Browns give coach Kevin Stefanski, GM Andrew Berry contract extensions following success, stability
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns rewarded coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry with contract extensions after they brought success and stability to an organization that had little before their arrival. The extensions have been expected for months and were announced Wednesday as the Browns were on the practice...
Stefon Diggs pushes against Super Bowl talk in 1st comments since trade from Buffalo
HOUSTON — When Stefon Diggs was dealt to Houston from Buffalo in April, many believed the addition of the superstar receiver vaulted the Texans into Super Bowl contention. Speaking to reporters Tuesday for the first time since the trade, Diggs said it’s far too early to be talking about winning...
Vikings look to Justin Jefferson for even greater leadership role
EAGAN, Minn. — The wide receiver position in the NFL has been home over the years to some of the most dynamic yet moody superstars in the sport. Justin Jefferson was voted a team captain for his age-24 season by his Minnesota Vikings teammates. For all the accomplishments on the...
On paper, vets see Titans receivers among their best group yet
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — DeAndre Hopkins is a three-time All-Pro wide receiver who built a strong connection with a rookie quarterback last season. Calvin Ridley turned his big season into a nice, new contract. And there’s also Tyler Boyd, a proven slot threat who knows new Tennessee coach Brian Callahan’ s...
Tua Tagovailoa not ‘concerned’ about contract situation but wants something done; Hill talks future
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Tua Tagovailoa searched for the words to describe how he feels about his current contract situation with the Miami Dolphins. Frustrated? Concerned? “Not frustrated, but I’m another word,” Tagovailoa said Tuesday at the Dolphins’ first day of mandatory minicamp. After a brief pause, Tagovailoa lifted his...
NFL teams actually care about kickoffs in practice again after radical rule change
FRISCO, Texas — The Kansas City Chiefs are considering the possibility of safety Justin Reid handling some kickoffs. The Dallas Cowboys are hoping tiny return man KaVontae Turpin might finally break a big one two years after he basically made the team doing exactly that in the preseason. Mostly, coaches...
49ers reward Christian McCaffrey with a 2-year contract extension, AP source says
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers rewarded All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey with a contract extension after he won the AP Offensive Player of the Year award in his first full season with the team. A person familiar with the deal said it’s worth $19 million per year...
First Call: Bill Guerin’s take on his ’09 teammates still with Penguins; ex-Steelers up for College Football Hall of Fame
Tuesday’s “First Call” has a list of former Pittsburgh Steelers up for the College Football Hall of Fame. More big money is being handed out to NFL wide receivers. Bill Guerin has an interesting take on his former Penguins teammates who remain in Pittsburgh from the 2009 Stanley Cup club....
Larry Allen, a Hall of Fame offensive lineman for the Dallas Cowboys, dies suddenly at 52Video
DALLAS — Larry Allen, one of the most dominant offensive linemen in the NFL during a 12-year career spent mostly with the Dallas Cowboys, has died. He was 52. Allen died suddenly on Sunday while on vacation with his family in Mexico, the Cowboys said. A six-time All-Pro who was...
Vikings reach agreement with Justin Jefferson on 4-year extension to give him NFL’s richest non-QB contract
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings and wide receiver Justin Jefferson agreed Monday to a four-year extension, the richest contract in NFL history for a non-quarterback. Jefferson will get $110 million guaranteed in the deal that’s worth as much as $140 million, with more than $88 million due at signing. “We...
Gable Steveson switches from wrestling to football, joins Bills
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Olympic gold medal wrestler Gable Steveson is seeking to trade the mat for the gridiron by signing a standard undrafted rookie free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills on Friday. The Bills list the 24-year-old Steveson as a defensive lineman in hopes his leverage techniques and...
President Joe Biden hosts Chiefs, breaks unofficial rule about headwear
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden welcomed the Kansas City Chiefs to the White House on Friday, lauding the back-to-back Super Bowl champion team for its sportsmanship on and off the field, and breaking an unofficial political rule about headwear. He tried on a Chiefs helmet the team gave him as...
David Moore: Cowboys’ Micah Parsons is a star. That doesn’t mean he’s a leader
FRISCO, Texas — No one should question Micah Parsons’ drive to be great. No one should question the hard work he puts in to achieve that goal because he chooses to do much of his training away from the Dallas Cowboys facility during the voluntary phase of the offseason program....
NFL teams are using 2 tight ends less frequently, but those that do still find it effectiveVideo
HENDERSON, Nev. — Michael Mayer appreciated the reassuring call from the Raiders after they selected Brock Bowers with the No. 13 pick in April, though he wasn’t exactly thrilled they drafted a tight end. Mayer’s position. But once he had a chance to reflect, Mayer decided to embrace the situation....
U mad, bro?: For Pittsburgh sports fans, it’s an OTA week (outwardly tangible anger)
The Pittsburgh Steelers are knee deep in an OTA week: organized team activities. “U mad, bro?” is also knee deep in an OTA week: outwardly tangible anger. Booing Rowdy Tellez. Bemoaning the Penguins’ place in the NHL hierarchy. Rationalizing the Steelers’ lack of wide receiver depth. It’s OTAs, people! Let’s...
Commanders kicker Brandon McManus and the Jaguars are being sued in civil courtVideo
The Washington Commanders said Monday they were made aware of a lawsuit filed in civil court last week against kicker Brandon McManus, and the Jacksonville Jaguars acknowledged they also are being sued. A Commanders spokesperson said the team is looking into the situation and has spoken with McManus’ agent and...
Saints make Superdome renovation payment, defuse public standoff with state officials
NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints made an $11.4 million payment toward Superdome renovations Friday, diffusing a public standoff between the NFL club and state officials who oversee the stadium that will host the next Super Bowl. Announcement of the payment by the club and the Louisiana Stadium and...
Penn State product NaVorro Bowman transitioning from All-Pro LB to Chargers assistant
COSTA MESA, Calif. — NaVorro Bowman was able to see as a player how quickly Jim Harbaugh could turn a team into a Super Bowl contender. Bowman has reunited with Harbaugh, albeit in a different capacity. Harbaugh hired Bowman in February to be the Los Angeles Chargers’ linebackers coach. It...
Sean Payton praises all 3 QBs competing for Broncos starting job
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos closed their first week of OTAs on Thursday with coach Sean Payton praising all three quarterbacks competing for the starting job and cautioning that nothing should be read into the order in which they take snaps. “We try to split up all the reps,″...
NFL closer to filling every day of the week with a game as league’s reach keeps growingVideo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The NFL hasn’t scheduled a game for every day of the week. Yet. “We’re going to be the new 7-Eleven,” New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan said. “NFL, 24 hours, you can watch them play any given day.” The veteran preparing for his 14th season has...
NFL making progress but not ready to vote on Tom Brady’s bid for stake in Raiders
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The NFL is making progress on Tom Brady’s bid to become a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders with Mark Davis. How much closer the seven-time Super Bowl champ is to joining the league’s club of owners remains to be seen. Owners did not vote in...
Seattle QB Geno Smith says learning a new offense is easier at this point of his careerVideo
RENTON, Wash. — With the number of stops he has made and the number of offensive coordinators he has worked with over the years, learning yet another new offense isn’t quite as daunting as it once was for Seattle quarterback Geno Smith. That doesn’t mean it’s easy, though. “When I...
Times have changed for Dak Prescott; Cowboys QB isn’t worried about contract
FRISCO, Texas — Dak Prescott felt disrespected four years ago during the long wait for his first big payday as quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. The 2016 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year had been a bargain as a fourth-round draft pick and played on the franchise tag before...
Ravens’ Lamar Jackson hopes dropping a few pounds will make him even more agile this upcoming seasonVideo
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — A slimmer Lamar Jackson hopes to be even more agile in 2024. His actual weight at the moment? That’s something of a secret. Jackson acknowledges that he is lighter but isn’t offering many specifics. “I’m like two-something right now,” he said Wednesday. “I’ll say it was...
Ravens’ Zay Flowers addresses investigation of alleged domestic violence incident
BALTIMORE — Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers said Wednesday he spent part of this offseason focused on trying to “be a better person.” It was the first time that Flowers met with the media since a police investigation into an alleged domestic incident connected to the wide receiver took place...
