Money talks!
Jets rookie quarterback Darnold ends holdout, signs a four-year, $30.25-million deal
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Sam Darnold is signed, sealed and back under centre.
The New York Jets inked the rookie quarterback to a four-year, US$30.25-million deal Monday, ending the contract holdout of the NFL’s No. 3 overall draft pick.
Darnold missed the first three days of training camp practice while his representatives and the team worked out the details.
There wouldn’t be a fourth straight absence.
Just a few minutes after the Jets announced the signing — which includes a signing bonus of about $20 million — on social media, Darnold made his way out to the practice field with his teammates greeting him with a “Rudy”-like slow-clap. A grinning Darnold made his way to the warm-up line and got a pat on the shoulder from
Josh McCown.
Darnold then jumped right into position drills, handing off to running backs and throwing a few short passes before participating in team drills. After a shaky start that included a handoff, an incompletion and an intercepted pass by
Doug Middleton,
Darnold bounced back in red-zone drills with short touchdown tosses to fellow rookie Chris Herndon and later to wide receiver Quincy Enunwa.
“What’s up Jets fans?” Darnold said in a video posted by the team. “Man, it’s a pleasure to be signed now. I’m very excited. Very special moment. Let’s do it. Jet up!”
The 21-year-old quarterback is expected to compete with McCown and Teddy Bridgewater for the Jets’ starting job. But he fell behind slightly with each passing day, and it began to look uncertain as to when an agreement between the sides would come together. While the amount of Darnold’s contract was already clear under the NFL’s wage slotting system, the hang-up appeared to be over contract language.
One issue was offsets, which if included could provide a team with a measure of financial protection if it cuts a player during his rookie contract. The Jets have historically included offset language in their contracts. Not having offset language, a condition that Darnold’s representatives apparently sought, allows a player to receive his remaining salary from the team that cut him, as well as get paid by another team that signs him.
BRONCOS BANGED UP
The Denver Broncos don’t put their full pads on until Tuesday but they’re already a banged-up bunch.
Newly signed receiver
Corey Brown is in concussion protocol after hitting his head in the weight room and when the Broncos put on shoulder pads for the first time Monday several players hobbled off.
“Football is played in pads, so to put the pads on and watch the guys bang a little bit is always fun,” coach
Vance Joseph said.
“For the running game, and obviously stopping the run, the pads are critical.”
Left tackle Garett Bolles and inside linebacker
Brandon Marshall were among the casualties Monday.
The Broncos are also dealing with second-year wide receiver Carlos Henderson, who failed to report to training camp while dealing with what the team calls a family situation.
LUCK STILL ON TRACK
Andrew Luck feels as sore and tired as he expected four days into training camp.
He’s also pain free — just as the Indianapolis Colts hoped.
Luck passed his first major tests by returning to the practice field, taking all of his normal snaps during the Colts’ first two workouts, connecting with receivers on the run rather than throwing at stationary targets while feeling good physically and mentally.
It’s a good start for the quarterback with the surgically repaired right shoulder.
“Every day there will be new hurdles,” he said Sunday.
“The second day, things seemed to calm down or slow down a lot. The first day I was nervous, I was excited and there was a certain element of the unknown.
“I wasn’t quite sure what was going to happen. It was also very fun to be out there with the guys and focus on getting better at practice and not just surviving the practice.”