Watt agrees to deal with Steelers for $112 million
T.J. Watt and the Pittsburgh Steelers have come to terms on a four-year contract extension worth $112 million that will make the outside linebacker the highest-paid defensive player in the league, a person with knowledge of the agreement said Thursday.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the financial terms were not publicly announced.
The deal was first reported by NFL Network.
Watt, who was in the final year of his rookie deal, will be paid an average of $28 million a season over the course of the extension, which exceeds the $27 million annually made by Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa.
The agreement also ends speculation about the team’s long-term plans for Watt and clears up his availability for Sunday’s season opener in Buffalo.
Watt did not practice during 11-on-11 drills with the first-team defense until this week after choosing to sit out all four preseason games and work on individual drills during training camp.
The Baltimore Ravens listed running back Gus Edwards and cornerback Marcus Peters as limited in practice and both are listed on the injury report with knee injuries.
Losing Edwards would be another major blow to Baltimore’s backfield after the Ravens lost running back J.K. Dobbins to a season-ending knee injury in their final exhibition game. Running back Justice Hill went on injured reserve this week.
Peyton Manning, Charles Woodson and Steve Hutchinson, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August, will receive their rings of excellence in a pair of celebrations this season.
The 19 living members of the classes of 2020 and 2021 will be part of such ceremonies, with Manning the focal point in Indianapolis on Sept. 19 when the Colts host the Rams, and on Oct. 31 when the Broncos host Washington. Manning won Super Bowls with Indianapolis and Denver.
ETC. Big 12 to vote on expansion plans
The Big 12 is moving swiftly to plug the holes looming with the upcoming departure of Oklahoma and Texas for the Southeastern Conference.
A person familiar with the Big 12’s expansion plans said the conference’s presidents were scheduled to vote on applications for entry into the league at a meeting Friday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the Big 12 has not been publicly disclosing its discussions about rebuilding the conference in preparation of Texas and
Oklahoma leaving in 2025.
Along with Central Florida and Cincinnati, the Big 12 identified Brigham Young and Houston as its primary expansion targets last week and then moved quickly to make it happen.
Trustees at Central Florida and Cincinnati have scheduled special meetings Friday related to conference membership. Both of those schools, along with BYU and Houston, were expected to receive invitations to join the Big 12.
Yankees starter Jameson Taillon was added to the 10-day injured list because of a partial tear of a tendon in his right ankle, and manager Aaron Boone also said reliever Zack Britton had season-ending Tommy John surgery.
Longtime NHL player, coach and executive Paul Holmgren, retired forward Peter McNab and broadcaster Stan Fischler make up the 2021 class of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. The trio is set to be inducted along with the class of 2020 at a ceremony in December.
Gonzaga men’s basketball coach Mark Few’s breath smelled of alcohol and he had bloodshot eyes on the night he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, though he initially told a police officer he had not been drinking, according to newly released documents. Under further questioning by the officer, Few eventually said he had two beers that day,
with his last beer coming about four hours before he was pulled over, according to the probable cause declaration filed by the officer in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho . ... A federal judge in Kalamazoo, Mich., extended his order blocking Western Michigan University from enforcing a COVID-19 vaccine requirement against 16 athletes. U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney issued a ruling from the bench granting the athletes the right to continue to compete and participate in intercollegiate athletics until he issues an opinion and order on converting a temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction . ... Former Germany and Bayern Munich soccer player Jerome Boateng was found guilty of domestic violence and ordered to pay his former partner $2.1 million, the maximum that could be imposed by the Munich District Court.
Argentine star Lionel Messi became the top international goal scorer in South American history, overtaking Brazil’s Pele. The 34year-old netted all the goals in Argentina’s 3-0 win against Bolivia at Buenos Aires in World Cup qualifying, and now has 79 for the national team . ... Fox will air a Major League Soccer playoff game on Thanksgiving for the first time, the league announced. MLS Decision Day, the final day of the regular season, is set for Nov. 7. The postseason starts Nov. 20 and concludes with the MLS Cup title match on Dec. 11.