Raiders bring Lynch out of retirement
Marshawn Lynch is coming out of retirement after agreeing on a two- year deal with the Raiders that paved the way for a trade to his hometown team in Oakland.
Lynch passed a physical and agreed to a restructured two- year contract. Those were the final steps needed before Seattle could trade his rights along with a 2018 sixth- round pick to the Raiders for a 2018 fifth- rounder.
NFL Network said Lynch would get a $ 3 million base deal this season, with a chance to make an additional $ 2 million if he rushes for at least 1,000 yards.
Lynch had been slated to make $ 9 million this season if he came out of retirement. With Seattle unwilling to pay that amount and Lynch only wanting to play for the Raiders, finalizing a trade was simple once Oakland was able to redo Lynch’s contract.
Lynch also must apply to the NFL for reinstatement from the retired list before he can play with the Raiders.
Lynch retired following the 2015 season but decided he wanted to come back and play with his hometown team. The Raiders met with him early this month to gauge his interest and wanted to get a deal done before the draft.
Bridgewater unlikely to get option
The Vikings are unlikely to pick up quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s fifth- year option by the May 2 deadline, according to ESPN.
The Vikings could still re- sign Bridgewater, but they do not appear willing to guarantee his 2018 salary for at least $ 11 million for injury when the quarterback is still trying to make it back from a catastrophic knee injury that has derailed other players’ careers.
Packers sign veteran OL Evans
The Packers signed veteran offensive lineman Jahri Evans as they look to fill a hole up front left by the departure of free agentright guard T. J. Lang.
The 33- year- old Evans joins the Packers following 11 seasons in New Orleans, where he played 169 regular- season games since being drafted in the fourth round in 2006. The 169 games are the most played by an active NFL offensive lineman in that span.
Eli looks to be vindicated
Emails between Giants quarterback Eli Manning and equipment manager Joe Skiba, filed by Manning’s attorneys last week and obtained by ESPN, suggest there was no plan to fabricate game- used memorabilia, as the plaintiffs in a fraud lawsuit allege.
One of the plaintiffs purchased what was said to be Eli Manning’s backup helmet from Super Bowl XLVI in 2012 from memorabilia company Steiner Sports. The other two plaintiffs purchased a helmet on the secondary market that they were told was worn in a game in the 2007- 08 season.
Hernandez hinted at suicide
Aaron Hernandez hinted about suicide weeks before he was found hanging by a bedsheet in prison last week, according to a jailhouse friend who once sought to share a cell with the former NFL star.
Hernandez wrote in a letter to the inmate: “I think I’m going to hang it up.”