The New England Patriots have rewarded star wide receiver and Super Bowl hero Julian Edelman with a contract extension. Meanwhile, Buffalo Bills running back Jonathan Williams has been acquitted of a potential DWI charge stemming from last offseason, while receiver Walt Powell has been suspended. Lastly, there was a tragic situation, as former NFL wide receiver James Hardy was found dead.
Edelman's contract extension
The New England Patriots have given wide receiver Julian Edelman a two-year contract extension that comes with a $5 million signing bonus and is potentially worth up to $15 million if he hits all the incentives.
The upcoming 2017 season was the final year of his contract, but by locking up Edelman the Patriots have most of their top receiving targets under contract for at least two seasons. Over the past four seasons, Edelman has been one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, helping the Patriots win two Super Bowls. In that span he has had 356 receptions for 3,826 yards and 20 receiving touchdowns, while playing in 55 games.
Williams is acquitted and Powell is suspended
Buffalo Bills running back and the fifth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft Jonathan Williams was acquitted of DWI (driving while intoxicated) charges. The charges stemmed from his arrest last July after being taken in on suspicion of DWI.
Now Williams can fully focus on trying to make the roster coming off of a rookie season in which he only had 27 carries for 94 yards and 1 rushing touchdown.
In other Bills news, backup wide receiver Walt Powell was suspended for the first four games of the upcoming 2017 season. His suspension is due to violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances, which Powell apologized for and will not appeal.
Last season Powell only had 14 receptions for 142 yards, but his loss hurts a Bills teams that is thin at the position.
Tragic death of James Hardy
Yesterday came the tragic news that former NFL wide receiver James Hardy had been found dead. A body was found Wednesday in a logjam at the Hosey Dam in the Maumee River, which the Allen County (Indiana) Coroner's Office identified as Hardy the next day.
A cause of death is yet to be determined, but Hardy's mother reported on May 30th that her son was missing.
James Hardy was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second-round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He spent three seasons with the Bills and one season with the Baltimore Ravens, who he never played a regular season game for. He also spent some time with the Arizona Rattlers and Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena League, but never played for either team. Hardy tore a ligament in his knee during his rookie season and battled hamstring injuries his whole career. For his career, Hardy had 10 receptions for 96 yards and 2 receiving touchdowns.
