Source: Jets and Fitzpatrick agree to a one-year deal
NEW YORK » Fitz Magic has returned and — voila! — the New York Jets are heading into training camp with their starting quarterback under contract. Finally. The Jets and Ryan Fitzpatrick agreed to terms on a oneyear deal Wednesday night, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The deal, worth $12 million guaranteed and could increase to $15 million in incentives, ends months of speculation and uncertainty at the team’s most vital position.
Fitzpatrick set the franchise record with a careerhigh 31 touchdown passes last season while helping lead the Jets on a playoff push in Todd Bowles’ first season as coach.
The well-traveled 33-yearold veteran appeared to be a certainty to re-sign in the weeks leading to the start of free agency, but Fitzpatrick and the Jets became locked in a contract stalemate over financial terms.
A deal appeared to be a better possibility two weeks ago, when New York signed defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson to a five-year contract extension. That deal created about $5.7 million in salary cap space, giving the Jets some more room to work out a contract with Fitzpatrick.
With the Jets reporting to camp on Wednesday and their first practice scheduled for Thursday, both sides worked to hash out the longexpected deal.
Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan repeatedly said all offseason that they’d like to have Fitzpatrick back, with the coach saying the veteran would enter camp as the team’s starter if he re-signed. • The Jets signed first-round draft pick Darron Lee to a four-year contract worth $10.2 million that is fully guaranteed.
Lee arrived at the team’s facility a few hours after players reported for physicals, and the team announced the deal Wednesday night. The linebacker will likely participate in the Jets’ first training camp practice on Thursday.
Cowboys’ Gregory faces longer suspension
FRISCO, TEXAS » Dallas defensive end Randy Gregory is facing a longer suspension over another violation of the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, and owner Jerry Jones says he doesn’t expect to see the troubled player at training camp in California.
With Gregory already suspended for the first four games this season, Jones said Wednesday that the Cowboys haven’t heard from the league about a possible 10game ban for another failed drug test.
A day after reports that Gregory was in rehab, Jones acknowledged that the former Nebraska standout was undergoing treatment.
“It’s very disappointing,” Jones told reporters during an event at the team’s new headquarters in the Dallas suburb of Frisco. • WTVA-TV reportedthat a municipal court has cleared former Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott on charges of speeding and drunk driving.
The Dallas Cowboys draft pick appeared in Starkville, Miss., Municipal Court on Wednesday to answer the charges, and was found not guilty.
Panthers’ Short won’t hold out
SPARTANBURG, S.C. » Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kawann Short said he won’t hold out while awaiting a new contract from the Carolina Panthers.
Short reported to training camp on time Wednesday, the same day the Panthers announced they gave safety Kurt Coleman a three-year extension that runs through the 2019 season.
Financial terms released.
Short said he’ll play this season under his current deal if he doesn’t receive a contract extension. The defending were not NFC champions begin practice Thursday night at Wofford College.
“It’s not about the contract, it’s about helping this team,” Short said. “I love the Carolina Panthers. Hopefully things will get done.”
Chiefs place Charles on PUP list
ST. JOSEPH, MO. » The Chiefs placed running back Jamaal Charles on the physically unable to perform list Wednesday, though coach Andy Reid said it should not be considered a setback in his return from a knee injury.
Charles tore the ACL in his right knee in Week 5 last season. He had surgery soon afterward and was far enough along in his recovery that he participated in some drills during mandatory minicamp.