Patriots fill need at center
New England trades for Bills’ Bodine in case Andrews misses time
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.
Andrews was released from the hospital on Monday and was spotted in sweat pants during pregame warmups of the Patriots’ 31-29 preseason-ending loss to the New York Giants on Thursday night.
The Patriots haven’t released any information regarding Andrews’ condition. James Ferentz started at center against New York.
Jets: Announced Neil Glat is stepping down as team president and will transition to a new role as a senior adviser. Glat has been with the Jets since 2012 and was responsible for all of the team’s off-field activities, including establishing business and community partnerships, helping design and unveil New York’s new uniforms and logo, expanding fan engagement opportunities and launching the team’s Jets 360 content platform.
Cowboys: Owner Jerry Jones says he’s operating under the assumption that Ezekiel Elliott will miss regular-season games because of a holdout, but doesn’t think his star running back will be absent for all of them. Elliott has two years remaining on his rookie contract but wants to be the NFL’S highest-paid running back after winning two rushing titles in his first three seasons. Broncos: Acquired cornerback Duke Dawson from New England. The trade includes a swap of late-round draft picks and was first reported by NFL Network. The Broncos also acquired a seventh-round selection from New England for a sixth-rounder in next year’s draft.
Browns: Traded rookie quarterback David Blough to Detroit. Cleveland and Detroit swapped seventh-round draft picks in 2022 in the deal.
Colts: Traded center-guard Evan Boehm to the Dolphins for a conditional 2020 draft pick.
Panthers: Placed kicker Graham Gano on injured reserve, and cut running back Cameron Artis-payne and quarterback Taylor Heinicke. Raiders: Rodney Hudson once again is the NFL’S highest-paid center after signing a three-year contract extension worth nearly $34 million.
Ravens: Wide receiver Michael Floyd and outside linebacker Shane Ray were among 11 players released by Baltimore. Saints: Placed veteran linebacker Will Compton on injured reserve, possibly ending his season.
Titans: Announced a multi-year contract extension with center Ben Jones. Terms were not disclosed.
Obituary: Pro Football Hall of Fame center Jim Langer, who was literally in the middle of the Miami Dolphins’ 1972 perfect season, has died at the age of 71. Langer died Thursday at a Coon Rapids, Minn., hospital near his home of a sudden heart-related problem, said his wife, Linda. Langer was a first-year starter and played every offensive down for the NFL’S only unbeaten, untied team that went 17-0. The following year he helped the Dolphins repeat as Super Bowl champions, and began a stretch of six consecutive Pro Bowl seasons for Miami while playing in 128 games in a row.