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New Arizona Cardinals safety Antoine Bethea meets the media at the Tempe training facility, Thursday, March 9, 2017. Bethea used to play for the San Francisco 49ers. Video: Tom Tingle/azcentral sports
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Shot Clock: NFL free agency moves, including Chandler Jones staying and Calais Campbell and Tony Jefferson likely leaving the Arizona Cardinals. Video: azcentral sports
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The Texans have traded quarterback Brock Osweiler and a 2018 second-round draft pick to the Browns, according to multiple reports. ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the news.
Time_Sports
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Quarterback Tony Romo posted a message on Instagram to say goodbye to all the Dallas Cowboys fans who supported him during the course of his 13-year career.
USA TODAY Sports
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Washington Quarterback Kirk Cousins reportedly asked Dan Snyder to trade him, but ESPN’s Chris Mortensen is reporting Snyder told Cousins not to get his hopes up.
Time_Sports
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Shot Clock: The beginning of the new NFL year, what the Cardinals’ chances are for keeping Calais Campbell and Tony Jefferson and who might make an impact around the league. Video: azcentral sports
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USA TODAY Sports’ Tom Pelissero fills you in on how the top quarterback prospects fared during Day 4 of the NFL Scouting Combine.
USA TODAY Sports
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Clemson QB Deshaun Watson said he could benefit from backing up a veteran when he enters the NFL. Video: Kent Somers/azcentral sports
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Quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw for 5,052 total and 41 TDs with 10 INTs in 2016 at Texas Tech. Video: Kent Somers/azcentral sports
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USA TODAY Sports’ Lorenzo Reyes gives insight as to which teams will be searching for a quarterback at the NFL Scouting Combine.
USA TODAY Sports
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John Ross, former wide receiver from the University of Washington, broke Chris Johnson’s 40-yard dash record at the NFL Combine.
Time
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Washington receiver John Ross in 2016 was a second-team All-American and first-team All-Pac-12 standout with 81 catches for 1,150 yards and 17 TDs . Video: Kent Somers/azcentral sports
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USA TODAY Sports’ Lindsay H. Jones says that San Francisco 49ers GM John Lynch spoke very highly of a number of high-profile quarterback prospects.
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azcentral sports’ Jay Dieffenbach and Dan Bickley break down the NBA MVP race and a possible reunion in the Cardinals defensive backfield.
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Cardinals insider Kent Somers talks with GM Steve Keim about how the Cardinals conduct business at the NFL combine and how they will handle their free agents.
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Cardinals coach Bruce Arians discusses finding the team’s future quarterback in the draft.
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azcentral sports’ Jay Dieffenbach and Kent Somers discuss Cardinals free agency and Larry Fitzgerald’s reaction to an extra NFL preseason game. Video: azcentral sports
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USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis gives us his top five picks of the 2017 NFL draft.
USA TODAY Sports
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Not everyone is happy that ex-Cardinals WR Michael Floyd, who was waived by the Cardinals three days after an arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence, is a Super Bowl champion. Video: azcentral sports
Wochit
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Arizona Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald skates for the first time with Arizona Coyotes’ Shane Doan. (Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports)
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Third time is the charm for former Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner, as he and four others were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Feb. 4, 2017. Hannah Gaber/azcentral.com
Wochit
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Atlanta and New England will face off in Houston after winning the NFC and AFC championships, respectively.
USA TODAY Sports
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Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Mike Iupati talks about his experiences of growing up fishing on a small island. Video: Michael Chow and David Wallace/azcentral sports
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Arizona Cardinals safety Tony Jefferson is also an impersonator, and, was once haunted by a ghost. Video: Michael Chow and David Wallace/azcentral sports
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Arizona Cardinals linebacker Kevin Minter sits down with Steve Benson of The Republic, and admits a weak spot for good food. Video: Michael Chow and David Wallace/azcentral sports
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Cardinals players reflect on the 2016 season as they clear out their lockers on Monday. Nick Oza/ azcentral sports
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Cardinals Insider Kent Somers says Bruce Arians is high on younger backups who got a chance to play last week. Michael Chow/azcentral sports
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Here’s a look at some of the top underclassmen planning on entering the 2017 NFL Draft.
USA TODAY Sports
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A time-lapse view from field level during the pre-game introductions for the Arizona Cardinals: Video: David Kadlubowski/azcentral sports
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Watch video of the Cardinals field rolling into University of Phoenix Stadium before the start of the first practice of the 2016 training camp. Video by Patrick Breen/azcentral sports
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Arizona Cardinals introduce safety Antoine Bethea
NFL free agency and how it affects the Arizona Cardinals
Reports: Texans trade QB Brock Osweiler to Browns with second-round pick
Tony Romo says goodbye to Cowboys fans
Report: Kirk Cousins asked Dan Snyder to trade him
Shot Clock: Key issues for Cardinals in NFL free agency
NFL Scouting Combine: Quarterbacks show off their skills
Deshaun Watson says it’d be awesome to learn from a veteran NFL quarterback
Patrick Mahomes: I’m a competitor and I want to play
NFL Scouting Combine: Teams looking for quarterbacks
John Ross runs fastest 40-yard dash ever at NFL Combine
Washington Huskies receiver John Ross on his versatility
NFL scouting combine: 49ers high on Kizer
Shot Clock: NBA MVP debate, Cardinals DBs
Cardinals GM Steve Keim on combine process, free agency
Arians on finding quarterback of the future
Shot Clock: Tough free agency decisions looming for Cardinals
NFL mock draft: How will top 5 picks shake out?
Michael Floyd’s message for his critics
Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald skates for the first time with Shane Doan
Kurt Warner inducted to Pro Football Hall of Fame
Falcons and Patriots advance to Super Bowl LI
On the drawing board: Cardinals lineman Mike Iupati
On the drawing board: Tony Jefferson of the Arizona Cardinals
On the drawing board: Cardinals linebacker Kevin Minter
Cardinals players clear out lockers, reflect on season
Cardinals looking to play several younger backups
Top underclassmen entering the NFL draft early
Time-lapse: On the field during pre-game festivities
Grass field rolls in at University of Phoenix Stadium
UPDATE:
Cardinals outside linebacker Chandler Jones is expected to sign his new five-year contract on Friday and will meet with reporters at 11 a.m., the Cardinals announced.
The team didn’t reveal financial terms, but an NFL source said it’s worth $82.5 million if Jones plays all five years under the deal. It includes $53 million in guarantees. Jones’ cap number in 2017 will be about $10 million, according to the source.
RELATED: First day of free agency brings roster makeover for Cardinals
The team is expected to make other announcements today, likely the signings of kicker Phil Dawson and inside linebacker Karlos Dansby. Those players agreed to terms on Thursday and will sign soon, pending physicals.
ORIGINAL STORY: On the eve of the start of free agency, the Cardinals and Jones’ agent were “finalizing” the contract, according to an NFL Network and NFL.com report.
Jones would be the second returning player to agree to terms in the past two days. Tight end Jermaine Gresham agreed to a four-year deal on Tuesday.
Financial terms of Jones’ contract were not available, but it figures to be in the neighborhood of what Olivier Vernon’s deal with the Giants a year ago. Vernon’s contract is worth $85 million, about half of which is fully guaranteed.
The Cardinals traded a second-round draft pick in 2016 and guard Jonathan Cooper for Jones last March, and Jones finished the season with 11 sacks.
They placed the franchise tag on Jones last week, which would have restricted his options when free agency starts at 2 p.m. on Thursday.
MORE: Complete NFL free agency coverage
The Cardinals can’t use the franchise tag on another player.
Under that tag, Jones would have counted $14.6 million under the salary cap. The new contract should lower that amount and give the Cardinals additional space.
They entered the week about $17 million under the salary cap.
The Cardinals had searched for years to add a young pass rusher and found themselves with two last year: Jones, 27, and Markus Golden, who turns 26 next week.
Golden, in his second season, led the team with 12.5 sacks. He is under contract for two more seasons, so the Cardinals have a formidable pass-rush combination in place.
The Cardinals’ priority in free agency was to re-sign some of their key players, including Gresham and Jones. Defensive lineman Calais Campbell and safety Tony Jefferson are already reportedly moving on to the Jaguars and Ravens, respectively.
The Cardinals enter free agency with a handful of needs. They could use a cornerback to compete for a starting job opposite Patrick Peterson. They will need another safety should D.J. Swearinger, also an unrestricted free agent, sign with another team.
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There aren’t a lot of options in free agency, and the Cardinals would prefer to re-sign Swearinger and cornerback Marcus Cooper. Both, however, could receive enticing offers in free agency. The Jets reportedly are interested in Cooper and Jefferson.
The Cardinals also will be looking to add a receiver, preferably one with size who won’t break the bank.
There aren’t a lot of available receivers who fit that mold. Pierre Garcon of Washington reportedly is going to sign with the 49ers. Brandon Marshall, with the Jets a year ago, has agreed to a deal with the Giants. And the Cardinals aren’t going to pay what it takes to sign Alshon Jeffery, formerly with the Bears.
The Cardinals cut Michael Floyd last December after he was arrested for driving under the influence. John Brown struggled last season as he dealt with symptoms resulting from having sickle-cell trait.
Receiver Jaron Brown was starting to produce when he suffered a torn ACL on Oct. 23 against Seattle, but the Cardinals are hopeful he will be ready by the start of training camp in July.
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