NEW YORK (AP) – The NFL’s business season began with a bang. Several actually: trades, retirements and, yes, even some big free agent moves.
It wasn’t until mid-evening Tuesday that the first huge star took advantage of free agency: Darrelle Revis returning to the Jets for five years and $70 million.
There were plenty of moves beforehand involving frequent All-Pros. But they were in the form trades or leaving the sport altogether.
Monster deals sent Saints tight end Jimmy Graham to Seattle and Rams quarterback Sam Bradford to Philadelphia. San Francisco linebacker Patrick Willis, plagued by sore feet, announced his retirement. So did injury-prone QB Jake Locker of the Titans, who spent just four seasons in the league.
The biggest shocker was the Graham deal, which sent Seahawks center Max Unger to New Orleans, along with a first-round draft pick. Seattle also got a fourth-rounder.