Steelers’ Fitzpatrick signs record deal
The Steelers signed safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to a five-year contract Wednesday. Financial details weren’t released, but the NFL Network reported the deal is worth $73.6 million.
That would make Fitzpatrick the highest-paid safety in the league.
The 25-year-old Fitzpatrick was ready to enter the final year of his rookie contract. He was acquired in a trade with Dolphins in September 2019 and was selected to the Pro Bowl and the All-Pro team in each of his first two seasons with the Steelers.
The deal gives the Steelers defense three pillars to build around as it begins the post-Ben Roethlisberger era. The Steelers signed reigning defensive player of the year T.J. Watt to a mega-contract last summer and veteran All-Pro defensive end Cam Heyward is entering his 12th season with the club.
Fitzpatrick is coming off a solid 2021 in which he had a career-best 124 tackles — the most by a defensive back in the league — to go with two interceptions and a fumble recovery. He’s also missed just one game.
A lawyer representing Dan Snyder told Congress the Washington Commanders owner will not testify at a hearing next week as part of an investigation into the team’s workplace conduct. Attorney Karen Patton Seymour sent a letter to the leaders of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on Wednesday explaining the reasons why Snyder was declining the invitation to appear at the June 22 hearing. Among the reasons given were a lack of assurance about the scope of questioning given the existence of multiple ongoing investigations and a scheduling conflict preventing Snyder from appearing in person. “Mr. Snyder remains fully willing to assist the committee in its investigation,” Seymour wrote in the letter addressed to Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.) and Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy Chairman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.). NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has accepted the invitation to testify and informed the committee on Wednesday that he will appear virtually, league spokesman Brian McCarthy said.
Colleges: George Washington is dropping its “Colonials” moniker because “it can no longer serve its purpose as a name that unifies,” the school announced. GW will keep using Colonials until a new name is introduced. That is expected by the 202324 academic year.
Soccer: Paris Saint-Germain fired manager Mauricio Pochettino just months after he guided the team to the French league title, ESPN reported. Pochettino, 50, was appointed PSG boss in January 2021, following his dismissal from Premier League club Tottenham at the end of 2019 . ... Midfielder Paul Pogba completed his return to Juventus on a free transfer after leaving Manchester United, ESPN reported. The 29-year-old from France signed a four-year deal with Juventus, moving to the Italian league power for the second time in his career.