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Texans put non-exclusive tag on Clowney

The Houston Texans placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on defensive end/outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney on Monday.

The move doesn’t close the door for the Texans to sign the edge rusher to a long-term deal. General manager Brian Gaine says: “Our goal is to continue to work with his representation on a long-term contract. This gives us both an opportunity to continue to do so.”

Houston will offer Clowney, the first overall pick in the 2014 draft, a one-year guaranteed contract for an amount based on position. Because Houston used the non-exclusive tag on Clowney, he can sign immediately or attempt to get an offer sheet from another team. If he is given an offer sheet, the Texans would have the chance to match it.

In that scenario, if the Texans did not match the offer, the new team would have to give up two first-round picks as compensation for taking the franchise player.

Clowney has said repeatedly he’d like to remain a Texan and after Houston lost 21-7 to the Colts in the wild-card round in January he reiterated that sentiment.

Sweat, Metcalf shine

INDIANAPOLIS — Receiver D.K. Metcalf showed off his muscle-man physique — and his speed — in Indianapolis.

Defensive end Montez Sweat proved big men can run fast, too.

The two pro prospects from rival colleges in Mississippi left the NFL’s annual scouting combine as the two biggest winners of the weeklong event. They were impressive.

Following Metcalf’s performance in the 40-yard dash, the New York Jets’ official Twitter account posted: “4.33? At that size?”

The comment could tip off the Jets’ plans for the No. 3 pick in April’s NFL draft, considering quarterback Sam Darnold will be entering his second season in the league this fall.

And who could blame them for taking Metcalf, who possesses rare athleticism for a receiver that measures in at 6-foot-3 3/8, 238 pounds and has 1.6 percent body fat.

His performance was even better. After wowing scouts by doing 27 reps on the bench press at 225 pounds, he posted a vertical jump of 40 ¢ inches, a broad jump of 11 feet, 2 inches, and the 40-yard dash time — all top-five performances among the receivers.

What made it even more impressive for the son of former NFL offensive lineman Terrence Metcalf was that he did all of it after having season-ending neck surgery last fall.

Meanwhile, Sweat, the former Mississippi State defensive lineman, made his workout look like it was, well, no sweat.

The 6-foot-6, 260-pound Sweat was clocked at 4.41 seconds in the 40, the top speed by a defensive lineman since at least 2003 and faster times than those posted at the combine by Amari Cooper, Julio Jones or Odell Beckham Jr. Sweat also finished fourth among edge players in the broad jump (11 feet, 2 inches) and three-cone drill (7 seconds flat) and was sixth in the vertical jump (36 inches).

Elsewhere in the NFL:

n Two people with direct knowledge of the decision say the Dallas Cowboys are placing the franchise tag on defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence for the second consecutive year.

The decision means Lawrence has a one-year offer for $20.5 million while the sides keep working on a long-term contract. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Monday because the decision hasn’t been announced.

Lawrence signed a one-year deal worth $17.1 million the same day the Cowboys tagged him last year, but doesn’t appear to have the same eagerness to sign this time.

n The Atlanta Falcons have placed a franchise tag on Grady Jarrett while saying they still hope to negotiate a long-term contract with the defensive tackle.

The $15.2 million tag comes after Jarrett was a bright spot in the Falcons’ disappointing 2018 season. Jarrett had 52 tackles, a career-high six sacks and three forced fumbles as the leader of Atlanta’s defensive front.

n The Kansas City Chiefs placed the franchise tag on outside linebacker Dee Ford on Monday, making official a decision the team had been leaning toward throughout the offseason.

Ford is coming off the best season of his career, piling up 13 sacks and forcing an NFL-leading seven fumbles. The Chiefs have expressed an interest in signing Ford to a long-term deal, though they are also open to trading him as they switch from a 3-4 to 4-3 base defense.

n The Seattle Seahawks used their franchise tag Monday on defensive end Frank Clark, keeping the former second-round pick from hitting the free-agent market.

Clark will be due just over $17 million for the 2019 season if the sides do not come to an agreement on a long-term deal.

Clark proved his worth as an elite pass rusher with a career-high 13 sacks in 2018, the first season he didn’t have veterans Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril helping him get to the quarterback. They were the most sacks by any Seattle player since 2007 and put Clark in line for a massive payday should he hit the open market.

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