Pierre-Paul traded to Bucs
Giants’ switch to 3-4 made pass-rushing end expendable.
Sending two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jason PierrePaul to Tampa Bay for two draft picks gives the New York Giants much-needed salary cap space for 2019 and allows the Buccaneers to continue rebuilding a line that had the fewest sacks in the NFL last season.
With the unexpected trade announced Thursday, the Giants take another step in their rebuilding under new general manager Dave Gettleman and the Bucs upgraded their defense in a bid to end a decade-long playoff drought.
The Giants will get Tampa Bay’s third-round pick (69th overall) in April’s draft. The teams also will swap fourthround picks, with the Bucs moving up to the 102nd pick and the Giants selecting 108th.
“Jason is an elite-level edge rusher who will make an immediate impact on our defense,” Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said in a story posted on the team’s website. “We are adding a two-time Pro Bowler who is passionate about the game and has established himself as one of the league’s premier defensive ends.”
Later in the day, the Giants announced they had terminated the contract of wide receiver and special teams player Dwayne Harris, who missed the final 11 games with a broken foot.
While the Pierre-Paul trade only clears up a couple of million dollars in cap space this year, the benefit for the Giants — who were 3-13 last season — will be in 2019 when it sheds roughly $18 million in cap space. That will be important with safety Landon Collins and receiver Odell Beckham Jr. both possibly looking for new contracts.
The effects will be more immediate for the Bucs, who were 5-11 last season and had a league-low 22 sacks.
Dolphins: Signed tailback Frank Gore to a one-year contract, potentially allowing the former University of Miami standout to end his accomplished NFL career in South Florida. The deal is contingent on Gore, 34, passing his physical in Miami, which lost tailback Damien Williams to the Chiefs on Thursday.
Cowboys: Made their first acquisition since NFL free agency opened a week ago by reaching a deal with linebacker Joe Thomas, who started eight of his 42 games the past three seasons for the Packers. He was also a contributor on special teams.
Eagles: Veteran wide receiver Mike Wallace, 31, agreed to a one-year deal with the Super Bowl champions. According to the NFL Network, Wallace’s contract will be worth $2.5 million and include incentives.
Wallace played the past two seasons with the Ravens and said his priority in free agency was finding a team that could win the Super Bowl.
Seahawks: Are bringing back running back Mike Davis after a strong conclusion to the 2017 season. Davis signed a one-year contract. Davis was originally a restricted free agent but Seattle did not tender him, making Davis an unrestricted free agent. The 25-year-old chose a return to Seattle over looking for options elsewhere.
Raiders: Re-signed backup quarterback EJ Manuel and signed free agent tackle Breno Giacomini. The Raiders brought Manuel back for a second season and added a veteran to compete for the starting right tackle job.
Manuel made one start last season for the Raiders when Derek Carr was hurt, throwing for 265 yards, one touchdown and an interception in a loss to Baltimore. He has made 18 starts over his career with Buffalo and Oakland and has a 77.1 career rating.
Giacomini is entering his 11th season, having spent time with Green Bay, Seattle, the Jets and Houston. He has appeared in 94 career games with 86 starts, including all 16 last year for Houston.
Vikings: Signed guard Tom Compton, the former South Dakota offensive tackle who grew up in Minnesota. Compton spent last season with the Bears, where he played in 11 games with five starts.
Cardinals: Were awarded wide receiver Cobi Hamilton off waivers from the Texans. Hamilton has 18 receptions for 242 yards and two touchdowns in 14 career games with Pittsburgh and Houston.
Wednesday’s Games Thursday’s Games Grizzlies at Hornets: Late 76ers at Magic: Late Pistons at Rockets: Late Lakers at Pelicans: Late Jazz at Mavericks: Late Hawks at Kings: Late
NBA notes
Hornets: Center Dwight Howard was suspended for Thursday’s game against Memphis after picking up his 16th technical foul this season. The NBA announced the penalty Thursday, noting that league rules require an automatic one-game suspension without pay for a player or coach who receives 16 technical fouls during a regular season. After hitting that threshold, a player or coach will be suspended without pay automatically for another game for every two additional technical fouls received during that regular season. Howard picked up his most recent technical with 10:48 left in Wednesday’s 111-105 win against the Nets. That came as he finished with 32 points and a franchise-record 30 rebounds, becoming just the eighth player in league history with a 30-30 game.
Bucks: Milwaukee says Giannis Antetokounmpo is doubtful for tonight’s game against Chicago because of a sprained right ankle. The All-Star forward got hurt in the second quarter of Wednesday’s loss to the Clippers.
Bulls: Guard Antonio Blakeney will miss the remainder of the season because of a broken bone in his left wrist.