Murray commits to NFL, gives up baseball
Hunt signs one-year deal with Browns
NEW YORK, Feb 12, (RTRS): Kyler Murray announced on social media Monday that he is giving up baseball and will pursue his dreams of being an NFL quarterback.
“Moving forward, I am firmly and fully committing my life to being an NFL quarterback,” the reigning Heisman Trophy winner from Oklahoma stated in the post. “Football has been my love and my passion my entire life.”
That shuts the door on the possibility he will play for the Oakland Athletics, who made him the No. 9 overall pick in last June’s MLB draft. After the draft, Murray signed with the A’s and received a $4.66 signing bonus.
According to published reports, Murray will return $1.29 million of the original $1.5 million he received last year. He will forfeit the remaining $3.16 million due March 1.
Controversial running back Kareem Hunt signed a oneyear deal with the Cleveland Browns, the team announced.
Hunt, a Pro Bowl pick as a rookie in 2017 on his way to a repeat in 2018 with the Kansas City Chiefs, is currently on the exempt list while the NFL investigates an assault captured on video last February. The incident prompted his immediate release by the Chiefs in November.
Hunt would become a restricted free agent in March 2020, Cowboys (2011-14), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2015), New York Jets (2016-17) and Falcons.
The New Orleans Saints have hired Darren Rizzi as special teams coordinator, head coach Sean Payton announced.
Rizzi, 48, has 26 years of college and NFL coaching experience, most recently with the Miami Dolphins from 200918. He spent his final two years with the Dolphins as associate head coach/special teams coordinator.
Over his eight seasons as coordinator, the Dolphins were first in the NFL with 11 blocked punts and second with 22 total blocked kicks.
Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown was found guilty of reckless driving on Tuesday after failing to show up for his trial, multiple Pittsburgh media outlets reported.
Police cited Brown for driving a black Porsche in excess of 100 mph through Ross Township, Pa, on Nov 8, which was the morning of the Steelers’ game against the Carolina Panthers.
Reckless driving convictions in Pennsylvania carry maximum penalties of 90 days in jail, a $200 fine and a six-month license suspension. An attorney for Brown left the courtroom without comment, according to WPXI.
It’s the latest in a headline-producing few months for Brown, on and off the field.
Brown allegedly pushed the mother of his daughter to the ground last month in Hollywood, Fla, according to a police incident report. The woman did not press charges and Brown was not arrested.
It also came out that Brown was hit was hit with two lawsuits in October for an incident that allegedly occured at his South Florida high-rise last April.
Brown was accused of yelling at security and throwing furniture from his balcony, upset over $80,000 and a gun he reported missing. Brown accused building security of being behind the alleged theft, according to police reports.
Projected first-round draft pick Jeffery Simmons injured his knee in training and could have a torn ACL, ESPN reported Tuesday.
Simmons, a defensive lineman from Mississippi State, has been considered a potential top-15 draft pick, but a torn ACL likely would impact his draft slot.
The 6-foot-4, 300-pound Simmons played three seasons for the Bulldogs. In 38 games, he had 163 tackles – 32.5 for loss – as well as seven sacks and five forced fumbles.
He was not invited to attend the NFL Scouting Combine, which begins later this month, because of a previous no-contest plea to an assault charge. A 2016 NFL rule bars prospects who have a history of violence from attending the combine.
In 2016, a video showed Simmons hitting a woman. Mississippi State suspended him for one game.
In this Nov 19, 2018 file photo, Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt (27) scores a touchdown ahead of Los Angeles Rams free safety Lamarcus Joyner (20) as Chiefs offensive guard Cameron Erving (75) looks on
during the first half of an NFL football game, in Los Angeles. (AP)