Former Steelers TE Cunningham dies of cancer at 63

Bennie Cunningham, a tight end who starred at Clemson and won two Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers, died of cancer Monday in Cleveland, the university said. He was 63.

Cunningham played 10 seasons and caught more than 200 passes with the Steelers. He was named to their all-time team in 2007 in conjunction with the franchise’s 75th anniversary.

Cunningham was an All-American in the mid1970s. His seven scoring catches in 1974 set a school record for a tight end that stood for 37 years. The Steelers drafted him with the 28th pick in 1976. He caught a touchdown pass in Pittsburgh’s victory over Houston in the 1979 AFC title game and had two more receptions in a Super Bowl win over the Rams two weeks later. He retired after the 1985 season.

Colts: Former Colt Dwight Freeney signed a one-day contract to retire with the Colts after 16 NFL seasons. He leaves the game with one Super Bowl ring and seven Pro Bowl picks, and his 125½ sacks are tied for No. 17 in league history. His 47 forced fumbles rank fifth all-time.

Obituary: Former defensive tackle Dee Hardison, a member of the University of North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame who played 11 NFL seasons, died at 61 in Chapel Hill, N.C. Hardison was a secondround draft pick in 1978.

NFL draft: Cleveland’s recent success in hosting major events has the Browns hopeful they will be awarded an NFL draft. In partnership with the city’s sports commission and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, the team submitted a joint bid to host either the 2019 or 2020 draft. The league is expected to announce its choice next month during its spring meetings in Atlanta.

The main selling point for the Cleveland/Canton group is the area’s rich football history. The NFL was founded in Canton in 1920. In addition to Cleveland and Canton, the other four finalists for the draft are Las Vegas; Nashville, Tennessee; Kansas City, Missouri; and Denver.

Steelers: Pittsburgh exercised the fifth-year option on outside linebacker Bud Dupree, keeping the 24-yearold under contract for the 2019 season.

Ravens: Receiver Willie Snead bid farewell to the Saints, meaning New Orleans apparently won’t match the contract Baltimore offered the restricted free agent. The Ravens offered Snead a two-year, $10.4 million contract. The Saints had five days to match the deal. Snead indicated Monday on Twitter that he’s headed out of New Orleans.

Raiders: Locked up WR Amari Cooper through the 2019 season by exercising his fifth-year option. The move was expected, even given Cooper’s falloff in performance last season. Coach Jon Gruden is counting on making Cooper a key piece of the Raiders offense in 2018, with the team releasing Michael Crabtree and signing Jordy Nelson as a No. 2 WR.

Cardinals: Signed defensive end free agent Benson Mayowa to a one-year deal.

Giants: Acquired punter Riley Dixon from Denver for a conditional seventh-round draft choice in 2019.