New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, three months after winning his fifth Super Bowl ring, has been selected to be the cover boy of “Madden NFL 18.”
Brady, who will turn 40 in August, becomes oldest player to appear on the cover of the popular EA Sports football video game.
EA Sports announced Friday that Brady follows teammate Rob Gronkowski, who was on the cover of last year’s edition. It marks the first time in Madden’s 29-year history that teammates have been on the cover in back-to-back years.
“Madden 18” is dubbed the G.O.A.T. edition and the cover image shows Brady emitting his trademark scream.
–The Houston Texans signed first-round pick Deshaun Watson to a four-year contract and the quarterback was available for the start of rookie minicamp.
As with all first-round selections, the contract comes with a team option for a fifth season. The deal is worth $13.8 million and includes a signing bonus of $8.21 million, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle
The Texans also signed second-round linebacker Zach Cunningham and fifth-round cornerback Treston Decoud on Friday. Cunningham’s deal is worth $4.47 million with a $1.39 signing bonus, according to the newspaper.
The Texans traded the No. 25 pick in 2017 and next year’s first-round selection to the Cleveland Browns to move up to the No. 12 spot to draft Watson out of Clemson.
–Suspended NFL linebacker Rolando McClain was arrested in Alabama on firearm and drug charges.
McClain was arrested for second-degree possession of marijuana, carrying a firearm without a permit and a misdemeanor equipment violation, according to Hartselle (Ala.) Police.
The 27-year-old McClain was released from Morgan County Jail on a $2,000 bond later in the day.
McClain was stopped because of a suspected window tint violation, and the police officer smelled the aroma of marijuana, according to Hartselle Police spokesman Lt. Justin Barley. The officer searched the car and discovered that McClain had a weapon for which he didn’t have a permit.
–The Detroit Lions signed their first-round pick, linebacker Jarrad Davis, before the start of rookie minicamp.
Davis, the 21st overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft out of the University of Florida, will get a slotted four-year contract worth about $10.4 million that includes a team option for the fifth year, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The 6-foot-1, 238-pound Davis, who is expected to start at middle linebacker for the Lions this season, will take part in minicamp Friday through Sunday.
Davis, 21, recorded 154 tackles and 5.5 sacks over the past two seasons at Florida. He missed time with an ankle injury during his final season with the Gators.
–The San Francisco 49ers signed rookie cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon to a four-year contract.
Witherspoon is the seventh player of the 49ers’ 10-member draft class to sign a deal.
Witherspoon was selected with the 66th overall pick out of Colorado, marking the first of San Francisco’s two third-round selections to sign a contract. The 22-year-old led the nation in 2016 with 22 pass break-ups with the Buffaloes and also recorded 24 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble in 13 games.
San Francisco has yet to sign first-round picks Solomon Thomas (Stanford) and Reuben Foster (Alabama) as well as third-round selection C.J. Beathard (Iowa).
–The Patriots released tight end Michael Williams, who was competing for the No. 3 spot on the depth chart behind Rob Gronkowski and Dwayne Allen.
Williams, 26, spent the 2016 season on injured reserve with a torn ACL.
The 6-foot-6, 304-pound Williams originally entered the NFL as a seventh-round draft pick by the Detroit Lions in 2013 out of Alabama. He spent his rookie season on injured reserve and the 2014 season on the Lions’ practice squad.
Williams was acquired by New England from Detroit in a trade on Aug. 26, 2015, appearing in 15 regular-season games (nine starts) that season, with three receptions for 26 yards. He also played in two playoff games with one start and his primary contributions came as a blocker.
–Former NFL wide receiver Michael Jackson was killed in a motorcycle accident in his hometown in Louisiana. He was 48.
Jackson played eight seasons with the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens in the 1990s.
Louisiana State Police said Jackson crashed into a car that was backing out of a parking space and into both lanes of the highway while the motorcycle was traveling “at a high rate of speed” around 1 a.m. Friday in Tangipahoa, La.
Jackson struck the driver’s side door, and both Jackson and the driver of the car were killed, according to police.
–Detroit Lions great and Pro Football Hall of Fame safety Yale Lary died at his home in Fort Worth, Texas, at the age of 86.
Lary was one of the best all-around players during an 11-year career (1952-53, 1956-1964) as a safety, punter and kickoff returner. He was a key member of the Lions’ last three NFL championship teams in 1952, 1953 and 1957.
Lary missed two seasons (1954-55) in the prime of his career to serve in the Army. He was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979.
“On behalf of my family and the Detroit Lions, I would like to extend my deepest, personal sympathies to Mary Jane and to his children Yale Jr. and Nancy Jane on the passing of Yale,” Lions owner and chairman Martha Firestone Ford said in a statement.
–The Indianapolis Colts signed free agent defensive tackle Josh Boyd and waived outside linebacker Curt Maggitt with an injury settlement.
Boyd, 27, played in 26 career games (four starts) in three seasons (2013-15) with the Green Bay Packers and totaled 43 tackles and one pass defensed. He appeared in three postseason contests (one start) and tallied two tackles. He was waived by the Packers last year and was out of the league while recovering from an ankle injury.
The 6-foot-3, 310-pound Boyd was originally selected by the Packers in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State.
Maggitt, 24, saw action with the Colts in nine games as a rookie in 2016 and totaled four tackles and four special teams stops. He was placed on the injured reserve list on Dec. 12 with a knee injury.