Ex-NFL star Aqib Talib’s brother turns self in after slaying
LANCASTER, Texas — The brother of retired NFL cornerback Aqib Talib turned himself in to authorities Monday after police identified him as the suspect in the shooting death of a coach at a youth football game in Texas. Police said that a murder warrant was issued for Yaqub Salik Talib,...
Browns backup QB Jacoby Brissett moves into Deshaun Watson’s starting spotVideo
CLEVELAND — Jacoby Brissett has jumped ahead of Deshaun Watson on Cleveland’s depth chart. Maybe for a while. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Brissett will take the majority of snaps with Cleveland’s first-team offense starting Sunday, a move necessitated by Watson’s pending suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy...
Len Dawson, MVP of Chiefs’ first Super Bowl win, in hospiceVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Len Dawson, the 87-year-old Hall of Fame quarterback who led the Kansas City Chiefs to their first Super Bowl title, has entered hospice care in Kansas City. KMBC-TV, the Kansas City station where Dawson began his broadcasting career in 1966, confirmed Dawson is in hospice care...
Browns’ Watson apologizes ‘to all the women I have impacted’
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson apologized Friday “to all the women I have impacted” after being accused by two dozen women of sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions. Watson, who is facing a potential yearlong NFL suspension, spoke before Cleveland’s exhibition opener in Jacksonville — his first game since Jan....
Vikings’ Kirk Cousins has covid-19, won’t play preseason openerVideo
EAGAN, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has tested positive for covid-19 and will not play this weekend in the team’s first preseason game. Coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed the diagnosis Friday at practice, where Cousins was absent for a second straight day. He felt ill Thursday and sent home....
More Black NFL retirees win dementia cases in rescored tests
PHILADELPHIA — Hundreds of Black NFL retirees denied payouts in the $1 billion concussion settlement now qualify for awards after their tests were rescored to eliminate racial bias. Changes to the settlement made last year are meant to make the tests race-blind. The use of “race norming” in the dementia...
Police: Marshawn Lynch was asleep, car damaged before arrestVideo
LAS VEGAS — Former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch was asleep and smelled of alcohol when Las Vegas police found him in his damaged sports car and arrested him on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, according to an arrest report made public Thursday. Lynch’s attorneys, David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld,...
Tom Brady taking 11-day break from Bucs for personal reasons
Tom Brady was excused from training camp Thursday, the first day of what Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said is a planned, 11-day absence from the team to address “personal things.” Bowles said the 45-year-old quarterback’s break from practice was arranged before camp began, adding Brady won’t return until...
James White, hero in Patriots’ Super Bowl rally, retires
James White, who scored the game-winning touchdown in the New England Patriots’ historic comeback win over Atlanta in Super Bowl 51, announced his retirement Thursday. White won three Super Bowls in eight seasons — all with the Patriots. “This chapter has been one that I will cherish. I look forward...
Bengals’ Burrow still healing from appendectomy
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is still on the mend from an appendectomy two weeks ago, and there is no timetable for his participation in training camp. The third-year quarterback, who last season led Cincinnati to its first Super Bowl in 33 years, has been observing practice from...
Deshaun Watson starting Browns’ preseason opener as suspension loomsVideo
CLEVELAND — Deshaun Watson’s debut for the Browns is tentative and subject to change. The same is true for his first season in Cleveland. Watson is scheduled to start the exhibition opener — his first game action since 2020 — at Jacksonville on Friday while the quarterback waits to see...
Sean McVay reveals he has contract extension with Rams
IRVINE, Calif. — Coach Sean McVay said he has finalized his contract extension with the Los Angeles Rams. McVay and the Rams didn’t reveal the terms of the long-expected deal, but the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl reaffirmed his long-term commitment to Los Angeles after practice Tuesday in...
Bears star LB Roquan Smith requests trade after talks break down
Chicago Bears star linebacker Roquan Smith is requesting a trade, saying the team has not negotiated in good faith for a contract extension. Smith, who does not have an agent, wrote Tuesday in a statement to NFL.com that he has “officially” asked to be dealt and that it was “deeply...
Naming rights deal takes Paul Brown name off Cincy stadium
CINCINNATI — The home of the Cincinnati Bengals will no longer carry the name of team founder and NFL pioneer Paul Brown. Paycor, a Cincinnati-based provider of human resources software, has bought the naming rights to the stadium in a deal announced Tuesday. The venue will be known as Paycor...
Artie Burns struggled with Steelers, but Seahawks happy with what they’ve found
RENTON, Wash. — Through all the understandable attention on the two rookie cornerbacks the Seattle Seahawks drafted in the spring and the revival of the career of former Washington Huskies star Sidney Jones IV, Artie Burns just keeps hanging in. When the Seahawks took the field for their ninth practice...
NFL: Aaron Rodgers’ use of ayahuasca didn’t violate drug policy
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ use of the hallucinogenic drink ayahuasca during an offseason retreat isn’t considered a violation of the NFL’s drug policy. Rodgers discussed on “The Aubrey Marcus Podcast” last week how he went on an ayahuasca retreat to Peru in 2020, before...
Where’s Parsons? Opponents will be looking for Cowboys’ starVideo
OXNARD, Calif. — Linebacker Micah Parsons might not lobby for playing time in the preseason this month the way he did last year in one of the “Hard Knocks” highlights for the Dallas Cowboys. The reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year wants to be clear. Parsons still wants to...
Ravens reach 4-year extension with All-Pro K Justin Tucker
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens agreed to a four-year contract extension with star kicker Justin Tucker. The team announced the move Monday. Tucker’s previous deal was through 2023. A five-time All-Pro, Tucker has been a game changer for the Ravens in his 10 years with the team. He’s...
Browns RB Kareem Hunt practices after demanding tradeVideo
BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns’ training camp hasn’t lacked for drama because of quarterback Deshaun Watson’s NFL disciplinary case over sexual misconduct allegations. Now, there’s a new storyline involving running back Kareem Hunt — even if the head coach insists the 27-year-old’s fight for an extension is “normal.” The...
Tony Boselli becomes 1st Jaguars player in Hall of FameVideo
CANTON, Ohio — Tony Boselli looked out at all the teal-colored jerseys in the crowd and screamed: “Duuuuval!” Finally, the Jacksonville Jaguars have a player in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Boselli, the first pick in Jaguars history, was among eight members of the Class of 2022 enshrined Saturday...
Titans patient as QB Malik Willis makes jump from LibertyVideo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Malik Willis is experiencing some growing pains as the Tennessee Titans rookie works through his first training camp. Willis threw a deep pass to Josh Malone for a nice connection Friday and came back by finding Mason Kinsey across the middle in coverage. Needing a touchdown to...
Rams’ Sean McVay calls Matthew Stafford’s elbow pain ‘abnormal’ for QBVideo
Coach Sean McVay says Matthew Stafford’s continuing elbow pain is unusual for a football player, and the Los Angeles Rams are trying to determine whether it will hamper their starting quarterback in the regular season. Stafford has been throwing in individual drills and 7-on-7 setups while skipping the full-team portions...
Browns in limbo while QB Deshaun Watson’s saga shifts againVideo
CLEVELAND — When owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam returned from Houston in March with Deshaun Watson under contract, the Browns’ long search for a franchise quarterback — a fruitless 20-year odyssey — appeared to be over. Nothing’s changed. Cleveland’s in a muddle. Again. The NFL’s decision to appeal the six-game...
Explainer: NFL using helmet caps for player safety, research
Part of the NFL’s safety experiments to reduce head injuries is the expanded use of the padded helmet caps NFL players have been seen wearing during training camps this summer. All offensive and defensive linemen, linebackers and tight ends are required to wear the Guardian Caps at practices through the...
Former Steelers CB Artie Burns hopes to capitalize on new chance with SeahawksVideo
RENTON, Wash. — Whether it’s been injury or underperformance, Artie Burns has never quite matched the expectations that followed him coming out of college. But he still has the talent that made him a first-round selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers six years ago. And coming off a promising 2021 season...
