Bears give DL Edwards three-year extension
The Bears are bringing back defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr., a source confirmed Sunday. He’ll make up to $11.5 million on a three-year deal, according to NFL Network.
As was the case with kicker Cairo Santos’ extension Thursday, the contract is technically a five-year deal, a source said. The last two years are voidable for salary-cap purposes.
Edwards, 27, posted a career-high four sacks last year but was involved in two issues. In January, he was suspended for the first two games of 2021 for violating the NFL’s ban on performance-enhancing drugs. He’ll be able to play preseason games and practice.
In December, he was charged with misdemeanor assault after an incident with a woman at the Bears’ team hotel the night before they played the Panthers in October. His representatives denied any wrongdoing.
Saints QB Brees retires
Saints quarterback Drew Brees, the NFL’s leader in career completions and passing yards, retired after 20 seasons, his last 15 with the Saints.
The decision comes after the 42-yearold won nine of 12 regular-season starts in 2020 while completing 70.5% of his passes, then won a wild-card playoff game before the Saints lost in the divisional round to the eventual Super Bowl champion Buccaneers.
Brees missed four games with multiple fractured ribs and a collapsed lung. It marked the second consecutive year he had to miss part of a season with an injury after missing just one game in the previous 13.
The New York Post reported in April that Brees already has agreed to join NBC Sports. He’s expected to begin as a studio analyst for “Football Night in America” and an in-game analyst for Notre Dame.
RB Jones stays with Pack on 4-year deal
Pro Bowl running back Aaron Jones agreed to a four-year deal worth $48 million that includes a $13 million signing bonus with the Packers, agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed. Jones, 26, rushed for 1,104 yards and nine touchdowns and caught 47 passes for 355 yards and two touchdowns last season.
This and that
Benardrick McKinney was traded by the Texans to the Dolphins for Shaq Lawson in a swap of linebackers. The Texans also acquired right tackle Marcus Cannon from the Patriots in a deal that also involves a swap of mid-to-late-round draft picks.
◆ The Niners’ Kyle Juszczyk became the highest-paid fullback in the NFL by agreeing to a five-year, $27 million extension that includes $10 million guaranteed.