little to detract from Suh's overall value to the Lions, who now face the prospect of having to bid against other teams for his services.

Suh, quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson - all of whom came to the Lions via high draft picks - have helped Detroit reach the postseason twice in the last four years. The Lions were able to secure Stafford and Johnson on long-term deals beyond their rookie contracts, but so far they've been unable to sign Suh.

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