Browns search for general manager heats upVideo
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns could be turning a little more purple. After hiring former Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski as its coach, Cleveland interviewed Minnesota assistant general manager George Paton for its GM opening this past weekend, a person familiar with the team’s itinerary told the Associated Press on...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden discuss Penguins beating Bruins, Super Bowl matchup, Astros scandal
This week’s “Madden Monday” with Mark Madden features three big topics: • The Penguins comeback win Sunday against the Boston Bruins • The AFC and NFC championship games • The Houston Astros cheating controversy We start with the Penguins. How big of a deal is it that they got at...
After cashing in on QB gambles, Niners, Chiefs in Super BowlVideo
A little more than two years ago, a pair of teams gambled on quarterbacks who had all kinds of potential but were far from a sure thing. Both teams guessed right. The Kansas City Chiefs will meet the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl on Feb. 2 in Miami....
Titans’ Derrick Henry stymied by Chiefs in AFC title gameVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Tennessee Titans hoped to follow the same gameplan against the Kansas City Chiefs that had carried them to playoff wins in Baltimore and New England, giving the ball to running back Derrick Henry as much as possible. It was a bad sign that their bruising...
Chiefs’ Andy Reid headed back to Super Bowl after long absenceVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Andy Reid sat inside a small dorm room on the campus of Missouri Western State six months ago, right as training camp got underway, and lamented for a moment how close his Kansas City Chiefs came to the Super Bowl last season. On Sunday, the coach...
Raheem Mostert runs wild as 49ers beat Packers in NFC championship gameVideo
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Raheem Mostert rushed for 220 yards and four touchdowns to make quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo mostly a spectator, Nick Bosa harassed Aaron Rodgers from the start and the San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 37-20, on Sunday for the NFC championship. The 49ers (15-3) advanced...
Mahomes leads Chiefs past Titans, into 1st Super Bowl in 50 yearsVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Arrowhead Stadium rocked to Whitney Houston’s “I Want To Dance With Somebody.” Kansas City fans’ half-century wait to boogie in the Super Bowl is over — in great part because of their quarterback’s magical feet, not to mention his majestic arm. With his best imitation of...
49ers, Packers look to go from losing seasons to Super BowlVideo
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers are one win away from accomplishing a turnaround that has been done only once before in the Super Bowl era. With a victory in the NFC championship game Sunday at home against the Green Bay Packers, the Niners will become the second...
Titans’ strength to meet Chiefs’ speed in AFC championshipVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Andy Reid rarely digs into his past, preferring to stay in the moment or focus squarely on the future. It’s an approach that has served him well during a coaching career that might land him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Yet when his Kansas...
Warrant for Odell Beckham Jr. rescinded in butt-swat caseVideo
NEW ORLEANS — A misdemeanor simple battery warrant for Cleveland Browns wide receiver and former LSU star Odell Beckham Jr. was rescinded, the New Orleans Police Department confirmed Saturday. The warrant was issued Thursday as video posted on social media appeared to show Beckham swatting a security officer’s buttocks during...
Titans’ Greg Joseph OK kicking extra points instead of field goalsVideo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans have found a way to fix the NFL’s worst field-goal unit: Ignore the kicker and just score touchdowns. The Titans went a measly 8 of 18 on field-goal attempts during the regular season, easily the league’s worst, making only 44.4%. Greg Joseph, their fifth...
Aaron Rodgers-Richard Sherman matchup highlights NFC championship gameVideo
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Nine years into his career and a little more than two years removed from a debilitating torn Achilles injury, Richard Sherman still is tormenting quarterbacks on a weekly basis. Just ask Kirk Cousins. Sherman had his third career playoff interception last week in a victory over...
Prolific pass-catcher Kittle takes more pride in blocking for 49ers RBsVideo
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — No tight end in NFL history has been as productive catching the ball over the first three years of a career as George Kittle. A player that skilled as a receiver might be expected to ask — or even demand — for the ball to come...
Former starting QB Mariota still finding ways to help TitansVideo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans benched Marcus Mariota for Ryan Tannehill in mid-October after a 2-4 start. Finding the No. 2 overall pick from the 2015 draft isn’t that hard during their amazing playoff run. Just keep an eye on the field. The Titans (11-7) have gotten Mariota into...
Warrant issued for Odell Beckham Jr. after allegedly slapping officer’s backsideVideo
Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. did not endear himself to New Orleans police Monday night when he apparently slapped a Superdome security officer on the backside in the LSU football team’s locker room after the Tigers defeated Clemson for the national championship. On Thursday morning, New Orleans police obtained...
Demi Lovato to sing national anthem at Super Bowl
NEW YORK — Grammy-nominated pop singer Demi Lovato will perform the national anthem at the Super Bowl. NFL and Fox on Thursday announced the performance, which will take place ahead of the big game on Feb. 2 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Jennifer Lopez and Shakira will headline the...
First Call: Eagles may want Hines Ward; charity drops Antonio BrownVideo
Wednesday’s “First Call” features some news about a pair of former Steelers receivers. A dreadful call crushes Pitt. And two hockey oddities. Thanks. But no thanks Here is the latest, greatest example of how toxic Antonio Brown has become. The former Steelers wide receiver recently posted a video where he...
Lots of memorable moments between Packers, 49ers in recent historyVideo
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Brett Favre vs. Steve Young. Aaron Rodgers dueling with Colin Kaepernick. The catch by Terrell Owens, electrifying returns from Desmond Howard and breathtaking runs by Kaepernick. Few franchises have been as intertwined over the last quarter-century as the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers, with...
Titans’ gamble hiring Mike Vrabel paying offVideo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Titans safety Kenny Vaccaro listened to how coach Mike Vrabel praised his performance in Tennessee’s wild-card win with the hint of a smile. “I know how Vrabel is,” Vaccaro said. “He’s tough. He wants you to be physical, gritty, grindy, and he just likes guys that are...
Panthers LB Luke Kuechly retiring after 8 seasons in NFLVideo
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly is retiring from the NFL after eight seasons. The 28-year-old Kuechly made the surprising announcement Tuesday night in a video posted on the team’s website. He said, “I think now is the right chance to move on.” Kuechly was selected to seven...
Stefanski ready to tackle task of turning around BrownsVideo
Kevin Stefanski made a favorable first impression. Dressed impeccably, he came across lawyer-like, polished and articulate. He exuded confidence and passion. Now, he has to win. In Cleveland, that always is the issue for coaches. “I’m excited for this challenge,” Stefanski said. “I’m ready for it.” The former Vikings offensive...
Tim Benz: Is Tony Romo, or any NFL analyst, worth $14 million?
A report from Front Office Sports states that ESPN is preparing to offer CBS NFL analyst Tony Romo somewhere between $10-$14 million annually. Let’s split the difference and say it’s $12 million. If Romo were to sign that deal, he’d make more cash in 2020 as a broadcaster than: •...
49ers expecting different Packers for NFC Championship gameVideo
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — When Aaron Rodgers greeted Jimmy Garoppolo following the least productive start of his sterling career, he had a simple message for the San Francisco 49ers quarterback: “We’ll see you later on.” Less than two months after that lopsided loss, the Green Bay Packers quarterback has proven...
Drug charge to be dropped against Patriots safety Patrick Chung
CONCORD, N.H. — A cocaine possession charge against New England Patriots safety Patrick Chung will be dropped with the understanding that he will undergo periodic drug testing and perform 40 hours of community service, a prosecutor said Monday. A grand jury in New Hampshire indicted Chung in August. Belknap County...
NFL playoff schedule: Titans vs. Chiefs, Packers vs. 49ers set for conference championships
The NFL playoffs rolled along with a exciting slate of games for the divisional round this weekend and the results mean a matchup of the No. 1 and 2 seed in the NFC, and the No. 6 seed facing the No. 2 in the AFC. On Saturday, the San Francisco...
