Camaron Marvel Ochs
FILE - New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, left, talks to head coach Bill Belichick as their team warms up before an NFL football game against the New York Jets in East Rutherford, N.J., in this Monday, Oct. 21, 2019, file photo. Belichick never was one to spent wildly in free agency. But after watching Tom Brady celebrate another Super Bowl in another city, Belichick and his boss, Robert Kraft, had seen enough. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)
Kraft: Spending spree response to 7-9 record, not Brady win

By Jimmy Golen Mar. 31, 2021 06:06 PM EDT

FILE - Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton (20) follows a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, in this Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, file photo. Steelers cornerback Cam Sutton has spent four seasons as the dutiful understudy. Now he finds himself a starter after re-signing with the team as a free agent, a move that came just days before Pittsburgh cut veteran starter Steven Nelson. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
Steelers CB Sutton ready to step into starting role

By Will Graves Mar. 29, 2021 03:57 PM EDT

Steelers cut CB Steven Nelson in cap-related move

By Will Graves Mar. 23, 2021 04:58 PM EDT
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers released veteran cornerback Steven Nelson on Tuesday, opting to cut him rather than trade him, an announcement that...

Carolina Panthers re-sign OG Miller, add LB Luvu from Jets

Mar. 23, 2021 03:04 PM EDT
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Panthers have agreed to terms one a one-year contract with starting right guard John Miller and added free agent linebacker/special...

FILE - Tennessee Titans tight end Jonnu Smith (81) makes a touchdown catch against Baltimore Ravens cornerback Brandon Carr (39) during the first half an NFL divisional playoff football game in Baltimore, in this Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, file photo. The Patriots have agreed to sign free agent tight end Jonnu Smith in their biggest move to date to fill the void created by the departure of Rob Gronkowski. Smith, who was selected by the Titans in the third round of the 2017 draft, agreed Monday, March 15, 2021, to a four-year, $50 million deal, his agent Drew Rosenhaus told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, FIle)
New Pats TE Jonnu Smith eyeing 'fresh start on the journey'

By Kyle Hightower Mar. 23, 2021 02:58 PM EDT

FILE - San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (84) pulls in a catch during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Football Team in Glendale, Ariz., in this Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, file photo. The Patriots have agreed to terms on a new three-year, $22.5 million contract with free agent receiver Kendrick Bourne. His agent, Henry Organ of Disruptive Sports, says the new deal is for three years and could be worth as much as $22.5 million. New contracts can't officially be signed until the new league year begins on Wednesday, March 17, 2021.(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
Energy already high among new additions to Patriots' roster

By Kyle Hightower Mar. 22, 2021 05:57 PM EDT

FILE - New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick catches a packet of papers after he tossed them in the air during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle, in this Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, file photo. Belichick never was one to spent wildly in free agency. Watching Tom Brady win another Super Bowl in another city sure changed that. The New England Patriots doled out $175 million in guarantees in the first 48 hours of free agency following a 7-9 stumble in 2020 that officially ended their two-decade dominance of the AFC. (AP Photo/John Froschauer, File)
Patriots, Bucs among those making biggest waves so far

By Arnie Stapleton Mar. 22, 2021 04:14 PM EDT

File-This Dec. 27, 2020, file photo shows Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (19) running after a catch with Indianapolis Colts cornerback Xavier Rhodes (27) defending during the second half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh. Smith-Schuster is keeping it “lit" with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The free-agent wide receiver surprisingly opted to return to the Steelers on Friday just days after strongly hinting that his departure on the open market was imminent. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
Surprise! Smith-Schuster sticking with Steelers in 2021

By Will Graves Mar. 19, 2021 03:13 PM EDT

FILE - San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (84) leaps above Dallas Cowboys' Donovan Wilson, left, and Jourdan Lewis (26) to catch a Hail Mary pass in the end zone for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, in this Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, file photo. The Patriots have agreed to terms on a new three-year, $22.5 million contract with free agent receiver Kendrick Bourne. His agent, Henry Organ of Disruptive Sports, says the new deal is for three years and could be worth as much as $22.5 million. New contracts can't officially be signed until the new league year begins on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth, File)
Column: Patriots reboot, but enough to win without Brady?

By Tim Dahlberg Mar. 17, 2021 05:15 PM EDT

OT Nate Solder will return from opt out and play for Giants

By Tom Canavan Mar. 17, 2021 02:26 PM EDT
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Offensive tackle Nate Solder has renegotiated his contract with the New York Giants and will return to the NFL after opting out of...

Steelers cut LB Williams, re-sign OL Banner, CB Sutton

By Will Graves Mar. 16, 2021 05:24 PM EDT
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers expected a bumpy offseason that was going to include some financially prudent but emotionally difficult decisions. ...

FILE - Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller takes up his position during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, Wisc., in this Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, file photo. The Denver Broncos have exercised star linebacker Von Miller's 2021 option. The move engages the final season of the six-year, $114.5 million contract Miller signed in 2016 in the aftermath of his Super Bowl 50 MVP performance. It also guarantees him $7 million of his $17.5 million base salary. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer, File)
Spend, spend, spend on 2nd day of "legal tampering" in NFL

By Barry Wilner Mar. 16, 2021 02:40 PM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 22, 2020, file photo, AFC linebacker Von Miller, of the Denver Broncos ,smiles during NFL football practice at the Pro Bowl in Kissimmee, Fla. Prosecutors said Friday, March 5, 2021, that Broncos star linebacker Von Miller won't face criminal charges following an investigation by police in a Denver suburb. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan, File)
Denver Broncos exercise Von Miller's 2021 option

By Arnie Stapleton Mar. 16, 2021 11:29 AM EDT

FILE - Tennessee Titans tight end Jonnu Smith (81) makes a touchdown catch against Baltimore Ravens cornerback Brandon Carr (39) during the first half an NFL divisional playoff football game in Baltimore, in this Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, file photo. The Patriots have agreed to sign free agent tight end Jonnu Smith in their biggest move to date to fill the void created by the departure of Rob Gronkowski. Smith, who was selected by the Titans in the third round of the 2017 draft, agreed Monday, March 15, 2021, to a four-year, $50 million deal, his agent Drew Rosenhaus told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, FIle)
Pats add Jonnu Smith in 1st big upgrade since Gronk's exit

By Kyle Hightower Mar. 15, 2021 02:36 PM EDT

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady leaves the field an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, in this Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, file photo. om Brady has agreed to a contract extension with the Buccaneers that provides the Super Bowl champions with much-needed salary cap relief and will help the seven-time NFL champion reach a goal of playing until he’s at least 45. Brady posted a picture of himself on Twitter, signing the extension Friday, March 12, 2021, with the message: “In pursuit of 8 ... LFG@ Buccaneers we’re keeping the band together.” (AP Photo/Brett Duke, File)
Nobody comes for free in NFL free agency that begins Monday

By Barry Wilner Mar. 13, 2021 01:20 PM EST

Washington has cap space to spend, needs a QB and much more

By The Associated Press Mar. 12, 2021 06:06 PM EST
WASHINGTON (7-10) UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: QB Alex Smith, CB Ronald Darby, EDGE Ryan Kerrigan, TE Jeremy Sprinkle, LB Kevin Pierre-Louis,...

Despite some building blocks, Jaguars have holes everywhere

By The Associated Press Mar. 12, 2021 04:39 PM EST
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-15) UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: QB Mike Glennon, CB D.J. Hayden, TE Tyler Eifert, DT Abry Jones, WR Chris Conley, WR...

Steelers have many needs but little money in free agency

By The Associated Press Mar. 12, 2021 04:37 PM EST
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (12-5) UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, LB Bud Dupree, LT Alejandro Villanueva, RB James Conner, LB...

Adding to offense tops Pats' priorities entering free agency

By The Associated Press Mar. 12, 2021 04:30 PM EST
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (7-9) UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: RB James White, C David Andrews, LG Joe Thuney, RB Rex Burkhead, QB Brian Hoyer, WR...

FILE - In this Jan. 3, 2021, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton leaves the field after an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Foxborough, Mass. The New England Patriots are completing an agreement to re-sign free-agent quarterback Cam Newton, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press, Friday, March 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
Titans' pass rush busts cautionary tale for NFL free agency

By Teresa M. Walker Mar. 12, 2021 02:57 PM EST