Long has ring, will travel
Veteran defensive end Chris Long signed a oneyear contract with the New England Patriots last offseason in hopes of winning a Super Bowl. With that goal accomplished, he said Wednesday he will be moving on in 2017.
In a post on his Instagram account, Long — the older brother of Bears guard Kyle Long — thanked Patriots fans and expressed his admiration and appreciation for teammates and coach Bill Belichick before writing: ‘‘ This has zero to do with money. . . . It’s the right move in my heart because I want to get back to being the player I was before. I’m thankful for my role this year, but as a competitor, I’m itching to do what I do best.’’
Long, who played the first eight seasons of his career with the St. Louis Rams and was never part of a team with a winning record, might be seeking a more expanded role. He played only 15 snaps as a designated pass rusher in Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons and made a big impact, drawing a critical holding penalty that helped push the Falcons out of field- goal range in the fourth quarter.
Gordon eyes reinstatement
The business manager for suspended Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon told ESPN his client will apply this month to commissioner Roger Goodell for reinstatement to the NFL.
Gordon, 25, hasn’t played in a regular- season game since 2014. He was days away from returning to the Browns’ roster last season but voluntarily entered a rehab facility in September, saying he wanted to ‘‘ gain full control of my life and continue on a path to reach my full potential as a person.’’
League spokesman Brian McCarthy declined to comment about the situation.
Chiefs don’t tag Poe
The Kansas City Chiefs declined to use the franchise tag on defensive tackle Dontari Poe, which means he can become a free agent when the market opens next week.
The Chiefs will have a hard time fitting Poe under the salary cap after signing safety Eric Berry ( six years, $ 78 million) and offensive lineman Laurent DuvernayTardif ( five years, $ 41.25 million) on Tuesday.
Rams put tag on Johnson
The Los Angeles Rams put the franchise tag on cornerback Trumaine Johnson for the second consecutive year. The move means the parties have until July 15 to negotiate a long- term deal, or Johnson can play next season under the franchise tender as the NFL’s highestpaid cornerback.
Steelers re- sign Harrison
The Pittsburgh Steelers brought back linebacker James Harrison by signing him to a two- year contract that will keep him with the team past his 40th birthday. Harrison had five sacks last season to become the Steelers’ all- time leader in that category with 79 ½ .
Sun- Times wires