The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bears decline to tag wideout Jeffery again
Corner Johnson gets tag from Rams; Bills pass on Gilmore.
The Chicago Bears have decided not to apply the franchise tag to receiver Alshon Jeffery for a second consecutive season.
General manager Ryan Pace says the tag “really wasn’t an option for us” this time, though he’s not ruling out re-signing Jeffery once free agency begins March 9.
Pace says there are “certain instances where testing the market is a necessary part of the process” to determine a player’s value. He spoke at the NFL combine Wednesday.
Jeffery played last season on the franchise tag after he and the Bears were unable to agree to a multiyear deal. He also served a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
Rams: Placed the franchise tag on cornerback Trumaine Johnson for the second straight year. Johnson and the team can negotiate a long-term deal until July 15, or he can play next season under the franchise tender as the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback.
Although Johnson has never made a Pro Bowl or an AllPro team, he is a solid cover cornerback for the Rams’ defense, which ranked ninth in the NFL last year.
Bills: New coach Sean McDermott said the club doesn’t intend to place a franchise tag on cornerback Stephon Gilmore before free agency opens next week.
Gilmore completed his fifth season in Buffalo with a team-leading five interceptions and a team-high 12 passes defensed. Gilmore has said he considers himself among the league’s top cornerbacks and is seeking a long-term deal to reflect that.
Such a contract demand would price Gilmore out of Buffalo; the Bills have little room under the $167 million salary cap.
Chiefs: Despite signing Eric Berry to a long-term contract this week, the Chiefs did not use their available franchise tag on nose tackle Dontari Poe before Wednesday’s deadline.
But apparently that doesn’t mean the Chiefs don’t want Poe, a 26-year-old stalwart of their interior defensive line, to return. Chiefs coach Andy Reid said general manager John Dorsey will continue to work with Poe’s representatives on a contract agreement before he becomes a free agent March 9.
New contracts for Berry and guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif added approximately $5.86 million to the Chiefs’ cap, leaving them with approximately $3.73 million in space.
Browns: Cleveland decided not to put a franchise tag on wide receiver Terrelle Pryor, but the sides will resume talks on a longterm contract during the combine, a source told The Associated Press.
Pryor has said he wants to stay with the Browns, who took a chance on the former quarterback changing positions. Pryor finished his first full season as a wide receiver with 77 catches for 1,007 yards and four touchdowns.
Executive vice president Sashi Brown said signing Pryor was a “priority” and the team didn’t use the franchise tag because “we want to have him here long term.”
Steelers: James Harrison is returning to Pittsburgh. The five-time Pro Bowl linebacker has signed a two-year contract with the team that will keep Harrison in black and gold past his 40th birthday.
Harrison led the Steelers with five sacks in 2016. The team is unlikely to re-sign linebacker Jarvis Jones, the player Pittsburgh drafted in 2013 to replace Harrison.
Salary cap: The NFL salary cap for the upcoming season will be $167 million per team, up more than $12 million over last year. This is the fourth consecutive year the cap has risen at least $10 million. Since 2011, the cap has increased by $47 million.
Kristaps Porzingis had 20 points and nine rebounds in his return from an ankle injury, and Derrick Rose added 19 points for New York.
Paul Millsap scored on a drive with 30.5 seconds remaining to give Atlanta the lead for good. Millsap scored 18 points.
Tyler Johnson scored 24 points off the bench for Miami, which never trailed. Wayne Ellington made six 3-pointers for 18 points for the Heat, which has won 10 of its past 11 at home. Bojan Bogdanovic had 27 points off the bench and Bradley Beal added 23 for Washington. John Wall had 12 points and 13 assists. Isaiah Thomas scored 31 points as Boston edged Cleveland. Danilo Gallinari scored 22 points in Denver’s victory. Anthony Davis led New Orleans with 33 points and 14 rebounds. Kawhi Leonard’s 16-foot basket in the closing seconds gave San Antonio the win. Late Late Late
Kevin Durant likely is out for the rest of the regular season — and maybe longer — after spraining the medial collateral ligament in his left knee and bruising a bone in his leg during Tuesday night’s loss at Washington. The AllStar forward hyperextended his knee early in the Warriors’ 112-108 loss to the Wizards and later underwent an MRI exam, which revealed a moderate — sprain in the knee.
Center Joel Embiid’s season is over because of left knee problems, including a torn meniscus that is worse than the team first thought. Embiid missed his first two NBA seasons with right foot issues, then finally made his debut this season and appeared in 31 games with the 76ers. He hadn’t played since Jan. 27.
The team opened a roster spot for free agent Andrew Bogut by waiving guard Jordan McRae.
Point guard Brandon Jennings signed with Washington after being waived by the Knicks.