NFL Roundup: Broncos dump McGahee
The Denver Broncos were impressed enough with second-round pick Montee Ball during the offseason program that they released veteran running back Willis McGahee on Thursday, the final day of the team's minicamp.
The 31-year-old McGahee rushed for 1,930 yards and eight touchdowns in two seasons in Denver, starting 23 games.
"It's never easy to part ways with a veteran player who made so many positive contributions to our team and community," Broncos executive vice president of football operations John Elway said in a statement.
McGahee's release vaults Ball, a second-round pick in April out of Wisconsin, and Ronnie Hillman, a third-round selection in 2012, to the top of the depth chart. Veteran Knowshon Moreno's chances of making the season-opening roster also improved with McGahee's release.
---Quarterback Matt Barkley signed a four-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, the team announced Thursday.
Barkley was the 98th overall pick in the 2013 draft. The former Southern Cal product had been projected as a top-50 pick, but the all-time leading passer in USC history was criticized for his climbing interception total as a senior despite starting every season since his freshman year of high school. He was unable to work out with his peers at the NFL Scouting Combine because of a shoulder injury.
---Texas A&M football coach Kevin Sumlin is happy with the Aggies, but that won't stop him from being linked to NFL jobs.
Sumlin told the San Antonio Express News that he's had a chance to become an NFL head coach, but didn't offer details. A TexAgs.com report said Sumlin turned down the Philadelphia Eagles job that eventually went to Oregon's Chip Kelly, while CBSSports.com reported that Sumlin was courted by three NFL teams this offseason.
"Everybody knows what I do (now)," Sumlin told the Express. "I've never coached in the NFL. I've had plenty of opportunities to do that, both as an assistant coach and even as a head coach. But there's a reason I coach college football, and we've got a lot of work to do here. "
---Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace turned down a more lucrative offer from the Minnesota Vikings, his father told USA Today Sports.
Mike Wallace III told the paper that his son said no to Minnesota's $76 million offer, instead accepting a $60 million deal from the Dolphins. Wallace, 26, received $30 million in guaranteed money in his Dolphins deal and insisted that money wasn't the only reason he left Pittsburgh for south Florida.
"In free agency, with so many great guys, when you get the prize deal, it's always a good feeling," Wallace told the paper. "I just wanted to be happy. Money isn't everything. A lot of people last year, when I held out in Pittsburgh, took it the wrong way, felt like I was just being greedy."
---Quarterback Landry Jones signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who now have their entire draft class under contract.
Financial terms of the four-year deal were not disclosed.
Landry was drafted in the fourth round after setting an Oklahoma career record by starting 48 consecutive games. He also set school and Big 12 Conference career records by completing 1,388 of 2,183 passes for 16,646 yards and 123 touchdowns.
---Defensive end Austen Lane, a fifth-round pick out of Murray State in 2010, was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars along with rookie cornerback Trey Wilson.
Lane started nine games as a rookie, but never developed into the pass rusher the team envisioned. He has just three sacks in 28 career games to go along with 47 tackles.
