Jets extend deals of GM, coach; Koetter’s job safe
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The New York Jets are choosing stability over a shake-up.
The team announced Friday it extended the contracts of general manager Mike Maccagnan and coach Todd Bowles, keeping the pair for at least the next three seasons through 2020.
The extensions are for two years each, according to a person with direct knowledge of the contracts. The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team did not announce terms.
The announcement came two days before the Jets complete their season at New England. New York is 5-10 and will miss the playoffs for the seventh straight year and the third under Maccagnan and Bowles.
The decision is not a huge surprise, although there was growing speculation on Bowles’ future as he completed the third year of his original four-year deal. He is 20-27 during his tenure with the Jets and could be looking at his second straight 5-11 season.
But Bowles is credited with instilling a culture change among his players, who were in mostly every game this year. Seven of the Jets’ 10 losses have been by 10 points or fewer.
Buccaneers will retain head coach
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will reportedly keep coach Dirk Koetter for another season. The Glazer family, which has owned the team since 1995, decided to retain Koetter for a third season, per the Tampa Bay Times, despite a regression from 9-7 in 2016 to 4-11 and last place in the NFC South this season.
Tampa Bay began 2017 with high expectations, but struggled through a hail of injuries, particularly to quarterback Jameis Winston, who missed three weeks with a hurt shoulder after trying to play through it. Winston, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft, had improved steadily over his first two seasons under Koetter, who served as the team’s offensive coordinator under Lovie Smith in Winston’s rookie year before taking the reins after Smith was fired following two seasons that produced an 8-24 record.
Adams, Packers agree to new deal
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams signed a contract extension, the team announced Friday.
The deal is worth $58.75 million over four years, including $32 million guaranteed and an $18 million signing bonus, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The 25-year-old Adams, who was scheduled to become a free agent in the offseason, leads Green Bay with 74 catches for 885 yards and 10 touchdowns in 14 games this season.
Luck: Shoulder feels stronger
Andrew Luck says his throwing shoulder feels stronger and he hopes to participate in the Indianapolis Colts’ offseason workouts.
The three-time Pro Bowl quarterback returned to the team complex Friday after spending multiple weeks rehabbing in Europe. Luck says he had no additional medical procedures done while he was out of the country. He has not yet resumed throwing and insists he’s confident additional surgery won’t be necessary.
Luck had surgery in January to repair a partially torn labrum in his right shoulder, didn’t start throwing football until October and then was shut down because of lingering pain.
Odds and ends
Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue was fined $30,387 by the NFL for making physical contact with a game official during a loss to the 49ers on Sunday. … Dallas put left tackle Tyron Smith (knee) and cornerback Orlando Scandrick (back) on injured reserve before the season finale at Philadelphia. … Tennessee will play its regular-season finale against Jacksonville without running back DeMarco Murray (knee). … Wide receiver/return specialist Tyreek Hill will miss the Chiefs’ regularseason finale because of a death in his family.