Dupree seeks to be paid as DE under franchise tag
Steelers outside linebacker Bud Dupree, who has until Wednesday to work out a long-term contract with the Steelers, wants more money to be added to his franchise tag tender he signed this spring.
According to the NFL Network, Dupree is filing a grievance with the NFLPA to be paid like a defensive end rather than an outside linebacker. The tender Dupree signed was for $15.8 million. The franchise tag tender for a defensive end this year is $17.78 million.
The decision came after Tampa Bay pass rusher Shaq Barrett accepted Tampa Bay’s franchise tender on Friday, but filed a grievance to be paid like a defensive end rather than a linebacker.
The Steelers designate their edge rushers as outside linebackers in their 3-4 scheme because they can drop into coverage as well as rush the passer. Dupree and his agent will argue that he rushed the passer on the vast majority of his snaps in 2019 and therefore should be paid as a defensive end.
More pro football
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Colleges
A day after the Big Ten Conference announced it would play a conference-only schedule in all sports this fall, the Pac-12 voted to do the same Friday in a meeting of athletics directors, university presidents and conference officials. The Pac-12 CEO Group’s decision will delay the start of fall seasons, including football.
Pro basketball
The Brooklyn Nets signed three-time Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford and Michael Beasley as substitutes for the remainder of season.
Soccer
All five former Champions League winners were put into the same half of the draw, setting up a possible semifinal pairing between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Real Madrid, Juventus, Barcelona, Chelsea and Bayern Munich will whittle down one side of the draw to reach the final Aug. 23 at the Stadium of Light in Lisbon. The other side will be between three-time finalist Atlético Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Atalanta and Leipzig.
Harness racing
The California Horse Racing Board put Los Alamitos on probation for 10 days while the track develops a plan to address an increase in horse deaths. According to the board, 19 horses have died from racing or training at the track in 2020, including eight since May 26.