Based on contact talks in recent days, the Kansas City Chiefs and running back Larry Johnson are bridging their differences and getting closer to a long-term contract extension. The two sides have engaged in serious contract talks in recent days, making considerable progress as... more

Al Bello/Getty Images The trade of tight end Jeremy Shockey leaves a big hole on the Giants' depth chart. Tight end Jeremy Shockey fits in with New Orleans as well as beignets. Defensive end Jason Taylor becomes Washington?s newest monument. Each... more

Between now and midnight Friday, some players will re-sign and be removed from this list, and some will be released and added to this list. But as of Thursday afternoon, here is a look at some of the top players ???- restricted free agents and franchise players are not... more

As much as Eric Mangini has tried to change the culture in Cleveland, one of his biggest challenges now is changing the mind of Browns defensive tackle Shaun Rogers. Rogers has grown so disenchanted with the situation in Cleveland that he has asked the Browns not to pick up the $6... more

INDIANAPOLIS -- Medical testing at the scouting combine here revealed that Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree, one of the top prospects in this year's NFL draft, has a slight stress fracture in his left foot, league sources said Saturday morning. After... more

The PA announcer in Lucas Oil Stadium told the assembled teams Saturday morning that Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith, one of the top prospects in the April NFL draft, had gone AWOL. Schefter's blog The eyes of the football world are on the 2009 Scouting Combine. Adam... more

With an uncapped year looming for 2010, everyone will be playing under an entirely different set of rules. One rule creates a situation that makes it appear as if this year's franchised players have taken two steps forward and one back. Franchise-tag recap An... more

Watching Brett Favre never got old, even if he did. He went from green and gold in Green Bay to green, white and gray in his beard in New York. Like so many Hall of Fame players before him, Favre played a season that will be entered in the record books but not in... more

Jamie Squire / Getty Images Though the Patriots drafted 10 players in 2000, only sixth-round quarterback Tom Brady became a star. Note: The following story can be found in the Super Bowl XLIII official game program. Following the 2004 NFL Draft, New York's... more

Knowing the tough economic times the country is in, the NFL is doing its fans a favor. The average ticket price for NFL playoff games this year will be approximately 10 percent lower than last year, the NFL confirmed today, citing the economic challenges facing fans as the reason for... more

More: ?? Adam Schefter's NFL.com blog EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- From the moment Michael Strahan burst out of the blow-up Vince Lombardi Trophy in Thursday night's pre-game introductions, the Giants had a huge emotional edge. They carried it with them on their first drive... more

Darron Cummings/Getty Images Lucas Oil Stadium can hold 63,000 football fans, some of whom will get a view of downtown Indianapolis. INDIANAPOLIS -? Welcome to Lucas Oil Stadium, the Colts? swanky home and Indianapolis? newest gusher. It opens Sunday night to the Colts... more

Michael Conroy/Associated Press Peyton Manning, with Jim Sorgi and Colts president Bill Polian, gets a look at the team's new stadium. INDIANAPOLIS -- The former Super-Bowl champion Colts repeated -- but not in the way they wanted. When quarterback Peyton Manning... more

Stunned and saddened at the loss of their friend and colleague, Gene Upshaw, the NFL Players Association now must carry on without the man who has led them since the 1970s. In its history, the NFLPA's only two Executive Directors were Upshaw and Ed Garvey. Now, with... more

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images Matt Ryan's fight for the No. 1 job in Atlanta continues this week when he gets the start against the Titans. Just as summer is creeping to an end, so are quarterback competitions around the league. Chicago already has anointed... more

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images Anquan Boldin had a career-high nine touchdown receptions last season. Wide receiver Anquan Boldin's displeasure with the Cardinals has not dissipated. If anything, it has intensified. Boldin criticized the organization Monday for... more

TAMPA, Fla. -? Sideline reporters almost always accumulate more information than they dispense. Now, change that. With this outlet, there?s no reason to hold back on any information uncovered during a weekend in Tampa for Sunday night?s Buccaneers-Patriots preseason game. Brady misses... more

Greg Trott/Getty Images Former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith is one of three quarterbacks vying for the 49ers' starting job. Some names that emerge this time of year are familiar; others not so much. In San Fancisco, lesser-known quarterback J.T.... more

Scott Halleran / Getty Images Jared Lorenzen earned a Super Bowl ring as a backup to Eli Manning at Super Bowl XLII. With starter Peyton Manning on the mend, the Indianapolis Colts signed Jared Lorenzen and Quinn Gray for their depleted quarterback unit on Thursday, the... more

An idea once even more unthinkable than a Brett Favre comeback is now under consideration. The Green Bay Packers have spoken to multiple teams to see what they would be willing to offer for Favre. It is unknown exactly how many teams the Packers have spoken with, but... more

CARLSBAD, Calif. -- After NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell last week said it's "ridiculous" to reward untested and unproven rookies with lucrative contracts, NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw offered his own interpretation of... more

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images Former Packer Koren Robinson was the odd man out on a team loaded with talent at wide receiver. Even now, when the NFL is in the time of year that it rests, storylines do not entirely disappear. Between now and training camp, some... more

Jamie Squire/Getty Images Can Brett??Favre count on the adoration of Packers fans when he returns to Lambeau Field? CANTON, Ohio -- When it comes to the Brett Favre saga and all the Packarazzi now based in Green Bay awaiting his return, fiction and facts have begun to... more

Rick Stewart/Getty Images Jason Peters' (71) absence could create a massive hole along the Bills' offensive line. Buffalo is about to encounter the same questions and controversies that gripped Chicago this week. Just as Bears wide receiver/return... more

Cincinnati and Pro Bowl wide receiver Chad Johnson struck a deal Sunday that really is no deal. Each side wins. The Bengals get a quieter, happier Johnson in camp, on time, just as he promised; Johnson gets assurances that -- if he is on his best behavior this year on and off the... more

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images Brett Favre, who announced his retirement in March, is now in complete control of his future. For years, Brett Favre controlled the Packers' huddle. Now, in a way, he controls his fate. To be reinstated off the reserve/retired... more

Jamie Squire/Getty Images Will Brett Favre make a dramatic return back to Green Bay? That decision is up to the legendary quarterback. A rare talent, Packers quarterback Brett Favre now holds a rare distinction. Without having an official no-trade clause in his... more

Andy Manis/AP The "Battle of the Bays" will take on a whole new meaning if Brett Favre winds up in Tampa. Training camp beckons. But first, so does a Brett Favre update. In talking with numerous NFL teams, the Packers contacted more than 20, testing to... more

During a telephone conversation Thursday with Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson, quarterback Brett Favre conveyed he is planning to return to the Packers and report to training camp this weekend. If he follows through on his plans, Favre is expected to fax a letter seeking... more

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images Brett Favre will likely never be teammates with Brian Urlacher in Chicago. But which teams could work out a trade for the future Hall-of-Fame QB? No question in football, or sports, is more compelling than where quarterback Brett Favre will... more

The following story is from NFL.com's Fantasy Football 2008 Preview magazine, which is currently available on newsstands everywhere, as well as on NFLShop. In 2007, my life changed even more than Eli Manning's and the Giants'. I got married, moved to the suburbs, became a... more

Just as Jerome Bettis walked away from football after winning the Super Bowl, Michael Strahan now has done the same. Strahan is retiring. Strahan has a lucrative offer from FOX-TV waiting for him, and could emerge into the type of star on TV that he was for the Giants.... more

Now football does a wave it would rather not, waving goodbye to the players who simultaneously grew the game and their legacies. Say goodbye to the greats Five legendary players have called it a career this offseason. Each made numerous Pro Bowls and was a Super Bowl... more

Attendance hasn't meant this much since elementary school. But these days, it provides a glimpse into the feelings of players and the hold teams have over them. Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress and tight end Jeremy Shockey were present for the start of New York's... more

No doubt, it would be great to be Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or Adrian Peterson. But if you could trade places with one person right now, any one person, it would have to be Will Smith. Either Will Smith. One Will Smith stars at defensive end for the New Orleans Saints;... more

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images Jeff Garcia has hinted at retirement. As usual, Tampa Bay has quarterbacks coming and going, with futures in question, and answers coming as early as Thursday. Its incumbent Pro Bowl quarterback, Jeff Garcia, told Sirius Satellite... more

Rob Carr/AP Joe Flacco (right) and Kyle Boller (left) face tough competition for the Ravens' starting job from Troy Smith (center). See if this sounds familiar. At this time last year, desperate to solidify their quarterback position for years to come, the... more

Doug Benc/Getty Images Jason Taylor's days in Miami could come to an end as early as next week. Dancing with the Stars is over, but the Jason Taylor reality show is just beginning. In the next week, the Dolphins and Taylor get to run an option play, with each... more

Ordinarily, Memorial Day weekend is a time for teams and players to rest, relax, and recharge. But some teams have some sticky issues that are marring the weekend. It will be tough to relax entirely when headache-type-issues await, as they now do in Buffalo, New Orleans and... more

Harry How/Getty Images Marion Barber had a career-high 975 yards rushing in 2007. In a matter of hours, Labor Day turned into Pay Day. First, NFL owners voted unanimously for early termination of the current collective bargaining agreement, setting up the... more

John Bazemore/AP Matt Ryan, the No. 3 overall pick in this year's NFL Draft, understands the importance of not missing any of training camp. Anxious to bury last year while positioning themselves for this and future years, the Atlanta Falcons have kicked off contract... more

Elsa/Getty Images Kevin Jones amassed 3,067 yards rushing in four seasons with the Lions. Never finished trying to upgrade its roster, New England is at it again. As usual. This time it is tinkering with the idea of adding a running back that could provide... more

Matt Stroshane/Getty Images Ray Lewis is one year away from possibly hitting the free-agent market. Now the Ravens know what it feels like to run into perennial Pro Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis. The two sides have hit a stalemate on contract talks aimed at a long-term... more

The ultimate quarterback sneaks are the ones in which players go from late-round pick or undrafted free agent to the top of a team's depth chart and beyond. Recent QBs to climb up the charts QB Round College Derek Anderson 6th Oregon State Tom Brady 6th Michigan Marc... more

Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images Shaun Alexander appears to have options in his post-Seattle football career. Cincinnati is hardly the only team interested in former NFL MVP Shaun Alexander. New Orleans also is. Denver might be. And now, after looking as if he could... more

Seth Perlman/AP The Cowboys passed on running back Rashard Mendenhall for a reason. Cold pizza and Chinese food usually make better leftovers than notebook nuggets. But these aren?t bad, either. » When Dallas bypassed Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall in... more

Levi Jones, OT Cincinnati Bengals Career Statistics GMs/GS: 84/79 Turns out Chad Johnson is not the only Bengal that has asked to be traded. Former first-round pick Levi Jones recently asked the Bengals to trade him, though his issues have nothing to do with... more

Embattled quarterback Michael Vick met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on this weekend last year to inform him that his dogfighting issues were overblown. With Vick now serving a 23-month prison sentence for conspiring to run an interstate dogfighting operation, his agent... more

Jake Long and the Dolphins cleaned up Tuesday, producing a win-win deal (which is how negotiations should work). Now it's time to clean up all the information nuggets they left behind. ?? It's a win-win deal for both sides for various reasons. Miami wanted Long to... more

Add Arizona's Anquan Boldin to the list of disgruntled wide receivers that have requested a trade. Anquan Boldin, WR Arizona Cardinals 2007 Statistics Recs: 71 Yds: 853 Avg: 12.0 TDs: 9 Boldin recently met with Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt... more

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Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images Are the Rams seriously considering teaming Darren McFadden with Steven??Jackson? In a tribute to Lawrence Welk, here???s the NFL mock draft version of "a one, and a two, and a three." 1. Miami Dolphins: Negotiations for... more

Top 10's usually are reserved for late-night talk show hosts and college football poll voters. But today, they come here, at NFL.com, in the top 10 observations of the NFL schedule: 1. New England's schedule is soft as Cottonelle. Go ahead and try to find an early-season... more

Matt Slocum/AP The Jets have put in some quality time with Arkansas running back Darren McFadden. For all the enormous off-decisions the Jets have made, none is any more franchise-altering than the one they are now contemplating with the sixth overall pick. New... more

Bill Parcells and the Miami Dolphins have been unable to find a trading partner for the No. 1 pick. But the St. Louis Rams now have options at No. 2. Around the Web NFL.com editors are scouring the web to bring you the latest draft reports on all 32 teams. See some of the... more

Joe Robbins/Getty Images The relationship between Chad Johnson and Carson Palmer took a different turn on Wednesday. Usually Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is the one trying to connect to wide receiver Chad Johnson. On Wednesday, it was Johnson who tried connecting... more

Deuce McAllister, RB New Orleans Saints Career Rushing: SEASONS: 7 ATT: 1,322 YDS: 5,678 TDs: 44 » More: McAllister on his knee rehab Deuce will not be sprung loose, not from New Orleans? roster anyway. The Saints and their popular veteran... more

Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images Former Georgia Tech head coach Chan Gailey, who is now the Chiefs offensive coordinator, learned firsthand last season how good Matt Ryan could be when the QB led Boston College to a victory over Gailey's Yellow Jackets. Monday was... more

The on-and-off trade talks between Dallas and Tennessee are on again, in a big way. The Cowboys and Titans spent Saturday going back and forth on proposals, getting considerably closer to a trade that would send talented, but troubled, cornerback Adam ?Pacman? Jones to Dallas. ... more

Two potential first-round picks are relying more on personal letters than pro days to improve their draft stock. Quentin Groves DE, Auburn Career statistics G/GS: 51/23 Tackles: 120 Sacks: 26 VIDEO: At the combine Mario Manningham WR,... more

Invites are out and RSVPs are in. Longest alone in green room: Player Year Duration (in picks) Aaron Rodgers 2005 16 Leeland McElroy 1996 16 Brady Quinn 2007 15 Irv Smith 1993 9 Dewayne Washington 1994 7 Kenyatta Walker 2001 6 Tony... more

It almost seems unfair. New England goes 18-1 last season, then holds the seventh overall pick in the draft. To prepare for the pick that is enough to unnerve the rest of the league, New England appears to be getting defensive. It hosted a visit Monday with USC... more

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images Matt Ryan could provide Atlanta some much-needed stability at its quarterback position. Quarterback issues consumed Atlanta at this time last year, and they are doing the same this year. Last year, Atlanta traded Matt Schaub to... more

PALM BEACH, Fla ? Sometimes a good spring cleaning consists of cleaning out the notebook? Latest on McNabb » One year ago this month, the Eagles made quarterback news when they used their top pick on Kevin Kolb. Now they have a bit more quarterback news, which Eagles coach... more

Ben Liebenberg/NFL.com Fresh off of helping the Giants win the Super Bowl, Plaxico Burress could be looking for a new, more lucrative, deal. New York's world-champion Giants open their voluntary -? emphasis on "voluntary" ?- offseason conditioning program... more

Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Bobby Carpenter was the ninth defensive player in 12 first-round picks taken by Bill Parcells. Miami?s grand football poobah Bill Parcells provides no hints about what he will do with this year?s top overall pick. But his history does. ... more

Doug Benc/Getty Images Darren McFadden is getting a lot of attention around the league. As armed as the Cowboys are to move up in the first round of the draft, Dallas' two first-round picks are not enough. Based on the 2008 NFL draft point chart that teams... more

Chris McGrath/Getty Images Pacman??Jones could fill a critical area of need for the Cowboys. At a time when cornerback DeAngelo Hall has been traded to Oakland, another high-profile cornerback could be dealt within the next week. NFL sources said Thursday that... more

Other than his supercharged arm and his gunslinger's mentality, Brett Favre was one of us. We've suffered through what he suffered through. We've cried over the same things he has. Aside from all the big hits he absorbed through the years, we felt so much of what he... more

Greg Trott/Getty Images Pro Bowl receiver T.J.??Houshmandzadeh appears to be following teammate Chad Johnson's lead. Cincinnati wide receiver Chad Johnson already has stated he does not plan to attend the Bengals' voluntary offseason conditioning program that... more

Rick Stewart/Getty Images David??Garrard beat the Steelers twice last season, including once in the playoffs. Quarterback David Garrard and the Jacksonville Jaguars are closing in on a new contract that would be the richest in franchise history and could be finalized as... more

Doug Benc/Getty Images Talks between the Raiders and DeAngelo Hall have been tripped up. Oakland wheeled and dealed throughout free agency but the wheels got stuck in neutral Monday, when trade talks for Atlanta cornerback DeAngelo Hall bogged down ???- at least... more

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images It may be difficult for the Cardinals to keep both Anquan??Boldin and Larry??Fitzgerald on the roster. Arizona pulled off a mega trade Tuesday. The Cardinals traded one set of wide-receiver issues for another. After awarding wide... more

Myron Cope is as much of part of Steelers lore as the Immaculate Reception, the Steel Curtain, or The Terrible Towel that he actually invented. Old-timer that he was, Cope created The Terrible Towel -- and never profited a penny off it. What he made were memories for others. ... more

As much as Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston wowed scouts during his personal workout Friday, he did the same during private individual workouts Monday for the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets. Miami, which owns the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft, sent its... more

Lions head coach Rod Marinelli continues landing his former Buccaneers, and he did it again Saturday. More free agency updates: ?? Free agent tracker ?? Around the Web: Latest player news ?? Photos: Free agents on the move The Lions reached agreement with former... more

Free-agent deals continue rolling in, but it's two deals that haven't been completed that are creating the most intrigue. Two days into the free-agent signing period, the New England Patriots have yet to re-sign wide receiver Randy Moss and the Green Bay Packers still have not... more

Football?s hot stove league kicks off at 12:01 a.m. Friday morning, when teams can start igniting their fans' hopes and cooking up free-agent contracts. Players who have been franchise tagged Player Team Ken Hamlin, S Cowboys Nnamdi Asomugha, CB* Raiders Corey Williams, DT... more

INDIANAPOLIS -- Free agency kicks off Friday, Feb. 29, and so does the date that trades can be consummated. Starting next week and lasting through the draft, the league will see a series of headline-creating, focus-grabbing trades. Players expected to be on the move include... more

Teams with most salary-cap room Team Room available Miami Dolphins $44 million under Jacksonville Jaguars $42 million under Buffalo Bills $39.4 million under Tennessee Titans $39.2 million under New Orleans Saints $39.2 million under San Francisco 49ers $37.4 million under ... more

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Broncos have restructured the contract of running back Travis Henry to save salary-cap space and ensure his return in 2008. Henry finished the 2007 season, his first with the Broncos, with 691 yards rushing and four touchdowns. He missed three games due to injury... more

INDIANAPOLIS ?- News flash: The Seahawks slapped their franchise tag on cornerback Marcus Trufant. The Titans slapped theirs on defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. The Cowboys have put their franchise tag on safety Ken Hamlin. The Packers placed their franchise tag on defensive tackle Corey... more

Nnamdi Asomugha, CB Oakland Raiders Career statistics Years: 5 Tackles: 217 INTs: 9 The Oakland Raiders slapped the exclusive franchise tag on cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha on Wednesday. Asomugha became the first players since Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney last... more

OAHU, Hawaii ?- In a way, top-rated draft prospects are a lot like stocks, with their values rising and dropping daily. But just over two months before the 2008 NFL Draft, the value of Virginia defensive end Chris Long is undeniably growing. Three well-connected NFL sources in... more

OAHU, Hawaii -? Once the champagne dries and the parade ends, reality bites. Championship postseasons often lead to contentious offseasons, when players feel they should be rewarded for helping their teams win a Super Bowl. It will be no different in New York, where multiple Giants... more

OAHU, Hawaii -- Now that Super Bowl XLII is over the next game that will be played is a game of tag. NFL teams can begin placing franchise tags on players Feb. 7, and have until Feb. 21 to do it. When a player is tagged, that means his team can match any offer sheet the... more

After a game he never will forget, Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is having a day that will be just as memorable. Spagnuolo started Tuesday going through New York's first championship parade in more than seven years, getting showered with confetti. ... more

PHOENIX -- When USC coach Pete Carroll spoke with the Atlanta Falcons about their head coaching vacancy, mass speculation ensued. When Carroll then met with the Redskins about their head coaching vacancy, no one noticed. But multiple NFL sources confirmed Sunday that... more

PHOENIX -- With all the conversation about new media, we now have a better idea of what it actually is. Amongst its many branches, new media somehow groups the AFC and NFC with TMZ, providing the type of 25-8-366 coverage that society craves and athletes abhor. Leave it... more

Quarterback Tom Brady was already on the road to perfection long before the Patriots embarked on their path. Brady grew up in San Mateo, Calif., with a front-row seat for the greatness to which he aspired. Photos ... Best-ever sixth round? » More photos Brady was a 4... more

Redskins owner Daniel Snyder strongly considered hiring former New York Giants head coach Jim Fassel back in 2004, until Joe Gibbs came out of retirement. Now that Gibbs has re-retired, Snyder is, once again, strongly considering hiring Fassel. There even are those familiar... more

Justin Tuck, DE N.Y. Giants Career Statistics Tackles: 106 Solo: 80 Assisted: 26 Sacks: 11 The Giants reached agreement late Thursday with defensive lineman Justin Tuck on a 5-year, $30-million contract extension, with $16 million guaranteed and $22.5 million in the... more

Leave it to the NFL to turn its playoffs into sports? biggest surprise party. Surprise: Eli Manning has led his New York Giants further in these playoffs than his older brother, Peyton, led the defending Super-Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts. Bigger surprise: With Philip... more

Harry How/Getty Images Eli Manning is learning that playoff wins are a great way to supplement an income. This postseason, New York quarterback Eli Manning has rewarded the Giants for dealing for him after he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. And the... more

Getty Images If Tony Dungy and Mike Holmgren decide to call it quits, their next stop could be the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Now that Indianapolis and Seattle have lost their divisional playoff games, the waiting games for head coaches Tony Dungy and Mike Holmgren kick... more

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images Ryan??Grant is one of several elite NFL players who went undrafted. As New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum watched the NFL playoffs last weekend, he realized they were an infomercial for undrafted free agents. But even he didn???t... more

San Francisco's offense was thrown for a loss Thursday, when a source close to 49ers guard Larry Allen said the 11-time Pro-Bowl and future Hall-of-Fame selection is expected to retire. One of the strongest lineman to ever play the game, the 6-foot-3, 325-pound Allen no... more

Joe Gibbs serves as a model of a forgotten lesson from a forgotten time. Back in 1981, when a 40-year-old Gibbs took office in Washington, he opened with five consecutive losses. He started much in the way that Tom Landry did in Dallas in 1960, when Landry went 0-11-1... more

Like a quarterback going through his passing progressions, Falcons owner Arthur Blank is looking to each possible high-profile target. He tried, but failed, to lure Bill Cowher to Atlanta. He then did the same with Bill Parcells. Now, he is expected to meet a similar... more

Those who have spoken with former Steelers coach Bill Cowher will get the same answer that Redskins owner Daniel Snyder will -? if he hasn?t already. Cowher is not interested in returning to coaching, definitely not this year, maybe not next year, maybe not ever. "No chance... more

Just as intriguing as the NFL playoff matchups is the league's coaching carousel. While much of the football world is focused on Green Bay, New England, Indianapolis and Dallas, another part is tracking the doings in cities with coaching questions. Here?s a look at the... more

Wide receivers know how to produce big catches and lingering storylines. The next two could be coming out of Cincinnati and Denver, where Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson and Broncos wide receiver Javon Walker are expected to try to seek trades. Cincinnati sounds far less... more

A highly successful businessman, Falcons owner Arthur Blank now has transformed himself into a tireless recruiter. Blank spent Wednesday in Green Bay, interviewing Packers director of pro personnel Reggie McKenzie and John Schneider, the Packers' personnel analyst to general... more

Baltimore is launching the head-coaching search that many thought it would be engaging in last off-season. Ideas were formulated then, and they can be executed now. "There is a Hall of Fame coach out there," Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said Monday. "It???s our job... more

Only the final week of the regular season is more about who is not playing than who is playing. The Cowboys play the Redskins, the Titans play the Colts, and all eyes, especially those in Minnesota and Cleveland, will be on the benches, to the players resting for their team???s... more

Questions about Carolina coach John Fox's future are beginning to get answered as sources close to Carolina's coach said they fully expected him to return for 2008 season. For weeks, mystery has cloaked the future of Fox. John Fox, coach Carolina Panthers ... more

ST. LOUIS -- The first bad sign came when Pittsburgh running back Willie Parker was carted off the field with an ankle injury in the Steelers' first offensive series Thursday night against the St. Louis Rams. The next bad sign came when Parker emerged from the X-ray room in the... more

Hard hats were not required to build these New England Patriots so much as fine scouting and shrewd thinking. Take a look at one move, that led to another move, that led to New England?s assault on history. Last season, New England traded disgruntled wide receiver Deion... more

Getting voted to the Pro Bowl is reward enough. But some players were rewarded even more than others. A handful of this year?s Pro Bowl selections had Pro Bowl bonuses or Pro Bowl escalators in their contracts that dramatically raised their salaries for next season. Packers... more

Now that New England has clinched home-field advantage, there is as much of a chance of the Patriots resting regulars as there was for them letting up in recent blowouts. In other words, no chance. New England is going after Miami this week the same way it is going after the... more

SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco has been a breeding ground for head coaches. It helped produce coach such as Mike Holmgren, Mike Shanahan, Brian Billick and Marvin Lewis in the past. San Francisco had two more coaches lured away in each of the past two offseasons. Mike McCarthy went to... more

Last off-season, one person familiar with Atlanta???s coaching search said Falcons owner Arthur Blank wanted to hire 49ers assistant head coach Mike Singletary while general manager Rich McKay preferred Bobby Petrino. Almost a year later, now that Petrino has bolted from Atlanta to... more

Here???s a guarantee way more accurate than Pittsburgh safety Anthony Smith???s that the Steelers would beat the Patriots. For the remainder of this season, the title of "America???s Team" is officially on loan, from Dallas to New England. NFL Replay will... more

For the first time this season, the New England Patriots lost. They lost the chance to prevent cornerback Asante Samuel from hitting the free-agent market after this season. When Samuel reported to the Patriots in August, he did so with the promise that New England... more

Like Chicago?s returning dynamo Devin Hester, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is ridiculous. He is attempting to become the seventh rookie since 1955 to lead the NFL in rushing, joining Alan Ameche in 1955, Jim Brown in 1957, Earl Campbell in 1978, George Rogers in 1981, Eric... more

When Eagles quarterback A.J. Feeley plays the way he did Sunday night, questions regarding Donovan McNabb?s future in Philadelphia are bound to intensify. Reid not ready to decide Eagles coach Andy Reid has yet to make a decision on who will start for the Eagles at quarterback next... more

Nobody should have to go through what the Washington Redskins are going through this week. But the Denver Broncos already have, losing cornerback Darrent Williams on New Year?s Day a mere 11 months ago, the first of two young talented defensive backs to die way too young. Both were... more

Tennessee reached an agreement Thursday with wide receiver Mike Williams, reuniting him with one of his former coaches at USC, Norm Chow, and running back LenDale White. Williams was scheduled to practice with the Titans on Thursday and could play Sunday against the Cincinnati... more

Kansas City Chiefs running back Priest Holmes is expected to retire after suffering another neck injury Sunday and meeting with doctors this week. An announcement could come as early as Wednesday. Priest Holmes, RB Kansas City Chiefs Career rushing stats Att: 1,780 ... more

If there???s a jinx of No. 2-ranked teams in college football, then there???s a jinx of the No. 1-picked players in the NFL. Sneak a peek at the No. 1 overall picks in recent years and look how this year has adversely affected their careers, with the most recent example coming Monday,... more

Of all the Patriots remaining opponents ???- and anyone can scan the schedule and size them up -- the toughest, by far, are ??? the elements. Until the Patriots lose, every opposing stadium will turn into a sound machine, with fans hoping to be a part of the history they want their... more

Cleveland surrendered one first-round pick for a quarterback this year. But it???s possible, if they choose, that the Browns could get back two first-round picks for another quarterback. While the popular opinion has been that the Browns will give restricted free agent quarterback... more

So this is how New England???s season is going. Even when the Patriots don???t play, they still win. New England enjoyed its bye this weekend and when it returned to work Monday, found it had increased its lead in the race for home-field advantage in the AFC. When the... more

Almost all rookies spend their time learning. Adrian Peterson has spent his impressing. Minnesota???s rookie running back has burst on to the scene quicker than he bursts into the secondary, where he doesn???t meet would-be tacklers so much as he pulverizes them. He did it in... more

The Atlanta Falcons have lost another offensive tackle to injury, as Renardo Foster was placed on the Injured Reserve List on Monday, reports NFL Network's Adam Schefter. Foster left Sunday's 22-16 loss to the New Orleans Saints with 3:45 remaining in the fourth quarter... more

New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss is grabbing football and cash, all at once. With 59 catches for 924 yards and 12 touchdowns ???- as many as the Oakland Raiders offense scored all of last season -??? Moss already has cashed in on $700,000 worth of incentives this year and... more

"Audio-Gate", and the issue of whether the Colts pumped artificial crowd noise into Sunday's game, sounds as if it is not going to have the same staying power as "Spy-Gate", the Patriots videotape controversy from earlier this season. The issue surfaced in... more

If it seems as if the quarterback carousel is spinning faster than ever, maybe it?s because it is. When Jacksonville?s Quinn Gray starts for the Jaguars against the Buccaneers on Sunday, he will become the 48th different starting quarterback this season. All of last season,... more

Circumstances in Dallas have changed so dramatically that Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has gone from being his team?s insurance policy to having a $30 million one. Before the season, without anyone noticing, Romo took out a $30 million, ?loss-of-value? insurance policy, meaning the... more

Before Indianapolis and New England square off in the NFL's next huge regular-season game two weeks from Sunday, there is the little, but hardly insignificant, matter of two other games to play first. The Colts travel to Carolina this weekend, while the Patriots host the Redskins.... more

The NFL's new game plan -- a very 21st century game plan -- is more expansive than one of Bill Walsh's old playbooks. In much the same manner as ABC's Wide World of Sports, the NFL's new game plan spans the globe. It now extends from the United States to England and... more

Maybe the biggest sports business summit ever, with the biggest names in the industry today, will convene Thursday to kick off a landmark day-long meeting at London?s exclusive Landmark hotel. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will deliver the opening address on a seminar about the... more

Football's new magic number is now 40. Anyone around an age as ripe as a prune is practically begging for, and succeeding at, stealing this season's spotlight. As Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy screamed: "Come after me! I'm a man! I'm 40! I'm not a... more

Quarterbacks produce touchdowns, victories, headlines and the bulk of news during the season. It was no different Thursday, on the day Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner continued his improbable comeback and 49ers quarterback Alex Smith took a step back in his. Despite a torn... more

Adrian Peterson is running away with the NFL???s Offensive Rookie of the Year award, and the quarter-million dollar bonus that would come along with it. Written into the contract Peterson signed last summer is a $250,000 rookie of the year bonus, which, if his current performance... more

A matchup of two of football???s unbeaten teams, New England and Dallas, contains a meeting of two of the NFL???s hottest and most coveted assistant coaches. Patriots offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Josh McDaniels and Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett already are... more

When it comes to the trade deadline and the NFL's version of deal or no deal, it's usually no deal. Unfortunately. Notable deadline deals Year Trade 1974 Giants get QB Craig Morton, Cowboys get first-round pick 1974 Packers get QB John Hadl, Rams get five draft picks... more

Good thing Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew went to the make-believe cash machine after he scored his touchdown during Sunday's 17-7 win in Kansas City. The NFL is charging Jones-Drew $7,500 for his ATM-visit touchdown celebration. The Cowboys... more

Now football gives us its "Fall Classic," the unbeaten New England Patriots and the unbeaten Dallas Cowboys, in a matchup made for these times. It???s the biggest regular season game in a day and age when, thanks to sports talk radio, the Internet and networks such as this... more

Monday night was, as Yogi Berra would say, d??j?? vu all over again. The similarities between last season's Oct. 16 Monday night thriller in Phoenix and this season's Oct. 8 equally compelling Monday night matchup in Buffalo are spooky. Heading into last year's... more

There are quarterback questions in New York, N.Y., upstate New York, and still more quarterback news involving yet another New York quarterback. Buffalo has the most pressing question, the Jets might have the most intriguing one, and somehow, teams keep looking to the New-York-raised... more

The Buccaneers bolstered their backfield Wednesday morning, signing former Raiders running back Zack Crockett. He now will be reunited with former Raiders coach Jon Gruden. Zack Crockett, QB Tampa Bay Buccaneers Career Statistics Att: 509 Yards: 1,701 TD: 36 ... more

A mere five weeks into the season, the NFL???s War of Attrition has nearly reached the state of shock and awe. Consider: ?? Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme will undergo reconstructive, Tommy-John-like surgery next week, sidelining him seven to nine months. ?? Miami... more

Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme has an elbow tendon injury that threatens his season and his head coach John Fox's job. Think about it. With Delhomme shelved indefinitely, Carolina's offense cannot and will not be as productive. Moody wide receiver Steve Smith could become... more

Dallas knew the price on quarterback Tony Romo for next year was rising, but now there is an actual number to put to it. The number is close to $4 million -??? the difference between the non-exclusive and exclusive franchise tags. The non-exclusive franchise number for... more

For an offensive tackle making his first NFL start, there can be no more daunting assignment than playing on the road, in a dome, on artificial turf, in Indianapolis, facing Colts Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney. Welcome to Donald Penn???s world. Penn is a second-year... more

All around the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the NFC South continues crumbling. The Atlanta Falcons lost quarterback Michael Vick and their way. The New Orleans Saints lost running back Deuce McAllister and their first three games. Last-place teams NFC South (since 2002) Year... more

Hamilton placed on IR Broncos offensive guard Ben Hamilton was placed on injured reserve Friday with post-concussion symptoms, making him ineligible for the remainder of the season. The seven-year veteran has missed all three games this season. More ... The Broncos suffered some losses... more

His next touchdown pass, the one that moves Brett Favre past Dan Marino and makes him the NFL's all-time Touchdown Passing King, will be the one everybody remembers. His first is the one nobody should forget. It came Sept. 20, 1992, on a sunny 70-degree day in Green Bay,... more

Though Miami's spirit might be down, its decibel level is not. The winless Dolphins are now making the type of noise usually associated with winning teams. Much of it is coming from linebacker Joey Porter, who is guaranteeing a win Sunday against the Oakland Raiders. ... more

Used to be that Denver held a Mile High mystique, an advantage all opponents struggled to overcome. Now the altitude appears to be suffocating the Broncos. After dropping Sunday's game to Jacksonville, Denver now has lost five of its past seven home games. And here's the... more

NFL officials hit Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall with 67 yards worth of penalties on one drive, and Atlanta hit even harder. The Falcons fined Hall about $100,000. The exact amount of the fine is difficult to discern because neither side wants to talk about it. But it is... more

Heading into Sunday night's game against the Dallas Cowboys, Devin Hester's rate of return is better than any mutual fund. No return man in NFL history has returned kicks and punts for touchdowns with the frequency of Hester, who scores 8 percent of the time he returns... more

--> Who is ...: Who is ... featuring Bill Belichick airs at 9 PM ET on Thursday, Sept. 20. » Photos: Bill Belichick Fans, want to get NFL Network? Cable operators, want to carry NFL Network? Click here for more information. Through the early... more

September is supposed to be about games, not deals, yet here were quarterback Byron Leftwich and defensive tackle Tank Johnson stealing Tuesday's headlines with the contracts they signed. Leftwich signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the quarterback-needy Falcons. Johnson... more

Atlanta has 22 players on its roster that are 24 years old or younger. Viewed another way, Atlanta has 22 players on its roster that weren?t born when Morten Andersen kicked off his NFL career in 1982. What started 25 years ago will now continue again, as the Falcons have... more

Free-agent quarterback Byron Leftwich was traveling to Atlanta on Monday night for a visit with Falcons officials. Up until now, the Falcons have balked at the idea of brining in Leftwich but after watching their offense struggle during the season's first two weeks, Atlanta... more

After a busy week, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell had a busy Monday. Goodell lifted the suspensions of five players: Kansas City defensive end Jared Allen, Carolina guard Jeremy Bridges, Tennesse linebacker Robert Reynolds, former San Francisco wide receiver Antonio Bryant and former... more

On the last play of Thursday's practice, the St. Louis Rams suffered a key injury that left them wishing they had cut practice short. Rams starting cornerback Tye Hill inadvertantly collided with one of his safeties, leaving him with three or four broken bones in his back and out... more

NFL teams continue to be abuzz about the cheating scandal that has engulfed Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. And that was before the stiff penalties that were handed down by the NFL Thursday night to Belichick and the Patriots for violating league policy on the use of... more

NFL Network's Adam Schefter is reporting that Chad Pennington could miss Sunday's game at Baltimore, after suffering an ankle injury in the team's loss to New England. Pennington is considered week-to-week. Pennington was hit by Patriots defensive end Jarvis Green in... more

When Kansas City rookie kicker Justin Medlock walked onto the field Sunday, he sensed his job was on the line. And the 30-yard field goal he missed might have cost him that job. The Chiefs have decided to make a change at kicker, cutting Medlock and reaching agreement with former... more

The Ravens agreed in principle on a one-year contract extension with quarterback Kyle Boller on Thursday, reports NFL Network's Adam Schefter. Boller will be under contract with Baltimore through the 2008 season. ???This is good news for us,??? head coach Brian Billick said in a... more

Before they even play Sunday???s game vs. New England, the New York Jets are engaging in a little gamesmanship. For the second straight week -- and in the week in which they open their season at home against the Patriots -- the Jets are interviewing New England???s former players. ... more

When Michael Strahan reported to the New York Giants, he was lighter everywhere, including in the wallet. One Giant said that when Strahan reported to the team Monday, he weighed in at under 250 pounds, slightly below his playing weight of 255 pounds. Where Strahan was... more

NFL teams are spending the Labor Day weekend laboring. Thirty players were claimed off waivers Sunday, and here is a look at that list -- the player, who claimed him and his former team: Remi Ayodele, DT, by Atlanta (Dallas) Rashad Barksdale, DB, by Kansas City (Philadelphia) ... more

Detroit Lions running back Kevin??Jones, on the Physically-Unable-to-Perform list with a left foot injury, will have the foot re-examined on Thursday by the specialist who performed surgery on it last December. ???We just have to see where he???s at," Detroit coach Rod Marinelli... more

For the first time since last season, Bengals Pro Bowl OT Willie Anderson was back at practice Wednesday after battling a foot injury throughout the offseason. Anderson, a 12-year veteran, passed his physical earlier in the day and then took part in his first drills of camp. ... more

To wide-receiver needy teams that could hang Help Wanted signs, there is Help Available. As teams tweak rosters and debate deals, three wide receivers' names are popping up in potential trades that are more intriguing than they are likely. Included in the list are primarily... more

Sept. 9, the first Sunday of the season, now seems close enough to feel. It helps explain why there is flurry of activity that shows little sign of letting up in the next two weeks. It kicked off Monday, 10 days before the season officially starts. Minnesota traded a 2009... more

To pick the next Super Bowl winner, one has to think ahead to the next postseason. And when one thinks about the postseason, there is no choice but to think about the plays ???- the single plays -??? that determine who goes on and who goes home. In one moment of one play,... more

Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs was the first disgruntled franchise player to report to training camp, settling his dispute on the eve of camp and arriving a few days later. Now, the last of the franchise holdouts is preparing to sign his tender and get back to football and the... more

The idea is as difficult to imagine as the idea of Randy Moss playing for the Patriots. But after almost four months together, the Patriots now wish they had more players as hard-working and as vastly talented as Moss. Soon enough, the public and Patriots fans will see for... more

Preseason openers, like Trix, are for kids. Preseason openers, more than anything, are to find out if the rookie that shined in minicamps and the first two weeks of training camp can do the same on a larger stage. Yet through the first part of camp, enough rookies have caught the... more

Even close to the regular season, the New England Patriots are keeping up the pace they established in the off-season. The Patriots signed standout defensive end Ty Warren to a five-year extension on Thursday worth over $36 million, including $17.5 million in guaranteed... more

No football-playing brother tandem should want to become the next one to be picked in the first round of the NFL draft. The previous two have suffered wildly and miserably. On Monday, the McDougle brothers -- Stockar, the Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman and the 20th pick... more

As the Chiefs prepare to break camp Wednesday, Kansas City is the subject of HBO's "Hard Knocks" and compelling storylines. None is any more significant than the ongoing contract talks between the Chiefs and their holdout running back Larry Johnson. Both sides... more

If quarterback Daunte Culpepper is as successful throwing passes as he is negotiating deals, the Raiders are going to be happy they signed him. Acting as his own agent, Culpepper negotiated a one-year deal Tuesday night with the Raiders that could be worth as little as $750,000 or as... more

Heading into training camp, quarterback questions swirled in Jacksonville, Kansas City, Miami and Atlanta. Now, with the first complete weekend of preseason games about to kick off, answers are beginning to emerge. ?? JACKSONVILLE ... They debated drafting Brady Quinn... more

OAHU, Hawaii (Feb. 6, 2007) -- Even weeks after he made his decision to retire, even in Hawaii, Tiki Barber's message to the New York Giants is not any different. Aloha. Barber revealed Tuesday in Hawaii that he will turn in his retirement papers to the NFL on Monday, once... more

Salaries have skyrocketed throughout the off-season, but the truest measure at how wacky they?ve become is in rookie deals. Now some players drafted in the top 10 are becoming the highest-paid players at their position in NFL history. When Washington signed its first-round... more

The Detroit Lions have agreed to terms with their first-round pick, wide receiver Calvin Johnson, on a whopping six-year, $55.5 million contract that includes almost $27.2 million worth of guarantees. The contract has a maximum value of $64 million, and it makes him the highest-paid player... more

Of course former San Francisco 49ers head coach Bill Walsh would have his fingerprints and brainpower all over what might be the most memorable play in NFL history. Walsh called it. He diagrammed The Catch, shipped it to Joe Montana, and on third and goal, watched th... more

  In games that are won mainly with muscle, Curtis Martin distinguishedhimself with his mind.   The NFL's fourth all-time leading rusher behind only Emmitt Smith, WalterPayton and Barry Sanders, Martin was the Thinking Man's Running Back.   He measur... more

  Unpredictable stories go to training camp along with players. But none canbe any more unlikely than this:   While Michael Vick will not be at training camp, it now looks as if PriestHolmes will.   Chiefs players are now telling each other that, aft... more

As every team gears up for the opening of camp, no team had a busier dayThursday than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. First they signed their first-round draft choice, the No. 4 overallselection, defensive end Gaines Adams, to a six-year, $45.8 million contractthat includes $18.5 mil... more

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  Just as quarterback Michael Vick will be barred from training camp, so willcornerback Adam ''Pacman'' Jones.     Despite speculation that Jones could be allowed to participate in trainingcamp this summer at a time he is serving his year-long suspension, he wil... more

We interrupt the wall-to-wall Michael Vick coverage that is going to lastall summer to present another football story. The biggest training camp battle isn???t going to be between Kansas Cityquarterbacks Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard. It???s going to be between K... more

  WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Chicago Bears have reached an agreement on Tuesdaywith cornerback Charles Tillman on a six-year, $41.5 million contract extensionthat includes $18.5 million worth of guaranteed money, reports the NFLNetwork's Adam Schefter. Tillman, a second-round... more

We interrupt the wall-to-wall Michael Vick coverage that is going to lastall summer to present another football story. The biggest training camp battle isn't going to be between Kansas Cityquarterbacks Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard. It's going to be between KansasCity running back Larry... more

Hold off on those retirement stories about Indianapolis offensive tackle TarikGlenn. Hold out is no longer a possibility for Oakland defensive end DerrickBurgess. Hold on while contract talks intensify Tuesday in regards to along-term deal for St. Louis quarterback Marc Bulger.  ... more

Michael's Vick charmed life, Arthur Blank's African vacation, the AtlantaFalcons hopeful season, the NFL commissioner's busy docket, and training camp'santicipated kickoff each has been disrupted with the most unimaginable andunconscionable story since former Panthers wide receiver R... more