Extension gives Vinatieri shot at career scoring mark
Kicker needs 58 points to surpass Andersen as No. 1.
Kicker Adam Vinatieri has signed a one-year contract extension with the Indianapolis Colts. And, at 45, he could break the NFL’s career scoring record next season.
Financial details were not immediately available Thursday but Vinatieri made $3 million last season.
Vinatieri will again be the league’s oldest player. The kicker has 2,487 points and needs 58 to pass Morten Andersen for first place on the all-time list.
Vinatieri has played most of his career with the Colts. They signed him as a free agent in 2006 after he won three Super Bowl rings with New England.
Bills: NFL Network reported that the Bills are not planning to cut quarterback Tyrod Taylor despite the fact he will be due a $6 million roster bonus in March.
The prevailing thought has been that Buffalo would move on from the 28-yearold quarterback either by releasing him or through a trade. Taylor is due a $6 million roster bonus on the third day of the new league year to go along with a $10 million base salary in 2018. He restructured his contract last season, but will not entertain that route again.
Taylor seemed well on his way out of Buffalo when coach Sean McDermott infamously benched him in favor of untested rookie Nathan Peterman for the Week 11 game vs. the Chargers. Taylor took back the starting job after Peterman’s disastrous five-interception first half and helped lead the Bills to their first playoff appearance in 17 seasons.
Taylor’s propensity to not target receivers over the middle and a habit of missing open wideouts led to frustration from the coaching staff and Buffalo fan base.
Eagles: Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery has undergone surgery to repair his right rotator cuff, a source confirmed to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The source said the goal is for Jeffery to be ready for the regular season, though he could return during the preseason if all goes well.
Jeffery, 28, one of the Eagles’ biggest Super Bowl LII heroes, was injured on the first weekend of training camp, but ultimately was able to play every game of the 2017 season, catching 57 passes for 789 yards and nine touchdowns. He played 82 percent of the Eagles’ offensive snaps.
Jeffery came to the Eagles last spring on a one-year free-agent contract and, in December, signed a fouryear extension that could be worth as much as $52 million.
49ers-Raiders: Free agent cornerback Vontae Davis met with the Raiders on Wednesday after meeting with the 49ers the previous day.
Davis is a two-time Pro Bowler who is on the open market after being released by Indianapolis last November. Because he was cut, Davis can sign with a team immediately instead of waiting for the start of the new league year next month.
Media: Top college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit will take Jon Gruden’s place on ESPN’s coverage of the NFL draft, the network announced. Gruden left ESPN in January to return as coach of the Raiders.