NFL officially suspends Jameis Winston. As expected, the league banned Winston for the first three games of the season after he allegedly groped an Uber driver in 2016. Winston has denied any wrongdoing, but did accept some responsibility for the incident in a public statement. The suspension, which will cost Winston more than $1MM, will force him out of action against the Saints, Eagles, and Steelers, leaving veteran backup Ryan Fitzpatrick to start in his stead. If Winston violates that NFL’s personal conduct policy again, he could face a permanent ban from the league.
Vikings extend Danielle Hunter. After extending fellow defensive end Everson Griffen last summer, the Vikings have also handed a new deal to Hunter, inking him to a five-year, $72MM pact. Hunter’s $14.4MM annual salary will place him 11th among rushers, which given his age and contract leverage, makes Hunter’s deal extremely team-friendly. While full details have yet to be divulged (Hunter received $40MM in guarantees, but those almost certainly aren’t full guarantees), Hunter did receive a $15MM singing bonus. Up next on Minnesota’s docket? Finding new contracts for receiver Stefon Diggs and/or linebacker Anthony Barr.
Tamba Hali likely to retire. While he hasn’t made a final decision, Hali sounds incredibly likely to hang up his cleats. “I don’t want to focus too much on football,” Hali said. I don’t see myself getting back into football. I see myself being involved with the Chiefs somehow, maybe as a specialist being able to teach the guys. I don’t want to lie to myself. I think the time has come.” Hali, 34, only managed to appear in five games after an injury limited him for the majority of the season. He hasn’t posted double-digit sacks in five years, and hasn’t generated any known free agent interest since being released by Kansas City in March.
Eagles linebacker Nigel Bradham suspended. The defending champs will play one game without a starting linebacker, as Bradham was banned a single contest due to a 2016 case in which he was charged with aggravated assault. Although Bradham avoided jail time for the incident, the NFL often suspends players regardless of legal outcome. Bradham signed a five-year, $40MM extension with Philadelphia after posting arguably the best season of his career in 2017. Without Bradham in tow, the Eagles will turn to either Corey Nelson, Kamu Grugier-Hill, or Nate Gerry to step into the starting lineup.
Bucs release guard J.R. Sweezy. Only two seasons into a five-year deal, Sweezy was cut loose by Tampa Bay last week. While health questions marks kept Sweezy off the field in 2016, he did manage to post 14 starts a season ago. Still, the Bucs could now use the money saved by releasing Sweezy to extend one of their young players such as linebacker Kwon Alexander or offensive lineman Ali Marpet. Sweezy, meanwhile, could logically reunite with the Seahawks, with whom he played four seasons earlier in his career.