Browns speak to NFL on ‘tanking’ claims made by former coachVideo
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns have spoken to an NFL investigator looking into claims by former coach Hue Jackson, who said the team intentionally lost games — tanked — in the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Jackson, now coaching at Grambling State, was fired by Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam...
Commanders send letter to FTC denying financial improprietyVideo
WASHINGTON — The NFL’s Washington Commanders denied several allegations of financial impropriety in a letter sent Monday to the U.S Federal Trade Commission. The 19-page letter including testimony, emails and other documents came as a response to the U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee asking the FTC to look into...
AP source: Browns, CB Ward agree on $100M contract extensionVideo
CLEVELAND — Cleveland Browns two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward has agreed to a five-year, $100.5 million contract extension with the team, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press on Monday. Ward’s deal includes $71.25 million guaranteed, said the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity...
Malik Willis, Matt Corral only QBs attending NFL draftVideo
NEW YORK — Quarterbacks Malik Willis and Matt Corral are among 21 prospects who will attend the NFL draft in Las Vegas this month. Ohio State wide receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson will be there along with two more wideouts. Alabama is also sending two players: wide receiver Jameson...
WR A.J. Green returns to Cardinals on 1-year dealVideo
TEMPE, Ariz. — Receiver A.J. Green is coming back to the Arizona Cardinals on a one-year deal. The seven-time Pro Bowler played in 16 games last season, catching 54 passes for 848 yards and three touchdowns. The 33-year-old is expected to be the team’s No. 2 option next to three-time...
Tom Clements wants to help Aaron Rodgers reach another Super BowlVideo
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The biggest offseason clue forecasting Aaron Rodgers’ eventual decision to stay in Green Bay came when Tom Clements ended his retirement to begin a second stint as the Packers quarterback coach. Clements also held that position when Rodgers led the Packers to a Super Bowl title...
Quarterback Derek Carr gets 3-year extension from Raiders
HENDERSON, Nev. — Through a season of turmoil, Derek Carr performed at his best. So the Las Vegas Raiders have given the veteran quarterback a three-year contract extension. The extension is worth $121.5 million, a person with knowledge of the deal told the Associated Press, speaking Wednesday on condition of...
Mayfield: Browns ‘disrespected,’ deceived him about futureVideo
CLEVELAND — Baker Mayfield feels the Cleveland Browns deceived him about their offseason plans, which resulted in them trading for Deshaun Watson. Speaking on a podcast, Mayfield, whose tumultuous four-year run as Cleveland’s quarterback essentially ended when the team acquired Watson in a stunning deal with the Houston Texans last...
Congress tells FTC that Commanders may have broken financial lawsVideo
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Oversight Committee sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday saying it found evidence the NFL’s Washington Commanders engaged in potentially unlawful financial conduct for more than a decade by withholding ticket revenue from visiting teams and refundable deposits from fans. In the...
Madden Monday: There is no Penguins goalie debate, and Evgeni Malkin should not be suspended
Lately, the Pittsburgh Penguins have been struggling to string together wins. With only three victories in their last 10 games, two of the wins have been with Casey DeSmith in net. Tristan Jarry, meanwhile, has lost five starts in a row and six of seven, and he hasn’t beaten a...
Browns agree to deal with former Steelers QB Josh DobbsVideo
CLEVELAND — The Browns added another quarterback as they try to figure out what to do with Baker Mayfield. Cleveland agreed to a one-year contract with former Pittsburgh Steelers backup QB Josh Dobbs on Friday, a deal first tweeted by his agent Mike McCartney and confirmed by a person familiar...
Former Texans, Packers OLB Whitney Mercilus retiring
Outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus said he’s retiring, ending a 10-year career in which he made 58 sacks. Mercilus, 31, announced his decision Wednesday via Instagram. The 2012 first-round draft pick from Illinois spent nearly his entire career with the Houston Texans before playing four regular-season games and one playoff contest...
Attorneys General warn NFL to improve treatment of women
NEW YORK — The attorneys general of six states have written to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell , expressing concern over the league’s treatment of female employees and admonishing him for a lack of improvement to the league’s workplace culture. Without improvement, the attorneys general warned of potential legal action. The...
Bills’ Stefon Diggs agrees to 4-year contract extension
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills receiver Stefon Diggs will never have to feel undervalued again. The fifth-round draft pick who blossomed into one of the NFL’s top playmakers after being traded by Minnesota to Buffalo two years ago agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $96 million, a person...
Duquesne football player Roman Macek gets offer to pursue pro wrestling dream at WWE performance center
For Duquesne football player Roman Macek, he figured it was worth a try. What’s the worst that could happen? They laugh him out of Texas? He’d only be gone for a few days. His coaches and teammates were behind him. The flight would land early enough Saturday that he could...
Court: Browns QB Deshaun Watson must address history with therapists
HOUSTON — Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson must say whether he had sex with 18 massage therapists who supported him last year following criminal complaints, a judge in Texas ruled Tuesday. USA Today reported that Watson has 30 days to comply. He previously would not address his past with the...
Eagles, Saints swap several draft picks, including 2023 1st round
The New Orleans Saints added an extra first-round pick in case they want to target a quarterback in this month’s draft. The Saints acquired two first-round picks from the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday in a major swap of assets. The Eagles sent picks Nos. 16 and 19 and a sixth-rounder...
NFL opening pathway for African players with 1st camp
The NFL is opening a pathway for African players with a developmental camp in Ghana. Following a camp this past weekend with Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who is of Ghanaian descent, the league announced a three-day camp will take place in the capital of Accra in June. It will...
Pitt QB Kenny Pickett’s stock drops in latest Pro Football Focus mock draft
Former Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett had been a consensus first-round pick in most mock drafts ahead of the NFL Draft that begins April 28. At least until Pro Football Focus released its latest mock draft. In the latest mock draft released Monday, Pickett isn’t even selected in the first two...
First Call: Ravens lose out on free-agent target; ex-Pitt star may grab St. Peter’s job; RMU coach tired of ‘Coach K’ coverage
In Friday’s “First Call,” the Baltimore Ravens miss out on a star free agent signing. A Pitt basketball legend may be getting his first head coaching gig. Robert Morris’ head coach is no fan of the hype surrounding Mike Krzyzewski’s last trip to the Final Four. And we recap another...
Todd Bowles calls replacing Bruce Arians as Bucs coach ‘bittersweet’Video
TAMPA, Fla. — Todd Bowles earned his way in the NFL on the defensive side of the ball. He is not afraid to talk offense. The new head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won’t be shy about sharing his ideas with offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and quarterback Tom Brady....
LB Bobby Wagner agrees to 5-year deal with RamsVideo
LOS ANGELES — Linebacker Bobby Wagner agreed to a five-year deal to join his hometown Los Angeles Rams. The Super Bowl champions announced the deal Thursday for Wagner, who became one of the NFL’s top linebackers during a decade with the Seattle Seahawks. ESPN reported Wagner’s deal is worth $50...
Bruce Arians steps aside so Todd Bowles can become Buccaneers head coachVideo
PALM BEACH, Fla. — Bruce Arians, who led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl victory, is retiring from coaching effective immediately with the intent of being replaced by defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. Arians, 69, informed his coaching staff and players of the news Wednesday evening and discussed the...
3-time Pro Bowl safety, activist Malcolm Jenkins retiresVideo
Malcolm Jenkins is retiring after a 13-year NFL career in which he established himself as one of the league’s best all-around safeties, most durable players and leading voices for social justice. Jenkins helped both the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles win their only Super Bowl and made a major...
Tackle prospect Evan Neal takes center stage at Alabama’s pro dayVideo
Evan Neal was the big man at Alabama’s pro day, and not just because of his towering physical presence. The Crimson Tide’s 6-foot-7, 337-pound left tackle was easily the highest-rated prospect going through pro day Wednesday before representatives of all 32 NFL teams. It didn’t matter that he was just...
