Report: Chiefs sending QB Smith to Redskins
Patriots’ Brady says hand is improving
WASHINGTON — Kansas City has agreed to trade quarterback Alex Smith to Washington, a move that spells the end of Kirk Cousins’ time with the Redskins and hands the Chiefs’ job to Patrick Mahomes.
Two people with direct knowledge of the deal confirmed the move to The Associated Press on Tuesday night on condition of anonymity because the transaction can’t be completed until the start of the new league year in March. One person told the AP the Redskins had agreed to a four-year extension with Smith, who had one year left on his contract.
Smith, who turns 34 in May, spent the past five seasons with the Chiefs, leading them to the playoffs four times while throwing for 102 touchdowns and 33 interceptions. He carries a $17 million salary-cap hit for 2018.
Kansas City saves cap space and can turn to Mahomes, the 10th pick in last year’s draft out of Texas Tech, as its new starter.
Smith becomes the franchise quarterback for Washington after throwing for 31,888 yards and 183 touchdowns in 12 NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and Chiefs.
The Redskins acquired Smith and signed him to the kind of long-term deal they balked at with Cousins, who became the first QB to play back-to-back seasons on the franchise tag. Cousins can become a free agent next month at age 29.
Cousins, drafted by the Redskins in the fourth round out of Michigan State in 2012 likely leaves Washington with the fourth-most passing yards in franchise history, more than 16,000.
According to ESPN, Washington is sending a third-round draft pick and cornerback Kendall Fuller to Kansas City in the trade, which cannot be finalized until March 14.
BRADY: New England quarterback Tom Brady had an encouraging report on his injured passing hand.
“It is getting better,” Brady said Tuesday during a Super Bowl media session. “It is not quite where quite where I want to be, so I am trying to protect it the best way I can.”
Brady injured his right hand during practice Jan. 17, reportedly in a handoff exchange with running back Rex Burkhead. According to NFL Network, he had 12 stitches that have since been removed.
Even with the injured hand, Brady completed 26 of 38 passes for 290 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in the Patriots’ 24-20 AFC championship win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Brady will appear in his eighth Super Bowl when the Patriots meet the Eagles on Sunday in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
“I want to be as healthy as possible for the game on Sunday,” Brady said. “Under Armour made for me a great glove, it’s got a lot of recovery in it and that is what I need at this time.”
GRONK: Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski said he expects to play Sunday.
Gronkowski has been in the league’s concussion protocol after taking a hit from Jacksonville’s Barry Church in the AFC championship game. Gronkowski made his first public appearance Tuesday night while playing former teammate and current Eagles running back LeGarrette Blount in a game of “Madden 18” at the Mall of America.
Gronkowski said he’s still in the concussion protocol and would leave his status up to those in charge of making medical decisions.
“Hopefully by (Wednesday),” he said. “We’ll see how it goes. I’m not the guy to say I’m out of the protocol. That’s the doctors’ calls.”
Gronkowski led the Patriots with 69 receptions for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns this season. He missed last year’s Super Bowl win against Atlanta because of a back injury.
Blount, who won two Super Bowls with Gronkowski and the Patriots before joining the Eagles, dominated his virtual matchup on Xbox in front of a packed crowd of Patriots fans at a Microsoft store.
BORTLES: Jacksonville quarterback Blake Bortles had surgery on his right wrist last week to fix a problem that kept him on the injury report all season.
The team confirmed the surgery Tuesday.
Bortles dealt with the issue in his throwing wrist throughout the season. He appeared on the injury report every week but did not miss a practice or a game.
TITANS: Coach Mike Vrabel has his coordinators, and he’s trusting a man who interviewed for the Titans’ head coaching job to further develop Marcus Mariota and the offense.
Matt LaFleur was hired as offensive coordinator and Dean Pees as defensive coordinator.
The moves Tuesday are the first big hires by the first-time head coach who himself was hired to better develop a team that just won its first playoff game in 14 years but fired coach Mike Mularkey two weeks ago.