The Cincinnati Bengals have reshaped their roster by extending Orlando Brown Jr. and adding two recent Super Bowl winners in free agency. The team announced a two-year extension for Brown through the 2028 season. The Bengals also have signed safety Bryan Cook to a three-year deal. Cook returns to his Cincinnati hometown and fills a hole at free safety. The team added defensive end Boye Mafe on a three-year contract. Mafe steps into the void left by Trey Hendrickson.

NFL free agency spending has reshaped the early pecking order, with a few teams gaining real momentum and others taking hits. On Monday, big moves included the Panthers adding Jaelan Phillips and Devin Lloyd to build an elite defense. The 49ers added Mike Evans and extra line help. The Patriots kept spending to upgrade key spots. The Jets brought Geno Smith back and loaded up on defense. The Rams strengthened their secondary. The Buccaneers slipped after losing Evans and defensive starters. The Eagles and Jaguars also dropped back after losing major pieces.

Western Kentucky coach Greg Collins is staying despite a second losing record in three seasons. Athletic director Todd Stewart made clear Monday it’s because both the coach and donors opened their wallets to boost the Lady Toppers’ name, image and likeness pool. Stewart said donors made “significant” financial commitments along with Collins giving part of his salary to the program’s NIL fund. Keeping Collins also is what major boosters of the program wanted. Stewart said Western Kentucky will have “substantially more” resources to build a roster next season than the Lady Toppers had available this season, in which they went 8-21.

Ready, set, negotiate multi-million contracts. The NFL’s free agency period opens Monday with a 52-hour legal tampering period ahead of the official start of the new league year Wednesday. Edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III head the list of high-profile players who will be free to sign a contract with a new team. Quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Kyler Murray also will be seeking new teams because they’re going to be released by their teams.

Indiana coach Curt Cignetti is cashing in on his first national championship run — even more than initially expected. Athletic department officials have announced the two-time national coach of the year signed a memorandum of understanding on an eight-year contract extension, paying him an annual average of $13.2 million — or an increase of about $1.6 million per year from what school officials initially said Cignetti would earn when he first agreed to the deal in October. The 64-year-old Cignetti's paycheck could be even higher if he cashes in on the bonus clauses.

The Atlanta Falcons have informed quarterback Kirk Cousins they plan to release the 14-year veteran when free agency opens. New general manager Ian Cunningham made the announcement at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. Cousins played two seasons with the Falcons and started 22 of 34 games. He signed a $180 million contract before Atlanta drafted Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in 2024. The 37-year-old Cousins is 88-77-2 as a starter with Washington, Minnesota and Atlanta. The Falcons also placed the franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts on Tuesday, preventing him from becoming a free agent.