Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Barr spurns Jets, returns to Vikings
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings have kept the heart of their defense intact with a hefty commitment to linebacker Anthony Barr.
For the four-time Pro Bowl pick, a late offer to stay with the only NFL team he’s played for proved too valuable to pass up.
According to a person with direct knowledge of the deal, Barr agreed Tuesday to re-sign with the Vikings on a five-year, $67.5 million contract with $33 million guaranteed and more money available through escalators.
The NFL’s official start to the 2019 business year is today.
Barr first made a verbal agreement to join the New York Jets, according to reports by ESPN and the NFL Network, but he ultimately changed his mind to remain with the team that drafted him ninth overall in 2014.
Barr was the first draft pick by the Vikings under Coach Mike Zimmer, whose 4-3 base defense has been a natural fit for the sleek, 6-foot-5, 255-pound Barr. The variety of assignments the scheme has put him in at the strong side spot have minimized pass-rushing opportunities, though, and limited his career total to 13½ sacks.
JETS Mosley, Crowder added
The New York Jets had more than $82.5 million to spend in free agency, and they are spending it.
Indeed, they thought they also had an agreement with Barr, but he opted instead to return to Minnesota.
Not that the Jets fell short in adding talent, adding former Baltimore Ravens linebacker C.J. Mosley and wide receivers Jamison Crowder and Josh Bellamy.
Mosley, 26, is a four-time Pro Bowl linebacker who will get a reported five years and $85 million, including a whopping $51 million guaranteed. Mosley, who has had at least 100 tackles in every season but 2016, when he missed two games with an injury and finished with 92. He will be a centerpiece of new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ unit.
In dire need of receivers for second-year quarterback Sam Darnold, New York is adding Crowder, 26, as a playmaking slot receiver. Crowder, whose deal reportedly is for three years and $28.5 million, had 221 catches for 2,628 yards and 14 touchdowns in four seasons with Washington. He was limited to nine games last season because of an ankle injury.
Bellamy has 76 career catches for 999 yards and 5 touchdowns, and is also a special teams contributor. He spent the last five years with Chicago.
PACKERS Smith gets $66M
The defensive signings by the Green Bay Packers should improve a unit that ranked 18th in the NFL in 2018.
Edge rusher Za’Darius Smith is getting the biggest deal: $66 million over four years with $34.5 million in the first two years, according to his agency, SportsTrust Advisors. Smith, 26, led the Baltimore Ravens with 8½ sacks last season — including three in one game against Tennessee — and has 18½ in his 58-game career.
Linebacker Preston Smith agreed to a $52 million, fouryear contract with $16 million guaranteed. For Amos, it is a $37 million, four-year contract. Amos, 25, started all 16 games for the NFC North-rival Chicago Bears last season and had two interceptions.
Offensive lineman Billy Turner gets a $28 million, four-year contract after starting 11 games last season for the Denver Broncos.
BILLS Beasley bolts Dallas
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The free-spending Buffalo Bills are using their sizeable salary-cap space to provide quarterback Josh Allen an overhauled offense entering his second season.
The Bills continued their major foray into free agency by agreeing to sign receivers John Brown and Cole Beasley and offensive linemen Ty Nsekhe and Jon Feliciano.
A person with direct knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press that Brown agreed to a threeyear, $27 million contract. A second person told the AP that Beasley agreed to a fouryear, $29 million contract. A third person said Feliciano agreed to a two-year contract.
Brown had 42 catches for 715 yards and 5 touchdowns last year in his only season with the run-oriented Baltimore Ravens.
Beasley spent his first seven seasons with Dallas and had 65 catches for 672 yards and 3 touchdowns last year.