Jones says status never in doubt
Julio Jones insists his status for training camp was never in doubt. Jones, the five-time Pro Bowl receiver, was at the start of Falcons training camp yesterday after missing a mandatory minicamp in June while asking that his contract be reworked. Jones dismissed reports he wouldn’t report as “he said, she said” speculation. “We knew all along we were going to get it handled.”
General manager Thomas Dimitroff said yesterday the team made an “adjustment” to Jones’ five-year, $71.5 million contract. Jones is entering the third year of the deal.
Jones has remained one of the NFL’s most productive receivers. He had 88 catches for 1,444 yards and three touchdowns in 2017. Jones and Marvin Harrison are the only players in NFL history to have at least 80 catches for at least 1,400 yards in four straight seasons.
Yesterday, the Falcons also agreed to a five-year, $75 million extension for left tackle Jake Matthews. Matthews, 26, was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2014 draft. He started in each of his 63 games while serving the key role of protecting quarterback Matt Ryan, who made the Falcons’ biggest deal in the offseason — a five-year, $150 million extension, the most lucrative contract in NFL history.
Darnold holds out on Jets
Sam Darnold is officially a holdout. The New York Jets began their first practice of training camp yesterday without their prized rookie quarterback. Darnold was the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL draft.
Under the NFL’s labor agreement, contract holdouts are uncommon because deals are slotted based on draft position. Darnold will receive a four-year, fully guaranteed contract worth $30.247 million, including a $20 million signing bonus.
The dispute seems to hang on contract language. If a player is cut during his rookie contract, offset language provides the team with financial protection. Not having offset language allows a player to receive his salary, as well as get paid by another team that signs him.
And Jets wide receiver ArDarius Stewart has been suspended by the NFL without pay for the first two games of the regular season for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Titans ink deal for Lewan
The Tennessee Titans locked up two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Taylor Lewan with a deal making him the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman.
The team did not disclose specific terms, but multiple reports say it’s a five-year deal worth $80 million with $50 million guaranteed. That tops the four-year, $62 million deal Nate Solder got from the New York Giants in March to leave the Patriots.
Negotiations wrapped up quickly enough that Lewan reported on time on Wednesday. Lewan skipped the mandatory minicamp in June because of stalled talks.
Lewan, 27, was the 11th overall selection out of Michigan in 2014. The 6-foot-7, 309-pounder had been due $9.34 million this season under the fifth-year option the Titans picked up last year. He started 53 of 58 games, including every game the past two seasons, protecting quarterback Marcus Mariota’s back.
The Titans also agreed to a two-year extension for Pro Bowl tight end Delanie Walker. Walker, 33, has played in three straight Pro Bowls.
Verrett injured again
Jason Verrett incurred another serious injury before training camp even begins for the Los Angeles Chargers.
The former Pro Bowl cornerback tore his Achilles tendon yesterday during a conditioning test, one day before the first practice of camp, another heartbreaking blow to a promising player who has been unable to stay healthy in the NFL.
Verrett missed 15 games last season and 12 games in 2016 due to knee injuries. He made the Pro Bowl in 2015 . . . .
The Arizona Cardinals signed safety Tre Boston to a one-year contract. Boston played in all 16 games with the Chargers last season, when he set career highs with 79 tackles, 61 solo, five interceptions and nine passes defensed . . . .
The Washington Redskins signed backup quarterback Colt McCoy to an extension through 2019. McCoy is entering his fifth season with Washington . . . .
New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman says the aggressive cancer he was diagnosed with five weeks ago is in remission. Gettleman, 67, returned to the Giants this year to replace the fired Jerry Reese.