4-year extension for Stevenson
Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson, one of the most dependable members of New England’s offense the past three seasons, has agreed to a fouryear contract extension, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Thursday.
Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson, one of the most dependable members of New England’s offense the past three seasons, has agreed to a fouryear contract extension, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Thursday.
The new deal is worth a maximum of $36 million, and includes $17 million in guarantees, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced. Stevenson is heading into the final season of his rookie contract.
The new pact makes Stevenson one of the NFL’s top seven highest-paid running backs by guaranteed money. He trails only Alvin Kamara ($33.8 million), Jonathan Taylor ($26.5 million), Saquon Barkley ($26 million), Christian McCaffrey ($24 million), Bijan Robinson, ($21.9 million) and Jahmyr Gibbs ($17.8 million).
The deal locks up another member of the core of New England’s offense for the foreseeable future. He joins receiver Kendrick Bourne, tight end Hunter Henry and tackle Mike Onwenu, who all secured new deals this offseason.
Stevenson has rushed for 2,265 yards and 14 touchdowns in three NFL seasons since being selected in the fourth round of the 2021 draft. His best season was in 2022 when he rushed for 1,040 yards and five TDs. He is coming off a 2023 season in which he finished with 619 rushing yards and four TDs.
The Patriots are hoping he can return to his 2022 form under new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and behind a group at offensive line that added former Penn State tackle Caedan Wallace and Texas A&M guard Layden Robinson via the draft this offseason.
Browns release Phelps after DUI arrest in Florida
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Browns cut defensive end Lonnie Phelps on Thursday following his arrest on drunken driving charges after he crashed his SUV into a Florida restaurant.
The team did not address Phelps’ legal trouble in its news release but mentioned he spent all of 2023 on the practice squad.
Phelps was charged with DUI and damaging property on Wednesday night after authorities say he drove into an outdoor lounge area at Red Shoe Island Bistro in Key West. According to a police report obtained by cleveland.com, he refused to take a breath test.
The report also says Phelps refused to cooperate with officers on the scene.
The building’s owner estimated the damage at $300,000 to cleveland.com.
The 23-year-old Phelps played at Miami (Ohio) before transferring to Kansas. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Browns in January. Phelps participated in Cleveland’s minicamp last week.
49ers sign first-round pick
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers have signed firstround pick Ricky Pearsall to a four-year contract worth a fully guaranteed $12.5 million.
The deal announced Thursday means all eight players from San Francisco’s draft class are now under contract well before the start of training camp.
The Niners took Pearsall 31st overall in April. He had 65 catches for 965 yards and four touchdowns last season at Florida and gives San Francisco a possible option as a slot receiver. Pearsall was known for some highlight- reel catches during his time in college and now is the latest potential playmaker added to a dynamic offense that made it to the Super Bowl last season.
Pearsall began his college career at Arizona State where he was teammates in 2019 with current Niners receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who held out of San Francisco’s offseason program in a contract dispute.
Packers claim kicker off waivers
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers have claimed James Turner off waivers from the Detroit Lions, once again giving them a three-man kicking competition.
Turner kicked for Michigan’s national championship team last year after spending four seasons at Louisville. Green Bay added Turner on Thursday, one day after releasing former Georgia kicker Jack Podlesny.
The other two kickers on the Packers’ roster are incumbent Anders Carlson and former Minnesota Viking Greg Joseph.
Turner went 18 of 21 on field-goal attempts and 65 of 66 on extra points for Michigan last year. He had gone 47 of 59 on field goals and 124 of 126 on extra points in his four seasons at Louisville.
The Lions released Turner on Tuesday after signing kicker Jake Bates, who earned all-United Football League honors with the Michigan Panthers this past season. The Lions also return veteran kicker Michael Badgley.