Jets don’t pick up Johnson’s option

The New York Jets announced Saturday they will not exercise their option on running back Chris Johnson, 29, making him an unrestricted free agent next month and saving the team $3.5 million on the salary cap this year.

The team will exercise the contract options on veteran linebackers Calvin Pace and Jason Babin.

New York had until Monday to make a decision on Johnson, who was due a $500,000 option bonus that would have kicked in if he remained on the roster past that date.

■ Cowboys: The Dallas Morning News reported that Dallas declined a three-year, $24 million option on defensive tackle Henry Melton that would have guaranteed him $9 million for the 2015 season.

Melton, who suffered an ACL injury after the 2013 season, had just 15 tackles and five sacks in three starts during the 2014 season. Jim Furyk blasts from the greenside bunker at the second hole Saturday during his thirdround 63 in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. NBA notes ■ Hall of Fame finalists: Kentucky coach John Calipari and former NBA stars Kevin Johnson and Dikembe Mutombo are among this year’s finalists for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Former NBA stars Tim Hardaway, Spencer Haywood and Jo Jo White also are finalists. They join former WNBA star Lisa Leslie, longtime referee Dick Bavetta, former NBA coach Bill Fitch, Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan, and high school coaches Robert Hughes and Lita Andrews. The class will be announced April 6 before the NCAA championship game.