Just over two weeks after the New York Jets released the longest-tenured player on their team in linebacker David Harris, he signed with the rival New England Patriots. The NFL also announced two suspensions yesterday, one for Detroit Lions defensive tackle Khyri Thornton and the other for free agent cornerback Justin Gilbert.
David Harris goes to the Patriots
Former New York Jets linebacker David Harris will be playing for a new team for the first time in his 10-year NFL career after signing with the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. Harris and the Patriots agreed on a two-year deal, but the financial terms of the contract have not yet been disclosed.
He will immediately be the Patriots leading candidate for the highest number of snaps alongside Dont'a Hightower. Before signing Harris, former Bears first-round bust Shea McClellin, former Lions second-round pick Kyle Van Noy, and second-year player Elandon Roberts were competing for that job.
The addition of David Harris is only the latest move that the Patriots have made to pluck talent from their AFC East rivals. They also signed Buffalo Bills number one cornerback Stephon Gilmore and backup running back Mike Gillislee, who started his career on the Miami Dolphins.
Thornton and Gilbert get hefty suspensions
The NFL announced that they have suspended Detroit Lions backup defensive tackle Khyri Thornton six games for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
This is the first time that Thornton has ever been suspended. In March, Thornton signed a two-year, $3.3 million dollar contract extension with the team. This was a bad time for him to get suspended as he was currently in competition with Akeem Spence, Bruce Gaston, Ego Ferguson, Jordan Hill and Jeremiah Ledbetter for the backup job.
It was also announced by the NFL that free agent cornerback Justin Gilbert is being suspended without pay for at least one season for violating the league's substance abuse policy. In May, he tested positive for substance abuse and was originally suspended for four games.
With a second positive test so soon after, Commissioner Roger Goodell extended it to one season, with Gilbert having to reapply for reinstatement into the league once his suspension is over. With Gilbert having been a massive first-round bust for the Browns before doing nothing on the Steelers, it seems like his NFL career could be over.