Leonard Fournette has joined a host of Super Bowl-winning team-mates in re-signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency.
The Bucs swept aside defending champions the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 last month to end Tom Brady's first season in Tampa with the title.
The team have since worked hard to reassemble the squad to go for another championship in 2021.
Superstar quarterback Brady signed an extension to keep him in Tampa through 2022, while the Bucs franchise-tagged Chris Godwin and agreed a deal with Lavonte David ahead of free agency.
Contracts for Shaquil Barrett, Rob Gronkowski, Ryan Succop and this week Ndamukong Suh followed in the negotiating period. Donovan Smith also secured an extension.
On Friday, it was Fournette's turn.
The fifth-year running back had spent the first three seasons of his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars until he was cut last August and agreed a one-year deal in Tampa.
Fournette is returning for another 12 months in a deal worth up to $4million, according to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
The 26-year-old ended 2020 as a starter after first-choice running back Ronald Jones II was placed on the COVID-19 list with three weeks of the regular season remaining.
Fournette scored three touchdowns across those three games - his only starts - to improve his tally for the season to six scores off 97 carries for 367 yards.
The former Jaguar kept his place for the playoffs and rewarded coach Bruce Arians' faith with a further three TDs on 64 rushes for 300 yards over four games, including a 27-yard run for a score in the big game.
Jones, who will be an unrestricted free agent in 2022, will now again face competition from Fournette despite a career year that saw 192 attempts for 978 yards and seven TDs on the ground.
Fournette is set to find only familiar faces in the Bucs locker room, with the team yet to sign a single player from a rival outfit in free agency, so far trusting solely in their title-winning squad.
David Montgomery hat-trick lifts Detroit Lions over Green Bay Packers
Three touchdowns from running back David Montgomery lifted the Detroit Lions to a 34-20 victory over the Green Bay Packers.
Montgomery found the endzone twice in the first half and again in the fourth quarter to clinch the visitors’ third win of the season.
The Packers were able to impact the scoreboard early, gaining a 3-0 lead with a field goal from their opening drive.
However, they had to wait a long time between drinks from there, as the Lions hit back with three touchdowns and two field goals to take a 27-3 lead into half-time.
Green Bay were able to stem the tide in the third quarter, holding Detroit to nil while picking up a touchdown through wide receiver Christian Watson.
They inched closer at the start of the fourth thanks to a nine-yard touchdown run from quarterback Jordan Love, but their comeback bid was officially ended when Montgomery picked up his third touchdown with six minutes remaining.
Love finished with 246 passing yards to go along with a touchdown and two interceptions, while Detroit quarterback Jared Goff threw for 210 yards, a touchdown and an interception of his own.
Bucks confident of returning to the top after Lillard trade
Damian Lillard will be tasked with helping the Milwaukee Bucks return to the top of the NBA after his trade from the Portland Trail Blazers.
Star guard Lillard signed for the Bucks on Wednesday in a three-way trade – which also included the Phoenix Suns – that saw Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton and Toumani Camara on the move too.
Lillard leaves Portland after 11 years with the Trail Blazers. He is a seven-time All-Star and enjoyed a career-best season in 2022-23, averaging 32.2 points and 7.3 assists, though he did sit out the final month of the season due to injury.
Now, the Bucks – the 2021 NBA Champions – will be hoping that Lillard can combine with two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to push them towards another title, following a disappointing first-round exit at the hands of the Miami Heat in last season's playoffs.
Fast Fact
Despite missing the last 10 games of the season, Lillard (1,866) was Portland's highest points scorer last term by over 500, with Anfernee Simons next best for the Trail Blazers with 1,306.
Lillard a difference-maker
"His character, competitiveness, talent and experience complement our group and gives us the best chance to win at the very highest level as we create new memories together," Bucks general manager Jon Horst said of Lillard.
So, does Lillard have what it takes to make the difference for the Bucks?
Lillard leaves Portland as a franchise great. He ranks first in team history in points and three-pointers and second in assists. Including the playoffs, he had 17 games with 50+ points for the Blazers. All other players in franchise history have only combined for seven 50-point games. He is a big-game player, and he should help ease the burden on Antetokounmpo.
Philadelphia Eagles turn up the Hurts on Tampa Bay to remain unbeaten
The Philadelphia Eagles maintained their perfect start to the season, proving too strong for previously unbeaten Tampa Bay.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts led his team to a 25-11 win as he masterminded a game-deciding drive that lasted nine minutes.
Hurts threw for 277 yards and scored a touchdown while running back D’Andre Swift racked up 130 yards on 16 carries.
The Eagles are 3-0 for the second successive season and join Miami and San Francisco as the only unbeaten sides.
Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow shook off a calf injury to throwing for 259 yards to beat the Los Angeles Rams 19-16 for the Bengals’ first win of the season.
Burrow, who picked up the injury in pre-season and aggravated it against Baltimore last week, only returned to training on Thursday.
Running back Joe Mixon’s 14-yard touchdown run in the third quarter gave the AFC North champions their first lead of the season.
Logan Wilson intercepted Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford twice and he was sacked six times.
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