NFL ROUNDUP
Eagles 10, Jets 9
Christian Hackenberg had a rough audition for an NFL roster spot, tossing two interceptions but defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia rallied to beat the Jets on Thursday night to avoid a winless preseason. Joe Callahan threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Matt Jones with 18 seconds left to lift Philadelphia (1-3). Jason Myers kicked field goals of 58 and 43 yards for the Jets (1-3). New York's defense didn't allow a touchdown in August until the final drive. Eagles quarterbacks Carson Wentz, Nick Foles and Nate Sudfeld watched from the sideline, while Jets rookie Sam Darnold also was a spectator. Darnold is expected to be New York's starting quarterback in Week 1. Wentz is still recovering from knee surgery last December and is waiting for medical clearance to play. Foles, the Super Bowl MVP, would start the opener if Wentz can't go. Hackenberg didn't take a snap in two seasons with the Jets after he was selected in the second round of the 2016 draft. He signed with the Eagles earlier in the month as the fifth quarterback and has no chance to make the roster so he was playing for his next job. After replacing Callahan in the first half, Hackenberg threw two picks on his first three drives. He drove the Eagles from the 1 to the Jets 20 in the final 90 seconds of the first half, but ran out of time after a 19-yard scramble. The former Penn State star also lost a fumble and finished 7 of 16 for 69. He ran for 66 yards. Callahan returned to play the fourth quarter and threw an interception in the end zone with 4:02 left. But he completed his last seven passes, including the TD to Jones. Jake Elliott nailed a 55-yarder for Philadelphia's only points in the last two games. Veteran Josh McCown started for New York and John Wolford played the final 2 1/2 quarters. McCown was 3 of 8 for 26 yards. Wolford was about to accept an internship at an equity firm in Winston-Salem, North Carolina before the Jets offered him a job on Sunday. He participated in rookie minicamp in May and practiced with the team for three days this week before seeing his first action. Wolford finished 8 of 20 for 89 yards and one interception. Philadelphia's Aziz Shittu stopped Thomas Rawls on fourth down at the Eagles 1 late in the second quarter. The Jets began the drive at the 8 after J.J. Wilcox intercepted Hackenberg's pass and returned it 25 yards.
Arbitrator sends Kaepernick's grievance against NFL to trial
Colin Kaepernick and his legal team are driving inside NFL territory, forcing the league and its 32 teams to brace for a defensive stand. An arbitrator is sending Kaepernick's grievance with the NFL to trial, denying the league's request to throw out the quarterback's claims that owners conspired to keep him out of the league because of his protests of social injustice. Kaepernick's lawyer Mark Geragos tweeted a picture Thursday of a ruling by arbitrator Stephen B. Burbank. The NFL declined a request for comment. Kaepernick, who led the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance and NFC championship game in consecutive seasons, argues that owners have colluded to keep him off any NFL roster since he hit free agency in 2017. Burbank's decision means there was sufficient evidence of collusion to keep Kaepernick's drive going. Now some owners, coaches and team executives will be called to testify during the season, a situation the league hoped to avoid. Kaepernick began a wave of protests by NFL players two seasons ago, kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality. The protests have grown into one of the most polarizing issues in sports, with President Donald Trump loudly urging the league to suspend or fire players who demonstrate during the anthem. Kaepernick contends the owners violated their collective bargaining agreement with players by conspiring to keep him off teams.
Gronk gets $4.3M raise, highest paid tight end in NFL
Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots has all the incentives to become the NFL's highest paid tight end. Agent Drew Rosenhaus said Thursday the Patriots have added $4.3 million in incentives to Gronkowski's contract for the next two seasons. The deal includes $1 million in per game bonuses and $3.3 million in incentives for catches, playing time and touchdowns. Gronkowski has the potential to make $12.3 million this season and $13.3 next year when his base salary jumps to $9 million. If he hits all the incentives, Gronkowski would be the NFL's highest paid tight end. He is fourth among tight ends in base salary.