Broncos address biggest needs so far in NFL draft

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) The Denver Broncos used their top two picks in the NFL draft to plug holes created by the high-profile departures of Brock Osweiler and Malik Jackson in the opening moments of free agency.

A day after moving up five spots to select Memphis QB Paxton Lynch with the 26th overall selection, general manager John Elway selected Georgia Tech defensive tackle Adam Gotsis with the final pick of the second round Friday night.

And with the 98th and final pick of the night, Elway chose Boston College's versatile safety Justin Simmons, bolstering a defensive backfield that lost free agents David Bruton Jr. and Omar Bolden.

Lynch will likely back up newcomer Mark Sanchez initially as he adjusts from the spread he ran in college to Gary Kubiak's pro-style offense. But he's projected as the long-term answer under center that Elway so patiently pursued ever since Osweiler bolted to Houston 48 hours after Peyton Manning announced his retirement.

Osweiler's deal with the Texans was for $72 million over four years with a whopping $37 million guaranteed for a player who's started just seven games in the NFL.

Lynch will get slightly more than $9 million over four years, and the club has a fifth-year option.

Elway can use that cost savings to pay star linebacker Von Miller, whom he franchise tagged.

Gotsis will also be eased into things as he continues his recovery from a torn ACL he suffered against Virginia on Oct. 31. He said he hopes to be back on the field by training camp.

Born in Abbotsford, Australia, the athletic 6-foot-5, 282-pounder played Australian Rules Football for eight years before moving to the United States at age 19. Read more...

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Panthers take cornerbacks Bradberry, Worley in NFL draft

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) James Bradberry didn't know when he'd get picked in this year's NFL draft.

So when the Carolina Panthers called Friday, the cornerback out of Samford was working around his mother's home in Pleasant Grove, Alabama.

''I was actually fixing the toilet in my mom's bathroom when they called,'' Bradberry said.

The Panthers added to their defensive secondary during Friday's rounds of the draft, taking Bradberry in the second round and cornerback Daryl Worley out of West Virginia in the third round.

Carolina, which lost to the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl, addressed a need in its secondary after the departure of All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman to free agency.

Bradberry was taken with the 62nd overall pick, while the Panthers traded up with the Cleveland Browns to take Worley with the 77th overall pick.

The move to draft Bradberry and Worley came after Carolina took Louisiana Tech defensive tackle Vernon Butler with the 30th overall pick in the first round on Thursday.

''If you had told me two nights ago that we'd come out with Vernon Butler and these two guys, I'd have been very happy,'' Carolina general manager Dave Gettleman said. ''They're both big, they're both young, they both can run, they're both physical and they both have really good ball skills. Read more..

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Feel the Action: Top Three NFL games for 2016

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This is how Saints, New Orleans said goodbye to Will Smith

METAIRIE, La. – His name is Frank Moran, and he was one of the first in line to arrive at Will Smith's casket.

He had brought something with him on this cloudy, somber Friday, something to share with Smith and the hundreds of mourners who came to say goodbye at the Saints' training facility.

Moran stood on the indoor practice field, at the 50-yard-line, and lifted his horn to his lips. The sounds of "When The Saints Go Marching In" filled the quiet building. And some of those waiting behind him, in the darkness, began to cry.

Smith’s wife, Racquel, was here for the memorial, in her first public appearance since her husband’s fatal shooting last Saturday in what police call a road rage incident after a night out in the city. She was shot once in each of her legs that evening, and arrived here in a wheelchair. She stayed for more than two hours with her three children, comforted by friends, Smith’s former coaches and teammates, and Saints owners Tom and Gayle Benson.

Saturday is Smith's funeral, and will be held in private, but Friday was for everyone – the public that cheered for him in the loudest of times and now grieve in silence. The Saints opened their facility to the public at 2 p.m. here, but many lined up long before. When people walked in, they saw tributes to Smith along a black ropeline: a photo of him and Racquel; lockers from his high school, from Ohio State, and from the Saints; huge posters of him during his playing days, including one of him closing in on Peyton Manning; and videos of his highlights interspersed with more photos of him with his family. Then there was his casket, covered with flowers, next to the Lombardi Trophy he helped win. Read more...

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Report: Johnny Manziel trashed posh L.A. pad, evidence of drug use

According to New York Post's Emily Smith, out-of-work quarterback Johnny Manziel and his friends trashed a posh Los Angeles home they were renting and the real estate broker who discovered the damage said that there were clear signs of drug use at the house.

Manziel and a friend rented a $4.5 million house in West Hollywood for two days last week, and it sounds like it was a hell of a party. An expensive glass table was broken. So was a bathroom door. Wine stains. Cigarette burns on carpets. Kathy Griffin was there! All hell apparently broke loose.

Broker Nicholas Goodwin has demanded $32,000 from Manziel for damages, and he his lawyer spelled out the sordid details. The Post reported that "lines of suspicious white powder" were found, along with a bag of what appeared to be "magic mushrooms," or psilocybin, an illegal recreational drug.

In a letter written by Goodwin’s lawyer, Niki Ghazian, it's alleged that “Mr. Manziel threw large parties on both nights, causing extensive damage . . . Evidence suggests [Manziel] and his guests were consuming drugs and alcohol . . . and that they caused a disturbance to the neighborhood.”

That led to LAPD being called to the house on April 6. Goodwin, who arrived to the house after the two days to find it trashed and Manziel crashed on the sofa at 2 p.m., added more specific details about the drug use he believes went on at the house.

"They were supposed to check out at noon,' Goodwin told Page Six. "Manziel was passed out . . . There was cocaine all over the kitchen table, and mushrooms were still out on the table in front of him. There was booze everywhere . . . broken glasses over the floor and a Champagne glass in a tree. Read more..

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Texans re-sign free-agent safety Demps

HOUSTON (AP) The Houston Texans have re-signed free-agent safety Quintin Demps.

He was third on the team with 61 tackles last season in his return to the Texans. He defended six passes, forced a fumble and recovered a career-high two fumbles in 14 games with 13 starts.

It was his second stint with the team after he played for Houston from 2010-12. He has also played for Philadelphia, Kansas City and the New York Giants in a nine-year career.

He has 208 tackles, 12 interceptions, has defended 35 passes and has five tackles for losses in his career. Read more..

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Bills LB Tarpley Cites 2 Concussions As Reason To Retire

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) Buffalo Bills linebacker A.J. Tarpley is retiring from football after just one season rather than risk suffering another concussion.

Not even one last visit to his locker stall at the Bills' facility could change his mind.

Tarpley's agent, Ryan Downey, confirmed his client's decision on Thursday, a day after Tarpley announced the news on his Instagram account.

''After months of introspection, I am retiring from football,'' Tarpley wrote. ''I suffered the 3rd and 4th concussions of my career this past season and I am walking away from the game I love to preserve my future health.''

Tarpley became the latest player to walk away from the game because of concussion concerns.

Last year, San Francisco 49ers rookie linebacker Chris Borland retired at the age of 24 by saying he wants to do ''what's best for my health.'' Last week, Kansas City Chiefs safety Husain Abdullah cited health concerns in electing to retire after seven seasons, and after suffering his fifth concussion last year.

Tarpley signed with Buffalo as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Stanford. He had a sack and two interceptions in 15 games, including two starts, last season.

He was listed on the Bills' injury report for having a concussion just once in early November after he was hurt in a 34-31 loss to Jacksonville in a game played at London. Following the team's bye week off, Tarpley returned to play the next game. Read more..

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Bears agree to 1-year contract with offensive lineman Larsen

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) The Chicago Bears have agreed to a one-year contract with former Tampa Bay and Arizona offensive lineman Ted Larsen.

The Bears continue to add to their line. The move announced Thursday comes one day after they agreed to a one-year deal with former Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos lineman Manny Ramirez.

The 6-foot-2, 305-pound Larsen has appeared in 86 games with 57 starts over six seasons with the Buccaneers (2010-13) and Cardinals (2014-15). He has made 34 regular-season starts at left guard, 13 at right guard and 10 at center. Read more

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Chiefs sign running backs West, Ware to contract extensions

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) The Chiefs signed Charcandrick West to a three-year extension and fellow running back Spencer Ware to a two-year extension Thursday, solidifying their backfield alongside Jamaal Charles.

West and Spencer proved to be a potent change-of-pace duo when Charles went down with a season-ending ACL injury last season. Charles is expected to be ready for the start of the upcoming season, but locking up West and Ware will help take some of the load off the two-time All-Pro.

It also makes running back Knile Davis a potential trade piece.

The quick, elusive West started nine games and ran for 634 yards and four touchdowns last season, while the more physical Ware started two games and ran for 403 yards and six touchdowns. Read more 

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