Mason Rudolph wins backup job in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph said he didn't read anything into the fact that he followed Ben Roethlisberger into the game during Pittsburgh's second pres ea son contest, but it appears there was some writing on the wall.
Rudolph al so started t he second and fourth preseason games this summer and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports that he has beaten out Josh Dobbs for the No. 2 job behind Roethlisberger in the regular season.
There's no word on whether Dobbs will also be on the roster in Pittsburgh this season. The team carried all three quarterbacks last year after drafting Rudolph in the third round, but may decide to move on from Dobbs and could try to shop him to teams less satisfied with their current backup options.
The Steelers also have un drafted rookie Dev lin Hodges on the roster.
Hudson to become highest-paid center
Rodney Hudson once again is the NFL's highestpaid center after signing a three- year contract extension Friday worth nearly $34 million.
Hudson will get just over $24 million in guaranteed money in his $ 33.75 million extension.
One of t he NFL's best at his position, Hudson signed a five-year, $45 million deal to leave Kansas City for division- rival Oakland in 2015. He's started 61 games for the
Raiders and rarely has allowed a sack.
Patriots trade for center as insurance
David Andrews' uncertain status led the New England Patriots to fill a potentially sudden need at center by acquiring Russell Bodine in a trade with the Buffalo Bills on Friday.
The Patriots sent Buffalo a 2020 sixth-round draft pick, the Bills announced.
Bodine is a fifth-year player who might have to replace Andrews, who was hospitalized last weekend because of blood clots in his lung.
Seahawks waive quarterback Paxton Lynch
The Seattle Seahawks have waived backup quarterback Paxton Lynch, a source told the Seattle Times on Friday, the first known move by the team as Seattle begins the task of paring its roster from 90 to 53.
Teams must be at the regular-season maximum of 53 by 3 p.m. CDT Saturday. Waiving Lynch means Geno Smith will be the backup quarterback to Russell Wilson.
Assault charge dropped against Mark Rypien
A misdemeanor assault charge against former Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien has been dropped.
KREM-TV reports a judge in Washington state on Friday dismissed the fourth-degree assault charge involving Rypien's wife.
A report by Spokane Officer Todd Brownlee said Rypien acknowledged hitting her on June 30.
The former Washington Redskins quarterback told police that she covered his eyes as he drove and she got the wind knocked out of her after he pushed her hands away.
Rypien said in a statement Friday that he does not condone domestic violence and that he wanted to be clear that