Carr to sign with Saints
Former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has agreed to a four-year contract with the New Orleans Saints, and a person familiar with the situation said the deal could be worth up to $150 million.
The person spoke to The Associated Press about the contract’s value on condition of anonymity Monday because financial terms were not released when the Saints announced their agreement with Carr.
“Derek’s experience, leadership and skillset will be an asset to our offense,” Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said.
Carr played nine seasons for the Raiders and holds club records for yards passing (35,222) and touchdown passes (217). But after struggling late last season, Carr was benched with two games remaining.
Carr, who turns 32 on March 28, was released by Las Vegas on Feb. 14 after he declined to waive the no-trade clause in his contract. Las Vegas needed to trade or release him by that date or $40.4 million of his contract over the next two years would have become fully guaranteed.
The signing should provide a measure of stability for the Saints.
Jameis Winston is under contract with Saints through 2023, but New Orleans could release him. His contract calls for a base salary of $12.8 million next season and he played in just three games in 2022 before losing his job.
NFL
The Minnesota Vikings started their salary cap purge by terminating the contract of veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks on Monday, ending his eight-year run with the team.
The 2019 All-Pro started 113 regular season games – plus six in the playoffs – for the Vikings, who drafted him in the second round in 2015 out of UCLA. Kendricks totaled 857 tackles, 51 passes defensed and nine interceptions. He was voted a captain by his teammates and one of the club’s most active players in community service.
The move saves $9.5 million against Minnesota’s cap, with more trimming before free agency begins next week. The 31-year-old Kendricks had no guaranteed money left on the contract. Cutting him costs the Vikings $1.93 million in dead money.
Jaguars tag Engram: Evan Engram will be back in Jacksonville for another season, probably longer if the Jaguars get their way.
The Jaguars placed the franchise tag on the veteran tight end Monday, guaranteeing him a oneyear, $11.345 million contract in 2023. Engram and the team have until July 17 to negotiate a long-term deal, and both sides have expressed interest in making it happen.
AUTO RACING
William Byron took the lead on the second-tolast lap of overtime to win the NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas on Sunday and put an exclamation mark on a dominant day for Hendrick Motorsports.
The top three drivers were from Hendrick, with Byron beating teammates Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman.
Larson appeared headed for victory when when Aric Almirola hit the wall in turn four on lap No. 264, leading to the second caution of the day.
Most of the leaders pitted a lap later, with only Martin Truex Jr. choosing to stay out. Byron came out of pit road ahead of Larson and then easily overtook Truex on the restart.
COLLEGE WRESTLING
Wisconsin’s Dean Hamiti captured the 165pound title at the Big Ten Championships on Sunday at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Hamiti, who is ranked No. 6 in the NCAA Coaches ranking of the weight class, defeated eighth-ranked Patrick Kennedy of Iowa, 9-6, in the final. Hamiti reached the final by scoring major decisions Saturday over No. 28 Andrew Sparks of Minnesota and No. 13 Carson Kharchia of Ohio State in the quarterfinals and semifinals respectively.
UW finished eighth in the team standings with 55.5 points. Penn State was the tournament champion with 147 points. Iowa (134.5) took second.