FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Sam Darnold is signed, sealed and back under center.
The New York Jets inked the rookie quarterback to a four-year, $30.25 million deal Monday, ending the contract holdout of the NFL’s No. 3 overall draft pick.
Darnold missed the first three days of training camp practice while his representatives and the team worked out the details.
There wouldn’t be a fourth straight absence.
Just a few minutes after the Jets announced the signing –which includes a signing bonus of about $20 million – on social media, Darnold made his way out to the practice field with his teammates greeting him with a “Rudy”-like slow-clap. A grinning Darnold made his way to the warm-up line and got a pat on the shoulder from Josh McCown.
Darnold then jumped right into position drills, handing off to running backs and throwing a few short passes before participating in team drills.
After a shaky start that included a handoff, an incompletion and an intercepted pass by Doug Middleton, Darnold bounced back in red-zone drills with short touchdown tosses to fellow rookie Chris Herndon and later to wide receiver Quincy Enunwa.
The 21-year-old quarterback is expected to compete with McCown and Teddy Bridgewater for the Jets’ starting job. But he fell behind slightly with each passing day, and it began to look uncertain as to when an agreement between the sides would come together.
While the amount of Darnold’s contract was already clear under the NFL’s wage slotting system, the hang-up appeared to be over contract language.
One issue was offsets, which if included could provide a team with a measure of financial protection if it cuts a player during his rookie contract.
The Jets have historically included offset language in their contracts. Not having offset language, a condition that Darnold’s representatives apparently sought, allows a player to receive his remaining salary from the team that cut him, as well as get paid by another team that signs him.
BRONCOS: Denver doesn’t put its full pads on until Tuesday but it’s already a banged-up bunch.
Newly signed receiver Corey “Philly” Brown is in concussion protocol after hitting his head in the weight room and when the Broncos put on shoulder pads for the first time Monday several players hobbled off.
“Football is played in pads, so to put the pads on and watch the guys bang a little bit is always fun,” Coach Vance Joseph said. “For the running game, and obviously stopping the run, the pads are critical.”
Left tackle Garett Bolles and inside linebacker Brandon Marshall were among the casualties Monday.
PANTHERS: Cornerback Ross Cockrell broke his left tibia and fibula during practice at the team’s training camp at Wofford College.
The team said Cockrell will need surgery, but has not said if he is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Carolina lost starting right tackle Daryl Williams on Saturday to a dislocated patella and torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee. The Panthers have not said if Williams will have surgery or if he will try to recover without it.
LIONS: Running back LeGarrette Blount returned to training camp a day after walking off the field during practice.
Blount declined interview requests Monday.
The Lions are counting on the 31-year-old Blount to help improve their running game, which has ranked among the NFL’s worst in recent years.
HALL OF FAME: Despite his decision to not attend Saturday’s Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, Terrell Owens will be “honored” by the hall for his NFL career.
Hall President David Baker told The Associated Press on Monday that the Canton, Ohio, shrine’s mission statement begins with the goal “to honor the heroes of the game.”
So Owens, who instead will be making an appearance at the University of Chattanooga , where he played college football, will be part of the 2018 class exhibit that includes a glass locker for each new member; their pictures on the light standards of Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium; a role in opening videos shown within the stadium; and mention in any reference to the 2018 class.
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