The Sports Xchange

The Philadelphia Eagles reportedly released Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis on Thursday.

The move was reported by NFL Media and USA Today, and Mathis seemed to confirm it when he tweeted, “Thanks for the memories Philly.”

Mathis, 33, had been absent from organized team activities as he sought an upgrade to his contract, which was due to pay him $5.5 million this year and $6 million next year.

Mathis, a third-round pick of the Carolina Panthers in 2005, had played the past four seasons in Philadelphia. He missed seven games last season with a sprained MCL but was still picked to the Pro Bowl for the second straight year.

—The New England Patriots reportedly have agreed to a deal with quarterback Matt Flynn.

The team also announced Thursday that it has released quarterback Garrett Gilbert, veteran tight end Tim Wright and rookie wide receiver Zach D’Orazio and signed rookie linebacker D.J. Lynch and rookie tight ends Jimmay Mundine and Logan Stokes.

Flynn, whose signing was reported by ESPN and FOX Sports, would give the Patriots a veteran as they prepare to start the season without Tom Brady — although team sources told ESPN that the signing has nothing to do with Brady’s pending four-game suspension.

Flynn, 29, is an eight-year veteran who has spent time with the Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills.

—One day after it was learned coach Bill Belichick sat Malcolm Butler for tardiness, the hero of the Patriots’ Super Bowl victory was back on the field for organized team activities.

Butler missed a flight to Boston because of weather issues and was late for the first practice of OTAs on May 26. As a result, he was held off the practice field for three weeks.

The NFL Players Association is looking into a potential violation of the collective-bargaining agreement. Sanctions for missing voluntary work would violate the CBA.

—For the first time since 2004 under Lovie Smith, the Chicago Bears are planning to hold joint practices with another team this summer, packing their bags for a short trip to Indiana to visit the Colts.

The joint practices will be closed to the public and held in Indianapolis Aug. 19 and 20 in advance of the scheduled Aug. 22 preseason game.

The Bears held workouts in Macomb, Ill., with the St. Louis Rams in 2004.