Dec 24, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (82) runs over Seattle Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas (29) at AT&T Stadium. Seattle won 21-12. Photo Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten reportedly is exploring his options.
Witten is said to be contemplating his playing career while also mulling a broadcast future in television. He reportedly was weighing an offer to join ESPN’s Monday Night Football broadcast team while another network has made an “interesting” last-minute proposal, ESPN announced, without divulging the other network.
From a financial perspective, Witten will earn a base salary of $1.05 million and up to $750,000 in per-game roster bonuses with the Cowboys this season. The Dallas Morning News, however, cited two sources in reporting that the pending Monday Night Football offer from ESPN would pay Witten between $4 million and $4.5 million annually.
The soon-to-be 36-year-old Witten expects to make a decision by Wednesday, ESPN reported.
–Team security officials for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are investigating an online threat made against general manager Jason Licht, multiple media outlets reported.
A fan with the Twitter alas @LuvDemNoles22 posted a series of tweets on Friday regarding the Buccaneers’ decisions at the 2018 NFL Draft, including a GIF from a murder scene in the movie “King of New York,” and the words, “When I see Jason Licht the next time I roll through Tampa.”
The fan later identified himself as Mike Rogers, 38, of Houston. Rogers has since deleted the tweet and said he was just venting his frustration over the team’s decision-making in the draft.
–Oakland Raiders offensive tackle Donald Penn is a suspect in a domestic violence case, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed, according to ESPN.com.
However, Penn and his wife reportedly issued a statement that there was no physical altercation.
According to a TMZ report, Penn allegedly slapped his wife’s butt, poured a drink on her head and grabbed her wrist.
The Los Angeles Police Department responded to a radio call Sunday evening, and when officers arrived, Penn was no longer at the scene, an LAPD public relations officer told ESPN.com.
Penn and his wife, Dominique, issued a joint statement to TMZ through their representative, Denise White, that claimed there was no physical altercation.
–The Minnesota Vikings re-signed veteran cornerback Terence Newman, the team announced.
Newman, 39, is the NFL’s oldest current defensive player and is the league’s active leader in interceptions with 42.
He will return for his 16th NFL season and fourth with the Vikings. Newman totaled 25 tackles, one interception and five pass deflections in 2017, when he played in all 16 games and made seven starts.
–The Washington Redskins release defensive tackle Terrell McClain, the team announced.
McClain was just one season removed from signing a four-year, $21 million deal with the Redskins.
The 29-year-old recorded just 17 tackles and two sacks in 12 games last season. He missed Weeks 12-15 with a toe injury.
–The Pittsburgh Steelers released veteran safety J.J. Wilcox, the team announced.
Wilcox was due a non-guaranteed salary of $3.125 million, and releasing him leaves $625,000 in dead money on the cap.
In 2017, Wilcox played in 12 games, including one start, and finished with one interception, one pass defensed and 12 tackles for Pittsburgh.
–Former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne has agreed to become a volunteer assistant coach for the Colts, the team announced.
New Colts head coach Frank Reich invited Wayne to assist wideout coach Kevin Patullo to work with receivers.
Wayne currently works as an NFL Network analyst, and he has considered getting into coaching.
–The Philadelphia Eagles exercised their fifth-year option on wide receiver Nelson Agholor, the team announced.
Agholor is coming off his most productive season. He totaled 59 receptions for 648 yards receiving and three touchdowns in his first two seasons combined.
However, in 2017, Agholor had 62 catches for 768 yards and eight touchdowns while working primarily as a slot receiver. He also had 15 receptions for 157 yards in three postseason games, including nine catches for 84 yards in the Eagles’ 41-33 win over the Patriots in Super Bowl LII.
–The Cleveland Browns raised a few eyebrows with their first-round picks in the 2018 NFL Draft.
In addition to announcing reigning Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield out of Oklahoma with the top overall selection, the Browns passed over North Carolina State pass rusher Bradley Chubb in favor of Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward with the fourth pick.
“The reason is our need for a press cover cornerback,” Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said to The MMQB’s Peter King. “Denzel probably plays that position as well as anyone I’ve seen in college football in some time. We probably play the most press of any team in the league.”
–The Browns signed quarterback Joel Stave to a contract and waived wide receivers Matt Hazel and Kasen Williams as well as defensive back Kai Nacua.
Stave joins a quarterback group that consists of Mayfield, Tyrod Taylor and Drew Stanton.
–New York Jets wide receiver Quincy Enunwa said the AFC East could be turning upside down.
Enunwa told CBS Sports Radio on Friday that he believed the New England Patriots were “vulnerable” to being dethroned atop the AFC East, a position the team has held in 15 of the last 17 seasons — save for 2002 and 2008.
The 25-year-old Enunwa later admitted the remarks were as part of an answer to a question in which show hosts Brandon Tierney and Tiki Barber asked if the Patriots were a vulnerable club in light of offseason roster changes and drama involving coach Bill Belichick, quarterback Tom Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski.
“Obviously, I just wanted to agree,” Enunwa said the following day on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “I think they may be. But I also think that we’re capable of finally dethroning them. I think that we’ve always been. It’s just about getting over that hump of finishing games.”
–The Houston Texans agreed to terms on a one-year contract with unrestricted free-agent running back Alfred Blue, the team announced.
Blue’s cause to return to the Texans may have been aided by the fact that the team did not select a running back during the 2018 NFL Draft.
The 27-year-old Blue recorded career lows in carries (71), rushing yards (262) and games played (11) last season.
–The Texans are expected to exercise the fifth-year option on cornerback Kevin Johnson, the Houston Chronicle reported.
Johnson is expected to make $9.06 million during the 2019 season, per the report.
The 25-year-old has sustained numerous injuries since being selected by the Texans with the 16th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. He had a broken foot and fractured wrist during his rookie season as well as a broken foot and a knee injury in 2016.
–The Texans signed LSU free-agent offensive tackle K.J. Malone to a contract, the Houston Chronicle reported.
While the newspaper initially reported the news, Malone’s father — NBA Hall of Famer Karl Malone — hinted at it over Twitter while wearing a Texans hat.
–The Jacksonville Jaguars released Brad Nortman on the heels of drafting fellow punter Logan Cooke, multiple outlets reported.
The Jaguars on Saturday used a seventh-round pick on Cooke, who averaged 42.7 yards per kick in 2017 to wrap up a three-year career for Mississippi State.
–The Browns, who acquired defensive back Damarious Randall in a trade last month, announced they picked up his fifth-year option.
Randall played in 14 games in 2017, including 12 starts, and recorded four interceptions, nine passes defenses and 47 tackles.
–The Minnesota Vikings exercised the fifth-year option on cornerback Trae Waynes, the team announced.
Waynes will receive $9.069 million for the 2019 season, per the St. Paul Pioneer-Press.
The 25-year-old recorded a career-high 65 tackles, two interceptions and one sack while playing in all 16 games last season.
–Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane said on WGR-AM 550 in Buffalo that Josh Allen will begin as the team’s No. 3 quarterback, behind AJ McCarron and Nathan Peterman.
Those three will then compete for the starting job.
Allen was the seventh overall pick in this year’s draft.
–The Jacksonville Jaguars waived wide receiver Jaelen Strong, Mike Kaye of First Coast News reported.
Strong, 24, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in a December 24 loss to the San Francisco 49ers and is still recuperating.
Strong caught three passes for 38 yards and one touchdown in one game for the Jaguars last season.
–The felony plea hearing for San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster, which was scheduled for Monday, has been rescheduled for May 8.
The postponement gives prosecutors more time to review videotape given to them by the woman who originally accused Foster of domestic violence before she recanted her story.
