The Las Vegas Raiders awarded Darren Waller on Saturday with a contract extension worth $51 million in new money over three years, ESPN reported.
The eighth-year tight end has 355 passes and 14 touchdowns over the past three seasons. He turns 30 on Tuesday.
“This was one of the most challenging negotiations I’ve ever encountered,” Waller’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told ESPN.
The Raiders now have all their top playmakers on both sides of the ball under long-term contract. Earlier this year QB Derek Carr singed a three-year, $125-million extension, star pass rusher Maxx Crosby agreed to a $95-million, four-year extension, and possession receiver Hunter Renfrow inked a new two-year, $32-million pact.
What’s more, the Raiders acquired arguably the league’s most dangerous wide receiver — former Green Bay Packer Davante Adams — in a trade in March, and awarded him a with a monster new deal worth $141 million over five years. And they signed one of the league’s best pass rushers of the past decade, free agent Chandler Jones, to a $51-million, three-year deal.
Go ahead and give it up to new Raiders GM Dave Ziegler and new head coach Josh McDaniels.
No excuses in 2022, though, boys!
BILLS, POYER AMEND DEAL
The Buffalo Bills and safety Jordan Poyer agreed Saturday to a restructured contract, ESPN said, which increases the potential incentive bonuses he can earn in 2022 from $500,000 to $2 million.
JETS TACKLE ON IR
The New York Jets on Saturday placed left tackle Duane Brown in injured reserve. He has a shoulder injury. Brown will have to sit out at least four weeks. The Jets already are without QB Zach Wilson, who won’t play until at least Week 3 (knee).
RAVENS TACKLE OUT
Baltimore on Saturday ruled out left tackle Ronnie Stanley against the Jets, with an ankle injury. Right tackle Ja’Wuan James is expected to slide over to fill Stanley’s key pass-blocking role.
EXTRA POINTS
Dallas elevated PK Brett Maher and QB Cooper Rush from the practice squad, as Indianapolis did with CB Tony Brown from the practice squad, as Cleveland did with LB Jordan Kunaszyk and DE Isaac Rochell … The Browns also downgraded WR Michael Woods (illness, hamstring) to out … Houston placed pass rusher Mario Addison on IR.
FIVE BIG QUESTIONS
- How will Baker Mayfield fare vs. old team? You gotta know Mayfield is mighty embittered. Can he keep his emotions in check and play vs. Browns like we saw in 2020?
- How will Joe Flacco fare vs. old team? Ten years ago the aged QB, who’s temping for a few weeks until Zach Wilson’s knee heals, led the Ravens to a Super Bowl win.
- How will Russell Wilson fare vs. old team? His first NFL game not with the Seahawks is against the Seahawks, in Seattle. Electric viewing on Monday night.
- How will Matt Ryan fare behind an actual O-line? If he can’t sparkle against the Texans, whose entire secondary skedaddled in the off-season, critics will pile on.
- How will Tom Brady fare, closer to age 50 than 40? He’s now 45. Last season if it weren’t for Aaron Rodgers having one of his best years, the Bucs QB would have won another NFL MVP award. How much is left in his tank, though, after unretiring? Cowboys defence will test him.
THE BIG NUMBER
12
From late in Buffalo’s Week 15 win over the Panthers last Dec. 19, until late in its win on Thursday at the Rams — a span of seven games — the number of fourth-quarter Bills drives out of 13 that ended in a touchdown, excluding victory-formation kneel-downs. Buffalo’s only fourth-quarter possession in that span — against the Panthers, (at) Patriots, Falcons, Jets, Patriots, (at) Chiefs and (at) Rams — that did not end in a TD? Buffalo’s first of three at K.C. in the divisional-round playoff loss (a punt). Bills won every other game.
FUNKIEST FACTOID
Right now Sean McVay, by virtue of losing the opener Thursday night to Buffalo, for the first time at any point in his six-season tenure as head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, has a losing record, 0-1.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“There’s nothing to talk about until you play the game. And you’re only allowed 17 of them, unless you earn more. So I can’t wait to get (this season) going.”
— Kyle Shanahan, 49ers head coach, on the end of preseason blather.
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