The Chicago Bears have taken a passive stance on the issue of Alshon Jeffery’s contract since the end of the regular season.

Without a multiyear agreement in place before the new league year begins on March 9, the Bears risk the strong possibility of losing Jeffery to another club in free agency.

That is, of course, unless the Bears apply the franchise tag for a second consecutive year at a cost of approximately $17.5 million. Teams have from now until 4 p.m. ET on March 1 to designate franchise players. The Bears waited until late in that window to tag Jeffery in 2016.

Jeffery’s demands aren’t exactly a mystery. Because it’s rare for an upper-echelon receiver to hit the open market, Jeffery — who just turned 27 years old — can expect to be paid in excess of $12.5 million per year.

The deal T.Y. Hilton signed in Indianapolis averages $13 million per season. The Denver Broncos’ Demaryius Thomas and the Dallas Cowboys’ Dez Bryant make an average of $14 million throughout the duration of their respective contracts. The Atlanta Falcons’ Julio Jones and the Cincinnati Bengals’ A.J. Green average more than that.

The Bears cannot bank on Kevin White as the heir apparent. Eddie Royal has been unable to stay healthy the last two seasons and is out of guaranteed money. The rookie contract of Marquess Wilson, who’s never been healthy, is set to expire. Joshua Bellamy and Deonte Thompson (unrestricted free agent) are best suited for special teams. And Daniel Braverman is a 2016 seventh-round pick.

Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis is being investigated by Pittsburgh police for his involvement in a street altercation with two other men over the weekend.

Police say charges are pending against the four-time All-Pro and include robbery, terroristic threats, conspiracy and aggravated assault.

The incident occurred early Sunday morning in Pittsburgh’s popular South Side.

One of the men recognized Revis and asked him if he was the Jets cornerback. The man then started recording the interaction on his cellphone and continued to follow Revis on the street.

Revis, police say, tried to take away the cellphone and delete the video, which led to a verbal argument. Another male came to assist Revis. The two men were punched, and witnesses say they were unconscious for about 10 minutes.

Police obtained the cellphone video and ID’d Revis.

A Jets spokesman said the team is aware of the incident and has spoken to Revis, who was born in Pennsylvania and played at the University of Pittsburgh. There was no further comment.

Revis’ attorney, Blaine Jones, said in an email to WTAE that the cornerback was the victim and sought medical treatment. He didn’t reveal the nature of his injuries.

“Mr. Revis came home to Pittsburgh this past weekend to visit family and friends. During that time, Mr. Revis went by a location in the South Side that he is in the process of developing,” Jones said in the email. “Mr. Revis was physically assaulted while at that location by a group of at least five people. Mr. Revis feared for his safety and retreated from the aggressors.”

Revis, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and one of the NFL’s most accomplished players, is facing an uncertain status with the team. He endured a disappointing season and could be a salary-cap casualty in the coming weeks; Revis is due a $2 million roster bonus on March 11, plus another $13 million in salary.

The Miami Dolphins released veteran defensive players Mario Williams and Earl Mitchell on Thursday, freeing up $12.5 million on their salary cap, but starting left tackle Branden Albert wasn’t also released as expected.

Albert’s name was not on the NFL’s official transactions wire Thursday, although both he and his agent were informed Thursday morning that the Dolphins planned to release him, sources told ESPN. According to sources, the Dolphins received enough interest from around the league after news that Albert would be released broke that they will try to trade the veteran offensive lineman, although a trade can’t be competed until the new league year starts on March 9.

One possible team of interest could be the Denver Broncos. Former Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is now the head coach in Denver and knows Albert well. Joseph can use Albert’s veteran presence on the field and leadership in the locker room in his first season with the Broncos. Albert also is familiar with the AFC West as a former longtime player with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Miami Herald was first to report that the Dolphins had received trade interest in Albert.

The Dolphins also waived cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, who was placed on injured reserve last September with a knee injury. The team had claimed him off waivers from the Cleveland Browns last summer.

Albert has two years left on his contract, but neither season carries any guaranteed money. He is scheduled to be paid $8.9 million and will counted $10.6 million against the cap in 2017. If the Dolphins release him, they will save $7.2 million on their cap, leaving $3.4 million in dead money on the cap.

Williams was scheduled to make $8.485 million (none guaranteed) in 2017 and was to count $10.5 million against the Dolphins’ cap. By cutting him, Miami saves $8.5 million on the cap, with $2 million in dead money remaining.

Mitchell was to make $3.975 million in 2017 (not guaranteed). Scheduled to count $4.5 million against the Dolphins’ salary cap, his release saves the Dolphins $4 million on their cap, with $500,000 in dead money left over.

The Dolphins might move 2016 first-round pick Laremy Tunsil to left tackle if they move on from Albert. Tunsil, a left tackle in college at Ole Miss, played left guard in his rookie season.

Albert, 32, is a two-time Pro Bowl selection, including in 2015 with the Dolphins. The Chiefs drafted him No. 15 overall in the 2008 draft.

He didn’t play a full season in any of his three years with the Dolphins because of injuries, including a dislocated wrist last season that he had surgically repaired in November. In the 35 games he played for the Dolphins, including 12 last season, he was a starter.

Williams, 32, signed with the Dolphins last offseason after he was released by the Buffalo Bills. He lost his starting job at defensive end in October and appeared in 13 games (five starts) for Miami in 2016.

Drafted No. 1 overall by the Houston Texans in the 2006 draft, Williams has 97.5 career sacks, putting him eighth on the active leaders list.

PITTSBURGH — Ben Roethlisberger’s public flirtation with retirement seems to have an underlying theme attached: The window won’t be open forever, so win now.

But while the Pittsburgh Steelers shouldn’t take Roethlisberger’s remaining years for granted, it’s possible the abrupt ending to the 2016 season will spark the quarterback as he approaches his mid-30s.

Leave it up to one of Big Ben’s favorite players, Tom Brady, to set the blueprint.

Brady will turn 40 in August, but his play has not diminished in the slightest. During the 25-point comeback in Super Bowl LI, Brady was delivering difficult fourth-quarter throws with conviction and velocity. Squeezing the ball into tight windows was no problem. Maybe the steep decline is inevitable in the next year or two, but Brady has done a masterful job prolonging the fall thanks to intense training regimens and even more intense dietary choices (no nightshade vegetables!).

Expecting any quarterback to duplicate Brady’s results at age 39 seems far-fetched.

But Roethlisberger, 34, can carve out his own late-career plan, which he appeared to be doing last offseason by shedding around 10 pounds with a cardio-heavy routine. The Steelers still believe Roethlisberger has two to three more prime years left.

Central to Roethlisberger’s long-term outlook is the potential cumulative effect from injuries. Roethlisberger has played through ailments to virtually every body part. But there’s hope in this area: an elite offensive line. The stout front five kept Roethlisberger off the ground on all but 17 of his dropbacks in the regular season.

Despite Roethlisberger’s 456 career sacks, the Steelers’ front office has prioritized protection for times like this: to ensure the quarterback is comfortable and effective for the next few years.

The humbling AFC title-game loss punctuated the Steelers’ need to improve against top-ranked passers and for better red zone production from the offense. Roethlisberger’s average of around one touchdown and one interception per road game dating back to mid-2015 falls on everyone. The execution near the goal line has been erratic.

But getting a full arsenal of passing weapons will help. Add Martavis Bryant from suspension, draft a playmaker high, hope Ladarius Green recovers and the throws will be there.