Watson’s deal may be restructured
CLEVELAND — The record-setting five-year, $230 million contract the Browns gave Deshaun Watson to get him to accept a trade from the Texans could be revised to clear cap space, general manager Andrew Berry said Tuesday.
The Browns are about $14 million over the salary cap and need to get under it if they intend to be active in free agency, which opens March 15.
Watson’s deal not only made league history because it was fully guaranteed, but his 2023 cap hit is $55 million, another record.
Eagles announce new coordinators
The NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles are moving on with new offensive and defensive coordinators.
The Eagles promoted quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson to offensive coordinator, replacing Shane Steichen after he left to become head coach of the Indianapolis Colts.
The Eagles also named Sean Desai as defensive coordinator, hiring him away from his role as associate head coach with the Seattle Seahawks. Desai succeeds Jonathan Gannon, who left after the Super Bowl to become head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.
Bills: Hamlin can play if doctors clear him
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has a few more visits to doctors before determining whether he can pursue his goal of returning to play football after going into cardiac arrest and having to be resuscitated on field in January.
In providing the update at the NFL combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Bills general manager Brandon Beane said Hamlin’s “end game” is to resume playing so long as he gets the necessary medical clearance.
“If we’re able to get full clearance and he feels he’s ready to do it, that’s another big smile of a story,” Beane said.
Frazier to take a year off from coaching
The Buffalo coaching staff has a big hole to fill at defensive coordinator after Leslie Frazier informed the team he’s taking a year off from coaching but plans to return for the 2024 season.
Speaking at the NFL combine, coach Sean McDermott cited what was a “long and hard season” in saying Frazier informed him of the decision last week.
Owners to discuss Snyder’s future
Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder’s future is on the agenda for discussion at upcoming committee meetings in Florida ahead of the annual NFL meeting in Arizona in late March, according to a person familiar with the docket who said voting to oust Snyder if he chooses not to sell the team is a possibility.
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, at a league meeting in October, said there’s “merit to remove” Snyder. That would take an unprecedented vote of 24 of the other 31 team owners to happen.
Mariota sent packing after year in Atlanta
The Atlanta Falcons released quarterback Marcus Mariota, a move that was expected after the veteran was benched late in the season.
The Falcons were 5-8 with Mariota as the starter before rookie Desmond Ridder started the final four games, winning two.
The Falcons are expected to save around $12 million in salary cap space by cutting Mariota.
Odds and ends
Former Eagles cornerback and pioneering NFL analyst Irv Cross, who was 81 when he died Feb. 28, 2021, suffered from stage 4 chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Boston University researchers said Tuesday . ... The Buccaneers reportedly will cut veteran running back Leonard Fournette . ... The Giants have told receiver Kenny Golladay he’ll be released on March 15 after two disappointing seasons . ... The Panthers will meet with free agent quarterback Derek Carr this week at the NFL combine . ... The Commanders have put the franchise tag on defensive tackle Daron Payne . ... Seahawks starting center Austin Blythe announced his retirement after seven seasons with four teams. ... The Browns said they’ll release veteran safety John Johnson III, who signed a three-year, $33.75 million deal two years ago.