TE Olsen agrees to 1-year, $7 mln deal with Seahawks
Steelers hire Hilliard as WR coach
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, Feb 19, (AP): A person familiar with the situation says three-time Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen has agreed to a one-year, $7 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced by the team.
Olsen was released by the Panthers earlier this month after nine seasons with the team amid a rebuilding process under first-year coach Matt Rhule. Olsen has caught 718 passes for 8,444 yards and 59 touchdowns during his 13-year NFL career. He spent his first four seasons with the Chicago Bears.
Olsen had 52 catches for 697 yards and two touchdowns last season for the Panthers.
Punter Ryan Allen and kicker Younghoe Koo, who joined the Atlanta Falcons midway through the 2019 season, have signed oneyear contract extensions.
Allen averaged 41.9 yards on 28 punts in the final eight games of the season. Allen has logged seven NFL seasons, including six with the New England Patriots.
Koo was good on 23 of 26 field goals and 15 of 16 extra points, also in the final eight games. He led the NFL with 84 points in that eight-game span.
Quarterback Drew Brees says he intends to play for the New Orleans Saints again next season.
The 41-year-old Brees announced his intention to return for what would be his 20th NFL season in a social media post.
“My feelings about the 2020 season! I look forward to the grind and the journey, for the reward at the end will be worth it,” Brees wrote in his announcement. “Love you #WhoDatNation. Let’s make another run at it!”
Brees missed five games with a throwing hand injury that required surgery but was still productive last season while leading New Orleans to a third straight playoff appearance. Brees’ 74.3 percent completion rate ranked second in NFL history behind only his 2018 record of 74.4 percent.
He also passed for 27 touchdowns while throwing just four interceptions and was selected to a fourth straight Pro Bowl, the 13th of his career. Brees is the NFL’a all-time leader in completions with 6,867, yards passing with 77,416 and touchdowns with 547.
Brees’ contract situation remains unclear. His last contract voids automatically at the end of the current league year that concludes March 18.
Olsen
Ike Hilliard is the new wide receivers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The club announced the move. Hilliard replaces Darryl Drake, who passed away last August during the early days of training camp. Ray Sherman filled the role on an interim basis last season.
Hilliard caught 546 passes during a 12-year NFL career split between Tampa Bay and the New York Giants. He spent the last six seasons as the wide receivers coach for the Washington Redskins. Hilliard previously worked as an assistant with the Miami Dolphins and the Buffalo Bills.
The Arizona Cardinals have re-signed starting left tackle D.J. Humphries to a three-year contract that keeps him with the team through the 2022 season. The 26-year-old Humphries started all 16 games at left tackle last season, anchoring an offensive line that protects franchise quarterback Kyler Murray, who was the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft.
The team announced the deal, but did not disclose terms.