NFL notes: Jacksonville Jaguars open free-agent period with splash
The small-market Jacksonville Jaguars, winners of nine of 48 games in three seasons, committed $175 million, including $78 million guaranteed, to six free agents who are expected to be immediate starters and possibly key components to getting the team back in the hunt in the AFC.
Jacksonville signed tight end Julius Thomas, defensive end Jared Odrick, right tackle Jermey Parnell, cornerback Davon House, linebacker Dan Skuta and free safety Sergio Brown to contracts Wednesday.
Thomas and Odrick are proven starters. Parnell, House, Skuta and Brown were part-time players who are getting paid to take on bigger roles.
General manager Dave Caldwell called his six-man class “maybe a double” instead of a home run.
Thomas signed a five-year, $46 million contract that includes $24 million guaranteed. Odrick inked a five-year, $42.5 million deal that includes $22 million guaranteed.
Caldwell said he will continue to evaluate remaining free agents as well as players who have been or will be released this week.
Colts sign veteran WR Johnson
Long-time star receiver Andre Johnson, previously released by the Houston Texans, signed with the Indianapolis Colts. Johnson, 33, made two All-Pro teams and seven Pro Bowls.
Suh signs deal with Dolphins
DT Ndamukong Suh signed a $114 million, six-year deal with Miami. Suh becomes the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history, surpassing J.J. Watt’s $100 million, six-year deal with Houston.
Eagles won’t trade up for Mariota
Philadelphia coach Chip Kelly said he’s not “mortgaging the future” to move up to draft Marcus Mariota, and he didn’t acquire Sam Bradford to use as trade bait.
He broke his offseason silence after a turbulent week that saw the Eagles trade two-time All-Pro RB LeSean McCoy and QB Nick Foles.
The Eagles also agreed to a three-year contract with RB Ryan Mathews. The contract is reportedly worth $11.5 million with $5 million guaranteed.
Giants extend Coughlin
The New York Giants extended coach Tom Coughlin’s contract through 2016. Co-owner John Mara announced shortly after last season that his coach would be returning despite missing the playoffs for three straight seasons.
Terms were not immediately available.
Group picks site for Chargers
An advisory group appointed by Mayor Kevin Faulconer decided the best site for a new stadium for the Chargers is at the site of their current stadium in Mission Valley, not downtown.
The decision of the Qualcomm Stadium site could be a deal-breaker for the Chargers, who have threatened to move to a Los Angeles suburb if they don’t get an acceptable deal in San Diego.
The Chargers have been seeking public financing since 2002 to replace aging Qualcomm Stadium.
Around the league
The Jets signed former Seahawks G James Carpenter. He started 13 regular-season games last year. … The Texans signed QB Brian Hoyer to a two-year deal. Hoyer signed a $10.5 million contract, with $4.75 million guaranteed. … The Packers re-signed starting RT Bryan Bulaga. The deal is believed to be for five years and worth about $34 million, including an $8 million signing bonus. … The Titans signed free-agent safety Da’Norris Searcy. Searcy made 195 tackles in 62 games with Buffalo, including 23 starts. Tennessee also agreed to terms with WR Harry Douglas, who had spent his entire six-year career with Atlanta. … WR Torrey Smith finalized his new five-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers, with $22 million in guaranteed money. … The Rams reacquired QB Case Keenum from the Texans. St. Louis sent a seventh-round pick in 2016 to Houston. … The Chiefs signed WR Jeremy Maclin to a five-year deal worth up to $55 million. … The Raiders agreed to contracts with free-agent DT Dan Williams and LB Curtis Lofton. … CB Cortland Finnegan announced his retirement. Finnegan, 31, was an All-Pro with the Titans in 2008 but was slowed by an ankle injury last year with the Dolphins.