Teddy Bridgewater suspended from HS coaching job

Bridgewater, 32, confirmed his suspension by Miami Northwestern in a Facebook post on Sunday but said he remains committed to his alma mater.

“The suspension came from MNW and it’s impossible to suspend someone who doesn’t work for you. So if im suspended from MNW im free to go to another school of my choice but IM NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

“And if it comes down to it, I will volunteer from the bleachers like I used to in 2018 and 2019 when no one had a problem.”

Bridgewater led Miami Northwestern to a Class 3A state championship in his first season as the coach in 2024.

He returned to the NFL in December to serve as Jared Goff’s backup with the Detroit Lions but did not appear in a regular season game. In the playoffs, he completed his only pass attempt for 3 yards in a 45-31 loss against the Washington Commanders in the divisional round.

According to multiple reports, Bridgewater posted earlier this month on Facebook that he paid for Uber rides, meals and recovery services for his players last season. He asked fans to donate to help cover such expenses this year.

The Florida High School Athletic Association confirmed to Rivals on Monday that it is gathering more information.

Bridgewater played for six NFL teams from 2014-24, compiling a 33-32 record with 15,120 passing yards and 75 touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl after an 11-5 season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2015.

Report: 49ers WR Jauan Jennings seeks new deal or trade

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings is seeking a new contract or a trade, ESPN reported Monday.

Jennings, 28, is due to earn $7.5 million in the final season of his contract in 2025, according to Spotrac.

He set career highs across the board last season with 77 receptions for 975 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games.

There has been little progress with Jennings’ request but he is not expected to be a training camp holdout, per ESPN.

He has 155 catches for 1,938 yards and 13 TDs in 60 games since being drafted in the seventh round by the 49ers in 2020 out of Tennessee.

Report: John Elway won’t be charged in death of business partner

John Elway will not be charged in the April incident in which his longtime business partner fell off a golf cart driven by the Hall of Fame quarterback and later died, a Denver television station reported.

Jeff Sperbeck was 62 when he passed away in La Quinta, Calif.

Chad Bianco, the sheriff in Riverside County, Calif., told 9NEWS that the investigation confirmed the initial findings of an accident and that the cause of death was blunt force trauma.

“We’ve talked to everyone involved and we found nothing new,” he told the station. “There was nothing criminal. It was what we’ve been saying all along that this was a tragic accident.”

An official announcement from the sheriff’s department is due soon, according to 9NEWS.

Elway, Sperbeck and their wives were in the desert to attend the Stagecoach music festival, TMZ reported in April.

Elway, 65, and Sperbeck founded 7Cellars winery together in 2013. Sperbeck also was Elway’s longtime agent.

Sperbeck, certified by the NFL, represented more than 100 NFL players as an agent and business adviser over a 30-year career, according to his bio on the winery’s website.

“I am absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the passing of my close friend, business partner and agent Jeff Sperbeck,” Elway said in a statement after Sperbeck’s death. “There are no words to truly express the profound sadness I feel with the sudden loss of someone who has meant so much to me.”

Elway played for the Denver Broncos from 1983-98, winning Super Bowl championships in each of his final two seasons. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004. He returned to the team as an executive in 2011, working as the general manager through 2020 and as president of football operations in 2021.

Browns RB Quinshon Judkins arrested on battery/domestic violence charge

Cleveland Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins is facing a charge of battery and domestic violence following a Saturday arrest in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., according to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.

The charge is described as “touch or strike/battery/domestic violence,” per the arrest record, with no bond amount set for the 21-year-old Judkins, who was in jail as of Saturday night and waiting for his initial court appearance Sunday morning.

The Browns are “aware and gathering more details,” according to a team spokesperson.

Cleveland selected Judkins in the second round (36th overall) in the 2025 NFL Draft. He is the only player in the Browns’ seven-man draft class who has not signed his rookie contract.

Judkins had 194 carries for 1,060 yards and 14 touchdowns and caught 22 passes for 161 yards and two TDs in 16 games last season as Ohio State won the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Ohio State defeated Notre Dame 34-23 in the title game as Judkins rushed 11 times for 100 yards and two TDs and caught a 6-yard TD pass.

In three seasons at Ole Miss (2022-23) and Ohio State, Judkins totaled 739 carries for 3,785 yards (5.1 yards per carry) and 45 TDs, and had 59 receptions for 442 yards and five scores.

The Browns, who also drafted running back Dylan Sampson in the fourth round out of Tennessee, are looking to replace RB Nick Chubb, who signed with the Houston Texans. Other backs on the roster include veterans Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr., as well as rookie Ahmani Marshall.

Cleveland’s rookies report to training camp on Friday.

Chargers rookie WR Tre Harris holding out from training camp

Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Tre Harris is officially holding out from training camp.

According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the deadline for Chargers rookies to report to training camp was today, and Harris was not present. The second-round selection from Ole Miss is one of 30 second-round picks who remain unsigned due to disputes over guaranteed money in their contracts.

Houston Texans receiver Jayden Higgins signed a fully guaranteed contract in May, the first second-rounder to ever receive a fully guaranteed deal. The Cleveland Browns followed suit by signing linebacker Carson Schwesinger to a fully guaranteed contract.

The pair of contracts seemingly set a precedent that teams and players aren’t agreeing upon. Harris becomes the first second-round rookie to officially hold out.

The 55th overall pick, Harris posted 60 receptions for 1,030 yards and seven touchdowns in his fifth-year season at Ole Miss. He played his first three years at Louisiana Tech.

Cardinals LT Luis Sharpe, 3-time Pro Bowler, dies at 65

Longtime Cardinals left tackle Luis Sharpe, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, has died at age 65.

Sharpe played all 13 of his NFL seasons with the franchise in St. Louis (1982-87) and Arizona (1988-94).

Sharpe’s wife, Tameka Williams-Sharpe, shared the news of his passing Saturday on social media.

“With deep sorrow and abiding love, I share that my beloved husband, Luis Sharpe, has passed away,” she wrote, per the Arizona Republic. “His strength, love, and faith were a light to all who knew him. I am grateful for every moment we shared and for the many prayers and kindnesses extended to our family.

“Though my heart is heavy, I trust that Luis is now resting in God’s eternal peace. Please continue to keep our family lifted in prayer.”

Born in Havana, Cuba, Sharpe grew up in Detroit and became a first-round draft pick (16th overall) in 1982 out of UCLA.

He started all 189 of his regular-season games with the Cardinals and made the Pro Bowl in 1987, 1988 and 1989.

Ndamukong Suh announces retirement from NFL

Ndamukong Suh announced his retirement from the NFL on Saturday, issuing a heartfelt statement on the first anniversary of his father’s death.

Crediting his father as “my idol, my coach, and my anchor,” the defensive lineman relayed what he said was the final piece of advice from his dad.

“It’s time to let football go,” he recalled his father saying. “You’ve done everything you set out to do. Now it’s time for the next chapter.”

“That conversation stayed with me,” Suh posted in his statement on social media. “So today, one year later, I’m honoring that wish.

“I’m officially retiring from the NFL.”

Suh, 38, was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft by the Lions. He spent five seasons in Detroit (2010-14), then played for the Miami Dolphins (2015-17), Los Angeles Rams (2018), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2019-21) and Philadelphia Eagles (2022).

He has been out of football the past two seasons. He won the Super Bowl with the 2020 Buccaneers.

Suh made his presence known as a rookie, posting a career high of 10 sacks and being named an All-Pro and AP Rookie of the Year. It was the first of his three All-Pro honors, and he also was named to the Hall of Fame All-2010s team.

He made 600 career tackles and 71.5 sacks, adding one interception, five forced fumbles and nine fumble recoveries — three returned for a touchdown. He appeared in 199 games, starting all but the eight he played with the Eagles in his final season.

“I left it all on the field, and now I’m stepping away with peace and gratitude,” he said.

“Because I’ve been preparing for this moment for years. Football was my passion, but it was never my endgame.”

He now hosts the “No Free Lunch” podcast, in which he strives to share what he’s learned about “navigating life and money,” he said.

Reports: Bears extend GM Ryan Poles through 2029

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles has come to terms on a three-year contract extension with the club that will conclude after the 2029 NFL season, according to multiple reports.

His existing five-year deal would have expired in 2027. Poles was 36 years old in 2022 when he replaced Ryan Pace in the Windy City.

Poles’ extension now aligns with new head coach Ben Johnson, who signed a five-year agreement when hired in January.

“There’s a rhythm to all the madness behind what we do and how we do it,” Johnson said in April. “And Ryan really is all the brains behind that. He set it all up and you can tell that this group, this organization has been together for a number of years now because it’s been running so smoothly. He’s consistent every single day when he comes in. I think that sometimes is under looked at times, particularly in this profession. Consistency is a huge deal and he’s just done a great job every single day laying out a plan, executing a plan and just getting to know him more.”

Now 39, Poles has experienced an eventful three years in charge. The Bears had the No. 1 draft picks in both 2023 and 2024. In 2023, he dealt the top selection to Carolina for wide receiver D.J. Moore and four draft picks, which turned into the No. 1 selection in 2024. Poles used that pick in to bring in quarterback Caleb Williams, who became the team’s starter in his first season.

The general manager fired head coach Matt Eberflus with five games left in the 2024 season after questionable game management in the Bears’ Thanksgiving Day loss to Detroit. It was the first time in the history of the franchise that the Bears parted ways with a head coach mid-season.

In Poles’ tenure, the Bears are 15-36. They have not earned a spot in the league playoffs since 2020 and have not won a playoff game since 2011.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes against 18-game regular season

Take it from Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a playoff regular since entering the NFL, every additional game takes a physical toll.

While commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL owners have discussed expanding the regular season to 18 games, the issue requires collective bargaining with players. Count Mahomes as a “no” if and when the time comes for players to weigh in on an official measure to again expand the regular season.

“I always say the more games, it’s a little bit more taxing on the guys that play the game,” Mahomes said Friday in an interview with CNBC.

Mahomes said the framework of potential proposals subtracting one or more weeks of preseason games and shortening player workout dates in the offseason might not be enough to sway his opinion. The league played a 16-game schedule when Mahomes was drafted and moved to 17 games in 2021. Goodell remarked at the NFL owners meetings that there is a logical next step to 18 games.

“I think that you’d have to find a way to have more bye weeks, more time spread out. I mean, you’ve seen the amount of injuries that have kind of piled up there at the end of seasons and you want to have the best players playing in the biggest games,” Mahomes said. “So, if there were a way to get to 18 games, I’m not a big fan of it. But if there were a way, I think you got to add some bye weeks in there to give more time for guys’ bodies.”

NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell said negotiations toward an 18-game schedule are not happening anytime soon.

Howell said in February that “no one wants” an 18th game.

The incentive for players would likely be sharing revenue in some form with the NFL media rights and broadcast agreements up for renegotiation before 2029 if the league opts out of its existing CBS-Paramount deal.

Goodell said this week at the Sun Valley Conference in Idaho that the NFL wasn’t likely to end its partnership with CBS and Paramount.

“We have a two-year period to make that decision. I don’t see that happening, but we have that option,” Goodell said.

Chargers RB Najee Harris (eye) hurt in fireworks incident

Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris sustained an eye injury in a Fourth of July fireworks incident but is expected to be ready for the start of the 2025 season, according to his agent, Doug Hendrickson.

Harris was one of multiple hurt people in the East Bay town of Antioch, Calif., when the fireworks mishap occurred around 12:18 a.m. on July 5, according to Antioch police.

Hendrickson released a statement Thursday after online rumors began making their way into the mainstream media.

“Najee Harris was present at a 4th of July event where a fireworks mishap resulted in injuries to several attendees,” Hendrickson said. “Najee sustained a superficial eye injury during the incident, but is fully expected to be ready for the upcoming NFL season.”

Police said one person was in critical condition and four others were transported to hospitals in the illegal use of fireworks incident.

Those transported apparently doesn’t include Harris, a former star at Antioch High. According to the San Jose Mercury News, Harris initially went to a hospital in Concord about 15 minutes to the west before later going to Stanford hospital about an hour to the south.

The Antioch Police addressed the incident in a statement on the afternoon of July 5.

“On July 5, at approximately 12:18 a.m., the Antioch Police Department dispatch center received multiple calls reporting an explosion on the 2200 block of Spanos Street,” the statement began. “When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered the aftermath of an explosion caused by fireworks.

“… Several victims had already left the scene before the first responders’ arrival and were treated at local hospitals. Antioch PD is working to find and speak with all individuals involved regarding this incident. This is an unfortunate accident, and our thoughts are with the family and all those affected during this difficult time.”

This past Fourth of July marked the 10-year anniversary of then New York Giants star defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul losing 2 1/2 fingers on his right hand. He returned to the field with a heavily taped hand during the 2015 season but the incident overshadowed his on-field exploits.

Harris, 27, signed a one-year deal, $5.25 million deal with the Chargers in the offseason that could be worth up to an additional $4 million if he meets all incentives for rushing yardage. Harris and first-round draft pick Omarion Hampton (North Carolina) are expected to be the team’s main ball carriers.

Harris topped 1,000 rushing yards in all four of his seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and has 4,312 yards and 28 rushing touchdowns in 68 NFL games (all starts). The Steelers selected him 24th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, and Harris made the Pro Bowl and the NFL All-Rookie team that season. He became a free agent after the 2024 season.