NFL Notebook: CB Revis announces retirement

Seven-time Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis announced his retirement over social media on Wednesday. Revis, who won a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots, also played with the New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs during his 11 seasons in the NFL. "For the past 11 years, it has truly been an honor to showcase one of my greatest gifts to the world," the 33-year-old Revis wrote on Twitter. "Today I am closing a chapter in my life that I once dreamed of as a kid and I am officially retiring from the National Football League. The game of football has opened doors for me I once thought were nearly impossible to get through. My passion to play the game at an elite level brought fun and excitement to the term "shutdown corner" which was nearly on the verge of extinction. Covering some of the toughest assignments in league history was a challenge every Sunday, but also an honor within this game we all love. "I would like to thank my coaches, teammates, and mentors who have made a significant impact in my life and helped to create amazing memories that my family and I will cherish for a lifetime. I'm excited as to what lies ahead as I pursue new ventures in different industries. Long live Revis Island." Revis recorded 494 tackles, 29 interceptions, six forced fumbles and two sacks in 145 career contests since being selected by the Jets with the 14th overall pick of the 2007 NFL Draft. A four-time All-Pro pick, Revis was unsigned entering the 2017 season before being brought in by the Chiefs as a free agent in November. He appeared in five regular-season games and a postseason loss to the Tennessee Titans. Revis' career peaked in 2009, when he intercepted six passes and recorded an NFL-best 31 passes defended, helping the Jets reach the first of two straight AFC title games under coach Rex Ryan. Revis made three interceptions in 10 postseason games. --Arizona Cardinals tight end Ricky Seals-Jones was arrested in Scottsdale, Ariz., and charged with assault, disorderly conduct and third-degree criminal trespassing, multiple media outlets reported. Seals-Jones attempted to use the restroom inside the W Hotel but was denied entry by employees, who told him only guests were allowed, according to a police report released by the Scottsdale Police Department Tuesday evening. The 23-year-old allegedly moved a rope blocking an entrance to Sushi Roku, but he was denied inside the hotel again. An employee told police Seals-Jones became combative and pushed a staffer "with an open hand to his chest, like being moved by an offensive lineman," according to the police report. Seals-Jones, who is listed at 6-foot-5 and 243 pounds, was held down by the hotel security until police arrived. Officers said he appeared to be intoxicated. He was processed and released less than two hours later. --Indianapolis Colts defensive end Chris McCain pleaded not guilty to two counts of battery in Los Angeles related to an alleged incident with a woman in January. McCain, through his attorney Jill Carter, was ordered to stay at least 100 yards from the woman in the case, the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office confirmed. A pretrial hearing, which McCain is required to attend, is set for Aug. 21. The woman accused McCain of spitting on her and grabbing her by the neck in the incident that allegedly occurred on Jan. 7. McCain told the Indianapolis Star in June that the woman is "lying." McCain missed mandatory minicamp with the Colts in June and head coach Frank Reich said he "felt like it was best that we get this thing settled and work through it." The Los Angeles Chargers rescinded their tender offer to McCain in April, making him a free agent. He signed with the Colts in May. --Former NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens clarified a few points regarding his interest in the Canadian Football League and his reason for skipping the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, He made his comments in advance of the ESPYS telecast. Owens activated a procedural window that requires the Edmonton Eskimos -- who own his CFL rights -- to offer him a contract or release him from their exclusive negotiation list within 10 days. Owens' agent suggested earlier in the week that Owens was serious about playing in the CFL and might want to return to the NFL. But, according to ESPN, Owens said Wednesday that he is not "actively seeking to get into the NFL," although he would consider a possibility in the NFL or CFL if an opportunity arises. "I know that I do have the ability to play. I know everybody sees the shape that I'm in. There's a lot of athletes that play their prospective sports, but there are few guys that defy the odds. I think I'm one of those guys," Owens said. In terms of continuing his career, he said, "If it happens, it happens, but if it doesn't, it's not the end of the world." Owens also discussed his decision to forgo giving his acceptance speech at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, next month. Instead, he will make his speech at his alma mater, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Owens said he is being criticized based on his "reputation" and not his "character." "It's always unfortunate and people have a lot to say when someone does something different, but what I'm doing is not wrong," he said. "For me I think, overall, everybody's obviously wondering what went into my decision. I think John Wooden said it best: 'Be more concerned about your character than your reputation.' I think what the noise is right now is more about my reputation than my actual character. "They're making the narrative more so about me offending the Hall of Famers, and that has nothing to do with it. I respect all of those Hall of Famers that have gone in before me and going in with me and after me. It has nothing to do with those Hall of Famers." --Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver Antonio Brown was named the cover athlete for the "Madden 19" video game, EA Sports announced. Brown is shown flashing a wide grin and without his helmet in his feature photo, which represents a departure from the action shots on recent Madden covers. "To be on the cover is a real honor I've wanted to always have because I have so much connection with the game," Brown said. "Growing up as a kid I played Madden all the time, was being inspired by the players in the game. And now to be on the cover, it's a special feeling." Brown is one of seven players with a perfect 99 rating in the game. He follows New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (2018) and tight end Rob Gronkowski (2017), as well as New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (2016) and then-Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (2015) as recent stars featured on the cover of the popular video game. --Los Angeles Rams star Todd Gurley said it was a "sad situation" to see fellow dual-threat running back Le'Veon Bell walk away without a long-term contract for the second year in a row. Bell had been bidding to reset the running back market due in large part to his effectiveness in the passing game. The Pittsburgh Steelers star will play on the $14.5 million franchise tag, with Devonta Freeman of the Atlanta Falcons serving as the next-highest-paid running back at an average of $8.25 million per year. "As a player, I definitely feel where he's coming from," Gurley told NFL Network. "I don't know exactly what he wants. But if he did what he did I'm pretty sure in his mind he did the right thing. I definitely stand behind him and definitely support him. I wanted him to get that long-term deal but unfortunately it didn't work out. He's playing on the tag for the second time, which is not bad at all, but you know you just want that security. "It's definitely a sad situation for a guy to be a top-three back since he's came into the league and put in the work and can't even get the money that he deserves. Definitely a sad situation." --Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is the highest-ranked NFL player on Forbes' annual highest-paid celebrities in the world list, which was released Wednesday. Ryan checked in at No. 29 with an estimated $67.3 million, according to Forbes. The money amount stems from the 2016 NFL Most Valuable Player's new five-year, $150 million contract as well as endorsement deals with Nike, Gatorade, Delta Airlines, IBM, Mercedes Benz and Banana Republic. Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is next among NFL stars at No. 36. The 30-year-old, who is making an estimated $59.5 million, signed a five-year, $135 million contract extension last offseason that was structured to include a large sum in 2018. New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (No. 67, $42.9 million), Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (No. 70, $42.1 million) and Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith (No. 72, $41.4 million) are also included before cornerback Trumaine Johnson checks in at No. 87. Johnson made an estimated $37 million, with his $20 million signing bonus from the New York Jets being taken into account with the $16.7 million base salary he received from the Los Angeles Rams last season. Boxer Floyd Mayweather topped the list after he made $285 million from his blockbuster fight with Conor McGregor in August 2017. Actor George Clooney ($239 million), Kylie Jenner ($166.5 million), Judge Judy Sheindlin ($147 million) and actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson ($124 million) round out the top five. --The Dallas Cowboys ranked as the world's most valuable sports team for the third consecutive year, Forbes announced. The Cowboys were listed as being worth $4.8 billion, which represents a 14 percent increase from last year. Rounding out the top five were soccer clubs Manchester United ($4.123 billion), Real Madrid ($4.088 billion) and FC Barcelona ($4.064 billion) as well as the New York Yankees ($4 billion) of Major League Baseball. Twenty-nine of the 50 teams on Forbes' list were NFL clubs, with the Cowboys, New England Patriots ($3.7 billion), New York Giants ($3.3 billion) and Washington Redskins ($3.1 billion) residing in the top 10. The San Francisco 49ers ($3.05 billion) ranked 13th, followed by the Los Angeles Rams ($3 billion, tied for 14th), Chicago Bears ($2.85 billion, tied for 17th), Houston Texans ($2.8 billion, tied for 19th), New York Jets ($2.75 billion, 21st), Philadelphia Eagles ($2.65 billion, 22nd), Denver Broncos ($2.6 billion, tied for 23rd) and Miami Dolphins (2.558 billion) to round out the top 25. The Cincinnati Bengals ($1.8 billion), Detroit Lions ($1.7 billion) and Buffalo Bills ($1.6 billion) were the three NFL teams that failed make the top 50. --The New Orleans Saints have signed running back Shane Vereen to a contract. In a corresponding move, the Saints waived running back Daniel Lasco with a failed physical designation. The move to add Vereen comes as the Saints brace to be without fellow running back Mark Ingram, who will begin the season by serving a four-game suspension for violating the league policy for performance-enhancing substances. Vereen recorded 164 rushing yards and 253 receiving yards in 16 games with the New York Giants last season. He had 582 yards rushing and 842 yards receiving to go with five overall touchdowns during his three-year stint with the Giants. The 29-year-old Vereen spent his first four NFL seasons with the New England Patriots. He set a Super Bowl record for receptions by a running back with 11 in the Patriots' victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX. Lasco, 25, did not have a carry while playing in three games with the Saints last season. --Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Malik Jackson predicted for the second straight year that the Jaguars will win all 16 of their regular-season games this season. "I think we're going 16-0," the 28-year-old Jackson told TMZ Sports. "I'm callin' it, 16-0. I don't think anybody can beat us as long as we stay healthy and do what we're supposed to do." Jackson's words are quite similar to those he said last July. "I think having that and being who we all are, it should be a great year," the 6-foot-5, 290-pounder said at the time. "After the Super Bowl, we're going 16-0, we're going all the way." Last season, the Jaguars finished the regular season 10-6 and defeated Buffalo and Pittsburgh in the playoffs before falling to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. --Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey said he plans to protest the NFL's new national anthem policy and live with the potential consequences. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced in May that the league would enact a national anthem policy for the 2018 season that requires players and league personnel to either stand for the anthem or remain in the locker room. The policy subjects teams to a fine if a player or any other personnel do not show respect for the anthem. Casey's protest was to raise his fist after the playing of the national anthem the last two years and he indicated he will continue to do that. "I'm going to take my fine," the 28-year-old Casey said via CNN. "It is what it is, I ain't going to let them stop me from doing what I want to do. If they want to have these battles between players and organizations, this is the way it's going to be. "... There is always going to be blowback, that is what America is about. They always like to go on social media and go hard. It is what it is, at the end of the day, I don't pay no mind to it. I'm going to do what I do that's going to bring light to my community. At the end of the day we got to do a job. But I will continue to use my platform to keep on speaking up." --Defensive back Lardarius Webb wasn't with the Baltimore Ravens when they opened training camp on Wednesday for the first time since they drafted him in 2009. The Ravens released the 32-year-old Webb, who has played both cornerback and safety, in March, and he has been looking for a new team without success for the last four months. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported that Webb, "plans to continue playing. ... Not retiring yet. He's had a few offers and is weighing them." Webb moved from cornerback to safety in his latter years with the Ravens. He appeared in every game last season and finished the year with 39 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble. -- One day after it was reported that Brent Musburger would become the Oakland Raiders' radio play-by-play announcer, replacing Greg Papa, a report indicates that Tom Flores will be replaced as the team's color commentator. Flores said the team informed him of the change Wednesday, the Fresno Bee reported. Flores won two Super Bowls as head coach of the Raiders, and he and Papa were the Raiders' broadcasting teams for the past 20 years on the Raiders Radio Network. "This is part of the business world," Flores, 81, told the Bee. "All things come to an end. I was hoping I would last through the first year in Las Vegas, but it's not going to happen." The Raiders, who will relocated to Las Vegas in 2020, have not announced the changes, so it is not known who will replace Flores. --The Ravens announced the promotion of Ron Medlin to head certified athletic trainer following the retirement of Mark Smith, among several personnel moves. Bobby Vega was hired as the Ravens' East area scout, and Joey Cleary was promoted to college and pro scout. In addition, Michael Blankenship, Duane Brooks and Collin Francis were hired as assistant certified athletic trainers.