The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Cards’ Fitzgerald returning
Star wideout to play 14th season; Colts punter retiring.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has confirmed he will be back to play a 14th NFL season.
In a text Wednesday night, Fitzgerald confirmed he had told ESPN he would play another season. Speaking at the PGA Tour’s Waste Management Open Pro-Am on Tuesday, Fitzgerald said he felt much better physically and had pretty much made up his mind on whether he would return but wasn’t ready to make it public.
The Cardinals still have not heard definitive word from quarterback Carson Palmer as to whether he will return.
At 33, Fitzgerald led the NFL in receptions last season with 107.
Colts: Punter Pat McAfee says he is retiring. The 29-year-old two-time Pro Bowl pick made the announcement in a statement on Twitter, thanking fans for their support over the past seven seasons.
McAfee wrote that three knee surgeries in four years, the expectation of additional operations in the future and an enticing offer to work for Barstool Sports convinced him to walk away despite having two years and nearly $6 million remaining on his contract.
Giants: Former kicker Josh Brown admitted to “holding down” his then-wife, Molly, but not to hitting or slapping her, in an interview shown Thursday on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
Brown sat down with ABC News’ Paula Faris for the interview, in which Faris asked what he meant in a journal entry in which he admitted to physically, verbally and emotionally abusing his former wife.
“I mean I had put my hands on her,” he said. “I kicked the chair. I held her down. The holding down was the worst moment in our marriage . ... I never hit her. I never slapped her. I never choked her. I never did those types of things.”
Faris asked how people should reconcile Brown’s admission he physically abused his wife but did not hit her, and he responded, “They’re not supposed to. What I did was wrong — period.”
The Giants re-signed Brown before the 2016 season even though they were aware of some elements of his past. His presence on the roster eventually became a source of controversy and they released him Oct. 25.
Chiefs: Safety Eric Berry said he has no intention of playing another season under the franchise tag.
“I’ll just take that time to chill with my family, honestly, (and) I’ll sit the season out,” Berry said, when asked what he’ll do if the Chiefs tag him again. “I just want what’s right. That’s it.”
After another All-Pro season Berry has a compelling case to become the league’s highest-paid safety. That would almost certainly happen if he’s allowed to hit the open market, though the Chiefs could again keep him by franchising him for about $13 million.
“I’m out, I’m out,” Berry said. “I’m just prepared mentally and emotionally to do what I need to do.”
Panthers: Coach Ron Rivera told ESPN the club will “probably have to (franchise) tag” free-agent-to-be defensive tackle Kawann Short. The 2015 All-Pro is reportedly seeking $17 million-$19 million annually on a long-term deal.
If the sides can’t agree on compensation, the Panthers will use the tag to ensure the 28-year-old remains in Carolina for at least one more season. Last season, the defensive tackle tag was more than $13.6 million.
Steelers: Will bring back long snapper Greg Warren for a 13th season after signing him to a one-year contract. The 35-year-old has played in 181 regular-season games and 15 playoff games for the Steelers since making the team in 2005.