A.J. McCarron joins Texans as backup quarterback to Deshaun Watson.
Former Oakland Raiders quarterback A.J. McCarron is signing with the Texans as the new backup to Pro Bowl quarterback Deshaun Watson, according to a league source not authorized to speak publicly.
Veteran quarterback Brandon Weeden backed up Watson last year. Weeden and Joe Webb, the third quarterback on the Texans’ roster last season, are unrestricted free agents.
McCarron, 27, is a former Cincinnati Bengals fifth-round draft pick who backed up Pro Bowl quarterback Andy Dalton.
The former Alabama standout played under a four-year, $2.4 million contract. He was signed by the Buffalo Bills to a twoyear, $10 million contract before being traded to the Raiders last year for a fifthround pick.
Cut by the Raiders last week prior to a $3 million roster bonus being due, McCarron played in two games last season and completed 1 of 3 passes for eight yards and no touchdowns. For his career, McCarron has passed for 928 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions and rushed for two scores.
Kraft could see charges dropped
Florida prosecutors have offered a plea deal to New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and other men charged with paying for illicit sex at a massage parlor.
The Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office confirmed Tuesday it has offered Kraft and 24 other men charged with soliciting prostitution the standard diversion program offered to first-time offenders. The men must concede they would be found guilty, perform 100 hours community service and attend a class on prostitution’s dangers and how it perpetuates human trafficking, spokesman Mike Edmondson said. They must also be tested for sexually transmitted diseases and pay a court fee of $5,000 per count. Kraft, 77, was charged with two counts last month. In return, the charges of misdemeanor soliciting prostitution would be dropped.
Kraft’s attorney Jack Goldberger did not immediately return a call seeking comment, and Patriots spokesman Stacey James refused comment. If Kraft refuses the deal, he would be put on trial and, if found guilty, face a possible year in jail, although that would be unlikely. He has pleaded not guilty.
Police say Kraft visited Orchids of Asia twice in late January just before he flew to Kansas City for the AFC Championship game.
According to police, Kraft was chauffeured to the massage parlor in a 2014 white Bentley on the evening of Jan. 19, where officers say they secretly videotaped him engaging in a sex act and then handing over cash.
In other news:
• Longtime Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews has agreed to a two-year contract with the Rams
Matthews had 83½ sacks in his 10 seasons with the Packers, earning six Pro Bowl selections and winning a Super Bowl ring.
• The Raiders signed linebacker Vontaze Burfict, one day after he was released by the Bengals, where he spent his first seven seasons. During his time with Cincinnati, Burfict was repeatedly suspended by the NFL for violent hits and for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancers.
• Quarterback Blake Bortles has agreed to a one-year deal to become Jared Goff ’s backup with the Rams. Bortles spent five seasons with the Jaguars, who chose him third overall in 2014. The Jags released him last week after signing Nick Foles.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL Texas Tech suspends four
Texas Tech football coach Matt Wells said four players are suspended from the team and their futures with the program uncertain.
The four are cornerback DaMarcus Fields, defensive tackle Joseph Wallace, running back Da’Leon Ward and wide receiver Corey Fulcher.
Wells said the cause of the suspensions is, “Just some internal reasons we’re going to get straight.”
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL Johnson named coach at Waller
Gene Johnson is moving from Cypress Ranch to Waller to replace Jim Phillips as head coach. Phillips was named Waller ISD athletics director.
At Cypress Ranch, Johnson saw four double-digit winning seasons and three district titles in nine years.