NFL Notes: Bills' Anquan Boldin announces retirement

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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Anquan Boldin says a violent, racially charged protest in Charlottesville, Virginia, caused him to re-assess his priorities and led to the Buffalo Bills receiver's decision to retire after 14 NFL seasons.

In interview Monday on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Boldin said he's "uncomfortable" with how divided the nation is and wants to dedicate his entire focus to humanitarian and criminal justice work.

Boldin spoke a day after abruptly informing the Bills he was retiring a little under two weeks after signing a one-year contract. Saying it wasn't a "fly-by-night decision," Boldin says he gradually came to the realization that his off-the-field work outweighed football.

The NFL's 2015 Walter Payton Man of the Year, Boldin oversees the South Florida-based Q81 Foundation, which offers educational support for underprivileged children. He has become an advocate for criminal justice reform since his cousin was killed by a plain-clothes police officer along the side of a Florida highway in October 2015 (see full story).

Broncos: Siemian wins starting QB job again
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Vance Joseph was admittedly enamored of the idea of a towering, chuck-it-or-tuck-it quarterback with first-round pedigree and a lightning bolt for a right arm leading the Denver Broncos in 2017.

Even more captivating for the rookie head coach was the notion of his egghead seventh-rounder with the sneaky fastball and penchant for making the right decisions calling the signals.

So, it's Trevor Siemian and not Paxton Lynch who will start for the Broncos.

Joseph made the announcement Monday following a five-month audition that represented the biggest position battle in the NFL this offseason (see full story).

Jets: Team to name starting quarterback next week
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York Jets coach Todd Bowles says he will announce the team's starting quarterback next Monday.

Veteran Josh McCown is widely expected to be under center when the Jets open their season on Sept. 10 at Buffalo. Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty are also in the mix. But McCown has been the front-runner for the job since signing a one-year, $6 million deal with New York in March.

Hackenberg, a second-round draft pick, never played in a regular-season game as a rookie. He been given an opportunity this summer to seize the job. But he took a step back with a rocky performance while making his first start at Detroit on Saturday night.

McCown didn't play against the Lions and has taken only nine preseason snaps. He led the Jets to a touchdown during his only possession in the opener against Tennessee (see full story).

NFL: League, Goodell working on 5-year extension
Commissioner Roger Goodell is on track to maintain his prominent place at the table for the next round of collective bargaining between NFL owners and players, a process that's sure to be contentious.

The league is working on a five-year contract extension for Goodell, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Monday because the deal is not complete. Sports Business Journal first reported the contract negotiations.

Goodell's contract is up after the 2019 season. The new deal would go through 2024. The current collective bargaining agreement expires after the 2020 season.

Goodell replaced Paul Tagliabue as commissioner in 2006. He earned just over $31 million for the 2015 season, down from about $34 million in 2014. Because the league office is no longer classified as a tax-exempt organization , the commissioner's salary is no longer required to be made public through tax filings. In 2013, he made $35 million. In 2012, he collected $44.2 million (see full story).

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