49ers fill needs, Packers fall short in NFL DraftVideo
The task for the San Francisco 49ers heading into the draft was straightforward. Find replacements for departed starters DeForest Buckner at defensive tackle and Emmanuel Sanders at receiver and then find a player to step in for longtime left tackle Joe Staley, who informed the NFC champions before the draft...
NFL draft averages record 8.4M viewers across 3 daysVideo
Seth Markman was just as nervous as NFL coaches and general managers about the unknown factors involved with a virtual draft. But the ESPN executive producer said he was overwhelmed with how everything came together over the three days. It also ended up being must-see TV as the first significant...
AP source: Saints, Jameis Winston in ‘advanced’ negotiationsVideo
NEW ORLEANS — The Saints and quarterback Jameis Winston are working on a contract proposal to make the former Buccaneers starter a backup to Drew Brees in New Orleans, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. Winston and the Saints are in “advanced” talks, the person said,...
Bills draft Pitt cornerback Dane Jackson in 7th round
Dane Jackson, who started three seasons at cornerback for Pitt, moved to the next level Saturday when he was drafted in the seventh round by the Buffalo Bills (No. 239 overall). “The Bills got themselves a steal in Dane Jackson,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said. “He is as good as...
Cowboys draft former Pine-Richland, Pitt quarterback Ben DiNucci
Quarterback Ben DiNucci’s football journey from Pine-Richland to Pitt to James Madison ended up in Dallas on Saturday when he was drafted by the Cowboys in the seventh round (No. 231 overall). After transferring from Pitt when Kenny Pickett seized the starting job in 2017, DiNucci, who originally committed to...
New Castle’s Geno Stone goes to Ravens in 7th round
Geno Stone, lightly recruited by most Power 5 schools only three years ago, became the 12th New Castle graduate to enter the NFL on Saturday when he was drafted in the seventh round (219th overall) by the Baltimore Ravens. He ended up at Iowa, where he played safety. In 2018,...
49ers acquire Pro Bowl LT Trent Williams from RedskinsVideo
The San Francisco 49ers agreed to acquire seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams from the Washington Redskins on Saturday for a pair of draft picks. The Niners will send a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft and a 2021 third-rounder to acquire Williams, who must pass a physical for...
Tampa mayor lightheartedly apologizes to NFL’s Tom Brady
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — When it comes to first impressions, Tampa didn’t exactly give the best of welcomes to one of its newest and most famous residents when NFL superstar Tom Brady was ejected from a downtown park while working out. Mayor Jane Castor tried to make amends by issuing a...
Redskins pick up McKeesport’s Khaleke Hudson in fifth round
Khaleke Hudson became the 15th McKeesport graduate to reach the NFL on Saturday when he was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fifth round (No. 162 overall). Naturally, Hudson was thrilled, but his friend and fellow McKeesport graduate Mike Logan was beaming, too. “He’s looking forward to a bright...
Round 2 of NFL Draft starts with more receivers off the boardVideo
Pitch and catch. While only one quarterback, Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts, was taken in the second round of the NFL Draft Friday, the guys who haul in passes were everywhere. Starting with the top two selections on Day 2 — Clemson’s Tee Higgins to Cincinnati and Southern California’s Michael Pittman to...
Carolina Panthers select Penn State’s Yetur Gross-Matos in the second round
Penn State defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos slipped into the second round of the NFL Draft, but he didn’t have to wait long Friday night before he was selected 38th overall by the Carolina Panthers. Gross-Matos (6-foot-5, 266 pounds) was the second defensive end picked, following Ohio State’s Chase Young, the...
Texans sign OL Laremy Tunsil to $66 million extensionVideo
The Houston Texans agreed to a three-year, $66 million contract extension with left tackle Laremy Tunsil, a person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Friday because the extension hasn’t been announced. Tunsil had one year left on his...
First night of NFL Draft draws record 15.6 million viewersVideo
The first night of the NFL draft averaged a record 15.6 million viewers on television, easily shattering the mark set six years ago. Thursday night’s first round was aired on ABC, ESPN, the NFL Network and ESPN Deportes. The coverage peaked from 8:45-9 p.m., when 19.6 million viewers tuned in,...
Dolphins’ Tagovailoa now knows where he’ll play, but when?
MIAMI — Tua Tagovailoa has been dogged for months by uncertainty, upheaval and close calls, from a career-threatening injury to an encounter with a tornado. Now he knows where he will play next. He still doesn’t know when. The Miami Dolphins are willing to wait — perhaps even until 2021....
How skill positions in NFL Draft will impact fantasy owners
Our Essey Tire fantasy sports podcast examines the first round of the NFL Draft and how some of these incoming rookies will impact your fantasy leagues. With six receivers taken in the first round and a run on running backs expected in the second round, the answer is: significantly! Jeff...
6 intriguing players available on Day 2 of NFL draftVideo
Six wide receivers were taken in the first round of the NFL draft and another half dozen could go on Day 2, when rounds two and three are completed. The best safeties are still available because none were taken on Day 1. And there are plenty of good running backs...
First Call: ESPN’s NFL Draft production was tremendous, with beautifully natural awkwardness
For Friday’s “First Call,” I’ve got to credit the combined forces of the NFL Network, ABC and ESPN. That was quite an undertaking Thursday night for the virtual reality NFL Draft broadcast. It was so much smoother than I thought it was going to be. All things considered, the multiple...
NFL draft: Joe Burrow goes first overall to Bengals
No surprise atop this NFL draft as the Cincinnati Bengals selected Joe Burrow, quarterback of national champion LSU, as the centerpiece of yet another rebuilding job. Burrow, the third straight Heisman Trophy winner taken with the first overall selection, joins a team that went 2-14 in 2019 under first-year head...
Burrow goes No. 1 to Bengals in NFL Draft, Tua at No. 5 to DolphinsVideo
For all the uniqueness of this NFL draft, including the angst over a potential communications fiasco, things looked and sounded pretty normal Thursday night. Quarterbacks were in demand. Ohio State(the top three picks played there) and the Southeastern Conference (a record 15 picks) dominated. The Patriots traded out of the...
ESPN analyst Todd McShay has coronavirus, will miss NFL DraftVideo
An NFL Draft being conducted virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic already figured to have a much different look and feel compared to the same event in past years. But that sentiment — and the impact of the pandemic — came even further into focus Thursday when ESPN draft analyst...
Prospects ready for closeup on NFL draft night from home
Yetur Gross-Matos would have liked to have been in Las Vegas for the NFL draft on Thursday night, but the Penn State defensive lineman is OK with participating from home. Gross-Matos is one of 58 prospects who will take part remotely in the draft, which has gone virtual this year...
Watch live: NFL Draft-A-Thon to raise money for first responders battling coronavirus pandemicVideo
TribLIVE is partnering with video-hosting platform SendtoNews to bring readers a live stream of the NFL’s three-day virtual fundraiser that will benefit six charities — selected by the NFL Foundation — that are battling the spread of covid-19. Friday marks the second night of the festivities. Draft-A-Thon will pay tribute...
First Call: Pittsburgh as NHL return city?; Some underrated potential Steelers draft targets
For “First Call” today, we’re still talkin’ hockey in a bubble. Just different bubbles. Forget New Hampshire, North Dakota and Saskatchewan. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed through ESPN.com that the NHL is looking at four NHL host cities as designated locations to condense the league and to restart the 2019-20...
Agents, players pleased NFL Draft wasn’t delayedVideo
The NFL Draft won’t stop for anything. While some teams expressed concern about not being able to host players for in-person visits and having to conduct the three-day draft virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic, agents and their clients are pleased it’s going on as scheduled. “From an agent’s perspective,...
Rob Gronkowski says he’s healthy and fire burns to play with Tom Brady againVideo
TAMPA, Fla. — Rob Gronkowski planted the seed for an NFL comeback when he played catch with Tom Brady two months ago. Gronkowski, a Woodland Hills product, told the six-time Super Bowl champion quarterback he was getting an itch to play again if the “right opportunity” presented itself. Brady, on...
