Pats pick up option on wide receiver Britt
Kenny Britt looks like he will get a second season in Foxboro.
The Patriots picked up his contract option for next season, NFL Network reported yesterday. Britt joined the Patriots late last season and played in three games while catching two passes.
He returns to a pass-catching corps that has some uncertainty, with Danny Amendola set to become a free agent next week and Rob Gronkowski refusing to rule out retirement.
Britt is a nine-year veteran who has 329 career catches and 32 touchdowns.
Meanwhile, the NFL’s franchise tag window closed yesterday without the Patriots using it. Running back Dion Lewis and cornerback Malcolm Butler were the only two realistic options for the tag. Both are expected to become free agents.
Steelers tag Bell again
Five NFL players were given the franchise tag, with only Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell getting the exclusive tag.
Bell, who has been adamant about not playing under the tag for a second straight season, can’t negotiate with any other teams. Pittsburgh must offer him the average of the top five running backs’ salaries. Both sides plan to continue negotiating.
Also getting franchise tags were Miami wide receiver Jarvis Landry, Detroit defensive end Ezekiel Ansah, Dallas DE DeMarcus Lawrence, and Los Angeles Rams safety Lamarcus Joyner . . . .
Kirk Cousins’ time with the Washington Redskins is all but finished after they chose not to use the franchise tag on the quarterback as expected.
Hochuli, Triplette retire
NFL referees Ed Hochuli and Jeff Triplette are retiring.
One of the replacements will be former back judge Shawn Hochuli, Ed’s son. The other is former side judge Alex Kemp. The two new referees each joined the NFL in 2014 . . . .
The Carolina Panthers signed Pro Bowl kicker Graham Gano to a four-year contract extension . . . .
Running back Chris Ivory has agreed to sign a two-year contract with the Buffalo Bills . . . .
Former Raider Aldon Smith surrendered to police who said he is a suspect in a domestic violence incident. The Raiders released Smith on Monday . . . .
Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross says he won’t force his players to stand for the national anthem, even though he believes kneeling is a counterproductive way to promote social justice . . . .
The NFL’s salary cap will be $177.2 million, more than $10 million above last season.