Wide receiver Devante Parker signed a three-year deal with the New England Patriots Wednesday, extending his stay with head coach Bill Belichick as he attempts to rebuild his dynasty. Parker’s contract could be worth as much as $33 million and will include $14 million in guarantees and per-game bonuses.

Parker was entering the final year of his old deal with the Patriots this season, a four-year, $30.5 million contract originally negotiated by the Miami Dolphins in 2019. He could now be a Patriot for the foreseeable future as management attempts to revitalize the team’s stagnant offense.

Parker is not the only offensive piece New England is looking to sign, as several reports suggest that the team is pursuing free-agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who was recently released by the Arizona Cardinals. Instead of a conflicting signing, Parker’s new deal could actually be an attempt to sway Hopkins further by adding support around him on offense. These signings are expected to help quarterback Mac Jones, who had a dreadful sophomore campaign after a promising rookie season.

Before arriving in New England via trade in 2022, Parker played seven seasons for the Miami Dolphins, who drafted him out of Louisville with the 14th overall pick in 2015. Though he has never appeared in a Pro Bowl, he has proven to be a competent receiver over the course of his career. In his first season with the struggling Patriots, he caught 31 of 47 targets for 539 yards and three touchdowns.

If New England manages to secure Hopkins and pair him with Parker, it could be a massive upgrade for new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.

“I think the big thing for us right now is everybody is starting with a clean slate,” O’Brien said at his introductory press conference in April. “What you did in the past, whether it’s a player, coach, or anybody in the organization, it really has no bearing on what happens moving forward.”

With the deadline to sign a new deal being July 15, it’s unlikely that the general manager-less Houston Texans will reach a deal with Jadeveon Clowney. He has been in the Pro Bowl for three years running, and the Texans put a franchise tag on him back in March. The Texans value the edge rusher to a degree, but with the lack of a general manager and his injury history, they may let go of the All-Pro come the end of next season.

The Texans fired their GM Brian Gaine back in June, and placed head coach Bill B’Brien in charge of the GM duties and football operations. Lacking a general manager in this time of Clowney wanting a long-term contract could prove fatal for the Texans organization if they fail to reach a deal with the edge rusher.

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Clowney has finished his four-year rookie deal and both parties have used his fifth-year option. This will be placing Clowney around the $15.96 million range this year, and if the Texans fail to reach a long-term deal with him and decide to tag him again, he would have a 20 percent increase to his annual salary at $19.2 million. According to Over the Cap, Clowney would be placed as the 12th most expensive edge rusher in the upcoming season.

Clowney has reoccurring knee injuries. He had a micro-fracture surgery on his right knee when was a rookie and had a procedure done on his left knee at the end of the 2018 season. He hasn’t missed an immense amount of games from these injuries, just three in the past three seasons. But his production levels seem to be the concern for the Texans as they don’t want to give him the money he seems to be asking for, for such a high-risk player who has already had two knee surgeries in four years. He’s also never reached in the double digits in terms of sacks in one season.

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At the same time however, Clowney could have an important year ahead of him to display that he deserves the money he is asking for. If then the Texans are still holding out on him, he will more than likely attract other franchises to his name and his contract wants. He is just 26-years-old, and plays one of the toughest and most important positions in the NFL. Either way, this upcoming season could prove vital ahead of his long-term contract wants.

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The Houston Texans have announced that safety Andre Hal has been diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma. The initial diagnosis was made by team doctor James Muntz, and further consultations with other medical professionals at MD Anderson Cancer Center confirmed it on Friday. Hal has now started treatment.

Hal issued a statement in which he expressed his determination to beat his illness. “I will not let this diagnosis stop me from fulfilling my dreams and I do not want anyone to feel sorry for me,” Hal said. “I know how to beat this and I will beat it.”

Hal has had a consistent presence on the Texans defense throughout most of his career with the team. Over his 4-year career, Hal has started at safety 38 times for Houston, including all 16 games in 2017. He has recorded 122 tackles and 9 interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown in 2015. Hal also forced a pair of fumbles in 2017.

The Texans personal has made it clear that they will be supporting Hal throughout his entire endeavor, with several of his teammates taking to Twitter to show their love for their starting safety.

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Texans head coach Bill O’Brien issued an official statement in which he praised Hal has being exactly what anybody could have asked for out of a football player, saying, “Andre epitomizes what it means to be a Houston Texan through his leadership, community involvement and team-first attitude.” He later concluded with, “The entire Texans organization is behind Andre and his family during this difficult time and we look forward to his eventual return to the team.”

Hal immediately started treatment in an effort to take down his Hodgkin Lymphoma as quickly as possible. While it will derail his hopes of playing in the 2018-19, what’s most important is that he is able to beat the disease and have as successful a recovery as possible.

Wes Welker is reuniting with Bill O’Brien, but this time as a member of the Houston Texans head coach’s staff.

Wes Welker Hired As Texans’ Assistant Coach

The 35-year-old former New England Patriots and Denver Broncos wide receiver has been hired by the Texans as an offensive/special teams assistant coach, the team announced on Monday.

Welker was a guest coach for Baltimore and Miami in their organized team activities before this past season.

“That’s a huge pickup, I think,” Houston linebacker Whitney Mercilus stated Monday on NFL Total Access. “Just to have his knowledge on the team, just to have somebody who played the game for so long, just to be able to teach the guys exactly what he saw out there so that they can pretty much mimic exactly their skill set as they play out on the field.”

Welker– who was signed by the then-San Diego (now Los Angeles) Chargers in 2004 as an undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech– retired with the Rams in 2015 after a twelve-year NFL career, which included six seasons with the Patriots, three seasons with the Dolphins, and two seasons with the Broncos.

O’Brien was with Welker from 2007-11 with New England, including as the wideout’s offensive coordinator in his final season with the Pats before leaving to become head coach at Penn State.

Welker made five consecutive Pro Bowls from 2008-2012, and led the league in receptions three times and finished second two others.

The Texans have a lineup of young receivers, with DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller, Braxton Miller and Jaelen Strong. Welker’s route-running and veteran expertise should help them improve.

This is Welker’s first-ever coaching position. He was spotted standing next to Houston coaches at the Senior Bowl in Orlando, Florida last week.

The Texans’ Romeo Crennel was promoted to assistant head coach/defense. His defense finished first in the NFL this season when Houston won the AFC South and beat Oakland in a wild-card game before being eliminated in the divisional round at New England.

Mike Vrabel was promoted from linebackers to defensive coordinator.