Cowboys to use tag on Lawrence
The Dallas Cowboys placed the franchise tag on DeMarcus Lawrence yesterday, guaranteeing the Pro Bowl defensive end $17.5 million in 2018.
The Cowboys had until today to put the tag on Lawrence, who can still sign a long-term deal with the club that traded up him to get him early in the second round in 2014.
Lawrence tied All-Pro Calais Campbell of NFL Jacksonville for second in the NFL with 14.5 sacks last season. The 25-year-old’s breakout year came after he struggled with injuries most of his first three seasons. He had back surgery each of the previous two offseasons.
On the one-year contract, Lawrence’s salary would be the average of the five highest-paid defensive ends.
Falcons kick in extension for Bryant
The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension with kicker Matt Bryant. The Falcons announced the agreement before Bryant could become a free agent on March 14.
In nine seasons with the Falcons, Bryant has made 88.1 percent of his field goal attempts — 230-of-261 — and has missed only one of 340 extra points.
Bryant, who turns 43 on May 29, passed Morten Andersen as the team’s all-time scoring leader in 2016.
Raiders cut ties with oft-troubled LB
The Oakland Raiders released pass rusher Aldon Smith after his latest run-in with the law. The Raiders retained Smith’s contractual rights even as he spent the past two seasons on the NFL’s suspended list. But the team decided finally to cut ties one day after San Francisco police said authorities were searching for Smith in connection with a domestic violence allegation . . . .
Veteran cornerback Antonio Cromartie, 33, announced his retirement from the NFL. The 11-year pro with four franchises posted a message on Instagram saying “after 27 years of playing football, today I say farewell.” An All-Pro with San Diego in 2007, when he led the league with 10 interceptions, Cromartie was one of the NFL’s best cover cornerbacks for much of his career, making four Pro Bowls . . . .
The Philadelphia Eagles have received multiple trade offers for Super Bowl MVP quarterback Nick Foles but they are setting a high price, according to an ESPN report. Sources told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, the Eagles’ basic answer to interested teams is that getting Foles is going to take more than the first- and fourthround picks they received from the Vikings for Sam Bradford in 2016. The Eagles have not actively shopped Foles but are taking inquiries, the sources said.