The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Linder is highest-paid center
Jaguars’ fourth-year pro signs five-year, $51.7M extension.
The Jacksonville Jaguars made Brandon Linder the highest-paid center in NFL history Tuesday.
Linder signed a five-year extension for $51.7 million and includes $24 million in guaranteed money, the NFL Network reported. With an average annual salary of $10.34 million, Linder passes the Cowboys’ Travis Frederick, who signed a six-year, $56.4 million deal in August 2016.
Linder, who was selected in the third round of the NFL draft in 2014 out of Miami, has started 31 games in three seasons. He missed two games because of knee and ankle injuries last year.
Colts: Safety Malik Hooker, the team’s top draft pick, will start training camp on the physically unable to perform list. Hooker hurt his hamstring during a conditioning test Monday. Hooker missed all of the team’s offseason workouts while recovering from shoulder surgery and surgery to repair a sports hernia.
Dolphins: Linebacker Koa Misi (neck) was placed on season-ending injured reserve after he failed to receive medical clearance. The Dolphins also signed cornerback Alterraun Verner.
Ravens: Running back Kenneth Dixon will miss training camp after he suffered a knee injury during a workout. Dixon, who faces a four-game suspension to start the regular season after he was found in violation of the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs, had surgery to repair a torn meniscus.
Lions: Punter Sam Martin was placed on the active/ non-football injury list after
he hurt his ankle this month.
Cowboys: Police said former wide receiver Lucky Whitehead’s identity was falsely used in a June 22 shoplifting arrest in Virginia. Whitehead’s agent, Dave Rich, contended his client wasn’t in Virginia at the time of the arrest. Police said they are seeking the person who used the identity of Whitehead. The Cowboys released Whitehead on Monday after reports he was arrested and subsequently cited for missing a court hearing. “Yesterday we made a decision that we deemed to be in the best interest of the Dallas Cowboys,” coach Jason Garrett said Tuesday. “We’re standing by that decision and we’re going to move on.”
■ A jury in Ann Arbor, Mich., acquitted rookie cornerback Jourdan Lewis of domestic assault.
Bengals: Owner Mike Brown is defending his decision to keep cornerback Adam Jones despite another arrest, saying he’s been “punished
enough” for his latest troubles. The NFL suspended Jones for the season opener because of his altercation with a hotel security employee and his outburst at police following his arrest in January. Jones pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge to settle the case.
Panthers: Coach Ron Rivera said quarterback Cam Newton reported to training camp at Wofford College at 246 pounds — lighter than he has been in years. Rivera said the league’s 2015 MVP is on schedule in his rehab from a surgically repaired throwing arm and should be ready to practice right away.
■ Tight end Greg Olsen reported to training camp on time Tuesday, saying he didn’t want to hold out and be a distraction. Olsen, 32, has two years left on his contract but has outplayed his current deal, becoming the first tight end in NFL history with three consecutive 1,000yard seasons.
Broncos: Gary Kubiak is
returning to the team as a scout, seven months after stepping down as their head coach over health concerns. Kubiak will serve as a senior personnel adviser, scouting college and pro players.
Bills: Safety Bacarri Rambo was one of three free agents signed, and returns to Buffalo after spending last season in Miami. He previously appeared in 19 games for the Bills over the 2014-15 seasons. The Bills also signed offensive lineman Karim Barton and linebacker Sam Barrington.
Falcons: The retractable roof for the $1.5 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be closed when the facility debuts for an Aug. 26 preseason game against Arizona. There’s no date set on when the roof will be open for an event.
Noteworthy: Receiver Andrew Hawkins said he is retiring from the NFL and donating his brain to research for CTE. Hawkins, 31, played three seasons each with the Bengals and Browns.