The Oakland Raiders released cornerback Sean Smith and right tackle Marshall Newhouse on Monday to create more salary cap room heading into free agency.
The Raiders also officially announced the signing of defensive tackle Justin Ellis to a three-year contract and signed receiver Griff Whalen to a one-year deal. Ellis had agreed to the deal last week to stay off the free-agent market but it was not announced until Monday.
Smith is also facing legal problems. He will plead guilty Tuesday to a felony count of assault with great bodily injury in connection with an altercation in Pasadena last year
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Smith was accused of assaulting his sister's then-boyfriend, Christopher Woods, on July 4. Two witnesses testified during a preliminary hearing in December that Smith stomped Woods' head as he lay bleeding and unconscious.
Smith will be sentenced to one year in jail and five years of probation in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Attorney Jonathan Dennis said Woods "felt the sentence, obviously, was not as strict as it should have been, but he's pleased he's admitting guilt."
Smith was signed as a big-ticket free agent in 2016 to a four-year, $38 million deal. But he never played up to that level and the Raiders have decided to cut him instead of paying him $8.5 million this year.
Smith got benched in his first game with the Raiders after getting burned by New Orleans' Brandin Cooks for a 98-yard touchdown. He allowed opposing quarterbacks to post a 116.5 passer rating when targeting him in 2016, according to SportRadar.
Smith struggled again early in 2017 and was replaced in the starting lineup by TJ Carrie, before finishing the season strong after John Pagano replaced fired defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. for the final six games.
Smith allowed just 15 catches on 27 targets for 202 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions over the final six games for a passer rating of 64.1 as Pagano better took advantage of Smith's size and strength. That was down from a 113.3 rating in his one-plus season under Norton.
Oakland will again seek to bolster the secondary in free agency
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Carrie is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent Wednesday and is free to talk to potential suitors this week.
Newhouse started 14 games last season for the Raiders but new coach Jon Gruden said at the combine that the play at right tackle last season was inconsistent.
Ellis was originally a fourth-round pick by Oakland in 2014. He has started 41 of the 60 games he has played in during four seasons with the Raiders and is strong against the run.
Whalen has played 43 games over six seasons in the NFL. He has 51 catches for 532 yards and three touchdowns. He also has 47 punt returns for 378 yards and 29 kickoff returns for 701 yards.
Associated Press Writer Brian Melley in Los Angeles contributed to this report
Since relocating from Atlanta in 2011, the Winnipeg Jets were never considered a dangerous team. That is until this season.
The streaking Jets seek their 10th win in 11 games on Thursday night when they host the Calgary Flames.
Winnipeg (50-20-10) continued its surge on Tuesday with a 5-4 overtime win against the Montreal Canadiens to cap a four-game road trip. With two games remaining, the Jets trail the Central Division-leading Nashville Predators by three points.
“(The win) puts us in a position to keep fighting for first place in our division,” said Winnipeg backup goaltender Steve Mason, who made 36 saves against the Canadiens.
Rookie Kyle Connor ended it with a historic marker. Selected 17th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, Connor is the second rookie in club history with 30 goals, joining Patrik Laine, who scored 36 last season.
“Great for a first-year player,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said of Connor
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Since March 15, Connor is Winnipeg’s top scorer with 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 10 games. Laine collected four points, including three goals, over the same stretch.
Despite his slump, Laine has 44 goals, and trails only Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals (46 goals) for the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy. Laine has one tally in four career games against Calgary.
If Connor Hellebuyck (42-11-9, 2.40 goals-against average, six shutouts) starts for Winnipeg
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Amid all the personal accomplishments and potential milestones, seeing the club reach 50 wins means more to Maurice, who has reached 50 victories for the first time as a coach.
“That means you’re a consistent hockey team. To get that many wins over the course (of a season), you can’t have a lot of lulls,” he said.
The Jets are looking for their fourth win in five home games against the Flames.
Winnipeg split two matchups in Calgary this season. After opening the campaign with a 6-3 defeat on Oct. 7, the Jets rebounded with a 2-1 shootout victory on Jan. 20.
Calgary (36-34-10) is trying to avoid its ninth loss in 10 games after falling 4-1 to the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday.
Mike Smith, who sat while rookie Jon Gilles got start in goal, is looking forward to facing the Jets.
“They’re a good team this year, so I think it’s a challenge for our team to kind of go out on a good note going into the summer
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The Flames have the best road record among non-playoff teams at 20-14-6.
Calgary could get defenseman Travis Hamonic back after he missed two games with an upper-body injury. A decision will be made Thursday.
“No one wants to be sitting around, doesn’t matter how long it is. You want to get back in and compete, that’s kind of what we’re wired to do so,” Hamonic told the Flames’ official website on Wednesday.
Calgary wraps up its season Saturday at home against the Pacific Division champion Vegas Golden Knights.
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