Month: December 2023

The Miami Dolphins and offensive tackle Austin Jackson have agreed to a three-year, $36 million contract extension, through the 2026 season

The 24-year-old Jackson joined the Dolphins as the No. 18 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Jackson allowed six sacks, 11 hits and 70 hurries through his first two NFL seasons, playing at tackle and guard. He missed 15 games last season because of an ankle injury, but prior to that allowed two sacks, two quarterback hits and nine hurries through 12 starts this season.

Editorial credit: April Visuals / Shutterstock.com

Editorial credit: / Shutterstock.com

Switch-hitting infielder Jeimer Candelario and the Cincinnati Reds agreed to a three-year, $45 million deal. Sources told ESPN that the pact includes a $15 million option for 2027.

The Washington Nationals traded Candelario to the Chicago Cubs in July. The 30-year-old free agent hit .251 with a career-high 22 home runs and 70 RBIs over 140 games last season, appearing in 99 games for the Nationals and 41 games for the Cubs during the 2023 campaign. Candelario, an eight-year veteran, also spent time with the Detroit Tigers, hitting a career-high .297 for the Tigers in 2020. He recorded an MLB-best 42 doubles in 2021.

Candelario, an eight-year veteran, has a career .243 batting average, with 88 home runs over 746 games. He has split time at first base, third base and as a designated hitter throughout his career.

Editorial credit: Keeton Gale / Shutterstock.com

Buffalo Bills pass rusher Von Miller will be available to play against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, despite his arrest last week in Dallas for allegedly assaulting a pregnant woman. Bills general manager Brandon Beane spoke with reporters Wednesday, confirming Miller is back with the team in Orchard Park, N.Y. Beane said the team has been in “constant” communication with the league and they do not currently anticipate Miller bring placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, which would deem him inactive. Beane said Miller will participate in practice and is expected to play on Sunday when the Bills (6-6) travel to play the Kansas City Chiefs (8-4).

Beane stressed on Wednesday that he wants the legal process to play out and not rush to making any judgments, and said that the Bills are following the NFL’s lead. He called the allegations serious while adding they seemed “out of character” for a person he’s come to know over the past year and a half since signing Miller in free agency. Said Beane: “No one wants their name associated with any accusation like that, so that’s a natural disappointment. I’m sure he’s disappointed. But things happen sometimes, and again, we have to remember people, we have to give them their fair due process. That can happen to anyone in this room. And I would hope we would all wait and let that play out before we rush to judgment.” 

According to a police affidavit which officers wrote, the alleged assault occurred on Nov. 29 in which Miller twice put his hands on the neck of the woman, pulled out a chunk of her hair and threw her onto a couch. The woman was treated for minor injuries, including bruising on her neck, police said. The woman and Miller have been in a relationship for seven years and have children together, police wrote in an affidavit supporting the arrest warrant. Miller turned himself in a day after the arrest warrant was issued.

Miller faces a charge of third-degree felony assault of a pregnant woman, which is punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. He is free after posting a $5,000 bond.

Editorial credit: Jamie Lamor Thompson / Shutterstock.com