Bears get Mack and Mack gets a big new deal
The Chicago Bears spent the offseason loading up to end a string of losing seasons. They just made their biggest move.
The Bears have acquired star pass rusher Khalil Mack from the Oakland Raiders in a massive trade that sends two first-round draft picks to Oakland.
Mack held out for the entire offseason and preseason, seeking a new, longterm contract rather than play under the final year of his rookie deal that would have earned him $13.8 million. Raiders coach Jon Gruden, in his biggest move since returning to the sideline from the broadcast booth, accommodated the 27-year-old Mack on Saturday.
A person with direct knowledge of the trade told the Associated Press that Oakland will get first-round selections in 2019 and 2020, a sixth-rounder next year and a third-rounder in 2020. Oakland also included its second-round selection in 2020.
ESPN reported Mack and the Bears agreed to a six-year, $141-million extension that guarantees $90 million. That would make him the highest paid defensive player in league history one day after Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald signed a six-year, $135-million deal, with $87 million guaranteed.
“We are excited to add a special playmaker like Khalil to our football team,” Bears general manager Ryan Pace said in a statement. “He brings a ton on the field, but he really fits what we are building in our locker room too. Elite defensive players in their prime are rare so when we knew we had a legit shot to acquire him, we did everything we thought necessary to get him.”
The fifth overall selection in the 2014 draft, Mack is a two-time All-Pro and the 2016 NFL defensive player of the year. Mack has played in every game for Oakland the last four seasons, with 231 primary tackles, 401⁄2 sacks and nine forced fumbles.
Since entering the league, Mack leads all players with 1851⁄2 quarterback pressures and ranks second with 68 tackles for loss, according to SportRadar.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr tweeted “No way” and added: “#RaiderNation we feel your pain trust me but we need you next Monday night!”
Cowboys cut Bailey
The Dallas Cowboys have waived Dan Bailey, the second-most accurate kicker in NFL history, in a surprise move to get their roster to 53 players for the regular season.
Bailey was the Dallas kicker for seven seasons and made at least 93% of his kicks in three of his first five years. He tailed off badly last season after injuring his groin in the sixth game of the season.
By waiving Bailey, the Cowboys are going with Brett Maher. The sixth-year player from Nebraska hasn’t kicked in a regular-season game, but he made a 57-yard field goal in the Cowboys’ 14-6 loss to Houston in the preseason finale.
RGIII makes cut
The comeback of Robert Griffin III is complete: The quarterback will start the season with the Baltimore Ravens.
Griffin survived Baltimore’s final cutdown Saturday and will join starter
Joe Flacco and first-round pick Lamar Jackson on the depth chart. The Ravens have not carried three quarterbacks on their 53man roster since 2009.
McCarron goes to Raiders
Buffalo’s quarterback competition is now down to two after the Bills traded veteran AJ McCarron to the Raiders.
The Bills received a fifthround pick for McCarron.
The trade leaves secondyear pro Nathan Peterman and first-round pick Josh Allen vying for the starting quarterback job in Buffalo.
Etc.
San Francisco 49ers running back Jerick McKinnon will miss the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligment in his right knee on the final play of practice Saturday. The 49ers were counting heavily on McKinnon this season after signing him to a four-year, $30-million contract. The 49ers have three healthy running backs on the roster in Matt Breida, Alfred Morris and Raheem Mostert.
The Cincinnati Bengals put quarterback Matt Barkley on injured reserve, leaving Jeff Driskel as the backup to Andy Dalton heading into the season. Barkley hurt his left knee during the Bengals’ preseason finale Thursday night against Indianapolis. ... The Detroit Lions cut quarterback Jake Rudock, paving the way for veteran
to move forward Matt Cassel as Matthew Stafford’s backup . ... Super Bowl winner, cancer survivor and NFLPA treasurer Mark Herzlich was among the 36 player moves made by the New York Giants in getting down to the 53-man roster limit. Writing on his Instagram account Saturday, Herzlich said goodbye to New York after seven seasons. The move leaves quarterback Eli Manning and long snapper Zak DeOssie as the remaining players from Super Bowl-winning team after the 2011 season, Herzlich’s rookie season.
Receiver Braxton Miller, a third-round pick in 2016 after starring at quarterback for Ohio State, was among those cut by the Houston Texans as they trimmed their roster to 53 players . ... Running back Donnel Pumphrey was among the players released by the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday. Pumphrey was a fourth-round pick in 2017 after becoming the all-time NCAA rushing leader at San Diego State.
Raiders cornerback Daryl Worley has been suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL’s policy on substance abuse and personal conduct. Worley pleaded guilty in June to misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence, carrying firearms in public in Philadelphia and resisting arrest.