The season may be over, but the NFL never stops. The combine is just a few weeks away, and free agency follows shortly thereafter. Player acquisitions this offseason might not be as attention-grabbing as player departures. Let's look at 10 storylines for the offseason, with the... more

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- So often in sports, "Teams of Destiny" don't quite fulfill their supposed missions. They tend to end up as feel-good stories that ultimately try, but fail, to recapture their missed opportunity. That's why the New Orleans Saints'... more

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- There is a coaching mantra that's preached to offensive players from the initial days of strapping on shoulder pads. It goes something like this: "The quarterback is like your momma. You all love your mommas, right? Well, if you love your... more

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte' Stallworth will be reinstated to play at some point after Sunday's Super Bowl, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Friday at his annual state-of-the-league address. Stallworth was suspended without pay for the 2009 season... more

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- With defensive end Dwight Freeney likely limited -- at best -- for Super Bowl XLIV because of an ankle injury, the Indianapolis Colts' inability to generate a pass rush on Saints quarterback Drew Brees seems the obvious concern. Freeney or... more

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Sometimes takeaways in the NFL are results of being in the right place at the right time. Other times, as the Minnesota Vikings found out, it's because of ball (in)security by offensive players. With the New Orleans Saints, takeaways have... more

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Defense might win championships, but it's offense that got New Orleans and Indianapolis to Super Bowl XLIV. Peyton Manning and Drew Brees have led the Colts and Saints here, in a game that has the potential to approach 100 combined points.... more

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Jermon Bushrod is receiving a lot more attention than he ever imagined. The New Orleans Saints' left tackle has heard his name mentioned more in the past 24 hours than he has all season. Why? Well, the guy he's supposed to face in Sunday's... more

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Any concerns that New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton might be a little tight before his first Super Bowl were punctured Monday when his team arrived at its hotel for the week. Payton, quarterback Drew Brees and a group of other players who arrived... more

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- By pedigree, it's no surprise that Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has his team in Super Bowl XLIV and that he just won his record fourth NFL MVP award. He was born to the play part, the son of Archie Manning, who played quarterback with the dreadful New... more

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Boasting explosive offenses, dynamic quarterbacks and defenses that are just good enough, Super Bowl combatants Indianapolis and New Orleans are near mirror images of each other. That is, until they look in the mirror. The Colts are the standard... more

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner might be more of a hero in St. Louis today than he was when he took the relocated Rams to two Super Bowls during his six years playing there. The Rams chances to improve on their league-worst one win in 2009 just improved after Warner... more

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Tennessee Titans center and NFLPA president Kevin Mawae offered up a fairly grim take on the state of labor talks between the players' union and the league Thursday. Mawae said players are being prepped to be locked out of work by owners for the 2011 season and... more

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- To reach the Super Bowl is why teams like the Colts forsake a shot at an undefeated season to rest their starters and why coaches, like the Saints' Sean Payton, put key players like tight end Jeremy Shockey on a limited play count so they can be healthy... more

NEW ORLEANS -- There were nuns roaming the field waving freshly printed newspapers proclaiming the New Orleans??Saints' triumph over the Vikings to get to their first Super Bowl. Team owner Tom Benson paraded around the Superdome with his tasseled parasol doing the... more

?? ?? Five reasons why Colts can win Super Bowl XLIV NEW ORLEANS -- After outlasting the Minnesota Vikings in overtime, the New Orleans Saints are headed to their first Super Bowl in the franchise's 43-year history. And, they're going to be playing an... more

A position-by-position breakdown of the Minnesota-New Orleans NFC title game on Sunday. This could not be a closer call. Drew Brees has such a firm command of this offense and, with no crowd noise to deal with, he will be able to get his team into proper... more

?? Late Monday afternoon, after many of his teammates and the media that follow them were gone, Vikings quarterback Brett Favre was in the team's weight room putting himself through a fairly vigorous workout to the sounds of country music. This was a day after the... more

We saw why New Orleans and Minnesota were the top two seeds in the NFC this weekend, as each systematically took apart Arizona and Dallas, respectively, to earn a date in the conference championship on Sunday in the Louisiana Superdome. This is the NFL's... more

MINNEAPOLIS -- There were many occasions during Minnesota's 34-3 dismantling of Dallas on Sunday when Vikings quarterback Brett Favre threw up his hands in jubilation or to ignite an already blue-flamed crowd. It was Favre who led the way. The 40-year-old kid doing... more

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Tarvaris Jackson and Gus Frerotte helped the Vikings win the NFC North and earn a home playoff game last season. That puts Brett Favre on equal footing with them. All the drama the Vikings went through to get him to Minnesota, all the drama he provided -- MVP... more

A position-by-position breakdown of the Arizona-New Orleans divisional-round matchup on Saturday. Drew Brees had arguably the top season of any quarterback in the NFL. His accuracy and efficiency allow him to run the Saints' elaborate offense without a... more

A position-by-position breakdown of the Dallas-Minnesota divisional-round matchup on Sunday. This is why the Vikings brought in Brett Favre. It's money time and he'd better deliver. Historically, Favre has not played well vs. the Cowboys, but this is... more

A position-by-position breakdown of the Philadelphia-Dallas wild-card matchup on Saturday. Tony Romo has been better than any quarterback in the NFC down the stretch. He has full command of this offense, is making the right decisions and is not turning the... more

?? A look ahead to AFC divisional playoffs By virtue of posting the NFC's best record, the New Orleans Saints earned the right to sit back and watch Arizona and Green Bay exhaust themselves in one of the most incredible playoff games in recent history.... more

ARLINGTON, Texas -- For his sake, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre better have maxed out his down time this week because he's going to need fresh legs next Sunday when the Dallas Cowboys come to town for an NFC Divisional playoff game. The Cowboys... more

The Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints had the best regular-season records and are the top seeds in the AFC and NFC playoffs, respectively. But is that No. 1 spot because they are the best teams or because they were the best teams? The AFC West champion Chargers are the... more

A position-by-position breakdown of the Green Bay-Arizona wild-card matchup on Sunday. With 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions, Aaron Rodgers has put together one of the most overlooked seasons of any quarterback. More importantly, after getting sacked... more

?? AFC Fear Factor After 17 weeks, we finally know the playoff teams in the NFC and where each is seeded, 1-6. But what would the seeds look like if the teams were put in order of fear factor? The New Orleans Saints, for example, started the season unbeaten through... more

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Of all the things that have changed with the Dallas Cowboys since their 2008 season ended with a 44-6, playoff-denying thrashing at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles, humility is the most noticeable. Oh, they were happy that they pounded the Eagles 24-0... more

The coaching buzz is in full swing. Speculation is that there won't be as many changes as last season -- 11 new coaches were hired, including the interim spots in San Francisco and Oakland becoming permanent -- and the number of teams looking for coaches could be closer to... more

Instead of looking at those players who were snubbed from the initial Pro Bowl voting -- some of those "snubs" will still compete with vacancies certain as Super Bowl participants won't play -- I've decided to take a different route. I want to project the next wave of... more

In what could be a stranger-than-strange scenario, the outcomes of the final week of the regular season could result in all four wild-card games being rematches of regular-season finales this Sunday: Cardinals-Packers, Jets-Bengals, Eagles-Cowboys, and Texans-Patriots. A whole... more

INDIANAPOLIS -- Six weeks ago, here at Lucas Oil Stadium, Patriots coach Bill Belichick went for a first down from two yards away, deep in his own territory with time winding down when the percentages told him he should punt. His team failed to follow through on his... more

By dinner time Tuesday the mystery of who has earned the honor of being selected to the 2010 Pro Bowl will be unmasked on NFL Total Access Pro Bowl Selection Show (NFL Network, 7 p.m. ET). What won???t be known, however, is who actually will play in the NFL???s annual All-Star game. ... more

Let's get ahead of ourselves and start laying odds on whether Brett Favre will return to Minnesota next season. Sure, a lot depends on how the Vikings finish and how well they do in the playoffs, as well as Favre's health. But let's narrow the focus to the... more

It was a classic description of the rest of the NFL vs. Tennessee running back Chris Johnson: "We were in black and white and he was in color -- in HD," a member of the St. Louis Rams organization said after Johnson breezed to 186 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns in... more

Sevens are wild in the AFC after a Week 15 in which teams either won (Tennessee, Houston, and Pittsburgh) or lost (New York, Jacksonville and Miami) to even their records at 7-7. Six teams, all rolling sevens. C'mon, how nuts is that? Baltimore (8-6) avoided the 7-7 logjam... more

NEW ORLEANS -- The Dallas Cowboys grabbed an evasive December victory over the previously unbeaten Saints on Saturday night. The long-sought win at the most important time of the season -- finally -- set in motion a chain of events that could have wide-ranging effects throughout the... more

CINCINNATI -- It's interesting how tragedy can humanize someone. There, on Thursday at the Cincinnati Bengals' training facility, was wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, the fine-drawing, look-at-me joker, crying in silence as he faced his locker. He couldn't hide his... more

Here's the one dynamic a lot of us could be overlooking with the Saints' and Colts' pursuit of perfection. Pride. "You know, in this league, guys are prideful," Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo told me this week. "That is something that can never be... more

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Cincinnati Bengals are one of the feel-good stories of the NFL, overcoming years of ineptitude and character self-assassination to put themselves atop of the AFC North and in position to go to the playoffs. But now you can start to understand why their... more

MINNEAPOLIS -- For the Minnesota Vikings, clinching a playoff berth Sunday wasn't quite as meaningful as regaining their menacing mojo in a 30-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. The New Orleans Saints, meanwhile, escaped injury-depleted Atlanta with their 13th straight victory to... more

When Cincinnati faces Minnesota Sunday, there will be multiple storylines: Can the Bengals really roll with the Big Boys? Can the Vikings bounce back from the thrashing they took last week in Arizona? Will Brett Favre return to the interception miser he's been most of this season... more

All it took was one weekend to set the NFC playoff picture straight -- sort of. The minor fallout from a defining two-day stretch: The best team in the conference (New Orleans) got lucky but clinched the NFC South. The second-best team (Minnesota) got housed by the third-best... more

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers entered a must-win game, a layup against the woeful Oakland Raiders, embroiled in a mini-controversy stirred by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sitting out last week's loss to Baltimore with concussion-related symptoms. ... more

The Atlanta Falcons knew this week could be filled with controversy. And man, are they thankful for Tiger Woods. There is minimal -- minimal -- buzz regarding former franchise quarterback Michael Vick's return to Atlanta on Sunday as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. It... more

If there is a Braveheart II or 300: The Sequel, how about Steelers coach Mike Tomlin as the star? "We will unleash hell here in December because we have to," Tomlin said after the Steelers lost their third straight game, the most recent to Baltimore. "We won't... more

?? Now we know why Bill Belichick went for it on fourth-and-2, deep in his territory, against Indy last month. He knows what he's working with in New England, and now after having the Saints expose the flaws not even the most brilliant scheming can hide, so does everyone... more

HOUSTON -- Texans owner Bob McNair and an entourage of sour-faced men marched through the bowels of Reliant Stadium and on to the field to witness the final moments of his team's colossal collapse to the Colts, which could also be described as a wake for... more

The weekend has provided us with a clearer picture of how the trek to the playoffs could be for a handful of teams. Now, it's on to the real show: New England vs. New Orleans. Both teams seem poised to capture the AFC East and NFC South, respectively, so this is more about The... more

NEW ORLEANS -- The New England Patriots' reputation precedes them. Even though New Orleans is undefeated, the Saints are working themselves into a lather with hopes that a victory over the 7-3 Patriots in a colossal Monday night showdown in the Superdome... more

There typically is no more heated debate -- in any sport -- as to who is the Most Valuable Player. Not just because there are usually at least a half dozen deserving candidates, but also because of this argument: Is he or she the best player in the league or is he or she the most... more

BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Ravens were hot. Radioactive hot, as in angry; not efficient, effective or dominant. In a game they had to win on Sunday, they lost. In a turn of the clich??, they wanted it less than Indianapolis did. Baltimore turned back the clock and... more

Shortly after the Kansas City Chiefs suspended running back Larry Johnson for using a gay slur on his Twitter account and toward reporters, and ripping head coach Todd Haley publicly, some general managers and coaches I spoke with said "no way" when asked if they'd... more

In an effort to include players' opinions and perspectives regarding on- and off-the-field issues, the NFL has formed a Player Advisory Forum that will be spearheaded by Tony Dungy, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts coach. Currently a broadcaster for... more

The Bears and 49ers enter Thursday night's NFL Network game in San Francisco among a group of NFL teams playing for hope. Both started the season full of it; San Francisco showing signs of an energized upstart, Chicago looking quite dangerous with Jay Cutler slingin'... more

The Carolina Panthers and Miami Dolphins learned the hard way last season about not finishing what they started. Unexpected success ended with first-game playoff exits, dimming the lights in one regard but shining them toward a future filled with hope. Too bad for each they... more

'Tis the day of reckoning for Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who is getting his comeuppance for making one of the most costly decisions of the weekend, which ended up resulted in AFC East-leading New England losing 35-34 to still unbeaten Indianapolis on Sunday... more

SAN DIEGO -- Discovery is an amazing thing. When Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson arrived at Qualcomm Stadium about 2?? hours before his team kicked off (and kicked butt) against the Philadelphia Eagles, he found a shoebox-sized purple bag at his locker.... more

Subtlety isn't exactly one of owner Jerry Jones' strongest character traits, especially when it comes to his Dallas Cowboys franchise. Yet three of his free-agent acquisitions this past offseason that barely registered amid the big-money, big-name signings have solidified a... more

INDIANAPOLIS -- Texans linebacker Brian Cushing, the 15th overall pick in last April's draft, was pretty resolute just hours before Sunday's 20-17, teeth-grinding loss to the Indianapolis Colts that this was the game that would identify his team. Houston... more

As the losses have piled up around the NFL, so has the zaniness. Winless Tampa Bay is on its third quarterback. Kansas City running back Larry Johnson blasted his coach on Twitter, then zipped the same gay slur on back-to-back days for public consumption, leading to a... more

The last time Chicago played Arizona in 2006, we were left with former Cardinals coach Dennis Green's famous rant: "They are who we thought they were, and we let them off the hook." Green felt the Bears were a beatable 5-0 team at the time, and his... more

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- It seemed oddly natural watching Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, arms raised in victory following a 38-26 triumph over the Packers, step off Lambeau Field to cheers from folks who earlier booed him but now admired him for everything he has done,... more

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, freshly minted the NFC's Offensive Player of the Month, stood at his locker, looking like he'd rather be chewing a mouthful of thumb tacks or bobbing for apples in a barrel of piranhas than answering questions about Brett... more

The Arizona Cardinals have a complex about playing one game at a time. You know, fulfilling the old clich??, focusing on the next opponent, staying the course, playing through the process. For parts of the last two seasons, this franchise ???- so accustomed to losing -- has at times... more

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The star on the side of their helmets and on the center of their home turf constantly makes the Dallas Cowboys feel they've got something extra-terrestrial within reach. With the proximity of that five-pointed glory always staring at those... more

Thirteen-and-three seems so long ago in Nashville. Same with that 12-4 mark in Charlotte. That AFC West championship and playoff victory last season has about as much value in San Diego these days as a former rushing champion and one-time Pro Bowl sack specialist. To think, as far as... more

When Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell was pulled during last week's loss to Kansas City, there were resounding sentiments of "about time" by many of the Redskins' faithful. He's going to start Monday against Philadelphia, but now that he's on a... more

ATLANTA -- A look around the NFL this weekend validated a lot of the trends that have been developing in the preceding weeks: The Saints are a force, the Vikings are the team to beat in the NFC North, the idle Colts remain the best team in the AFC, the Titans are falling apart faster... more

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Michael Turner: Can you think of any team in the NFL, other than your Falcons, who -- and we're not even counting your sure-fire Hall-of-Fame tight end -- possess The Quarterback, The Tailback and The Wide Receiver? "All... more

Random thoughts and worthless picks for Week 6 ... I just got back from my third go-round of NFL league meetings in 2009 and the best part of these otherwise mundane sessions is Colts owner Jim Irsay's suits. The man can rock some pinstripes. At every meeting, he sports an... more

BALTIMORE -- Wearing nothing but a towel and a knot over his right eye caused by a penalized, de-helmeting shot by Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, Chad Ochocinco had a question. "Think they respect us now?" the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver asked Sunday afternoon. ... more

NASHVILLE -- Kevin Mawae understands his team is in trouble. At 0-4, things look pretty dim for the Tennessee Titans. Mawae, the Titans' veteran center, sees it this way: It will probably take 10 wins to get into the playoffs in the AFC this season, maybe nine if your team... more

?? "We're beyond the giddiness stage." -- Bengals coach Marvin Lewis Winning three games used to be somewhat of an accomplishment, a feat in Cincinnati that equated to showing things with the Bengals had not reached a state of rigor mortis. Now, after... more

NEW ORLEANS -- An encompassing well of awe seemed to build in the Superdome during one moment of the Saints' 24-10 victory over the New??York??Jets on Sunday. It was more than momentum. The need to grip tightly onto something to keep from being overwhelmed seemed like the natural... more

"If I had to choose one non-playoff team from last season that has a chance to make it into the 2009 postseason, it would be the New York Jets. I think Rex Ryan will do a great job of creating a culture that lends itself to winning. I also love Mark Sanchez as a young quarterback... more

Charlie Riedel / Associated Press The Chiefs offense has stumbled out of the gate under the guidance of new coach Todd Haley. The questions are more plentiful than answers; answers that are much harder to come by with no wins, simmering in-house discomfort and no... more

Tony Romo stood completely crestfallen against a door that would usher him into a waiting horde of fans. He just had thrown three interceptions in Dallas' 33-31 loss to the New York Giants in the grand opening of Jerry Jones' new palatial stadium. He was checking... more

PHILADELPHIA -- Michael Vick's return to the NFL was celebrated by him watching Kevin Kolb establish himself as the Philadelphia Eagles' second-best quarterback. It was ushered in by having coach Andy Reid use Vick to hand off the ball and witness other players make things... more

Ever since the Philadelphia Eagles signed Michael Vick this past summer, there has been non-stop guessing about how, when and where he would be used. After all, this is quarterback Donovan McNabb's team. This is familiar territory for Vick, who on Sunday will play in a... more

Think there's a happier player in the NFL than Tony Gonzalez? Think there's a happier team than the Atlanta Falcons to have him? The union between the future-Hall-of-Fame tight end and a team desperately in need of one has produced better-than-expected results -- for... more

ARLINGTON, Texas -- It's amazing how a team's reputation, how a player's reputation, can lead to an outcome like the Giants' 33-31, last-second victory over the Cowboys on Sunday night. New York, with its steeled persona and recent Super Bowl... more

The Week 1 deliverance of harmony and precision -- in a Tony Romo-friendly offensive scheme -- has the Dallas Cowboys, their fans, and those who witnessed them defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers seemingly convinced life is exponentially better without T.O. Six receivers caught... more

The season opener in 2006 between Atlanta and Carolina is when the book on Jake Delhomme, written by opposing teams' scouts, took full form. Newly acquired defensive end John Abraham was having the game of his life, staying in Delhomme's face, sacking him twice and forcing... more

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots didn't so much win Monday night's 25-24 thriller over Buffalo as much as the Bills lost it, late. Buffalo's collapse and the Patriots' fourth-quarter comeback, in the return of the ultra-poised Tom Brady, showed,... more

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey -- It clicked when wide receiver Mario Manningham -- the guy who could barely finagle his way onto the field last season as a rookie -- caught a quick pass on the right sideline from Eli Manning and shook three Redskins en route to a 30-yard... more

The Redskins will find out right away if their $100 million investment in defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth shows signs of a promising return. Washington opens the season at the New York??Giants on Sunday. The expectation is that Haynesworth will help stuff the run and... more

The NFL Players Assocation, in response to the NFL???s criticism following a court ruling Friday involving potential suspensions of Vikings and Saints players, issued a statement Sunday morning, claiming it has and will continue to seek a resolution with the league to preserve the integrity... more

Rookie coaches Todd Haley and Raheem Morris axed their offensive coordinators last week, creating a buzz as to whether they know what they're doing or realize they're potentially upsetting the chemistry of an offense that's worked together all offseason. They're... more

Six weeks ago, we introduced you to five players, each at different stages of their careers, who were trying to earn or retain a roster spot. They truly were players whose careers were On The Fringe. Those players are now off the fringe as NFL teams trimmed their rosters to 53 on... more

Since the New York Giants found their way to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady en route to ending New England's bid at perfection in Super Bowl XLII, teams have followed suit, overloading parts of the defensive line, steamrolling blockers and getting licks on Brady,... more

The surprise firing of Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski on Thursday -- one day before the team's final preseason game -- stemmed from prolonged "attention to detail" issues that the team had been monitoring for weeks, a league source with... more

Trent Edwards' relative inexperience, questions along the line and the need to generate scoring punch prompted the Buffalo Bills to implement a no-huddle offense this offseason. While they installed the scheme mainly to draw favorable matchups once defensive personnel packages are... more

Tony Tribble / Associated Press Andre??Smith managed to get in two full training camp practices with the Bengals before getting hurt. With Andre Smith weighing in at 364 pounds shortly before signing his contract Sunday -- and having weight clauses subsequently added... more

Six seconds were on the clock, enough time for one play to move the team into field-goal range. And enough time for a rookie quarterback to show whether or not he had "it." Matt Ryan surveyed the line of scrimmage, read the Chicago Bears' defense and diagnosed that... more

There is no such thing as finding the perfect quarterback. No matter how one is acquired, it's an ulcer-inducing, hope-inspiring risk that can either take a team to consistent success or blow a hole the size of the new Cowboys Stadium in a franchise. This past... more

The NFL is a quarterback-driven league. No way around that. Defenses may win championships, but quarterbacks win championship games. Ben Roethlisberger to Santonio Holmes; Eli Manning to Plaxico Burress; Tom Brady to Deion Branch. The quarterback position, while always... more

After Andre Smith came to terms with the Cincinnati??Bengals on Sunday, the immediate thought turned to San Francisco receiver Michael Crabtree. Crabtree's the lone unsigned draft pick from the 2009 class and hasn't shown much of anything since his final game at Texas Tech.... more

MINNEAPOLIS - There was no introduction of Brett Favre when the Vikings took the field en route to their 17-13 preseason victory against the visiting Chiefs on Friday night. It was about the only thing that was downplayed about his arrival, other than the actual way the news of his... more

FLOWERY BRANCH -- The offensive formation was already "strong" right, as tight end Tony Gonzalez's presence at the end of the right side of the offensive line indicates. A receiver is split right. As another receiver goes in motion, Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan... more

NASHVILLE -- It wasn't much of a surprise to see that Titans quarterback Vince Young followed his shaky preseason debut against Buffalo in the Hall of Fame game with a solid performance this weekend against Tampa Bay. Coach Jeff Fisher said Young has had a solid camp... more

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank didn't watch Michael Vick's news conference Friday, when Vick was introduced as the newest member of the Philadelphia Eagles. He missed Vick's apologies and admission of wrongdoing for fighting dogs, a crime that cost him 20 months in... more

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The common saying among the Indianapolis Colts, in some form, deals with not re-inventing the wheel. Jim Caldwell, the hand-picked successor to former coach Tony Dungy, said he's not trying to ruin the formula that's proven so successful over the past... more

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- It's nearly a week into training camp, when players start to wear down as the physical and mental overload start to grab hold. After reading and hearing about how hard first-year coach Steve Spagnuolo was pushing the team, it wouldn't have been surprising... more

MANKATO, Minn. -- You know Minnesota's flirtation with Brett Favre is old news when the sight of Tarvaris Jackson lining up under center sends Tweeters aflutter and prompts fans to intently watch every move of another No. 4 -- John David Booty. That was the case Wednesday, Day 5... more

MANKATO, Minn. -- You know Minnesota's flirtation with Brett Favre is old news when the sight of Tarvaris Jackson lining up under center sends Tweeters aflutter and prompts fans to intently watch every move of another No. 4 -- John David Booty. That was the case Wednesday, Day 5... more

The Falcons are three days into training camp and quarterback Matt Ryan's No. 1 target, wide receiver Roddy White, remains a holdout. White, who is entering the final year of a rookie contract that will pay him $2.9 million this season, wants an extension -- and the Falcons want... more

NFL.com has introduced you to five players who will grind through the heat, pain and demands during training camp hoping to make an NFL roster. BOOMER GRIGSBY Fullback, Houston Texans Grigsby is a free-spirit who switched from linebacker to... more

Editor's note: NFL.com is following five players who enter their respective training camps hoping to be one of their team's 53. Here are their stories as they strive to hold on to their NFL dreams. ?? TEMPE, Ariz. -- This is a story about seizing an... more

METAIRIE, La. -- The shift in persona of the New Orleans Saints -- considered more finesse and fun than anything close to intimidating in the past -- took place early during team drills Saturday. Tailback Reggie Bush took a handoff and ran off right tackle. He was then... more

Editor's note: NFL.com is following five players who enter their respective training camps hoping to be one of their team's 53. Here are their stories as they strive to hold on to their NFL dreams. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Boomer Grigsby lives life at hyper-speed in... more

Editor's note: NFL.com is following five players who enter their respective training camps hoping to be one of their team's 53. Here are their stories as they strive to hold on to their NFL dreams. ?? EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - David Tyree has learned... more

Editor's note: NFL.com is following five players who enter their respective training camps hoping to be one of their team's 53. Here are their stories as they strive to hold on to their NFL dreams. ?? ATLANTA -- Coy Wire could be cast as the villain -- or the... more

Editor's note: NFL.com is following five players who enter their respective training camps hoping to be one of their team's 53. Here are their stories as they strive to hold on to their NFL dreams. ?? WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. -- Ian Johnson is a natural in front... more

STATELINE, Nev. -- Mike Shanahan said Friday that he plans to coach again in the NFL and that he had the opportunity to interview for head-coaching jobs for the 2009 season, but "it just didn't feel right at the time." Mike Shanahan Coaching Record Seasons:... more

Doug Pensinger / Getty Images Aaron Kampman, a defensive end for seven seasons, will play outside linebacker in the Packers' new 3-4 defense. GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The backdrop created a blur of what Aaron Kampman's new life as an outside linebacker must look like... more

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- As we learn more about the details surrounding Steve McNair's death, we're also finding out more about his life. The things he did on the football field to make us all feel his loss are the things we'll hang on to most, but the strange circumstances... more

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- The skits. The role playing. The small breakout sessions. The panel discussions. The veterans' advice. The video showing victims of drunk driving. The commissioner's taped message. The NFLPA executive director's riveting motivational message... more

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Cincinnati Bengals rookie Andre Smith, the sixth overall pick in the draft, said Tuesday that he hopes to be signed and in training camp on time because a holdout could hamper his transition from left tackle to right tackle. Andre Smith, OT ... more

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Minnesota Vikings first-round draft pick Percy Harvin was sent home from the NFL Rookie Symposium after becoming ill, organizers said Monday. Percy Harvin, WR Minnesota Vikings Age: 21 Height: 5-11??Weight: 192 College: Florida ... more

The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to a four-year contract with second-round draft pick running back LeSean McCoy, the team confirmed Monday. LeSean McCoy, RB Philadelphia Eagles Age: 20 Vitals: 5-10, 198 pounds College: Pittsburgh Experience: Rookie ... more

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Houston Texans outside linebacker Brian Cushing and teammate Connor Barwin stepped off a luxury bus at the PGA National Resort with their varying manes tussled and their bodies looking like they were just unfurled from a cargo box. They were not in the... more

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has initiated a review of the felony weapons charge against former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress, opting not to wait until the legal process runs its course before taking action. There is no timetable as to if -- or when --... more

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- As Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings walked to his locker to discuss his contract extension this week, media scrambled to get to him. This was big news. About the biggest news with the franchise this offseason since the team drafted defensive lineman B.J. Raji... more

Josh Freeman has himself squarely in the cross-hairs of the starting quarterback competition in Tampa Bay. Fellow first-rounder Larry English is being counted on to supply a pass rush in San Diego. Ravens second-rounder Paul Kruger has turned Terrell Suggs' absence... more

Anquan Boldin and Roddy White likely are keeping a close eye on the details of the contract extension that Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings agreed to Wednesday. Boldin and White, both Pro Bowl receivers, have been in extension talks for months with the Arizona Cardinals... more

Julius Peppers will remain with the Carolina Panthers next season -- if not longer. Not just because he signed his one-year, $16.7 million franchise tender Wednesday, but because the team has no plans to trade the four-time Pro Bowl defensive end and because it made no promise to... more

In conjunction with his indefinite suspension of Cleveland??Browns wide receiver Donte'??Stallworth on Thursday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sent a strongly-worded letter to high-ranking officials of every team to advise all employees -- players and likewise -- that alcohol-related... more

RENTON, Wash. -- From the moment you step into the Seattle Seahawks majestic, waterside, state-of-the-art training facility -- it's more like art-of-the state -- you sense a pulse, which for a franchise that flat-lined at 4-12 last season after years of being a... more

Louis Lanzano / Associated Press Despite his legal issues, wide receiver Plaxico Burress could still end up on a NFL roster in 2009. --> There hasn't been a rush of teams flocking to sign wide receiver Plaxico Burress following the legal developments... more

Suspended quarterback Michael Vick still must serve just more than a month before completing a nearly two-year prison sentence on dogfighting charges, but on Friday he did receive some semblance of freedom. The Atlanta Falcons, who selected Vick first overall in 2001, ... more

Ed Andrieski / Associated Press When the relationship between coach Josh McDaniels (left) and Jay Cutler turned sour, the Broncos turned to Kyle Orton (right). DENVER -- He botched an attempt to acquire his former quarterback, setting off a firestorm that eventually led... more

Just because Michael Vick was most effective at quarterback when he was on the move doesn't mean his place in the NFL, if there is one, will be dictated by a team willing to rewrite its playbook to accommodate his skills. "If you have a guy who has been in the league,... more

John Froschauer / Associated Press Without much fanfare, Rocky McIntosh (left) and London Fletcher (right) are key parts to the success of the Redskins' defense. Washington Redskins linebacker Rocky McIntosh brought up a good point this week when discussing how he... more

Mike Roemer / Associated Press By drafting players such as Clay Matthews, the Packers have set themselves up nicely for a smooth 3-4 transition. Editor's note: This is the second in a series of occasional offseason stories following the progress of the Green Bay... more

Al Messerschmidt / Getty Images Losing Charles Grant (94) and Will Smith (91) for the first four games next season would significantly hurt the Saints' pass rush. Minnesota Vikings defensive tackles Pat and Kevin Williams are trying to clear their names, play their... more

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank believes his suspended quarterback, Michael Vick, has paid a heavy price for his dogfighting conviction and deserves a second chance. However, that second chance won't come in Atlanta. "We have made it... more

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made contact with free agent wide receiver Plaxico Burress to gauge his offseason progress, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The conversation was explained as exploratory and that the call focused mainly on Burress' well-being. ... more

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The news that New Orleans would host the 2013 Super Bowl almost prompted joyous Saints owner Tom Benson to break out his parasol and skip, hop and do-wah-diddy down the halls of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, where his peers voted for his hurricane-ravaged city to... more

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Before receiving an ovation from owners and team representatives, new NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith held a very amicable conversation with league commissioner Roger Goodell in a hallway at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, the site of the... more

What makes the NFL the NFL is the ability of teams such as the Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons to reach the playoffs one year after being among the worst in the league. Most impressive offseasons Some teams have taken full advantage of the offseason to bolster their... more

Suspended quarterback Michael Vick will begin working with a trainer and start football-related workouts shortly after being released from prison next week, according to a source familiar with the situation. Vick will finish the final two months of his 23-month federal... more

After speaking with St. Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo on Friday, the first-year head coach shed some pretty insightful information on how things are shaping up as the team prepares for its first organized team activity (OTA) sessions next week. Here's a sampling: Chris Long,... more

There's a reason why Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Jay Ratliff is one of the best at his position: He stays hungry. He's hoping the rest of his team follows his lead. Jay Ratliff, DT Dallas Cowboys 2008 Statistics G/GS: 16/16 Tackles: 51 Sacks:... more

Ted S. Warren / AP Photo In addition to other offseason moves, Seattle should be improved merely with the healthy return of Matt Hasselbeck. Free agency, the draft, trades. They've created the buzz this offseason because those are the means most teams use to re-tool... more

The New Orleans Saints' season finale could not have been a more perfect snapshot of their season. They allowed the Carolina Panthers to rack up 478 yards of total offense, with DeAngelo Williams rushing for 178 yards and Steve Smith hauling in five passes for 134 yards. And yet,... more

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- It might not be a match made in football heaven, but it's somewhere close. The Atlanta Falcons had 19 catches for 211 yards and two touchdowns between their three tight ends last season -- clearly the gaping hole in a unit that featured quarterback... more

Drafts are almost immediately judged by what teams grabbed the star players or if they filled their needs. Yet, something else needs to be taken into account: Some teams don't draft for either because they just won the Super Bowl or came close. Others have to take as many studs as... more

The introduction of toasted ravioli to Rams media relations director Ted Crews and Atlanta-based TV producer Ed O'Brien went great. They never had it before and quickly learned why we St. Louisians so love the local delicacy. It was close to 9 p.m. as we dined in a private room... more

Denver created a stir by selecting Georgia's Knowshon Moreno with the No. 12 pick, adding to a stable of running backs and neglecting its tissue-tough defense. Cleveland traded back, then, traded back again and, of all things, finally took ??? a center with the 21st... more

Draft coverage In his latest mock draft, NFL.com analyst Pat Kirwan has Mark Sanchez rising up his draft board. More ... Positional rankings: ?? QB | RB | TE | WR | C | OT | DL | OLB/DE Quarterback Matthew Stafford is the Lions' choice with the No. 1 overall... more

» More from the draft series: QB | RB | TE | WR | G | C | OT | DL | DE/OLB | ILB | CB | S The evolution of the defensive end in the NFL seems to have led us to a position that is impossible to singularly define. There are the in-vogue hybrid defensive... more

Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith, the reigning coach of the year and self-described personnel junkie, unabashedly proclaims that his team's philosophy when it comes to the draft is to fill positions of need. That way of thinking clearly represents the minority view in the NFL. ... more

The unknown of who the Detroit Lions will take with the first pick of the draft Saturday has provided intrigue. However, the real drama really doesn't begin there, unless there is an unforeseen trade at the top -- and then all bets are off. Teams can plan for the two or... more

Since collegiate spring football practices in 2008, NFL scouts have been doing their due diligence on the prospects likely to be selected in next weekend's draft. In that time, some prospects got hurt and others got in trouble while some made massive gains, held true to... more

?? More from the draft series: QB | RB | TE | WR | G | C | OT | DL | DE/OLB | ILB | CB | S Typically, teams in any sport say the key to success is being strong through the middle. Yet, in pro football, it's the edge players on defense and the skill... more

The Philadelphia Eagles' trade for Pro Bowl offensive tackle Jason Peters on Friday will cost them a first-round pick (28th overall) and a fourth-round choice in next week's draft (121st overall) and a sixth-round selection in 2010, according to a source. The swap... more

» More from the draft series: QB | RB | TE | WR | G | C | OT | DL | DE/OLB | ILB | CB | S The big plays and big hits by safeties Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu, Adrian Wilson and Bob Sanders, have brought the safety position back into the spotlight. For years, safety... more

» More from the draft series: QB | RB | TE | WR | G | C | OT | DL | DE/OLB | ILB | CB | S Top outside linebackers We've covered hybrid outside linebackers/defensive ends, but here are the three best pure outside linebackers in this year's... more

» More from the draft series: QB | RB | TE | WR | G | C | OT | DL | DE/OLB | ILB | CB | S Andre Smith, who once was considered the top offensive tackle and maybe the best player in this year's draft, only to lose that projection -- and likely millions of... more

» More from the draft series: QB | RB | TE | WR | G | C | OT | DL | DE/OLB | ILB | CB | S Duke Robinson, the massive guard from Oklahoma, wisely said he doesn't pay attention to projections about where he might be drafted this month. "It... more

» More from the draft series: QB | RB | TE | WR | G | C | OT | DL | DE/OLB | ILB | CB | S Besides the obvious news that quarterbacks Matt Cassel and Kyle Orton were involved in two of the biggest NFL trades this offseason is the component that both were... more

Draft coverage In his latest mock draft, NFL Network's Jamie Dukes doesn't think the tumultuous offseason of Andre Smith will damage the mammoth Alabama OT's draft status. More ... Positional rankings: » QB | RB | TE | WR | C | OT | DL | OLB/DE ... more

I've had a serious craving for some crawfish at Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar in New Orleans, one of my favorite places in one of my favorite cities. I'm definitely adventurous enough to dip to the Big Easy on a whim just for a big platter of those bug-eyed bugs, but after... more

Taking sides NFL.com's Vic Carucci and Steve Wyche debate which team got the best of the trade that sends Jay Cutler to Chicago in exchange for draft picks and Kyle Orton. More ... More: » Carucci: Upgrade for Bears » Dukes: Cutler trade a huge gamble » Discuss:... more

Dave Martin / AP Photo Matt Ryan emerged from his rookie season as the Falcons' unquestioned leader, both on the field and in the locker room. --> FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Matt Ryan spent a few months of his offseason peddling hair care products. Now that he's... more

Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler might have got what he wanted after being traded to Chicago on Thursday. The Bears and their fans, who've longed for a charismatic signal-caller ever since the days of Jim McMahon, clearly feel their appetite for a franchise quarterback was... more

Well, well, well ... This recent development with the Broncos and seemingly soon-to-be ex-Denver quarterback Jay Cutler has added a little intrigue to draft scenarios -- especially my mock draft. This could cause more hypothetical scenarios than ever because of the number of teams... more

Jason Witten didn't have the ideal childhood, having grown up a child of divorce in Tennessee. Things were rough at times, he thought. Then, he got a fairly rude awakening about growing up rough. A few years ago, not long after he joined the Dallas Cowboys, the Pro Bowl tight end... more

Jeff Gross / Getty Images New Denver coach Josh McDaniels has said he wants to keep Jay Cutler in a Broncos uniform next season. Overshadowed by the quarterback drama in Denver and whether Matthew Stafford or Mark Sanchez could be the first quarterback drafted next... more

Roy Williams was considered one of the best and most feared safeties in the NFL just two years ago, but now the five-time Pro Bowler is out of work. Williams is among dozens of recognizable, if not standout, veterans who are on the street this offseason because of age, salary-cap... more

ATHENS, Ga. -- An offensive assistant coach for a team with a top-10 pick in the NFL draft couldn't stop raving about Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford. He'd recently had a lengthy, private chat with Stafford and was left blown away. "Love him," he said.... more

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest's all-everything linebacker Aaron Curry was up to speed on his NFL history, at least enough to know that a linebacker hasn't been selected first overall in more than 20 years. He didn't know much about Aundray Bruce, who the Falcons... more

Mock drafts While Steve Wyche still has the Lions taking Georgia QB Matthew Stafford with the No. 1 pick, Pat Kirwan believes Detroit would be better served going in another direction at that spot. ?? Kirwan: Shakeup at top of draft ?? Davis: Stafford still top pick here ?? ... more

Pro days blog Gil Brandt has all the latest on prospects' workouts from around the country, including many of the small school players that have a chance to make an NFL roster. More ... A handful of players from smaller schools have landed on the radars of NFL teams.... more

MORGANTOWN, W.V. ? West Virginia's Pat White combined to run and pass for more than 10,000 yards in college, with his passing yardage totals not significantly greater than the real estate he traversed with his fleet feet. While it's the arm people seem to be more interested... more

Donald Miralle / Getty Images Shawne Merriman's return could spark a dramatic turnaround in San Diego next season. New Seattle Seahawks coach Jim Mora proclaimed at the NFL Scouting Combine last month that his team, which finished third in the NFC West last season... more

Terrell Owens' signing with the Buffalo Bills on Saturday added some flavor to the AFC East -- the NFL's most buttoned-up division. Whether Owens validates his history as a boil on every team he has played for or confirms how good of a wide receiver he is probably will be... more

Mock drafts While Steve Wyche has the Lions taking Matthew Stafford with the No. 1 overall pick, Pat Kirwan thinks Detroit will be better served going with a different position of need at that spot. » Kirwan: Lions' QB need can wait » Dukes: Stafford has Cutler-like... more

  ATLANTA -- The train wreck that was supposed to be Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith walked down the 20-or-so steps into the old-school, basement gym that isn't for the feint of heart or the uncommitted. Smith, who had acquired the train-wreck tag after showing up to... more

Terrell Owens might want to give fellow out-of-work wide receiver Joe Horn a call to see what it's like to want to play, have the ability to play, yet have no team want you to play for them. Upset that he would have to compete for a starting job last offseason, Horn, a... more

Convicted Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick will help build homes in his old Newport News, Va., neighborhood with Habitat for Humanity as part of a work-release program set to begin in the next few weeks, a source with knowledge of the situation told NFL.com. Steve Wyche chat ... more

The opening weekend of free agency saw teams aggressively address defensive needs, avoid offensive skill players and let Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis and Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner try to set a market for themselves. There were trades, none bigger than quarterback Matt Cassel ... more

The slumping economy and augmented salary-cap rules forced by a potential uncapped year in 2010 could have an impact on the 2009 free-agency period. Players that hoped to land big deals in free agency might have to settle for significantly less money as owners this offseason have a... more

INDIANAPOLIS -- Over time, cornerbacks such as Rod Woodson and Ronnie Lott were moved to safety because they had lost a step. They still had coverage skills, and their ability to set defenses from a wider scope, match up with slot receivers and tight ends, and fearlessly take... more

» Carucci: AFC free-agency primer Free agency starts Friday morning at 12:01 ET. While clubs finalize their approach for this signing frenzy, we take a look at every club in the NFC, their areas of strength, weakness and their plan. We also list their potential key free agents,... more

Darron Cummings / Associated Press Georgia's Knowshon Moreno is a multi-purpose running back who offers versatility that some teams might covet. INDIANAPOLIS -- Sandwiched around this weekend's combine workouts of Knowshon Moreno, Chris "Beanie" Wells... more

» Agree, disagree? Chat with Steve Wyche | Discuss This is the first mock draft, and it's likely to change based on what transpires in free agency. It was put together based on team needs, management's preferences/history and personnel fits. Team Pick... more

INDIANAPOLIS -- Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff, in the midst of his team's surprising surge to the playoffs last season, admitted he didn't sleep well one night because he envisioned draft day: April 26, 2008. "With the third pick, the Atlanta... more

INDIANAPOLIS -- In the big business of college football recruiting, those special high school talents who have no defined position -- because they do so many things well -- are tabbed as "athletes." In the big business of NFL prospect evaluation, those types of players... more

INDIANAPOLIS - It can't be totally written off, but the odds are stacked pretty high against the Detroit Lions taking a wide receiver with the No. 1 overall pick this year. They've been a franchise that, until landing Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson with the... more

INDIANAPOLIS -- The prospective NFL offensive linemen moved about the media circuit at the combine Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium following extensive medical workups. Most looked the part, strolling around in black sweats, meeting media that probed which teams the players will be... more

While there are questions about every prospect at the NFL Scouting Combine, some players have more to answer for in Indianapolis, be it with a 40-yard-dash time, agility drills and/or character-based interviews. Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson, taken by the Detroit... more

Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Nose tackle Jay Ratliff wasn't invited to the 2005 NFL Scouting Combine, but he still found his way to the Cowboys. Tez Doolittle isn't among the 325 draft-eligible players invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, which starts this... more

Brett Favre's retirement Wednesday brought the Jets into the growing club of teams in need of a starting quarterback. Unlike the workforce in these rugged economic times, where there are plenty of qualified people to fill a limited number of jobs, teams in need of... more

Ric Tapia / NFL.com TE Brandon Pettigrew caught 112 balls in four years at Oklahoma State and is only helping his stock at the Senior Bowl. MOBILE, Ala. - Before he was barely able to take off his helmet following the North team's practice Tuesday morning, Oklahoma... more

Doug Pensinger / Getty Images Green Bay's switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense will have Aaron Kampman rushing from the outside linebacker spot.   Editor's note: This is the first in a series of occasional offseason stories following the progress of the Green Bay... more

Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Brian Robiskie finished his Ohio State career with 127 receptions for 1,899 yards and 24 touchdowns. --> MOBILE, Ala. -- This is an interesting pocket of time in father-son relationships as it relates to pro -- and... more

TAMPA, Fla. -- Their Cinderella run dashed in the final minute of Super Bowl XLIII, the Arizona Cardinals finally understood the magnitude of the situation. For weeks, they had ridden a wave of unexpected fortune to the NFL's championship game, collecting bandwagon love... more

The Arizona Cardinals came out of obscurity and the easy-to-be dismissed NFC West to represent their conference -- arguably better than any of the potential challengers -- in losing 27-23 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday. The Cardinals made history in... more

TAMPA, Fla. -- Suppose Beethoven or Ray Charles or Liberace sat in front of his piano one day and instead of using the broader, longer and more prominent white keys as his memory base, the foundation for making sweet music was predicated on the smaller, less abundant black keys. ... more

?? TAMPA, Fla. -- If one of the keys to winning a Super Bowl championship is running the ball, the Arizona Cardinals would be significantly bigger underdogs than they already are against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII at Raymond James Stadium. The Cardinals... more

TAMPA, Fla. -- One of the lingering images of Arizona's victory over Philadelphia in the NFC Championship Game came when Eagles safety Brian Dawkins, with a few yards of momentum, torpedoed himself into Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald -- and bounced off like a raindrop... more

TAMPA, Fla. -- After the Arizona Cardinals' grisly five-week stretch late in the season, their opponents could have cashed in bonus rewards for the frequent-flyer miles of yardage -- and points -- they hung on the reeling team. Not even the NFL's version of the old Loyola... more

TAMPA, Fla. -- The memories Darnell Dockett has of his childhood are painful and ugly. He has been through things most of us can't even hypothetically put on our radar, because imagining them taking place is so ... unimaginable. Yet, the Arizona defensive tackle made it to... more

TAMPA, Fla. -- Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner is at a point where he's starting to put his 11-year NFL career in context. It's not measured in statistics, which are numerous; awards, which are plenty; or even Super Bowl appearances, of which he's about to make... more

John Lott runs up a trail on Camelback Mountain at every opportunity. He times himself going up and coming down. If you know Lott or anything about him, he doesn't use a sand dial to gauge his progress. He pushes himself to limits only he can describe because most of us... more

Jim Rogash / Getty Images Once hailed as the face of the Cardinals, backup QB Matt??Leinart only saw the field during garbage time this season. TAMPA, Fla. -- Matt Leinart has barely played for the Arizona Cardinals, but he's not suffering from a lack of... more

Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images Kurt Warner has the Cardinals in a place they've never been before -- the Super Bowl. Shortly after watching the Arizona Cardinals clinch a Super Bowl berth with a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game, Roger... more

Herbert Weitman / NFL The Cardinals played in St. Louis from 1960 to 1987, but they lost all three of their playoff games. Having grown up in St. Louis, I was always resigned to the fact that the football Cardinals, regardless of where they were located, would never... more

Vincent Laforet / Getty Images Cornerback Aeneas Williams went to the Pro Bowl six times during his 10 seasons with the Cardinals. Aeneas Williams is the most noteworthy player in the Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals era. From 1991 to 2000, the cornerback from Southern... more

Courtesy of Northern Illinois University Larry English, a defensive end from Northern Illinois, is doing well at Senior Bowl workouts this week. MOBILE, Ala. -- Postseason all-star games, more than the NFL Scouting Combine and individual workouts, tend to be the best... more

MOBILE, Ala. ? The position cycle that takes turns annually when it comes to NFL draft prospects has stopped again at linebacker in 2009, just two years after providing the league Patrick Willis, Jon Beason and LaMarr Woodley. This time, though, the bounty is far more... more

» Five reasons why Steelers can win Five reasons why the Cardinals can win Super Bowl XLIII: 1. Larry Fitzgerald Fitzgerald already has a postseason record 419 receiving yards and that's before playing in the Super Bowl. Great players are often... more

GLENDALE, Ariz. - There is no way to overstate or understate or simply state it: The Arizona Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl. The uniqueness and enormity of it should resonate, echo, as if shouted in the empty stadium dome where the Cardinals earned their... more

Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Bertrand Berry and the Cardinals defense have stiffened up in playoff wins over the Falcons and Panthers. --> TEMPE, Ariz. -- There have been differing theories, all valid, as to how and what prompted the Arizona Cardinals, especially... more

Philadelphia Eagles management once gave quarterback Donovan McNabb a go-to wide receiver -- Terrell Owens. McNabb made it to the only Super Bowl of his 10-year career with T.O. in the 2004 season -- the QB also had his best year in terms of touchdown passes (31) and passer... more

Donovan McNabb's reversal of fortune after getting benched in Week 12 started with a four-touchdown performance in a 48-20 win over the Cardinals. Since then, he has been on a tear -- and he doesn't have the same type of targets Kurt Warner does. He's completed 61... more

The Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals will meet in the desert next Sunday in the NFC Championship Game. Let's take an early look at five pressing questions in this matchup, the answers to which will help determine which team will represent the NFC in Super Bowl XLIII. ... more

Kurt Warner completed 35 of 49 passes for 381 yards and two touchdowns in the regular-season meeting between these teams. Though he completed just 19 of 32 passes (two touchdowns, one interception) in last week's wild-card victory over the Atlanta Falcons, Warner displayed... more

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants, so proud before losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFC Divisional Playoff Game on Sunday, so humble afterwards, admitted what just days earlier boiled their blood. "Philadelphia is us from last year," Giants running... more

Here are some numbers to chew on: Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams has broken off runs this season of at least 20 yards in 10 games, 30 yards in seven games, 40 yards in four games and 50-plus yards in three. His backup, Jonathan Stewart, has five games in... more

?? Over the years, we've heard the description of football's power style of running described as being straightforward, heading north and south and rushing downhill. Though football's thesaurus is loaded with terms meaning the same thing, the current label --... more

Donovan McNabb has been about as effective against the Giants as Manning has against the Eagles this season. However, McNabb has played at a very high level over the past six weeks and seems to be in a comfort zone that has teammates responding. He will have to get rid of the... more

With the Philadelphia Eagles being the only non-division champion in the NFC to advance to the divisional round of the playoffs, the stage is set for two intriguing matchups next weekend featuring four Super Bowl quarterbacks. "Look at the quarterbacks: Eli Manning, who is... more

?? GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Cardinals will get a second chance to beat the New York Giants or Carolina Panthers this season in next week's NFC Divisional playoff because they gave veteran tailback Edgerrin James a second chance. For months, Arizona... more

?? Donovan McNabb threw for a career-high 3,916 yards this season. More telling, instead of blowing up the locker room after being lambasted for not knowing the NFL's rule on tie games then getting benched a week later vs. Baltimore, McNabb threw nine touchdowns and... more

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Matt Ryan's most noteworthy postseason football experience came in the 2007 Champs Sports Bowl, in which the highly decorated quarterback led Boston College to its 11th victory of the season. Ryan, the NFL's 2008 Offensive Rookie of the Year,... more

Mel Evans/ Associated Press Joselio Hanson returned this Marion Barber fumble 96 yards for a touchdown to help put the Eagles in the playoffs. PHILADELPHIA - While the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals spent their Sunday comfortably playing out the regular season,... more

?? Matt Ryan, the newly minted Offensive Rookie of the Year, is smart, efficient and has displayed the moxie of a seven-year veteran. His stats won't blow you over, but his leadership is outstanding. However, in Ryan's past three games, he completed just 56... more

?? FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The excitement surrounding the Atlanta Falcons' unexpected run to the playoffs stems mostly from the rapid rise from the ruins of 2007, checkered by quarterback Michael Vick's dog-fighting imprisonment and then-coach Bobby Petrino's Dear... more

Few honors, in any sport, are as controversial as a league's Most Valuable Player award. Does it go to the guy who does the most for his team? Should the winner be the person most responsible for uplifting the league? Sometimes it's too hard to argue... more

Jim McIsaac / Getty Images In what would be a bizarre scenario Sunday, Patriots coach Bill Belichick might cheer for Eric Mangini and the Jets. Picture New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick sporting his grey hoodie and celebrating one of his finer efforts after a... more

?? Former NBA coaching great Pat Riley wasn't big on honoring team achievements that didn't end with a league championship. The steps to getting there were nice, especially when they were new to the franchise, but respect didn't accompany the process, just the end... more

Streeter Lecka / Getty Images Titans rookie defensive tackle Jason Jones had 3.5 sacks Sunday in place of injured star Albert Haynesworth. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- As important as earning home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs was to the Tennessee Titans,... more

Andy Lyons / Getty Images Former Steeler Chris Hope knows that he and his Tennessee teammates will have their hands full this weekend. Tennessee safety Chris Hope said he couldn't imagine a more ideal scenario in which to face his former team, the Pittsburgh... more

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images Steelers RB Willie Parker could benefit from the absence of Titans run-stuffing DT Albert Haynesworth this weekend. The balance of several games with playoff implications this weekend could have shifted because of untimely injuries that forced... more

Jamie Squire / Getty Images Chris Johnson leads the Tennessee Titans -- and all rookie running backs -- with 1,094 rushing yards. This season's rookie class of running backs has proven to be more than special -- and highly touted Darren McFadden, Felix Jones and... more

Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Cowboys NT Jay Ratliff may not have the name recognition of his teammates, but his production speaks volumes. When picking a Pro Bowl roster, there are deserving players always left out. In filling out my Pro Bowl ballot, I took... more

Al Messerschmidt / Getty Images Falcons RB Michael Turner is one of the few players on the roster who knows the road to the playoffs. ATLANTA -- With the intention of sending a message to his young, playoff-inexperienced Falcons, coach Mike Smith called a team meeting... more

Gregory Shamus / Getty Images In a hard-hitting affair in Week 4, the Steelers came out on top of Le'Ron McClain and the Ravens. Which team best fits the following descriptions: the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Baltimore Ravens? 1. In order to succeed, their... more

Rick Havner / Associated Press Steve Smith and DeAngelo Williams proved to be too much for Tampa Bay's defense to handle Monday night. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- As the final seconds ticked off the Panthers' 38-23 victory over Tampa Bay on Monday night, Carolina... more

David Duprey / Associated Press A year after finishing 1-15, the Dolphins are challenging for a division title with three games to go. All that feel-good love about Atlanta being the surprise story of the year got re-routed Sunday to Miami, where the Dolphins'... more

Ned Dishman / Getty Images With losses such as first-round pick Keith Rivers, the Bengals have had to fill in several gaps on defense. Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is not one to smile much or show any emotion that would signal he's got a... more

Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Roddy White has an uncanny knack for making awkward catches. Matt Ryan, then still at Boston College, caught a rare highlight of the woeful 2007 Atlanta Falcons, whose lone star was Roddy White. Ryan was only marginally impressed with the... more

Al Messerschmidt / Getty Images Under the leadership of Jon Gruden, the Bucs are looking to win their third NFC South crown in the last three years. On Thanksgiving morning, three days before Tampa Bay defeated the Saints to bolster its grip on the NFC South lead,... more

Nick Wass / Associated Press Without Plaxico Burress, Eli Manning completed five passes to three different players in the Giants' win. LANDOVER, Md. -- Antwaan Randle El. Anthony Gonzalez. Ted Ginn Jr.. Matt Jones. Steve Breaston. All of them have more receptions... more

LANDOVER, MD. -- The New York Giants have tried to contact embattled wide receiver Plaxico Burress, but have not heard back from the player who suffered a self-inflicted, non-life threatening gunshot wound to his right thigh Friday night. "I reached out to him,"... more

Tony Gutierrez / Associated Press Extra effort has helped the diminutive Lance Moore make his mark in the NFL. Fresh off New Orleans capping an NFL-record week for scoring (837 points) with a 51-29 victory over Green Bay on Monday night, the Saints acknowledged the... more

Jeff Robinson / Associated Press MVP candidate Kurt Warner has the Cardinals on the verge of their first division title in 33 years. TEMPE, Ariz. -- When Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner takes the same field as Donovan McNabb Thursday night in Philadelphia, he will... more

Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press Derrick Ward got the start with Brandon Jacobs out and rushed for 69 yards to go with a score. GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Cardinals tried their best to give the New York Giants their due. After all, the defending Super Bowl champions had... more

Streeter Lecka / Getty Images Jake Delhomme's numbers haven't been impressive of late, but the Panthers are confident in his leadership. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers aren't playing the lack-of-respect card. They feel they've earned the... more

?? Early look at NFC playoff picture The New York Jets are rolling, the Indianapolis Colts are surging and the Pittsburgh Steelers are getting things done, especially on the road. Each appears headed for the playoffs but none is a certainty, like undefeated Tennessee, which... more

Streeter Lecka / Getty Images DeAngelo Williams has the Panthers running back toward the postseason. NFC playoff picture Locks New York??Giants Wk Opponent W-L 12 at Arizona 7-3 13 at Washington 6-4 14 Philadelphia 5-4-1 15 at Dallas 6-4 16 Carolina... more

Paul Sakuma / Associated Press Tony??Romo's return helped the Cowboys snap a three-game road losing streak. LANDOVER. Md. -- Tony Romo's post-victory press conference late Sunday night needed to come to an end. The jovial Cowboys quarterback didn't want to... more

Dave Martin / Associated Press Matt Ryan and Michael Turner have helped turn things around for the Falcons offense, which ranks sixth overall. ATLANTA -- The success of the Atlanta Falcons this season has been, to say the least, unexpected, especially with first-time... more

Doug Benc / Getty Images Cadillac??Williams' aggressive style leaves him open to injuries. In his darkest days of rehabilitation from a major knee injury that threatened his career, Tampa Bay running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams drew inspiration from the... more

Rogelio V. Solis / Associated Press Saints guard Jamar Nesbit is one of the faces of the NFL's latest banned-substances investigation. ATLANTA -- Jeff Fish, the Atlanta Falcons Director of Athletic Performance -- the strength coach for most teams -- has been... more

Dave Martin / Associated Press Saints quarterback Drew Brees threw three interceptions while under pressure by a swarming Falcons defense. ATLANTA -- The image is inescapable. In the first major event in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2006, the... more

Elsa / Getty Images After winning his first two games with the Rams, Jim Haslett has dropped two straight. Save for the two initial victories that came at the outset of Jim Haslett's four-game tenure as interim coach of the St. Louis Rams, the unsettled and... more

Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images In eight games in Oakland, DeAngelo??Hall was beaten 40 times for 552 yards on 66 passes thrown his way. Two years removed from his second Pro Bowl, cornerback DeAngelo Hall said he doesn't think his release from the Oakland??Raiders... more

Mark Humphrey / Associated Press Rookie RB Chris??Johnson has given the Titans an added threat out of the backfield. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- With the game on the line in overtime and 66 NFL seasons of experienced players on offense, the Tennessee Titans hedged their bets on... more

Doug Benc / Getty Imagess Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan knocks the ball away from Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Titans center Kevin Mawae couldn't help himself. "We don't have a Terrell Owens," he said.... more

David J. Phillip / Associated Press The Texans' success rate rises dramatically when wideout Andre??Johnson is involved in the team's offense. Wide receivers in the NFL are viewed like defensive ends: Make three or four impact plays a game and that could be... more

Donna McWilliam / Associated Press Linebacker Bradie James tackles Warrick Dunn in a game in which Dallas limited the Bucs to 49 rushing yards. IRVING, Texas -- Following his team's 13-9 victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones hurried into the... more

Al Messerschmidt / Getty Imsges In his 14th season with the Bucs, linebacker Derrick Brooks provides veteran leadership on and off the field. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have spent the week on their axis of relative normalcy watching the Dallas Cowboys' world spin... more

Paul Sakuma / Associated Press Mike??Singletary was introduced as Mike Nolan's replacement at a press conference Tuesday afternoon. Mike Singletary doesn't plan on gauging his success as San Francisco's new head coach over the remaining nine games by a... more

Morry Gash / Associated Press The Colts struggled to get their potent passing game on track against the aggressive Packers. There wasn't fear or apprehension for the Green Bay Packers in facing the once-imposing Indianapolis Colts' offense on Sunday, even though... more

Stephen Dunn / Getty Images Aaron??Rodgers has thrown six touchdowns and just one interception since injuring his shoulder in Week 4. GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was the last player off the Lambeau Field turf on Sunday. With each step he took... more

Doug Benc/Getty Images After two injury-plagued seasons with the Jags, Marcus??Stroud has rejuvenated his career in Buffalo. Just two years removed from his third consecutive Pro Bowl appearance with Jacksonville, defensive tackle Marcus Stroud was enveloped in doubt.... more

Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Matt??Schaub and the Texans are feeling pretty good about themselves after getting their first win of the season. Matt Schaub is still trying to regain some of the 8 pounds he lost nearly two weeks ago because of a stomach virus, but... more

Doug Benc/Getty Images The Panthers were riding high before they were brought back to earth by the Buccaneers on Sunday. Three teams in what might be the NFL's most competitive division have winning records and the squad in last place, which boasts a .500 record,... more

Dave Martin / Associated Press Rookie quarterback Matt??Ryan has progressed faster than even Falcons coach Mike Smith expected. ATLANTA -- Falcons safety Lawyer Milloy has built up a tremendous amount of credibility in 13 NFL seasons. When he speaks, his perspective is... more

Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images Quietly, the Falcons' John??Abraham has become one of the NFL's most productive defensive ends. FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Falcons defensive end and NFL sacks leader John Abraham got a text message early this week from Seattle... more

Cleveland Browns The Browns honored Ernie Davis by retiring his No. 45, even though he never played a down in the NFL. Ernie Davis' only real NFL footnote was that, as part of a trade between Washington and Cleveland in 1962, he became the first black player drafted... more

Chris McGrath/Getty Images Brian??Westbrook's status will profoundly impact the Eagles' chances in the NFC East race. Eagles wide receiver Reggie Brown doesn't think the team's back-to-back losses or 2-3 record are reasons to despair right now. ... more

Chris McGrath / Getty Images Ladell??Betts helped the Redskins grind out 203 yards on the ground against the Eagles. PHILADELPHIA -- As the final seconds ticked away at the rapidly emptying Lincoln Financial Field, Clinton Portis raised his index finger and pointed at... more

Jeff Roberson / Associated Press Despite turmoil in the locker room, Chris??Long's focus has remained on the football field. ST. LOUIS -- Chris Long found himself in an awkward situation earlier this week. The coach who had a say in making him the Rams'... more

Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press It's no coincidence LaDainian Tomlinson scored for the first time this year and the Chargers earned their first victory. SAN DIEGO -- It was just one victory, San Diego's first, but it felt more like a warning shot. The... more

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images Jason Campbell eludes the rush of Jason Hatcher as the Redskins knock off the Cowboys. IRVING, TEXAS -- Manning, Romo, McNabb ... Campbell? The current quartet of powerhouse teams in the NFC East may have just added a new member to... more

David Sherman / Getty Images Antoine Winfield's hit on Jake Delhomme resulted in a touchdown and an eventual victory for the Vikings. MINNEAPOLIS -- Jake Delhomme should have seen Antoine Winfield coming. Winfield, the hard-hitting Minnesota Vikings... more

James A. Finley / Associated Press It's all uphill for the 0-4 Saints, who put Jim??Haslett in charge of getting the team back on the road to respectability. ST. LOUIS -??? When head-coaching jobs became available over the past few years, there was always immediate... more

Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Lane Kiffin and his assistant coaches have done a good job of keeping the Raiders focused on the task at hand. While Raiders coach Lane Kiffin twists in public, the team???s 21 assistant coaches are equally unnerved about the daily drama.... more

Kyle Ericson/AP Photos Rod Marinelli of the Lions and Scott Linehan of the Rams are members of the beleaguered coaching class of 2006. The Oakland Raiders-Lane Kiffin fiasco has attracted most of our attention lately because of Kiffin's shaky employment status, the... more

Streeter Lecka / Getty Images The Panthers welcome the intense Steve Smith back to their lineup in Week 3. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Pro Bowl wide receiver Steve Smith's return to the Panthers this week has been treated like the circle of life, in a football microcosm. ... more

Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images After a slow start to the season, QB Tarvaris Jackson has lost the starting job in Minnesota. Minnesota coach Brad Childress not only benched quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, he gave the reins to 15-year veteran Gus Frerotte for the... more

David Richard/Associated Press The Steelers defense held Jamal Lewis in check and the potent Browns offense to just six points. CLEVELAND -- Fresh off catching an 11-yard pass and scoring the game's only touchdown in Pittsburgh's 10-6 victory over Cleveland... more

Doug Benc/Getty Images Jets QB Brett??Favre's improvisational skills will continue to be on full display as he learns the team's offense. MIAMI -- This is why, for a day -- maybe a broader timeline ???- that Brett Favre is who he is and Chad Pennington no longer... more

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images After four years as the backup to LaDainian Tomlinson, Michael Turner had a very impressive debut in Atlanta. ATLANTA - After racking up 220 rushing yards -- an Atlanta Falcons' franchise record -- in his debut as a full-time NFL... more

Doug Benc/Getty Images DeAngelo??Hall was a talented, yet volatile, cornerback for the Falcons. Raiders cornerback DeAngelo Hall can hold a grudge. Ask Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith. Throw former coach Bobby Petrino and much of the Falcons'... more