Raiders ship off Mack to Bears
The Chicago Bears acquired star pass rusher Khalil Mack from the Raiders in a massive trade that sends two first-round draft picks to Oakland.
Mack held out for the entire offseason and preseason, seeking a new, long-term contract rather than play under the final year of his rookie deal that would have earned him $13.8 million.
Raiders coach Jon Gruden, in his biggest move since returning to the sideline from the broadcast booth, accommodated the 27-year-old Mack yesterday.
No details of a new contract were immediately available, but Oakland will reportedly get first-round selections in 2019 and 2020, a sixthrounder next year and a third-rounder in 2020. Oakland also included its second-round selection in 2020.
The fifth overall selection in the 2014 draft, Mack is a two-time AllPro and the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Mack has played in every game for Oakland the past four seasons, with 231 primary tackles, 40.5 sacks and nine forced fumbles.
Gruden wasn’t done dealing, as he got veteran quarterback AJ McCarron from the Bills for a fifth-round pick. The trade leaves second-year pro Nathan Peterman and first-round pick Josh Allen vying for the starting quarterback job in Buffalo.
The Raiders also waived Martavis Bryant just over four months after trading a third-round pick to Pittsburgh for the receiver, who dealt with injuries in camp.
Cowboys cut a surprise
The Dallas Cowboys waived Dan Bailey, the second-most accurate kicker in NFL history, in a surprise move to get their roster to 53.
Bailey was in Dallas for seven seasons but he tailed off badly last season after injuring his groin in the sixth game of the season. By waiving Bailey, the Cowboys are going with Brett Maher, a sixthyear player who hasn’t kicked in a regular-season game.
Tight end Rico Gathers made the roster a day after he was arrested on a charge of possession of marijuana. They kept four tight ends by keeping just two running backs in Ezekiel Elliott and Rod Smith.
RG3 survives
Robert Griffin III, the 2012 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year whose career has been disrupted by injuries since that season, remained with Baltimore and will likely be the thirdstring quarterback behind Joe Flacco
and first-round pick Lamar Jackson.
The Ravens parted with receiver Breshad Perriman, the team’s 2015 first-round pick. He had just 43 catches for 576 yards and three scores over 27 career games . ...
Paxton Lynch also survived in Denver. The 2016 first-rounder got through cutdown day despite slipping to third behind Chad Kelly on the QB depth chart . . . .
In Pittsburgh, Josh Dobbs’ impressive preseason cost Landry Jones his backup quarterback job. The Steelers kept Dobbs and rookie Mason Rudolph as the primary backups to Ben Roethlisberger . . . .
Veterans Brian Robison and Terence Newman were released by Minnesota. Robison was about to begin his 12th season with the team. Newman, the oldest defensive player in the NFL, will retire and join the coaching staff . ...
The Bengals released Michael Johnson, a 10th-year defensive end, although he could re-sign with Cincinnati for less money . ...
The Chiefs released cornerback David Amerson, who signed a $2.25 million free-agent deal this past offseason . . . .
Wideout Braxton Miller, a thirdround pick in 2016, who was twice selected Big Ten offensive player of the year as a quarterback at Ohio State before transitioning to receiver after an injury, couldn’t make the Texans. Houston also released guard David Quessenberry,
a 2013 draft pick who spent years fighting cancer before overcoming the disease to make his NFL debut last season.