Pass rusher Jones traded to Cardinals

Patriots receive guard Cooper, second-round pick.

The Arizona Cardinals have filled what they considered their biggest offseason need by acquiring Pro Bowl defensive end/ outside linebacker Chandler Jones from the New England Patriots.

The Cardinals sent guard Jonathan Cooper and a second-round pick in this year’s draft to the Patriots in a deal that was pending the two players passing physicals.

The 26-year-old Jones ranked fifth in the NFL last season with a careerbest 121/2 sacks. Cooper was Arizona’s first-round pick, the seventh selection overall, in the 2013 draft. He missed his rookie season with a broken leg and never reached the level of play the Cardinals had envisioned for him.

Chandler, a first-round pick out of Syracuse (21st selection overall), is one of three players who since 2012 have at least 200 tackles, 36 sacks and 10 forced fumbles. The other two are J.J. Watt and Ryan Kerrigan. The move saves about $5.4 million in cap space for New England and could bolster an offensive line that was battered last season.

Jones, 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, is in the fifth and final year of his contract although the Cardinals will have the option of placing the franchise tag on him next year if they don’t sign an extension.

Jones was involved in a bizarre incident Jan. 10, showing up disoriented at the back door of a police station about 7:40 a.m., dropping to his knees and putting his hands behind his head. He was not arrested or disciplined by the team, and later apologized for what he called “a pretty stupid mistake.”

The Patriots reportedly reached agreement Tuesday night with ex-Rams defensive end Chris Long on a one-year contract.

Broncos: Matched the Dolphins’ front-loaded, four-year, $18 million offer to running back C.J. Anderson. The move was somewhat surprising given the Broncos had placed the lower tender on Anderson, a restricted free agent. That $1.671 million tender included the right of first refusal but no compensation had the Broncos declined to match another offer sheet. The higher tender of $2.553 million for 2016 would have included a second-round draft pick as compensation.

Ravens: Added more speed and a familiar foe to their passing game, signing wide receiver Mike Wallace to a two-year contract. Released by the Vikings, Wallace, 29, joins his third team in as many years after beginning his career with Baltimore’s AFC North rival, the Steelers. Wallace caught 39 passes for a career-low 473 yards and two touchdowns in 2015.

Jaguars: Agreed to terms with former Steelers left tackle Kelvin Beachum on a two-year contract. The Jaguars are signing Beachum to compete with Luke Joeckel, the second overall pick in the 2013 draft who started 30 games at left tackle the past two seasons.

Seahawks: Continued to address their offensive line by agreeing to a $6.25 million, two-year contract with J’Marcus Webb. Webb started all 16 games last season for Oakland as a guard, but he has played tackle in the past and could be an option depending on what hap- pens with free agent Russell Okung.

Steelers: Signed veteran left tackle Ryan Harris to a two-year contract. The 31-year-old Harris started all 16 games last season for the Broncos after stints in Houston and Kansas City.

Vikings: Kept four of their free agents, re-signing tight end Rhett Ellison, cornerback Terence Newman, defensive end Justin Trattou and cornerback Marcus Sherels.

Bengals: Re-signed Adam Jones to a threeyear deal, keeping their top cornerback in an offseason of transition. Cornerback Leon Hall and safety Reggie Nelson remain free agents.

Panthers: Signed freeagent defensive tackle Paul Soliai to a twoyear contract. The 6-foot4, 345-pound Soliai, 32, is expected to be a backup after spending the past two seasons with Atlanta.

Redskins: Continued to stabilize their secondary by bringing back cornerback Will Blackmon and adding safety David Bruton from the Broncos.

Monday’s Games Tuesday’s Games

(At) Penguins 2, Islanders 1 (SO): Kris Letang’s backhand beat goalie Jean-Francois Berube for the only goal of the shootout. Pittsburgh’s Marc-Andre Fleury stopped Frans Nielsen, Kyle Okposo and John Tavares in the shootout.

(At) Capitals 2, Hurricanes 1 (OT): Alex Ovechkin scored his league-leading 42nd goal just 1:38 into overtime as Washington picked up its 50th win of the season and became the first NHL team to clinch a playoff spot. Ovechkin scored his seventh winner of the season.

(At) Flyers 4, Red Wings 3: Michael Raffl scored two goals as Philadelphia pulled to within one point of Detroit for the final Eastern Conference wild-card playoff berth. The Flyers outshot the Red Wings 23-3 in the first period to take a 2-0 lead, then held on after Detroit’s Tomas Tatar scored with 3:46 left in the game to make it 4-3.

(At) Maple Leafs 4, Lightning 1: Ben Smith and Connor Carrick scored their first goals of the season to lift Toronto. With the win, the Leafs have won back-to-back games and picked up points in four of their past five.

Panthers 4, (at) Canadiens 1: Vincent Trocheck had a goal and an assist, and Aleksander Barkov scored a goal in his third straight game to lead Florida. Panthers backup goalie Al Montoya stopped 27 shots to improve to 10-5-3.

(At) Senators 3, Wild 2 (OT): Defenseman Erik Karlsson scored on a slap shot with 30.4 seconds left in overtime to keep Ottawa’s faint playoff hopes alive. Kings at Stars: Late Bruins at Sharks: Late NHL notes

Blue Jackets: Defenseman Dalton Prout was suspended for one game by the NHL for sucker punching Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov during a scuffle in Sunday’s game.

Today’s Games

Thursday’s Games