NFL returns social justice helmet decals, end zone stencils
NFL players can wear social justice messages on their helmets again this season and “It Takes All of Us” and “End Racism” will be stenciled in end zones for the second straight year as part of the league’s Inspire Change platform. The league will also bring back the “Say Their...
Joe Burrow, Bengals healthy and hopeful after 2020 debacleVideo
CINCINNATI — Plagued by injuries to key players — including franchise quarterback Joe Burrow — on top of all the pandemic-related disruption, last season was a special kind of mess for the Cincinnati Bengals. There is plenty of reason to believe this season will be better than that 4-11-1 result...
Raiders seek to make strides on defense in Jon Gruden’s 4th year
The improvement the Las Vegas Raiders showed offensively in Year 3 under Jon Gruden was negated by the lack of progress on defense. The end result was another season without a winning record or playoff berth. That prompted an offseason of change for the Raiders, who brought in energetic new...
Rookie QB Mac Jones ushers in new era for revamped PatriotsVideo
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Mac Jones has the keys to his first NFL offense. The rookie quarterback won’t be the only one tasked with steering the New England Patriots back into relevance in the AFC East after a fiasco of a first season without Tom Brady. Bill Belichick spent a lot...
High expectations again for Lamar Jackson, Ravens
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — In 2 1/2 seasons as a starter, Lamar Jackson has been an offensive threat unlike any in the NFL. He won an MVP and eventually a playoff game, blending efficient passing with a running ability rarely seen in a quarterback. About all that’s left for the...
Saints’ opener vs. Packers moved to Jacksonville because of Hurricane IdaVideo
The New Orleans Saints will play their season opener in Jacksonville after being displaced by Hurricane Ida. Instead of playing in the Superdome for the Sept. 12 opener against the Green Bay Packers, the Saints will host the game at the home of the Jaguars, the NFL announced Wednesday. While...
Ravens sign former Penn State QB Trace McSorley to practice squad
The Baltimore Ravens officially signed Trace McSorley to their practice squad, the team announced Wednesday afternoon. The former Penn State quarterback didn’t stay away from the Ravens for long. The Ravens waived McSorley during roster cuts Tuesday, but Baltimore signed him back to its 16-man practice squad Wednesday, according to...
NFLPA investigating Urban Meyer’s comments on vaccine status
The NFL Players Association has launched an investigation following Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer’s admission that vaccination status factored into the team’s roster decisions. NFLPA spokesman George Atallah confirmed the union’s action in an email to The Associated Press on Tuesday night, hours after Meyer told reporters: “Everyone was considered....
No resolution to Deshaun Watson dilemma as he stays on Texans rosterVideo
HOUSTON — Quarterback Deshaun Watson remained on the active roster Tuesday as the Houston Texans made cuts to reduce their roster to 53 players. Watson’s future with the team is in question after 22 women filed lawsuits alleging he sexually assaulted or harassed them. Houston police and the NFL are...
Cardinals place former Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler on reserve/retired listVideo
TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals placed cornerback Malcolm Butler on the reserve/retired list on Tuesday, potentially signaling the end of his seven-year career. NFL Network reported Monday that Butler was mulling retirement because of a “personal situation.” The 31-year-old Butler signed a $6 million, one-year deal with the Cardinals...
Cowboys cut former Pine-Richland, Pitt QB Ben DiNucciVideo
It appears the Dallas Cowboys will open the season with Cooper Rush as the primary backup quarterback to Dak Prescott. He is currently the last man standing, with the team informing Garrett Gilbert and former Pine-Richland and Pitt player Ben DiNucci of their release. “I just think he has shown...
Patriots cut Cam Newton, clearing way for Mac Jones to start
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Mac Jones era in New England has begun. The Patriots released Cam Newton on Tuesday, clearing the way for the rookie to open the season as New England’s quarterback. Newton’s release came hours before NFL teams had to reduce their rosters to 53 players and brings...
Weekly covid-19 tests for vaccinated NFL playersVideo
Fully vaccinated players will be required to get tested for covid-19 weekly instead of every 14 days as part of the revised protocols for the regular season agreed upon by the NFL and NFLPA. The weekly testing applies also for fully vaccinated Tier 1 and 2 staff. There’s an option...
Displaced by Hurricane Ida, Saints set up shop at Cowboys stadiumVideo
ARLINGTON, Texas — Displaced by Hurricane Ida, the New Orleans Saints went back to work Monday about 500 miles away in the stadium of another NFL team. Coach Sean Payton stood on the star logo in the middle of the home field of the Dallas Cowboys as the Saints stretched...
Tagliabue memoir a strong look into the NFL’s inner workings
Paul Tagliabue left his job as commissioner of the NFL in 2006 and didn’t get selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame until last year. If that seems odd for a man who guided the NFL for 17 years and oversaw labor peace, expansion, new stadiums, huge increases in...
Teams mull decision when to start rookie QBs
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Top two overall draft picks Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson are set to step right in and become starting NFL quarterbacks in Week 1 of their rookie season. The timeline for the three other first-round quarterbacks in this year’s draft is a bit murkier. But if...
Jets acquire edge rusher Shaq Lawson from TexansVideo
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The New York Jets are replacing one sack-happy Lawson with another. Edge rusher Shaq Lawson was acquired by the Jets from the Houston Texans on Sunday for a sixth-round pick in next year’s NFL Draft, according to a person with direct knowledge of the deal. The...
Ravens’ J.K. Dobbins expected to miss season because of torn ACL
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins is expected to miss the 2021 season with a torn ACL. “Been down this road before,” tweeted Zac Hiller, Dobbins’ agent, while retweeting an ESPN report about the injury. “He’ll come back bigger stronger faster.” Ravens RB J.K. Dobbins suffered...
Jaguars trade QB Gardner Minshew to Eagles for 2022 pickVideo
Minshew Mania is on the move. The Jacksonville Jaguars traded backup quarterback Gardner Minshew to Philadelphia on Saturday for a conditional draft pick in 2022. The Jaguars received a sixth-round pick that would become a fifth-rounder if Minshew plays 50% of snaps in three games. Minshew joins a QB room...
Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins injures left knee in preseason finaleVideo
LANDOVER, Md. — Running back J.K. Dobbins injured his left knee early in the Baltimore Ravens preseason finale Saturday at Washington. Dobbins went down in pain after being tackled by Jimmy Moreland and Jordan Kunaszyk on a screen pass from Lamar Jackson, who was making his exhibition debut. Dobbins was...
Ravens going for preseason record for longest win streak
John Harbaugh cared enough about his Baltimore Ravens tying the mark for the most consecutive preseason victories that he told players about it in the locker room after their 19th in a row. “I believe everything in life has meaning,” Harbaugh said. “It’s something only one other team has done.”...
Browns’ Baker Mayfield playing in preseason finale
CLEVELAND — Baker Mayfield will get a summer tune-up, after all. Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski surprisingly said Friday that Mayfield and some “select” Cleveland starters will play in Sunday night’s nationally televised exhibition finale against the Atlanta Falcons. Not wanting to risk injuries, Stefanski kept his starting quarterback and...
AP source: Saints name Jameis Winston starting QB
NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Saints selected Jameis Winston to succeed Drew Brees as starting quarterback for their regular-season opener against Green Bay on Sept. 12, said a person familiar with the decision. The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because the club has...
Bills’ Sean McDermott frustrated by team’s vaccination rateVideo
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — As frustrated as Sean McDermott has grown over the number of unvaccinated players on Buffalo’s roster, the Bills coach acknowledged there’s little more he can do to influence them to get the shot. “It’s tough. It’s frustrating. It’s challenging, however you want to say it. But...
Odell Beckham continues comeback, joins Browns’ team drillsVideo
CLEVELAND — Odell Beckham Jr.’s comeback is closer to completion. Beckham, who has slowly increased his activities since the Browns opened training camp last month, took his first snaps in team drills during Thursday’s practice — a major step in his return from season-ending knee surgery. Beckham was on the...
