NFL notebook: Chiefs' Hill denies accusations in attorney's letter

In the letter obtained by ESPN, attorney N. Trey Pettlon accused Hill's
fiancee, Crystal Espinal, of abusing the couple's 3-year-old son. Espinal
secretly recorded a conversation she had with Hill that was broadcast last
week by Kansas City station KCTV.

Pettlon wrote in the letter, "He (Hill) categorically denies he has ever
'punched' his son in the chest or anywhere on his body, or otherwise touched
him in the chest in a mean-spirited manner or as a form of discipline."

The attorney does not deny the audio in question is of Hill and Espinal, but
does challenge Espinal's assertion on the recording that the child in question
is "terrified" of Hill. Pettlon also called a comment Hill made on the
recording, "You need to be terrified of me, too, b--," inexcusable.

--All-Pro linebacker Derrick Johnson will sign a one-day contract with the
Chiefs next week, then retire, 610 Sports Radio reported.

Now 36, Johnson was the Chiefs' first-round draft pick, No. 15 overall, in
2005. He played 13 seasons for Kansas City, and in 182 games (169 starts), he
had 1,151 tackles, 14 interceptions, 27.5 sacks and 40 quarterback hits.

He played in six games for the Oakland Raiders last season, after the Chiefs
released him, and started in one. He had 17 tackles with the Raiders.

--The Raiders released veteran tight end Lee Smith and officially re-signed
running back Doug Martin.

Smith, 31, had two years remaining on a three-year, $9 million extension
signed last March. Considered one of the league's best blocking tight ends, he
spent the last four years with the Raiders, catching 36 passes for 248 yards
and four touchdowns, including three TDs in 2018.

Martin's re-signing was reported Wednesday. He led the Raiders with 172
carries for 723 yards and four scores last season.

--Free agent edge rusher Shane Ray will visit the Seattle Seahawks on Friday,
NFL Network reported.

Ray, who turns 26 on May 18, remains unsigned after playing out his rookie
contract with the Denver Broncos, who last spring declined the former
first-rounder's fifth-year option for 2019.

Ray had eight sacks and 21 quarterback hits as a rotational rusher in 2016,
but he has just two sacks and five QB hits since while battling injuries and
missing 13 games.

--Green Bay Packers safety Darnell Savage became the first of the 2019
first-round draft picks to sign his rookie contract.

Like all first-round picks, Savage received a four-year deal with a fifth-year
option for 2023, his agent announced.

The Packers traded up from No. 30 to No. 21 to take Savage last Thursday,
swapping first-round picks and giving Seattle two fourth-round picks in the
deal. The Maryland product was Green Bay's second first-round pick, after
Rashan Gary at No. 12.

--The Los Angeles Rams waived safety Blake Countess, though they have interest
in potentially bringing him back, according to the team's website.

NFL Network reports Countess declined to take a pay cut from his $2 million
restricted free agent tender, leading to his release. Los Angeles drafted
safeties Taylor Rapp and Nick Scott this weekend.

Countess, 25, has 44 tackles, two interceptions and three pass breakups across
37 games (four starts) in three seasons with the Rams, playing primarily
special teams.

--The Minnesota Vikings signed eight of their 12 draft picks, including
second-round tight end Irv Smith, to four-year rookie contracts.

Others signed are running back Alexander Mattison (third round), offensive
linemen Dru Samia (fourth) and Oli Udoh (sixth), linebacker Cameron Smith
(fifth), safety Marcus Epps (sixth), and wide receivers Dillon Mitchell
(seventh) and Olabisi Johnson (seventh).

--Free agent tight end Maxx Williams will join the Arizona Cardinals, he
announced on Twitter.

Williams, 25, was a second-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2015 but
never emerged as much of a receiving threat, finishing his tenure with 63
catches for 497 yards and three touchdowns.

--The New York Jets claimed quarterback Luke Falk off waivers from the Miami
Dolphins, according to multiple reports.

Considered a likely mid-round pick in 2018, Falk slipped to the Tennessee
Titans in Round 6 and was waived during final cuts. The Dolphins claimed him
and kept him through 2018 before waiving him Wednesday.

--The New England Patriots signed linebacker Shilique Calhoun and defensive
lineman Nick Thurman, in addition to 10 undrafted rookies.

Calhoun, 27, was a third-round pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2016 but has
just a half-sack and seven QB hits through 26 career games.

--Field Level Media