Patriots trade LB Collins to Browns
The Patriots traded Pro Bowl linebacker Jamie Collins to the Browns on Monday in exchange for a conditional third-round pick.
Collins led the Patriots in tackles each of the last two seasons and started every defensive snap in their Super Bowl XLIX win. He has 285 tackles, 101⁄ sacks and five interceptions in 50 career games. Bears beat Vikings: Jay Cutler threw for 252 yards and a touchdown and Jordan Howard rushed for 153 yards and a score to lead Chicago (2-6) to a 20-10 win over visiting Minnesota (5-2) on Monday night.
Stefon Diggs (Maryland) caught eight passes for 76 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Titans’ Johnson retires: Andre Johnson called Tennessee coach Mike Mularkey, asking if they could talk Monday.
After 14 NFL seasons, Johnson had made up his mind. It was time to retire.
“He said he’s been contemplating it for weeks and his heart was not in it,” Mularkey said. “This is a tough business to be in when your heart’s not in it.”
Johnson was not available for comment and did not release a statement. The seven-time Pro Bowl receiver ranks ninth alltime in career receptions (1,062) and 10th in receiving yards (14,185). Replay was ‘shut down’: Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said the fumble ruling that resulted in the Panthers’ first touchdown Sunday was not overturned because the NFL replay system was shut down.
Television replays showed that quarterback Carson Palmer had shoved the ball forward in the direction of running back David Johnson. Arians said he was told the replay official “did not have the proper feed for instant replay, so they shut it down” to fix it, but he added that “it was confirmed” later that it was a forward pass. Extra points: Redskins coach Jay Gruden echoed CB Josh Norman’s complaints about penalty calls in the team’s 27-all tie against the Bengals, saying Norman “probably” is targeted “a little bit” by officials. Norman drew five flags while covering Bengals WR A.J. Green. That prompted Norman to lash out at field judge Brad Freeman after the game, saying the official “was terrible.” ... Former Browns WR Josh Gordon finished his 30-day rehabilitation stay, a person with knowledge of the situation said.