Nov 30, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA;  LSU Tigers wide receiver Kyren Lacy (2) hugs head coach Brian Kelly as seniors are being honored during the beginning of the first quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Kyren Lacy’s agent to NFL: ‘Shame on you’

The agent representing the late Kyren Lacy blasted the NFL on Friday for its treatment of the draft prospect prior to his death by suicide.

At the time of his death last weekend, Lacy was facing negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run and reckless operation of a vehicle charges related to a car accident in Chackbay, La., on Dec. 17, 2024, that killed 78-year-old Herman Hall. He turned himself in the following month and was out of jail on $151,000 bail.

A grand jury was scheduled to hear evidence in the Lacy case last Monday.

With the legal case pending, the NFL did not invite Lacy to the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, though the wide receiver did work out for teams at LSU’s Pro Day on March 26.

Rocky Arceneaux, the CEO of Alliance Sports, had this to say on Friday:

“As stated by his attorney, there was a high probability the felony charge of negligent homicide would have been declined by a grand jury this past Monday. Kyren was heartbroken by the tragic loss of Mr. Hall. He was willing to adhere to any civil matters, regardless of the Grand Jury’s decision. That aside, the system failed us, and we are now mourning the loss of two lives.

“To the NFL, shame on you for revoking Kyren’s Combine invitation without acknowledgment or consideration of the facts. I urge you to re-evaluate your processes and provide athletes with the necessary due process before alienating them from their peers and dreams they’ve worked so hard for. Shame on the investigating agency for being more concerned about public perception — and pressure to charge someone — than actually investigate the facts.”

The NFL did not immediately respond to Arceneaux’s comments.

Lacy died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after a police chase in Texas last Saturday night, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said Sunday.

Police deputies said they got a call that Lacy, 24, had argued with a family member and shot a gun into the ground, FOX 26 Houston reported. Officials said they searched for Lacy after he fled the scene, leading to an attempt at a traffic stop. Instead, he led them on a car chase for several miles and crashed in Spring, Texas, authorities said.

When deputies removed Lacy from the car to take him into custody, they found him with the wound and he was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders, the sheriff’s office said.

Before the criminal matter, Lacy was projected to be among the first 50 players drafted. He was a second-team All-Southeastern Conference receiver in 2024, caught 58 passes for 866 yards and shared the SEC lead with nine touchdown receptions in 12 games.

He finished his collegiate career with 162 catches for 2,360 yards and 26 touchdowns in 64 games with Louisiana (2020-21) and LSU (2022-24).

–Field Level Media

Notre Dame guard Julian Roper II (1) shoots the ball as Western Carolina forward Colin Granger (32) defends during the Western Carolina-Notre Dame NCAA Men   s basketball game on Saturday, November 11, 2023, at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Indiana.

Panthers sign college basketball player to play TE

Colin Granger doesn’t have any football experience, but the Carolina Panthers are taking a chance that the former Division I basketball player could play tight end in the NFL.

The Panthers announced the signing of the 6-foot-9, 235-pound Granger on Monday.

With this move, Carolina is trying to strike gold like the then-San Diego Chargers did when they signed Antonio Gates to play tight end in 2003. An undersized power forward at Kent State, Gates played football in high school but not in college.

Granger, a Georgia native, started his basketball career at Ohio University in 2020 and spent two seasons there. In 2022-23, he played at Western Carolina before moving on to Central Carolina for the past two seasons.

Gates will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, this summer after a 16-year NFL career, all with the Chargers.

–Field Level Media

Dec 16, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA;  Detroit Lions fans dressed in Christmas attire react in the first half against the Denver Broncos at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images

NFL crashing Christmas again, this time with tripleheader

Building on last season’s holiday success, the NFL is planning a Christmas Day tripleheader in 2025.

Two games will air on Netflix on Dec. 25 followed by a Thursday nightcap on Amazon Prime, the league confirmed Tuesday at the owners meetings in Florida.

The NFL broadcast two games on Netflix last Christmas, which fell on a Wednesday. The Baltimore Ravens beat the Texans 31-2 in Houston, with Beyonce providing the halftime entertainment, and the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Steelers 29-10 in Pittsburgh.

Both games averaged more than 24 million viewers, according to Nielsen data. Nielsen and Netflix said that 65 million people watched at least a minute of the streaming service’s nine-hour presentation.

The teams participating in this season’s Christmas trifecta will be revealed when the NFL schedule is released in May.

–Field Level Media

Sep 6, 2024; Sao Paulo, Brazil; The NFL shield logo at midfield at the 2024 NFL Sao Paolo Game at Neo Quimica Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

NFL to explore playing a game in Middle East

The NFL is exploring the possibility of playing a regular-season game in the United Arab Emirates.

Peter O’Reilly, the league’s executive vice president, confirmed there is “strong interest” in hosting a game in Dubai or Abu Dhabi during a news conference on Monday at the NFL owners meeting in Palm Beach, Fla.

“We don’t know the timing, and it’s really an ‘if’ in terms of whether we’ll play a game there. What I will say is that’s a market where there’s strong interest in our game on a year-round basis. … It’s a market we’ll continue to explore,” O’Reilly said.

“We’ve done some exploratory trips there to understand the viability of a potential regular-season game in the market, but we’ve got more work to do there in terms of what that looks like over this next stretch.”

As part of the NFL International Series, games were played in Brazil, England and Germany in 2024. All three nations are on the schedule again in 2025, along with Spain and Ireland. Australia will host a game in 2026.

The league expanded its global markets program on Monday by granting international marketing rights in the UAE to the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Washington Commanders.

–Field Level Media

Jan 14, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders laughs as he watches the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Denver Nuggets during the second half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

‘It’s a lot of hate’: Shedeur Sanders postpones workouts but remains positive

The Big 12 Conference’s inaugural Pro Day had its share of standouts Thursday, but one thing it did not have was Shedeur Sanders working out.

The Colorado quarterback elected not to participate in workouts, though he was in attendance at the event in Frisco, Texas, highlighting the top NFL prospects in the Big 12, and he told NFL Network (broadcasting the event) that he isn’t letting critics get to him.

“It’s a lot of critics, it’s a lot of hate,” Sanders said. “But we know what to do. We know how to handle that in every way, so we remain happy.”

The showcase, which continues through Friday, features more than 200 football players from the conference. Among the notable participants on Thursday included Arizona’s Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who posted the best 40 time of all running backs (4.45), and Utah’s Caleb Lohner, who bested all tight ends with a 37-inch vertical jump.

Perhaps the highest-profile athlete in attendance, Sanders chose instead to work out at Colorado’s “CU Football Showcase” on April 4. He spoke about his approach and the NFL draft process in general.

“It’s definitely a learning experience,” Sanders said. “A lot of things aren’t in your control, and getting the knowledge from Dad (Deion Sanders) … coaches, family and friends and everybody that’s supporting me and helping me through this process, it’s extremely important. I’m thankful that I have those resources.”

Sanders is considered a top target of the New York Giants, who select No. 3 overall and have recently parted ways with their previous starting quarterback, Daniel Jones.

Sanders was the Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team quarterback on the All-Big 12 team in 2024, throwing for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns for 9-4 Colorado, finishing eighth in the Heisman Trophy balloting.

Other standouts from the Big 12 workouts have included Arizona State running back DeCarlos Brooks (10-foot, 10-inch broad jump), Oklahoma State tight end Jake Schultz (31 bench press) and UCF running back Peny Boone (6.93 3-cone).

–Field Level Media

Jul 29, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans cornerback Jeff Okudah (11) during training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Report: Vikings, CB Jeff Okudah agree to 1-year deal

The Minnesota Vikings and cornerback Jeff Okudah, a former first-round pick, agreed to a one-year contract on Tuesday.

That’s according to agent Kevin Conner, the CEO of Universal Sports and Management, ESPN reported. No financial terms were disclosed.

Okudah, 26, is returning to the NFC North, where he started his career with the Detroit Lions, who selected him No. 3 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Due to multiple injuries, he appeared in just 25 games (22 starts) over three seasons in Detroit. He followed that tenure with one year with the Atlanta Falcons (13 games, nine starts) and one with the Houston Texans (six games, no starts).

Over his career, Okudah has two interceptions for 56 yards and a touchdown, as well as 177 tackles and 14 passes defensed.

–Field Level Media

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) runs for a first down against Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker K.J. Britt (52) during the second half of the NFC divisional round at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024.

NFL transactions roundup: Dolphins, Bucs LBs swap spots

Linebacker K.J. Britt and Anthony Walker are trading places.

ESPN reported Thursday that the Buccaneers have agreed to a one-year deal with Walker, formerly of the Dolphins. And Britt, selected by Tampa Bay in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, now is heading to Miami on a one-year contract of his own.

Walker, a fifth-round draft pick by the Colts in 2017, is joining his fourth team; he also played for the Cleveland Browns. In one season with Miami in 2024, he played in 14 games (eight starts) and had 68 tackles, a sack, an interception and two pass break-ups.

Britt played in 59 games (15 starts) over four seasons with the Bucs, with his best season coming in 2024. He started 11 games and made a career-high 72 tackles.

–The Eagles are adding linebacker Josh Uche on a one-year contract. Philadelphia lost Josh Sweat in free agency.

Uche, a second-round draft pick in 2020 by the New England Patriots, has played in 64 career games (four starts). Six of those games came last season in Kansas City, who traded for him in October.

He has 86 career tackles (19 for loss) and 20.5 sacks with two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

–The Tennessee Titans signed four-time All-Pro punter Johnny Hekker.

He spent 10 seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, followed by three with the Carolina Panthers. He was a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 2010s.

Last season in Carolina, he averaged 45.7 yards on 73 punts with a 41.5-yard net average.

In 212 career games, he has punted 963 times for 45,052 yards — the NFL’s active leader in both categories — and a 42.8-yard net.

–Field Level Media

Dec 15, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell (14) is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen (6) during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

NFL transactions roundup: Steelers to sign RB Kenneth Gainwell

Kenneth Gainwell is set to join the Pittsburgh Steelers in a reshaped backfield without Najee Harris and no defined answer at quarterback.

Gainwell agreed to a one-year deal, according to multiple reports Wednesday, and gives the Steelers some insurance behind restricted free agent Jaylen Warren. Warren was given a second-round tender offer by the Steelers this week and is projected to be Pittsburgh’s starter in the absence of Harris. Harris, a 2021 first-round pick, agreed to a one-year deal with the Chargers in free agency.

Gainwell, who turns 26 on Friday, was a fifth-round pick in 2021 and averaged 4.2 yards per carry in four seasons with the Eagles. He’s capable of being a third-down back and averaged 7.1 yards per catch with 102 receptions for 721 yards. He had a total of 1,906 yards and 13 touchdowns with Philadelphia.

Warren, 26, averaged 4.8 yards per carry with 127 receptions in his first three seasons. He was expected to start the 2024 season in a co-No. 1 role with Harris until a hamstring injury slowed him down.

–Defensive tackle Greg Gaines re-signed with the Buccaneers.

Gaines reportedly will receive $3.5 million for the 2025 season, his third with the team. A backup nose tackle, he played in 15 games (three starts) in 2024 and had 17 tackles with one sack.

Gaines, 28, is entering his seventh season after four years with the Los Angeles Rams. He has 163 tackles and 12.5 sacks in 91 career games (30 starts).

–Field Level Media

Houston Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs (1) walks towards the sideline before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Best free agents left? Stefon Diggs, Amari Cooper among open targets

Two days into the free agency frenzy of 2025, there are plenty of marketable talents left on the board as the sun rises on the first day of the NFL league year.

Defensive backs and linemen were the belles of the ball over the first day of the open market with those contracts set to become official on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET.

A few surprises? Sure, we didn’t see guard Will Fries receiving a contract worth $88 million, the third-highest total value of any agreement made in the open negotiating period that began at noon ET on Monday.

Some overspends? Yes, there always are. But if we can take anything away from the construction of the Super Bowl champion Eagles, it’s that the NFL calls it a salary cap for a reason. Spend wisely, or find yourself in Giants general manager Joe Schoen’s shoes (cough, cough, Saquon Barkley) wishing you would have.

With fluid negotiations in progress and likely to reset the list below, here are the best free agents still available as the workday begins Wednesday morning.

WR Stefon Diggs (Texans): Until the Rams make it official and release Cooper Kupp, Diggs is the best receiver on the market because of his ability to adapt as an inside or outside receiver. The pause in paying Diggs could have a lot to do with health. He turns 32 in November and is coming back from a torn ACL.

WR Amari Cooper (Bills): Acquired from the Browns at the trade deadline, Cooper was a bust in Buffalo. He had bumps and bruises that limited his production with the Bills, but WR1 is no longer a likely role for Cooper. He’s 31 in June and likely no more than a third receiver.

OT Cam Robinson (Vikings): Robinson showed well in a half-season with the Vikings, who were forced to pick up a replacement for Christian Darrisaw (ACL) on the fly.

OG Mekhi Becton (Eagles): A power tackle who didn’t take with the Jets, Becton isn’t the best fit for every scheme but he turns 26 next month and is a plow horse as a run blocker.

S Julian Blackmon (Colts): He doesn’t turn 27 until training camp and started 16 games with the Colts last season. A former third-round pick with 10 career interceptions.

OT Jedrick Wills (Browns): A reboot with a new team and perhaps position might be in the offing for Wills. He wasn’t the answer at left tackle in Cleveland but could see a career rebound similar to Becton with a relocation.

OG Teven Jenkins (Bears): A second-round pick in 2021 with a shaky reputation for paid time off, Jenkins started a career-best 14 games and played a career-high 738 offensive snaps last season and still missed almost one-third of the Bears’ plays (right tackle Darnell Wright played 1,020). He’s been solid to very good when available, and given the cash doled out to guards in free agency, he has 38 career starts and enough good film to be worth a knock at the right price.

WR Elijah Moore (Browns): Cursed with horrific QB play since he entered the NFL with the Jets, Moore is only 25 and caught 200 passes in his first four seasons. He thrives as a slot receiver and would be a great addition for a team with a young quarterback or overhauled WR room.

–Field Level Media

East Rutherford, NJ -- October 14, 2024 -- Josh Allen of Buffalo gets out of the grasp of Solomon Thomas of the Jets in the first half. The Buffalo Bills came to MetLife Stadium to play the NY Jets. The Jets played their first game under new interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich.

NFL signing roundup: Cowboys add DT Solomon Thomas

Defensive tackle Solomon Thomas agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday.

Thomas, 29, spent the past three seasons with the New York Jets. He had nine total sacks as a 3-4 defensive end in New York playing for defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton, a new addition to the Cowboys’ coaching staff.

The third overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, he suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Week 2 of his fourth season (2020) and joined the Jets as a free agent in 2022. He spent the 2021 season with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Thomas went to high school in Coppell, Texas, which is less than 30 minutes from the Cowboys’ training facility in Frisco. He has 18.5 career sacks over 115 games (34 starts).

–Safety Richie Grant is signing a one-year deal with the 49ers, ESPN reported.

Grant, 27, was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft and appeared in 67 games (33 starts). All but one of those starts came in the 2022-23 seasons, and most of his action in 2024 came on special teams.

He has 275 career tackles to go with three sacks, three interceptions, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries during his time with the Falcons.

–Punter Riley Dixon is signing a two-year, $6 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, NFL Network reported.

Dixon, entering his ninth season, spent the past two with the Denver Broncos. In 2024, he averaged 46.7 yards over 77 punts.

In 148 games, the 31-year-old has averaged 45.9 yards per punt over 668 punts.

–Field Level Media