Brady signs extension, frees cap space for Bucs

TAMPA, FLA. » Tom Brady has agreed to a contract extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that provides the Super Bowl champions with much-needed salary cap relief and will help the seventime NFL champion reach a goal of playing until he’s at least 45.

Brady posted a picture of himself on Twitter, signing the extension Friday with the message: “In pursuit of 8 ... LFG@ Buccaneers we’re keeping the band together.”

The extension confirmed by the team frees about $19 million in salary cap space, a move that improves Tampa Bay’s chances of returning as much of its championship roster as possible for 2021.

Seven starters from the Super Bowl were among two dozen Buccaneers eligible to become free agents next week.

Brady’s extension adds an extra season on the two-year, $50 million contract he signed in free agency last March following a 20-year run with the New England Patriots.

Source: Patriots completing 1-year deal to re-sign Newton

BOSTON » The New England Patriots are completing an agreement to re-sign free-agent quarterback Cam Newton, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The one-year deal is worth close to

$14 million, the person said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

With the new pact, the Patriots bring back the 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player after an up-and-down 2020 season in which he missed time after contracting

COVID-19 and struggled to lead the offense as he tried to fill the void created by Tom Brady’s departure to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Source: 49ers agree to 2-year deal with Moseley

SANTA CLARA » The San Francisco 49ers have locked up one of their key cornerbacks before the start of free agency by agreeing to a two-year contract with Emmanuel Moseley before he became a restricted free agent.

A person familiar with the deal said Friday on condition of anonymity that Moseley will earn up to $10.1 million under the contract.

Moseley started eight of his 12 games last season with one interception, nine passes defensed and 47 tackles.

Bills, Williams have 3-year deal

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. » The Buffalo Bills agreed to sign offensive lineman Daryl Williams to a three-year contract, days before the starter was eligible to become a free agent.

Williams is a sixth-year player, who started all 16 games during his first season in Buffalo.

He signed a one-year deal with the Bills a year ago after spending his first five seasons with the Carolina Panthers.