NFL roundup

kaepernick

Goodell claims no blackballing

ENGLEWOOD, COLO.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says teams aren’t blackballing Colin Kaepernick for kneeling during the national anthem last year. “No, teams make decisions [based] on what’s in the best interest of their team ... and they make those decisions individually,” Goodell said Thursday following his appearance at a forum with about 200 fans at the Denver Broncos’ indoor practice facility. Kaepernick, who opted out of his contract with the 49ers on March 3, has drawn interest from Seattle and Baltimore but remains unemployed a year after throwing for 16 touchdowns and four interceptions in 11 games. Several teams have signed lesser backups without giving Kaepernick a call. Goodell demurred when asked if he thought Kaepernick should be in the league based strictly on his talent. “There are other people who make those evaluations and that’s a decision that those teams all make individually,” Goodell said. “It’s not one that I would make as a commissioner.” Kaepernick drew significant backlash last year after kneeling during the national anthem and saying he could not show pride in a flag of a country that he believes oppresses blacks and other minorities.

PATRIOTS

Brady celebrates milestone

FOXBOROUGH, MASS.

Tom Brady was already the oldest player on the Patriots roster before he stepped out on the practice field for training camp Thursday.

He spent the abbreviated workout being constantly reminded he’s now a 40-year-old quarterback. From a sculpture spelling out “G.O.A.T.” that was erected near the entrance of the practice field gate to multiple chants of his name to sporadic “Happy Birthday” serenades from spectators — everything revolved around No. 12 and his 40th birthday. “It’s fun. It reminds you that Tom’s old. Very old,” Patriots safety Devin McCourty said. “But I think he has a lot of fun with it. A lot of guys sung ‘Happy Birthday’ in the locker room. But it’s also a reminder of how good he’s been. Forty years old and still our best player.” With his first start of 2017 Brady will become the 20th quarterback in NFL history to appear in a game at 40 or older. McCourty has been a member of the Patriots since 2010, and is familiar with the fanfare that trails Brady every Aug. 3. So even with the elevated displays, he said he never expected Brady to make a big deal about turning 40. “He’s not into birthday parties. So we just do whatever he allows us to do,” McCourty said.

EAGLES

Graham signs 1-year deal

PHILADELPHIA

The Eagles have agreed to a one-year contract with veteran safety Corey Graham.The 32-year-old Graham spent the past three seasons with the Buffalo Bills and played for Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz in 2014. Graham played his first five years in Chicago and the next two in Baltimore before going to the Bills. He went to the Pro Bowl as a special teams player after the 2011 season. Graham started 32 games the past two seasons. He had 82 tackles, one interception, one sack, and nine passes defensed last year. Graham had 281 tackles in Buffalo, the fourth-most by any NFL defensive back over the past three year

Associated Press