NFL draft dominated early by QBs, including top pick Young
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Finding a franchise quarterback is the quickest path to success so it’s no surprise teams made them a priority in the NFL draft. Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson were among the top four picks Thursday night, an expected result in a rich draft class...
Ravens give Lamar Jackson biggest contract in NFL history
The Baltimore Ravens agreed in principle with Lamar Jackson on a five-year deal Thursday, making their star quarterback the highest-paid player in NFL history. The Ravens and Jackson agreed on a $260 million, five-year deal with $185 million in guaranteed money, a person familiar with the terms told the Associated...
Aaron Rodgers hopes to help Jets add to ‘lonely’ Super Bowl trophyVideo
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Aaron Rodgers watched old Super Bowl highlights on VHS tapes as a kid, dreaming about someday starring in his own. He heard all about Joe Namath’s famous guarantee and saw the footage of the New York Jets shocking the football world by beating the Baltimore Colts...
AP source: Commanders not picking up Chase Young’s 5th-year option
The Washington Commanders have decided not to pick up Chase Young’s fifth-year option, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the team had not announced the decision. Not exercising the option means Young can...
Kansas City ready for NFL draft spotlight on Union Station
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Bryce Young had been catching grief from Alabama teammate Will Anderson Jr. all morning after dragging a blanket out of his hotel room, wrapping up in it and trying to fight off a brisk wind as the sun rose over Union Station. “You can call me...
NFL Draft 2023: The top 10 players to be chosen Thursday according to the odds
BY JIM DERRY | Home Field Sports There have been thousands of mock drafts posted over the past 2-plus months, Mock 2.0s and 3.4s and 5.whatevers. But when it comes down to it, usually the sportsbooks are more correct than any mock draft ever written. And so, here, we have...
From Sanders to Sauce, NFL draft fashion evolves over time
HOUSTON — Deion Sanders became the NFL draft’s first fashion icon by accessorizing a black and white tracksuit with loads of sparkling gold jewelry and dark shades when he took the call from the Atlanta Falcons before they selected him fifth overall in 1989. As memorable as Sanders’ draft swag...
AP NFL mock draft: Panthers take Alabama’s Bryce Young No. 1; Steelers take Ohio State tackle
It took the Carolina Panthers until this week to decide which quarterback they’ll select with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night. They’re not saying, but oddsmakers believe it’ll be Alabama’s Bryce Young. The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner is an overwhelming favorite to go first,...
Jets GM: Getting Aaron Rodgers is ‘historic’ trade for franchiseVideo
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — General manager Joe Douglas kicked off the New York Jets’ pre-draft news conference by having a young fan answer the first few questions from reporters. Kyle Stickles, a Make-A-Wish recipient from Ghent, N.Y., was sitting between Douglas and assistant GM Rex Hogan when he was asked...
Bryce Young? C.J. Stroud? Panthers reach consensus on No. 1 draft pickVideo
CHARLOTTE. N.C. — Carolina Panthers coach Frank Reich says he and general manager Scott Fitterer have agreed on which quarterback the team will select with the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. But Reich says the team won’t announce who that is until Thursday night, when the draft begins....
Will teams delay on taking Jalen Carter like Sapp, Moss?Video
Warren Sapp and Randy Moss waited longer than expected to hear their names called in the first round of the NFL Draft because teams were concerned about off-field issues. Both players ended up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Jalen Carter once was projected to be the No. 1...
Rodgers latest aging NFL star to join Jets late in career
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The trade of quarterback Aaron Rodgers from Green Bay to New York puts one of the greatest players in NFL history in a Jets uniform. Despite a 54-year Super Bowl drought and the league’s longest active streak without a playoff appearance (12 seasons), the Jets have...
Bengals’ Zac Taylor set for 5th draft as head coachVideo
CINCINNATI — “Draft Day” isn’t on the list of Zac Taylor’s all-time favorite movies. “I saw it a long time ago. Very unrealistic,” the Cincinnati Bengals coach said Monday. The 2014 film, which stars Kevin Costner as Sonny Weaver Jr., the fictional general manager of the Cleveland Browns, gives viewers...
Jets agree on deal to acquire Aaron RodgersVideo
After six weeks of waiting, Aaron Rodgers is leaving behind his brilliant legacy in Green Bay and heading to the bright lights — and massive expectations — of the Big Apple. The New York Jets agreed on a deal Monday to acquire the four-time NFL MVP from the Packers, according...
Favre remains in Mississippi welfare lawsuit, judge rules
JACKSON, Miss. — Retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre will remain as a defendant in a civil lawsuit that seeks to recover millions of dollars of misspent welfare money that was supposed to help some of the neediest people in the United States, a Mississippi judge ruled Monday. Circuit Judge Faye...
NFL Draft Guide: As usual, QBs are coveted in 1st round
The NFL never really stops, so its offseason continues with the draft starting Thursday night. The Carolina Panthers have the No. 1 overall pick and, as usual, a lot of the hype surrounds the quarterbacks. Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Kentucky’s Will Levis and Florida’s Anthony Richardson are...
Bagent’s journey typifies NFL draft’s small school prospectsVideo
INDIANAPOLIS — Tyson Bagent played college football in relative obscurity. At Shepherd in West Virginia’s eastern panhandle, it would be easy to bypass this Division II school and its star quarterback. But when the New York Jets visited Shepherdstown in 2019, Bagent’s whole world changed. Suddenly, the son of an...
NFL suspends 5 players for violating gambling policy
NEW YORK — The NFL suspended five players for violating the league’s gambling policy on Friday. Detroit Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus and safety C.J. Moore and Washington Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney were suspended indefinitely, while Lions wide receivers Stanley Berryhill and Jameson Williams were suspended six games. Cephus,...
Trade-ups for quarterbacks becoming more common in NFL
Tired of spending years in the quarterback wilderness, shuffling in a string of mostly ineffective veterans at the game’s most important position, the Carolina Panthers made a bold move that has been all too common in recent years. The Panthers packaged two first-round picks, two second-round picks and star receiver...
Ravens prepare for draft amid Lamar Jackson-related uncertainty
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Lamar Jackson’s contract situation looms over all aspects of Baltimore’s offseason — and the draft is certainly no different. Unless there’s a major breakthrough in negotiations before then, the Ravens will go into the draft without a lot of certainty at the game’s most important position,...
Browns enter another NFL draft with needs, without top picks
CLEVELAND — For the Cleveland Browns, being on the clock in this year’s NFL draft will again require extra patience. They’ll spend Day 1 on the sideline watching. Just as they did during the playoffs. After mortgaging their future in the controversial trade last year for quarterback Deshaun Watson, the...
Offensive line, secondary depth among Bengals draft needs
When it comes to draft philosophy, the Cincinnati Bengals are pretty consistent. If there is a quality offensive lineman or defensive back available when they are on the clock in the first round, they usually go in that direction. In fact, that has happened 11 times since 2003. With the...
Bengals’ Joe Mixon pleads not guilty to menacing charge
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge of aggravated menacing over allegations that he threatened and pointed a gun at a woman in Cincinnati earlier this year. Mixon made his initial court appearance in Hamilton County Municipal Court, where bond was...
Brock Purdy’s success could open door for other QBs late in NFL draft
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Jake Haener bristles when asked about the obvious comparison to fellow experienced but undersized quarterback Brock Purdy. “I just feel like Brock is different. I’m different. There’s different things that we do in our games,” said Haener, the former Fresno State star. “Brock did a lot...
Former NFL defensive end Chris Smith dead at 31
CLEVELAND — Former NFL defensive end Chris Smith, who was touched by tragedy while he played for the Cleveland Browns, has died. He was 31. Smith’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, and the Browns confirmed his passing on Tuesday. The cause of death was not immediately known. “Rest in Peace Chris,” Rosenhaus...
