Raiders to release Joyner after two disappointing years
Lamarcus Joyner, whom the Raiders signed for big money as a slot corner two years ago and got little in return, will be released in advance of the 2021 free agency period.
Joyner, 31, signed a four-year contract worth a maximum value of $42 million and was touted by coach Jon Gruden as being similar to Ronde Barber, who starred for Gruden with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Instead, Joyner will re-enter free agency after playing in 28 games without an interception and five passes defensed. Due $9.6 million in salary, removing Joyner from the payroll will add another $8.7 million in salary cap space.
The move was first reported by NFL Media and confirmed by the Bay Area News Group by a team source.
The NFL free agency negotiating period begins March 15, with players eligible to sign with teams on March 17.
The Raiders have already released wide receiver Tyrell Williams, who also got a big contract in 2019, and a team source confirmed the pending release of guard Richie Incognito. Guard Gabe Jackson has also reportedly been released.
Meanwhile, the Raiders are scheduled to have free-agent cornerback A.J. Bouye in for a visit. Bouye, who played seven games for the Denver Broncos last season and was released in early February, had a shoulder injury last season as well as a suspension for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing drugs.
— Jerry McDonald PRESCOTT, COWBOYS AGREE TO NEW DEAL >> The Dallas Cowboys said they had agreed terms on a new contract with quarterback Dak Prescott, ending nearly two years of negotiations between the parties.
Terms of the deal were not made public, but ESPN, citing sources, reported that it was a four-year, $160 million deal including $126 million guaranteed.
Prescott got off to a sensational start last season before suffering a gruesome injury in Week 5, fracturing and dislocating his right ankle.
The 27-year-old, who was selected by Dallas in the fourth round of the 2016 draft, is expected to be fully recovered by the start of next season. REPORT: TITANS TO DEAL WILSON TO MIAMI >> Isaiah Wilson, the Tennessee Titans’ first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, tweeted last month that he was “done” with the organization. The Titans reported granted Wilson his relocation request.
ESPN reported Wilson is being traded to the Miami Dolphins for a pair of seventh-round draft choices, one this year and one in 2022, to acquire the offensive tackle.
SAN JOSE STATE HIRES TWO ASSISTANTS >> San Jose State head coach Brent Brennan filled out his coaching staff by hiring wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator Eric Scott and outside linebackers coach Rob Christoff.
Scott spent the last four seasons coaching receivers at the University of Nevada, where he coached four players who earned All-Mountain West postseason honors. Christoff has college, high school and pro football coaching experiences over the last 25 years. including the 2020 season as an assistant offensive line coach for the Seattle Dragons of the XFL.
Scott replaces Kevin Cummings, who was recently hired by the University of Arizona, while Christoff takes the place of Ryan Gunderson, who left the Spartans for UCLA.
Baseball
EX-PITCHER CORMIER DIES AT 53 >> Rheal Cormier, the durable lefthander who spent 16 seasons in the majors and remarkably pitched in the Olympics before and after his time in the big leagues, has died. He was 53.
The Philadelphia Phillies said Cormier died of cancer at his home in New Brunswick, Canada.
Tennis
DJOKOVIC BREAKS FEDERER’S RECORD >> Novak Djokovic surpassed Roger Federer’s mark record for most weeks atop the ATP standings, reaching the No. 1 spot for the 311th week.
The milestone was a formality after he won his ninth Australian Open last month, guaranteeing he would remain No. 1.
The 33-year-old Serbian is tied with Pete Sampras with six seasonending No. 1 rankings.
Sampras, who held the No. 1 spot for a total of 286 weeks, is third on the list for most weeks.
Golf
MICKELSON DROPS OUT OF TOP 100 >> Phil Mickelson has fallen outside the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time in 28 years.
In the new rankings, Mickelson was ranked No. 101, ending his record streak at 1,425 weeks.
Additionally, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who was ranked No. 1 early in June 2020, fell out of the top 10, replaced by Bryson DeChambeau, winner of the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday. McIlroy is outside the top 10 for the first time in three years.
Mickelson, 50, first appeared in the top 100 in August 1993 after winning The International.