Cleveland receiver Gordon: This time, I’m back for good
Browns receiver Josh BEREA —
Gordon believes that this time he’s back to stay.
The oft-suspended former Pro Bowler recently returned to the team after stepping away for three weeks to get mental health counseling, the newest interruption in a career that has had numerous stops and starts. The 27-yearold spoke Monday after practice for the first time since he came back and said he’s focused on the upcoming season and helping the Browns win.
Gordon has been limited by a hamstring issue since returning, but he’s confident he’ll be ready for the Sept. 9 season opener against Pittsburgh. He’s grateful for the support he’s received from the Browns organization and his teammates. Gordon said the only way to win back the trust of the Browns and coach Hue Jackson is “walk it out and live out those actions on a daily basis. I can’t make anybody feel any type of way about me.”
Giants: Odell Beckham Jr. is now the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver. A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press the team agreed to a five-year contract extension with the three-time Pro Bowler.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Giants have not announced the deal, which comes less than two weeks before the season opener
against Jacksonville. While terms were not disclosed, the deal with the 25-year-old, 2014 first-rounder is worth about $95 million with $65 million guaranteed.
Beckham’s $19 million average salary would top the $17 million earned by Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers. His $95 million deal also tops the $82.5 million deal receiver Mike Evans has with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Beckham, who missed most of last season with a broken left ankle, was scheduled to make $8.4 million in the final year of his rookie contract. In his first four seasons, Beckham has caught 313 passes for 4,424 yards and 38 touchdowns.
Beckham has not played in any of the Giants’ three preseason games as new coach Pat Shurmur has taken a very cautious approach with the catalyst to his offense coming off his first major professional injury.
Jaguars: Will be without their top receiver for the second straight year. Marqise Lee will have season-ending knee surgery and be placed on injured reserve, coach Doug Marrone said.
Lee, who led the team in receptions in 2017, was carted off the field Saturday night after Falcons cornerback Damontae Kazee delivered a helmet-first hit to his knee. Tests confirmed what everyone in the stadium expected after seeing Lee’s knee buckle: The injury was severe.
Marrone declined to provide specifics about Lee’s injury but said the team has no plans to pursue a freeagent replacement. “I think we feel comfortable with what we have now,” Marrone said.
It’s the second time in as many years Jacksonville has been dealt a significant setback at the position. The team lost No. 1 receiver Allen Robinson to a knee injury in last year’s regular-season opener. Robinson signed with Chicago in free agency.
Patriots: QB Tom Brady cut short his paid, weekly radio interview with Boston radio station WEEI on Monday when a host pressed him with questions about his fitness guru. Trainer Alex Guerrero has been the source of a rift between Brady and coach Bill Belichick, who reportedly banned the trainer from the team’s sideline and plane. WEEI host Kirk Minihane asked Brady about Guerrero being spotted there the past week, and Brady said, “I said I don’t want to get into it.”
After a follow-up question, Brady said, “All right, guys. Have a great day. I’ll talk to you later.”
Brady also walked out of an interview session with reporters last month when asked about Guerrero.
Seahawks: Could be without linebacker K.J. Wright for the season opener at Denver after the defensive leader had arthroscopic surgery on his knee. Coach Pete Carroll said Monday that Wright came out of last week’s preseason game against Minnesota feeling something off in his knee and made the decision to have surgery. Carroll did not provide details about the surgery or on how long Wright might be out, but said it was uncertain whether Wright would be ready for the Sept. 9 opener. Wright’s backup is rookie Shaquem Griffin.
Trade: The Raiders traded receiver Ryan Switzer and a sixth-round pick to the Steelers for a fifth-round pick. Coach Jon Gruden said Monday that the trade means Dwayne Harris will start the season as Oakland’s kick and punt returner.