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NFL is reviewing whether Eagles and Falcons violated tampering policies
The NFL is reviewing whether the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles violated tampering policies during the legal tampering window, a league spokesman said Thursday.
The Falcons agreed to a contract with four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins shortly after teams were permitted to start negotiating with unrestricted free agents on Monday.
The Eagles quickly struck a deal with two-time Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley soon after the negotiation period opened at 12 p.m. EDT.
Penn State coach James Franklin told a reporter that Eagles general manager Howie Roseman spoke to Barkley and pitched him on the connection between the Eagles and Nittany Lions fan bases.
Teams are permitted to talk directly with agents during the 52-hour negotiating window, but can’t speak to the player unless he has no agent and represents himself.
The Eagles have denied the claims and Barkley said Franklin misinterpreted their conversation.
“That was through my agent and my agent told me that,” Barkley said.
In Atlanta’s case, Cousins said Wednesday: “There’s great people here. And it’s not just the football team. I mean, I’m looking at the support staff. Meeting — calling, yesterday, calling our head athletic trainer, talking to our head of PR I’m thinking, we got good people here. And that’s exciting to be a part of.”
Cousins wasn’t permitted to speak to anyone before 4 p.m. EDT on Wednesday.
“Due to the NFL’s review, we are unable to provide information or have additional comment,” the Falcons said in a statement.
Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was asked if he’s had any communication with the league on the tampering investigation.
“That’s kind of above our fray there,” Adofo-Mensah said Thursday. “I’ve just been busy trying to work on the roster. I’m not aware of any of that stuff.”
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell suggested last week in an interview with NFL Network that the market for Cousins grew at the league’s scouting combine.
“I think the combine just kind of gave everybody else an opportunity — even whether they’re supposed to be or not — to maybe have some conversations,” O’Connell said.
Aaron Judge could return to Yankees
lineup on Saturday
TAMPA, Fla. | New York Yankees star Aaron Judge could be back in the lineup Saturday after being slowed by abdominal discomfort.
Judge hasn’t taken on-field batting practice or hit in a game since Sunday. He had an MRI on Monday.
New York manager Aaron Boone intends to have Judge to play center field Saturday against Toronto. Judge is more focused on the March 28 opener at Houston.
“We’re in no rush,” Judge said Thursday. “In the season, I’m definitely in there right now but our goal is March 28.”
Judge started feeling discomfort with his abdomen during his swing’s follow-through about a week ago.
“Looks like he’s feeling good, looks like he’s moving around pretty good,” Yankees hitting coach James Rowson said. “I think he’s just making sure he talks to the medical staff, and like he’s adamant about getting it right make sure everything’s moving in the right direction. But for me right now, everything indicates that like he’s moving in a good direction.”
Boone said batting practice on Friday for Judge is a possibility.
“We’ll take it day to day.” said Judge, who shagged during batting practice on Thursday.
Judge noted that NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. didn’t play for two weeks before Thursday due to irritation in his right knee meniscus.
“What matters is being there in the regular season,” Judge said. “So this is about making sure we’re ready to go when those games count. I just saw up Acuña has been out for two weeks. It’s better to miss the time now, than July, August when it really matters. So, it’s just about us being smart doing our thing and we’ll be out there when we need to.”
Judge missed 42 games last season with a torn ligament in his right big toe, an injury sustained when he ran into Dodger Stadium’s right-field fence on June 3,
“Running around because the toe feels great,” Judge said. “It’s never felt better.”
Boone said ace Gerrit Cole was being examined and undergoing additional tests by Los Angeles Dodgers head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Cole has had issues with elbow recovery after spring training starts. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, Cole has made at least 30 starts in each of the last six full regular seasons. He had an MRI on Monday and X-rays and a CT scan on Tuesday.
“You have a long season and obviously we get these reports early on that you’re not expecting to come through, but yet these guys haven’t changed their mentality and what they’ve done,” Rowson said. “They’ve stayed determined. It’s actually very cool to see you knowing that they can kind of get through some adversity early and not really feel a huge mood swing either way.”
Marcus Stromam will not be replacing Cole as the opening day starter.
After working 4 1/3 innings against Detroit on Thursday, the right-hander said he will stay on his current routine that has him starting the third game in Houston and the the home opener on April 5 against Toronto. Stroman said he had spoken with Boone and general manager Brian Cashman.
Boone on Wednesday said that Carlos Rodón is scheduled for the second game at the Astros.
Mavs star Luka
Doncic won’t play against Thunder with hamstring soreness
DALLAS | Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic won’t play in Oklahoma City a night after leaving a win over Golden State with hamstring soreness.
Doncic’s seven-game streak of triple-doubles ended with 21 points, nine assists and three rebounds in a 109-99 victory over the Warriors on Wednesday night. The NBA scoring leader exited midway through the fourth quarter with left hamstring soreness, just 22 seconds after re-entering the game.
The absence of Doncic at the Thunder on Thursday night will end a 17-game run with co-star Kyrie Irving, by far the longest since the Mavs acquired Irving in a blockbuster trade with Brooklyn in February 2023.
The time together for a pair of players with 13 combined All-Star appearances has been limited by a variety of injuries. Dallas has played 27 games this season without one or both of them.
The Mavericks are in position for the play-in tournament but have a shot at the guaranteed playoff spot that goes with being in the top six in the Western Conference.
Oklahoma City is in a tight race with Minnesota and defending NBA champion Denver for the best record in the West.
Dolphins signing veteran cornerback Kendall Fuller to two-year deal
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. | The Miami Dolphins are signing cornerback Kendall Fuller to a two-year deal worth $16.5 million, a person familiar with the terms told the Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the contract hasn’t been finalized.
Fuller spent the past four seasons with the Washington Commanders, his second stint with the team that drafted him in the third round in 2016. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2018-2019 after being dealt in the trade that sent former Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith to Washington.
Fuller was a first-round talent who dropped to the third round coming out of Virginia Tech because of injury concerns, but he has been among the best slot cornerbacks in the league during his eight-year career — with 16 interceptions and 486 tackles.
Fuller started 19 of 26 games with the Chiefs over two seasons and won a Super Bowl with them during the 2019 season.
He figures to be Miami’s option to start at cornerback opposite Jalen Ramsey after the Dolphins released veteran cornerback Xavien Howard, who was the longest-tenured player on their roster.
Seahawks acquiring QB Sam Howell in a trade with the Commanders
WASHINGTON | The Seattle Seahawks are acquiring quarterback Sam Howell from the Washington Commanders in a swap of draft picks, according to a person familiar with the trade.
Seattle is getting Howell and fourth- and sixth-round picks from Washington for third- and fifth-rounders, the person said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because the deal had not yet been announced.
The picks going to the Seahawks are Nos. 102 and 179 and to the Commanders Nos. 78 and 152. That gives Washington six selections in the top 100.
Howell started all 17 games last season for the Commanders and led the NFL with 21 interceptions. He was also sacked a league-high 65 times. Washington signed veteran backup Marcus Mariota and could draft its QB of the future with the No. 2 pick, potentially North Carolina’s Drake Maye or LSU’s Heisman Trophy-winning Jayden Daniels.
A 2022 fifth-round pick out of UNC, Howell gives Seattle a backup to Geno Smith with 18 professional starts of experience, after Drew Lock left to sign with the New York Giants.
—From AP reports
