Sports briefs
Rodgers now NFL’s highest-paid player
Before he became the NFL’s highest-paid player again, Aaron Rodgers wore a denim suit and cowboy hat that made him look as if he were going to serve as a chaperone at a square dance.
For Rodgers, it’s kind of a big deal either way.
The two-time NFL MVP signed a four-year extension with the Green Bay Packers on Wednesday that would keep him under contract through the 2023 season.
The four-year deal is worth $134 million, with more than $100 million in guaranteed money. Rodgers’ former teammate, NFL Network analyst James Jones, first reported the agreement.
Rodgers’ new annual average salary of $33.5 million per year would eclipse Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan’s five-year extension worth $30 million a year.
Browns linebacker charged, released
Cleveland Browns linebacker Mychal Kendricks was released by the team Wednesday night, hours after being charged by federal prosecutors with insider trading.
Kendricks signed a one-year contract with the Browns in June after winning a Super Bowl title last season with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Earlier, U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain said Kendricks made approximately $1.2 million profit off illegal, nonpublic information in four separate major deals. Kendricks issued a statement admitting his guilt and apologizing. He expressed regret and accepted “full responsibility” for his actions.
Kendricks did not travel with the Browns for their Thursday night exhibition finale in Detroit, and the team decided to part ways with the 27-year-old after arriving in Michigan.
Kendricks is facing possible prison time and further discipline from the NFL for violating its personal conduct policy.
Atlanta arena
gets new name
Philips Arena in Atlanta is being renamed for State Farm after a $192.5 million renovation.
The Atlanta Hawks and the insurance company announced Wednesday they reached a 20-year deal on naming rights for the arena, currently in the final phase of its renovation. The arena is expected to reopen in October as the Hawks celebrate their 50th year in Atlanta.
A person with knowledge of the negotiations said the agreed amount for the arena name change is around $200 million. The person spoke on condition of anonymity, citing a lack of authorization to discuss financial terms.
The Hawks had played in Philips Arena since its opening in 1999 after Dutch Royal Philips Electronics purchased the naming rights.
The State Farm red logo will be displayed at the top of the arena, which might be one of the smallest-capacity NBA venues with 17,600 seats. Its amenities will include a new state-of-the-art video board system, three times larger than the current one, along with rapper Killer Mike’s barbershop.