Bills turn focus to Dolphins with Damar Hamlin recovering at homeVideo
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — With Damar Hamlin recovering at home, Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott smiled when asked if he thought the tide of bad news might finally be turning for his team. And he jumped on an opportunity to move forward to Sunday, when the AFC East champion Bills...
49ers seeking 3-game sweep vs. Seahawks in wild-card gameVideo
San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan knows the challenges of trying to beat an opponent three times in a season after falling short a year ago in the playoffs against the Los Angeles Rams. The 49ers open this postseason with a similar challenge when they host NFC West rival Seattle in...
Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence, Chargers’ Justin Herbert face off in playoff debutsVideo
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Trevor Lawrence feels as if he has been in the playoffs the past two months. Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars were 3-7 and four games behind division-leading Tennessee in late November. It was clear they needed to find ways to start winning close games. Lawrence easily could...
Jadeveon Clowney apologizes to Myles Garrett for Browns favoritism commentsVideo
CLEVELAND — Jadeveon Clowney now says he’s sorry. Clowney said he apologized to Browns star Myles Garrett more than a week after the defensive end criticized Cleveland, saying the organization favored his teammate and was more focused on getting him to the Hall of Fame than winning. Clowney also claims...
NFL All-Pros: Travis Kelce, Justin Jefferson unanimous; 16 first-timers
Travis Kelce and Justin Jefferson are unanimous choices for The Associated Press 2022 NFL All-Pro Team, and Sauce Gardner is the first rookie cornerback selected in 41 years. The Chiefs’ Kelce and the Vikings’ Jefferson received first-team votes Friday from all 50 members of a nationwide panel of media members...
Raiders QB Derek Carr says he embraces challenge of new city, teamVideo
LAS VEGAS — Quarterback Derek Carr said Thursday in his first public comments since being benched by Las Vegas Raiders coach Josh McDaniels that he is ready for the challenge of playing in a new city. “I once said that if I’m not a Raider I would rather be at...
Bills coach Sean McDermott hailed for leading through emotional weekVideo
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Jimmye Laycock’s first thought during those initial chilling moments went to Damar Hamlin, the Buffalo Bills safety who collapsed on the field in Cincinnati last week. The former William & Mary coach’s second thought, upon seeing teary-eyed players’ reactions, then turned to Sean McDermott, the Bills...
Lamar Jackson says in tweet he’s suffered grade 2 PCL sprain
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens still are practicing without Lamar Jackson. Thursday, however, included one significant development — an update from the star quarterback’s Twitter account. “Thank you everyone for your support and concerns regarding my injuries. I want to give you all an update as I am...
Atlanta will be site if Bills, Chiefs meet for AFC title
NEW YORK — Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be the neutral site if Buffalo and Kansas City meet in the AFC championship game. The NFL decided to put that potential matchup in a neutral city after the Bills’ Week 17 game against Cincinnati was canceled when Damar Hamlin went into cardiac...
Steelers assistant Brian Flores interviews with Browns to run their defense
CLEVELAND — Brian Flores landed in the AFC North last season. He might be ready to make a move inside the division. Flores, who joined coach Mike Tomlin’s staff in Pittsburgh following his messy departure in Miami, is interviewing with the Cleveland Browns on Thursday to be their new defensive...
Bears hire Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren as team president
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears hired Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren as their president and CEO on Thursday, bringing him back to the NFL to help lead a founding franchise after three years running one of college athletics’ marquee conferences. Warren replaces the retiring Ted Phillips and becomes the Bears’...
Bengals will rely on O-line replacements to slow down RavensVideo
CINCINNATI — With guard Alex Cappa sidelined, the Cincinnati Bengals are faced with starting two backups on the right side of the offensive line for Sunday’s playoff game. Coach Zac Taylor said Wednesday that Cappa’s injury, suffered in last week’s game, will keep him out of at least the opening...
Lamar Jackson still absent during open portion of Ravens practiceVideo
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — When it comes to Lamar Jackson, no news feels like bad news for Baltimore fans. The Ravens practiced Wednesday in preparation for their playoff opener at Cincinnati, and Jackson again was absent. If there was any remaining hope that the star quarterback could make a dramatic...
Tua Tagovailoa ruled out of Dolphins’ playoff game vs. Bills
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has not been cleared to return to football activities and has been ruled out for Sunday’s playoff game against the Buffalo Bills as he remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol, coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday. The Dolphins are preparing for rookie...
NFL Pro Bowl skills competitions announced
LAS VEGAS — The NFL announced all eight skills competitions for its revamped Pro Bowl week on Wednesday. Five of the events will be Feb. 2 at Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center, the headquarters for the Las Vegas Raiders. Those will be televised but not open to the public. The rest...
Bills safety Damar Hamlin released from the hospital
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Bills safety Damar Hamlin was released from a Buffalo hospital on Wednesday, more than a week after he went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated during a game at Cincinnati, after his doctors said they completed a series of tests. A news release from...
NFL offseason a mental, physical reboot process for players
Aaron Rodgers hits the beach and has even hosted a TV game show. Alvin Kamara has snowboarded in the mountains of Montana. Quinton Jefferson takes his kids to school and runs errands. Sheldon Rankins catches up on cooking and traveling. Game plans and practices are replaced in the NFL offseason...
Record 5 1st-year coaches lead teams into NFL postseason
Coaching changes paid off in a big way for several NFL teams this season. From impressive turnarounds for Jacksonville and the New York Giants to big boosts for Minnesota and Miami, a record-setting five of the 10 teams that hired new coaches for the 2022 season made the playoffs. Doug...
Cowboys’ Jerry Jones says playoffs won’t affect Mike McCarthy’s job status
DALLAS — Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones offered support to coach Mike McCarthy in an interview with a Dallas sports radio station Tuesday morning. McCarthy, who is 30-20 in three seasons with the Cowboys, went 12-5 this season, including a 4-1 mark without starting quarterback Dak Prescott,...
Commanders fire offensive coordinator Scott Turner
ASHBURN, Va. — Scott Turner’s at times curious play-calling and the underwhelming results that ultimately derailed the Washington Commanders season cost him his job as offensive coordinator. Turner was fired Tuesday after his third year on the job featured an offense that underperformed with multiple quarterbacks and contributed to the...
Bears GM Ryan Poles expects Justin Fields to be starting QB next seasonVideo
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles said he expects Justin Fields to be the team’s starting quarterback next season and just about slammed the door on drafting one with the No. 1 overall pick. Poles left it slightly ajar Tuesday, saying he would have to be...
Jaguars find offensive chemistry with pass-catching newcomersVideo
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Zay Jones has been in the NFL long enough to realize — and appreciate — the uniqueness of Jacksonville’s receiving group. The Jaguars signed three pass catchers in free agency to help second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence, and each of them delivered a career season. Jones, fellow receiver...
Nick Sirianni: Eagles ‘fortunate’ ailing QB Jalen Hurts has week offVideo
PHILADELPHIA — Jalen Hurts can only hope an extra week off will help his sore right shoulder. The Pro Bowl quarterback returned Sunday to lead the Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) to a win over the New York Giants after he missed two weeks with a sprained right shoulder. The victory gave...
Doctors: Bills’ Damar Hamlin in good spirits, undergoing testingVideo
BUFFALO, N.Y. — An upbeat Damar Hamlin said Tuesday he is “not home quite just yet,” as the Bills safety spent his second day in a Buffalo hospital undergoing a series of tests to determine why he went into cardiac arrest on the field last week and when he can...
Ravens, All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith agree to 5-year contract extension
BALTIMORE — The Ravens and inside linebacker Roquan Smith have agreed to a contract extension, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told The Baltimore Sun. According to NFL Network, the record-breaking contract is a five-year, $100 million extension, which makes Smith the highest-paid linebacker in league history, and...
