Jets’ Darnold ends holdout

Published 6:58 am Tuesday, July 31, 2018

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Sam Darnold is signed, sealed and back under center.

The New York Jets inked the rookie quarterback to a fully guaranteed four-year, $30.25 million deal Monday, ending the contract holdout of the NFL’s No. 3 overall draft pick.

Darnold missed the first three days of training camp practice while his representatives and the team worked out the details. There wouldn’t be a fourth straight absence.

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“What’s up Jets fans?” Darnold said in a video posted by the team . “Man, it’s a pleasure to be signed now. I’m very excited. Very special moment. Let’s do it. Jet up!”

Just a few minutes after the Jets announced the signing — which includes a bonus of about $20 million — on social media, Darnold made his way out to the practice field with his teammates greeting him with a “Rudy”-like slow-clap .

“We were just messing around with him,” defensive end Leonard Williams said with a smile. “We gave him a little slow-clap and I think it was just more of a welcoming him back and also just a thing the guys do. We mess around with each other a lot.

“We were like, ‘Oh, he finally made it.”

Darnold spoke briefly to coach Todd Bowles as he joined the team.

“I told him he was late,” Bowles said, keeping a straight face.