With a quarterback or two finally on the way [url=http://www.eaglescheapauthenticstore.com/markus-wheaton-jersey-cheap]Markus Wheaton Jersey Eagles[/url] , the Arizona Cardinals were acting quickly to shore up their lineup with some early free agency moves.

A person familiar with the situation said quarterback Sam Bradford had agreed to a one-year contract worth up to $20 million, with a second year at the club’s option. The person requested anonymity because the signing had not been announced.

Before Bradford’s acquisition, there were no quarterbacks on the roster for first-year coach Steve Wilks and his offensive coordinator Mike McCoy.

The Cardinals apparently will have Bradford’s backup, too. A person familiar with the situation confirmed Mike Glennon had agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract with Arizona. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the signing had not been officially announced.

Meanwhile, ESPN reported that Arizona had reached a two-year deal with ex-Cincinnati offensive tackle Andre Smith. That could clear the way for the release of right tackle Jared Veldheer, which would clear about $6.9 million in cap space.

The day began with the Cardinals announcing they had released one of their most popular players, safety Tyrann Mathieu, after the two failed to work out a pay cut.

”I’ve never made a secret that Tyrann has always had a special place in my heart and always will,” Cardinals general manager Steve Keim said in a statement.

”While we all understand this is a part of the business, that certainly doesn’t make it any easier. We all wish Tyrann nothing but continued success in his career and beyond.”

Mathieu was due for $18.75 million of his contract to be guaranteed when the league year began Wednesday afternoon. By cutting him, Arizona saves close to $5 million in cap space.

At least one player is coming back. Free agent inside linebacker Josh Bynes tweeted that he had agreed to a three-year deal to return to Arizona after a strong 2017 season.

”3 more years in AZ!,” he wrote. ”Thank you (at)AZCardinals and my family for all the support! Glad to be back in Red and Black!”

Bradford [url=http://www.authenticsphiladelphiaeagles.com/cheap-richard-rodgers-jersey]Richard Rodgers Color Rush Jersey[/url] , 30, is a former Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick out of Oklahoma who has a strong, accurate arm but has been besieged by injuries in his pro career.

He has torn the ACL in his left knee twice and, after earning the starting job in Minnesota, missed most of last season after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery.

The Cardinals are counting on his injury problems to end.

Glennon, 28, spent four seasons with Tampa Bay, mostly as a backup, before signing a three-year, $45 million contract with Chicago a year ago. His stint as Bears starter lasted just four games before he was replaced by rookie Mitchell Trubisky. Glennon didn’t play the rest of the season.

NFL Network first reported Glennon’s deal, moments after the Bears announced he had been released.

The plan now appears for the Cardinals to draft a quarterback to develop as the long-term solution.

The team was left without any signal caller when Carson Palmer retired and Drew Stanton and Blaine Gabbert left as free agents, just as then-coach Bruce Arians announced he was calling it quits.

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A look ahead to top enterprise and feature stories planned globally by AP Sports. New digests will go out each Thursday and Monday and will be repeated on other weekdays. Please note that story plans may change depending on news and other issues.

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All times are Eastern.

Adds: BBO–ADVANCE SCOUTING for Friday, June 30.

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THURSDAY, June 28

HKN–HURRICANES-BRIND’AMOUR’S HOME

RALEIGH, N.C. -Rod Brind’Amour came to Carolina in 2000- and never left. He worked his way up from key trade acquisition to captain of a Stanley Cup-winning team to the front office to assistant coach and, now, head coach. Along the way, he became as much a part of North Carolina’s landscape as NASCAR and barbecue – even coaching his son’s T-ball and youth hockey teams in his spare time without drawing much attention. He’s also one of only four coaches in the four major pro sports to earn the top job of the team with which he won a championship as a player. By Joedy McCreary. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 3 a.m. Thursday.

BBN–METS MELTDOWN-NOW WHAT?

NEW YORK – With the New York Mets sinking fast toward the bottom of the National League standings, baseball operations were turned over Tuesday to a trio of Sandy Alderson’s assistants when the general manager made the stunning announcement that he was stepping down because his cancer has returned. John Ricco [url=http://www.billscheapstore.com/tremaine-edmunds-jersey-cheap]Tremaine Edmunds Bills Jersey[/url] , J.P. Ricciardi and Omar Minaya have decades of front office experience between them, both in New York and elsewhere around the majors. But it might take all three of them to clean up this mess – and time is of the essence. By Baseball Writer Mike Fitzpatrick. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by noon Thursday.

FRIDAY, June 29

BBO–ADVANCE SCOUTING

OAKLAND, Calif. – Buck Showalter receives regular calls from veteran, out-of-work scouts looking for jobs. Longtime baseball men who once hit the road ahead of their clubs to offer detailed insight of upcoming opponents are largely no longer as advance scouting for many teams has turned to technology: video and analytics. Showalter’s Baltimore Orioles don’t have an advance scout working in the ballpark. Same for World Series champion Houston, Minnesota and Oakland. Advance scouting may not be a thing of the past, but the methods have changed dramatically. ”Advance scouting by humans is history,” said Mets scout Shooty Babitt. By Janie McCauley. UPCOMING: 900 words, photos by 2 a.m.

SATURDAY, June 30

SOC–WCUP-WOMEN IN THE BOOTH

MOSCOW – Fox’s Aly Wagner and Telemundo’s Viviana Vila are the first women match analysts for a men’s World Cup on U.S. television. Katy Sparks is filling a similar role in Britain, which led to a flap when former England captain John Terry said he watched a match with no volume. As Beth Mowins and Jessica Mendoza have broken through to become national play-by-play broadcasters, women have become more prominent on sports airwaves. By Ronald Blum. UPCOMING: 1 [url=http://www.seahawksauthorizedshops.com]Seahawks Game Jerseys[/url] ,000 words, photos by noon Saturday.

MONDAY, July 9

CAR-ARCA-GIRL POWER

NEWTON, Iowa – Venturini Motorsports made history in Chicagoland Speedway in late June when it started three female drivers in an ARCA race – a first for a stock care event. But it wasn’t that big of a shock that team owner Bill Venturini, who once won a title in the series with an all-female pit crew led by his wife and current co-owner Cathy, was behind the move. By Luke Meredith. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 3 a.m. Monday, July 9.

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Thanks,

AP Sports

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