Another NFL star is retiring. Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson announced yesterday he is walking away from football at age 30. Johnson had 11,619 receiving yards and 83 touchdown grabs in nine seasons with Detroit.
The Colts extended the oldest player in the NFL Tuesday, agreeing to a two-year deal worth six-million dollars with kicker Adam Vinatieri. The 43-year-old will be back for his 21st NFL season and 11th in Indianapolis. Vinatieri is a four time Super Bowl champion and made 25 of 27 field goal attempts in 2015.
The Jaguars are adding new weapons to both sides of the ball. Multiple sources say defensive end Malik Jackson is leaving the Broncos for Jacksonville. ESPN reports former Jets running back Chris Ivory is also expected to sign with the Jags.
Jason Pierre-Paul is returning to the Giants for 2016. He announced the move on Instagram, saying he has unfinished business in New York. “JPP” was limited to one sack in eight games last season with a heavily-bandaged hand following a fireworks accident last July.
In other NFL news, pass rusher Mario Williams has reached a deal with the Dolphins. Defensive end Charles Johnson is passing up more money to return to the Panthers, and wide receiver Mike Wallace has been released after just one season with the Vikings.
Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery has signed his one-year franchise tender offer worth just under 15-million dollars. The sides now have until July 15th to agree to a long-term deal. Jeffery had a team-high 807 receiving yards despite only playing in nine games last season.
Kris Bryant launched a solo homer in the Cubs’ 7-3 loss to the Dodgers in Cactus League play. Chicago starter Kyle Hendricks allowed only two hits in three scoreless innings. Jake Arrieta will make his spring debut when the Cubs face the Indians today.
Jimmy Rollins and Avisail Garcia homered to power the White Sox to a 10-6 win over the Brewers. John Danks allowed two runs on three hits and two walks during his three-and-a-third-inning start. The Sox host the A’s today.
Anthony Garcia hit a go-ahead two-run homer as the Cardinals topped the split-squad Twins 5-3 in Fort Myers. Michael Wacha [[ WAH-kuh ]] made his spring debut, allowing two hits and a run in two innings of work. The Cardinals and Mike Leake face the Marlins this afternoon.
The Blackhawks and forward Richard Kruger have agreed to a three-year contract extension. The pact runs through the 2018-19 season. Kruger has been sidelined since undergoing wrist surgery in December, but is expected to be back before the playoffs.
The Blackhawks are in St. Louis to battle the Blues tonight. The ‘Hawks are two points ahead of the Blues for second place in the West. Chicago is one point behind Dallas for the top spot.
Four more teams are going dancing in college hoops. Gonzaga, Green Bay, South Dakota State and Fairleigh Dickinson all earned automatic bids by winning their respective conference tournaments yesterday. Tournaments continue across the country today.
Illinois opens the Big Ten tournament with a first-round game today in Indianapolis. The 12th-seeded Fighting Illini go up against 13th-seeded Minnesota, with tip-off at 3:30 p.m. The winner advances to play fifth-seeded Iowa in the second round tomorrow afternoon.