First Call: Steelers fans, it could be worse; you could be a Browns fan
In Monday’s “First Call,” our AFC North recap features a rotten start for Cleveland. Also, the Bengals hang tough and the Ravens go bonkers. Plus, Philadelphia fans live down to their reputation, while Saquon Barkley lives up to his. Cleveland clunker I’m not one who dismissed the offseason hype about...
Close call: Seahawks hold off Andy Dalton, Bengals for 21-20 winVideo
SEATTLE — Russell Wilson hit Tyler Lockett for a 44-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter, and the Seattle Seahawks withstood a career day from Andy Dalton to beat the Cincinnati Bengals 21-20 on Sunday. Wilson and the Seahawks struggled offensively for most of the game, but...
Report: Antonio Brown asked ‘social media consultants’ to help him get his Raiders release
Apparently, there was a method to Antonio Brown’s recent social media madness as he reportedly deliberately tried to orchestrate his release from the Raiders. Brown reached out to social media consultants, looking for advice on what he could do to ensure the Raiders would let him go, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen...
Baker Mayfield leaves with wrist wrapped after Browns poundedVideo
CLEVELAND — Quarterback Baker Mayfield had his right wrist wrapped after the Browns were rocked 43-13 by Tennessee in their opener. Mayfield appeared to get hurt Sunday when he was sacked for a safety in the first half by Cameron Wake. Following the game, Mayfield said “I’ll be all right”...
NFL Week 1 roundup: Chiefs top Jaguars, lose Tyreek Hill; Jaguars QB Nick Foles hurtVideo
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Despite losing star receiver Tyreek Hill early, Patrick Mahomes threw for 378 yards and three touchdowns while leading the Kansas City Chiefs to a testy and tactful 40-26 victory over the injury-riddled Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Mahomes took a beating and even had to leave the game...
Titans sack Baker Mayfield, much-hyped Browns in openerVideo
CLEVELAND — Maybe Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans deserved all the hype. Tennessee’s quarterback threw three touchdown passes — one a stunning 75-yarder to big back Derrick Henry — and the Titans rolled to a 43-13 rout Sunday over the Cleveland Browns, who fell flat on their faces in...
Lamar Jackson’s 5 TD passes help Ravens drub Dolphins 59-10Video
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Nine minutes into the season, Lamar Jackson had fans booing his hometown team. The South Florida native looked unstoppable from the start Sunday, and tied a franchise record with five touchdown passes to help the Baltimore Ravens humiliate the Miami Dolphins and rookie coach Brian Flores,...
Antonio Brown a Patriot, but unavailable for opener vs. Steelers
The NFL season already is so unpredictable that Antonio Brown is a New England Patriot. No, he won’t suit up Sunday night when the Patriots host Brown’s former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, from whom he forced a trade to Oakland in the offseason. He might be on the New England...
NFL inactives: Adrian Peterson a healthy scratch in Redskins’ opener
Adrian Peterson entered Sunday a single yard shy of becoming the fifth running back in NFL history to top 1,000 yards rushing in season openers. Washington coach Jay Gruden, however, made the four-time All-Pro and 2012 NFL MVP a heathy scratch Sunday for the Redskins’ opener at Philadelphia. That left...
Jefferson Hills family of Patriots’ Chase Winovich has torn loyalties
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — There will be torn loyalties Sunday among members of the Winovich family of Jefferson Hills. Tried-and-true fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Winoviches, apparently, have adapted to the premise that 24-year-old Chase Winovich, a rookie linebacker, will be playing for the rival New England Patriots when the...
Jaguars looking for better performance this year vs. ChiefsVideo
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville’s 2018 season began to unravel in Kansas City. After a 3-1 start that included a victory against New England, the Jaguars were more than confident walking into Arrowhead Stadium last October. There was pregame trash talk, subtle predictions and a belief in Jacksonville’s locker room it...
Falcons’ Julio Jones agrees to 3-year, $66 million extensionVideo
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — One day before the season opener, Atlanta Falcons receiver Julio Jones got his long-awaited contract extension Saturday, agreeing to a three-year, $66 million deal. The extension is nearly fully guaranteed when he signs. It locks in Jones through the 2023 season and removes a potentially major...
Cut by Raiders, Antonio Brown is a Patriot on eve of opener vs. SteelersVideo
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — Antonio Brown agreed to terms with the New England Patriots hours after the Oakland Raiders cut him, going from the NFL’s cellar to the defending Super Bowl champions on Saturday despite wearing out his welcome with two teams in one offseason. Antonio Brown has agreed to...
Chiefs sign Tyreek Hill to 3-year, $54 million extensionVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs signed Tyreek Hill to a three-year, $54 million contract extension Friday, locking up the playmaking wide receiver whose off-field issues left his future in the NFL in question just a couple months ago. The deal includes a $5.8 million signing bonus and...
Antonio Brown expected to play in Raiders openerVideo
ALAMEDA, Calif. — Star receiver Antonio Brown returned to the Oakland Raiders on Friday after a one-day absence and is set to play the season opener after apologizing following a run-in with general manager Mike Mayock that had put him in jeopardy of being suspended. “I’m excited to be out...
Breaking down Week 1 in NFL: Rams-
Panthers among top games
Here is a breakdown of Week 1 games in the NFL. Sunday games Los Angeles Rams at Carolina 1 p.m. Fox Opening line – Rams by 2.5 Streaks, stats and notes – Rams reached Super Bowl last season before losing to Tom Brady and Patriots 13-3. … Sean McVay owns...
Defense dominates as Packers beat Bears in NFL season opener
CHICAGO — The Monsters of the Midway showed up for the NFL’s season opener. They were wearing gold, green and white. In a defensive battle also marked by sloppy offense and penalties, the Packers used the Bears’ usual trademark, a staunch ‘D,’ and just enough from Aaron Rodgers on Thursday...
Brutal reactions to Meghan Trainor’s NFL kickoff performance
It seems many social media users were not amused that Meghan Trainor was featured in the 2019 NFL kickoff ceremony. Prior to the league’s first regular season game between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers on Thursday, the singer took the stage to the disapproval of many. In fact,...
Antonio Brown upset at Raiders for nearly $54,000 in fines
ALAMEDA, Calif. — Star receiver Antonio Brown said Wednesday that the Oakland Raiders have fined him close to $54,000 for missing a practice and walkthrough last month. Brown posted a letter on his Instagram account from general manager Mike Mayock saying that he was fined $40,000 for an unexcused absence...
Cowboys, Ezekiel Elliott agree on $90M deal that ends holdout
Ezekiel Elliott was finishing the early stretching at the first practice since ending his long holdout with the Dallas Cowboys when the star running back was called to the front of the group. Cheers rose from teammates Wednesday before Elliott led a brief set of jumping jacks to get the...
First Call: New Coyote Phil Kessel speaks; Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott gets huge contract
Wednesday’s “First Call” features details on Ezekiel Elliott’s new contract. Phil Kessel speaks for the first time as an Arizona Coyote. Austin Meadows homers again. And two local pitchers break new ground in the Major Leagues. Kessel the Coyote Phil Kessel may have been traded to Arizona two months ago,...
Bengals sign running back Giovani Bernard to 2-year dealVideo
CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals signed running back Giovani Bernard to a two-year contract extension Tuesday through the 2021 season. He could have become a free agent after this season. Bernard, a second-round draft pick in 2013, has been used to complement Joe Mixon. Last season, he carried 56 times...
Rams agree with QB Jared Goff on 4-year contract extensionVideo
LOS ANGELES — Quarterback Jared Goff agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Rams through the 2024 season. The Rams confirmed the agreement Tuesday night. The team didn’t disclose contract terms. Goff is beginning his fourth year with the Rams, who made him the No. 1 overall...
Clock is ticking as Cowboys, Ezekiel Elliott try to finalize $90M contract extensionVideo
FRISCO, Texas — There is no deal yet. But holdout running back Ezekiel Elliott and the Dallas Cowboys are getting prepared just in case. After spending the last month training in Cabo San Lucas in a contract dispute, Elliott flew back to Dallas on Tuesday so he can be available...
Pryor reportedly reaches injury settlement, parts ways with Jaguars
It looks like Terrelle Pryor is back on the NFL free agent market again. According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Pryor has reached an injury settlement with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the team has released him. The former Jeannette and Ohio State star initially had been placed on injured reserve...
