Atlanta makes QB Matt Ryan the NFL’s highest-paid player with a deal that could be worth $150 million.
ATLANTA — Matt Ryan is the NFL's first $100 million man.
The Atlanta Falcons quarterback became the league's highest-paid player Thursday by agreeing to a five-year contract extension that could be worth as much as $150 million.
A person familiar with the deal, speaking to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the terms were not released, confirmed that Ryan is ensured of receiving at least $100 million. That surpasses the total compensation of the threeyear, $84 million guaranteed deal that quarterback Kirk Cousins received from the Minnesota Vikings.
If Ryan, 32, receives the full terms of the contract, he would receive an average of $30 million a year, also more than Cousin's $28 million yearly payout. Ryan will make $19.25 million in the final year of his current contract, which expires after this season.
Cousins' stunning deal set the target for Ryan's negotiations with the Falcons, though it might be a short stay at No. 1. The Green Bay Packers are trying to complete a new deal with Aaron Rodgers, their franchise quarterback, who will likely be looking to surpass Ryan's figure.
Ryan was the third overall draft pick in 2008 and has been the Falcons' starting quarterback since. He has only missed two starts over the first decade of his career, passing for 41,796 yards with 260 touchdowns while begin voted to the Pro Bowl four times.
In other pro football news:
• The New York Jets released backup quarterback Bryce Petty, according to multiple sources. Petty, a fourth-round pick in 2015 from Baylor, was 1-6 as a starter. With the Jets drafting Sam Darnold in the first round last week, it meant Petty became expendable. The Jets now have four quarterbacks on their active roster — projected starter Josh McCown and backups Teddy Bridgewater, Christian Hackenberg and Darnold.
• The Denver Broncos declined to exercise outside linebacker Shane Ray's $9.23 million fifthyear option for 2019 a week after selecting North Carolina State pass rusher Bradley Chubb in the NFL draft.
• Defensive tackle Akeem Spence was acquired by the Miami Dolphins from the Detroit Lions for a late-round draft pick in 2019.
PRO BASKETBALL Fizdale to fill Knicks’ vacancy
David Fizdale is coming back to coaching as the latest pick of the New York Knicks to turn around their franchise.
A person with knowledge of the situation said the Knicks agreed to hire Fizdale, who will replace Jeff Hornacek, who was fired last month after two seasons.
Fizdale led the Memphis Grizzlies to the playoffs in his first season before being fired early last season after a clash with star center Marc Gasol. That did little to diminish the respect of Fizdale, who had been an assistant to Erik Spoelstra in Miami when the Heat won two NBA championships.
Fizdale went 43-39 and led Memphis to the playoffs in his lone full season with the Grizzlies. He lasted just 19 games into the next season when Gasol publicly objected to being left on the bench in the fourth quarter of a game.
He will be the 11th Knicks coach since Jeff Van Gundy resigned in the 2001-02 season.
GOLF Peterson soars with two eagles
Tiger Woods figured his even-par 71 in his return to Quail Hollow would keep him and everyone else fairly close to the lead at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, N.C.
That was before John Peterson came to life late in the . Peterson holed a bunker shot for eagle and then holed a wedge from the fairway for eagle on the next hole to finish with a 65.
Peterson had a twoshot lead over five players. Two-time winner Rory McIlroy was in the group at 68.
Woods was six shots behind after a day in which he struggled to get his speed right on the greens.
Deraney takes Carlton Woods
Joseph Deraney, who came close to winning in 2017, captured the 2018 Carlton Woods Invitational in the Mid-Amateur division by two shots over Heath Myers.
Deraney, who is from Lexington, Ky., ended the three-day event at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodands at 6-under-par 210 after closing with a 72. Myers, of Kingfisher, Okla., shot a finalround 3-under 69 and finished at 4 under.
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, the first-round co-leader, was eighth at 1-over 217.
Mike Booker of The Woodlands won the senior division for a record fourth time and bettered the tournament record he set in 2012 by one shot. Booker’s three-day total of 7-under 209 was four shots ahead of Lawrence Field of Tulsa, Okla., and Michael Mercier of Juno Beach, Fla., who shared second at 3-under 213. In other news:
• The first round of the LPGA North Texas Classic at Irving was called off because of heavy morning rain. Only 34 of the 144 golfers completed at least one hole, so none of Thursday’s scores will count. A tournament official said no decision on the schedule for the weekend's final three rounds will be made until the first round is completed. Friday's forecast calls for more rain.