The Kansas City Chiefs have cleared more than $43m in salary cap space by restructuring the contract of quarterback Patrick Mahomes ahead of the 2026 season.
The transaction converts $54.45m of the two-time MVP’s salary into a signing bonus to provide immediate financial relief.
It significantly lowers his salary cap number for the upcoming campaign to $34.65m, down from a projected $78.2m.
Easing financial pressure
Kansas City faced a difficult financial outlook entering the offseason, sitting more than $57m over the league’s salary cap.
This maneuvering allows the front office to begin balancing the books following a rare season of struggle.
The franchise missed the postseason entirely in 2025, a stark contrast to their previous dominance.
That failure ended a run which saw the AFC West side reach the Super Bowl in three consecutive years.
Mahomes targeting season opener
While the team addresses its finances, their star quarterback remains focused on rehabilitating a serious injury.
Mahomes underwent surgery in mid-December to repair two torn ligaments in his left knee.
The playmaker stated last month that he intends to be fully fit for the Chiefs’ 2026 season opener.
The Seattle Seahawks are unlikely to place the franchise tag on Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, paving the way for the running back to enter free agency.
League sources indicate the franchise will likely bypass the tag option before the 3 March deadline.
Financial constraints associated with salary cap costs have reportedly made the move unfeasible for the reigning champions.
General manager John Schneider is instead prioritizing the retention of other free agents and a contract extension for wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Super Bowl hero set for market
Walker is poised to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time following the expiration of his rookie deal.
Applying the tag to the running back would have cost Seattle approximately $14.5m, a significant leap from his previous salary cap hit of under $2.7m.
The 24-year-old delivered a masterful performance in Super Bowl 60, rushing for 135 yards in the 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots.
His efforts saw him become the first running back to claim the game’s MVP award since Terrell Davis achieved the feat in the 1997 season.
Postseason dominance
During the regular campaign, the former Michigan State standout recorded 1,027 rushing yards and five touchdowns while sharing duties with Zach Charbonnet.
However, a significant ACL injury to Charbonnet in the divisional round thrust Walker into a primary role.
He responded by leading all postseason players with 417 scrimmage yards, proving pivotal in Seattle’s title run.
Schneider has historically been reluctant to utilise the franchise tag, deploying the mechanism just twice during his 16-season tenure.
The Miami Dolphins have released wide receiver Tyreek Hill weeks before the start of free agency as the franchise begins a major rebuilding phase under new management.
The move comes just 18 months after the explosive playmaker agreed to a restructured contract with the AFC East side.
Hill was released early on President’s Day 2026, well ahead of the official start of free agency on 11 March.
It marks a significant shift for the franchise following consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance.
Injury struggles and salary cap constraints
While the 31-year-old was previously the cornerstone of the Dolphins’ offense, his recent production has dipped significantly.
The veteran receiver failed to reach 1,000 yards in 2023 and missed the majority of the 2024 campaign after suffering a dislocated knee and torn ACL.
Despite these injury setbacks, the former Kansas City Chiefs star still carried a substantial salary cap hit of $51.1m (£39.5m) for the upcoming season.
By cutting ties now, Miami’s front office has made a decisive move to alleviate financial pressure ahead of the NFL Combine.
A change in philosophy under new leadership
The decision underscores a distinct change in strategy under new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley.
Sullivan is understood to prioritize building through the NFL Draft rather than relying on expensive veteran acquisitions that limit roster flexibility.
Hill’s release was one of four roster cuts made on Monday, saving the organisation nearly $70m in total cap space.
The departure of the five-time first-team All-Pro officially ends an era that began with high expectations but concluded with the team looking firmly toward a long-term remodel.
The Miami Dolphins are releasing pass rusher Bradley Chubb after four seasons with the franchise, bringing his tenure in Florida to an end.
Chubb had two years remaining on his current contract with the AFC East team.
The move is set to save the organisation $7.3m against the salary cap immediately.
If the Dolphins designate the release as a post-1 June transaction, those savings would increase significantly to $20.2m.
Return to fitness
The 29-year-old recorded 8.5 sacks during the last campaign.
He started all 17 regular-season games, demonstrating a return to full fitness following a major setback.
That durability came after the defensive end missed the entire 2024 season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
High-profile acquisition
Chubb registered a total of 22 sacks during his spell with the Dolphins.
Miami acquired the pass rusher from the Denver Broncos in a high-profile trade midway through the 2022 season.
Originally selected as the fifth overall pick in the 2018 draft, the defender has accumulated 48 sacks across his eight NFL seasons.
A US district court has ruled that Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ discrimination lawsuit against the NFL will proceed in open court, rejecting the league’s bid for arbitration.
The decision marks a significant legal victory for the former Miami Dolphins head coach and his co-plaintiffs.
Last year, attorneys representing Flores, alongside fellow coaches Steve Wilks and Ray Horton, petitioned for a reconsideration of a prior order.
That initial mandate had shifted portions of their high-profile lawsuit away from the public eye and into the league’s internal arbitration process.
‘Insurmountable flaws’
The legal team successfully argued that the 2023 order required review following a separate ruling in August 2025.
That later judgment had identified "insurmountable flaws" within the NFL’s existing arbitration mechanics.
Friday’s confirmation from the US District Court for the Southern District of New York means all claims can now be handled at a public trial.
Attorneys Douglas H. Wigdor and David E. Gottlieb welcomed the move to a public forum.
"The court’s decision recognizes that an arbitration forum in which the defendant’s own chief executive gets to decide the case would strip employees of their rights under the law."
The joint statement added that it was "long overdue" for the NFL to provide a "fair, neutral and transparent forum" for the issues to be addressed.
A timeline of the conflict
Flores first filed the lawsuit against the league and three franchises – the Denver Broncos, New York Giants and Houston Texans – in January 2022.
The legal action began shortly after the 43-year-old was fired by the Miami Dolphins while he was interviewing for other vacancies.
His original claim accused the sport’s governing body of being "rife with racism," specifically citing systemic issues in the hiring and promotion of Black coaches.
While the current Vikings defensive coordinator leads the suit, the other plaintiffs have specific grievances with different franchises.
Wilks’ claims are directed at the Arizona Cardinals, while Horton has taken action against the Tennessee Titans.
New England Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs has pleaded not guilty to felony strangulation charges stemming from an alleged altercation with his personal chef.
The veteran playmaker appeared at Dedham District Court in Massachusetts on Friday to face the serious criminal accusations.
Proceedings had been officially postponed until after Super Bowl LX to allow the wideout to participate in the NFL championship game.
Disturbing courtroom details
Court records indicate the alleged dispute began over unpaid wages for culinary services.
The accuser told officers that during a confrontation on 2 December, the NFL star "smacked her across the face".
Documents further allege he "tried to choke her using the crook of his elbow", resulting in breathing difficulties for the victim.
Denial and legal timeline
Legal representatives for the receiver have issued a staunch defence against the claims.
His attorney stated Diggs "categorically denies these allegations", describing them as unsubstantiated and driven by financial motives.
The Patriots organisation has released a brief statement confirming their continued support for the player.
A pretrial hearing has now been officially scheduled for 1 April.
Post-Super Bowl proceedings
The arraignment was originally set for 23 January but was delayed to 13 February.
This court date fell just five days after New England suffered a 29-13 defeat by the Seattle Seahawks in the season finale.
Investigators noted the incident was reported to police on 16 December, two weeks after the alleged encounter occurred at his home.
BYU receiver Parker Kingston has been charged with first-degree felony rape following a nearly year-long investigation in Utah.
The Washington County Attorney’s Office formally announced the significant legal development on Wednesday.
Authorities launched an inquiry after a 20-year-old woman reported a sexual assault to officers at St. George Regional Hospital.
According to the official news release, the alleged incident involving the wide receiver took place on 23 February 2025.
Law enforcement officials indicated that detectives gathered both digital and forensic evidence to support the investigation.
Legal proceedings begin
The Cougars’ leading offensive threat is currently being held without bail in Washington County.
He is scheduled to make his first appearance in Utah’s Fifth Judicial District Court on Friday.
The university’s athletic department acknowledged the situation shortly after the arrest was made public.
“BYU became aware today of the arrest of Parker Kingston. The university takes any allegation very seriously, and will cooperate with law enforcement.”
Officials noted that due to federal and university privacy laws regarding students, no further comment would be provided.
A standout season overshadowed
The arrest involves a pivotal figure in the BYU offensive line-up during the 2025 campaign.
Kingston was the programme’s top statistical performer, recording 66 catches for 924 yards and five touchdowns.
This development marks the second high-profile allegation involving a player from the university within the last year.
Former quarterback Jake Retzlaff faced a civil lawsuit accusing him of rape earlier this season.
While that case was dismissed with prejudice in June and no criminal charges were filed, Retzlaff subsequently transferred to Tulane.
Former New York Jets linebacker Darron Lee has been remanded in custody without bond, facing a first-degree murder charge over the brutal death of his girlfriend, Gabriella Perpétuo.
Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Tori Smith delivered the ruling on Wednesday, denying release for the 2016 first-round draft pick.
The ex-NFL defender was arrested late last week and also faces counts of tampering with or fabricating evidence following the discovery of the victim in a Tennessee home.
Harrowing discovery at Tennessee residence
Authorities responded to a call regarding CPR in progress on 5 February at a rental property in Ooltewah, a suburb of Chattanooga.
While the former Ohio State standout initially claimed Perpétuo may have fallen in the shower, investigators discovered extensive blood evidence inconsistent with that account.
According to Detective Brian Lockhart, preliminary autopsy findings suggest the cause of death was blunt force trauma homicide.
The arrest affidavit details a catalogue of severe injuries, including a broken neck, a severe brain injury, and multiple stab wounds.
Investigators also noted a human bite mark on the victim’s shoulder and significant swelling around her head.
Prosecution alleges evidence tampering
Prosecutors argued that the crime scene had been manipulated before first responders arrived.
District Attorney Coty Wamp revealed that the victim was found wearing trousers with no cut marks, despite having stab wounds on her legs, suggesting the clothing was placed on her post-mortem.
Detectives identified areas where attempts had been made to clean up blood, alongside cleaning supplies located near confirmed blood stains.
Wamp told the court:
“Mr. Lee was in a home with a female that was, for lack of a better term, beaten to death. And the explanation that he gave doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.”
Legal history and next steps
The court heard that the 29-year-old was already on probation in Florida for aggravated assault and battery, as well as in Ohio for attempted battery.
While the case is eligible for capital punishment, prosecutors have not yet confirmed if they will seek the death penalty.
Lee, who played three seasons for New York before a stint with Kansas City, is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing on 9 March.