Cardinals sign Bradford
The Arizona Cardinals have addressed their need at quarterback, signing Sam Bradford on Friday though they may not be done at the position. Bradford, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft, is known for his strong and accurate arm but he has struggled with injuries. After being named NFL offensive rookie of the year in 2010, Bradford tore his left ACL in the 2013 and 2014 seasons. He was traded to Philadelphia in 2015. Bradford signed with Minnesota in 2016 and missed most of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus. He has appeared in 80 games — all as a starter — for the St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia and Minnesota. Before agreeing with Bradford, the Cardinals had no QBs on their roster after the retirement of Carson Palmer and the departure of free agents Drew
Stanton and Blaine Gabbert.
In other NFL news Friday, New Orleans Saints punter Thomas Morstead said he has signed a new five-year, $20 million contract with New Orleans. Morstead told The Associated Press that his new contract begins in 2018, replacing the final year of his previous contract that was due to expire after next season. He said the deal guarantees $9 million over the first two seasons and includes the possibility for additional bonuses. Morstead, 32, has averaged 47 yards per punt during his career, which ranks third all-time in the NFL. … The Carolina Panthers reached an agreement to sign cornerback Bashaud Breeland earlier this week, but that won’t happen now since he failed his physical because of a non-football related injury, the team announced Friday. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Breeland had suffered a cut on his foot that got badly infected, and that he likely would not be able to pass a physical for “a few months.” Breeland was slated to replace starting corner Daryl Worley, who was traded to Philadelphia in exchange for receiver Torrey Smith. … Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict is appealing a four-game suspension from the NFL for violating its policy on performance-enhancing substances, the third consecutive season that he’s facing punishment from the league. Burfict was suspended for the first three games of the 2016 season in response to his hit on Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown during the playoffs and his history of egregious conduct. He got another three-game suspension to start last season after his egregious hit on Kansas City running back Anthony Sherman during a preseason game. … The New York Jets have signed cornerback Trumaine Johnson to a five-year, $72.5 million contract. Johnson, arguably the top free agent at his position, spent his first six seasons with the Rams and had 18 interceptions while establishing himself as one of the best cover cornerbacks in the NFL. The deal included $34 million guaranteed at signing. … The Minnesota Vikings have signed defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson to bolster what was already one of the NFL’s top defenses. Richardson, the 13th overall pick out of Missouri in 2013 by the Jets, had one sack and 27 tackles last season for Seattle. He spent his first four seasons with New York, which traded him last summer to the Seahawks for wide receiver Jermaine Kearse and a draft pick. Richardson, 27, has 286 tackles and 19 sacks in his career.