The NFL offseason is in a lull before training camps open later this month, but that doesn't mean the league wasn't in the headlines again on Monday. Off the field issues have been a common topic in the NFL recently, but on Monday Ryan Mathews made headline for not getting arrested. That and the latest from a pair of contract negotiations as we recap Monday's NFL news.
NFL news: Victor Cruz nearing a deal? Ryan Mathews not arrested and more
Arrests and contract extensions have been frequent news this NFL offseason and they were again on Monday, but this time for not happening.
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Early Monday morning Examiner.com reported Mathews was arrested following an altercation outside of a night club. As it turns out, that report was false as both Mathews and San Diego police confirmed the man arrested was not the Chargers running back. Mathews was out in downtown San Diego on Sunday night, but police said he is not involved in the battery case. Mathews isn't sure how he was linked to the fight in the first place.
“I don’t know how my name got twisted in all this (stuff),” Mathews said, via U-T San Diego. “I don’t know why my name is even being brought up. ... I didn’t hit anybody. I wasn’t arrested. ... I didn’t see a fight. I didn’t see anything.”
The Giants could be close to locking up one of their stars as New York and Victor Cruz are reportedly close to a long-term deal. ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported Cruz is expected to sign an extension prior to the start of training camp.
Cruz and the Giants were reportedly far apart in negotiations earlier this offseason, but that appears to have changed. At one point Cruz was reportedly seeking a deal worth $11 million per season before dropping his asking price to $9 million per season recently. The Giants were reportedly offering no more than $8 million per season, but it’s still unclear which side gave in to get a deal done.
If the deal goes through as expected, it would assure New York retains at least one of its two starting wide receivers as Cruz and Hakeem Nicks are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents next offseason.
Branden Albert and the Chiefs have yet to agree to a long-term deal and if it is going to happen it will have to happen within the next two weeks. The deadline for franchise players to sign extensions is July 15 and according to a report from ESPN, Albert and the Chiefs will resume negotiations next week.
That doesn’t leave a lot of time to work out a deal and if the two sides are unable to agree, Albert will play the season on his one-year franchise tender. He would then be eligible to sign an extension next offseason before becoming an unrestricted free agent.
After releasing Aaron Hernandez and with Rob Gronkowski recovering from offseason surgery, there was some speculation the Patriots may attempt to re-sign wide receiver Brandon Lloyd, but that doesn't appear to be the case. Field Yates of ESPN Boston reported the Patriots are unlikely to re-sign Lloyd even with their depleated receiving corps.
New England released Lloyd after one season and while he was productive -- catching 74 passes for 911 yards -- Yates reported Lloyd wasn’t a great fit in the Patriots locker room.
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