Saints, defensive end Chase Young agree on 1-year contract for former No. 2 overall pick
NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints have agreed to terms of a one-year contract with free agent defensive end Chase Young, a move that provides reinforcements to an edge pass rush that periodically struggled to pressure quarterbacks last season. “I definitely plan to add a good piece,” Young said...
Leighton Vander Esch retires from NFL after multiple neck injuries with Dallas Cowboys
FRISCO, Texas — Leighton Vander Esch retired Monday following six NFL seasons, with the linebacker stepping away after missing 12 games for the Dallas Cowboys last year because of the latest in a series of neck injuries. The announcement by the 28-year-old former first-round draft pick came three days after...
Running backs had plenty of options this week, even if the position still faces challengesVideo
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — A year after his position was in crisis, Derrick Henry still feels a bond with his fellow running backs. And this was a week he could enjoy. “I was definitely happy to see those guys go off the market pretty fast. I think that speaks volumes...
Former Pitt star Aaron Donald announces his retirement after a standout 10-year career with the Rams
LOS ANGELES — Defensive lineman Aaron Donald has announced his retirement after a standout 10-year career with the Los Angeles Rams. The three-time AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, who began his football career at Penn Hills and went on to dominate at Pitt, made his surprising announcement on...
WR Marquise Brown agrees to 1-year deal with Chiefs
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs and Marquise Brown agreed on a one-year deal that could be worth up to $11 million, according to multiple reports Thursday night. The move gives quarterback Patrick Mahomes the upgrade at wide receiver the team had been searching for since the Super...
Chargers to trade WR Keenan Allen to Bears for 4th-round pick
The Chicago Bears are acquiring wide receiver Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers for a fourth-round pick. Two people familiar with the decision confirmed the move to the Associated Press on Thursday night on condition of anonymity because the trade hasn’t been announced. Allen has spent his entire 11-year...
Seahawks trade for Commanders QB Sam Howell
WASHINGTON — The Seattle Seahawks are acquiring quarterback Sam Howell from the Washington Commanders in a swap of draft picks, according to a person familiar with the trade. Seattle is getting Howell and fourth- and sixth-round picks from Washington for third- and fifth-rounders, the person said. The person spoke to...
Lions extend contracts of coach Dan Campbell, GM Brad Holmes
DETROIT — With the franchise coming off its best season in 32 years, the Detroit Lions extended the contracts of coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes through the 2027 season. “They have been the driving force behind the rebuild of our football team and the success that we...
Bengals bolster defense, add Sheldon Rankins and Vonn Bell
The Cincinnati Bengals have bolstered their defense by agreeing on contracts with defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins and safety Vonn Bell, two people familiar with the terms told the Associated Press on Thursday. Both people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deals haven’t been finalized. Rankins gets...
NFL reviewing whether Eagles and Falcons violated tampering policies
The NFL is reviewing whether the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles violated tampering policies during the legal tampering window, a league spokesman said Thursday. The Falcons agreed to a contract with four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins shortly after teams were permitted to start negotiating with unrestricted free agents Monday....
NFL considers rule changes that include challenges for penalties
The Indianapolis Colts are proposing a rule change that would allow coaches to challenge any penalty call for the first time. The NFL released a list of several rule change proposals Wednesday made by teams that included an option to run a fourth-and-20 play in lieu of an onside kick,...
Kirk Cousins looks to build his postseason legacy with the FalconsVideo
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Kirk Cousins has a single playoff victory in his long career. Even so, the Atlanta Falcons are betting at least $100 million that he is the quarterback who can lead this star-crossed franchise to its first Super Bowl championship. Cousins was introduced Wednesday evening by the...
NFL teams scramble to catch Chiefs as free agency begins
Calvin Ridley is heading to the Tennessee Titans, the highlight of the official start of free agency Wednesday when teams began reshaping their rosters in a quest to unseat the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs. Ridley — who had been expected to re-sign with the Jaguars — and the...
Former Pitt, Central Valley star Jordan Whitehead returning to Bucs on 2-year deal
TAMPA, Fla. — Safety Jordan Whitehead and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers agreed on a two-year, $9 million contract worth up to $10.5 million, a person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press on Wednesday. Whitehead, 27, returns to Tampa Bay after spending the past two seasons with the New...
Reports: WR Calvin Ridley agrees to 4-year, $92M deal with Titans
Wide receiver Calvin Ridley and the Tennessee Titans have agreed on a four-year, $92 million contract, a person with knowledge of the terms told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been finalized, said Ridley gets $50 million guaranteed. He...
Chiefs restructure Patrick Mahomes’ contract for salary cap relief, AP source saysVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs have restructured quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ contract, a person familiar with the decision told the Associated Press on Wednesday, giving the Super Bowl champions some much-needed salary cap space. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the financial details...
Texans agree on $49M deal with star pass rusher Danielle Hunter
The Houston Texans agreed with four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Danielle Hunter on a $49 million, two-year contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told the Associated Press. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract can’t become official until the new league year begins Wednesday,...
Browns are adding Jameis Winston to back up Deshaun Watson, AP source saysVideo
Deshaun Watson has a new backup in Cleveland. The Browns agreed Tuesday to a one-year deal with Jameis Winston that’s worth up to $8.7 million, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told the Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the move can’t...
Bengals agree to trade Joe Mixon to Texans
The Houston Texans are acquiring running back Joe Mixon from the Cincinnati Bengals, a person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press on Tuesday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the trade hasn’t been finalized. Mixon will replace Devin Singletary, who has agreed to...
Ravens agree to 2-year deal with free agent RB Derrick Henry, AP source saysVideo
The Baltimore Ravens agreed to a two-year contract with free agent running back Derrick Henry on Tuesday, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the move can’t become official until the new league year begins Wednesday....
Bengals agree to deals with Zack Moss, Geno Stone, will release Joe Mixon
The Cincinnati Bengals have agreed on two-year deals with running back Zack Moss and safety Geno Stone, two people familiar with the contracts told The Associated Press on Monday. The team also is releasing Joe Mixon, another person with knowledge of the team’s plans told the AP. The three people...
Browns agree to re-sign defensive linemen Za’Darius Smith and Maurice Hurst, AP sources sayVideo
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns agreed to re-sign defensive end Za’Darius Smith and defensive tackle Maurice Hurst, a person familiar with the contracts told the Associated Press on Monday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the free agents have yet to sign the deals to...
Colts agree to 3-year, $70M deal with Michael Pittman Jr., AP source says
INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard did everything he could to keep receiver Michael Pittman Jr. off this year’s free agent market. On Monday, he completed the job. Two weeks after promising Pittman would be in Indy next season — one way or the other — the sides...
Saquon Barkley signs with Eagles, who also add Bryce Huff
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles agreed to contracts with former New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley and former New York Jets defensive end Bryce Huff, two people familiar with the deals told the Associated Press on Monday. Barkley is set to sign a three-year deal for $26 million guaranteed...
Russell Wilson to Steelers: What they’re saying in Denver
The Russell Wilson era in Pittsburgh is officially expected to begin this week with an anticipated signing between the quarterback and the Steelers. Wilson has indicated that he plans to sign with the Steelers once the NFL calendar year begins on Wednesday. But what about the city he left behind?...
