Browns’ David Njoku rises from problem child to consummate pro
BEREA, Ohio — David Njoku once demanded to be traded by the Cleveland Browns. Actually, he did it two or three times — in the same season. Looking back, the complex tight end, who was just 20 when he entered the NFL, is almost amused he wanted out of Cleveland....
Baker Mayfield, with sore ribs, plans to start Buccaneers’ must-win finale against Panthers
TAMPA, Fla. — Baker Mayfield’s sore ribs won’t stop the Tampa Bay quarterback from trying to help the Buccaneers clinch a division title and playoff berth in Sunday’s regular-season finale at Carolina. Mayfield, injured when he took a late hit in the closing minutes of last week’s 23-13 home loss...
Long after Super Bowl clash, Harbaugh brothers soaring again
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Eleven years after turning the Super Bowl into one of football’s most memorable family reunions, John and Jim Harbaugh are again at the forefront of the sport. This time, the two coaches are chasing different prizes — and won’t be in each other’s way. John Harbaugh’s...
Dalvin Cook is joining the NFL-best Ravens after being waived by the JetsVideo
Dalvin Cook is joining the Baltimore Ravens for a playoff run after being waived by the New York Jets. The move, confirmed by Cook’s agents with LAA Sports & Entertainment to the Associated Press on Thursday, came after Cook cleared waivers and became a free agent. NFL Network first reported...
4-time Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook signs with Ravens for playoffs
BALTIMORE — Free agent running back Dalvin Cook is signing with the Ravens for the playoffs, his agent confirmed to The Baltimore Sun on Thursday. Cook, 28, parted ways with the Jets on Tuesday after less than a year in New York. Baltimore was one of at least two teams...
Fire at home of Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill started by child playing with cigarette lighter
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A fire at the $6.9 million home owned by Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill was started by a child playing with a cigarette lighter in a bedroom, a fire official said Thursday. “It was an accidental fire,” Davie Fire Marshal Robert Taylor told The Associated Press....
Alabama linebacker Chris Braswell declares for NFL draft
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama linebacker Chris Braswell is heading into the NFL draft. Braswell joined fellow linebacker Dallas Turner and offensive tackle JC Latham in announcing plans to leave the Crimson Tide for the NFL. He announced his decision in a post Thursday on Instagram. “Throughout my tenure at UA,...
Brock Purdy, Tua Tagovailoa were selected to their 1st Pro Bowl as the starting quarterbacksVideo
Brock Purdy and Tua Tagovailoa were selected to their first Pro Bowl as the starting quarterbacks for their respective conferences. It’s the first time the two starting QBs are first-time picks since the 1999 season when Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner were chosen. Purdy was...
Firefighters put out large fire at the home of Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek HillVideo
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill and his family are safe after fire rescue crews responded to a large fire at his South Florida home Wednesday afternoon. The house, which is located in Southwest Ranches about 30 miles northwest of Miami, was shown Wednesday on local station...
Lamar Jackson to be held out of Ravens’ regular-season finale. Tyler Huntley set to start at QBVideo
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Lamar Jackson again is missing the end of the regular season, except this time it’s a good sign for the Baltimore Ravens. Jackson will not play in Baltimore’s finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend, coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday. Harbaugh said Tyler Huntley will start...
Browns resting QB Joe Flacco, other starters for finale against Bengals
BEREA, Ohio — Joe Flacco will sit out the regular-season finale at Cincinnati — along with some other regulars — to rest for the playoffs. Cleveland will go with Jeff Driskel, a franchise-record fifth quarterback to start for the team this season. Coach Kevin Stefanski said the Browns have earned...
Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes to sit regular-season finale vs. Chargers with AFC West secured
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes will sit out the Kansas City Chiefs’ regular-season finale against the Chargers on Sunday in Los Angeles with their eighth straight AFC West title secured and the No. 3 seed in the playoffs already locked up. The Chiefs can do no better or worse...
The 49ers have a rare quartet of 1,000-yard players. Dolphins and Lions could do the same.
The San Francisco 49ers and their deep group of playmakers accomplished a rare feat. They soon could have company from the Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions. Tight end George Kittle became the latest Niners player to eclipse 1,000 yards from scrimmage this season, joining Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo...
Dolphins to host Bills with a chance to win AFC East, start playoffs at homeVideo
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins will be in the playoffs no matter what, but there’s plenty at stake in their showdown with AFC East rival Buffalo on Sunday night. The Dolphins’ chances at earning the AFC’s top seed ended when they were blown out at Baltimore last weekend....
Analysis: Surprising Colts control playoff destiny entering showdown with Texans
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts weren’t supposed to be here, playing a prime-time game in Week 18 with a chance to make the playoffs. Not with a rookie quarterback who then suffered a season-ending injury that forced Indy (9-7) to rely on a veteran backup for its final 12 games....
Analysis: Bills overcome deficiencies, missteps to set up showdown at Miami for AFC East title
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Don’t count the Buffalo Bills out of — or into — the playoffs just yet. This has, after all, been a team that’s not made much appear easy this season. It’s remarkable that the Bills (10-6) have made made it this far. They’ve won four straight...
NFL fines Panthers owner David Tepper $300,000 for tossing drink at Jaguars fansVideo
The NFL has fined Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper $300,000 for tossing a drink at fans in Jacksonville toward the end of a game on Sunday. The league called Tepper’s conduct “unacceptable” in a statement released Tuesday. “All NFL personnel are expected to conduct themselves at all times in ways...
John Harbaugh has reason to dance after another dominant performance by the RavensVideo
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The more grueling the task, the better the Baltimore Ravens have looked this season, so it was only fair that coach John Harbaugh decided to let loose with a little dancing in the locker room. “I thought I was smooth, rolling. Then, my daughter showed me...
Jets releasing 4-time Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook with 1 game left in season
The New York Jets are waiving running back Dalvin Cook before the final game of the season, according to Cook’s agents, LAA Sports & Entertainment. The 28-year-old Cook had a disappointing tenure with the Jets, who signed the four-time Pro Bowl selection to a one-year deal worth $7 million —...
Frank Ryan, the last quarterback to lead the Cleveland Browns to an NFL title, has died at 87
CLEVELAND — Frank Ryan, the quarterback who led the Cleveland Browns to their last NFL title in 1964, has died. He was 87. The team said Ryan died Monday at a nursing home in Connecticut. There was no immediate cause of death given, but Ryan’s son, Frank Ryan Jr., told...
Analysis: officials, coaches had crucial Week 17 calls that could have huge playoff ramifications
The NFL is approaching the 5-year anniversary of a non-call on a blatant pass interference in the NFC championship game that helped the Rams advance to the Super Bowl over the Saints. It’s a black eye the league would like to forget, a difficult task in a season that’s been...
Fired-up Lions coach Dan Campbell insists he has moved on from loss to Cowboys
DETROIT — Dan Campbell’s passion has been on display since the moment he was hired as coach of the Detroit Lions, famously saying at his opening news conference nearly three years ago that his teams would kick in teeth and bite kneecaps of opponents. Campbell has screamed with joy, and...
Christian McCaffrey will miss 49ers’ regular-season finale, should return for playoffs
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — NFL leading rusher Christian McCaffrey will miss San Francisco’s regular-season finale with a mild calf strain but should be ready to return for the playoffs. McCaffrey got hurt in Sunday’s 27-10 victory at Washington that helped the 49ers clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC...
With playoffs clinched, Browns may rest QB Joe Flacco, other starters for finale vs. BengalsVideo
CLEVELAND — The Browns are in both the playoffs and an unusual spot: They can treat their regular-season finale like a preseason game. With a wild-card berth already locked up, Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski indicated Monday he may rest some starters, including red-hot quarterback Joe Flacco, for Sunday’s final regular-season...
Jaguars hope to get QB Trevor Lawrence, WR Christian Kirk back for finale
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars could get quarterback Trevor Lawrence and receiver Christian Kirk back for their regular-season finale at Tennessee, a game that will help determine the AFC South. Lawrence missed Sunday’s 26-0 drubbing of Carolina because of a sprained throwing shoulder, ending a streak of 51 consecutive...
