Enfield native Matt Mulligan has his contract terminated by National Football League’s Chicago Bears.
Mulligan, a former University of Maine standout, was signed by the Bears back in April after finishing a one-season stint with the New England Patriots. The tight end, in his seventh NFL season, played for Chicago during Monday night’s victory over San Francisco.
The 29-year-old Mulligan first signed with Miami as a free agent in 2008 and has seen game action with the New York Jets, the St. Louis Rams and the Patriots.
Mulligan, who is a blocking specialist, has played in 67 career NFL games. He has made 16 receptions for 160 yards and two touchdowns, including one with the Patriots last season.
He also has two kick returns for 28 yards and one special-teams tackle.
NFL hires ex-White House hand Hogan
At a time of intense public scrutiny, the NFL expanded its work force to include Cynthia Hogan, who was deputy assistant to the Obama Administration.
Hogan will remain in Washington, D.C., largely in a lobbyist role reporting to Paul Hicks, the NFL’s vice president of public affairs.
“Cynthia’s broad experience on a wide-range of public policy issues will help advance our initiatives in Washington and around the country,” Hicks said.
Hogan has a background in legislature and criminal justice. She also was a key figure in Obama’s overhaul of the health care system and was involved in coordinating gun violence proposals for the administration.
“The complex and compelling issues of interest to the NFL and the opportunity to help shape policy on those issues is a unique and exciting challenge,” said Hogan, whose official title will be senior vice president of public policy and government affairs. “I could not be more excited about joining the NFL team.”
Gordon pleads guilty to DWI
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon entered a guilty plea Tuesday in Raleigh, North Carolina, to a driving while impaired charge during the July 4 weekend.
As part of the sentence, Gordon received 12 months of unsupervised probation and was ordered to pay court costs of $290 and a $100 fine, the Wake County Clerk of Court told CBSSports.com.
Gordon is serving a season-long suspension from the NFL for repeated violations of its substance abuse policy that could be reduced to 10 games when a final agreement is reached on the league’s new policy.
However, the DWI could result in an additional two-game suspension under the league’s potential new guidelines for driving under the influence arrests.
Gordon was arrested in Raleigh for speeding and DWI while driving a car owned by Charlotte Hornets forward P.J. Hairston. The speeding charge was voluntarily dismissed.
Colts sign Quarles from Patriots
The Indianapolis Colts signed defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles off the New England Patriots’ practice squad.
The team also signed guard David Arkin to the practice squad while waiving running back Dion Lewis from the active roster and guard Josh Walker from the practice squad.
Originally signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted rookie out of South Carolina in May, Quarles was picked up by the Patriots off waivers on Aug. 31.
Quarles, 6-feet-4 and 294 pounds, had 105 tackles, 13 sacks, 23.5 tackles for loss and eight quarterback pressures in 35 career games for the Gamecocks.
Redskins release Rambo
The Washington Redskins waived safety Bacarri Rambo on Tuesday and signed free agent defensive lineman Hebron Fangupo to the practice squad.
The Redskins also released defensive lineman Derrick Hopkins from its practice squad.
Rambo’s departure clears a roster spot for Brandon Meriweather, who was reinstated from a two-game suspension at the start of the season.
Rambo, a former All-American at Georgia, had 43 tackles in 11 games last season as a rookie for the Redskins but struggled with open-field tackling.
The 29-year-old Fangupo played in one game with the Seattle Seahawks in 2012 and in four with the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2013 season.
Jaguars waive Bradford, sign King
The Jacksonville Jaguars waived offensive tackle Cameron Bradford and added second-year wide receiver Tavarres King to their active roster on Tuesday after signing him off the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad.
The Jaguars also elevated rookie tight end Marcel Jensen to the 53-player active roster from the practice squad, placed tight end Marcedes Lewis on injured reserve/designated for return and signed rookie tackle Cody Booth to the practice squad.
Bradford was benched and replaced by Sam Young last week during the Jaguars’ 41-10 loss to the Washington Redskins. Jacksonville gave up a franchise-record 10 sacks.
Young or Austin Pasztor is expected to start at right tackle in Bradford’s spot during Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.