Saints cancel offseason program amid coronavirus concernsVideo
NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints canceled their offseason program because of the coronavirus pandemic and informed players they will not be required to report to club headquarters until training camp — whenever that might be. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said coach Sean Payton informed players of the...
Logistics share NFL Draft spotlight with Joe Burrow, Chase YoungVideo
From his home in suburban New York, Roger Goodell will handle perhaps his most visible annual chore — announcing draft picks. Visible, but this time virtual. Not since the NFL Draft became a televised event in 1980 has it been stripped to the basics like this year’s proceedings will be....
Virus shutdowns will likely make NFL draft most bet on ever
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — For those who haven’t mastered the odds of Belarussian soccer or Russian table tennis, this week’s NFL draft gives U.S. gamblers their first opportunity in weeks to bet on an event about which they actually know something. With major sports shut down for more than a...
Percy Harvin planning NFL comeback after 4-year hiatus
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Percy Harvin is planning an NFL comeback nearly four years after his last game. The former Florida star and first-round draft pick by Minnesota in 2009 expects to get invited to a training camp this season and show his 32-year-old body still has what it takes to...
Tim Dahlberg: Direct from Roger Goodell’s basement, the NFL Draft!Video
It was supposed to be an extravaganza only Las Vegas can bring, complete with showgirls, A-list celebs, and a stage in the middle of the Bellagio fountains. Instead, the NFL Draft will come to you Thursday night from the friendly confines of Roger Goodell’s basement. No one, of course, expected...
Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes eye record-setting deal following NFL DraftVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Leigh Steinberg’s focus this week is rightfully on the three-day NFL Draft, where new clients such as Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and teammate Jerry Jeudy will learn where they will begin their professional careers. It won’t be long before Steinberg’s attention is back on his most...
Agent: Gronkowski traded to Tampa Bay, reunited with BradyVideo
TAMPA, Fla. — Four-time All Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski agreed to a reunion with Tom Brady. The agent for the retired New England star confirmed Tuesday that pending completion of a physical Gronkowski has agreed to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are acquiring his rights from the...
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson says he’s the next ‘Madden’ cover athleteVideo
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson said Tuesday he will be the cover athlete of the next “Madden” video game. And no, the reigning NFL MVP is not worried about any curses. “Patrick Mahomes was on the front” of “Madden NFL 20,” he told reporters during a conference call Tuesday. “He...
Tom Brady ejected from Tampa park closed because of pandemic
TAMPA, Fla. — Six Super Bowl rings may get you special treatment in a lot of places but former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady learned Monday that it won’t get you anything when you’re caught working out in a park that is closed to the public due to the coronavirus pandemic....
Christian McCaffrey embracing new role as face of Panthers franchiseVideo
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With the Panthers in the midst of a roster overhaul, Christian McCaffrey could have forced his way out of Carolina in hopes of finding a team better prepared to challenge for a Super Bowl title. But the All-Pro running back said that notion never crossed his mind....
NFL following NBA’s lead in blurring traditional positionsVideo
The NFL is embracing dexterity for the first time since the 1960s, when expanded rosters and the age of specialization ushered out the last of the great two-way players such as Chuck Bednarik and Les Richter. For much of the last half-century, players who didn’t fit the mold essentially were...
Draft capsule: Browns eyeing left tackle with No. 10 pick in NFL DraftVideo
10. CLEVELAND (6-10) LAST SEASON: Picked to compete for playoff spot, Browns were one of league’s biggest disappointments, undermined by continued drama, injuries and sabotaged by unrealistic expectations. Quarterback Baker Mayfield regressed in his second season, coach Freddie Kitchens was fired after one, and general manager John Dorsey departed after...
Report: Tua Tagovailoa had lowest Wonderlic score among 2020 QB prospects
The Athletic’s Bob McGinn reports that ex-Alabama star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa scored a woeful 13 on the Wonderlic test, administered by the NFL to draft prospects before the draft. Among the other first-round prospects, McGinn reported that LSU’s Jake Burrow scored a 34, Utah State’s Jordan Love got a 27...
Draft capsule: Ravens enter with 9 picks and few holes to fillVideo
28. BALTIMORE RAVENS (14-3) LAST SEASON: With NFL MVP Lamar Jackson directing offense that led league in scoring and set NFL record for yards rushing, Ravens took 12-game winning streak, league-best 14-2 record and 13 Pro Bowl players into playoffs before losing at home to Tennessee. FREE AGENCY: Fortified DL...
Draft capsule: Bengals changing face of franchise with 1st pickVideo
1. CINCINNATI (2-14) LAST SEASON: Bengals matched franchise mark for worst record in coach Zac Taylor’s first season. Winless at midseason, they started quest for next QB by benching Andy Dalton for three games in failed move to rookie Ryan Finley. Offensive line was again huge problem, and defense was...
Bears release veteran tight end Trey Burton, re-sign Pitt product HoltzVideo
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Chicago Bears released veteran tight end Trey Burton after his injury-riddled season on Friday. Burton dealt with a groin injury all last season and went on injured reserve in November after hurting his calf in a win over Detroit. He had 14 receptions for 84...
Ex-Duquesne corner Harrison-Ducros might hear name called in NFL DraftVideo
Duquesne hasn’t had a player taken in the NFL Draft since 1951. Only one Duke has played in a regular-season NFL game since 1953: undrafted free agent defensive back Leigh Bodden, who played parts of eight seasons, the last with New England in 2011. History isn’t the only obstacle cornerback...
DeAndre Hopkins not surprised by trade, ready to help CardinalsVideo
Most of the NFL world was stunned when the Arizona Cardinals pulled off a trade last month to land elite receiver DeAndre Hopkins from the Houston Texans for running back David Johnson. One of the few people unfazed by the deal? Hopkins. “No, I wasn’t surprised at all,” the three-time...
Joe Burrow to the rescue? Lowly Bengals look for next leaderVideo
CINCINNATI — In 2003, everything was in place for the Bengals to take a quarterback with the first overall draft pick. Cincinnati was coming off a 2-14 season. Attendance was down. Jon Kitna was in his 30s. A new coach — Marvin Lewis — wanted a franchise quarterback. A Heisman...
GM Eric DeCosta seeks to make Ravens ‘undefendable’ via NFL DraftVideo
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens compiled a franchise-best 14-2 record last season and stormed into the playoffs with a 12-game winning streak, the most prolific rushing offense in NFL history and a second-year quarterback who went on to win MVP. Baltimore’s one-and-done postseason proved there still was plenty of...
Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin eager to get up to speed with Tom BradyVideo
TAMPA, Fla. — Chris Godwin isn’t making any bold predictions about what’s on the horizon for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Pro Bowl receiver and Penn State product is excited about the signing of Tom Brady and eager to begin working with the six-time Super Bowl champion quarterback. He also...
Agent: NFL star Von Miller has COVID-19, is in good spiritsVideo
Von Miller has the coronavirus, and the NFL star wanted to come forward with his diagnosis to show people how serious the disease is. “Von wants to let everyone out there know it’s serious; it doesn’t just happen to old people in nursing homes,” agent Joby Branion told the Associated...
Browns could address left tackle with No. 10 pick in NFL DraftVideo
CLEVELAND — Andrew Berry knew his first NFL Draft as Browns general manager would be special. He didn’t expect it to be unlike any draft before it or likely any again. The 33-year-old Berry couldn’t have imagined he’d be picking players inside a “virtual” draft room while connected by computer...
Browns call latest rumors of trading Odell Beckham ‘completely false’Video
CLEVELAND — Browns chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta dismissed a report the team is trying to trade star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., whose future — whether in New York or Cleveland or anywhere — always seems in question. DePodesta said Thursday on a conference call from his home in...
Rams’ Brian Allen 1st NFL player to reveal positive covid-19 test
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Rams center Brian Allen says he tested positive for covid-19 three weeks ago. Allen is the first active NFL player to acknowledge testing positive during the coronavirus pandemic. The third-year pro is not hospitalized and is “feeling good,” according to a statement issued by the...
