Cincy releases Dalton with a year left on deal
Cincinnati
The Bengals cleared the way for Joe Burrow to lead the team by releasing quarterback Andy Dalton, who holds several of the franchise's passing records but couldn't lead Cincinnati deep into the playoffs.
The move Thursday gives Dalton, who had a year left on his deal, a chance to compete for a job with another team.
It also clears the way for Burrow to start fresh on a team that hasn't won a playoff game since the 1990 season, the fifth-longest stretch of futility in NFL history.
Dalton led Cincinnati to its best stretch of playoff appearances — five straight from 2011-15 — but couldn't get that elusive win. As the offensive line deteriorated and top receiver A.J. Green sustained a series of injuries, Dalton's results suffered, too.
"Andy will always hold a special place with this franchise, and I know that he holds a special place in my heart," owner Mike Brown said. "This is a hard day for our club because we know and appreciate what a consummate professional Andy has always been. We respect and appreciate Andy, and we thank him."
Giants: New York picked up the fifth-year options for tight end Evan Engram and safety Jabrill Peppers. The team announced the moves late Wednesday, extending the players' rookie contracts through the 2021 season.
Chiefs: Kansas City is exercising its fifth-year option on Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes, a person familiar with their decision told The Associated Press, though both sides remain optimistic that they will agree on a long-term contract before the start of the season. If the Chiefs are unable to sign Mahomes to a long-term deal, he would be due a base salary of $25 million for the optioned season.
Labor: NFL Players Association president JC Tretter is calling for a re-examination of a portion of the labor agreement with the league affecting disability coverage for former players. The language the overall union membership voted on is not the same as what wound up in the deal that runs through the 2030 season.
Schedule: The NFL is planning to play a full season though it's uncertain what that will look like. League spokesman Brian McCarthy said the date for the kickoff game is Thursday, Sept. 10, and concludes with Super Bowl 55 on Feb. 7, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. But the league is planning several contingencies because of the coronavirus pandemic that could lead to everything from a delayed start to a late-winter Super Bowl.