With NFL free agency approaching, teams like Jacksonville and Atlanta already might have set their sights on Denver’s Julius Thomas.

Broncos general manager John Elway appears ready to let his star tight end test the free-agent market. Thomas reportedly has turned down a five-year, $40 million offer.

“Orange Julius” has a history of injuries and there are question how he will fit into new coach Gary Kubiak’s game plan. In the event that Thomas does bolt, Elway already is forming a backup plan that involves former Philadelphia Eagles tight end James Casey.

—Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch is just here to trademark the phrase “I’m just here so I won’t get fined.”

Lynch’s go-to refrain during Super Bowl media sessions in Phoenix last month brought plenty of punch lines. And according to Sponsorship evaluation firm Front Row Analytics, exposure for the “Beast Mode” brand was at least $3 million in equivalent advertising time.

Lynch owns several trademarks, including Beast Mode and Power Pellets, a reference to the Skittles candies he eats by the pound. He also trademarked the phrase “About that Action, Boss,” which was a response to a question at the 2014 Super Bowl media sessions in New York. Lynch has his own clothing brand, which sells hats and shirts, and will have his own shoe line by next season.

The Seahawks have been negotiating a new contract with Lynch. His four-year, $31 million deal expires after the 2015 season and coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider expressed their growing desire to get Lynch under a new deal soon.

—The Atlanta Falcons signed fullback Patrick DiMarco and defensive end Cliff Matthews to contract extensions on Tuesday. They also announced the signing of wide receiver Nick Williams.

DiMarco has 17 receptions for 111 yards and one touchdown in 30 games, including 14 starts, for the Falcons during the past two seasons. Matthews, a sixth-round draft pick by the Falcons in 2011, has played in 32 games, mostly on special teams, for Atlanta during the past four years and has six tackles on defense and three on special teams.

Williams signed with the Washington Redskins in 2013 as a college free agent and played in five games as a rookie receiver and returner. He had three receptions for 15 yards.

—The only NFL team without a logo on its helmet is about to undergo a radical change with how players look on game day.

The Cleveland Browns said Tuesday that they will unveil the much anticipated new look at a special event on April 14. Team president Alec Scheiner said the team’s goal is to “honor tradition and provide a modern edge.”

The new logo, features “subtle” changes, but the uniform will make “dramatic splash.” Even the famous “Dawg Pound” will have a new look.

Scheiner estimated he saw more than 100 designs before settling on a smirking “Swagger.”

—Seattle Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas will have surgery Tuesday on his injured shoulder.

According to multiple reports, Thomas likely will need six to eight months to recover, which jeopardizes the possibility he will be ready for the start of the 2015 season.

Thomas was injured in the NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers. He left the game but returned with his shoulder in a harness. Two weeks later in the Super Bowl loss to New England, Thomas didn’t miss a defensive snap despite having to play the harness again.

The 25-year-old earned first-team All-Pro honors for the third consecutive season in 2014. He compiled 97 tackles, forced three fumbles and had one interception last year.

—Michael Sam, the first openly gay player in the NFL, has a new gig. Sam will be joining the cast of “Dancing With The Stars” next season.

The Dallas Cowboys selected the 25-year-old Sam in the seventh-round of the NFL Draft last season. He was released and signed to the Cowboys’ practice squad before being waived in midseason. Sam says he still wants to play in the NFL. But filming for the program begins in March, which could cause a conflict for Sam. The inaugural veteran combine, which would give Sam a chance to prove to potential teams he can play in the league, is scheduled for March 22.

—When the NFL Competition Committee meets next week in Naples, Fla., instant replay will be a major topic of conversation.

Pass interference enforcement also will be in the spotlight. For years, there have been calls to change the penalty from being a spot-foul to a 15-yard penalty. According to multiple reports, executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent says the league might look at making a change in the penalty. Vincent said making the change to a 15-yard penalty would be an alternative to making pass interference subject to replay review.

—Mathias Kiwanuka was released by the New York Giants, who saved nearly $5 million against the 2015 salary cap in parting with the nine-year veteran.

Kiwanuka was a first-round pick in 2006 out of Boston College and won two Super Bowl rings with the Giants. He had 38 1/2 sacks shuttling between defensive end and linebacker as a valued, versatile front seven cog.

Because he’s a vested veteran, Kiwanuka is free to sign with any team before the start of veteran free agency March 10.

—Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross’ self-funded $400 million renovation plan for Sun Life Stadium is under way.

Ross has regularly discussed the need to modernize the stadium that opened in 1987 and after public funding avenues were fruitless, decided to foot the entire bill in hopes that major sporting events — five Super Bowls and four national championship games in college football were played in the venue — would return to South Beach.

Almost all of the seats were removed in a preview held in Miami but Sun Life Stadium will be open for play in 2015. However, renovations will not yet be finalized. It will remain an open-air venue with a rectangular roof or natural shade canopy over most sections with expansion of suites, high-definition video boards installed and increase seating options.

—The Oakland Raiders signed free-agent kicker Giorgio Tavecchio on Tuesday after a brief stay with the team last year.

Tavecchio was with the Raiders during a portion of the 2014 preseason and went 2 of 2 on field goal attempts, both from 47 yards, against the Seattle Seahawks in his only game action. He had been claimed by the Raiders off waivers from the Detroit Lions.