Peterson close to striking deal with Saints
Jake announces retirement
WASHINGTON, April 25, (RTRS): Free agent running back Adrian Peterson is close to agreeing to a deal with the New Orleans Saints, according to published reports on Monday.
Citing two league sources, the Times-Picayune of New Orleans reported that a deal is near for Peterson, who visited the Saints two weeks ago.
Peterson, who turned 32 last month, left the Minnesota Vikings as one of the best players in franchise history. He was released on March 9 after the team declined the 2017 option on his contract.
Former No. 1 pick Jake Long announced his NFL retirement after nine injury-plagued seasons.
The left tackle, the first overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, played only four games with the Minnesota Vikings in 2016 before he suffered a torn Achilles on Nov 13 to end his season.
General manager John Schneider says the Seattle Seahawks will continue to listen to offers for cornerback Richard Sherman, but the team has “moved past” the idea of trading the four-time Pro Bowl selection.
Sherman was back at the Seahawks’ facility to take part in the offseason program after sitting out last week.
The New England Patriots appear unlikely to trade cornerback Malcolm Butler this offseason.
Butler, who was a restricted free agent, could not be traded until he signed the $3.91 million tender last week for the 2017 season. He visited with just one team, the New Orleans Saints, during free agency.
Running back Mike Gillislee signed with the Patriots after the Buffalo Bills decided not to match the twoyear contract offer.
Gillislee received a fifth-round tender as a restricted free agent, and the Bills will receive the Patriots’ pick in that round of the NFL draft, No. 163 overall.
In what hardly rates as a surprise, the New York Giants are planning to pick up the fifth-year option on star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr, multiple media outlets reported.
New York has until May 3 to pick up the option on Beckham’s rookie contract, a move considered procedural given that failing to do so would allow Beckham to become an unrestricted free agent in 2018.
The San Francisco 49ers are “still strongly considering” taking a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick in this week’s NFL Draft.