Bears give the keys to Glennon
Deal is worth $43.5 million
After watching quarterback Jameis Winston start two years for Tampa Bay, backup Mike Glennon researched his own potential landing spots in free agency.
Glennon said he determined the Chicago Bears to be the most likely team, and Friday he arrived at Halas Hall hoping to succeed for his new team where Jay Cutler failed.
“I haven’t played in two-plus years, but I was playing when I was 23, 24,” Glennon said Friday after signing a three-year contract worth $43.5 million with the Bears. “I’m 27 now and I feel like I’m a much better player.
“I’ve grown physically, I’ve grown mentally. I’m more confident in my abilities.”
The Bucs were 5-13 with Glennon starting before Winston arrived in the first round of the 2015 draft. Glennon threw for 30 touchdowns with 15 interceptions and called his time observing invaluable.
“I looked at that as an opportunity to prepare for this moment, to use those times just to prepare for whenever my opportunity came again, I wanted to be ready for it,” Glennon said.
RGIII is out: Robert Griffin III is scrambling again.
The injury-prone quarterback was released after one flawed season with the Cleveland Browns, who remain in search of a QB to turn around their once-proud franchise. The Browns terminated Griffin’s contract one day before he was due a $750,000 roster bonus.
The expected move also came one day after the Browns acquired quarterback Brock Osweiler in a trade from the Houston Texans, and amid speculation Cleveland is loading up assets to make a strong run at another quarterback, perhaps New England’s Jimmy Garoppolo.
Patriots are busy: Under Bill Belichick the New England Patriots have typically taken a reserved posture at the start of free agency, opting to take their time before pulling off any major moves.
But things have been moving swiftly this offseason, with New England making a pair of trades and handful of signings over the first two days of the new NFL year.
The Patriots made a big move to solidify their secondary, signing coveted free agent and Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
The No. 10 pick in the 2012 draft, Gilmore was an unrestricted free agent after spending the past five seasons in Buffalo. Gilmore is coming off a strong 2016 season, earning the Pro Bowl selection after making 48 tackles and a career-high five interceptions.
That was followed by a trade on the defensive side, which sent this year’s second-round pick to Carolina for edge rusher Kony Ealy and a thirdround pick.
Lions sign Wagner: The Detroit Lions signed former Wisconsin offensive tackle Ricky Wagner.
Wagner, a West Allis native, is entering his fifth NFL season.
He started 14 games in 2016 for the Baltimore Ravens. He made 47 starts in four seasons for the Ravens.