49ers begin on-field work in offseason with Nick Bosa in town, Brandon Aiyuk missing
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers began their on-field work in the offseason with a surprise participant and a predictable absence. Star pass rusher Nick Bosa took part in the voluntary portion of the offseason for a change after spending previous seasons working out on his own in...
Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice won’t face charges from injured person over alleged assault, Dallas police say
DALLAS — Kansas City Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice won’t face charges from the injured person over his reported involvement in an alleged assault a little over a month after Rice was one of the speeding drivers in a chain-reaction crash that led to multiple charges. Dallas police said Tuesday the...
Jets QB Aaron Rodgers ‘doing everything’ at practice in his return from torn Achilles tendonVideo
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Aaron Rodgers is throwing and, more importantly, running again and officially putting his torn Achilles tendon behind him. The New York Jets quarterback has no limitations as he practices with the team during organized team activities, which began Monday. “I feel really good,” the quarterback said...
Jim Otto, ‘Mr. Raider’ and Pro Football Hall of Famer, dies at 86
Jim Otto, the Hall of Fame center known as “Mr. Raider” for his durability through a litany of injuries, has died, the team confirmed Sunday night. He was 86. The cause of death was not immediately known. “The Original Raider,” the club said in a statement posted on the social...
Irish interest in NFL heats up, league scouts more international cities
LONDON — Several hundred thousand Irish viewers got a tutorial from Charlie Smyth on the difference between lining up a kick in Gaelic football versus a field goal in American football. Smyth, who just had signed a contract with the New Orleans Saints, humbly told “The Late Late Show’s” national...
NFL distances itself from Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s comments
NEW YORK — The NFL is distancing itself from Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, saying “his views are not those of the NFL as an organization.” Butker appeared as the commencement speaker last week at Benedictine College, a private Catholic liberal arts school in Kansas, and said most of...
Why so many prime-time games? NFL executives believe Jets ‘owe us one.’Video
NEW YORK — A year ago, after Aaron Rodgers was acquired in a trade with the Packers, the Jets received six national television games. But Rodgers tore his Achilles four plays into his Gang Green debut against the Buffalo Bills and missed the rest of the 2023 season. Now, the...
NFL’s late Sunday afternoon doubleheader window continues to get the most scrutiny and viewers
When the NFL schedule gets released, fans and commentators obsess over how many prime-time appearances teams will make. However, the biggest competition and most attention when it comes to formulating the schedule each year is the late afternoon window for Fox and CBS. The 4:25 p.m. Sunday spot is the...
NFL schedule: Aaron Rodgers and Jets will face Vikings on Oct. 6 in London
NEW YORK — Aaron Rodgers will be facing a familiar opponent, albeit in a different uniform and in a new location. Rodgers and the New York Jets will kick off this year’s slate of games in London, when they are the visiting team against the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 6...
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker rails against Pride month, working women in commencement speech
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker railed against Pride month, working women, President Biden’s leadership during the covid-19 pandemic and abortion during a commencement address at Benedictine College last weekend. The three-time Super Bowl champion delivered the roughly 20-minute address Saturday at the Catholic private liberal...
Aspiring NFL coaches get an opportunity to hone their craft through Buccaneers coaching academy
TAMPA, Fla. — Ester Alencar plays quarterback for the Brazilian women’s flag football national team and coaches QBs on the men’s squad. Southeastern University defensive coordinator William Henry wrote 383 letters to colleges and NFL teams trying to get his foot in the door. Candice Davis-Price won a gold medal...
Patrick Mahomes vs. Joe Burrow showdown coming in Week 2 as NFL continues releasing its schedule
NEW YORK — First, Lamar Jackson. Then, Joe Burrow. The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs face a daunting test in opening their season after CBS unveiled Kansas City’s Week 2 opponent as being the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday. The league also announced Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets...
Jets sign 1st-rounder Olu Fashanu to 4-year, $20.51 million deal. Penn State OT was No. 11 pick
The New York Jets signed first-round draft pick Olu Fashanu to a four-year, $20.51 million contract on Monday. The deal with the former Penn State offensive tackle is fully guaranteed and includes a fifth-year team option. Fashanu was the 11th overall pick last month after the Jets traded down one...
Lions, QB Jared Goff agree on $212M, 4-year extension with $170M guaranteed
The Detroit Lions have looked in vain for a playoff-winning quarterback for decade after decade. When the search ended with Jared Goff under center, the franchise was determined not to let him get away. The Lions and Goff agreed to a $212 million, four-year contract extension, according to multiple reports....
Bucs make All-Pro Antoine Winfield Jr. NFL’s highest-paid DB with 4-year, $84M dealVideo
TAMPA, Fla. — All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. agreed to a four-year, $84 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that makes him the highest-paid defensive back in the NFL. The Bucs announced an agreement Monday. The 25-year-old, who as a rookie helped the team win its second Super Bowl...
Super Bowl champion Chiefs will open regular season at home against Ravens in AFC title game rematch
NEW YORK — The Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs will open the regular season at home against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 5 in a rematch of the AFC title game, the NFL announced Monday. The NFL will release the entire 2024 season on Wednesday night on the NFL...
Jerry Rice’s son, rookie Brenden Rice, feels he has plenty to prove
COSTA MESA, Calif. — Brenden Rice already had plenty to prove as the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice. Not being selected until the 225th pick in the NFL Draft two weeks ago added more fuel to the fire. Many thought Rice would be a middle-round pick....
A.J. Smith, winningest general manager in Chargers’ history, dies at 75
COSTA MESA, Calif. — A.J. Smith, a longtime NFL executive who was the winningest general manager in Chargers history, has died. He was 75. His son, Atlanta assistant general manager Kyle Smith, announced his father’s death in a statement released by the Falcons on Sunday. Kyle Smith said his father...
Chargers sign outside linebacker Bud Dupree to help bolster their pass rushVideo
COSTA MESA, Calif. — The Los Angeles Chargers signed outside linebacker Bud Dupree on Saturday, helping bolster an already formidable pass rush. The 31-year-old Dupree has 53 career sacks in nine NFL seasons, including 6 1/2 last year in his lone season in Atlanta. Dupree joins a Chargers group of...
Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. says he’s ‘super blessed’ to learn from Kirk Cousins
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Michael Penix Jr. insists he’ll have no difficulty adjusting to his role as the backup to new Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback Kirk Cousins. Before taking the field Friday for rookie minicamp, Penix was greeted by Cousins at the team’s practice facility. Others have speculated there could...
Bears coach Matt Eberflus says top pick Caleb Williams will open season as No. 1 QB
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Caleb Williams is the Chicago Bears’ starting quarterback. Just in case there was a shred of doubt the No. 1 overall draft pick is the team’s No. 1 QB, coach Matt Eberflus erased it on Friday. “No conversation. He’s the starter,” he said. Eberflus’ comment was...
49ers counting on new defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers’ experiment of bringing in a defensive coordinator from the outside didn’t work out, with the team firing Steve Wilks after just one season. Now they’re counting on the internal promotion of Nick Sorensen into that role — with a dose of outside...
Former Steelers WR Allen Robinson signs free-agent contract with Giants
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants signed wide receiver Allen Robinson to a free-agent contract with the hope he can help boost the team’s struggling offense. The Giants announced the signing Thursday, two months after Robinson was cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers in a cost-cutting move. The 30-year-old...
Cowboys cut former Steelers WR Martavis Bryant, ending his latest comeback attempt
FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys released former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Martavis Bryant on Wednesday, ending his latest attempt to return to the NFL following a long absence. Bryant signed with Dallas’ practice squad last season but didn’t make the active roster. He was retained on a futures contract after...
Pitt’s Bill Fralic lends local flavor to Croatian American Hall of Fame
The 2024 inductees to the Croatian American Sports Hall of Fame include many names with local connections, including Pitt football great Bill Fralic and his agent, who was an outstanding athlete himself. Plus, a slow-pitch softball star known as King Kong. The CAS-HOF’s selection committee announced the following area inductees:...
