Giants make Beckham highest-paid WR
Odell Beckham Jr. of the New York Giants is now the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver.
The Giants on Monday announced they have signed Beckham to a five-year contract extension that will keep the three-time Pro Bowler with the franchise for another six seasons.
“We got him until he’s 108,” general manager Dave Gettleman quipped. “I never worried whether or not we would get it done. I’m pleased, because the litmus test for a contract is that neither side is ticked off before the ink can dry, and neither side should be ticked off. It’s a very fair deal.”
The signing comes less than two weeks before the season opener against Jacksonville on Sept. 9 at MetLife Stadium.
While terms were not disclosed, the deal with the 25-year-old, 2014 firstrounder 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.
Beckham had said early in training camp that he was taking a risk practicing without a new contract. It paid off.
“Honestly, I don’t even know how to explain it,” Beckham said in a statement. “I don’t know if it’s a relief, I don’t know it’s a combination of everything. You’ve worked all your life to get to this point and it’s finally here.”
Lee to undergo season-ending surgery
Jacksonville Jaguars receiver 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 Atlanta 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 clearly severe.
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.
Lions sign DE Ayers
When healthy, Robert Ayers has been a pretty productive pass rusher. The Detroit Lions could use some help in that area, and now the veteran defensive end has a chance to provide it.
The Lions signed Ayers in their latest attempt to bolster their defensive front. Now entering his 10th NFL season, Ayers made 10 starts in each of the past two seasons with Tampa Bay. He has 35 sacks, including a careerhigh nine with the New York Giants in 2015.
Ayers was a first-round draft pick in 2009 by the Denver Broncos. He spent five seasons with them and then two with the Giants.
Around the league
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck missed Monday’s practice with an injured foot. Coach Frank Reich says Luck was hurt during Saturday’s victory over San Francisco and indicated it was minor. .. Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers practiced on a limited basis for the first time since re-signing with the team earlier this offseason. The 38-year-old Peppers underwent surgery on his right shoulder in February and has been rehabbing ever since . ... Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said that linebacker K.J. Wright may not be ready for the season opener at Denver after he had arthroscopic surgery on his knee . ... Arizona Cardinals coach Steve Wilks says running back D.J. Foster is out for the season with a torn ACL and MCL and defensive end Arthur Moats is expected to miss two to four weeks with a sprained MCL. Both were hurt in the Cardinals’ 27-3 victory at Dallas on Sunday night.