Sao Paulo beefs up security for Brazil’s 1st ever NFL game as players raise crime concerns
SAO PAULO — Sao Paulo state’s government said it will deploy hundreds of police officers and provide escorts for team buses for Friday’s NFL game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers after some players expressed concern about playing in Brazil. Security operations for the game in Sao...
Ravens visit Chiefs for AFC title game rematch in Thursday night NFL openerVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs will spend a few minutes before their season opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night celebrating their latest Super Bowl triumph. Former players will return to Arrowhead Stadium, and team owner Clark Hunt will help raise their latest championship banner high...
Bills safety Damar Hamlin will start season opener against CardinalsVideo
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — A year after making the cut to successfully resume his football career following a near-death experience, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin reached a new plateau in his comeback in being selected a season-opening starter on Wednesday. Coach Sean McDermott announced the news by saying Hamlin will...
Reports: Broncos CB Patrick Surtain II gets new deal worth $24M per year
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II on Wednesday agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $96 million with $77.5 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports. The $24 million-per-year average vaults Surtain past Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. ($21.025 million) and Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire...
New rules led to more kickoff returns, no hip-drop tackle penalties in preseason
The early returns on the NFL’s new kickoff rules are in from the preseason, and the result is a significant increase in returns. Owners voted this spring to overhaul the kickoff, hoping to revive a play that had little action last season after most kicks resulted in no returns while...
Falcons add 3rd QB ahead of season opener, signing Nathan Peterman to practice squadVideo
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons added a third quarterback ahead of their season opener, signing former Pitt standout Nathan Peterman to the practice squad Tuesday. Peterman provides some insurance behind starter Kirk Cousins and backup Michael Penix Jr. after the Falcons dealt third-stringer Taylor Heinicke to the Los...
Brandon Aiyuk returns to 49ers practice with a new contract after making the process ‘difficult’Video
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Brandon Aiyuk’s first choice during his lengthy contract dispute with the 49ers that featured social media outbursts, a trade request and an awkward “hold in” was to remain in San Francisco. The 49ers never wanted to part ways with their star receiver, either. So what took...
The Chiefs seek the 1st Super Bowl threepeat after 8 previous back-to-back champs fell short
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs will try to do what Tom Brady, Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw couldn’t during their Hall of Fame careers. After winning back-to-back Super Bowls, Mahomes and the Chiefs now are aiming to become the first team ever to win three straight. Kansas City...
Browns sign 20-year stadium rights deal with Huntington Bank as they position for possible new home
CLEVELAND — As they position themselves for a possible new domed stadium, the Cleveland Browns are renaming their current one. The NFL team on Tuesday announced a 20-year agreement with Huntington National Bank, a partnership that includes naming rights. Cleveland’s lakefront stadium will now be called Huntington Bank Field. The...
Washington’s Luke McCaffrey looks to make his own name
ASHBURN, Va. — Luke McCaffrey has some big cleats to fill as the son of Ed and brother of Christian. Also following brother Max, he is on the verge of being the fourth member of his family to play in the NFL. McCaffrey knows all about what comes with having...
San Francisco 49ers receiver Ricky Pearsall stable after shooting during attempted robbery, police say
SAN FRANCISCO — A juvenile suspect is in custody after allegedly shooting San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall in the chest Saturday afternoon during an attempted robbery in central San Francisco, officials said. Pearsall, 23, was listed in fair condition at San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, the...
49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall shot during attempted robbery
SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall was shot in the chest Saturday during an attempted robbery in central San Francisco, officials said, and he was reported to be in serious but stable condition. Mayor London Breed said in a post on the social platform X that...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Fantasy football is serious business in this Pittsburgh league
We’re in the middle of fantasy football draft season. Most participants are just sadly pretending. If you invest $50 or $100 or whatever piddling sum, there’s no real risk. That’s OK, but don’t posture like you’re Howie Roseman. Don’t bore people with tales of brilliant roster management: “I got Aiyuk!...
NFC West preview: 49ers bid for rare three-peat in divisionVideo
The NFC West has been a one-team show the past two years with the San Francisco 49ers winning every game against their division rivals, except when they rested their starters. If the Niners want to become the first team to win the NFC West three straight years since Seattle did...
NFC South preview: Baker Mayfield, Bucs look to fend off new-look Falcons, other challengersVideo
TAMPA, Fla. — Losing Tom Brady didn’t loosen the Buccaneers’ hold on the NFC South. Baker Mayfield replaced Brady, revived his career and led Tampa Bay to its third straight division title and a playoff victory last season. Now, another veteran quarterback enters the division along with two new head...
NFC East preview: Cowboys up next in bid for repeat division titleVideo
The Dallas Cowboys are the latest team through the ever-revolving door of NFC East champions. They’ll have to finish ahead of Philadelphia’s “Dream Team” if the division is going to have a repeat winner for the first time since the Eagles won four in a row from 2001-04. Dallas overtook...
NFC North preview: Lions, Packers lead suddenly daunting divisionVideo
The week before Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was picked by Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris to be her running mate, he visited Vikings training camp and made a glowing 11-win prediction for his favorite team in that other fall season that will dominate American attention this year. While Walz’s optimistic...
Chiefs’ pursuit of 3-peat hottest topic among many storylines entering NFL seasonVideo
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs chasing history will be the hottest topic throughout the NFL season. Kansas City’s three-peat quest is only one of many interesting storylines. Aaron Rodgers is back in New York after his first season with the Jets lasted only four plays. The 40-year-old four-time NFL MVP...
Miami Dolphins extend coach Mike McDaniel through 2028 season, AP source says
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins want Mike McDaniel to be around for a while. The head coach who was just the third Dolphins coach to make the playoffs in each of his first two seasons at the helm signed a contract Friday that extends him through the 2028...
Game week begins for the Ravens as they prepare for the NFL’s season opener at Kansas CityVideo
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Game week has arrived for John Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens returned to practice Friday after three days off, and the focus turns to Thursday’s season opener at Kansas City. The Chiefs earned the right to play in that game as the defending Super...
AFC South preview: Young QBs aim to challenge powerful TexansVideo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Looking at the recent history of the AFC South makes it easy to envision the Tennessee Titans winning the division, if only because they have Brian Callahan as their new coach. Doug Pederson capped his first season coaching Jacksonville watching his Jaguars grab the AFC South title...
AFC West preview: Teams make major changes in bid to knock off ChiefsVideo
The Kansas City Chiefs have ruled the AFC West since two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes was still slinging it at Texas Tech. They’ve won the division every year since 2016. What the back-to-back Super Bowl champs are really out to accomplish this season, though, is something that’s never been done before:...
AFC East preview: Jets, Dolphins, Patriots looking to end Bills’ 4-year reignVideo
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills have sat atop the AFC East for four straight years. Their drive for five could prove to be the toughest task of all. A ton of roster turnover has provided plenty of questions — and doubts. Especially with Aaron Rodgers back with the New...
AFC North preview: Bengals, Browns hope for better QB health as teams chase RavensVideo
Football’s top division wasn’t even at full strength in 2023. With better luck at the quarterback position, it could be quite a race for the AFC North title this season. Lamar Jackson stayed healthy last year and won his second MVP, helping Baltimore to the best regular-season record in the...
Bettors banking on Eagles resurgence, Cowboys regression as NFL season begins
LAS VEGAS — The Philadelphia Eagles looked as if they were ready to return to the Super Bowl last season after beating the Buffalo Bills, 37-34, in overtime to move to 10-1. Then Philadelphia fell apart, losing six of its final seven games, including a 32-9 stinker in the playoffs...
