Famed Dolphins defender dies at 78
Pro Football Hall of Fame middle linebacker Nick Buoniconti, an undersized overachiever who helped lead the Miami Dolphins to the NFL’s only perfect season and became a leader in the effort to cure paralysis, has died. He was 78.
Buoniconti, who died Tuesday in Bridgehampton, New York, struggled in recent years with symptoms of CTE, a degenerative brain disease associated with repeated blows to the head. He had recently battled pneumonia, Dolphins senior vice president Nat Moore said.
The 5-foot-11, 220-pound Buoniconti was bypassed in the NFL draft but went on to a 15year career with the Boston Patriots (1962-68) and Dolphins (1969-74, ’76). He was captain of the Dolphins’ back-to-back Super Bowl champions, including the 1972 team that finished 17-0.
“He was the consummate team captain, the heartbeat of our team,” Hall of Fame fullback Larry Csonka said. “I’ll miss Nick, his wisdom and class.”
Following retirement, Buoniconti and his son, Marc, worked to raise more than a half-billion dollars for paralysis research. The younger Buoniconti was paralyzed from the shoulders down making a tackle for The Citadel in 1985.
Marc Buoniconti said his father was his biggest hero.
“He could have been sitting on the beach sipping champagne for the rest of his life,” the younger Buoniconti said in 2017. “But what did he do? He went around and gave the rest of his life to help his son.”
Following retirement, Buoniconti worked as an attorney, a broadcaster, as president of U.S. Tobacco and as an agent to such athletes as Bucky Dent and Andre Dawson. For 23 seasons he was co-host of the weekly sports show “Inside the NFL” on the HBO cable network.
“Nick was special to me in every way,” said his ex-coach, Hall of Famer Don Shula. “He was someone I greatly admired.”
Saints, Thomas, agree on $100M contract
The New Orleans Saints and leading receiver Michael Thomas have agreed to a new five-year, $100 million contract, his agent said Wednesday.
Andrew Kessler of the agency Athletes First said the contract pays Thomas, who was holding out and had missed five days of practice, about $61 million in guaranteed salary and bonuses.
Thomas’ average annual pay of $20 million represents a new high for NFL receivers, eclipsing the $18 million per year paid to Cleveland’s Odell Beckham Jr.
Thomas has established himself as an elite receiver with 321 catches for 3,787 yards and 23 touchdowns in three seasons.
Cowboys release son of Hall of Famer
The Dallas Cowboys have released offensive lineman Larry Allen Jr., the son of Hall of Fame guard Larry Allen, to make room for linebacker Justin Phillips.
The younger Allen, who played at Harvard, joined his dad’s former team as an undrafted free agent in May. His father was a six-time All-Pro in 11 seasons with the Cowboys.
Phillips, from Oklahoma State, adds depth at linebacker with Sean Lee nursing a minor knee injury and Chris Covington slowed by a hamstring issue.
Washington adds two linemen for depth
Donald Penn said he chose Washington over other teams for the chance to start at left tackle. Bringing in Penn looks like the strongest sign yet that left tackle Trent Williams’ holdout won’t be ending any time soon. The 36year-old Penn played 178 games with Oakland and Tampa Bay.
Washington also signed guard Hugh Thornton, who started 32 games for Indianapolis from 2013-2015 before an ankle injury forced him to take time away from football.