James Winchester re-signs with Chiefs

2016 season may have been defined by a personal tragedy, but even with a heavy heart he continued to excel as part as one of the top-ranked special team units in the NFL.

As a result, the Kansas City Chiefs have rewarded its long snapper with a new contract.

The Washington, Okla. native and former Oklahoma Sooner signed a new deal with the team Monday. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Winchester signed as a free agent with the Chiefs before the 2015 season. He appeared in all 16 Chiefs regular season games this season as well as the Divisional Round playoff game vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He had a key fumble recovery on a muffed punt during Kansas City’s overtime victory at Denver on Nov. 27, a key victory in the Chiefs’ road to the division title. Winchester’s father,

was murdered on Nov. 15 at Will Rogers Airport by a disgruntled former Southwest Airlines employee. He was 52.

The Chiefs honored Michael, a former Oklahoma punter, before their Nov. 20 home game vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Southwest Airlines honored Michael two weeks later with a flyover at the Bedlam football game in Norman.

Browns, Collins agree to contract extension

Other than the incessant losing, enjoyed his half season with the Cleveland Browns.

He’s sticking around for four more.

Collins agreed to a four-year, $50 million contract on Monday with the Browns, who made signing the 27-year-old one of their offseason priorities and locked him up before he could hit the free-agent market.

The deal includes $26 million guaranteed.

A Pro Bowler for New England, Collins made a major impression during the eight games he started after arriving on Oct. 31 in a trade with the Patriots. Collins recorded 69 tackles, two sacks and forced a fumble while playing every defensive snap.

NFL, Special Olympics partner in upcoming flag football games

The NFL and Special Olympics are teaming up to allow athletes with and without intellectual disabilities to compete together in flag football games.

The league will kick off the partnership by hosting a unified flag football exhibition game Wednesday in Orlando during Pro Bowl week.

NFL Foundation grants will fund Special Olympics Unified Sports, which allows people with and without intellectual disabilities to play on the same team.

Funding will support Special Olympics programs in Northern California, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and

Virginia.

Redskins promote two coaches to coordinator roles

The Washington Redskins turned to internal candidates to fill two critical vacancies, promoting to offensive coordinator and

to defensive coordinator.

Cavanaugh was the team’s quarterbacks coach and Manusky its outside linebackers coach last season. The Redskins announced the promotions Monday along with the hires of as quarterbacks coach and

as defensive line coach.

It has been an offseason of upheaval for the coaching staff after the Redskins fired defensive coordinator and a few assistants and offensive coordinator left to become head coach of the Los Angeles Rams. FROM STAFF AND WIRE

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