AROUND THE NFL News & notes

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Harbaugh’s new 4-year deal

OWINGS MILLS, Md.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh has received a new four-year contract following a season in which he guided Baltimore to the AFC North title.

The new deal is designed to keep the winningest coach in Ravens history under contract through the 2022 season. It replaces a pact that was slated to end after next year.

The 56-year-old Harbaugh took over as Ravens coach in 2008. Under his guidance, the team has reached the playoffs seven times and won a Super Bowl.

His record in Baltimore is 114-78, including 10-6 in the postseason. Among current NFL coaches, Harbaugh has the fourth-longest tenure in the league.

“I’m very excited with this contract, the opportunity to continue our work here, and I’m humbled by it,” Harbaugh said in a statement on the team website. “I am thankful for the support from the Ravens, especially [owner] Steve Bisciotti.”

The Ravens had gone three straight years without a playoff berth before rallying behind rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson to win the division crown this season with a 10-6 record. Baltimore lost to the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round.

Bisciotti ended speculation about Harbaugh’s status before the Ravens faced the Chargers on Dec. 22, issuing a release that stated Harbaugh would be back in 2019 and that the sides were working on an extension.

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Newton has shoulder surgery

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has opted for surgery to repair his ailing right throwing shoulder.

The team announced Newton had an “arthroscopic procedure” on Thursday and that he will begin the rehabilitation process immediately. There is no timetable listed for when he can begin throwing again.

The Panthers also said the procedure was successfully performed by team physician Pat Connor.

Carolina still has not disclosed the exact nature of Newton’s shoulder injury. The quarterback also had surgery in March of 2017 to repair a partially torn rotator cuff.

Newton struggled all season with right shoulder problems that limited his ability to throw the ball downfield. On several occasions the Panthers substituted backup Taylor Heinicke to throw Hail Mary passes because of Newton’s lack of arm strength.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera decided to hold Newton out of the final two games of the 2018 regular season with what the team deemed “shoulder soreness.”

After Carolina’s 12-9 loss to the Saints on Dec. 17, Newton expressed frustration over not knowing what it would take to fix the shoulder.

“When you talk to different people who can help you with it, there’s not any magical surgery or whatever. It’s just time,” Newton said at the time. “I’ve tried and done everything.”

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Wrong Dee Ford criticized

KANSAS CITY, MO.

A 47-year-old Englishwoman has seen the best and worst that Twitter would have to offer the American football player who shares her name.

Dee Ford, of Kent, England, told the Kansas City Star that her “phone was going off literally nonstop” due to angry tweets from Kansas City Chiefs fans who thought they were venting at linebacker Dee Ford following his critical late penalty in last weekend’s AFC Championship loss to the New England Patriots. She says Ford “doesn’t deserve” the vitriol.

The player isn’t on Twitter, but he was no stranger to the Englishwoman. Five years ago when the player was still at Auburn, someone in the school’s athletic department inadvertently tagged the woman in a congratulatory tweet after the player was named MVP of the Senior Bowl. Fans responded with their own positive tweets.

She decided to learn about the game and was hooked. She has spoken to the Chiefs’ Dee Ford by phone and attended two games — an Auburn home game last fall and a Chiefs game in London in 2015.

Associated Press