Jaguars to sign TE Julius Thomas

Franchises fighting for relevancy in the NFL have a history of overpaying for free agent targets. The Packers did it with Reggie White and the Bills with Mario Williams, to name a couple noteworthy examples. It appears the Jacksonville Jaguars are about to join that list by adding tight end Julius Thomas to their roster.

The Denver Post reported that Thomas will sign a $9 million per year deal to leave the Broncos for Jacksonville. It fits an enormous hole for the Jaguars, who have gotten a combined 102 catches out of all their tight ends the past two seasons. Thomas has 108 to go along with 24 touchdowns in that span by himself.

Of course, Thomas also had the benefit of playing in an offense with Peyton Manning and plenty of other dangerous targets like Wes Welker and Demariyus Thomas. Injuries have also been a major concern – the talented tight end played only nine games in his first two NFL seasons because of ankle injuries.

The ankle bug bit him again last season. Thomas, who was leading the league with 12 catches through nine games, injured his left ankle at St. Louis on Nov. 16 and only caught three total passes the rest of the season.

But for a team that has nothing to lose, the reward is worth the risks – just as it was for Green Bay when they signed White and Buffalo when they signed Williams. With plenty of cap space available, the Jaguars needed to make a splash, and now they have.

Niners LB Patrick Willis to retire

San Francisco is no stranger to seismic activity. And there is no better way to describe the shockwave of changes that are taking place within the 49ers organization this offseason following the departure of coach Jim Harbaugh.

Linebacker Patrick Willis, who has been the heart and soul of the 49ers defense for the last eight seasons, will formally announce a rather unexpected retirement on Tuesday. Willis made the Pro Bowl in each of his first seven seasons, a feat that has only been exceeded by Derrick Thomas and Lawrence Taylor.

However, that streak came to an end this year as Willis underwent season-ending toe surgery in November. A toe injury hardly seems as career threatening as knee problems or multiple concussions, but Willis would not be the first NFL great to call it quits earlier than expected.

Jim Brown famously retired to go into acting, and Barry Sanders hung up his cleats well within striking distance of Walter Payton’s all-time rushing record.

Frank Gore backing out of Eagles deal

Nothing is official until it’s in writing. Just ask the Eagles.

After reports came out Sunday that Frank Gore was agreeing to a three-year, $7.5 million deal with Philadelphia, the running back is apparently reversing field.

The Eagles were hoping to land Gore to make up for the loss of LeSean McCoy, who they traded to Buffalo for linebacker Kiko Alonso. Gore reportedly may wind up signing with Indianapolis instead.

The Miami product has spent his entire 10-year NFL career with the 49ers, and was as much the offensive face of the franchise as Patrick Willis was on defense. Gore has rushed for at least 1,000 yards in eight of the last nine seasons.

Gore chose not to re-sign with San Francisco after the 49ers forced Harbaugh out of the coach’s office in favor of Jim Tomsula.