NFL news: Earl Bennett to be released, Robert Griffin III won’t wear knee brace next season

The Chicago Bears will release wide receiver Earl Bennett, according to multiple reports. Bennett was asked to take a pay cut by the team, but turned down the request on Tuesday and will be jettisoned due to his cap hit. His cap hit wasn't huge by any means, but at $2.45 million, he would be making too much for what he provides on the field.

Bennett, a five-year veteran in the NFL, has spent his entire career with the Bears since being a third-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. His production has steadily dropped each year he's been in the league. He played in 16 games in his rookie year, putting up 717 yards and two touchdowns, but his yardage total dropped to 561 in 2010, 381 in 2011, 375 in 2012 and finally, a measly 243 yards in 2013. He did manage a career-high four touchdowns last year, however.

Bennett has also dealt with injuries off and on, only playing a full 16 games once in his career, the aforementioned rookie season. Last year, he was the third receiver on the field behind both Alshon Jeffery (1,421 yards, seven touchdowns) and Brandon Marshall (1,295 yards, 12 touchdowns), but was fifth on the team in receiving yardage. He trailed both running back Matt Forte (594 yards, three touchdowns) and tight end Martellus Bennett (759 yards, five touchdowns).

At this point, he's a reserve receiver and if he remained in Chicago, he probably would have seen his role reduced further. This offseason has been a weird year for free-agent wide receivers. We didn't see nearly as much activity with the big names early on as expected, with guys like Eric Decker and Hakeem Nicks going unsigned for some time and eventually signing smaller deals than expected. Bennett should have some interest on the open market, but he'll likely be playing for something near the veteran's minimum in 2014-15.

Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III will not wear a knee brace during the 2014 season, the quarterback confirmed on Tuesday. Griffin sustained a serious injury in a Wild Card game during the 2012 season, and his return in time for 2013 was in doubt and one of the biggest stories of the offseason. Griffin did make a successful return, however, and played decent football. He struggled early on, but his knee held up and looks like it's 100 percent at this point.

The New York Giants continue to reclaim free agents from the San Francisco 49ers. On Tuesday, they agreed to terms with wide receiver Mario Manningham on a one-year contract that will bring the 27-year old back to the team where he started his career. Manningham struggled with the 49ers, failing to consistently find the field thanks to significant injuries. It was a run of bad luck, and clearly both he and the Giants are hoping he can return to the form he showed before departing for San Francisco.

The Chicago Bears managed to bring back defensive lineman Israel Idonije on Tuesday. Idonije spent the 2013-14 season with the NFC North rival Detroit Lions, but is returning to the team he spent the first nine seasons of his career with. His one-year deal is likely for about the veteran's minimum, though performance-based incentives are certainly possible. Idonije is a versatile weapon who can play multiple positions along the defensive line, and should be a solid rotational player for the Bears going forward.

Here's the biggest news of the day or something: the NFL has upped their lawsuit against singer/rapper M.I.A., now seeking $16.6 million due to a middle finger given while performing at the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show in 2012. The NFL was originally seeking $1.5 million for a breach of contract, but has since estimated that the exposure gained from the show somehow equates to an extra $15.1 million. We're not quite sure how they came to that conclusion, but this is apparently a real thing that is happening in 2014.

Green Bay Packers defensive tackle B.J. Raji recently re-upped with the team on a one-year, $4 million contract after a disappointing 2013-14 campaign. On Tuesday, it was revealed that only $500,000 of that contract is guaranteed via a signing bonus, meaning the Packers are assuming very little risk by bringing him in. This comes just a year after the team was reportedly set to give him around $8 million annually on a large extension. If Raji returns to form, it's possible the team signs him to an extension mid-season, but he'll have to prove himself on the field first.

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman's contract with the team is good for four years with a maximum value of $19 million. That's a pretty penny for Edelman, who has been a consistent threat from the slot receiver position. The deal reportedly contains $17 million in base money, with $2 million in incentives and $8 million guaranteed. He'll be making significantly less than Danny Amendola, the oft-injured receiver New England brought in last season for a five-year, $29.5 million deal.

There's still plenty of big names out there on the open market, and those players are going to be busy visiting prospective teams. On Tuesday, we have a few interesting names making the rounds. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will host wide receiver Louis Murphy, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, cornerback Mike Jenkins will visit the Arizona Cardinals, according to Kent Somers of azcentral.com, fullback Jed Collins will visit the Detroit Lions at some point this week, Mike Triplett of ESPN reports, wide receiver/kick returner Devin Hester will visit the Atlanta Falcons, wide receiver/kick returner Marc Mariani had a visit with the San Diego Chargers, according to Howard Balzer, and defensive tackle Henry Melton, one of the top players available, is visiting the St. Louis Rams according to Clarence Hill of the Star-Telegram.

The Cincinnati Bengals have until midnight to match the offer sheet Andrew Hawkins signed with the Cleveland Browns, but the team has already made its decision. Hawkins signed a lucrative four-year deal with the Browns shortly after free agency began, but as a restricted free agent, the Bengals had an opportunity to match that offer sheet and retain him at those contract numbers. It's rare to see a free agent change hands in restricted free agency, but in this case, the Bengals tendered Hawkins at the lowest level and it's not surprising to see the Browns jump at the opportunity. It's also not surprising to see the Bengals pass on Hawkins at those contract numbers.

New Orleans Saints fans can say goodbye to fullback Jed Collins, as the team went out and signed fullback Erik Lorig to a four-year contract. Terms of the deal are unknown, but the Saints had to like the guy given the four-year deal. We don't often see big contracts for fullbacks, but with Darren Sproles going elsewhere, it seems likely that the Saints are gearing up to reconstruct their running game. Sproles being on the field generally meant there would be no running play, and going in on a fullback for four years is likely a sign they want to involve the position more in the future.

Houston Texans safety Danieal Manning is ahead of schedule with his recovery, according to Drew Dougherty of HoustonTexans.com. The news actually comes from Manning, who used the phrase "way ahead of schedule" in talking about his return from a fractured right fibula. Manning sustained the injury against the St. Louis Rams early last season and was placed on injured reserve. He is expected to make a full recovery and be the team's starter at safety next season.

Free-agent defensive lineman Johnny Jolly is set to get his medical clearance in two weeks, according to Jack Bechta of the National Football Post. Jolly had offseason surgeries on his neck and hip and had his 2013 season cut short due to said injuries. His comeback in 2013 was one of the better stories of the year, after most expected he'd be away from football for good due to off-the-field troubles. But Jolly played well before his injuries, and should find interest this year if he receives his clearance as expected.

The New York Jets are not making it a priority to bring back cornerback Antonio Cromartie. The team would like him back, but they're "not being very aggressive" in their actions, according to one report. New York is in desperate need of a cornerback, but they do not want to overpay. Cromartie is the best option for them still on the market, but getting him back at the right dollar amount will be key.