NFL news & notes

PATRIOTS

Kraft gave Trump a Super Bowl ring

BOSTON

President Donald Trump has a Super Bowl championship ring — just like Vladimir Putin.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft gave Trump the diamond-encrusted ring. The sitting president usually receives gifts from sports teams during celebratory White House visits — a personalized jersey is standard — but Kraft gave Trump a ring as well, Patriots spokesman Stacey James said Tuesday.

Kraft decided after the team’s April visit to have a ring made for Trump so he would have something special to display in his presidential library, the team said. The rings were distributed to Patriots players and staff in June; it was not clear when Trump got his.

The White House did not respond to requests for comment.

The NFL pays up to $5,000 apiece for 150 rings for its champion, with teams picking up anything over that. The Patriots’ 2017 ring — their fifth— is white gold with more than 280 diamonds and a carat weight of 5.1. According to Josten’s, the ring manufacturer, it is the largest Super Bowl ring ever made — bigger than the Patriots’ 2015 rings that were valued at $36,500 apiece.

The ring goes not only to players and coaches but team staffers and others, including quarterback Tom Brady’s mother, who has been diagnosed with cancer. Some receive a less-expensive version of the ring; it was not clear which version Trump was given.

BENGALS

Eric Winston: League cannot afford lockout

CINCINNATI

Players union President Eric Winston said the NFL can’t afford another lockout when the collective bargaining agreement expires in 2021, even though he thinks it’s inevitable.

The Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman tweeted on Tuesday that if the league locks out players as it did in 2011, or overlooks the health risks to players, then “they have signaled that they are not worried about the game in 20-30 years.”

Winston told a Cincinnati-area television station on Monday that he thinks another lockout is inevitable and that it will “kill the goose that laid the golden egg.” He said the union is getting the younger players educated about the issues.

“These rookies that are here now are going to be in the middle of that,” he told WCPO-TV . “They need to understand what they’re getting into, what they need to prepare for. We have to prepare for that outcome because that’s what happened the last time.”

GIANTS

Beckham, Marshall are day-to-day

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.

The New York Giants apparently can breathe a little easier.

Leading receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall seemingly avoided major injuries in a meaningless preseason game.

Coach Ben McAdoo said Tuesday that the team’s wideouts are being listed as day to day after being hurt in the first half of Monday night’s preseason loss to the Cleveland Browns. Despite escaping without a major injury, McAdoo did not rule out playing them in either of the final two preseason games.

One of the NFL’s most dynamic receivers, Beckham underwent an MRI on Tuesday. It revealed the three-time Pro Bowler had a sprained left ankle.

Beckham was hurt after being hit around the knee by defensive back Briean Boddy-Calhoun after catching a pass. The impact flipped Beckham onto his side and his head bounced off the turf.

The hit was scary and many wondered about the severity of the injury after Beckham ripped off his helmet following the play.

Associated Press