Arizona acquires Green; Sanders off to Buffalo
As the NFL opened its business year Wednesday, veterans A.J. Green and Emmanuel Sanders are among those who prospered.
Green joins the Cardinals and ends a decade in Cincinnati, though he has been plagued by injuries recently and sat out 2019. Arizona, which also acquired center Rodney Hudson from the Raiders for a thirdround draft pick, already has a No. 1 receiver in DeAndre Hopkins, and longtime star Larry Fitzgerald has not made a decision on returning for an 18th season. He got a one-year deal worth $8 million.
Sanders, joining his fourth franchise, didn’t make out quite so well as he heads to Buffalo. But he gets to join All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs catching balls from Josh Allen for a team on the rise that went to its first AFC title game since the 1993 season before losing at Kansas City. Sanders also played for Pittsburgh and Denver, where he won a Super Bowl, and spent last season with New Orleans. He’ll get about $6 million for 2021. Elsewhere:
• Carolina went for defense with linebackers Haason Reddick and Denzel Perryman and end Morgan Fox.
• Kansas City agreed to a $5 million deal for next season with three-time Pro Bowl guard Kyle Long, who comes out of retirement. The Chiefs made one-year deals to keep running back Darrel Williams, linebacker Ben Niemann and defensive end Taco Charlton.
• Detroit took away one of division-rival Green Bay’s offense pieces, giving a two-year contract to running back Jamaal Williams. Williams was a backup to Aaron Jones with the Packers, and figures to fill the same role in Detroit behind D’Andre Swift and Kerryon Johnson. The Lions also arranged a trade with the Rams for steady defensive tackle Michael Brockers as they attempt to rebuild one of the NFL’s worst units. They released veteran cornerback Desmond Trufant.
• Atlanta acquired tight end Lee Smith from the Bills for a seventh-round draft pick next year.
• Tackle Nate Solder renegotiated his contract with the New York Giants and will return after opting out of last season because of family concerns about COVID-19. Solder was to earn $9.9 million in the upcoming season under his old contract and will earn roughly $4 million instead. The team also re-signed receiver C.J. Board, defensive tackle Austin Johnson and long snapper Casey Kreiter.
• Washington stayed busy by agreeing with cornerback William Jackson on a contract worth $42 million over three years with $26 million guaranteed. Placekicker Dustin Hopkins will return, as will running back Lamar Miller.
• Defensive tackle Adam Butler got a $9.5 million, two-year contract with the Miami Dolphins. Butler started four games last year and had four sacks. The Dolphins also signed cornerback Justin Coleman and receiver Robert Foster.
• The Cowboys released punter Chris Jones, who was with the club 10 years and started the past eight seasons.
• New England brought back center Ted Karras on a one-year, $4 million contract. Karras previously spent four seasons in New England, winning two Super Bowl rings as a utility offensive lineman and backup center to David Andrews. He was with Miami last year. JURISPRUDENCE>> Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Broderick Washington was arrested in Northern Virginia after police said he was trying to break into parked cars.
Arlington County Police say Washington, 24, of Baltimore was charged with destruction of property, both as a felony and a misdemeanor, and tampering with a vehicle.
Washington was a fifthround draft choice last year out of Texas Tech. He played in eight games and had two tackles.