Off the wire

League bans Burfict for 5 Linebacker Vontaze Burfict will miss the season’s first five games for a hit he put on a Chiefs running back Anthony Sherman that was in violation of the NFL’s player safety rules, the latest in Burfict’s history of egregious hits that have drawn fines and suspensions. Burfict hit Sherman in the chest during a pass play in which he was not the intended receiver, knocking him to the ground. The Bengals were off on Monday after returning from a preseason game in Washington. They released a statement defending Burfict in the face of his latest punishment. “The film shows that the hit was legal, that Vontaze engaged his opponent from the front, and that contact was shoulder-to-chest,” the statement said. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy pointed out in an email to The Associated Press that the league’s rulebook bans “unnecessary contact” against players who aren’t in position to defend themselves. The Bengals will open the season with Burfict and cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones suspended. The league suspended Jones one game for his latest arrest and misdemeanor conviction in the offseason.

QB Stafford to get $135M Quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions have agreed to a $135-million, five-year extension that makes him the highest-paid player in the NFL, a source close to the negotiations said. The person spoke Monday night to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because terms were not disclosed. The team announced the deal keeps the quarterback under contract through the 2022 season. Stafford was entering the last season of his $53 million, three-year contract. Stafford’s deal surpasses the $125-million, five-year contract the Oakland Raiders gave Derek Carr this summer.

Jets name McCown QB Jets Coach Todd Bowles named 38-year-old Josh McCown as the team’s starting quarterback over Christian Hackenberg and

Bryce Petty despite the fact that he’s played in only one series this preseason. No backup quarterback was named Monday. McCown completed 3 of 4 passes for 72 yards and a touchdown in his lone preseason series. McCown is with his seventh different team entering his 15th season in the NFL. He previously played for the Cardinals, Raiders, Panthers, Bears, Buccaneers and Browns, mostly in a backup capacity. McCown has a 59.1 career completion percentage, 78.2 career passer rating, 79 touchdowns and 69 interceptions in 82 games.

Bills trade Ragland to Chiefs The Buffalo Bills sent linebacker

Reggie Ragland to the Kansas City Chiefs Monday in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2019 draft. Ragland spent much of training camp working with the backups and then saw limited playing time in three preseason games. In Kansas City, Ragland also gets an opportunity to play in a three-lineman, four-linebacker-styled defense, which he was accustomed to at Alabama. In a separate move, the Bills signed Keith Wenning to address their injury-depleted quarterback position. Buffalo turned to Wenning because starter Tyrod Taylor and third-stringer T.J. Yates are both being evaluated for concussions suffered Saturday in a 13-9 preseason loss at Baltimore. The injuries left the Bills with fifthround pick Nathan Peterman as the only quarterback available for their preseason finale against Detroit on Thursday.

Bears lose WR Meredith Bears receiver Cameron Meredith will indeed be lost for the season. A source confirmed that an MRI on Meredith’s injured left knee Monday revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament, as was feared after the third-year receiver left Sunday’s exhibition game against the Titans on a cart. Meredith led the Bears with 66 catches for 888 yards last season.

Broncos backup QB hurt The Denver Broncos have lost backup Paxton Lynch for several weeks to a sprained right (throwing) shoulder suffered in Denver’s 20-17 exhibition victory over Green Bay on Saturday night. If Lynch’s injury makes him incapable of playing and at least handing the ball off, the Broncos would have to add another QB who wasn’t in their plans. They could either keep camp arm Kyle Sloter or grab a quarterback who becomes available when 1,200 players are cut this weekend.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Heathcote, Magic’s coach, dies

Jud Heathcote, who led Michigan State and Magic Johnson to the 1979 NCAA championship, has died. He was 90. Heathcote coached the Spartans for 19 seasons from 19761995. Before that, he was the head coach at Montana from 1971-1976. Heathcote, an alum of Washington State, finished his career with a 419274 record, including a 339-221 mark at Michigan State. “Michigan State has lost one of its icons today,” said Tom Izzo, who was Heathcote’s handpicked replacement in 1996. “Spartan basketball is what it is today because of Jud Heathcote.” Heathcote won 3 Big Ten titles and appeared in 9 NCAA tournaments during his 19-year career at Michigan State. He got his start as a head coach in college at Montana in 1971.