Kaepernick heads toward day in court
Colin Kaepernick and his legal team are driving inside NFL territory, forcing the league and its 32 teams to brace for a defensive stand.
An arbitrator is sending Kaepernick’s grievance with the NFL to trial, denying the league’s request to throw out the quarterback’s claims that owners conspired to keep him out of the league because of his protests of social injustice during the national anthem.
Arbitrator Stephen B. Burbank’s decision means there was sufficient evidence of collusion to keep Kaepernick’s drive going.
Now some owners, coaches and team executives will be called to testify during the season, a situation the league hoped to avoid.
Kaepernick contends the owners violated their collective bargaining agreement with players by conspiring to keep him off teams. The case hinges on whether owners worked together rather than decided individually to not sign Kaepernick.
Pass rusher Elvis Dumervil is retiring from the NFL after 12 years.
Dumervil entered the league as a fourth-round draft pick by the Broncos in 2006. He spent seven years with the team, four more with the Ravens and ended his career last year with the 49ers. He finished with 1051 sacks. That ranks fourth in the NFL since he entered the league, trailing only DeMarcus Ware, Jared Allen and Julius Peppers.
Rob agent says the NFL’s highest-paid tight end after the Patriots reworked his contract to add $4.3 million this season.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus said Gronkowski’s deal for the next two seasons adds $1 million in per-game bonuses and $3.3 million in incentives. Gronkowski’s base salary stays at $8 million, with the additions boosting the potential value to more than $13 million.
Gronkowski had 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns in 14 games last season.
Baker Mayfield threw for 138 yards in a dominant first half, and the Browns wrapped up the preseason with a 35-17 victory over the Lions in Detroit. Mayfield completed a 41-yard pass to Devon Cajuste on the first play from scrimmage, and the top overall pick in this year’s draft looked sharp throughout his two quarters . ... Matt Barkley’s left knee was injured by a low hit after he threw a pass during the Bengals’ 27-26 loss to the Colts, giving Jeff Driskel the inside track for the Bengals’ backup quarterback role . ... Brock Osweiler made a strong final bid for the Dolphins’ backup quarterback job, leading three first-quarter touchdown drives in a 34-7 win against the Falcons . ... Christian Hackenberg had a rough audition for a roster spot, tossing two interceptions, but the Super Bowl champion Eagles rallied to beat the Jets 10-9 to avoid a winless preseason. Eagles QBs Carson Wentz, Nick Foles and Nate Sudfeld watched from the sideline, while Jets rookie Sam Darnold also was a spectator. Darnold is expected to be the Jets’ starter.