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It wasn't a great day for players who have been battling long-term injuries. Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin's season is over because of an ankle injury. And Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy (concussion) remains out of practice.... more

You'd think the Carolina Panthers would be somewhat humbled by their 3-9 season. You'd think wrong. Defensive end Greg Hardy said Wednesday that his Panthers are better than the 11-1 Atlanta Falcons, and now we have a clearer picture of why he was... more

Percy Harvin's 2012 season started with so much promise. The Minnesota Vikings used him more than ever before, and he was one of the most valuable offensive players in the NFL for the first half of the season. Week 14 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Young... more

So the editors at NFL.com asked me if I could fill out a Pro Bowl roster for a layout coming Wednesday. My picks -- and picks from five smarter analysts -- can be seen here . The reasons for my picks are below. You can make your selections right here .... more

We're not exactly sure why Jim Harbaugh's appearance on "Saved by the Bell: The New Class" became an Internet sensation . We're just happy it happened . (And we don't break out "Internet sensation" often. Last time was for Sam Gordon .) The San... more

All signs point to Ben Roethlisberger returning to the field this week for the Pittsburgh Steelers. That's the only takeaway possible after listening to coach Mike Tomlin's comments Wednesday. Charlie Batch "I saw him make the necessary throws... more

Some years, there aren't a lot of great MVP candidates. Some years, the choice is obvious. This year, we really believe the first six players below all have a legitimate argument to win. The next month should be a lot of fun. 1. Peyton Manning, Denver... more

The Seattle Seahawks might have to make their final push for a playoff spot without both of their excellent starting cornerbacks. For this week , they already will be without one of them. The NFL announced Wednesday that Brandon Browner immediately will... more

Mark Sanchez was the the lesser of three evils to start at quarterback for the New York Jets this week, in part because of his contractual situation. Coach Rex Ryan, however, said Wednesday that Sanchez's guaranteed money had "absolutely zero" to do with... more

Check out the best photos of Cam Newton. In a story that seemingly should have a dateline of January 2012 rather than December, a report surfaced Wednesday regarding Cam Newton's obnoxious behavior at last season's Pro Bowl. Pete Prisco of... more

The circus might remain in the Big Apple next year as long as Rex Ryan is coaching the New York Jets, but Tebowmania will have to find a new home. Wednesday's decision to start Mark Sanchez this weekend against the Jacksonville Jaguars helped confirm... more

The Green Bay Packers didn't exactly want to re-sign running back Ryan Grant this season. Now they have to. Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com reports that Grant is headed back to the team , with Grant as the source for the report. (Pretty reliable.) The... more

Rex Ryan doesn't have any good choices at quarterback. That's the fault of the entire New York Jets organization -- from Ryan, to general manager Mike Tannenbaum, to owner Woody Johnson. Take a look back at Sanchez's career. Those mistakes started the... more

The Chicago Bears finally found a legitimate quarterback when they acquired Jay Cutler. They aren't about to let him go. Cutler's contract is up after 2013 and he's already talking about an extension. Serious negotiations are expected to begin in the... more

"Saved by the Bell: The New Class" was a regrettable moment in television history. Any time Screech gets top billing in the opening credits, something has gone horribly wrong. If nothing else, at least the show gave Jim Harbaugh a chance to show off... more

The demotion of Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall did not get a lot of national attention last week with Charlie Batch's big game and all of the Ben Roethlisberger injury speculation. Mendenhall, a first-round pick in 2008, is... more

Braylon Edwards called his former bosses in New York a bunch of "idiots" on Monday for their handling of New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez. We wonder what he'll say about his former bosses in Seattle. The Seahawks waived/injured Edwards on Tuesday... more

Being average is an achievement for the 2012 Minnesota Vikings. Little was expected of this team, and they remain right in the middle of the playoff race at 6-6 to start December. Yet they will be the first team at .500 or better to get forked by... more

No one knows anything in the NFL. That's why we love it. Power Poll: Still No. 1 The Houston Texans got the nod over the Atlanta Falcons this week, but who's No. 3 -- and where did our experts rank your team? More... Every season, we think we... more

New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin stepped to the microphone after his team's befuddling 17-16 loss in Washington not sure what really hit him. "This is not real complicated. I don't know what happened in the second half," Coughlin said after the... more

Robert Griffin III has brought a new level of excitement and competition into the NFC East. If the two games between the Washington Redskins and New York Giants are a preview of what's to come, we hope this game is on in prime time for years to come.... more

There was a ton on the line in Monday night's NFC East clash between the Washington Redskins and New York Giants. The game included the requisite amount of big hits on both sides, so it shouldn't be a huge surprise that we saw a fight. After Redskins... more

The Arizona Cardinals' eight-game losing streak largely has been devoid of drama, outside their rotating quarterback situation . Some of the Cardinals' frustrations apparently boiled over Sunday during a 7-6 loss to the Jets in New York. KTAR-AM in... more

The New England Patriots are going back to an old friend to help fill a hole on the wide receiver depth chart. And it's not Deion Branch this time. NFL.com's Albert Breer reported the Patriots will sign Donte' Stallworth on Tuesday, according to a... more

Marc Sessler broke down the five runs that explained Week 13. Here are five defining throws: The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens remain the best rivalry in football because their games are so memorable. Years from now, Sunday's upset will be... more

Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh and Pittsburgh Steelers counterpart Mike Tomlin had one of those awkward handshake moments that wind up being overly dissected in today's media environment (with the help of the great video department at NFL.com).... more

Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz didn't have a lot of fun topics to talk about Monday. One of his promising young wide receivers, Ryan Broyles, is done for the season . Another one of his promising young receivers, Titus Young, could be done with the team... more

The tragic murder of Kasandra Perkins and suicide of her boyfriend, Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher, has hit the community of Kansas City hard. For Jamaal Charles, he lost not only a teammate but a family member . His wife was cousins with Perkins,... more

Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid fired veteran defensive line coach Jim Washburn on Monday morning in a move that Reid said he has been thinking about a long time. It sure sounded like Reid regretted firing former defensive coordinator Juan Castillo --... more

New York Jets coach Rex Ryan wanted to talk about his team's great defensive effort against the Arizona Cardinals. He wanted to talk about the "beautiful" 7-6 win . Rapoport: McElroys avoid drama Greg McElroy and his father are taking a diplomatic... more

Michael Vick won't start another game for the Philadelphia Eagles this season. There's a good chance he won't play for them ever again. Eagles coach Andy Reid announced Monday that rookie Nick Foles will be the starting quarterback for the remainder of... more

An ugly brawl in the parking lot of a Green Bay sports bar involving 20 to 30 people resulted in jail for two people and a trip to the hospital for another, Ashwaubenon police told the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Officers charged a 40-year-old man... more

We've got four weeks to go until our popular playoff picture page just turns into playoff matchups. Week 13 helped to clarify the AFC wild-card race, while muddying the chase for a playoff bye. Here's what this week's results told us. Bengals,... more

The read-option plays and running ability of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson appeared to catch the Chicago Bears' defense off guard. "He likes to play with his legs," defensive end Julius Peppers said Sunday, via the Chicago Tribune. "We... more

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher knew he was in trouble. The police were coming for him, and the walls were closing in. Before anything happened next, Belcher reportedly wanted to talk to the men who made his football dreams come true.... more

It was not a good week for top-shelf NFL teams angling for a playoff bye. Charlie Batch laughed at Baltimore's noted home-field advantage . The Chicago Bears' vaunted defense couldn't stop Russell Wilson from driving the ball 97 yards on them in... more

It wouldn't be a Detroit Lions game without a fresh story of someone being upset with defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. After Lions cornerback Don Carey made an interception with 6:40 left in Sunday's 35-33 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Suh hammered... more

The final, final nail in the Norv Turner-era San Diego Chargers' coffin was an appropriate one. Philip Rivers threw an interception in the end zone on fourth down. The Cincinnati Bengals won 20-13 Sunday in San Diego for their fourth consecutive... more

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch, a national punchline after his performance last week in Cleveland, knew Sunday's game in Baltimore probably was the last start of his 15-year NFL career. Check out the best photos from the Week 13 matchup... more

The Green Bay Packers just can't seem to stay healthy. On the day when wide receiver Greg Jennings returned to the Green Bay Packers' lineup, fellow receiver Jordy Nelson hurt his hamstring once again during a 23-14 win over the Minnesota Vikings.... more

Kansas City Chiefs players never will forget where they were Saturday, when they found out teammate Jovan Belcher had taken his own life after murdering Kasandra Perkins, the 22-year-old mother of his daughter. And the Chiefs never will forget... more

The Miami Dolphins' uphill battle for playoff contention might have taken a major hit during Sunday's 23-16 loss to the New England Patriots . Left tackle Jake Long exited the game with an injury and didn't return, and the Dolphins fear he suffered a... more

Seattle Seahawks rookie quarterback Russell Wilson got the ball on his 3-yard line, with 3½ minutes remaining, needing to score a touchdown against perhaps the best defense in football: the Chicago Bears. No problem. After the Bears miraculously... more

On a day when quarterback Tom Brady mostly was held in check, the New England Patriots showed why they might be one of the NFL's most dangerous teams heading into the playoffs. The Patriots beat the Miami Dolphins 23-16 on Sunday to clinch the AFC East... more

A Cleveland Browns employee was found dead of apparent hanging in a maintenance shed at the team's practice facility Saturday, a Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner spokesman told NFL.com. The Browns confirmed Sunday that assistant groundskeeper Eric... more

After positive reports all week, it looks like Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden won't make his return to the field Sunday after all. ESPN reported that McFadden is unlikely to play against the Cleveland Browns because of an ailing ankle.... more

Take a look at photos of Jovan Belcher through the years. The Kansas City Chiefs held a moment of silence before Sunday's 27-21 victory over the Carolina Panthers for all victims of domestic violence and their families, according to The Kansas City... more

With the NFL season winding down, the names on the coaching hot seat receive a lot of attention. Just as many general managers could be looking for work. Week 13 Like/Dislike Fantasy football hath no fury like a quarterback scorned. Which is why Adam... more

Take a look at photos of Jovan Belcher through the years. The shocking death of Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher will affect the team's players and staff in many different ways. For running back Jamaal Charles, the tragedy hits particularly... more

Kansas City Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel never had to convene a team meeting like this before. Less than two hours after Crennel witnessed linebacker Jovan Belcher take his own life , Crennel addressed his team for a previously scheduled session. "It was... more

The shocking suicide of Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher after he killed his girlfriend in a separate shooting is such a difficult story to digest, even from far away. For Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli and coach Romeo Crennel, whom... more

The Carolina Panthers have been advised by the NFL to travel to Kansas City, Mo., after Saturday morning's fatal shooting at the Chiefs' facility, the Charlotte Observer reported . Week 13 Like/Dislike Fantasy football hath no fury like a quarterback... more

We handle the biggest news all day on Around the League. And then we round up all the injury news, big and small, in the Internet's most popular injury report roundup that's always cooler than a polar bear's toenails . 1. The Chicago Bears remain very... more

Gregg Rosenthal watches as much Game Rewind as possible each week. It's never enough, but he uses the information each Friday to preview upcoming games. The Seattle Seahawks only have one road win all season, and it came against the Carolina Panthers.... more

Jay Cutler plays the quarterback position with a little extra attitude than most, sometimes annoying fans or putting the Chicago Bears' offensive linemen in the crosshairs. It sometimes costs Cutler money. Week 13 Like/Dislike Fantasy football hath no... more

Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray finally should return from a sprained left foot this week, just in time for "Sunday Night Football" against the Philadelphia Eagles . Jeremiah: Plum coaching jobs Before firing season begins, Daniel Jeremiah... more

New York Jets coach Rex Ryan said Friday that backup quarterback Tim Tebow's status will be a game-time decision this week against the Arizona Cardinals because of his fractured ribs. A report from ESPN's Ed Werder, however, suggested the decision has... more

The breakup between the Philadelphia Eagles and quarterback Michael Vick is coming this offseason. The relationship already is starting to fray at the seams. Take a look back at Michael Vick's career. Ed Werder of ESPN reported Friday that Vick... more

Ben Roethlisberger tried to practice this week. It didn't help the quarterback's chances of playing Sunday for the Pittsburgh Steelers. NFL.com's Albert Breer reported Roethlisberger will not play against the Baltimore Ravens, according to a Steelers... more

Every week in the NFL is important. Some are just more important than others. Here are the NFL teams most desperate for a win in Week 13. The games are only getting bigger as we hit Week 13 . We've nearly reached "must-win" territory for a lot of the... more

Rolando McClain won't be released by the Oakland Raiders, like he hoped. That would be a reward. Instead, the Raiders announced they have suspended  the linebacker two games for conduct detrimental to the team. The news first was reported by Fox Sports... more

Colin Kaepernick probably knew being pushed into the spotlight as the San Francisco 49ers' starting quarterback would make him a target for criticism. He just couldn't have imagined that criticism would be so ridiculous. Brooks: The Kaepernick advantage... more

Drew Brees let down the New Orleans Saints' defense. That's how strange "Thursday Night Football" was this week. On a night when the Saints' defense played more than well enough to win, Brees threw five interceptions in a 23-13 loss to the Atlanta... more

MVP candidate Matt Ryan struggled. The running game bogged down after the first quarter. And yet the Atlanta Falcons still pulled off their biggest win of the season Thursday night in the Georgia Dome, 23-13 over the New Orleans Saints . Check out the... more

DeAngelo Hall's 2012 season is costing him a lot of money. Robert Griffin III Fox Sports onsider and NFL Network contributor Jay Glazer reported Thursday that the NFL fined the Washington Redskins cornerback $35,750 for two fouls . We don't know... more

Drew Brees is known for his smarts on the football field, but a series of ugly mental mistakes at the end of the first half left some New Orleans Saints points off the board Thursday night against the Atlanta Falcons . Mistake No. 1. An unnecessary... more

Jason O. Watson / US Presswire Monte Kiffin (left) was defensive coordinator at USC for his son, Trojans coach Lane Kiffin. There are many famous examples of big-name college football coaches who couldn't make it at the pro level. Monte Kiffin... more

There is some disagreement about how and when the New Orleans Saints and coach Sean Payton can negotiate a new contract. But Saints general manager Mickey Loomis isn't sweating the details. Loomis told Mike Triplett of The Times-Picayune that he's "not... more

When Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte hurt his ankle last week against the Minnesota Vikings, it looked like it could be a multiple-week injury. Forte believes he won't miss a single game. Forte said he expects to play this week against the... more

The Oakland Raiders aren't saying what they're going to do with Rolando McClain, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2010 draft. But it's pretty clear, based on coach Dennis Allen's words Thursday, that they aren't going to cut the linebacker, despite an ESPN... more

The New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons have the second-best rivalry in the NFL, and it could pass Baltimore Ravens-Pittsburgh Steelers before long. The games always matter between the Saints and Falcons, and there is a long-running genuine dislike... more

So you probably heard about how the New Orleans Saints' team bus was hit with a covert egg attack Wednesday night in Atlanta. You might not know that the incident has inspired a full-blown investigation. Rapoport: Week 13 game rankings What's the... more

Green Bay Packers running back Cedric Benson will have all the time he needs to cultivate his alter-ego, DJ World Peace , for the rest of the year. He won't be playing football again this season. Brooks: Bears or Packers? Chicago and Green Bay both... more

Most local reports surrounding Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger claim that he's unlikely to play this week. The national reports seem to believe his chances are closer to 50-50. Roethlisberger certainly provided hope Thursday with his... more

Sunday's matchup between the Oakland Raiders and Cleveland Browns didn't figure to be the prettiest-looking game on the Week 13 schedule, even in the best conditions. And both teams are preparing for the worst conditions. Rapoport: Rebuilding the... more

We've rolled out esoteric weekly power rankings for pass rushers , coaches , quarterbacks , fan bases  and divisions during the 2012 season. Now let's try out the wide receivers. We're only basing the list on who we'd want this season , not for past... more

The Seattle Seahawks might boast the best cornerback duo in the league in Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner. They are certainly the most physical. And until their reported suspension appeal is heard, they remain available. Brooks: Bears or Packers?... more

Linebacker Rolando McClain was kicked out of Oakland Raiders practice Wednesday after an incident, sources close to the player and the team told NFL.com's Albert Breer and Ian Rapoport. McClain, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, posted a... more

The Jacksonville Jaguars have decided to use their lofty waiver position in an effort to improve their NFL-worst pass rush. The Jaguars claimed former Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Jason Babin off waivers Wednesday, a source close to the player told... more

The New York Giants can essentially wrap up the NFC East on "Monday Night Football " this week with a win over the 5-6 Washington Redskins. Robert Griffin III has made Washington one of the toughest teams in the league to prepare for, but he's only one... more

San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh didn't drag out what was left of his team's quarterback drama. Colin Kaepernick is the man going forward. With Jim Harbaugh's announcement that Colin Kaepernick will be his starter, let's take a look at other QB... more

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh says he doesn't have to apologize for kicking Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub in the groin. Suh does have to pay a hefty fine to the NFL, though. Harrison: Week 13 Power Rankings Twenty-six of the... more

ESPN's Monday night appendage, Rick Reilly, tried to make some more exclusive news from his Twitter account this week. "Cam Newton is really quick , until it's time to get dressed," Reilly wrote. "Took him 54 minutes last night. Then did media. Team... more

NFL coaches face daily challenges the public never sees. For Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh, one of his most pivotal moments of the season came in a closed-door team meeting way back on Halloween. Schein: Trust Issues As we hit the stretch run... more

It has been more than a week since Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz sent wide receiver Titus Young away from the team for bad behavior . Brooks: Bears or Packers? Chicago and Green Bay both look like Super Bowl contenders. Which one will take the NFC... more

Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are battling for a potential MVP award. Welcome to five years ago. There are other quality candidates for the honor, but the top two on our list just happen to be the best two players of the last decade. 1. Peyton Manning,... more

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden should get a chance to go after the first winning streak of his career on Sunday. Browns coach Pat Shurmur announced at his Wednesday press conference that Weeden was cleared to practice .... more

Brooks: Bears or Packers? Chicago and Green Bay both look like Super Bowl contenders. Which one will take the NFC North? Bucky Brooks examines. More ... Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was involved in yet another traffic violation... more

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace was frustrated after only catching one pass against the Cleveland Browns last week on the final play of the game. He has only seven catches in three games since Antonio Brown was hurt. That frustration... more

Ben Roethlisberger's status for Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens remains a matter of debate. Coach Mike Tomlin said he was leaving the door open for Roethlisberger's return, but he made it sound like Charlie Batch would get the call to start a... more

Breer: O-line issues ... explained! Why are so many top teams having protection issues? Albert Breer says offensive linemen are devalued in 2012. More ... The Cleveland Browns haven't even made a head coaching job available since owner Jimmy... more

Gregg Rosenthal will watch every rookie quarterback snap all season. He's ranking them every Tuesday based on that week's performance only because no one else is up for the task. If "The Rookie Wall" exists, the big four rookie quarterbacks this season... more

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin knows one player that will start in his backfield against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. He's just not sure who will play quarterback. Tomlin announced Tuesday that Jonathan Dwyer would be his starting running... more

The Around the League entry for the NFL.com Power Poll doesn't look a ton different than a week ago, with most of the top teams winning in Week 12. We do have a different No. 2 team overall and top AFC squad: The New England Patriots. Power Poll: Texans... more

The Tennessee Titans aren't waiting for the offseason to start making changes. The Titans fired offensive coordinator Chris Palmer on Monday night and named quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains as his replacement. "I have a great deal of respect for... more

The Oakland Raiders haven't had a lot of good news in a while. Neither have running back Darren McFadden's fantasy owners. You can probably guess where this is going. Raiders teammates expect McFadden to play this week against the Cleveland Browns,... more

The Fork has turned into a matter of great debate , at least on my Twitter account. Miami Dolphins fans can't believe the New York Jets haven't been eliminated. Washington Redskins fans feel like they were Forked too early (we'll know by next week). The... more

Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has made inappropriate plays a new Thanksgiving tradition. That has helped make him a divisive national figure that wins player polls for the NFL's dirtiest player . On the same day that Suh learned he won't be... more

The NFL indicated it would be looking extra close at Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh's kick of Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub for possible discipline because of Suh's prior history. Suh's track record wasn't enough to get him... more

Gregg Rosenthal picks the five throws that explain the week every Monday. Marc Sessler already knocked out the defining five runs . The play below shows why Jay Cutler is the difference between a playoff-bound Chicago Bears team and 4-12. Minnesota... more

Yet another NFL player has been caught using performance-enhancing substances. Just a day after reports surfaced that both Seattle Seahawks starting cornerbacks were facing suspension, the NFL announced Monday that Patriots defensive end Jermaine... more

New York Giants running back Andre Brown was one of the cool, early stories of the 2012 season after his breakout game on "Thursday Night Football" against the Carolina Panthers. Now, his season essentially is over. The Giants announced Monday that... more

New York Giants tight end Martellus Bennett, the self-dubbed "Black Unicorn," performed a superhero-worthy feat after New York's win last night . He caught a fan that was falling from the stands. Seriously. Check out the best photos from the Week 12... more

Cam Newton grew up in the Atlanta area when Michael Vickmania was at its hype. Everyone had a Vick jersey, including Newton. Jeremiah: Key rookie performers Daniel Jeremiah shines the spotlight on first-year players who will impact the playoff race,... more

The Dallas Cowboys defense might have reached its tipping point when it comes to injuries. They were already playing without their All-Pro caliber insider linebacker Sean Lee. Now they will be without his wildly talented tag team partner Bruce... more

In the pantheon of excruciating Norv Turner losses with the San Diego Chargers, well, Sunday's defeat to the Baltimore Ravens was another one. For a new Chargers player like linebacker Takeo Spikes, however, the sensation was new . Instant Debate: Time... more

Week 12 included no fewer than five games between NFC contenders: Giants-Packers , 49ers-Saints , Vikings-Bears , Buccaneers-Falcons and Redskins-Cowboys . While the results reminded us of last season's playoffs, we're more interested in what it told us... more

The Green Bay Packers' blowout loss to the New York Giants on Sunday night made the team feel like it was in last season's playoffs all over again, but it did come with a silver lining. Rap Sheet Rundown: Jersey snore The Packers were routed in a... more

It must have been hard for the Green Bay Packers to not look back after Sunday night's beatdown at the hands of the New York Giants. The team was whipped up front , on a big stage, by the same team that ended their title hopes last season. "There's... more

Graham Harrell played on Sunday night, and not in a good way for the Green Bay Packers. The Packers' 38-10 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday was one of the worst defeats of the Mike McCarthy era because we felt the Packers were past this . The... more

An injury to Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte, cornerback Charles Tillman, wide receiver Devin Hester or linebacker Lance Briggs normally would be big news. Losing all four players, plus two starting offensive linemen, could seriously hamstring the... more

New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley should be facing a hefty fine or a possible suspension from the NFL after he kicked San Francisco 49ers guard Alex Boone in the head on Sunday. On NFL Network NFL Replay will re-air the San... more

The conversation all week was about San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh's quarterback decision. But it was the 49ers' defense that stole the show Sunday. The 49ers defeated the New Orleans Saints 31-21 on Sunday to effectively end the NFC West race... more

It appears a massive body blow has been delivered to the Seattle Seahawks' playoff hopes. NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that Seahawks starting cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner are facing four-game suspensions for violating... more

Mike Holmgren officially is free to go after coaching jobs. Check out the best photos from the Week 12 matchup between the Steelers and Browns. Holmgren's tenure as Cleveland Browns president is up, the team confirmed to Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain... more

Peyton Manning underwent a concussion test late in the first half of the Denver Broncos' 17-9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, but he never left the game , Mike Klis of The Denver Post reported. "I'm fine, everything checked out OK, "... more

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen might hear from the NFL this week because of his blind-side block during teammate Antoine Winfield's interception return in Sunday's 28-10 loss to the Chicago Bears. Check out the best photos from the Week 12... more

Sometimes, football is simpler than we think. Jay Cutler returns, and suddenly, the Chicago Bears look like world beaters again. Check out the best photos from the Week 12 matchup between the Vikings and Bears. Chicago's offensive line didn't pass... more

Ryan Tannehill put together one of the best fourth-quarter performances we saw from a quarterback all season Sunday. The rally could have repercussions in the NFC playoff race for a while. Check out the best photos from the Week 12 matchup between the... more

It appeared early on during Sunday's 24-21 comeback victory over the Seattle Seahawks that things were going in the wrong direction for the Miami Dolphins. So the home team came up with a unique way to slow down the Seahawks' momentum. The sprinklers... more

The Chicago Bears' offense looked better in Week 12 , but a spate of injuries could become big concerns in future weeks. Matt Forte limped to the locker room with an ankle injury that he suffered during the third quarter of Sunday's 28-10 win over the... more

The Chicago Bears' offense has taken another hit. Devin Hester suffered a concussion during the first half of Sunday's 28-10 win against the Minnesota Vikings, the Bears announced. The return man's injury left the Bears especially thin at wide... more

It looks like Arizona Cardinals quarterback Ryan Lindley could remain a starting quarterback for a while. Kevin Kolb will be out "several more weeks" because of his injured ribs, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. That's a bit of a... more

Quarterback injuries were the big story in the NFL two weeks ago when Jay Cutler, Ben Roethlisberger, Alex Smith and Michael Vick were all injured. Cutler made it back to the lineup first. NFL Network's Stacey Dales reported early Sunday that... more

On Saturday, we pointed out some interesting comments by Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden in which he certainly appeared to questions aspect of his coaching staff's preparation against the Dallas Cowboys. "There's a couple of... more

Colin Kaepernick's second career start will come Sunday at the Superdome . All he has to do is out-gun Drew Brees to get a victory. Rosenthal: No guts, no glory Niners coach Jim Harbaugh knows you don't win a Super Bowl by playing it safe, Gregg... more

It's a big Sunday in Chicago. The Bears, now 7-3, will try to end a two-game losing streak to the Minnesota Vikings. Jay Cutler is expected to return to the lineup from a concussion. A win would keep the Bears atop the NFC North. A loss would suddenly... more

The last two weeks showed exactly why we waited so long to stick a fork in the 2012 Detroit Lions. (And why we probably waited too long.) In back-to-back weeks, they had Super Bowl contenders on the ropes. They outgained the Green Bay Packers and Houston... more

We handle the biggest injury stories throughout the day on Around the League. Then we round up all the news -- big and small -- for the Internet's most popular injury report that knows crime is a disease , and we're the cure. 1. Jay Cutler (concussion)... more

The Houston Texans' defense continues to take big hits. NFL.com's Albert Breer reported Friday that Brooks Reed will miss three to four weeks because of a groin injury, according to a source briefed on the situation. Reed won't require surgery. On... more

Danny Amendola rebounded from a broken collarbone far quicker than anyone expected this season. But the St. Louis Rams wide receiver wasn't back for long before another injury popped up. Harrison: Week 12 predictions No more bye weeks in the 2012... more

Gregg Rosenthal watches as much Game Rewind as he possibly can all week. He uses that information to look ahead to the weekend's biggest matchups. This is the spot where the New York Giants usually make us look like fools. The defending Super Bowl... more

Jay Cutler still hasn't been cleared to play in Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings, which is troubling news for any Chicago Bears fan who watched Monday night's loss in San Francisco.  Harrison: Week 12 predictions No more bye weeks in the... more

We first heard reports Wednesday night that the San Francisco 49ers would start Colin Kaepernick at quarterback this week against the New Orleans Saints. It took a few days of the 49ers trying to cover up the decision, but the news finally is confirmed.... more

The New York Jets' loss to the New England Patriots on Thursday night was the type of inexplicable, embarrassing game that gets coaches fired. Jets coach Rex Ryan says that's not going to happen to him . "I do, I do," Ryan said when asked if he expects... more

Every week in the NFL is important. Some are just more important than others. Here are the NFL teams most desperate for a win in Week 12. The later the season gets, the more desperate teams are on the fringes of the playoff picture . Last week's group... more

It will be too late for the Detroit Lions, but don't be surprised if the NFL changes the rule that prevented officials from reviewing Houston Texans running back Justin Forsett's long phantom touchdown on Thanksgiving . On NFL Network Watch an... more

They chanted Tim Tebow's name at the Meadowlands on Thursday night, but New York Jets coach Rex Ryan didn't give the home crowd its wish despite a 32-point halftime deficit. There won't be any change next week either, when the Jets host the Arizona... more

It wasn't that long ago the New York Jets held their own in their rivalry with the New England Patriots. Take a look at photos from the Thanksgiving Day matchup between the Patriots and Jets. Sure, the Jets haven't won the AFC East under Rex Ryan. But... more

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wears his emotions on his sleeves after games, win or lose. The appropriate emotion after Thursday's 38-31 loss to the Washington Redskins was humbled . Take a look at photos from the Thanksgiving Day matchup between... more

Give the New York Jets credit. When they lose, they sure do it spectacularly. During a 56-second span in the second quarter of Thursday night's 49-19 loss to the rival New England Patriots, the Jets somehow allowed three touchdowns. Here's how you... more

The NFL is a copycat league. Perhaps other coaches will start to say they're "evaluating" for next season, like Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan did two weeks ago After all, the Redskins suddenly are right back in the NFC East race. Since... more

Jason Hanson stepped up for a 47-yard field-goal attempt that would have ended the Detroit Lions' near-decade-long run of Thanksgiving Day futility. Take a look at photos from the Thanksgiving Day matchup between the Texans and Lions. It would have been... more

Chicago Bears guard Chilo Rachal made news Wednesday by abruptly quitting the team when he reportedly learned he had been demoted. The Bears placed him on the reserve/left team list. On Thanksgiving, Rachal apparently had a change of heart.... more

The Chicago Bears' offensive line remains in upheaval . Lombardi: The Bears' big problem Michael Lombardi says the Bears' fatal flaw has been an issue since last season -- and it has nothing to do with the QB. More ... On the same day that guard... more

Peyton Manning entered the season as the NFL's biggest quarterback mark. He enters the final stretch of the season as the favorite for NFL MVP honors . Schein: Time to give thanks With Thanksgiving upon us, Adam Schein pauses to note the bounty of... more

Former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Bradie James won't play at Jerryworld on Thanksgiving, but he still has a big Turkey Day game. Take a look back at this longstanding NFL tradition. The Houston Texans starter will face the Detroit Lions in the early... more

Fortune favors the bold. You don't win a Super Bowl by copying league trends or punting on fourth-and-1. You don't keep a wildly talented quarterback on the bench after one of the best performances of the season because you're afraid of the criticism that... more

Jim Harbaugh has shown during his brief NFL coaching career that he's not afraid to make a gutsy call. He reportedly just made one of his biggest. Jim Trotter of SI.com reported Wednesday that Harbaugh told Alex Smith that Colin Kaepernick will start at... more

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (hamstring) missed practice Wednesday. That's the bad news. The good news in Atlanta is that Jones is expected to participate more on Thursday. Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon (ankle) should be back this week... more

We plan to make "Stick a fork in them" an annual feature on Around the League. We could be writing for a long, long time before another team that starts 4-0 gets put to rest after only ten weeks. What a strange, rollercoaster ride this was for the 2012... more

We told you that changes were coming to the Chicago Bears' offensive line. We didn't expect anything like this. Brooks: Turkey Day primer Week 12 opens with a three-course football feast on Thanksgiving Day. Bucky Brooks has analysis/picks for each... more

It was ridiculously early in the season when we started writing this MVP forecast. With six games left, the best candidates have started to solidify. Matt Ryan's five-interception game in Week 11 has shaken up the list -- even if three of the picks... more

After 24 starts, five wins, two head coaches and two haircuts, the Jacksonville Jaguars no longer view Blaine Gabbert as a franchise quarterback. Justin Blackmon Gabbert's season ended Wednesday when he was placed on injured reserve . NFL.com's... more

The Chicago Bears' offensive line was embarrassed on national television Monday night . Quarterback Jay Cutler and offensive coordinator Mike Tice piled on a little Wednesday. "It really doesn't matter who is calling plays if you're not blocking... more

Philadelphia Eagles fans have given up on the 2012 season, so this news item might be directed more at fantasy owners. Take a look back at this long standing NFL tradition. Quarterback Michael Vick and running back LeSean McCoy both missed practice... more

Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith said Wednesday that quarterback Jay Cutler has been cleared to practice on a limited basis after suffering a concussion against the Houston Texans in Week 10. Cutler said he is symptom-free, but he doesn't know if... more

Don't call it a quarterback controversy in San Francisco. Just don't ask 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh for a clear answer about who he's going to start this week against the New Orleans Saints. Is a QB controversy brewing in SF. Take a look at our Top 10.... more

Denver Broncos head coach John Fox said earlier this week he didn't plan on placing running back Willis McGahee on injured reserve. Something changed in the meantime. On NFL Network NFL Replay will re-air the Denver Broncos' 30-23 win over the... more

Washington Redskins kicker Kai Forbath has a shoe size of 10.5. Normal. However, he kicks field goals with a 7.5-sized soccer cleat. Painful . "I go through a little process with it," Forbath told Sports Evolution Radio, via The Washington Post. "We... more

Take a look at one of the great running backs of the NFL. Houston Texans running back Arian Foster is on pace for nearly 400 carries this season. The team is in position for a No. 1 seed in the AFC and hopes to be playing well into January. You would... more

The playoff picture page on NFL.com is hypnotic. Use it long enough, and the secrets of the 2012 season will be revealed. Or you'll at least write a post with some takeaways heading into Week 12. Thanksgiving impact » We're lucky this season that... more

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers doesn't like it when folks call him overly sensitive . But he's certainly not shy about pointing out injustices when he thinks they have occurred. It's safe to say Rodgers has his former coach Jeff Tedford's... more

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (ankle) is expected to miss another game or two, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Jerricho Cotchery has broken ribs. Take a look back at the career of Plaxico Burress. That means the Steelers'... more

The Detroit Lions' latest division loss to the Green Bay Packers is the one that probably knocked them out of reasonable playoff contention. They have too many teams to climb in front of in the NFC. Take a look back at this long standing NFL... more

Gregg Rosenthal will watch every rookie quarterback snap this season. He ranks them based on that week's performance only. 1. Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins What a strange, awesome game by RG3. He only had one incompletion, but the Redskins... more

Another week, another drama for Washington Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall. Hall and Washington Post reporter Mike Jones got into an altercation on Tuesday, with security and Redskins public relations forced to intervene, according to NFL.com's Ian... more

Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith said Tuesday Jay Cutler's chances of playing Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings were "looking good." But nothing has been decided yet. Cutler is willing to promise one thing, though: "I will play again this... more

The San Francisco 49ers are the hardest team in the NFL to prepare for, even before they added a mobile young quarterback to the mix that throws a pretty pass. The 49ers can beat you in the most different ways. Instant Debate: Kaepernick or Smith?... more

Very little was expected of the 2012 St. Louis Rams. After three consecutive home wins to start the season, St. Louis was over .500 for the first time since 2006 . They haven't won since. Better days are ahead, but this Rams team won't be going to the... more

The Chicago Bears were 7-3 after 10 games last season, seen as Super Bowl contenders. Jay Cutler then was hurt, and they didn't win another game. Now 7-3 and on a two-game losing streak after a humiliating 32-7 loss in San Francisco on Monday night,... more

"Next man up" only works as a philosophy when the next man up is capable. That's why one injury we learned about Monday stands apart from the rest. The Pittsburgh Steelers can't afford to fall behind any more in the AFC North, but backup quarterback... more

The Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback position has become a growing problem. take a look at the best action photos from around the league in Week 11. Charlie Batch will start Sunday against the Cleveland Browns , NFL.com's Aditi Kinkhabwala reported,... more

Titus Young is in trouble again, just in time for Thanksgiving. Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz announced Monday that the wide receiver will be inactive for Thursday's game because he put himself above the team during Sunday's loss to the Green Bay... more

We started to hear the criticism Sunday night. Why was New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski still in the game during a 59-24 blowout victory ? There are a lot of reasons why this line of thinking is silly. No. 1: Gronkowski broke his forearm on... more

Every Monday, Gregg Rosenthal picks the five throws that explain the week. Marc Sessler already has knocked out the defining runs . We thought about including Robert Griffin III's only incompletion of Week 11 as one of the throws, but that would be... more

Chad Henne earned his way into the Jacksonville Jaguars' starting lineup with his monster performance against the Houston Texans. Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey announced Monday that Henne will start at quarterback this week against the Tennessee... more

The wildly unlucky, unhappy season for the Carolina Panthers isn't likely to include an in-season coaching change . Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Monday that he has been led to believe after conversations with team owner Jerry Richardson that he will... more

Another week, another concussion for a big Philadelphia Eagles star. Eagles coach Andy Reid said Monday that he doesn't believe the concussion suffered by running back LeSean McCoy the previous day is as serious as the one quarterback Michael Vick... more

Will Fahey was the biggest fan of the Wellesley High School football team in Massachusetts. Until he was added to the roster. The 17-year-old has cerebral palsy and started watching Wellesley's football practices while in middle school. For six years,... more

The Carolina Panthers have become the NFL's best team at blowing fourth-quarter leads. Sunday's effort was a new low. The Panthers scored a touchdown to go up 11 points with just 4:34 remaining. And they still lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by a... more

The Kansas City Chiefs' 2012 season has hit a new low. The team was named as a cause of death. The following obituary ran in the Kansas City Star on Sunday: "Loren G. 'Sam' Lickteig passed away on Nov. 14, 2012 of complications from MS and... more

Every week, we break down the NFL MVP candidates on Around the League. We've had J.J. Watt atop the list lately, even though he's a defensive player, because he's had that dominant of a season. Jeremiah: More than support Teams can't win behind a QB... more

No soy fiesta in New England. Tight end Rob Gronkowski's broken forearm is such a downer for the New England Patriots because Gronk's skill set stands alone. No one in the NFL combines his vicious blocking with his playmaking ability. Gronkowski had... more

The Philadelphia Eagles' miserable season continues to get worse. Running back LeSean McCoy suffered a concussion with under two minutes to go in Sunday's loss to the Washington Redskins. Eagles coach Andy Reid said the team still was trying to win at... more

The New England Patriots' huge win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday came with a big price. NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports that Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski broke his forearm during the game and is telling people he'll be out 4 to 6 weeks,... more

It wouldn't be a high-profile Detroit Lions loss without a little coaching drama. Fox television cameras caught offensive coordinator Scott Linehan and wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson having a heated exchange on the sideline late in the Lions'... more

Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts are writing a nice story this NFL season as potential playoff upstarts. Just don't call them real Super Bowl contenders yet. The Colts saw what a title contender looks like Sunday night in Foxborough in a 59-24... more

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie still believes in the dream, even after Sunday's 31-6 blowout loss to the Washington Redskins. "Nobody has lined up and just beat us. No, it's just mental mistakes," Rodgers-Cromartie said,... more

The Houston Texans have a short week before playing on Thanksgiving on the road. They decided to make it even shorter by forcing overtime Sunday. Most passing yards in a single NFL game Player Team Year Yards Norm Van Brocklin Rams 1951... more

Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy was carted off the field Sunday after suffering a concussion late in a 31-6 loss to the Washington Redskins. That raises the question: Why was McCoy even in the game? Eagles coach Andy Reid said the... more

No matter where the Washington Redskins go from here, their fans can feel good about the season. They found a franchise quarterback. And they are so much better than the Philadelphia Eagles. The Redskins rolled over the Eagles 31-6 at home in a... more

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones played through his ankle injury Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, but he couldn't make it to the end of the game. Jones caught three passes for 33 yards before limping off the field at the end of the... more

Oakland Raiders linebacker Rolando McClain will not face jail time after being arrested on misdemeanor assault and firearms charges for allegedly holding a gun beside a man's head in Alabama, the player's lawyer told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Decatur... more

You don't often see a quarterback change when a team leads 13-3. But the Arizona Cardinals aren't your average team. Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt replaced John Skelton with rookie Ryan Lindley in the second quarter of Sunday's 23-19 loss  to the... more

We told you a few weeks back about reports that Jon Gruden was eyeing a potential return to coaching. He should have options in the college game. Take a look back at the career of Jon Gruden. CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reported Sunday that Arkansas... more

It's Sunday morning. That's time for setting fantasy lineups and last-minute injury updates. Here's the latest injury news you need to know, updated throughout the games. 1. New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker played during a 59-24... more

The Pittsburgh Steelers might have to roll with Byron Leftwich at quarterback for a while. Jeremiah: Ranking backup QBs With backup quarterbacks coming to the forefront of late, Daniel Jeremiah ranks playoff contenders' No. 2 signal-callers. More ...... more

New York Jets coach Rex Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum can open any local newspaper to find out they're on the hot seat. Or they can have a meeting with their boss . Bob Glauber of Newsday reports that Jets owner Woody Johnson held a meeting... more

The NFL doesn't appreciate obscenities being broadcast over the airwaves, even when it happens by mistake . The NFL announced Friday that referee Tony Corrente has been fined a game check for his actions Nov. 4 in Indianapolis when the Colts faced the... more

We track the injury news all day on Around the League . And then we compile everything, big and small, into the most popular injury report round than never lets New York bring us down . Lot of big names on the list this week. Lot of fantasy impact.... more

Each week, Gregg Rosenthal watches a lot of Game Rewind. He uses that every Friday to preview a big upcoming matchup. Byron Leftwich will start at quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in a huge division matchup against the Baltimore... more

Jay Cutler will miss at least one start following the concussion he suffered against the Houston Texans last week. The Chicago Bears announced Friday that Jason Campbell will indeed start on Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers. Campbell... more

A man that was reported missing after being ejected from a Buffalo Bills home game Thursday night was found dead Friday morning, authorities told the Buffalo News. A man reported to law enforcement that his 26-year-old brother was ejected from... more

Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray is inching closer to a return to the field, but he's not ready yet. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett announced Friday that Murray will be "doubtful" to face the Cleveland Browns on Sunday because of Murray's... more

Every week in the NFL is important. Some are just more important than others. Here are the NFL teams most desperate for a win in Week 11. The Buffalo Bills would have made this list for Week 11 if it wasn't posted on Fridays. Perhaps their inspired... more

Jeremiah: Ranking backup QBs With backup quarterbacks coming to the forefront of late, Daniel Jeremiah ranks playoff contenders' No. 2 signal-callers. More ... Nick Foles will get his chance to start for the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday , as we... more

The controversy surrounding suspended New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton has quieted down over the last week, which may be by design. Don't expect any movement to the story anytime soon. Mike Triplett of the New Orleans Times-Picayune writes that... more

For one night, the Buffalo Bills' defense was worth all the money and lived up to all the pregame hype. The Bills kept their faint playoff hopes alive with a 19-14 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Thursday for three reasons: their suffocating... more

The NFL fined Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller $21,000 for hitting Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton below the knees during last week's game , The Denver Post reported Thursday . The play happened with 3:15 left in the fourth quarter when... more

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell still is talking about shortening the preseason. The public push for an 18-game regular season has died down, but that doesn't mean the current four-game preseason necessarily is safe. Goodell mentioned during his Thursday... more

Dwayne Bowe probably is hitting the home stretch of his career in Kansas City, with free agency approaching and the Chiefs unlikely to use a franchise tag on the wide receiver again. Multiple reporters have suggested that Bowe wants out of Kansas... more

Greg Cosell of NFL Films and the "NFL Matchup" show is one of our favorite analysts. That's why his assessment of the San Francisco 49ers' run defense was so eye-opening . Harrison: Week 11 predictions Whole lotta intrigue in Week 11, including the... more

The newest member of the New England Patriots has been with the team for just three days since returning from his NFL-issued suspension, but it's safe to say cornerback Aqib Talib is happy with the trade that brought him to Foxborough. Rapoport: Week 11... more

Thursday night's game between the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills features two AFC teams fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive in a watered-down wild-card race. Who wins might come down to which team has the better backfield. Reggie Bush's... more

San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh missed practice Thursday because of a "minor procedure" performed to correct an irregular heartbeat, according to a team-issued statement. Harrison: Week 11 predictions Whole lotta intrigue in Week 11, including... more

The Baltimore Ravens ran a fake field goal despite leading 41-17 in the third quarter of last Sunday's win over the Oakland Raiders. That decision sparked a debate: Were the Ravens running up the score? Thanks to a great segment from NFL Network's... more

With the Tim Tebow drama dominating the headlines , this week's truly juicy subplot has been overlooked. The New York Jets are taking on last season's scapegoat, now-St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. Darlington: Tebow the... more

The Baltimore Ravens' secondary might have hit the tipping point with all of its injuries. Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith underwent surgery for a sports hernia Thursday, two sources briefed on his condition told NFL.com and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.... more

We've rolled weekly random power rankings this season for quarterbacks , coaches , fan bases and divisions . It's time to break out a new one: Pass rushers. These are the guys we want for 2012 -- no historical achievement awards. Top Shelf: Von... more

We're starting out this Wednesday's injury roundup with some bad news for fantasy owners: Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden missed practice Wednesday because of his high ankle sprain. It's early, but it would be a surprise if McFadden returned... more

Mark Sanchez has been in New York long enough to know the score. This latest controversy about Tim Tebow will die down eventually, one way or another. Darlington: Tebow the Terrible The Jets are stunned Tim Tebow isn't a good practice player? Should... more

Some fools have given up on the Washington Redskins' playoff chances, but Robert Griffin III still believes. "I think the playoffs are a realistic goal for us ," Griffin said Wednesday, via WJFK-FM. Things certainly look better than they did when... more

When New Orleans Saints running back Darren Sproles revealed he underwent surgery for a broken hand a few weeks back, there initially was fear he could miss two months of action. Brooks: Run, Saints, run! Drew Brees is one of the NFL's best... more

So Tim Tebow is "terrible ." The New York Jets only have one quarterback, and that's Mark Sanchez. (That's Jets guard Matt Slauson's quote on the record .) No matter what Jets coach Rex Ryan says about his team's punting statistics, the Tebow... more

We told you earlier Wednesday that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger would sit out this week's game against the Baltimore Ravens, in part because of his previously undisclosed rib injury. Jeremiah: Ranking backup QBs With backup... more

Adrian Peterson is on pace to set career highs in rushing yards, receptions and yards per carry while playing on a lousy offense and coming off a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He's our biggest riser in this year's NFL MVP race. 1. J.J. Watt, Houston... more

Don't rule out Michael Vick from this week's game against the Washington Redskins just yet. At least not officially . Jeremiah: Ranking backup QBs With backup quarterbacks coming to the forefront of late, Daniel Jeremiah ranks playoff contenders'... more

Following Atlanta's loss in New Orleans , Falcons center Todd McClure nearly blamed the team's struggling ground game on his running back. And then he stopped. "That's what (ticks) me off more than anything is you guys are going to write about how bad... more

Conversation about the no-huddle offense was all the rage in August and early September. The New England Patriots' "one-word" play calls and the growing no-huddle attacks of the Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens were the big growing trends for 2012.... more

There are seven games left, but we've officially stuck a fork in the 2012 Philadelphia Eagles. It's not too early to start speculating about next season. Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer runs down a list of veteran players who might or might... more

The Pittsburgh Steelers aren't taking any chances. Fox Sports insider and NFL Network contributor Jay Glazer reports that Ben Roethlisberger will sit out Sunday night's game against the Baltimore Ravens, and Byron Leftwich will start at quarterback.... more

Gregg Rosenthal will watch every rookie quarterback snap this season, and rank the signal-callers every Tuesday based on that week's performance only. It's a tough job, but he's up for it. 1. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts This is a strange week... more

The Aaron Maybin experiment is over in New York. Kimberley Martin of Newsday reports the Jets released Maybin on Tuesday. The team later confirmed the move. Smith: The Woodhead whiff explained Tom Brady wants to know why the Jets cut Danny ... more

The Philadelphia Eagles are the eighth team we've stuck a fork in this season. They are easily the most disappointing. There is a revisionist view that perhaps the Eagles aren't really that talented. That's ridiculous. The skill position talent is as... more

There are no Super Bowl favorites. Sure, a lot of us NFL.com writers might have stuck with our preseason Green Bay Packers pick at midseason. But they are an injury-ravaged team with three losses in a deep division. After 10 weeks, there are no fewer... more

There never is a good time to lose a franchise quarterback like Ben Roethlisberger to a shoulder injury . But the football gods seemed especially cruel to inflict this injury on the Pittsburgh Steelers this week, of all weeks. The Steelers will host... more

The Kansas City Chiefs have only one win on the season, but they do lead the NFL in celebrating touchdowns that never happened. In one dizzying, depressing, hilarious sequence during the third quarter of Monday night's 16-13 overtime loss to the... more

The week of quarterback injuries continued on "Monday Night Football." Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger went to the locker room, then out of Heinz Field, with a right shoulder injury during the third quarter of a 16-13 overtime... more

It was unfortunately a heavy week for concussions in the NFL. That will keep some big names sidelined in Week 11 . Here's our day-after injury roundup. 1. Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson will miss "Thursday Night Football" with a concussion.... more

The Oakland Raiders entered 2012 looking like the worst team in the AFC West. The biggest positive after nine weeks: They aren't the 2012 Kansas City Chiefs. The Raiders also aren't going to sniff the playoffs after back-to-back 8-8 years. The roster... more

The NFL has admitted errors in two high-profile controversies from Week 10 action. Let's start with the punt return touchdown by the Denver Broncos' Trindon Holliday. We noted Sunday after the Broncos' 36-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers that... more

On Sunday, a report surfaced on CBS that Mike Holmgren was very interested in the Dallas Cowboys head coaching job. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones didn't seem to mind the flirtation from afar , but Holmgren did his best to quiet the rumor Monday by making a... more

Gregg Rosenthal breaks down the five throws that explain Week 10. Marc Sessler already blew your mind with the best runs . The play below is the most Tony Romo play possible. (In a good way.) Give Romo credit: With the season on the line, when the... more

We raised the question earlier Monday: Did the Chicago Bears fail Jay Cutler by leaving him in Sunday night's game against the Houston Texans for seven plays after he suffered a concussion ? The NFL has quickly come up with its own answer . "Our... more

Michael Vick was woozy in the locker room following the Philadelphia Eagles' season-killing loss , with the trainer Rick Burkholder needing to hold Vick by the hand at one point. This does not sound like one of those "mild" concussions that teams... more

The New Orleans Saints may be struggling through one of the more depressing seasons in franchise history, but they will always have Week 10. They took down their hated division rival Falcons, giving Atlanta its first loss of the season in the process.... more

The San Francisco 49ers were huge favorites at home Sunday against the St. Louis Rams; only they didn't come away with a win in their most disappointing effort since the New York Giants destroyed them. Then again, they didn't lose either. "I don't... more

Jay Cutler was hammered by Houston Texans linebacker Tim Dobbins in the second quarter Sunday night in one of the hardest hits to the helmet we've seen a quarterback take all season. He suffered a concussion . He did not come out of the game until... more

The groundswell to give Tim Tebow a shot at quarterback for the New York Jets is growing, but coach Rex Ryan doesn't sound interested. Publicly, Mark Sanchez's teammates also continue to have his back. Antonio Cromartie was asked what he would say... more

Even in a victory , Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones doesn't mind courting a little controversy. At least the team's locker room was open this week . Check out the best images as selected by NFL.com editors. Told of the reported interest from Cleveland... more

The road to a playoff bye is rarely a smooth one. The top teams in the NFC were reminded of that in Week 10. The Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, and New York Giants all failed to come away with wins on Sunday. (The 49ers kissed... more

Three quarterbacks suffered concussions in a matter of minutes Sunday afternoon. The injuries to quarterbacks Michael Vick, Jay Cutler and Alex Smith could have long-term repercussions. In Philadelphia, Nick Foles could get an extended look as a starter... more

Nick Foles finally got his chance at quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday , but not in the way he wanted. With Michael Vick out with a concussion , Foles saw his first regular-season action in the Eagles' season-crushing, 38-23 loss  to the... more

It's over. The Philadelphia Eagles will have to convince themselves that their season isn't over after a 38-23 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, but we don't have to apply the same logic. The Eagles aren't coming back from a 3-6 record. They aren't... more

We love coming to work on Sundays because something new happens every week. (Also: It's borderline criminal we get paid for this.) This week's brand new twist: 98 seconds ran off the clock in between plays during the first half of Sunday's tie game... more

The Philadelphia Eagles are going to get a look at rookie quarterback Nick Foles for some regular-season action, but they didn't want it to happen like this. Michael Vick was taken to the locker room during Sunday's 38-23 loss  to the Dallas Cowboys... more

You know things are going well for the Denver Broncos when Peyton Manning is an afterthought in a blowout win on the road. Denver's defense manhandled Cam Newton and the Carolina offensive line in a convincing 36-14 victory over the Panthers . You... more

The pressure has been mounting on San Diego Chargers coach Norv Turner for years. On Sunday afternoon in Tampa, Turner might have snapped. Turner was asked if the Chargers' 34-24 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was unacceptable. "What do you... more

It's about time that the rest of the NFL starts paying attention to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as legitimate playoff contenders. Coach Greg Schiano's bunch won its third straight game Sunday, 34-24 over the San Diego Chargers, to move to 5-4 on the... more

Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Quincy Black was taken off the field on a stretcher after a violent helmet-to-helmet collision in the third quarter of Sunday's 34-24 win over the San Diego Chargers. Black was tackling running back Ryan Mathews when... more

Denver Broncos return man Trindon Holliday scored his second return touchdown in as many weeks Sunday with a 76-yard punt return. But it never should have happened. Replays showed that Holliday, in his zeal to start celebrating, flipped the ball out... more

Darlington: Coaches lack loyalty Sean Payton might not bolt the Saints for the Cowboys, but it won't be because of loyalty, Jeff Darlington writes. More ... The NFL isn't going to stand in the way of New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton and the... more

New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez came back early from his ankle sprain a month ago. Too early. NFL.com and NFL Network's Albert Breer reports that Hernandez is out against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday once again as he tries to get fully... more

We're happy to say it's been a while since we had a "Spygate" story to write about. So the story told by New York Daily News columnist Gary Myers in his new book: "Coaching Confidential: Inside the Fraternity of NFL Coaches" has to be pretty good to make... more

Few wide receivers are more valuable to their offense than Minnesota Vikings wideout Percy Harvin. The Vikings will have to win without him on Sunday. Megatron: I feel all right It's been a season littered with injuries, but Calvin Johnson says his... more

We made a few fearless predictions on Around the League this week about the second half. My contribution: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger would wind up winning the MVP award. His teammates, needless to say, are on board . Jeremiah:... more

We tackle the biggest injury news all day on Around the League. When the final injury report comes out, we collect all the injuries -- big and small -- in America's most popular injury roundup with people that know they are going to die . 1. New... more

Power Poll: Falcons lead the way The unbeaten Atlanta Falcons remain at the top of the latest NFL.com Power Poll, but where does our panel of experts rank your favorite team? More... The New England Patriots have another player on suspension.... more

We told you on Thursday that Oakland Raiders running back Taiwan Jones would likely be carrying the load against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday . On Friday, Raiders coach Dennis Allen made things a little more official. Harrison: Week 10 Power Rankings... more

Each week, we watch as much Game Rewind as possible. And it's still not enough. We try to share a few things we think we learned every Friday. Chicago's fatal flaw We came into this season wondering if Chicago's protection could hold up. The... more

Faking an injury has never been so expensive. The NFL announced Friday it has fined Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders $15,000 and the Steelers organization another $35,000 for Sanders' faking of an injury against the Cincinnati Bengals... more

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has made it clear he won't give up his general manager job anytime soon. It's clear he doesn't view his roster the same way that a lot of fans do. Breer: Payton to Dallas possible Albert Breer explains why the idea... more

Every week in the NFL is important. Some are just more important than others. Here are the NFL teams most desperate for a win in Week 10. Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett says his Cowboys aren't desperate. We beg to disagree. The loser of... more

Former New York Jets general manager Terry Bradway still oddly holds a senior personnel executive position in the team's front office. During last year's draft season, Bradway's view on the incoming quarterback class was clear. He wanted Russell... more

The Atlanta Falcons are undefeated. We believe they are one of the seven or so elite teams in the NFL, but there are plenty of reasons they don't stand apart from the pack . Lombardi: No confidence in Philly If Eagles fans could vote on their team,... more

The Indianapolis Colts traveled to Jacksonville on a short week, looking to avenge a division loss, in their first game as newly minted favorites to make the playoffs. No problem. Breer: Luckiest man in the NFL Colts owner Jim Irsay's struck it rich... more

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark was flagged for a bogus unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty last week after hitting New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz ... in the chest. The official thought Clark hit Cruz in the head. Clark's reputation might... more

A.J. Green isn't known for talking trash, so his words about the New York Giants' defense Thursday morning on WFAN-AM come as a surprise. Schein: No swoon for Big Blue Adam Schein says there's no need to worry about the Giants falling apart -- not... more

There are a lot of reasons why the Jacksonville Jaguars' passing game hasn't taken a step forward this season. The offense is wildly conservative. Quarterback Blaine Gabbert's progress has been incremental, but he's still not a good starter. Wide... more

The Oakland Raiders have no choice but to lean on running back Taiwan Jones this week with Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson both recovering from high ankle sprains. (They both missed practice again Thursday.) In the immortal words of Dick Vermeil,... more

Houston Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips has been grinding through film of the Chicago Bears' offense this week, and he has come to a conclusion. Rapoport: Week 10 game rankings Texans-Bears promises to be a defensive showdown. Where does it... more

The NFL ultimately is a small community. On any given weekend, there are players facing off against friends, former teammates and former coaches. Week 10 is an especially good one for reunions, with no fewer than four quality matchups, all facing off... more

Add another major problem to the Minnesota Vikings' passing game. NFL.com and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Thursday, via a team source, that wide receiver Percy Harvin is "extremely doubtful" to face the Detroit Lions this weekend . The Vikings... more

A Sporting News poll asked 103 NFL players to name the dirtiest guy in football . The person on top of the list isn't a surprise. Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh easily got the most votes with 32. Miami Dolphins guard Richie Incognito... more

The Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys face off this week in Week 10's Desperation Bowl. The winner can convince themselves the 2012 season still holds promise. The loser can start planning for next year, along with Mike Shanahan . Breer: Payton to... more

Charles Tillman will be on the field Sunday night for the Chicago Bears. The Chicago Bears cornerback avoided questions on the matter Wednesday when asked directly if he would miss the game against Houston if his wife went into labor, but wrote on... more

Meet Sam Gordon. She's like a cross between Jamaal Charles, Adrian Peterson and Lance Briggs. If any of those NFL players was a 9-year-old girl. Sam plays in the Salt Lake City area and scored 35 touchdowns against male competition. Our favorite part... more

It's that time of year again. With many NFL jobs possibly up for grabs at the end of the season, rumors are starting to fly that ESPN analyst Jon Gruden wants back into coaching. Take a look back at the career of Jon Gruden. WalterFootball.com's... more

Everyone picked an MVP pick this week. We've been doing it here all season, every Wednesday. I was interested to see that Peyton Manning was the consensus pick, edging out Matt Ryan. I was the only person to pick J.J. Watt. Aaron Rodgers and Ben... more

We'd like to present the following excerpt from the New England Patriots' official transcript of Tom Brady's Wednesday news conference. As background, Tom Brady was photographed earlier this week looking like only Tom Brady can. Here goes: Q: We... more

The NFL announced Wednesday that the San Diego Chargers have been fined $20,000 for attempting to conceal the use of grip-improving "sticky" towels during an Oct. 15 game against the Denver Broncos. Despite that, the NFL determined the Chargers... more

There are so many good quotes from Jimmy Johnson during his Wednesday appearance on the "Dan Patrick Show" that it was hard to pick just one for this headline. The former Dallas Cowboys coach knows his old team well and believes he knows why it has... more

The states of Colorado and Washington voted to make recreational marijuana use legal Tuesday. While that news proved to be popular with headline writers , and some ex-Broncos , it won't allow the current Broncos to change their smoking habits. Schein:... more

Matt Cassel will get a chance to beat his old coach, Todd Haley. Kansas City Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel announced Wednesday that Brady Quinn still hasn't been cleared to play after suffering a concussion against the Oakland Raiders. Crennel... more

Gregg Rosenthal watches every rookie quarterback snap and ranks them based on that week's performance only. 1. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts Andrew Luck Maybe it's the Stanford education that throws us off, but the word "gunslinger" isn't... more

Power Poll: Falcons lead the way The unbeaten Atlanta Falcons remain at the top of the latest NFL.com Power Poll, but where does our panel of experts rank your favorite team? More... New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis got back to... more

Last week, we told you about Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt calling out individual players at a team meeting. There's a very strong chance that veteran tight end Todd Heap was in Whisenhunt's crosshairs. Kent Somers passes along a story... more

We've been rolling out our midseason report on NFL.com this week, with a lot of cool content yet to come. The centerpiece included our choices for awards for all the major categories and our revised playoff predictions . I strongly believe you never... more

New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin was disturbed by a number of things during Sunday's 24-20 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. One big worry: His defense got pushed around . Schein: No swoon for Big Blue Adam Schein says there's no need to worry... more

Some of the biggest names in coaching have done the worst jobs in 2012. Our Coach Power Rankings are based on how good a job each man has done this season. Bill Belichick might be a better coach than Joe Philbin in the grand scheme of things, but has he done a better job with his squad this year? To the rankings.... more

Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan didn't give us any choice. When Shanahan started looking to 2013 on Sunday following a 21-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers, the fork had to come out. Shanahan has since protested that he didn't mean to say the... more

Atlanta Falcons fans haven't been happy with me the last few weeks because I haven't ranked them No. 1 in ATL's entry of the Power Poll . Power Poll: Falcons lead the way The unbeaten Atlanta Falcons remain at the top of the latest NFL.com Power Poll,... more

Lombardi: No confidence in Philly If Eagles fans could vote on their team, Andy Reid and Michael Vick would be gone, Michael Lombardi says -- and rightly so. More ... Michael Vick had just finished one of his more disappointing outings as a... more

Pick a problem, any problem on the 2012 Philadelphia Eagles. You can single out any one to blame for the 3-5 team after another depressing loss , 28-13, to the New Orleans Saints on Monday night. The offensive line: The Saints came into Week 9 with 13... more

Oakland Raiders running backs Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson both have high ankle sprains . The Raiders aren't ruling them out for this week, but that's usually a multiple-week injury, so Marcel Reese and Taiwan Jones will share carries in Oakland.... more

Nine weeks isn?t long in real life, but feels like an eternity in the NFL. The replacement official era ended just over a month ago but feels like prehistoric times. (Or a terrible nightmare.) We are only two months removed from the concept of the Kansas City Chiefs as Super Bowl contender. Before diving into the second half, let?s take a look back at the 16 defining moments of this NFL season so far.... more

Just when you thought the New Orleans Saints' wayward 2012 season couldn't get any more uncomfortable, coach Sean Payton's future suddenly is up for grabs . Well, it has been up for grabs for a while. We just didn't know it. The reported contract... more

Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams was on his way to a 30-yard touchdown on homecoming weekend against the Washington Redskins when a referee blew an inadvertent whistle. The referee appeared to be anticipating Williams going out of... more

Coach Mike Shanahan said Sunday that his Washington Redskins have reached the point of the season when they're evaluating what players really want to be around in 2013. This disappointed and bothered some of Shanahan's players . The Washington media... more

Gregg Rosenthal breaks down the six throws that explain Week 9. Marc Sessler already has broken down the biggest runs . Just watch Andrew Luck's entire highlight package this week. It's silly. As our home-page editor, Henry Hodgson, notes , Luck... more

It sure sounded like Mike Shanahan threw in the towel for the 2012 season after losing to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday night, despite having seven games left to play. "When you lose a game like that, now you're playing to see who, obviously, is... more

If Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton wants some advice on handling life in the spotlight, he doesn't have to look far. Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan is in the same city. Heck, he's in the same building . Darlington: Panthers must find... more

Sunday included a few seemingly conflicting stories about New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton. Here are the facts: Payton's reported contract extension last year never happened . The NFL didn't allow it because of a contract provision that would... more

Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera has publicly admitted that his job is on the line in the second half of the season. Many of the Panthers players will be let go, too, if they don't turn things around. You'd think that would be enough motivation... more

It wasn't so long ago that Robert Griffin III looked like a heavy favorite in the best NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year race in memory. One record-setting day from Andrew Luck and Doug Martin will alter that perception. On NFL Replay NFL Replay... more

Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams has seen a lot of football. He hasn't seen many Sundays as depressing as the Titans' 51-20 loss to the Chicago Bears. "In my 50 years of owning an NFL franchise, I am at a loss to recall a regular-season home game... more

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown told USA Today after Sunday's 24-20 victory over the New York Giants that he had a high ankle sprain , but he also said he would be able to play next week. One of those things can't be true: Either he's... more

The Pittsburgh Steelers are back. On NFL Replay NFL Replay will re-air the Pittsburgh Steelers' 24-20 win over the New York Giants in Week 9 on Tuesday, Nov. 6 at 8 p.m. ET. » NFL Network schedule After a slow start to the season... more

Consecutive questionable calls in the New York Giants-Pittsburgh Steelers game directly led to points for the Giants in the first half of the Steelers' 24-20 win Sunday. On NFL Replay NFL Replay will re-air the Pittsburgh Steelers' 24-20 win... more

Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan called Sunday's game against the one-win Carolina Panthers a "must win." They lost, 21-13. After being manhandled by the Panthers , Shanahan essentially has thrown in the towel on 2012. Coaches Film, only on... more

Even on a day when he had two consecutive passes intercepted, Peyton Manning simply was too good to be denied. Having Von Miller on his side doesn't hurt. The Denver Broncos won 31-23 in Cincinnati after Manning led back-to-back touchdown drives in... more

Cam Newton was turnover free and ran the ball well in key spots. The Carolina Panthers' front four made Robert Griffin III look mortal with constant pressure. Now this is what the 2012 Panthers were supposed to look like. The Panthers won 21-13... more

Despite a contract situation that is hanging in the balance , Sean Payton doesn't expect to coach anyone but the New Orleans Saints anytime soon. "I absolutely plan on being a New Orleans Saint," Payton told Fox Sports Insider and NFL Network... more

Pierre Garcon's foot injury has turned into the season-defining kind. It could end his season before long. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported Sunday that the Washington Redskins wide receiver could be shut down for the remainder of the season if... more

The Miami Dolphins enter Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts with a chance to jump into a tie for first place in the AFC East at 5-3. They should have the keys to their passing game available. NFL.com and NFL Network's Albert Breer reports... more

There is serious concern that Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant will not suit up Sunday night against the Atlanta Falcons. Bryant's status is a true game-time decision, NFL.com and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports. Bryant will test out his... more

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton's contract status still is up in the air. And only NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell can decide on it. NFL.com and NFL Network's Michael Lombardi confirmed Sunday that the league voided Payton's contract extension,... more

We handle all of the biggest injury news throughout Friday on Around the League . And then we round it all up here with a ton of new information in the internet's most popular injury report roundup that supports all donations to the American Red Cross... more

Each week, we watch as much Game Rewind as possible. And it's still not enough. Superstorm Sandy cut down on our time this week, but we can still share a few things we've learned about one of the weekend's biggest matchups. Rare matchup Rapoport:... more

The Baltimore Ravens were fined $20,000 by the NFL for not listing Ed Reed on their injury report. Don't be surprised if Ravens coach John Harbaugh is fined himself . "There's no credence on the injury report now," Harbaugh said Friday, via The... more

Every week in the NFL is important. Some are just more important than others. Here are the NFL teams most desperate for a win in Week 9. Last week's group went 2-3, which brings our desperate teams' combined record to 11-6. That's pretty good... more

There is a raging debate in my home of New York this week about if it makes sense to run the New York Marathon on Sunday as if Superstorm Sandy never happened. It's a little surprising, then, that no one has batted an eye over the New York... more

Calvin Johnson's injured knee isn't getting any better. So the Detroit Lions are taking extra steps to try to help their star wide receiver. Megatron missed his third consecutive day of practice Friday. For most players, that means he's unlikely to... more

First things first: No one "reported" before Thursday night's San Diego Chargers-Kansas City Chiefs game that Norv Turner would have been fired if San Diego lost. Kevin Acee of U-T San Diego gave his opinion that Turner would be let go. After the... more

The 2012 Washington Redskins are better than the first two Mike Shanahan teams in Washington. It just hasn't shown up the standings yet. After the Redskins won six games in 2010 and five games in 2011, Robert Griffin III and friends are 3-5 at the... more

Never underestimate Norv Turner's ability to survive. With rumors swirling in San Diego this week that Chargers owner Dean Spanos would fire Turner if the team lost at home to the hapless Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego came through in a big way Thursday... more

Just when you think the Kansas City Chiefs' season couldn't get any worse, it gets worse. Running back Jamaal Charles left the field Thursday night after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit on a carry in the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers. He... more

It was a no-brainer move for the NFL to push back the trading deadline two weeks. The league just didn't go far enough. NFL trade tracker Mike Thomas was the first player traded this week, going from the Jaguars to the Lions. See who else is on the... more

The later NFL trade deadline inspired some dealing after all. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers  announced Thursday they have traded cornerback Aqib Talib and a 2013 seventh-round draft pick, originally from the Chicago Bears, to the New England Patriots in... more

Let's be upfront: There are spicier Thursday Night Football games this season than Chargers-Chiefs. The lead story in Thursday's U-T San Diego was titled "The Walking Dead?" underneath a picture of Romeo Crennel and Norv Turner. Good times. This... more

Gregg Rosenthal watches every rookie quarterback snap and ranks them based on that week only. Hurricane Sandy delayed things this week, but he left his wife and daughter sleeping in powerless lower Manhattan on Halloween night to escape to the... more

Tyron Smith, the Dallas Cowboys' 2011 first-round draft pick, signed a $12.94 million contract last July. That should have set him up for life. Instead, it has created division and acrimony within his family. Rapoport: Week 9 game rankings What's the... more

DeAngelo Hall believes head linesman Dana McKenzie was equally at fault after the Washington Redskins cornerback appeared to berate the official during Sunday's 27-12 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. We doubt the NFL will agree. NFL Commissioner Roger... more

The NFL wants to talk to Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders about his propensity for well-timed and short-lived leg cramps. The Associated Press reports that Sanders will meet with NFL officials regarding a moment during the... more

Each week, Gregg Rosenthal picks his top way-too-early NFL MVP candidates. With eight weeks left, the candidates are solidifying. 1. J.J. Watt, Houston Texans We're not going to punish Watt for having a bye week. A defensive player hasn't won MVP since... more

It looks like the playoff-contending Miami Dolphins should have their starting quarterback available this week against the Indianapolis Colts. Breer: Fins up! Albert Breer discusses the Dolphins' surprising success, Tim Tebow's future and more in... more

Braylon Edwards surely is happy to be back in the NFL, but it hasn't been an easy season with the Seattle Seahawks. He has 74 receiving yards and was a late scratch from last week's game because of a knee injury. Power Poll: Falcons solidify lead The... more

The New York Giants return to practice Wednesday in preparation for Sunday's home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. It will be a bid to return to normalcy, but many players and coaches who live in the area are dealing with the aftermath of... more

There will be no change at quarterback in Philadelphia. At least not this week. The Eagles announced Wednesday, via text, that Michael Vick will start at quarterback in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints . Billick: Reid made the right call If the... more

The AFC is taking a lot of heat this season for being the weaker conference. It should. ATL's weekly Power Poll entry hardly is scientific, but the bottom seven teams on the poll are all from the AFC. Power Poll: Falcons solidify lead The unbeaten... more

Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker still isn't ready to play because of a fractured left shoulder. Coach Mike Munchak said Monday that Matt Hasselbeck will be the starter again in Week 9 . With a Week 11 bye coming up, Locker could have a few more... more

Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears eventually came out on top in the Body Language Bowl over Cam Newton's Carolina Panthers, but only after Cutler came under scrutiny for his walk to the locker room at halftime. On NFL Network NFL Replay will... more

The Washington Redskins have done a better job in recent weeks of helping Robert Griffin III stay out of harm's way. The offensive line has done a nice job overall, and Griffin has played things safer. The coaching staff's reaction to all this progress:... more

The New York Giants are right back where they always are at midseason: atop the NFC East. Since the Cowboys beat them in Week 1, you could argue no team has been more impressive than the G-Men. This is the part where things usually start going wrong.... more

The NFL moved its trade deadline back two weeks this season to help encourage more trade talk. It will be pushed back again. Jeremiah: Week 8 revelations Daniel Jeremiah identifies three rising superpowers, an underachiever, an overachiever and a... more

Gregg Rosenthal breaks down the five throws that explain Week 8. Marc Sessler already showed him up with five runs. You've surely seen Vick Ballard's game-winning touchdown grab . Outstanding moment. You might not have seen the better play that set it... more

Tennessee Titans tight end Jared Cook hasn't been used a ton this season, to the surprise of many fantasy football owners out there. Cook also doesn't sound happy about it. Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean reports there are indications that Cook has... more

The NFL moved its trade deadline back two weeks this season to help encourage more trade talk. It could be pushed back again. Jeremiah: Week 8 revelations Daniel Jeremiah identifies three rising superpowers, an underachiever, an overachiever and a... more

Stop us if you've heard this one before. Rex Ryan is sticking with Mark Sanchez as his quarterback. And the New York Jets coach wants to get Tim Tebow the ball more. Kriegel: Time for Tebow's turn Mark Kriegel says the Jets are in trouble and have... more

Green Bay Packers fans seem a little disappointed with the way their team beat the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Blaine Gabbert had a better day than Aaron Rodgers overall, and the Packers' offense struggled for the most part . Jeremiah: Week 8... more

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith plays with as much emotion as any player in the NFL. It's no surprise he couldn't keep those emotions in check after the team's latest devastating loss -- a 23-22 meltdown Sunday against the Chicago Bears.... more

New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin has seen a lot of wild endings in his career. The late events of Sunday's Cowboys-Giants game took him by surprise. "I must say it's been a long time since I've seen three plays in 10 seconds," Coughlin said, via the... more

The Dallas Cowboys have a knack for losing in inexplicable ways that are somehow familiar . The script changes, but the sloppiness remains. On NFL Network NFL Replay will re-air the New York Giants' 29-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8... more

Just when you think the Dallas Cowboys have discovered every excruciating way to lose a game, they find a way to top themselves. They fell short to the New York Giants 29-24 on Sunday night when a Dez Bryant 37-yard touchdown catch with 10 seconds left... more

Wes Welker suffered an ankle injury late in the New England Patriots' 45-7 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. The team let the wide receiver talk to the media after the game, which is a very good sign for his health. Welker told... more

Michael Lombardi reported Sunday on NFL Network that Michael Vick's status as the Philadelphia Eagles' starting quarterback is a week-to-week proposition. Even Vick knows it. "Obviously, (Andy Reid) is thinking about making a change at quarterback,"... more

You'd think the New York Jets would stop talking trash after the Miami Dolphins dropped a 30-9 beatdown on them Sunday at MetLife Stadium. But that's just not how Rex Ryan's group rolls. After the game, Jets cornerback Antonio Cromarie called pregame... more

This was supposed to be Brady Quinn's big chance to be an NFL starting quarterback again. It might be over after only one quarter. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback left Sunday's 26-16 loss to the Oakland Raiders in order to be evaluated for a... more

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots didn't spend a lot of time in London, but they sure knew how to have a good time there. The Patriots romped over the St. Louis Rams 45-7 in front of 84,005 fans at Wembley Stadium. Tom Brady hasn't given the... more

Andy Reid is running out of scapegoats. In their first game since Reid fired defensive coordinator Juan Castillo, the Philadelphia Eagles' defense had its worst game of the season in a 30-17 victory by the Atlanta Falcons. "It was an embarrassing... more

An ugly Sunday for the Philadelphia Eagles grew worse in the third quarter , when wide receiver DeSean Jackson went to the locker room with an injury. Jackson, who had five catches for 59 yards before leaving the game, was slow to get up after one... more

The NFL trade deadline is two days away and two weeks later than usual after the NFL owners approved pushing it back. Instant Debate: Gauging the market The NFL trade deadline is fast approaching. Will the Jets shop Tim Tebow ? Which other deals make... more

We'll update the biggest injury stories throughout Sunday morning, so check back here often. 1. NFL.com and NFL Network's Albert Breer reports that St. Louis Rams wide receiver Danny Amendola (collarbone) is inactive for the London game against the... more

Michael Vick's future in Philadelphia has been a topic of debate all season. Unless he dramatically turns around his play, the expectation is that the Eagles won't keep him around in 2013. The question now becomes: Will Vick survive 2012? NFL.com... more

There's an outside chance a big name or two will be traded before the NFL's trade deadline Tuesday, but Tim Tebow won't be one of them. Jones: Tim Tebow, unleashed? Will Tim Tebow finally see extended action Sunday? Kimberly Jones writes the Jets... more

We handle the biggest NFL injury news throughout Friday on Around the League . Then we collect it all here with the other nuggets you need to know in what is the most popular injury report roundup with factory workers . 1. The New England Patriots... more

It's not fair that Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III were compared during the draft process, are compared now, and will be compared throughout their NFL careers. But let's compare them anyway. I watch every rookie quarterback snap for ATL's weekly... more

The Dallas Cowboys didn't have any surprises on their Week 8 injury report. That's not necessarily good news when it comes to their running backs. Rapoport: Week 8 game rankings What's the best game on the Week 8 slate? The worst? Ian Rapoport... more

Each week, we watch as much Game Rewind as possible . And it's still not enough. On Fridays, we'll share a few things we learned and apply to the upcoming weekend's biggest matchups. New England Patriots @ St. Louis Rams (in London) Rams have the... more

When Matt Cassel's concussion knocked him out of the Kansas City Chiefs' starting lineup, Brady Quinn was told Cassel would get his job back when healthy. Billick: Thoughts across NFL Brian Billick touches on Kansas City's unenviable QB situation,... more

It's been a good week for those silly believers of the Madden Curse . Calvin Johnson was held to just three catches for 34 yards on Monday night against Charles Tillman and the Chicago Bears. Harrison: Week 8 predictions The Falcons are the last... more

Every week in the NFL is important. Some are just more important than others. Here are the NFL teams most desperate for a win in Week 8. Rapoport: Week 8 game rankings What's the best game on the Week 8 slate? The worst? Ian Rapoport provides a... more

The New England Patriots are doing everything possible to keep this week normal after traveling to London to face the St. Louis Rams. But they won't have their normal starting lineup on the field Sunday at Wembley Stadium. A source told NFL... more

Jason Pierre-Paul helped make his name last season in Dallas. With the New York Giants visiting the Dallas Cowboys this week, it's a natural time to take stock of where JPP is in 2012. We thought Pierre-Paul was going to be the Defensive Player of the... more

The Minnesota Vikings' 36-17 loss on Thursday night to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers isn't all on quarterback Christian Ponder. The Vikings' defense let Doug Martin run wild . They couldn't get off the field on third down. Jerome Simpson and Adrian Peterson... more

Forget about "Youngry ." Greg Schiano's upstart Tampa Bay Buccaneers are talented and tough. Rookie running back Doug Martin ripped the Minnesota Vikings for 214 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns to lead the Buccaneers to a 36-17 victory in the... more

Lombardi: Back to reality for Vikings The 2012 Vikings got off to a surprisingly good start, but Michael Lombardi says Minnesota's coming back to Earth. More ... The Minnesota Vikings and the Metrodome crowd were asleep for much of Thursday... more

Felix Jones returned to practice Thursday despite his bruised knee, but he wasn't the only Dallas Cowboys running back to take reps with the first team. Phillip Tanner also has received a lot of work this week with the starters, according to the... more

Earl Bennett wore his orange cleats again on "Monday Night Football." In one of the most predictable stories of the year, the NFL again fined him for it. Harrison: Week 8 predictions The Falcons are the last remaining undefeated, but trouble looms... more

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings aren't on national television often. But they are on my Game Rewind plenty . So let's get you up to speed on a few big trends from both teams this season. Teams are begging Christian Ponder to pass He's... more

It's been frustrating to watch the Carolina Panthers' offense this season, and it's not just because of Cam Newton's struggles. The team has relied on the zone read out of shotgun as its base running formation, and the plan simply hasn't worked. It's... more

Greg Jennings' groin issue is not going away. After seeing a specialist this week, the Green Bay Packers wide receiver has decided to go under the knife.  Jennings told reporters Thursday that he was undergoing surgery on his torn groin Oct. 30 in... more

We've rolled out weekly power rankings for divisions , offenses , coaches , fan bases and the most-watchable teams since the season started. It's time to revisit the quarterbacks. We last checked in after Week 2, and things have changed quite a bit in... more

This is such a strange Baltimore Ravens team. They are 5-2, but it feels worse after what is likely a season-ending injury to Ray Lewis and losing cornerback Lardarius Webb to a torn anterior cruciate ligament. It feels worse after the beatdown the... more

'Tis the season for polls. While Barack Obama and Mitt Romney vie to be the leader of the country, we have more important topics to discuss. Instant Debate: Gauging the market The NFL trade deadline is fast approaching. Will the Jets shop Tim Tebow ?... more

With our playoff picture page in full swing, I've started thinking about the playoffs a little earlier than usual this year. So I might as well share a few of those thoughts. It will be a hard year to catch up in the NFC A 3-3 record in the AFC... more

Harsh criticism has been lobbed at Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton in recent weeks. Compared to someone like Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, for example, we think the criticism has been over the top . Hall of Fame quarterback... more

Each week, Gregg Rosenthal picks his top way-too-early NFL MVP candidates. With seven weeks down, it's almost not early. 1. J.J. Watt, Houston Texans We've had Watt atop our rankings for three weeks. We see the "Watt for MVP" theme gaining steam... more

Ben Liebenberg/NFL Might Oregon coach Chip Kelly consider a move to the NFL? Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com wrote a cool piece Wednesday looking at seven hot coaching names in NFL circles. Some of the names, like New York Giants defensive... more

DeAngelo Hall says Eli Manning and Victor Cruz didn't make a play against the Washington Redskins. He gave it to them . Manning, for his part, thanked Hall for the opportunity. Victor Cruz New York Giants defensive tackle Justin Tuck was less... more

DeAngelo Hall and the Washington Redskins' secondary did a decent job against Victor Cruz and Co. for most of Sunday's game against the New York Giants. Things fell apart on Cruz's 77-yard, game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. Victor Cruz... more

Cam Newton and Matthew Stafford both have thrown five touchdown passes and six interceptions this season. Both were drafted with the No. 1 overall pick and play for teams expected to contend for the playoffs. So why does it feel like Carolina Panthers... more

The New York Jets' defense has changed gears at linebacker, and it's not just because of Bart Scott's toe injury. Instant Debate: Gauging the market The NFL trade deadline is fast approaching. Will the Jets shop Tim Tebow ? Which other deals make... more

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee is not replaceable. But the Cowboys have to try anyway after learning Lee will miss the rest of the season with a toe injury. The Cowboys' official website reported that the team signed former Detroit Lions... more

The Minnesota Vikings might be the most surprising team in the NFL at 5-2. Only one season after bottoming out at 3-13, running back Adrian Peterson and the gang should contend for a playoff spot. Brooks: A championship defense The Vikings are more... more

Gregg Rosenthal watches every rookie quarterback snap and ranks them every Tuesday based on that week only. It's a tough job, but he's man enough to do it. 1. Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins A lot of superlatives have been thrown RG3's way... more

Not a lot was expected of the 2012 Jaguars outside of Jacksonville. And yet the team has still fallen short of expectations. This season was supposed to be all about quarterback Blaine Gabbert's development. It's been minimal through six weeks. This is... more

The Green Bay Packers are back. I've seen enough from quarterback Aaron Rodgers and company to put them back in the top four of ATL's entry of the weekly Power Poll , even ahead of their impressive division rivals in Chicago. The Bears are... more

The Detroit Lions haven't played four quality quarters of football in a row all season. On Monday night, they didn't even play one. The Lions scored a garbage-time touchdown to avoid being shut out in Chicago , but they still should be embarrassed... more

Nothing drives us crazier than gutless fourth-down decisions. Going for it on fourth-and-short is very often the percentage play; coaches truly are taking a bigger risk by punting away the ball. It's all about the situation. And Cleveland Browns coach... more

Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur isn't ruling out anything when it comes to running back Trent Richardson after benching him in the second half against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Richardson wanted to play more, but his rib injury remains a... more

We've noticed a running theme on Mondays this year. "Player X" says "Player Y" quit or didn't give full effort during a game on Sunday. Usually the players are on different teams. It's almost unheard of to hear a player call out a teammate for his... more

NEW YORK -- The Pro Bowl is on for this season, but NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell indicated Monday that the game's future remains very much in doubt. Speaking on Sirius XM's "Town Hall with Roger Goodell" on Monday in New York, Goodell indicated he... more

The New York Jets were given up for dead three weeks ago. They have won only one game since, but they have held their own in losses to the Houston Texans and the New England Patriots. The Jets steamrolled the Indianapolis Colts at home. Things actually... more

Gregg Rosenthal picks the throws that define the week every Monday. Check out Marc Sessler's five best runs if you dare. Robert Griffin III's beautiful touchdown pass to Santana Moss showed off his touch and accuracy, but the fourth-and-10 conversion... more

Carolina Panthers general manager Marty Hurney hired coach Ron Rivera before the 2011 season. Hurney now has been shown the door . While Rivera hasn't had long to get his feet wet as an NFL head coach, his job security suddenly looks to be in danger.... more

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton said after his team's latest crushing loss that "something had to change." It didn't take long. The Panthers announced Monday morning that general manager Marty Hurney has been relieved of his duties. He has... more

Jason Garrett routinely plays it safe in the biggest spots. Perhaps the Dallas Cowboys coach doesn't trust his players. Perhaps he's just another NFL coach who tries to avoid criticism by not taking "risks" when usually those risks help your chances of... more

Eli Manning got the better of Robert Griffin III on Sunday . In the meantime, RG3 can settle for being the second-best quarterback in the NFC East. Jeremiah: RG3 proves exceptional Even in defeat, Robert Griffin III defies logic. Daniel Jeremiah... more

Don't discount how hard it is to beat Jeff Fisher's Rams in St. Louis, even if Aaron Rodgers made it look easy . The Rams were 3-0 at home against solid competition: Washington, Seattle and Arizona. St. Louis is a team that battles to the end every week... more

Just when you think the Jacksonville Jaguars' season can't get any worse, it gets worse . They lose running back Maurice Jones-Drew (foot) and quarterback Blaine Gabbert (shoulder) to injury. And then Chad Henne helps lose a game to the Oakland Raiders.... more

The New England Patriots are growing accustomed to blowing double-digit leads. On Sunday against the New York Jets, Tom Brady righted the ship just in time. Trailing by three points with 1:31 left in regulation, Brady picked up 57 yards in five plays to... more

New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma did something Sunday that the NFL never intended him to: He played in a regular-season game , a 35-28 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . It's uncertain how many more games Vilma will be allowed to play. His... more

Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano believed his team had forced an improbable overtime. Bucs wide receiver Mike Williams appeared to catch a touchdown pass on fourth-and-9 with time running out against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, but an... more

The Jacksonville Jaguars' offense didn't have its two most important players for most of Sunday's 26-23 overtime loss to the Oakland Raiders. Running back Maurice Jones-Drew was carted to the locker room in the first half with a left foot injury.... more

Aaron Rodgers' message to the rest of the NFL last week still applies: Shhhhh. Any talk about the quarterback's slow start to the season will be long forgotten after another scorching effort Sunday during the Green Bay Packers' 30-20 victory over the... more

It looked like Washington Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III had authored the most incredible ending of his young NFL career Sunday. MVP chatter about RG3 had picked up on Twitter. To which New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning... more

Robert Griffin III's first NFL season just got tougher. Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis left Sunday's 27-23 loss to the New York Giants in the first quarter with a torn Achilles tendon and will miss the remainder of the season. "I didn't... more

The San Diego Chargers are being investigated for what is potentially one of the most unsuccessful attempts at breaking the rules in NFL history. Schein: How the West was won One simple half of football defined the future for an entire AFC division.... more

New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw is certainly sore after back-to-back weeks with heavy workloads. But he's also going to be ready to play Sunday against the Washington Redskins. Jeremiah: Key matchups in Week 7 Daniel Jeremiah identifies... more

It wouldn't be a New York Jets-New England Patriots matchup without some gamesmanship before the opening kick. Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine complained to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News this week that the Patriots aren't allowing opposing... more

Every week in the NFL is important. Some are just more important than others. Here are the NFL teams most desperate for a win in Week 7. Last week's desperate teams went 5-1 , which is pretty incredible considering they entered the week with a combined... more

We monitor the biggest news all day on Around the League. And then we collect the big and small right here, in the internet's most popular injury report roundup that is all about the large Tazo tea . 1. New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw... more

This week's New York Jets-New England Patriots matchup has a ton of different storylines , from Mark Sanchez's improvement to the Patriots being able to ground and pound better than the Jets. Jeremiah: Key matchups in Week 7 Daniel Jeremiah... more

Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue's legacy is debated every year when the Pro Football Hall of Fame candidates come up. Suddenly, Tagliabue has another chance in the spotlight to change that legacy. Commissioner Roger Goodell announced Friday that... more

Each week, we watch as much Game Rewind as possible. And it's still not enough. On Fridays, we'll share a few things we learned and apply to the upcoming weekend's biggest matchups. New York Jets @ New England Patriots Rex Ryan will have to change... more

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis was placed on injured reserve this week, with the "designated to return" tag. Based on his triceps injury, no one expects Lewis to return for this season. His future in the NFL remains uncertain. While he hasn't... more

Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed said earlier this week that he's playing with a torn labrum in his shoulder. While every NFL player fights through injuries, this is a significant enough issue to be noted. Lombardi: What's next for Ravens? Without... more

Every once in a while, we write a post just to hand out some credit where credit is due. This is one of those posts. Minnesota Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield is one of those players. Players who are 35 years old aren't supposed to be playing... more

San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore had a signature game Thursday night with 182 yards from scrimmage in a 13-6 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. All of that production came despite a painful injury. Gore said he was hit in the back during the... more

It's not often you see an NFL coach take points off the board in a one-score game. Yet when Jim Harbaugh did it Thursday night, it made total sense. With 43 seconds left in the San Francisco 49ers' dominant second half , officials called a chop-block... more

The San Francisco 49ers started this whole dominant defense  trend in the NFC West. They remain the kings of the style until proven otherwise. Down by three points at halftime to the Seattle Seahawks with the division lead up for grabs, the 49ers... more

The vitriol in San Diego has hit a fever pitch this week after the Chargers' Monday night meltdown. That's what happens after you turn over the ball five times in six second-half drives to blow a 24-point lead in a 35-28 loss to the Denver Broncos.... more

The Oakland Raiders drafted linebacker Rolando McClain with the eighth overall pick in 2010, expecting him to lead their defense for years to come. That was a few coaches ago. Now McClain already might be winding down his time with the team. McClain... more

After firing defensive coordinator Juan Castillo, Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid hinted that more changes might be coming. The change isn't going to happen, though. Harrison: Week 7 predictions Ravens or Texans in a battle of 5-1 teams? Can the... more

Ahmad Bradshaw's latest foot injury doesn't sound serious. The white-hot running back returned to practice for the New York Giants on Thursday and pronounced himself ready for this week's game against the Washington Redskins. Giants coach Tom... more

The Baltimore Ravens are 5-1, but it doesn't feel like 5-1. Their defense is banged up and has been pushed around on the ground. The Ravens keep winning close games, but they don't look like the Ravens. The team's new defensive coordinator, Dean Pees,... more

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was asked Thursday about a tweet his sister wrote. This is where we are in 2012. We're not saying it's better or worse than before. But the first sentence of this post just didn't exist a few years back.... more

It doesn't feel like an NFL season until we have some Ben Roethlisberger-related injury drama. Rapoport: Steel City friction The Steelers' offense has yet to find its rhythm. Ian Rapoport asks if Todd Haley 's intense personality is to blame.... more

The New Orleans Saints come off their bye week uncertain if two of their biggest-name players will suit up this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tight end Jimmy Graham made a surprising return to practice Thursday on a limited basis. It sounds... more

It's Thursday. That means another edition of highly meaningful, random power rankings. We've rolled out power rankings for offenses , coaches , quarterbacks , fan bases and the most-watchable teams since the season started. This week: The best... more

Sometimes we go on sports talk radio in San Diego. The fans aren't happy. This isn't a surprise, but it is a surprise to hear the Chargers' general manager sound like those fans . Schein: How the West was won One simple half of football defined the... more

It's Wednesday. The first injury report is out. Let's get to it: Aaron Rodgers 1. Aaron Rodgers showed up on the Green Bay Packers' injury report . His calf injury is newsworthy, but the quarterback still was able to practice on a limited... more

Gregg Rosenthal watches the NFL's rookie quarterbacks every week and ranks their performances based on that week only. It was a banner week for the NFL's rookie class. Brandon Weeden checked off a big item on his rookie quarterback bucket list. The... more

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jerome Simpson believed he was ready to play in last week's game against the Washington Redskins despite a lower back injury. His coach, Leslie Frazier, disagreed. "That makes you mad," Simpson said Wednesday, via The... more

Aaron Rodgers didn't finish Monday night's 42-24 win over the Houston Texans after limping off the field with a calf injury. It looked like the Green Bay Packers were just being careful not to expose their star quarterback during a blowout, but the... more

Each week, Gregg Rosenthal picks the top way-too-early NFL MVP candidates. The top spot remains unchanged this week. 1. J.J. Watt, Houston Texans Each week, we wait for Watt's pace to slow down. It still hasn't happened. He has entered the zone Julius... more

CBS analyst and former Baltimore Ravens tight end Shannon Sharpe called injured linebacker Ray Lewis this week expecting to hear a downtrodden man. That didn't happen . "I was surprised by how good his spirits were ... how calm he was about what... more

The Baltimore Ravens' defense will look a lot different the rest of the season, for better or worse. For better: The team announced last year's NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Terrell Suggs, will practice  Wednesday and come off the physically unable... more

One of the biggest problems with the San Diego Chargers' offense this season: They lack big plays. Jeremiah: Is Philip Rivers done? Chargers QB Philip Rivers has been roundly criticized for his poor play. Daniel Jeremiah identifies three problems.... more

It's going to take more than a couple of sloppy-looking losses for Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to jump off the bandwagon. He owns the bandwagon . Schein: How to fix the Cowboys The bad news? Dallas has many problems. The good news? Adam Schein... more

Juan Castillo was Andy Reid's friend and colleague of 15 years before being fired Tuesday . The former Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator stayed loyal to the bitter end. "The thing that hurts is that I let down coach Reid, I let down the... more

The firing of Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Juan Castillo was a surprise for its timing. Many people expected it to come after last season. Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, for one, admits that he had doubts when coach Andy Reid flipped... more

Just when Kevin Kolb looked like he was getting comfortable in Arizona, a very uncomfortable injury will knock him out of the lineup. The Cardinals announced Tuesday that Kolb will be sidelined for an unspecified period of time after a CT and MRI... more

The Giants had the most impressive win of this early season on Sunday in San Francisco . New York has overcome injuries to win four of their last five games. They have an MVP candidate at quarterback. They are balanced. That's why they are No. 1 in the... more

The Steelers will be without two of their defensive players this week for very different reasons. Power Poll: Falcons soar to top The unbeaten Atlanta Falcons surged to the top of the latest Power Poll, but who's No. 2 -- and how did the Giants' win... more

The NFL Fall Meeting is underway in Chicago. The early headline news was confirmation of the expected. The sale of the the Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam III has been unanimously approved by NFL owners . (That sound you hear is Browns fans cheering.)... more

The stunning firing of Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Juan Castillo is one of those fascinating stories that can only happen in the NFL. It's not just a game of inches. It's a life of inches. A profession. One play If Michael Vick... more

Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid wasn't kidding around when he said he was going to "tear things apart." The Eagles announced Tuesday that they have dismissed defensive coordinator Juan Castillo from his duties and  named secondary coach Todd Bowles... more

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady got his chance on Monday to respond to Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman's postgame rants after the Seahawks' 24-23 win. Brady laudably took the high road . Early Tuesday morning, Sherman explained... more

There are losses. And then there are losses . The San Diego Chargers' Monday night meltdown will leave a mark. The Denver Broncos turned a 24-point halftime deficit into a 35-24 victory in a sloppy game that was stunning for how unsurprising it all... more

It feels like the end of an era in Baltimore . Ray Lewis' season-ending triceps tear wasn't the only injury story Monday, but it's the one we'll remember years from now. Here's the rest of the injury news following Week 6 : 1. Dallas Cowboys running... more

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman became something of an Internet sensation Sunday night when he took on New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady post-game, 2012 style . It was only a matter of time before a media outlet asked Brady... more

We noted a week ago that Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson put together his best overall game of the season against the Carolina Panthers. It's safe to say that's no longer his best game. On NFL Network NFL Replay will re-air the... more

Ray Lewis didn't change the Baltimore Ravens franchise when he was drafted in 1996. Ray Lewis became the Baltimore Ravens franchise. Baltimore Ravens with and without Ray Lewis With Without Win-loss record 128-100-1 17-16 Points allowed per game... more

Cleveland Browns fans can rest easy: Trent Richardson's "flank" appears to be just fine. Josh Gordon Browns coach Pat Shurmur revealed at his Monday news conference that Richardson is "day to day" with a right rib/cartilage injury. We're here... more

Seventy-nine teams have started 1-5 since the NFL's new playoff format began in 1990. None of them have made the playoffs. The 2012 Kansas City Chiefs are not the team that is going to break this streak. Each week, Around the League will stick a fork... more

New York Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride got the last laugh. After San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh released a statement last week ripping Gilbride for his comments about 49ers defensive lineman Justin Smith, Gilbride's offensive line... more

Most fans call Robert Griffin III "RG3." New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora calls him "Bob." Robert Griffin III Washington Redskins teammate Fred Davis might have come up with the best nickname yet after Sunday's 38-26 win over the... more

Excuse the Baltimore Ravens if they felt a little strange after their victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas dominated time of possession in Sunday's game, doubling Baltimore. The Ravens gave up more than 200 rushing yards for the second consecutive... more

The headlines in Philadelphia are rarely pretty after an Eagles loss. But the newspapers didn't have to flagellate the team too hard after Sunday's overtime loss to the Detroit Lions because the players did it to themselves . "It's undisciplined... more

The Houston Texans blocked a punt for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of Sunday night's game against the Green Bay Packers. Barely any Texans fans were around to see it. In a humbling, national television beatdown, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers... more

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman is a future Pro Bowl player, and that future might start this year. After perhaps the best performance of his young career Sunday against the New England Patriots, the guy was feeling like the champion of the... more

It was a crazy week in the NFL. Unfortunately, there also was a spate of injuries that will have repercussions for weeks to come. Let's break it all down. 1. Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray sprained his foot during a 31-29 loss to the... more

I picked the right week to travel to NFL.com headquarters in Los Angeles for an NFL Sunday. This was the best week of games all season.  If it felt like three games were decided in a matter of moments, well, that's exactly what happened. During an... more

There are few things in life reliably funnier than seeing someone get hit in the face with a ball. Make that "someone" our friend, Ian Rapoport, put him on live television, and you have a golden TV moment. Ian is just getting started with his NFL... more

The New England Patriots have lost three games they had no business losing. And the Seattle Seahawks pulled out another miracle at home. On NFL Network NFL Replay will re-air the Seattle Seahawks' 24-23 win over the New England Patriots in... more

The Baltimore Ravens' defense has looked mortal all season, despite the team's 5-1 record. Things are only going to get tougher from here. In the wake of another close win, the Ravens fear that linebacker Ray Lewis suffered a torn triceps and cornerback... more

The Detroit Lions entered the fourth quarter of Sunday's game with just six points on the board against the Philadelphia Eagles. They were staring a 1-4 record in the face and didn't look like a team that could overcome a 10-point deficit. Instead, they... more

Matt Bryant would like to thank Oakland Raiders coach Dennis Allen for the practice kick. The Atlanta Falcons' kicker lined up for a potential game-winning 55-yard field-goal attempt with six seconds left. He missed the kick, but he was bailed out by... more

On a day when the Dallas Cowboys did so much right, their leaders still made critical mistakes in key moments. These are the Cowboys for better or worse: sloppy, maddening, talented and unlucky . The Baltimore Ravens won 31-29 on Sunday in large part... more

Running backs Felix Jones and DeMarco Murray both left the Dallas Cowboys' 31-29 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday because of injuries. On NFL Network NFL Replay will re-air the Baltimore Ravens' 31-29 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week... more

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie nose tackle Alameda Ta'amu was arrested and charged with DUI and trying to flee police early Sunday morning after a wild car chase that allegedly included him hitting multiple parked cars. Ta'amu faces three felony counts of... more

There's a lot of injury news every Sunday. We'll update the biggest right here right up until game time, so refresh often. 1. New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez made the trip to Seattle and is active for Sunday's game against the Seahawks.... more

The New York Jets' coaching staff and front office have showed steadfast support for Mark Sanchez, but there has been a sense of late that it has been waning. NFL Network's LaDainian Tomlinson says Sanchez also is losing support in the locker room.... more

We've been so impressed with Miami Dolphins rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill for so many reasons. He has the physical attributes you look for in a franchise quarterback, but other traits have stood out early in his career . Tannehill is calm in the... more

We've broken out three articles looking at the biggest surprises early this season. Before our sixth glorious NFL Sunday of the year, let's look at the eye-opening stories in the NFC South and West. (And if you missed our first three, here goes: AFC... more

We update all the biggest injury news throughout the day on Around the League . You can see it all in one place below in the most popular injury report roundup that knows how to pocket like it's hot . 1. Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin... more

We've looked at the biggest surprises early in the season in the AFC East and North , and then did the same exercise in the NFC East and North . With a little help from the geniuses who invented Game Rewind , let's move back to the AFC. AFC South... more

San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh didn't pass on a chance to fire up his troops before Sunday's game against the New York Giants. Harbaugh apparently caught wind of Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride's comments that 49ers defensive end... more

Every week in the NFL is important. Some are just more important than others. Here are the teams most desperate for a win in Week 6. 6. Kansas City Chiefs:  Teams with 1-5 records simply don't make the playoffs. Not a single one has pulled it off since... more

Greg Jennings isn't particularly close to playing football again. On Friday, the Green Bay Packers ruled him out for Sunday's game against the Houston Texans because of his groin injury. Packers coach Mike McCarthy said at his Friday news conference... more

The New England Patriots are doing a good job keeping us guessing about if Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez will return to the field Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. Brooks: Patriots grounded The pass-happy Patriots suddenly have a potent... more

We already looked at the biggest surprises early in the season in the AFC East and AFC North. Using my weekly raft of illegible notes that I take while watching Game Rewind , here's something that surprised me about every squad in the NFC East and NFC... more

At a time when the best young, rising NFL quarterbacks take on more and more responsibility before the snap, the Dallas Cowboys want to pull back the reins on Tony Romo. "As a staff, we talked about just lightening (Romo's) load and trying to do things... more

Adrian Peterson is a workhorse again. The Minnesota Vikings' star running back has been effective far sooner than anyone expected after he came off his torn anterior cruciate ligament. His rushing averages aren't that far off from his career averages,... more

Five games into their season, the Pittsburgh Steelers we know still haven't shown up. Pittsburgh's 26-23 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Thursday night in Nashville, dropping the team's road record to 0-3, was a humbling reminder that the Steelers are... more

The Pittsburgh Steelers' injury-plagued season didn't get any better Thursday night . Running back Rashard Mendenhall was the latest Steeler to be hurt, leaving the 26-23 loss to the Tennessee Titans with an Achilles injury in the third quarter. He... more

Ndamukong Suh has been in another car accident. Dearborn, Mich., police confirmed Thursday to NFL.com and NFL Network that the Detroit Lions' beleaguered defensive tackle was involved in a minor fender-bender. There were no injuries, and no alcohol and... more

A lot of blame has been thrown around for the Green Bay Packers' uneven passing game. The offensive line is the biggest issue. Aaron Rodgers isn't quite playing up to his usual standard and has sometimes held on to the ball too long. Jeremiah: To... more

After five weeks of play, we've forgotten most of the things we thought we knew before the season. So what have been the biggest surprises? Using my weekly raft of illegible notes that I take watching Game Rewind , here's something that surprised me... more

Wade Phillips was right: New York Jets guard Matt Slauson's hit on Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing wasn't necessary. Harrison: Week 6 predictions Will the Texans and Falcons remain perfect? Can the 49ers exact revenge on the Giants? Elliot... more

Michael Vick didn't intend to tell the world that he owned a dog. He just intended to tweet out a picture of his family. This being 2012, though, someone noticed the picture included a box of dog biscuits in it. That led to the question about whether or... more

Brandon Jacobs went off script Wednesday, admitting he was frustrated about not playing for the San Francisco 49ers last week despite being healthy. The running back said his knee feels "phenomenal" and that he could have played a few weeks ago. Breer:... more

Jason Garrett was the belle of the offseason ball in 2008 after an explosive season running the Dallas Cowboys' offense. Garrett virtually had his choice of jobs and met with the Baltimore Ravens about their vacant head-coaching position. Harrison: Week... more

Detroit Lions running back Javhid Best knows he's the "poster boy" for concussions in the NFL. He hopes to soon remind people he's a good football player, too. Harrison: Week 6 predictions Will the Texans and Falcons remain perfect? Can the 49ers... more

After five weeks, we still aren't sure what we have in the San Diego Chargers. They beat three lousy teams, got blown out by the Atlanta Falcons and lost to a winless New Orleans Saints squad. Harrison: Week 6 predictions Will the Texans and Falcons... more

It's Brady Quinn time in Kansas City. Harrison: Week 6 predictions Will the Texans and Falcons remain perfect? Can the 49ers exact revenge on the Giants? Elliot Harrison forecasts Week 6. More ... The Kansas City Chiefs announced Thursday that... more

It's Thursday. That means another edition of esoteric, highly meaningful tiered power rankings on ATL. We've rolled out power rankings for offenses , coaches , quarterbacks , and the most watchable teams since the season started. Brooks: Thursday... more

Greg Olsen and his wife, Kara, are in the middle of one of the toughest weeks they'll ever face. Their newborn son, T.J. Olsen, will undergo the first of three scheduled surgeries Thursday to correct a congenital heart defect. Kara Olsen delivered... more

San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh openly displays his distaste and boredom in dealing with the media. We enjoy the honesty, although we might feel differently if we were in the room with him every day. Rapoport: Week 6 game rankings What's the... more

After five weeks, the best players of 2012 have started to emerge. It's looking very unlikely we'll have a repeat winner of the NFL MVP award this season.  1. J.J. Watt, Houston Texans We asked last week if Watt possibly could keep up his... more

The Carolina Panthers' stagnant running game just took a major hit. Panthers coach Ron Rivera announced Wednesday that center Ryan Kalil suffered a Lisfranc injury against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday and will be knocked out for the rest of the... more

Ben Roethlisberger has been featured prominently in our early MVP watch . The stats haven't quite exploded yet, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are just 2-2, but we believe Big Ben is playing at a higher level now than ever before in his NFL career.... more

Kansas City Chiefs fans are going to get their wish. It looks like Brady Quinn will be the starting quarterback in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel announced Wednesday that Matt Cassel hasn't been cleared to practice... more

Former Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alex Karras, who died at the age of 77 on Wednesday, means a lot of different things to lot of different people. For fans of the Lions, he was one of the best interior defensive linemen of his era. A three-time... more

There were so many ridiculous moments during CNBC's interview with New York Jets owner Woody Johnson on Wednesday that we can't talk about only one. They talked a little politics, but let's stick to football. On why Mark Sanchez kept getting passes... more

A 1-3 start for the Detroit Lions has brought out the critics. An anonymous general manager and other "league executives" ripped Detroit's defensive line to shreds in Pro Football Weekly. Harrison: Week 6 Power Rankings With five weeks in the books,... more

When we wrote about the New England Patriots' fast-break no-huddle offense on Tuesday, we mentioned that plenty of other teams were likely to adopt parts of New England's approach. Next up: Jay Cutler, Mike Tice and the Chicago Bears. "(Quarterbacks)... more

Gregg Rosenthal will watch every snap from the five NFL rookie starting quarterbacks and rank them based on that week's game only. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it . 1. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts Andrew Luck This was... more

Players like Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews have called out New York Jets guard Matt Slauson for a chop block on Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing that tore Cushing's anterior cruciate ligament and ended his season. Matthews called the... more

The AFC has a lot of bad teams. If my entry to this week's NFL.com Power Poll is to be trusted -- and it shouldn't be -- the AFC has the worst six teams in the league. Reasonable minds could disagree, but any discussion about the worst team in the NFL... more

The most complex concepts often can be the simplest. For the New England Patriots' no-huddle offense, it often comes down to one word. Breer: In the driver's seat To beat Peyton Manning, Tom Brady knew he'd have to control the game. Albert Breer... more

Houston Texans running back Arian Foster ran for 152 yards on Monday night , and he could have had more. That's how good Houston's blocking can be when it's clicking. That's how high our expectations are for Foster. Arian Foster Foster entered... more

There was no Hail Mary attempt on this wacky Monday night. J.J. Watt wouldn't even let Mark Sanchez's final pass get airborne. Watt's rejection was a fitting end to a dominating night by the Houston Texans' Mutombo-like second-year-pro, keying a 23-17... more

This nightmare start to the New York Jets' season keeps growing a little darker. The Jets' Pro Bowl center, Nick Mangold, left Monday night's 23-17 loss to the Houston Texans in the third quarter with an ankle injury, although he was able to return.... more

Week 5 was a nasty one for injuries. Let's get to all the next-day carnage. 1. Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing left Monday night's victory over the New York Jets with a left knee injury after he was chop blocked by Jets guard Matt Slauson.... more

The list of embarrassing statistics for the Buffalo Bills defense is long and painful. They are 31st in points allowed and yards allowed this season. The Bills have two of their worst three games in franchise history in a row . No team has given up at... more

We predicted that New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker's joking comments about coach Bill Belichick after Sunday's 31-21 victory over the Denver Broncos would get a lot of play in Boston. We were right. "Yeah, it's kind of nice to stick it in... more

All signs pointed up for Robert Griffin III one day after leaving the Washington Redskins' game against the Atlanta Falcons after suffering a concussion. Teammate Kirk Cousins and coach Mike Shanahan both relayed the news that RG3 was looking fine on... more

Cardinals running back Ryan Williams has been dealt another cruel blow. Rapoport: Colts win one for Chuck Chuck Pagano's fight with leukemia inspired the Colts in a major way, reports Ian Rapoport . Plus, more Week 5 notes. More ... Coach Ken... more

The NFL is investigating whether the Bills were lying less than truthful with their injury report by not listing defensive end Mario Williams' wrist injury. Jeremiah: NFL's most underrated? Ben Roethlisberger owns two Super Bowl rings, but is the... more

It was a day of lows for Cam Newton. He threw for a career low 141 yards in Sunday's 16-12 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He completed a career-low 41.4 percent. And we don't think it's an exaggeration to say his one-hopped pass to tight end Ben Hartsock... more

Every Monday, Gregg Rosenthal picks the throws that explain the weekend. Football is good. Tom Brady's numbers haven't lept off the page this year, and yet we feel like he's playing better than a season ago. This toss to Brandon Lloyd to set up a... more

Jacksonville Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey said he is not considering a quarterback change after Blaine Gabbert had two interceptions returned for a touchdown against the Chicago Bears in a 41-3 loss on Sunday. Gabbert also lost a fumble. "The two pick... more

New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker is known as one of the funniest guys on his team, although he rarely shows that humor in public. His sly takedown of Rex Ryan a few years back was a good example, although it got him in trouble with his boss... more

A Chicago-area man who traveled to Jacksonville over the weekend to watch the Bears' game against the Jaguars was killed in a bar stabbing, according to police. The Florida Times-Union reported that William C. "Chris" Pettry, 42, died after having his... more

The San Diego Chargers avoided their normal slow start this season. We still don't know if they are any good. New Orleans rallied to score the final 17 points in a 31-24 victory over the Chargers on Sunday night at the Superdome, giving the Saints... more

Last week was a quiet one for injuries. That wasn't the case this week. Plenty of names big and small were among the walking wounded: 1. Robert Griffin III left the Washington Redskins' 24-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons with a concussion . We refuse to... more

Robert Griffin III went to the locker room during Sunday's 24-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons to take concussion tests. So how did the Washington Redskins announce his injury?  They officially said their rookie quarterback was "shaken up" and... more

Peyton Manning was up for the challenge of facing the New England Patriots. Tom Brady got more help from his friends. On NFL Replay NFL Replay will re-air the New England Patriots' 31-21 win over the Denver Broncos in Week 5 on Tuesday, Oct. 9... more

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton had one final drive to try to beat the Seattle Seahawks' defense Sunday. It fizzled after two plays. In the most appropriate ending possible, rookie Bruce Irvin strip-sacked Newton, the Seahawks recovered the... more

New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora didn't stick around long after Sunday's 41-27 victory over the Cleveland Browns because he had something more important to worry about: His son was in the hospital. Details were scarce, but Giants coach... more

The Atlanta Falcons have won blowouts on the road and at home. They have won close games at home and on the road. More than anything, the Falcons just keeping winning. Their 24-17 victory in Washington was another sign this Atlanta team can win any... more

The Pittsburgh Steelers couldn't shake the injury bug in Week 5, but they finally started to look like the Steelers of old in a 16-14 win over the Philadelphia Eagles . Rashard Mendenhall gave the Steelers a running game again. He gained 101 yards... more

Robert Griffin III left the Washington Redskins' 24-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in the third quarter with a mild concussion after taking a hit to his head, coach Mike Shanahan said after Sunday's game. The Redskins initially said their rookie... more

So much for the return to health for the Pittsburgh Steelers. It didn't talk long for Troy Polamalu's right calf injury to act up again. The Steelers' star safety hopped off the field early in the second quarter during Sunday's 16-14 victory over... more

We generally stay away from unimportant topics like the presidential election around here because there are vital things like football to discuss. Breer: The men behind the rivalry Tom Brady-Peyton Manning is the NFL's version of Magic-Bird. Albert... more

Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best has been out of football for nearly a full year as he tries to overcome post-concussion symptoms. Breer: The men behind the rivalry Tom Brady-Peyton Manning is the NFL's version of Magic-Bird. Albert Breer spoke... more

Aaron Hernandez is the New England Patriots tight end we figured could lead the injury roundup on this Sunday morning to start Week 5. Instead, we're talking about Rob Gronkowski. Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com reported that Gronkowski is "dealing with... more

We handle the biggest injury news all day on Around the League . The rest goes right here, on the most popular injury report roundup with you, the undecided voter . 1. The New England Patriots list tight end Aaron Hernandez (ankle) as questionable... more

Chad Greenway is one of the biggest reasons why the Minnesota Vikings' defense is off to such a strong start this season. But one of the linebacker's biggest hits will cost him some money. Jeremiah: Key matchups in Week 5 Daniel Jeremiah provides the... more

Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray got into some hot water for comments about his team's level of aggression . He doesn't want his players to worry about being fined whenever they make a hit. "If you are worrying about that, you are not... more

We mentioned a few weeks back that Kansas City Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli was under fire locally after the team's slow start to the season. Quarterback Matt Cassel also is on the hot seat for a team that is desperate to win against the... more

No team is more desperate for a win this week than the Pittsburgh Steelers. For the first time all year, they will look like the Pittsburgh Steelers we've watched over the last decade. Kinkhabwala: Real Steel It's been a quiet start to the season in... more

Every week in the NFL is important. Some are just more important than others. Here are the teams most desperate for a win in Week 5 . 5. Kansas City Chiefs: No one expects the Chiefs to win Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, but crazier things have... more

Kansas City Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel started the week by hinting that quarterback Brady Quinn could take extra snaps in practice this week, and possibly play on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens if starter Matt Cassel struggled. Harrison: Week 5... more

The fast start to Brian Hartline's season couldn't have come at a better time. The impending free agent leads the NFL in receiving yards and could get some long-term security because of it. Jeff Darlington reports the Miami Dolphins and Hartline have... more

The Arizona Cardinals' defense and special teams are good enough to keep them in every game. The offense will make sure that no game comes easy. Arizona has been living a charmed life this season full of dropped potential game-winning touchdowns, missed... more

The St. Louis Rams are relevant again. They have a defined, feisty personality under Jeff Fisher. And for the first time in 93 games, since November of 2006, the Rams are a winning team. St. Louis' defense steamrolled Arizona 17-3 Thursday night in a... more

Arizona Cardinals running back Ryan Williams left Thursday night's game against the St. Louis Rams after taking what appeared to be a nasty hit to the head early in the fourth quarter. Breer: Raising Arizona It might seem like the Cardinals came out... more

Maurice Jones-Drew doesn't plan to hold out again in Jacksonville next year. But the Jaguars' star running back wasn't making promises when he spoke to NFL.com and NFL Network's Albert Breer. Breer: MJD bucks holdout trend Maurice Jones-Drew hasn't... more

The St. Louis Rams finished Thursday night's 17-3 victory over the Arizona Cardinals without the services of their leading receiver. They could be without him a lot longer. Lombardi: The Fisher factor The Rams are over .500 for the first time since... more

St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson started Thursday night against the Arizona Cardinals despite his groin injury. How much longer Jackson will remain in St. Louis remains a bigger question. Brooks: Matt Barkley vs. Geno Smith Which college QB... more

Randy Moss inspired a lot of excitement from San Francisco 49ers fans and beat writers this offseason. There were accounts that he looked like the best receiver on the team. We were skeptical Moss would make such a big impact. He was dumped by three... more

Mario Williams has just 1.5 sacks in four games. He has contributed to the Buffalo Bills' sagging run defense. Looking beyond the conventional stats doesn't help matters. Williams has two hits and nine hurries , according to ProFootballFocus. The... more

All offseason, we wondered if New York Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks would be ready to play in Week 1 after undergoing foot surgery in the offseason. He made it back, but now a troublesome knee injury is slowing down his season. Jeremiah: NFL... more

Ten days after the "Inaccurate Reception" heard 'round the world, NFL replacement referees still were in the news. Replacement ref Wayne Elliott admitted on Showtime's "Inside the NFL" that his crew erred in calling Golden Tate's winning touchdown for... more

It's Thursday. That means another edition of esoteric tiered power rankings on ATL. Rapoport: Week 5 game rankings What's the best game on the Week 5 slate? The worst? Ian Rapoport puts them in order in his weekly Rap Sheet Rankings. More ...... more

Sunday's Philadelphia Eagles-Pittsburgh Steelers matchup isn't a normal non-conference game . It's two Pennsylvania rivals. More importantly, it's one of the best teams in the NFL over the last decade trying to avoid a 1-3 record. Kinkhabwala: Real... more

It's Wednesday. That means we get our first look at the injury report of the week. Here were our big takeaways: 1. Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett is questionable for Thursday night's game against the St. Louis Rams because of his... more

Last week, we noted it was ridiculously early to start monitoring the MVP race. It's one week less ridiculous now. Once you are done here, check out Daniel Jeremiah's excellent quarterly report . 1. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons Every MVP candidacy... more

The NFL's lockout of players last year didn't dent the league's popularity. Neither did this year's lockout of officials. The Harris Poll conducted a survey last week in the three days following the "Monday Night Football" replacement officials fiasco.... more

We've already done a handful of stories this week on the San Diego Chargers' benching of Ryan Mathews in Week 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The 2010 first-round draft pick didn't get a snap on the Chargers' opening drive last week. Jackie Battle,... more

When New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick was approached with the concept of "A Football Life: The '95 Cleveland Browns," it didn't take long for him to say yes. "It's Steve Sabol and NFL Films," Belichick said Wednesday. "I had a lot of trust and... more

The Oakland Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars have been two of the worst teams in the NFL this year. Their Week 7 game still might get moved to Monday night, according to a rumor floated by The Associated Press. Schein: Crystal ball for 2-2 teams Four... more

John Fox remembers his Denver Broncos' 45-10 divisional-round loss in Foxborough last year. Rapoport: Week 5 game rankings What's the best game on the Week 5 slate? The worst? Ian Rapoport puts them in order in his weekly Rap Sheet Rankings. More... more

The New York Jets made it official Wednesday: Wide receiver Santonio Holmes has been placed on injured reserve with a foot injury and will be out for the season. (Though he should be back next year.) Are the New York Jets in free fall? Rex Ryan and... more

The New York tabloids were remarkably restrained this week, mostly not calling for Mark Sanchez to be benched. The owner of the team might not be able to stay so unemotional. Darlington: Tebow Time is inevitable It's coming, Jets fans. Are you ready?... more

We told you Tuesday night that the New York Jets weren't going after big-name wide receivers Chad Johnson, Terrell Owens or Plaxico Burress. Darlington: Tebow Time is inevitable It's coming, Jets fans. Are you ready? Jeff Darlington explains why... more

This week's game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers might be the most compelling matchup on the board after Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady. Harrison: Week 5 Power Rankings What is the league pecking order with a quarter of the 2012... more

It wasn't so long ago that the New York Jets were expected to get rid of Santonio Holmes. After Holmes' teammates essentially booted him off the field for quitting in the 2011 regular-season finale, there was wide speculation that the wide receiver... more

Don't expect Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett to start throwing f-bombs or chairs around because his team was embarrassed on national television. It's not his style. "If you're around these walls, in these meetings, around these practice fields and... more

The New England Patriots need depth at linebacker. Bobby Carpenter is ready to help. Tom Curran of Comcast SportsNet New England confirmed that Carpenter is headed back to the Patriots. That's not a good sign for rookie Dont'a Hightower, who left last... more

For a 2-2 team , the New York Jets are enduring a pretty miserable week. They lost their best player, cornerback Darrelle Revis, for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Are the New York Jets in free fall? Rex Ryan and the Jets had... more

It's understandable the Miami Dolphins are struggling to get over the last two weeks. Losing back-to-back overtime games (to the New York Jets in Week 3 , and the Arizona Cardinals in Week 4 ) is rough. Center Mike Pouncey has even taken the unusual... more

The football gods don't reward timidity. For all the grief that Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and safety Haruki Nakamura took for the end of the Atlanta Falcons-Panthers game , we still can't shake the feeling that Panthers coach Ron Rivera... more

Jay Cutler's sideline act with offensive coordinator Mike Tice was good for a few laughs on Monday night, but his occasionally villain-like behavior shouldn't overshadow a breakout second half by the Chicago Bears offense. Cutler played under control... more

Gregg Rosenthal will watch every snap that the five NFL rookie starting quarterback take this year and rank them based on their performance that week only. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it. Andrew Luck had his bye this week, so he can't... more

The NFL gave special permission to Sean Payton to attend the Hall of Fame ceremonies this year with the rest of the New Orleans Saints organization. The league also gave former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams a one-game permission to attend... more

It was a week for stabilization in the NFL. The power teams -- even the ones that were 1-2 -- pulled off needed victories. The Houston Texans and Atlanta Falcons practically clinched their divisions in September. The stories of this season are starting to... more

Former Chicago Bears defensive lineman Tommie Harris was arrested Tuesday morning in the Wrigleyville section of Chicago and charged with indecent exposure and threatening a police officer after urinating in public, according to the Chicago Tribune.... more

The San Diego Chargers benched 2010 first-round pick Ryan Mathews on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Chargers head coach Norv Turner insisted it wasn't punishment for Mathews' fumbling problem, but Mathews' workload suggested otherwise. Power... more

It didn't take long for the Indianapolis Colts' brain trust to decide the man to replace Chuck Pagano after they learned of their leader's leukemia diagnosis . Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians was the obvious choice. Debate: Quarter-pole Super Bowl... more

Tony Romo played well for a half on Monday night. Tony Romo threw five interceptions on Monday night. This is life with the Jason Garrett-era Dallas Cowboys, same as it ever was. Just three weeks after owner Jerry Jones said the Cowboys pulled off a... more

Debate: Quarter-pole Super Bowl Our analysts provide Super Bowl picks with four Sundays in the books. Matt  Schaub 's Texans get love on the AFC side. More ... Jay Cutler was criticized in his last nationally televised appearance for talking... more

Teammates of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel reportedly are losing confidence in him  following another rocky outing in Sunday's loss to the San Diego Chargers. The coaching staff might not be far behind. Debate: Quarter-pole Super Bowl... more

Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker dislocated his left (non-throwing) shoulder in Week 1 against the New England Patriots. He missed that game, but returned to start in Week 2. His situation looks similar this week. Coach Mike Munchak said Monday... more

Not all 2-2 records are created equal. The New England Patriots have lost two games by a combined two feet worth of field goal attempts. The Buffalo Bills have been blown out by two division opponents. The Denver Broncos' two losses were to undefeated... more

Gregg Rosenthal picks the five throws that define the week every Monday. You get a freebie this time. We had to represent the New England Patriots' 45-point second half explosion in their 52-28 victory Sunday somewhere on the list. They scored 35... more

The best way for the Chicago Bears to limit Jay Cutler's exposure on Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys is to run the ball plenty -- and it looks like they'll get the chance. Debate: Quarter-pole Super Bowl Our analysts provide Super Bowl picks... more

The Carolina Panthers played great in their 30-28 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Cam Newton enjoyed one of his best career games after a week when he received his most blistering criticism. That shouldn't be lost in the stunning ending to the game ,... more

We expected to see the flamboyant back cover tabloids in New York on Monday morning calling for Tim Tebow to start at quarterback for the New York Jets following Sunday's loss to the San Francisco 49ers. We were pleasantly surprised. The Jets were... more

Detroit Lions kicker Jason Hanson is not a guy known for being fiery or making flamboyant statements. That's why his comments following Detroit's 20-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings are so striking. "We're garbage right now , and we're killing our... more

Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano is expected to miss several weeks of action after being diagnosed with a "serious" illness. The stunning news, first reported by Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star, comes after Pagano reportedly felt unusual... more

The Houston Texans look like the best team in the AFC . All of their success seems to be driving their opponents a little crazy. Three weeks after the team accused Miami Dolphins guard Richie Incognito of playing dirty, the Texans say that Tennessee... more

The stage was set. Eli Manning had the ball, with plenty of time for the quarterback to lead the New York Giants to a game-winning field goal on Sunday night. We expect the Giants to come through in these spots, but we shouldn't expect it when they face... more

The Jets are 2-2, but it feels a lot like 0-4 in New York. Injuries aren't helping. Their best offensive weapon by far, wide receiver Santonio Holmes, hurt his foot late in the Jets' 34-0 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. ProFootballTalk.com reported... more

This time, the Green Bay Packers had the chance to overcome a questionable call. They took advantage. The Packers came out on top of the 2012 Desperation Bowl, narrowly beating the New Orleans Saints, 28-27, at Lambeau Field. The Saints appeared to... more

The last week has been about as fun as a poke in the eye for Green Bay Packers fans. Aaron Rodgers knows the feeling. The Packers quarterback took a digit to the eyeball from New Orleans Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins on Sunday while trying to throw for... more

Greg Jennings just can't seem to stay healthy this year. The Green Bay Packers wide receiver re-injured his groin during Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints after playing just 13 snaps in the first half. The Packers announced Jennings... more

The New England Patriots looked vulnerable. Down 14 points in the second half on the road to a division rival, they were staring a 1-3 record and the AFC East basement in the face. So they scored 35 points in less than 14 minutes against the Buffalo... more

The Detroit Lions were supposed to be the up-and-coming team in the NFC North. That's not the case anymore. The Minnesota Vikings pulled off their second upset in two weeks, beating the Lions 20-13 on Sunday to drop Detroit to 1-3 and into the NFC... more

A depressing Sunday for the Detroit Lions got a lot worse in the fourth quarter when defensive end Cliff Avril left the game with a back injury. Avril was going after Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder when his leg buckled after he... more

The St. Louis Rams will have running back Steven Jackson available Sunday. The question is whether he's going to be the Steven Jackson we're all accustomed to seeing. The Rams announced Jackson is active. He's still struggling with a groin injury... more

There's a lot of injury information to track every Sunday morning. We round it up in one place right here. Refresh often, because we'll update throughout the morning. 1. NFL Network's Stacey Dales reports running back Fred Jackson will start. C.J.... more

We handle the biggest injury stories throughout the day on the Around the League . The others go right here, in the most-popular injury report recap to play on a dark windless night with the stereo on . 1. Attention, fantasy owners: Kansas City Chiefs... more

Don't ask Darrius Heyward-Bey to relive the brutal hit he took last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers . "I don't remember any of it," the Oakland Raiders wide receiver said, via The Associated Press. Heyward-Bey has seen the hit on television,... more

By all sane accounts, New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis is done for the season, and everyone is acting a little funny in New York. Joe McKnight is playing cornerback and isn't particularly happy about it . New starter Kyle Wilson didn't want to talk... more

Justin Blackmon's transition to the NFL looked seamless during the preseason. He was too physical for opposing cornerbacks and gained a lot of yards after the catch. Like a lot of rookie wide receivers, life got a lot harder when the real games started.... more

Blink and you might have missed Kellen Winslow's tenure with the New England Patriots. The one-week stay ended Thursday in somewhat mysterious fashion . It was widely reported that Winslow requested his release from the Patriots. Coach Bill... more

Every week in the NFL is important. Some are just more important than others. Here are the teams most desperate for a win in Week 4. 5. Kansas City Chiefs: Beat the San Diego Chargers at home , and it's like the Chiefs' slow start never happened.... more

The New York Jets desperately are in search of a pass rush . They drafted Quinton Coples in the first round this year to help such a problem, but he hasn't been on the field much. After playing 32 snaps in the season opener, Coples has seen only 33... more

Ryan Mathews is a bit of a tease. He looks like he could be a top-five NFL running back, but injury issues have prevented that from happening. Mathews made a successful, speedy return from a broken clavicle to play in last week's game for the San Diego... more

Mike Holmgren is on his third year with the Cleveland Browns as team president. They team has tried out four starting quarterbacks: Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace, Colt McCoy, and Brandon Weeden. It feels like they are no closer to finding out if they have... more

Joe Flacco can make every throw. In the Baltimore Ravens' aggressively revamped offense, he can sometimes make them all in one drive. Flacco's 23-16 victory Thursday night over the Cleveland Browns on a rainy night in Baltimore wasn't flashy. It was... more

Cleveland Browns returner Joshua Cribbs had to sit the remainder of Thursday night's 23-16 loss  to the Baltimore Ravens after taking a vicious shot to the head during a first-quarter punt return. Ravens linebacker Dannell Ellerbe dislodged the ball... more

It's safe to say that NFL officials never have been more loved. Referee Gene Steratore came out for a microphone check before kickoff of "Thursday Night Football " between the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens. The crowd at M&T Bank Stadium gave the... more

The Minnesota Vikings listed a surprise name on their injury report Thursday: starting quarterback Christian Ponder. Schein Nine: Something to Ponder Who is the most improved player in the NFL? Adam Schein says it's obviously Vikings quarterback... more

Upon further review, the NFL has decided that a sack by Arizona Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington on Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick in Week 3 actually was an attempted run. The scoring change resulted in 13 rushing yards being... more

One of the late Steve Sabol' s great lasting legacies is "NFL Films Presents." The latest episode to come down the pipeline will be a cool one. "The Greatest Roundtable Ever" features five Super Bowl winning quarterbacks, all with a Bay Area connection.... more

It's Thursday. That means another edition of esoteric tiered power rankings on ATL. This week: Best offenses. We've rolled out power rankings for coaches , defenses , running backs , and quarterbacks. Now let's re-visit our offensive rankings with... more

NEW YORK -- I usually work from home on Thursdays, but this isn't your normal Thursday. A call arrived in my mother's basement just before noon to get out of my T-shirt and go to 345 Park Avenue as fast as possible. 'TNF' Xtra NFL Network isn't the... more

Kellen Winslow played four snaps in his first game with the New England Patriots last week. He won't play any this week. The Patriots released Winslow on Thursday, a source who had spoken with the tight end told NFL.com and NFL Network's Ian... more

Endurance hasn't been a problem for Peyton Manning's Denver Broncos. They have outscored opponents 45-6 in the fourth quarter. The rest of the game has been the issue: The opposition has outscored Denver 71-32 in the other three quarters. Manning... more

The New York Jets are 2-1, and yet it feels like they are 0-3 after the loss of Darrelle Revis for the season. The pressure seems especially raised in the cornerbacks room. Debate: No Revis = no playoffs? Darrelle Revis is done for the season. Can... more

The football world has never beeen so happy to see Ed Hochuli's guns again. The end of the the lockout for game officials is welcome news in all corners of the football universe. The eight-year deal means we won't have to hear about the topic again for... more

Wednesday is when the first injury report of the week is released. We round up all the biggest injury news you need to know each week right here: 1. Matt Forte is back. At least at practice. The Chicago Bears running back's return from an ankle injury... more

The magical start to the season in Arizona has run into a familiar problem: Running back Beanie Wells is hurt. In a surprise move, the Arizona Cardinals placed Wells on injured reserve Wednesday with a "severe turf toe injury." They designated him for... more

The Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots entered the season as Super Bowl favorites in their respective conferences. Both defenses have improved this season. Yet both teams enter Week 4 with a losing record. To quote Vince Lombardi, "What the... more

NFL players are almost always too optimistic about their chances of playing through injuries. So take these words from Miami Dolphins running back Reggie Bush about suiting up Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals with a dash of salt. Harrison: Week 4... more

It's ridiculously early to start thinking about the MVP award, but that's not going to stop us from trying. Each Wednesday, we'll take a look at the leading contenders for the year-end award. Through three weeks, here's how our ballot would look: 1.... more

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick was fined $50,000 by the NFL for his contact with an official after Sunday night's 31-30 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the league announced Wednesday. On NFL Replay NFL Replay will re-air the... more

Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid sure seemed to leave the door open to possibly benching quarterback Michael Vick earlier this week. Reid has since spent a lot of energy trying to close the door , saying Wednesday it was just a case of "bad... more

It was not a surprise on Wednesday that the Washington Redskins announced Ryan Grant is the newest member of the team. FOX Sports Insider and NFL Network contributor Jay Glazer reported that it would happen Wednesday. Harrison: Week 4 Power Rankings... more

Despite producing perhaps the greatest season in NFL history for a rookie quarterback, it sure looks like the honeymoon phase of Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton's career in Carolina is over. The Charlotte Observer ran a cartoon in their paper on... more

Tuesday was the designated  Green Bay Packers day to blow off some steam . They took to Twitter and the airwaves . Their understandable unhappiness was recorded all over the country. Darlington: For fans' sake... As the NFL and referees continue to... more

Andre Brown earned a bigger role in the New York Giants offense with his breakout performance against the Carolina Panthers. Just don't expect him to remain a starter. Instant Debate: Best of Week 3? Justin Tucker's game-winning kick for the Ravens... more

It felt like 2005 all over again on Sunday afternoon in Oakland . Carson Palmer was giving the Pittsburgh Steelers all sorts of problems with an explosive passing attack. Oakland Raiders wide receiver Derek Hagan says Palmer's experience made the... more

The NFL will not fine players for critical remarks made players on Twitter toward the NFL and replacement officials after Monday's controversial ending to the Green Bay Packers' loss to the Seattle Seahawks , a league source told NFL Network's Steve... more

Gregg Rosenthal will watch every snap that that the five NFL rookie starting quarterback take this year and rank them based on their performance that week. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it. Quarterbacking looked too easy for our five... more

It's hard to get 13 analysts to agree on anything. That's why it's surprising all 13 panelists in our NFL.com Power Poll picked the Houston Texans as the No. 1 team in the land. Darlington: Listen to Texans Matt Schaub and the Texans sent a message... more

The NFL released a lengthy statement on the Hail Mary conclusion to the Green Bay Packers-Seattle Seahawks game , won by the Seahawks in controversial fashion Monday night. We recommend reading it in full and coming back here. The NFL said a lot in the... more

Lost in all the sound, fury and just insanity of the Seattle Seahawks' last-second victory over the Green Bay Packers on Monday night were the football aspects of the closing minute. Russell Wilson Earlier in the fourth quarter, Seahawks wide... more

The entire sports world is talking about it. On Tuesday, the NFL officially will address the controversial call that ended the Seattle Seahawks' 14-12 victory over the Green Bay Packers, NFL Network and NFL.com's Steve Wyche reported on "NFL AM."... more

Golden Tate has been at the center of the most controversial play of the week for two weeks running. (His blind-side block of Sean Lee landed him at least a $21,000 fine after Week 2.) Tate's winning touchdown "catch" against the Green Bay Packers will... more

The replacement official apocalypse arrived Monday night. On the final play from scrimmage between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks -- a play that will live on lowlight reels for years -- Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson lofted a ball high... more

Week 3 was a rough one for injuries. The Monday after held more good news than bad. Let's round up all the biggest stories. 1. Miami Dolphins running back Reggie Bush reportedly doesn't have any structural damage in his knee. He still could miss a game... more

For the second time in two weeks, an Atlanta Falcons star player has been arrested. Both times, it happened shortly after a big win. Falcons defensive end John Abraham was charged with obstruction of firefighters and obstruction of police officers... more

The 1972 Miami Dolphins are safe. There are only three teams that are still undefeated after three weeks, and we'd be surprised if any of them get to the midway point of the season undefeated. Not all 3-0 teams are created equal, but it's a significant... more

With a night to think about it, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick was more far more willing to talk about his interaction with a league official at the end of the Patriots' loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night. On NFL Replay NFL... more

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning struggled for most of three quarters Sunday against the Houston Texans. His timing and accuracy were just a little off. Manning was 17-of-37 passing with 10 minutes left in the game. And then he turned it on in... more

No defensive player in the NFL is more valuable to his team than Darrelle Revis is to New York Jets. The best cornerback in the league will undergo surgery for an ACL tear , meaning the Jets defense won't be the Jets defense for the rest of the 2012.... more

We've got some good news for Reggie Bush's family, his fantasy owners and all Miami Dolphins fans. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that Bush suffered no structural damage in his knee on Sunday. Bush was in good spirits Monday morning, tweeting... more

The Philadelphia Eagles are 2-1 on the season. The level of panic in Philadelphia is more indicative of an 0-3 squad. Coach Andy Reid was asked if he's considering a quarterback change . "Right now we're with Michael. We'll evaluate it as we go," Reid... more

So many outrageous things happened in the Tennessee Titans' wild 44-41 overtime win over the Detroit Lions that we almost don't know where to start. The Titans scored five touchdowns over 60 yards. The Lions' defense keeps giving up big plays , which... more

Bill Belichick isn't the only coach that could pay a fine this week for his treatment of the replacement officials . The NFL confirmed to Around the League on Monday morning that it is reviewing an incident involving Washington Redskins offensive... more

The NFL is reviewing Bill Belichick's actions when he grabbed an official after Sunday night's loss to the Baltimore Ravens. But don't expect the New England Patriots coach to miss any game action. A league source tells NFL Network's Steve Wyche that... more

Adrian Peterson got all the attention over the offseason, but Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles also was recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. After Sunday's performance, Charles finally knows he's back . "I didn't trust myself... more

The Philadelphia Eagles were living on the edge during the first two weeks of the season. They fell off the cliff Sunday in Arizona during a 27-6 loss to the Cardinals . "I didn't have my football team ready to play. They did. My hat's off to them,"... more

A night of pushing, shoving and questionable calls in Baltimore ended the only way possible: with controversy. The Baltimore Ravens beat the New England Patriots 31-30 on a last-second field goal that didn't necessarily look like a last-second field... more

A lot of big-name players were hurt in Week 3. Let's break them down. 1. New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis suffered a potentially serious knee injury . He'll undergo tests Monday. Jets rookie wide receiver Stephen Hill also hurt his hamstring.... more

Denver Broncos pass rusher Von Miller was called for a roughing-the-passer penalty in the third quarter of Sunday's game after hitting Matt Schaub. On the next play, Broncos linebacker Joe Mays hit the Houston Texans' star quarterback with a direct blow... more

Willis McGahee's strong start to the season hit a roadblock Sunday. The Denver Broncos' starting running back left a 31-25 loss to the Houston Texans in the third quarter with a rib injury. McGahee officially was listed as questionable to return,... more

Last week was almost impossibly easy for the five starting rookie quarterbacks around the NFL. In Week 3, they came back to Earth. Let's get our highlights rolling. You can't find these anywhere else. Andrew Luck wasn't very efficient, but he threw for... more

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith's 19-year-old brother, Tevin Jones, died in a motorcycle accident late Saturday night, the team confirmed to NFL.com and NFL Network's Albert Breer. Smith, who played in Sunday night's game against the New... more

The New Orleans Saints lost 27-24 in overtime Sunday after blowing a 24-6 lead to a supposedly hapless Kansas City Chiefs team. If we re-read that sentence a few times, perhaps the reality will start to set in. On a day full of crazy results and... more

Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano wasn't kidding when he said he'd call a blitz again on an opponent's "victory formation" if the situation dictated The Bucs went after the ball three consecutive times Sunday at the end of a 16-10 loss to the... more

Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears' offensive line got all the attention over the last 10 days. The Bears' defensive line made sure that wasn't the case Sunday against the St. Louis Rams. The Bears (2-1) won 23-6 because Rams quarterback Sam Bradford... more

The Dallas Cowboys faced third-and-12 from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 14-yard line late in the first half Sunday. It was a big play in a defensive-minded game . Cowboys wide receiver Kevin Ogletree had single coverage on the outside, and Tony Romo looked... more

Kansas City Chiefs running back Dexter McCluster left Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints after a gruesome-looking injury to his shoulder. McCluster was in the process of making a catch and falling to the ground when he braced himself with... more

There is a lot of injury information to know on Sunday mornings. We'll round up the biggest news right here every week. We'll update the page throughout the morning. 1. NFL.com and NFL Network's Albert Breer reported that New Orleans Saints wide... more

NFL Network's Stacey Dales reports that St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson will play against the Chicago Bears on Sunday. Jackson was listed as questionable on the injury report with a groin injury, and he didn't practice during the week.... more

We handle all the big injury stories throughout the day on Around the League . Everything else you need to know goes right here, on the most popular weekly injury report rundown that knows coffee helps you think . 1. The San Diego Chargers should get... more

Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano's decision to blitz New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning on a Week 2 kneel-down play spurred a national debate . Schiano was defiant in an NFL Network interview that will air on "First on the Field" and... more

Matt Forte's ankle injury has been somewhat forgotten in all the sound and fury about Jay Cutler berating his offensive line during the Chicago Bears' 23-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers. It won't be forgotten Sunday. The Bears will have to face... more

Bart Scott's tumultuous relationship with the New York media took another strange turn Friday. According to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post, Scott and reporter Dan Leberfeld had to be separated in the Jets' locker room. A New York Jets PR staffer... more

The Philadelphia Eagles will face one of the NFL's better defenses while at less than full strength on offense. Rapoport: Philly's new leader It didn't take long for DeMeco Ryans to have an impact on the Philadelphia Eagles defense, Ian Rapoport... more

Forbes released its list of the most overpaid players in football . While the magazine didn't botch the list as badly as its highest-paid coaching list -- at least we know what the players make -- the exercise leaves a lot to be desired. The list only... more

The greatest Cleveland Brown of them all is back in the fold. For the first time in two years, Jim Brown will take part in events this weekend leading up to a halftime ceremony where former Browns players Ernie Green and Clarence Scott will be inducted... more

The Pittsburgh Steelers ran a lot of no-huddle offense in their season opener against the Denver Broncos. The next week against the New York Jets, the Steelers didn't use it all. Kinkhabwala: Solid Steelers Aditi Kinkhabwala looks at how the... more

Thursday night was supposed to be the big unveiling of the Carolina Panthers. It was Cam Newton's first prime-time game in the NFL. All four NFL Network analysts picked the Panthers to beat the defending Super Bowl champions. The game possibly could not... more

Even the best New York Giants performances seem to include injuries to their secondary. Eli Manning Giants safety Antrel Rolle left in the fourth quarter of Thursday night's blowout victory over the Carolina Panthers with a knee injury after... more

This was Cam Newton's first NFL prime-time game. Like the rest of his team, he wasn't ready. Newton didn't make great decisions at times with his zone-read options. He was inaccurate on a few passes and wasn't able to get anything going on the ground.... more

The New York Giants' backups were better than the Carolina Panthers' starters. It wasn't even close. On a night when a young Panthers team didn't look ready for prime time, the Giants' injury replacements shined in a 36-7 beatdown of Carolina . The... more

We told you Wednesday that Robert Griffin III was not a fan of the "dirty extracurriculars" and the "unprofessional" late hits from the St. Louis Rams in Week 2 . "It was weird," the Washington Redskins quarterback said. "... People want to hit me... more

With a few days to think about it, Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano doesn't see anything wrong with trying to force an opposing quarterback to fumble when in victory formation. Instant Debate: Dangerous move? Did Buccaneers coach... more

Dan Lauria did such a great job depicting Packers coach Vince Lombardi on Broadway that now we have trouble imagining anyone else playing the legendary coach. Billick: Thoughts around the league Brian Billick provides his early impressions on... more

The Green Bay Packers' optimism about Greg Jennings' status for Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks has waned. The team's top receiver missed practice Thursday with a groin injury. Rapoport: Week 3 game rankings What's the best matchup of Week 3? The... more

The New Orleans Saints' defense has rightfully taken its share of blame . Steve Spagnuolo's unit is the biggest reason the team is one of six squads stuck on zero in the win column . It's worth noting the offense has had its share of struggles, too.... more

It's Thursday. That means another edition of esoteric tiered power rankings on ATL. This week: Quarterbacks. We've rolled power rankings for coaches , offenses and defenses , and running backs . Quarterbacks will be the first set of rankings we... more

The NFL will honor Steve Sabol this week in the most appropriate way possible: on film. Rapoport: Week 3 game rankings What's the best matchup of Week 3? The worst? Ian Rapoport ranks this week's games in order of intrigue, from 1 to 16. More ...... more

Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan looks like the right man to shepherd the first seasons of Robert Griffin III's career. Shanahan believes he has the right man leading his defense too. Shanahan revealed Wednesday that defensive coordinator Jim... more

An emotional Chad Johnson joined Showtime's "Inside the NFL" Wednesday night, fully aware of how far he's fallen . Billick: Thoughts around the league Brian Billick provides his early impressions on rookies Andrew Luck, Trent  Richardson,... more

Josh McDaniels coached Tom Brady during the best regular season of Brady's career. McDaniels came up in the New England Patriots' system, just like his predecessor, Bill O'Brien. That's why so many of us assumed McDaniels' transition back to being the... more

The Philadelphia Eagles head to the desert this week in one of the two games featuring undefeated teams on the docket. Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb is facing the team that traded him away for conerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a... more

The good news for free agent outside linebacker Shawne Merriman: He got a workout with the San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday, according to Aaron Wilson of Scout.com. It's the first we've heard from Merriman since the Buffalo Bills cut him before the... more

The San Diego Chargers scored 38 points without running back Ryan Mathews and Antonio Gates last week. It looks like they'll get both stars back this week. They participated in practice Wednesday as they prepare to face the Atlanta Falcons . San Diego... more

Peyton Manning knew the questions were coming. That doesn't mean he wanted to answer them. After Monday night's three interception letdown against the Atlanta Falcons, Manning was asked how he felt physically. "I don't really answer those questions.... more

Twitter is great and terrible at the same time. The idiots usually come out after a memorable loss, which happened following Washington Redskins wide receiver Josh Morgan's costly penalty in his team's loss to the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. On NFL... more

There are six 0-2 teams. As Kansas City Chiefs GM Scott Pioli pointed out , it's not the end of the world to start out 0-2. The '07 New York Giants started out 0-2. Heck, the '11 Giants started out 7-7. There's a long way to go. That's not to say 0-2 is... more

The Minnesota Vikings have handed Adrian Peterson 33 carries over the first two weeks of the season. That's more than we expected, and not that far below his career average of 19.2 carries-per-game. Schein: Perception vs. reality Are the Eagles for... more

Cam Newton was stuffed when he tried to run in Week 1. He set a personal rushing record in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints. Breer: Why are young QBs thriving? Ten teams are starting QBs with less than two years experience. Is it working?... more

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is not thrilled with his team's effort in the running game this year. It may be time to break Rashard Mendenhall out of storage. Harrison: Week 3 Power Rankings Who's on the rise, and who's on the decline after... more

Gregg Rosenthal will watch every snap that that the five NFL rookie starting quarterback take this year and rank them based on their performance that week. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it. The five rookie quarterbacks all excelled this week.... more

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went after New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning when he was trying to kneel down to end last week's game , even though he told them he was taking a knee. Harrison: Week 3 Power Rankings Who's on the rise, and who's on the... more

The New York Giants will match up against the Carolina Panthers on "Thursday Night Football" short a few key pieces. Instant Debate: Dangerous move? Did Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano go too far by having his team go hard on a Giants kneel-down? Our... more

The New England Patriots' offensive line appeared to struggle against the Arizona Cardinals during their 20-18 loss last Sunday. That has left a lot of panicky Patriots fans wondering if All-Pro offensive guard Brian Waters is going to ride into town to... more

I upset a lot of San Francisco 49ers fans this preseason because I was the only one of 16 NFL.com writers to pick the Seattle Seahawks to win the NFC West. They have let me hear about it every day since. Forget for a moment that 10 more surprising... more

The football world says goodbye to a legend of the sport on Tuesday. Steve Sabol, president of NFL Films, has died at the age of 69 after an 18-month battle with brain cancer. Sabol took over the mantle as president of NFL Films in 1985 from his father... more

It took an injury, but tight end Kellen Winslow is back in the NFL. A source told NFL Network and NFL.com on Tuesday morning that Winslow was scheduled to meet with the New England Patriots Tuesday. Winslow previously worked out for the Patriots after... more

When Jon Gruden says a game of football is hard to watch, we've got a problem. The perpetually positive, football-obsessed ESPN announcer couldn't take it anymore during the first half the Atlanta Falcons' win over the Denver Broncos on Monday night .... more

No one really knows if St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson was injured or benched on Sunday against the Washington Redskins. But it sure sounds like Jackson won't be injured for long. Jackson told 101ESPN that he underwent an MRI on Monday and... more

It's one thing for outsiders to criticize Jay Cutler for how he berated his left tackle during the team's loss to the Packers in Week 2. It's part of the media game. It's a lot more eye-opening when one of his own teammates takes Cutler to task. "Is... more

Before every season, I look at what divisions face off when making my preseason predictions. Divisional strength can change by the year, but one common theme remained consistent over the last decade: The NFC West was bad. The division could occasionally... more

Tebow Zone -- NFL.com's exhaustive document of every Tebow play this season -- was rather quiet after Sunday. The New York Jets' leading man and backup quarterback only lined up on three plays. He rushed for 22 yards on the first one, and then... more

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate had surprisingly one of the most devastating hits during Sunday's action. While Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson ran to the outside, Tate blindsided Dallas Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee with a devastating hit.... more

Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith has heard about the reports his running back Matt Forte has a high ankle sprain. They just aren't true. Lombardi: Room for improvement The Bears made the Packers look good on Thursday, but both teams have plenty to work... more

15 games are in the books. What plays will we remember? Gregg Rosenthal chooses the five throws that define the week every Monday We could choose Eli Manning finding Victor Cruz for 80 yards in a play reminiscent of the back-breaking play Cruz made... more

New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin was furious with new Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano after Tampa Bay tried to dislodge the football while Eli Manning was kneeling down to ice Sunday's 41-34 win . Eli Manning called it a "cheap shot."... more

It's safe to say the honeymoon is over for Scott Pioli in Kansas City. The city's two major sports columnists have these headlines leading their articles on Monday: » Chiefs will never win big with Pioli in charge. » Hunt needs to make major... more

The Kansas City Chiefs are arguably the most disappointing team in the NFL after two weeks and Sunday's 35-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills wasn't nearly as close as the final score indicated. The Bills say the Chiefs aren't just bad -- they are dirty.... more

Reputations don't change gradually. It usually takes a big game or play on a nationally televised game to crystallize what had already been building. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith had one of those moments Sunday night in San Francisco's... more

The Washington Redskins could be without two defensive starters for a while. The Washington Post says defensive end Adam Carriker is expected to undergo surgery on his right knee. "It doesn't look good," Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said. Redskins... more

We'll look closely at every snap from the NFL's rookie quarterbacks later in the week, break it all down and rank their performances. For now, we're just going to show you highlights. Glorious highlights, because we have them. And there were plenty to... more

The Dallas Cowboys followed up a big win with a big disappointment. We've seen this story before. The Seattle Seahawks' 27-7 victory over Dallas on Sunday was an absolute dream game for coach Pete Carroll. Seattle won in all three phases. The... more

Joe Flacco had a chance to make some late-game magic against the Philadelphia Eagles. Unlike Michael Vick, Flacco couldn't get it done. On NFL Replay NFL Replay will re-air the Philadelphia Eagles' 24-23 win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week... more

The Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens don't face off too often, but the regional rivals sure look like they don't like each other. A number of times during the Eagles' 24-23 victory , players were pushing and shoving after the whistle. Before... more

The Philadelphia Eagles are 2-0 despite Michael Vick. They are 2-0 because of Michael Vick. Vick turned the ball over again three times Sunday, but the Eagles' defense and their consistent ability to move the ball was enough to beat the... more

The focus this offseason in New Orleans has been on bounties and the absence of Sean Payton. Maybe it should have been on the Saints' wholesale changes in defensive personnel and scheme. The Saints are dead last in the NFC South after the Carolina... more

The Philadelphia Eagles are having all sorts of injury problems in Sunday's 24-23 win against the Baltimore Ravens . Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin was carted to the locker room after aggravating his hip injury. He was visibly in pain, and coach Andy Reid... more

There's a lot of news swimming around on Sunday mornings. Let's get you up to date with the biggest injury news so far. Our complete inactives list is listed right here .  1. Kimberly Jones reported on NFL Network's "First on the Field" that New York... more

We handle the biggest stories throughout Friday on Around the League . The rest goes right here, in the most popular injury report that knows everything is amazing . 1. The Arizona Cardinals officially listed John Skelton (ankle) as doubtful. No one... more

Detroit Lions wide receiver Titus Young was benched by the Jim Schwartz for headbutting Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins during last week's game. He was penalized. Breer: Week 2 predictions Can the high-flying Falcons and tough-as-nails Niners win in... more

Miami Dolphins guard Richie Incognito says he's not a dirty player anymore. We have video evidence that suggests otherwise (see above). Breer: Week 2 predictions Can the high-flying Falcons and tough-as-nails Niners win in Week 2? Albert Breer... more

It looks like the Philadelphia Eagles will have their starting wide receivers available against the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday after all. Breer: Week 2 predictions Can the high-flying Falcons and tough-as-nails Niners win in Week 2? Albert... more

Carolina Panthers center Ryan Kalil's full page ad promising a Super Bowl appearance in the Charlotte Observer over the summer was bold. Panthers coach Ron Rivera likes bold. Breer: Week 2 predictions Can the high-flying Falcons and tough-as-nails... more

Adrian Peterson breaks the normal rules. We learned that when he ripped off four 100-yard games in his first five pro outings, including a 224-yard effort. We learned that in Week 1 during his effective, wildly quick return from anterior cruciate ligament... more

It's hard to imagine Tony Romo in any uniform other than that of the Dallas Cowboys. Jerry Jones always pays his stars, so there hasn't been a lot of chatter about Romo's contract. Breer: Week 2 predictions Can the high-flying Falcons and... more

Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson is once again taking heat after a miserable start to the season rushing the ball against the New England Patriots. He expects the attention. "When things don't go right I know everything is going to get... more

Jay Cutler had one of the worst nights of his NFL career. Life wasn't much better for Brandon Marshall. Tramon Williams blanketed Marshall all night with safety coverage over the top. When Marshall finally got open deep, he dropped a would-be touchdown.... more

Jay Cutler stepped into one last throw, took one last big hit, and threw one last interception. His final play Thursday night was a fitting end to one of his most miserable nights as a pro. "It's the same old Jay," Charles Woodson told ESPN's Rachel... more

Dominant defense with a steady dose of running plays. It's been a very long time since the Green Bay Packers have won with that formula. In what might have been one of the most satisfying regular-season wins in the Mike McCarthy era, the Packers... more

Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte, finally healthy, looked fantastic in last weekend's season opener against the Indianapolis Colts. His good health didn't last long. Forte left Thursday night's 23-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the third... more

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler could only laugh during the offseason when asked if his offensive line has improved. "Hope so," Cutler said. He wasn't laughing Thursday night . The Green Bay Packers racked up three sacks and a number of... more

The Oakland Raiders will not go shopping in the bargain bin, looking for a big name receiver . So you can stop asking. Despite the injury to Raiders receiver Jacoby Ford, general manager Reggie McKenzie said he will not sign Plaxico Burress, Chad... more

It's starting to look like the San Diego Chargers will have their starting running back in the lineup for their Week 2 game against the Tennessee Titans. Rapoport: Week 2 game rankings Week 2 offers a bevy of highly enticing matchups, and Ian... more

It's been a rough 14 months for New York Giants cornerback Terrell Thomas. Already placed on injured reserve, Thomas recently underwent a third surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament, according to Jenny Vrentas of the Newark Star-Ledger.... more

The Green Bay Packers will face the Chicago Bears on "Thursday Night Football " without their top wide receiver. Breer: Week 2 predictions Can the high-flying Falcons and tough-as-nails Niners win in Week 2? Albert Breer thinks so. See who else he... more

Throughout the preseason, Around the League rolled out somewhat esoteric tiered power rankings for teams , coaches , offenses and defenses , and quarterbacks . I got so used to hearing that I was an idiot on a weekly basis that I started to miss it.... more

The Oakland Raiders felt they had so much receiver depth that they traded Louis Murphy to the Carolina Panthers in the preseason. That depth has been tested early this season, now it sounds like one key player may not return at all. Harrison: Week 2... more

The comparisons are inevitable. We will measure up Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III to Cam Newton's boffo rookie season. (Our sidelines blog created a cool, fancy-looking Cam Metric .) Physically, there are more similarities between Luck and Newton.... more

Braylon Edwards had a chance to win last week's Seattle Seahawks-Arizona Cardinals game. He let a potential game-winning pass go through his hands. He also might have lost his chance to remain a starter. Rapoport: Week 2 game rankings Week 2 offers a... more

The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears on "Thursday Night Football " isn't your normal Week 2 game . It's the oldest rivalry in football. It's the consensus Super Bowl favorite trying to avoid an 0-2 start at home. A loss by the Packers on Thursday... more

Bill Belichick paid Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald a huge compliment by saying Fitz could end up being the greatest wide receiver of all time. That left Fitzgerald in a giddy mood, eager to return the favor. "That's what he said?"... more

We hit the biggest injury stories throughout the day on the Around the League page , but some slip through the cracks. Here's all the info from Wednesday's injury report you need to know: 1. The Chicago Bears listed Brian Urlacher (knee) as probable for... more

When John Skelton hurt his ankle last week, it looked like it could be a long-term injury. It turned out to be a "low ankle" sprain that ProFootballTalk reported would cost Skelton two to four weeks of action. Despite all indications that Kevin Kolb... more

Houston Texans defensive end Antonio Smith made news Sunday when he accused Miami Dolphins guard Richie Incognito of trying to break his ankle . Incognito responded that he's not dirty anymore . We have some video that could at least suggest otherwise.... more

New England Patriots fans are spoiled. In the wake of a sharp Week 1 offensive performance against the Tennessee Titans, a dominant storyline locally coming out of the game was the reduction of Wes Welker's snap count . There wasn't a lot of talk about... more

Robert Griffin III has received plenty of praise for his debut performance. Some of his throws were just bananas. Those are the plays we show in highlight reels , but less attention has been paid to the supposedly "routine" aspects to the Washington... more

The following is a needed dose of good news for Miami Dolphins rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Harrison: Week 2 Power Rankings After the season's opening week, changes abound in Elliot Harrison 's Power Rankings, including a new No. 1 team. More... more

This is the year of the rookie quarterback. We'll be here to document it. Just like in the preseason , Around the League will review all the starting rookie quarterbacks each week with a lot of video assistance. We'll list the quarterbacks in order of how... more

It's only Week 2, and yet Thursday night's game feels rather big for the Green Bay Packers. They don't want to fall two games behind in the division with a loss at home to the Chicago Bears. Then panicky Packers fans would have a real reason to panic.... more

You never miss your long snapper until he's gone. Guys play with broken arms to avoid leaving the field; that's how dire it is to go to a backup longer snapper. The Oakland Raiders had to deal with the problem Monday night when starter Jon Condo was... more

It was a good week for the Harbaugh brothers. Jim's crew had the most impressive performance of the week in Green Bay, a result that could have repercussions deep into January. John's team pounded a division rival at home in a performance where Joe... more

Tony Romo was great , but the MVP of the Dallas Cowboys' opening week win had to be owner Jerry Jones' personal eyeglass cleaner . Jones has clearly been amused by all the attention , so we should have seen this next step coming. Tony Romo The... more

Sixteen games were just played over a five-day span. I haven't slept much or seen my family much, but it was a lot of fun. Let's do it 16 more times, shall we? Brooks: Backup plans Bucky Brooks analyzes the impact of early injuries to notable... more

It's never good when coaches are forced to hand out the dreaded vote of confidence after only one week. In Cleveland, Browns coach Pat Shurmur had to announce that rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden remained the team's starter. In Tennessee, Titans... more

It took a little help from Travis Goethel and the Oakland Raiders special teams units, but we just witnessed the highest-scoring Week 1 in NFL history. Rap Sheet Rundown: Week 1 A faster Patriots D and a scary-good Texans offense were among the... more

Ed Reed's record-breaking night came with a caveat. The future Hall of Famer -- sorry, we're putting him in right now -- hurt his hamstring on the interception Reed returned for a touchdown. After the Ravens' 44-13 victory , Reed indicated it... more

The 2012 AFC North season started just like last year, with the Baltimore Ravens pounding a division rival at home. Last year, the Ravens beat the Pittsburgh Steelers into submission. This time, it was the Cincinnati Bengals . You'll hear that "it's... more

There will be a season when Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed no is longer sealing division games with an interception returned for a touchdown. Thankfully, 2012 will not be that season. In the first game of his 12th NFL season, Reed became the... more

Jake Locker's left shoulder injury and the lopsided score by which the Tennessee Titans lost to the New England Patriots on Sunday obscured the quarterback's solid first NFL start. It sounds like Locker will make his second NFL start in Week 2 in... more

The wait is over: The NFL informed the Cleveland Browns on Monday that cornerback Joe Haden has been suspended four games for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances. ESPNCleveland.com reported a month ago that Haden was... more

Peyton Manning's performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers was the story of Week 1. It announced to the rest of the NFL that Manning's Denver Broncos will be difficult to handle. Manning proved to himself he's still got it. On NFL Replay NFL... more

Detroit Lions wide receiver Titus Young got in trouble last season for bouts of immaturity, including a punch thrown against the New Orleans Saints in the regular season. Young was also briefly told to stay away from the team this offseason when he... more

New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis left Sunday's 48-28 romp of the Buffalo Bills with a "head" injury . That's usually code for concussion, but multiple papers in New York credited sources close to Revis that the player was "fine." On Monday,... more

Cam Newton took the snap on third-and-goal from the Tampa Bay three-yard line. Time was running down, but it looked like the Carolina Panthers quarterback might have some magic left in him. Newton rushed ahead immediately on a called running play.... more

Long snapper Nick Sundberg broke his left arm late in the first half of the Washington Redskins 40-32 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. On NFL Replay NFL Replay will re-air the Washington Redskins' 40-32 win over the... more

Alex Smith was essentially flawless. Frank Gore ran wild through the Packers defense . Late in the Green Bay Packers' loss to the San Francisco 49ers, we thought the Packers were lucky just to be in the game. Lombardi: For better or worse? Michael... more

Robert Griffin III's first touchdown toss of his NFL career was bananas . But the play below is the one that made me scream like a little kid in the quiet NFL offices Sunday. It's the one I wrote down, thinking it was headed right here to our new weekly... more

An offseason of contract unrest between Wes Welker and the New England Patriots gave way to a first regular-season game filled with inactivity. Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com notes that Welker only played 43 of 67 snaps against the Titans. That's 64... more

Miami Dolphins offensive linemen Richie Incognito has been called dirty throughout his career. Houston Texans defensive lineman Antonio Smith just said it more aggressively than any player we've heard before after Houston's whitewash of Miami . "A... more

Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith did something to Brian Urlacher that no coach has ever done before. He benched him. Smith took Urlacher out of Sunday's win against the Indianapolis Colts with 10:02 remaining in the third quarter and told the middle... more

Life is all about expectations. The outside football world doesn't expect much of the 2012 Miami Dolphins. We predicted they would go 3-13 , and their opening day meltdown didn't change our minds. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is aiming higher. He... more

The Denver Broncos huddled for the first three possession of the Peyton Manning era. They punted twice and fumbled. It was all very Broncos offense, circa 2011. And then John Fox let Peyton Manning be Peyton Manning. The Broncos went no-huddle the rest... more

We heard it repeated often during the long, ugly John Skelton-Kevin Kolb preseason: It doesn't matter who wins the starting job with the Arizona Cardinals because the offensive line is so bad. Neither quarterback, the theory went, would be able to stay... more

The NFL's replacement officials mostly stayed out of the way during their first full Sunday on the job. As the games winded down late in the evening, we thought about how pleased the league must be. And then the final minute of the Seattle... more

Kevin Kolb pulled a John Skelton. Coming on in relief after Skelton hurt his ankle , Kolb led the Cardinals on a game-winning fourth quarter drive. Here's what else we learned during Arizona's 20-16 win over Seattle . » Kolb was 6-of-8 for 66... more

In the end, the Arizona Cardinals had no choice but to go with Kevin Kolb, and he delivered with the game-winning touchdown pass to Andre Roberts as the Cardinals topped the Seattle Seahawks 20-16. John Skelton left Arizona's game in the midway through... more

Robert Griffin III knows how to make an entrance. On NFL Replay NFL Replay will re-air the Washington Redskins' 40-32 win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 1 on Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. ET. » NFL Network schedule Washington... more

If you thought the hype surrounding Robert Griffin III was big before, you haven't seen anything yet. RG3 dropped a 40-burger on the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome. This happened. Here's what else we learned in the Washington Redskins' 40-32 win... more

You could see this one coming. Ryan Tannehill faced one of the best defenses in football in his first NFL start, and the defense won. Easily. Here's what else we learned during the Houston Texans' ho-hum 30-10 victory over the Miami Dolphins. »... more

The Houston Texans don't need to see anything more from quarterback Matt Schaub. They're ready to commit to him as their quarterback of the present and future. Texans general manager Rick Smith announced after Sunday's 30-10 victory over the Miami... more

Tom Brady was razor sharp. Chris Johnson looked like he was running in quicksand. Yep, this game looked a lot like 2011. Here's what else we learned during the New England Patriots' 34-13 win over the Tennessee Titans » The Patriots held Johnson... more

A rough first game of the season for the Tennessee Titans got a whole lot worse during the fourth quarter of Sunday's tilt against the New England Patriots . Titans quarterback Jake Locker and wide receiver Nate Washington both were hurt on a pass... more

Maurice Jones-Drew's pointless holdout seems even sillier now. Darlington: The captain's 'C' defined The "C" on select jerseys is a ubiquitous part of the NFL. What does it really mean? Jeff Darlington examines. More ... CBS Sports' Jason La... more

Sunday's Seattle Seahawks-Arizona Cardinals game is quietly one of the more compelling matchups of the day. Both teams finished last season strong and could challenge the San Francisco 49ers for NFC West supremacy. Harrison: Power Rankings What is the... more

It looks like Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams won't have to split carries for once. Jeremiah: Key matchups in Week 1 Enticing subplots abound heading into the season's first Sunday, but Daniel Jeremiah identifies five marquee... more

Just 24 hours before the first football Sunday of the year, we were reminded how heartbreaking a game football can be. Tulane senior safety Devon Walker fractured his spine (essentially a broken neck) during the team's Saturday game against Tulsa.... more

The Cleveland Browns-Philadelphia Eagles game has slipped under the radar somewhat, but there are a ton of good storylines here. It will be our first chance to see Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden in meaningful action. The same is true for... more

We handle the biggest injury news all day on Around the League . The rest will go right here each week, in the most popular injury report roundup that believes there's no crying in football . 1. The Kansas City Chiefs could be without up to six... more

The NFL didn't want New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith on the field this weekend . The league didn't want linebacker Jonathan Vilma playing in the NFL this year. That's why Friday's appeal board ruling overturning the Saints' suspensions was... more

The four players suspended for their involvement in the New Orleans Saints' "bounty" program scored a major victory Friday when their suspensions were overturned by a collective bargaining agreement appeals panel. This is massive news at NFL... more

New Orleans Saints interim to the interim head coach Aaron Kromer is in a weird position. He's never run a team before and his only practice at game management came in the preseason. So what will Kromer do when it's fourth-and-one? He'll ask for help.... more

When Chris Cooley was cut by the Washington Redskins a few weeks back, we came up with six potential teams he could wind up on. The Redskins were on the list , although we thought Cooley could do better by finding a starting job elsewhere. Harrison:... more

Around the League predicted all the playoff teams and the MVP. We've predicted all the Week 1 games , and got the first game wrong. Before moving on to the madness Sunday, I wanted to get my picks for each team's record on paper for posterity. I've... more

Guard Brian Waters hasn't retired yet, but the New England Patriots slowly are removing any signs of his presence in New England. We mean this quite literally. ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss points out that the team has removed Waters' nameplate from his... more

Dallas Cowboys rookie cornerback Morris Claiborne enjoyed a rock-solid debut Wednesday night against the New York Giants. We re-watched his performance using the Coaches Film function on Game Rewind (On iPad. This will change your life.) Claiborne did... more

Every star quarterback needs a few storylines. There will be positive ones and negative ones. During Cam Newton's ridiculous rookie season with the Carolina Panthers, it was hard to find much to pick on. So we talked about how he didn't handle losing... more

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendan Ayanbadejo has made two All-Pro teams and survived 10 seasons in the NFL, primarily because of his special-teams ability. He's very active in political issues, including the support of same-sex marriage. According to... more

David Wilson's "Welcome to the NFL" moment played out in front of millions. It wasn't the fumble or even the possible crying . It was seeing the New York Giants running back, stuck on the sideline, for three and a half quarters after his fumble. Coach... more

Broncos cornerback Tracy Porter could go on to a decade-long career in the NFL, but he'll always be that guy from Super Bowl XLIV. He'll always be the guy that created one of the most indelible moments in Super Bowl history. He'll always be the guy that... more

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson's recovery from groin surgery went well in training camp. He practiced without incident and called himself "90 percent" recovered despite some soreness at the end of camp. Evans: Jets must start Tebow Heath... more

NFL coaches love to talk up opponents. It's easy to talk up Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers. Jim Harbaugh laid it on thick this week. Schein: Why Packers will win XLVII Adam Schein provides six reasons why Aaron  Rodgers and the Packers will... more

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson made it clear during his media session Thursday that he hopes to play Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he doesn't know if it will happen. It's not his call. Rapoport: Ranking Week 1 games Ian... more

Many of Tony Romo's best plays on opening night were improvised, like the first touchdown toss of the night to Kevin Ogletree . That's what Romo does. Jeremiah: True grit After watching Dallas' win over the Giants, Daniel Jeremiah says there's... more

It's not always how many injuries a team suffers that matters. It's how many they suffer at one particular position. The Giants might be passing the point of no return at cornerback after their loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday night.... more

The Cowboys faced questions all offseason about their lack of a No. 3 receiver. Kevin Ogletree answered all those questions Wednesday night. In a battle of supposed weaknesses, Ogletree consistently won his one-on-one matchups against a thin Giants... more

New York Giants rookie running back David Wilson had a first quarter of NFL football to forget. Jones: Easy 'E' You know Eli Manning as a two-time Super Bowl champ. The Giants know him as "E," a calm leader. Kim Jones reports. More ... On his... more

The Washington Redskins' roster looked improved in a lot of areas. Safety is not one of them. They went into the year hoping that former Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Tanard Jackson and former Chicago Bears and New England Patriots safety Brandon... more

We have a great story for everyone who hasn't come across enough idiocy on this glorious Wednesday. Harrison: Power Rankings What is the NFL pecking order entering Week 1 of the 2012 campaign? Elliot Harrison ranks every team, from 1 to 32. More ...... more

The New England Patriots are signing a tight end, but it's not Kellen Winslow. Agent Rick Smith confirmed an ESPNBoston.com report that tight end Michael Hoomanawanui will be joining New England on Wednesday. Hoomanawanui -- not to be confused with... more

The Dallas Cowboys should have won the NFC East last year. They were 7-4 and riding a four-game winning streak. The rest of the division was down. They knew they probably just had to split with the Giants in their remaining two games against New York to... more

One of the first things Rams coach Jeff Fisher did after being hired in St. Louis was bring aboard Gregg Williams, his best friend in the coaching business, to become his defensive coordinator. A lot has happened to Williams since, very little of it... more

We love Hard Knocks; it's sad to see it go for the year . We love football more; it's amazing that the regular season is here . Breer: 'Hard Knocks' regrets? In a wide-ranging notes column, Albert Breer talks to Miami coach Joe Philbin about his... more

Green Bay Packers cornerback Tramon Williams is expecting to see the "old Randy" Moss when he faces the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday . No, not a creaky version of Moss . Harrison: Power Rankings What is the NFL pecking order entering Week 1 of the... more

It's going to take a while to figure out which former SEC receiver from the 2011 draft class is better: A.J. Green of the Cincinnati Bengals or Julio Jones of the Atlanta Falcons. Green certainly started faster last year, but Jones is ready for a huge... more

The stories keep getting worse for agent Drew Rosenhaus. Rand Getlin and Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports report that the NFL Players Association is investigating Rosenhaus' relationship with Jeff Rubin, a former financial adviser. Rubin persuaded a great... more

The New England Patriots continue to kick the tires of some of the biggest names cut over the weekend by NFL teams. On the heels of the news that the Patriots worked out former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Mike Kafka on Tuesday, they also worked out... more

The Miami Dolphins waited to see if David Garrard could get healthy. They waited to find out if they could get a trade partner for Matt Moore. On Tuesday, they stopped waiting. Fox Sports insider and NFL Network contributor Jay Glazer reported that he... more

The New England Patriots made one of the more noteworthy cuts of last weekend when they dropped veteran Brian Hoyer. That leaves them a little thin at quarterback, and possibly interested in one of the other notable signal-callers that didn't make it... more

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith spent the last two weeks of the preseason on crutches with a foot infection. That caused some concern about his Week 1 status, but a gesture Smith is making for charity should put any concerns to rest.... more

The NFL.com Power Poll was unveiled Tuesday morning because we need more football rankings in our lives. I'm happy to be representing Around the League with 12 other analysts, including Kurt Warner, Willie McGinest, Charley Casserly, Gil Brandt and... more

Teams got an early start on preparations for Week 1 on Monday. Bill Belichick called it a normal "Wednesday" for the team because it was a full, padded practice. With teams starting early, we got an early read on what players will be available in the... more

Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren broke a little news on 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland on Tuesday morning. First, he confirmed a previous report from ESPN Cleveland that cornerback Joe Haden had been notified of a four-game suspension from the NFL.... more

Former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan is watched by millions of football fans every Sunday during FOX's pregame show. Now, he'll be watched by a slightly difference audience every morning. Gallery: NFL in the a.m. Michael Strahan is... more

When the San Diego Chargers re-signed left tackle Jared Gaither to a mid-level free agent deal this offseason, the signing got one of two reactions. Lombardi: For better or worse? Michael Lombardi predicts whether each team will exceed or fall short... more

Oakland Raiders starting middle linebacker Rolando McClain was sentenced in May to six months in jail after he was convicted of third-degree assault, menacing, reckless endangerment and illegal discharge of a firearm. His case is under appeal in the... more

We've read and heard the speculation so often in New York that it has almost become fact: Rex Ryan could be on the hot seat if the Jets struggle again. Schein: Nine sizzling predictions Bored by all the vanilla predictions on the eve of the season?... more

Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie made obvious last week what everyone in Philadelphia already was thinking: This is a make-or-break year for this version of the Eagles. If the Eagles don't "substantially" improve from 8-8, coach Andy Reid will be... more

It's no surprise that the Pittsburgh Steelers plan to have Mike Wallace available for the season opener against the Denver Broncos. It's not even a surprise they plan to start him. The Steelers probably would have just preferred to keep that... more

It's the eve of the HBO's "Hard Knocks" finale. The show is usually about a team coming together and finding an identity before the season. The Miami Dolphins remain under construction. Hanzus: 'Hard Knocks' recaps Missed the previous episode of 'Hard... more

The New England Patriots were the No. 1 seed in the AFC the last two seasons. They came up just short of winning the Super Bowl last year. They are seen as AFC favorites. Their best player, Tom Brady, is 35 years old. That lends to a perception that the... more

Jacksonville Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey confirmed Monday that Maurice Jones-Drew should play in the team's season opener. He even has a role for Jones-Drew in mind. "Whoever starts, the other one will handle third downs and then get series on their... more

Hakeem Nicks didn't practice Sunday and Monday while the New York Giants made final preparations for their Week 1 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. That should not prevent Nicks from lining up in the season opener, according to coach Tom... more

The signs are not encouraging for a speedy resolution for the standoff between the NFL and its referees. The signs haven't been all that encouraging for the replacement officials on the field either. A troubling story from Peter King of SI.com:... more

The status of New England Patriots guard Brian Waters remains a mystery. But the Patriots gave a pretty strong clue over Twitter when they announced some uniform changes for the 2012 season. Schein: Nine sizzling predictions Bored by all the vanilla... more

The focus over the weekend was on the notable players who were released Friday . And then a whole new wave of interesting moves arrived Saturday. Cut tracker Former New England Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch was just one of Friday's many... more

Defensive tackle Brian Price's stay with the Chicago Bears was a brief one. Fox Sports insider and NFL Network contributor Jay Glazer reports the Bears have informed Price of his release. The Bears later confirmed the roster move in a news release... more

Most of America is enjoying Labor Day with their families. The Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants are fine-tuning their game plans for a regular-season opener that is just two days away. In Tony Romo's mind, that means he's done with silly... more

The Miami Dolphins added former Washington Redskins wide receiver Anthony Armstrong over the weekend . They included Chris "7-Eleven" Hogan on their practice squad . But they aren't done tinkering with their wide receiver group yet. Jabar Gaffney... more

Players show up before the big paychecks arrive. We go through this every year, and yet it's always treated like a surprise when a long contract dispute ends just before the regular season. Maurice Jones-Drew is back with the Jacksonville Jaguars... more

The New England Patriots have acquired some Wes Welker insurance. The Pats acquired wide receiver Greg Salas from the St. Louis Rams on Saturday, a source with knowledge of the trade told NFL.com and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. ESPN first reported the... more

After the massive housecleaning done around the NFL on Friday, Saturday's transactions proved to be a compelling follow up. These are the cruelest cuts. Players think they've made the team one day, and get waived the next as 32 teams look to improve... more

The struggles of the Miami Dolphins' wide receivers have been an ongoing theme on HBO's "Hard Knocks." On Friday, the team finally decided whom to cut loose. Cut tracker Former New England Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch was just one of Friday's... more

Braylon Edwards is back in the NFL to stay. The wide receiver beat out Terrell Owens to survive the first wave of roster cuts Monday, and he's still standing after the Seattle Seahawks trimmed their roster to 53 players Friday night. Cut tracker... more

We knew the New England Patriots were unloading wide receiver Deion Branch, quarterback Brian Hoyer and center Dan Koppen in a day full of surprises. We found out one more eye-opener late Friday evening. Cut tracker Former New England Patriots wide... more

A roller-coaster month for New York Giants cornerback Terrell Thomas ended Friday on injured reserve. Cut tracker Former New England Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch was just one of Friday's many releases. Who else was cut? More ... The... more

Kellen Moore wasn't the tallest quarterback prospect in the 2012 NFL Draft class or the one with the biggest arm. He wasn't even drafted. Cut tracker Former New England Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch was just one of Friday's many releases. Who... more

The Philadelphia Eagles tried to trade Mike Kafka. Like most attempted trades on cut-down day , they were unsuccessful. Other teams knew Philadelphia was likely to cut Kafka loose, and that's exactly what they did. Cut tracker Former New... more

Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt finally, mercifully, has ended his never-ending quarterback competition. He officially announced during a Friday afternoon news conference that John Skelton is his pick. "We feel like the quarterback that gives us... more

It was just a normal Friday in most of the world. In the NFL, it was one of the most painful days of the year for the hundreds of players losing their jobs. Here at Around the League , it was one of our busiest days of the year. We pumped out posts and... more

The best part of the preseason is the end. It's like training camp for fans. We get back in football (watching) shape. We learn about new schemes. We grind. Just like the players, we also learn a few things about the 2012 season before it starts. Let's... more

The first big surprises of cut day came early. Cut tracker Former New England Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch was just one of Friday's many releases. Who else was cut? More ... A source confirmed to NFL Network that the New England... more

New York Giants linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka kicked off Giants-Cowboys week Thursday by saying Cowboys owner Jerry Jones probably is getting tired of the Giants "whupping his ass" for such a long time. "It's gotta be tough on the outside looking in on... more

All 32 NFL teams have until 9 p.m. ET on Friday to cut their rosters to 53 men. Most teams will inform the released players during the day, but they officially won't announce the news until much later. Cut tracker Former New England Patriots wide... more

Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie threw down the gauntlet regarding coach Andy Reid on Thursday. In a statement that was both obvious and unnecessary, Lurie said Reid would be fired if the Eagles go 8-8 again this season. Instant Debate: The next... more

The whole point of the fourth preseason week is to avoid serious injuries. It's an almost impossible task. Dan Hanzus did a great job recapping all the action Thursday night in our last "what we learned" of the preseason , but we wanted to point out... more

I'm aware that there is a certain segment of the San Diego Chargers fan base that is freaking out about this preseason. It's hard to blame them: The left tackle (Jared Gaither) hasn't practiced, the starting running back (Ryan Mathews) broke his... more

The Tennessee Titans wanted an answer regarding wide receiver Kenny Britt's status for the start of the season. It appears they got one before they had to cut their roster down to 53 men. Britt will be suspended one game, a source with knowledge of the... more

Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie made it clear earlier this offseason that Eagles coach Andy Reid was on the hot seat. Improvement was needed. On Thursday, Lurie made sure no one misunderstood. Debate: Good, but not good enough Who will be the... more

Tom Brady and Peyton Manning have defined this era of football. We'll probably be arguing who is better for years to come. Once you start comparing Brady and Manning to players in different eras, well, then it gets really tricky. But that won't stop us... more

So we rolled out our 2012 NFL Playoff Predictions on NFL.com. Marc Sessler, Dan Hanzus and myself all pitched in. You can view our takes here , along with 13 other writers on the site. Here were some big-picture thoughts: 1. The New England Patriots... more

The long-anticipated changes to the trade deadline and injured reserve protocol are finally set to go through . While the trade deadline getting delayed from Week 6 to Week 8 is simple enough, we've seen more confusion regarding the IR rule. Players... more

Terrell Suggs' Achilles injury seemed to create an opportunity for 2010 second-round draft pick Sergio Kindle to finally hit the field. If nothing else, Suggs' injury could temporarily save Kindle's job. Rapoport: Forward thinking Teams soon will... more

When the New England Patriots drafted quarterback Ryan Mallett late in the third round in 2011, a lot of analysts believed it was a steal. Mallett was a first-round talent that fell due to off-field concerns. The Patriots would keep him in line. The... more

For Detroit Lions vice chairman Bill Ford, it's not a matter of if the Lions will deliver their fans a Super Bowl. It's a matter of when . Calvin Johnson possesses one of the great NFL nicknames. "We're going to bring you a Super Bowl," Ford said at... more

During an interview with WFAN-AM in New York on Thursday morning, one of the radio hosts baited New York Giants linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka by asking about Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wanting to beat the Giants' "ass." Kiwanuka took the bait .... more

We aren't supposed to root for teams as writers, but we admittedly were rooting for the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday night because we didn't want the season finale to HBO's "Hard Knocks" to be so depressing. It didn't happen. Hanzus: 'Hard Knocks'... more

Let's not get carried away: You can't learn that much from the fourth week of the preseason. This is the week that introduced the phrase "Brett Ratliff, starting quarterback." It also coined the phrase "resting your long snapper." The most important... more

Unlike most teams playing on Wednesday night , the New York Giants actually trotted out their starters for a handful of series in their preseason finale against the New England Patriots. That starting unit included someone we haven't seen since the Super... more

Dan Orlovsky is too big time for the fourth week of the preseason. He's too valuable, so Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano decided to bench his backup quarterback Wednesday night against the Washington Redskins and roll with Brett Ratliff as the... more

We usually hesitate to pass along pure analysis without new reporting from other sources. Making stuff up out of thin air is our racket. Sometimes, however, a column is too dead-on to ignore. That's the case with Mark Cannizzaro's Wednesday New York... more

Despite an increasingly contentious holdout, Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew recently said that he hopes to remain in Jacksonville . He should get his wish. Asked Wednesday if the Jaguars were considering trading Jones-Drew , general manager... more

Like a lot of fans, my feelings to this point on the deadlock between the NFL and NFL Referees Association could be summed up in one sentence: Wake me up when it's the regular season. Well, the regular season is one week away, and the NFL is moving... more

The Green Bay Packers appear to have solved their running back problem by signing Cedric Benson. The former Cincinnati Bengal is expected to start and split carries with second-year pro Alex Green to start the year. It remains to be seen who starts for... more

We've rolled out power rankings for teams , coaches , offenses and defenses during the preseason. With only one week left until the real thing, let's move on to the quarterbacks. These tiers are not based on a quarterback's past achievements. They are... more

Mike Wallace's transition back to the Pittsburgh Steelers might not be easy, but don't expect him to miss any game action. Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley expects Wallace to play in Week 1 against the Denver Broncos. Lombardi: Best of the... more

Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt can't decide on a starting quarterback, in part because he has no good options. This still confuses us. Brooks: Preseason Week 3 thoughts Bucky Brooks has five observations on Week 3 of the preseason, including... more

This Miami Dolphins season of "Hard Knocks" is one of the three best in the show's history. It will be hard to ever top the original Baltimore Ravens season because the personalities were so big and the concept of the show was so fresh. We'd argue this... more

Michael Vick was back at practice for the Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday, still feeling the effects of the hit he took to the ribs eight days prior against the New England Patriots. Debate: Good, but not good enough Who will be the best team to miss... more

We've heard a lot of Ryan Grant speculation this offseason without any hard facts. It has been surprising to see the former Green Bay Packers running back go this long without any job offers. The Detroit Lions were reportedly once interested, but never... more

Most teams take it easy during the final preseason game . Starters don't play at all or they make a one series cameo. New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick is a little more unpredictable. Lombardi: Top stoppers Who are the NFL's elite defenders?... more

Pittsburgh Steelers fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Linebacker James Harrison will not start the regular season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. The Steelers officially activated Harrison and linebacker Jason Worilds from the... more

Tight end Chris Cooley was released on Tuesday by the Washington Redskins after eight seasons with the team. Fred Davis is a quality starter and the Redskins reportedly love Niles Paul, so it made sense to release Cooley considering his salary. Cooley... more

Michael Lombardi's blue chip/red chip column has been an annual favorite of mine since well before I joined NFL.com. (I remember listening to the idea borne on Bill Simmons' podcast.) Lombardi broke out his offensive players on Monday and the defensive... more

Chris Cooley's eight-year run with the Washington Redskins is over. The team let Cooley break the news himself in a sudden, although not shocking press conference Tuesday. "The Washington Redskins are releasing me today," Cooley said. "This will be my... more

So we're rolling out our 2012 Season Predictions on NFL.com this week. They let the Around the League writers sit at the big kid's table, so we are included among the 16 analysts that have already picked NFL MVP, and five other awards. The Offensive... more

We told you last week about "Nick Foles Fever" sweeping the greater Philadelphia area . That post came before yet another sterling performance by Foles, this time as a starter in the Eagles' 27-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns. Brooks: Preseason... more

The Steeler has landed. Mike Wallace's anticipated arrival after a long absence this offseason finally occurred before noon Tuesday. His presence was treated like a visit from royalty. Brooks: Preseason Week 3 thoughts Bucky Brooks has five... more

Braylon Edwards has been around a few talked-about rookie quarterbacks in his time. Edwards was with Brady Quinn on the Cleveland Browns and Mark Sanchez with the New York Jets. Sanchez was an immediate starter, just like Russell Wilson is for the Seattle... more

St. Louis Rams tackle Jason Smith didn't have the off-field issues of JaMarcus Russell or Charles Rogers. He was never on the cover of Sports Illustrated like Tony Mandarich. He didn't even fail to reach an embarrassingly easy contract incentive like... more

Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley's 2011 season looked good on paper -- 767 yards and eight scores -- but felt like a disappointment. He dropped 13 passes, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. He was a distant third in the team's... more

It wasn't so long ago that the Minnesota Vikings had a rule in practices: If you touch Adrian Peterson, you get cut from the team . With Peterson nearing a full recovery from his anterior cruciate ligament surgery, that rule has been junked. Lombardi:... more

It only took four weeks of practices, three preseason games, and one terrifyingly over-promoted birthday , but Tebowmania has gone completely off the rails in New York. The New York Post's Steve Serby wrote a column on Tuesday proposing that Tim Tebow... more

The signing and emergence of Olympian Jeff Demps with the New England Patriots ultimately spelled the end for Donte' Stallworth and Jabar Gaffney's return to the Patriots. Rapoport: Where does Demps fit? Five-foot-7, 190-pound Jeff Demps won't be a... more

The big cutdown to the 53-man roster starts will occur on Friday. That means that most of the guys truly "on the bubble" will survive for at least a few more days. There were a few big interesting names that did not make the cut from 90 players down to... more

NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala reports Mike Wallace is expected to rejoin his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates Tuesday after skipping all of the team's offseason workouts to this point because of a contract dispute. He's got a lot of catching up to do.... more

I perversely enjoy the preseason, but it's a great thing that it's almost over. There will be no more staying up late to write our recaps every Thursday , Friday , and Saturday night . There will be no more preseason awards to hand out. Before we... more

The New Orleans Saints, like a lot of Gulf Coast residents, are getting too familiar with having their lives disrupted by on incoming storm. The Saints announced Monday that they will head to Cincinnati to practice Tuesday in advance of Tropical... more

The release of Terrell Owens on Sunday by the Seattle Seahawks felt like the end of the road for the NFL's second-leading all-time wide receiver. It's hard to imagine another team giving T.O. a shot, but the New York Jets are one of the few that, in... more

Vince Young's last, best chance for NFL success might prove to just be his last chance. NFL.com and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Young has been released by the Buffalo Bills, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. Young... more

New York Jets special teams coach Mike Westhoff said last week that the kicker battle between veteran Josh Brown and incumbent Nick Folk was one of the best he had ever been around. It appears that Folk will be declared the winner. Best of luck to... more

Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy said one week ago that there was no place he would rather be than Cleveland. He may just get his wish. McCoy, not Seneca Wallace, got the backup snaps in Cleveland's third preseason game. McCoy played well... more

Wes Welker picked the wrong time to need a long-term contract extension. The slot receiver has learned the hard way this offseason that the New England Patriots value his services, but not like the young tight end duo that has transformed their offense.... more

The preseason doesn't matter, except when it irrevocably alters a season. Or a career. Teams just hope to survive the third preseason week without any major devastating injuries. Players on the bubble hope to avoid digging their own grave. Some weren't so... more

We can probably start the five-year clock ticking down to one of the more interesting Hall of Fame discussions in recent history. Terrell Owens was released by the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. It's hard to imagine him getting another legitimate chance in... more

Carson Palmer didn't change teams this offseason, but he might has well have. Palmer is learning a new offense in Oakland once again, and he's not a natural fit for Oakland Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Knapp's timing West Coast offense. It has... more

In this season of the rookie quarterback , no one saw Russell Wilson coming. We knew all along that three rookies -- Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Brandon Weeden -- would start in Week 1. Ryan Tannehill figured to have his chance with the Miami... more

Terrell Owens came into Friday night's game needing to make some noise. Braylon Edwards reportedly has outplayed Owens in practice, without all the histrionics when things don't go his way. T.O. probably didn't change anyone's mind with his performance.... more

Terrell Owens caught two passes for 41 yards in the Seattle Seahawks' 44-14 preseason romp against the Kansas City Chiefs, including a 40-yarder over his shoulder. Braylon Edwards caught a 32-yard pass . Mayock: Preseason observations Mike Mayock... more

We called Seattle Seahawks rookie quarterback Russell Wilson the new favorite to start in Week 1 for Pete Carroll's crew. Friday night's performance in a 44-14 preseason victory should seal the deal. Wilson, a third-round draft pick out of Wisconsin,... more

Brandon Weeden wasn't the best rookie quarterback on the field Friday night in Cleveland. He wasn't even close. The first-round draft pick experienced a "Welcome to the NFL" evening during the Cleveland Browns' 27-10 loss to the Eagles, while Nick... more

A tumultuous week for New York Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara took a turn for the worse Friday night. Jones: Taking a bath in New York The Giants are taking heat for a cold-tub prank that went viral, but Kimberly Jones says this could galvanize... more

It's been more than four years since Cam Newton and Tim Tebow were teammates at the University of Florida. They haven't kept in contact since, but Newton says he still looks back fondly on their time together. "There's a lot that I've learned from... more

The Green Bay Packers released suspended defensive end Anthony Hargrove, the team announced Friday. Keeping Hargrove wouldn't have cost the Packers a roster spot while he served his eight-game suspension for his role in the New Orleans Saints' "bounty"... more

Despite some suggestions that Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay was just pulling our collective chain with all this trade rumor talk , the rambling man was back at it Friday afternoon on Twitter. Things r still n play,deal may just go down this... more

Cedric Benson took the ball from Aaron Rodgers, made one of his trademark hop steps to the left and saw a gaping hole to run through because just six defenders were in "the box." Eight-yard gain. Life as a Green Bay Packers running back isn't so bad.... more

The Green Bay Packers had a very encouraging performance Thursday night against the Cincinnati Bengals . The team's pass defense was dominant. Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel noted that Cedric Benson looked like the first "real" running back... more

Robert Griffin III is everywhere . He's in national ads for Adidas, Subway and Gatorade. There is a 74-foot tall image of Griffin looming over Washington D.C. Even the Redskins have got into the act, printing T-shirts of Griffin and Andrew Luck for... more

With wide receiver and return man Marc Mariani expected to miss the 2012 season after a compound leg fracture, the Tennessee Titans have a lot of questions at receiver. Kenny Britt is expected to be suspended to start the season, but that decision has... more

Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm arrived in Arizona with the promise that they would solve the Arizona Cardinals' offensive line. Five years later, it might be the worst group in football. John Skelton and Kevin Kolb took turns being sacked  and throwing... more

Jim Irsay tweeted Thursday night that the Indianapolis Colts were working on a big deal for a "SERIOUS Vet/starter." Irsay pumped up the possible acquisition and said the Colts would give up a high pick and cash in the deal. With that information, there... more

On the same night that Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay stoked a trade rumor that we naturally can connect to Maurice Jones-Drew, the Jaguars running back said he hopes to stay in Jacksonville. Breer: Outside perspective on MJD What do opposing... more

Watching the NFL on a tablet is a massive game-changer. I don't think the average fan has quite realized this because it's still the preseason. It takes true addicts/maniacs/diehards to try to watch most preseason games after they are live, but the... more

Rex Ryan looked at the film and made the change that New York Jets fans everywhere have been waiting for. He's benching right tackle Wayne Hunter. Schein: Why Rex will get a ring Rex Ryan is truly the perfect coach to lead the New York Jets to a Super... more

The regular season opener is only two weeks away, and the Pittsburgh Steelers still aren't sure who they can rely on in their running game. The boost the Steelers received when Rashard Mendenhall came off the PUP list last week has been replaced by the... more

Darrelle Revis said last week that Mark Sanchez needs to take the "next step" and become a top-10 quarterback. But is that even possible considering the weapons around him? "I don't know," Revis told Newsday while shaking his head. "I don't know."... more

Jason Pierre-Paul might have been trying to send a message when he threw cornerback Prince Amukamara in a cold tub. In the background, you can hear a teammate yell to Amukamara, "You better stand up for yourself." In the culture of an NFL locker room,... more

Report after report out of San Francisco 49ers training camp says that quarterback Alex Smith has never looked better . That he's never been more accurate or consistent. 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh has dubbed Smith is "an expert" in the offense. Debate:... more

New Green Bay Packers running back Cedric Benson has arrived at Lambeau Field and is ready to "put a licking" on his former team Thursday night when the Packers take on the Cincinnati Bengals. Benson is in position to open the season as the Packers'... more

Training camp is mostly about about guys winning jobs through position battles . It's about fine-tuning new plays and schemes. More than anything, it's about staying healthy. Debate: Preseason Week 3 spotlight Week 3 games are the most important of... more

After our old fashioned, tiered-style team power rankings to start training camp, we've rolled out offensive and defensive power rankings . With special teams rankings out of our wheel house, what artificial topic can we choose before meaningful games... more

We've spent a lot of energy this month talking about young quarterbacks , from the big names like Andrew Luck and Jake Locker to Nick Foles Fever taking over Philadelphia . If it seems like there are more young quarterbacks making noise in the NFL than... more

We opined on Tuesday night that the Jacksonville Jaguars would have no interest in dealing Maurice Jones-Drew. A report has come out since backing that up. Darlington: Listen up, MJD If Maurice Jones-Drew thinks the Jaguars are going to cave to his... more

We've been writing up a rookie quarterback roundup after each preseason week, focusing on the five rookie quarterbacks who were starting or competing to start around the league. We've mostly overlooked the most surprising and productive rookie... more

Andy Reid insists he's "not worried" about Michael Vick's inability to survive brief preseason appearances without getting hurt. The coach says it's just part of the game. Instant Debate: Philly's biggest fear Can the Eagles make the playoffs if... more

The Denver Broncos signed veteran safety Jim Leonhard and linebacker Keith Brooking a few weeks ago with the idea of putting them on their 53-man roster. Both players filled needs at thin positions. The Denver Post notes, however, that they are... more

This Maurice Jones-Drew story is spinning through the different phases of the news cycle quickly. Within 24 hours, we've heard that Jones-Drew is close to returning to the Jaguars, and that he's open to a trade after some short-sighted comments by... more

DeSean Jackson spoke with ESPN's Lisa Salters on Monday in an interview we applauded for its honesty . Here's the key quote on his contract last year: "I let it get to me, even though I tried not to let it. I was trying to protect myself from getting... more

With training camp winding down, we updated half of our top-30 position battles in Tuesday's Training Camp Buzz. Let's knock out the other half before moving on to the news of the day on Around the League. Chicago Bears WRs: Devin Hester vs. Earl... more

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan is a reporter's friend. He's available, intelligent and energetic. He's a great quote. But when he created one of those great quotes earlier Tuesday, we wrote that he could be damaging his organizational goals.... more

We broke down the reasons to worry about all 32 teams last week. In an effort to be fair, let's examine at least one reason for optimism for each NFL team after two preseason weeks. Arizona Cardinals: Ryan Williams returned to the field from his torn... more

The Jacksonville Jaguars have made their negotiating stance on Maurice Jones-Drew clear. They are almost rubbing it in. "Train is leaving the station. Run, get on it ," Jaguars owner Shad Khan said Tuesday via the Florida Times-Union. CBS Sports'... more

Pete Carroll is nothing if not unconventional. Everything about the Seattle Seahawks quarterback competition has been different, including his decision to start rookie Russell Wilson in the team's third preseason. Brian McIntyre did a great job... more

Minnesota Vikings coach Leslie Frazier ended the speculation for a lot of Vikings fans and even more fantasy football owners. We won't get a chance to watch Adrian Peterson in the preseason. "There are no setbacks. That's not the reason we're doing... more

It's only the preseason, but Thursday's Cincinnati Bengals-Green Bay Packers game is a big one for Cedric Benson. The brand new Packer will audition for a starting job on a Super Bowl favorite. He'll do it in the stadium he called home for almost four... more

So we've established that Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill is the man now . It remains uncertain what the rest of the depth chart will look like. Matt Moore and David Garrard are scheduled to make $5 million combined (Garrard $2.75 million,... more

The New York Giants have said all along they expect wide receiver Hakeem Nicks to be ready for the season opener -- Sept. 5 against the Dallas Cowboys -- as he recovers from his foot injury. He appears to be on track. Nicks made his return to a... more

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach and current NFL analyst Jon Gruden agreed to a five-year contract extension with ESPN last October. The network even moved Ron Jaworski off Monday Night Football so we would get more Gruden action. That has barely... more

With Terrell Suggs injured, high expectations were placed on outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw. The second-round draft pick was the Baltimore Ravens' first selection in the draft and most observers assumed he would start at outside linebacker opposite... more

It's been nearly a month since the Arizona Cardinals kick-started training camp. The finish line -- which is actually a glorious starting line -- is right around the corner. For Tuesday's Training Camp Buzz, let's do something different. I want to take... more

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Austin Collie indeed suffered another concussion when Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Larry Foote's forearm hit him in the head during Sunday night's preseason game . It's disappointing news for a player who has a... more

A lot has happened since our first rookie quarterback roundup during the preseason. Ryan Tannehill is now the starting quarterback of the Miami Dolphins. Robert Griffin III was confirmed to be human . Let's see what the tape taught us this week,... more

HBO's "Hard Knocks" has a new plot point for this week's episode. And the NFL has yet another young starting quarterback taking over. Miami Dolphins coach Joe Philbin said Monday that rookie Ryan Tannehill will be his starting quarterback for the... more

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson was criticized last year for not giving a full effort in a bid to avoid injury. On Monday, he admitted that criticism was on point . "I let it get to me, even though I tried not to let it. I was... more

We told you last week that superagent Drew Rosenhaus was facing a challenge from within his organization . We also told you that many folks around the NFL expected that his problems were just beginning. Another major issue arrived Monday in the form of... more

Jake Locker won the job for the Tennessee Titans . John Skelton has been all but named the starter for the Arizona Cardinals. We wrote this morning that the only mystery quarterback spot left was with the Miami Dolphins, and even that was trending... more

The New York Giants players, unlike Tom Coughlin , aren't that concerned about the YouTube video that features Jason Pierre-Paul throwing Prince Amukamara in a cold tub. They just wish it wasn't posted online by punter Steve Weatherford . Jones: A Giant... more

Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said his quarterback competition is not over . His actions tell a different story. John Skelton will start the Cardinals' fourth preseason game against the Tennessee Titans on Thursday night. Whisenhunt points... more

Shawne Merriman's disappointing run with the Buffalo Bills has come to an end. NFL Network contributor and FOX Sports insider Jay Glazer first reported that the Bills have informed Merriman of his release. The team has since confirmed the move. "I... more

Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams was as excited as any fan when he learned that Jake Locker will be the team's starting quarterback . In fact, Adams found out just like a lot of fans . "I heard the reports on the radio, and I'm excited about it. I... more

Call it a teachable moment for a rookie who has done nothing but impress during training camp. Chicago Bears wideout Alshon Jeffery was penalized for retaliating during a mini-scuffle with Washington Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall in the Bears' 33-31... more

The Tennessee Titans' quarterback battle is over . A source with knowledge of the situation told NFL.com and NFL Network reporter Michael Lombardi of NFL Network that Jake Locker is the pick, which means there is only one mystery left in the league. Miami... more

The quarterback competition Colt McCoy was hoping for never materialized. It appears his opportunity to lead the Cleveland Browns as a starting quarterback only will happen again if things go horribly wrong. Unsubstantiated rumors have pegged McCoy as a... more

We always hear the preseason doesn't matter. Tell that to a player trying to keep his career alive. Terrell Owens will go down as one of the three most productive wide receivers in NFL history, but he's just a guy on the bubble right now. His career is... more

It wasn't a big hit, but it counts. After Peyton Manning threw an incomplete pass during the second quarter of Saturday night's 30-10 preseason loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the four-time NFL MVP was knocked to the ground by a defender. The Denver... more

Terrell Owens started Saturday night's preseason game for the Seattle Seahawks. It went downhill from there for T.O. in his first NFL action since the 2010 season with the Cincinnati Bengals. Seahawks starter Matt Flynn targeted Owens five times in... more

After a reassuring preseason debut , Robert Griffin III was due to have a game where he looked like a rookie for the Washington Redskins. That happened Saturday night against a veteran Chicago Bears defense . Debate: Most rookie interceptions? Which... more

The Washington Redskins' best defensive player, Brian Orakpo, left Saturday night's preseason game against the Chicago Bears in the first quarter with what coach Mike Shanahan said was an injury to the pectoral muscle that the linebacker hurt last... more

Safety LaRon Landry announced his presence as a member of the New York Jets' defense Saturday night with a vicious hit on New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz. Schein: Why Rex will get a ring Rex Ryan is truly the perfect coach to lead the New... more

Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker had a chance to lock down a Week 1 starting job on Friday night. He fell short. On a night in which Titans coach Mike Munchak was looking for clarity, there was confusion. Locker played like a young quarterback.... more

Kevin Kolb led the Arizona Cardinals on a touchdown march in his first possession Friday night . After two performances in which Kolb somehow racked up a 0.0 passer rating, this came as a great relief to coach Ken Whisenhunt. And Kolb. And anyone else... more

The second half of an NFL preseason game isn't always the most exciting place to be in the world, so we'll forgive the Metrodome audience on Friday night for getting a little distracted. And collectively losing their mind. We'll let the tweets tell the... more

Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak said earlier this offseason that he plans to settle on his starting quarterback by the third week of the preseason. After Friday night, that decision isn't any easier. Jake Locker could have sewn up the starting job... more

Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson's reaction after last week's game : "Lol preseason." After this week , he might write: "Lol critics." There was a lot of drama surrounding Johnson this week after a desultory preseason opener reminded a lot... more

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back LeGarrette Blount started the second preseason game over first-round draft pick Doug Martin in what has been one of the most closely-watched position battles of training camp. Rapoport: Fundamental difference New... more

Blaine Gabbert has been criticized so much for his lack of toughness in the pocket, including here at Around the League , that it's hard to root against the guy now. A lot of puff pieces have been written about the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback's... more

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is $21,000 poorer because of his illegal hit on Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich in the Eagles' 24-23 victory last week. DRC joked that he can't even come up with the money .... more

The performance of the Green Bay Packers' second-team offense led by quarterback Graham Harrell on Thursday was undeniably ugly . Harrell helped produce 19 yards on his first 16 snaps , and that was before he threw an interception for a touchdown and... more

The most powerful and famous agent in the NFL is facing a challenge from within. Yahoo! Sports reported Thursday that Rosenhaus Sports vice president Danny Martoe is seeking $1 million in "commissions and compensatory damages," according to a filing... more

Rashard Mendenhall surprisingly was taken off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday, which got us thinking. (A rare occurrence.) Mendenhall no longer is eligible for the reserve/PUP list for the season. But will... more

A woman is suing the Cowboys after burning her posterior and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says last season was the most disappointing in his entire tenure as team owner. Breer: Disappointment in Big D Jerry Jones tells Albert Breer last season was "the... more

Well, here's a surprise for your Friday afternoon. The Pittsburgh Steelers activated running back Rashard Mendenhall from the physically unable to perform list. Jeremiah: Preseason Week 2 primer What should we watch for in Week 2 of the preseason?... more

There never was much of a question about whether or not Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe would sign his $9.5 million franchise tag tender. The only question was when. Blog: Bowe poised for breakout? Now that Dwayne Bowe has signed his... more

No goats were involved this time, but Tom Brady has given his New England Patriots teammates another reason to make fun of him. (If Matt Light was still on the team, the entire offensive line would show up to work with dog collars.) Brady is one of the... more

Thursday night's two-game preseason schedule was a nice appetizer for the 12 games to follow over the next two nights. We've already told you what we've learned . Now let's show you with fancy videos. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers actually... more

A report surfaced on CBS Sports this week that there was a "definite possibility" Sam Bradford would have to undergo surgery on his ankle after the season. Breer: New offense, new hope Can Sam Bradford bounce back in 2012? Albert Breer says the Rams... more

Those two nights without football were rough. It was nice to ease back into the football weekend with a pair of games Thursday night. Here's what we learned: Browns 35, Packers 10 » Brandon Weeden took a step forward overall in his second... more

Brandon Weeden's preseason debut was a mixed bag . His second game had its ups and downs, but definitely felt like a step forward. The Cleveland Browns led the Green Bay Packers 16-7 at halftime when Weeden exited the game. Given ridiculous good... more

It's preseason for coaches too. Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy incurred a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for delay of game after challenging receiver Randall Cobb's first-quarter fumble. The problem: All turnovers are now automatically... more

The New York Jets broke training camp in Cortland on Thursday. The ESPN crews have packed up and started to head to wherever Tim Tebow goes next. So what did we learn over the last three weeks? We learned the Jets passing game has a long way to go. This... more

Oakland Raiders head coach Dennis Allen has to be the most under-the-radar new hire in the NFL. After Lane Kiffin, Tom Cable, and Hue Jackson, under-the-radar sounds pretty good. Harrison: Power Rankings With preseason action heating up, Elliot... more

Terrell Owens will make his Seattle Seahawks debut on Saturday against the Denver Broncos , less than two weeks after joining the team. Lombardi: Preseason in perspective It's easy to get carried away with August activity. Michael Lombardi says... more

You can't shake off a lacerated spleen injury . You can't just be a tough guy and fight your way through it. The Dallas Cowboys are hopeful that Jason Witten can return shortly from his injury. It's a good sign that he doesn't require surgery. The... more

Early in training camp, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick forced his team to run laps after a particularly annoying series of fights. We haven't heard of too many problems in Patriots camp since then ... until Thursday. Wide receiver Julian... more

Peyton Manning hasn't been hit yet. His ability to withstand the punishment associated with the NFL season is one of the great unanswered questions of the upcoming year. It's a question Manning is understandably a little tired of. "It's not... more

We've written about the top 10 rankings on "Madden NFL '13" at quarterback and running back. As the game slowly reveals information with the solemnity of highly classified international information, you probably can guess what's coming next. Let's check... more

Brandon Jacobs looks like his old self on the field for the San Francisco 49ers. Off the field, he's as blunt as ever. Even though he's thousands of miles away, he's still sick of the New York Jets, calling his old cross town rivals a "circus." "I... more

Blitzing Drew Brees worked in 2011. This goes against conventional wisdom, but it's also undeniably true. According to the Football Outsiders ' Almanac, Brees produced an NFL-high 8.3 yards-per-pass play when opponents rushed three or four defenders last... more

Steve Smith was skeptical when coach Ron Rivera arrived in town before last season. Smith had just endured the most miserable, Clausen-y season in NFL history with the 2010 Carolina Panthers. He wanted to win again. Brooks: Panthers running wild The... more

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Tarvaris Jackson is reportedly on the trade block . He won't be easy to move because of his salary, but he could upgrade some team's depth chart. (Possibly as a backup.) With that in mind, the following tweet from Sports... more

What's more embarrassing: Having your boss threaten to fire you in front of your co-workers or knowing that all of Football America watched the moment on television? These are the sort of questions that the struggling Miami Dolphins have to deal... more

It was our No. 2 position battle in the NFL before training camp -- the Tennessee Titans' quarterbacks. Nearly three weeks into camp, Jake Locker and Matt Hasselbeck's competition remains too close to call. There is a trend in this battle, though, and... more

We debuted our highly scientific defensive power rankings last Wednesday. Our readers loved them if we ranked their favorite team high. Jaguars fans have since boycotted Around the League . You can probably guess what's coming next. Our offensive power... more

The Pittsburgh Steelers' running back situation might go from thin to worse. Isaac Redman tried to practice the first time in a week Wednesday, but he wound up falling "painfully on all fours" before being attended to by trainers, according to Ed... more

The Dallas Cowboys already were facing some Texas-sized problems concerning their offensive depth. Now they have a major new issue to worry about. NFL.com and NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport confirmed Wednesday, citing a source with knowledge of the... more

The Jacksonville Jaguars officially wrap up training camp this week. The stalemate between Maurice Jones-Drew and the team shows no signs of ending. How quiet are things between the Jaguars and their best player? MJD's agent is on vacation this week ,... more

The Detroit Lions' biggest concern this preseason has to be at the running back position. That's why the return of second-year pro Mikel Leshoure to the field Wednesday is such big news for the team. Last year's second round Draft pick missed 14 days... more

Justin Tuck wasn't Justin Tuck last season. He alternately was injured, surly, and often unproductive. His shoulder injury made life miserable. It made Tuck think about a life without football. Breer: Ready, steady ... Eli! Eli Manning is unemotional,... more

I planned to start this morning's Training Camp Buzz writing about something other than "Hard Knocks." After all, Dan Hanzus already wrote an awesome recap for us Tuesday night on Around the League. But this daily post is supposed to be about what... more

After five months of reading about Chris Johnson's rejuvenation, I was excited to watch what he looked like in the Tennessee Titans' preseason opener last Saturday night . What I saw looked a lot like his 2011 performance. Five carries, eight yards, and... more

We've watched all the best plays . We've handed out awards . But the preseason really isn't about superlatives and verbal bouquets. The preseason is about exposing and correcting flaws. Coaches are worried. That's just what they do. They look at their... more

Pete Carroll talked up the Seattle Seahawks three-way quarterback competition all offseason, but the competition appears to be over before it started. Carroll announced Tuesday that he will start Matt Flynn in the team's second preseason game. Flynn... more

Washington Redskins fans should be excited about the types of plays Robert Griffin III is excited about. While RG3's first touchdown pass was cool last week, the rookie pointed to another play as a revelatory moment . The play was a second-and-10.... more

It's been a long road filled with rehabilitation, overzealous reporting, and a lot of nervous fantasy owners, but Adrian Peterson is back on the field taking snaps at Minnesota Vikings practice. Vikings offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave revealed... more

Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis confirmed Tuesday that starting guard Travelle Wharton will miss the season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Wyche: Bungles no more The Bengals have been an NFL laughingstock for... more

Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher's return from his knee injury has not gone as planned this month. The Bears finally admitted as much Tuesday. "The treatment that we were giving Brian, he didn't respond as well as we wanted it to," coach Lovie... more

It's a big year for Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis. The player who earned the team's franchise tag this offseason is playing for a contract next year. He's out to prove that last season's breakout campaign wasn't a fluke. Thus far, Davis is... more

The Arizona Cardinals announced this week that Kevin Kolb would start the team's third preseason game . After two woeful outings and coach Ken Whisenhunt admitting he found his quarterbacks inability to pull the trigger "frustrating," Kolb figured to be... more

Miami Dolphins linebacker Karlos Dansby initially was upset about Chad Johnson's release from the team. That opinion was shared by some of his Dolphins teammates, but not all of them. "This is a solid locker room we don't need no clowns here ," one... more

The rest of the country saw Monday night what Dallas Cowboys fans have been worried about all month. The Cowboys' interior offensive line is in shambles. (Sound familiar?) The wide receiver position is woefully thin after Laurent Robinson left town.... more

The Dallas Cowboys' starting offense lined up for 11 snaps Monday night against the Oakland Raiders. They gained one first down, had two three and outs, and Tony Romo was running for his life . "Not real good," Garrett said. "We didn't play with great... more

The most impressive part of Miami Dolphins rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill's debut was how willing he was to pull the trigger on tough throws . This is not a stat that shows up in the box score, but it's one of the key traits in great quarterbacks. Is... more

Detroit Lions wide receiver Titus Young does not lack for talent. Or confidence. From the Detroit Free Press: Titus Young was asked today how good he can be. Said when Barry Sanders called name at draft "it just felt like he was passing me the torch"... more

So much for the St. Louis Rams becoming a regular visitor to London. In a surprise move, the team announced Monday it is withdrawing its commitment to play overseas in 2013 and 2014. "In an effort to focus on the Edward Jones Dome First Tier Process... more

The New England Patriots are examining all options in an effort to improve their offensive line. NFL Network has learned that the team will give tackle Chad Clifton a physical this week. We reported Sunday that the Patriots were interested in Clifton.... more

Cam Newton struggled last preseason. Aaron Rodgers had a nightmarish first preseason campaign. Those are things to keep in mind while reading the following: It's only the preseason. With that disclaimer out of the way, it was a rather ridiculous weekend... more

The New York Jets extensively practiced the Wildcat for the first time Monday in front of the media. They just can't talk about it . Cosell: Untapped potential Greg Cosell outlines how the Jets and Bills can get more out of Mark Sanchez and... more

We had so much fun breaking down the top plays from Thursday night and Friday night that we're going to make it a regular feature. That means it's time to recap the fun from the three weekend games. The best thing about this touchdown pass by Andrew... more

Miami Dolphins coach Joe Philbin put on his reading glasses and looked at notes as he explained the decision to cut wide receiver Chad Johnson. Philbin is a guy who always seems natural, but he wanted to make sure he said the right thing here. "With any... more

The Green Bay Packers could be without linebacker Desmond Bishop, one of their best defensive players, for the rest of the season . Their starting left tackle (Marshall Newhouse) and best receiver (Greg Jennings) are recovering from concussions. The team... more

Miami Dolphins coach Joe Philbin sent a clear message to his team when he released Chad Johnson on Sunday night. That message wasn't well received by some Dolphins players. "I hate that we didn't stand behind him," linebacker Karlos Dansby told the... more

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Randy Moss was not a big part of the Niners' preseason opener . No worries there; veterans like Moss typically won't play too many snaps this early in August. Coach Jim Harbaugh's plan to curtail Moss' workload,... more

The football dork community sat down as one at 1:30 p.m. ET on a Sunday in the middle of August. Healthier fans spent time with their family, they exercised, or (gasp) they watched the Olympics. For football dorks, Andrew Luck's debut with the... more

Chad Johnson was serious for precisely one moment during last week's "Hard Knocks" episode . It came after Miami Dolphins coach Joe Philbin warned Johnson to "temper" some of his off-color comments. Philbin then asked Johnson how everything else was... more

One of the New England Patriots' best players may be closer to playing again than expected. Coach Bill Belichick confirmed that left guard Logan Mankins was back on the practice field Sunday. The four-time Pro Bowl selection is coming off the physically... more

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Chad Johnson is out of jail following his Saturday arrest on a domestic violence charge. The police report from the incident between Johnson and his wife, Evelyn Lozada, also was released Sunday morning. Like many... more

Ryan Tannehill played like a potential starter in Miami. The Jets quarterbacks and Cardinals quarterbacks collectively went 0-for-4. The Bengals are suddenly banged up. There was a lot going on during the second big night of the preseason. Here's what... more

Tim Tebow dropped back from center, stared down his receiver and threw a low pass that was snared by diving Cincinnati Bengals rookie linebacker Vontaze Burfict. Tebow never saw him coming. That was the last pass of Tebow's New York Jets debut, which... more

The first goal in preseason games: avoid injuries. By that measure, the first 20 minutes of the Cincinnati Bengals' 17-6 victory over the New York Jets was a disaster for the orange and black. 1. Starting guard Travelle Wharton was carted off the field... more

The Baltimore Ravens have talked all offseason about using tight ends Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta more in the passing game. That plan has taken a few hits in the preseason. Pitta broke his hand early in camp and will miss the preseason. Dickson left... more

There has been a lot of criticism of the NFL's replacement officials' performance Thursday night from various media members. And the new officials gave us plenty of material. (More on that later.) Coaches have been hesitant to criticize the... more

Dez Bryant's struggles in life have been well-documented this offseason. His improvements on the field have also received a lot of attention. (Remember that whole "being a leader" theme?) ESPN.com's Dan Graziano writes that Bryant is the best player on... more

NFL.com's video library was one of the reasons I was so excited to come work here. We have more highlights and game footage than we know what to do with. So let's try to do something with it. We've already recapped Thursday night's action in words (and... more

Peyton Manning was trying to pretend Thursday night was just another game . After his encouraging performance against the Chicago Bears, the four-time MVP let the public see how he really felt during his return to the field. "I got an email from... more

Division rivalries die hard. Even though Vince Young is now playing in Buffalo, the Washington Redskins official Twitter account gave him the business on Thursday night. QB Vince "Dream Team" Young enters the game for the # Bills to start the second... more

Friday night will include a historical moment in Michael Crabtree's career. The fourth-year pro will play in his very first preseason game with the San Francisco 49ers. Between his rookie holdout and constant August injuries, Crabtree has never played... more

You never know when a player leaves a preseason game whether or not they suffered a serious injury. The comments from the head coach after the game are usually your first big clue. Based on Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy's comments on... more

Tom Brady came to the sideline and twice slammed his helmet to the field. After two unsuccessful drives against the New Orleans Saints where Brady was under duress, the two-time NFL MVP let his struggling New England Patriots offensive line hear it. The... more

It took one carry for San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews to throw cold water on an offseason full of hype. Mathews took one carry in Thursday night's preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers, gained 5 yards -- and broke his... more

Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles' bid to start their dynasty got off to a scary start. Vick left Thursday night's preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second quarter with an injury to the thumb on his left (throwing) hand... more

Jayme Mitchell got what he wanted, even if it wasn't a good idea. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers officially released the defensive lineman Thursday, one day after he left the team because he was unhappy with his role. Mitchell has underachieved... more

We could have 73 separate articles on the players sitting out this first preseason week . Or we could combine the most notable guys sitting on the bench in one post. Let's do that. 1. Dallas Cowboys rookie Morris Claiborne (knee) returned to practice... more

Six preseason games are on the docket Thursday . Football is back. We know what to look for . This is good. Before the action starts, let's kill a little time with an Around the League mailbag. As always, these are actual questions from our Twitter... more

Carson Palmer and the Oakland Raiders have enjoyed a strangely quiet training camp. The usual drama of the Silver & Black has calmed down. There's a new starting quarterback, a new general manager and a new head coach. Yet no one is paying attention.... more

John Elway hopes to help make Peyton Manning the best quarterback of all-time. Our friend Albert Breer -- we use the term loosely -- asked Elway what would qualify Manning for the title. Breer: Elway's plan for Manning How will John Elway turn... more

It hasn't been a good week in Cleveland. Schein: Cleveland rocked Trent Richardson undergoes surgery. Joe Haden faces a possible suspension. Adam Schein feels for the bad-luck Browns. More ... One day after a report surfaced claiming... more

Miami Dolphins coach Joe Philbin's message to Chad Johnson about his liberal use of f-bombs has worked . Although Johnson might be going overboard in his effort to avoid embarrassing the Dolphins again. "I don't do media anymore," Johnson said while... more

When a team drafts a player at No. 11 overall, there are certain expectations. The Kansas City Chiefs are trying to lower the expectations for defensive tackle Dontari Poe. The Memphis product hasn't received a ton of reps early in training camp. Chiefs... more

It's tricky to update a position battle every day. A quarterback can look like John Elway one day in practice, and John Navarre the next . That's partly why we've hesitated to go crazy reporting on the ongoing Matt Hasselbeck vs. Jake Locker battle for... more

Peyton Manning will step on the field Thursday night against the Chicago Bears for a live football game for the first time since Rex Ryan's New York Jets upset the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Divisional Round 19 months ago. This is the moment I've... more

When is enough, enough? For the Tennessee Titans and wide receiver Kenny Britt, it might just have come Wednesday via an Instagram post . Really. On the same day Britt first spoke about his visit with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell , the Titans'... more

We wondered in Wednesday morning's Training Camp Buzz whether Terrell Owens' signing said more about Sidney Rice's place with the Seattle Seahawks than it expressed dissatisfaction with third-year pro Golden Tate. On Wednesday afternoon, Seahawks... more

Training camp is hard. Very hard. We know this because some of the most well-conditioned, fearsome athletes quit the sport because it's so hard. The latest player to go AWOL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman Jayme Mitchell. He left the team not... more

We're hesitant to say much of anything about Tuesday night's "Hard Knocks" other than "It's awesome" because Dan Hanzus did such a bang-up job wrapping up the show . (You can hear the "but" coming ...) But I wanted to hit on a handful of salient... more

The Oakland Raiders will be one of the few teams to change their blackout threshold as allowed by new NFL rules, according to a report from Comcast SportsNet Bay Area's Paul Gutierrez. A source tells Gutierrez that the Raiders only have to sell 85... more

In Clay Matthews' mind, the New York Giants didn't beat the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs last season. The Packers beat themselves. We took issue with this idea . (New York could have won by 30 points with a few breaks and better officiating.)... more

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid stepped to the podium Wednesday for an impossible press conference, just one day after the funeral for his son, Garrett Reid. Breer: Eagles rally around Reid Eagles coach Andy Reid needs support after losing... more

We thought about updating our revolutionary tiered Around the League Power Rankings this week, and then we realized it would look exactly like it did two weeks ago. So let's try something a little different. We present our Preseason Defensive Power... more

Line judge Shannon Eastin will make history Thursday night when she works the Green Bay Packers-San Diego Chargers game in San Diego. She won't be the last female official. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday that more female officials... more

One day after attending his son's funeral , Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid is going back to the difficult task of coaching football again. UPDATE: Reid arrived at the Eagles' walkthrough Wednesday morning. The team announced he would address... more

There are a lot of juicy nuggets in Michael Silver's piece for Yahoo! Sports about the Green Bay Packers. Aaron Rodgers has debuted "nice white-guy dance" in practice that looks like a stripper routine. (The moves apparently will stay in practice.)... more

Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck are the new kids on the block. Peyton Manning is a fascinating all-time great in a new place. The New York Jets quarterbacks sell. Meanwhile, the most exciting young player to hit the NFL in the last decade quietly... more

After two weeks of practices and endless feature stories , Washington Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III is ready for his first NFL game. He's looking forward to seeing how game action is different. "A lot of times in practice, you can't... more

Some posts are difficult to write. In other posts, you just put up a picture of a corn maze depicting Marshawn Lynch in all his most natural splendor. Rutledge Farms in Olympia, Wash., creates a maze annually for Halloween season using GPS. "Every... more

The conventional wisdom throughout the offseason said Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall was likely to miss the beginning of the season because of his torn anterior cruciate ligament. For once, conventional wisdom looks pretty wise... more

Tuesday was a day of grieving for the Philadelphia Eagles and the league, as much of the NFL community attended a funeral service for Eagles coach Andy Reid's eldest son, Garrett.  About 900 people attended  Garrett Reid's funeral. Breer: Eagles... more

Everything is bigger in Texas. That includes expectations for any Dallas Cowboys draft pick who exhibits early signs of brilliance. Running back DeMarco Murray was better and faster than anyone expected last season. He showed a better ability to... more

The New York Jets' brawl on Monday afternoon was a doozy. It spilled into the media section at training camp and upset Mark Sanchez. So the Jets naturally started Tuesday's practice with a fight between Demario Davis and Terrance Ganaway. Rex Ryan... more

We have said since March that the New York Jets' acquisition of Tim Tebow made financial sense, but not much sense on the field. Tebow has brought the attention and headlines that the Jets organization clearly craves. Still, owner Woody Johnson says he... more

On Tuesday morning, Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid, along with his family, will mourn the unimaginable loss of his son, Garrett Reid. His extended football will also be there to support him. Breer: Eagles rally around Reid Eagles coach Andy Reid... more

The cynical part of me wants to ignore the Terrell Owens signing . He's a 38-year-old wide receiver who wasn't in the NFL last year. He should be afforded the same attention as other guys fighting for a roster spot. He wants the attention, and the only... more

Last Monday, we told you about five rookies making an impact early in training camp . This time we'll give you nine rookie nuggets about from around the league. (The final four come free of charge.) 1. Andrew Luck reportedly completed over 75% of his... more

We said Monday morning that Pete Carroll's home for reclamation projects in Seattle was the perfect fit for Terrell Owens. It sounds like Carroll feels the same way. ESPN.com's Ed Werder reports that "it is expected that the Seahawks will try to... more

The last remaining rookie holdout is coming to work. The Jacksonville Jaguars announced Monday that the team and the No. 5 overall draft pick, Justin Blackmon, have agreed to terms on a contract. Blackmon is expected to sign his contract Monday night... more

This should go without saying, but we're going to say it anyway. The notion that the New York Jets should or would cut Tim Tebow is ridiculous. It's talk radio fodder. It's easy blog bait. You clicked. It works. Boomer Esiason suggested on WFAN Monday... more

With the first full slate of preseason games starting Thursday, every NFL team has to release an unofficial depth chart. And then every beat writer in the country has to dissect such release. Some teams like the Green Bay Packers release a depth chart... more

It takes a lot for us to mention a training camp fight because they are so common. The New England Patriots qualified last week because they had so many, and because Bill Belichick got tired of it. The New York Jets, always trying to match their rivals,... more

Thursday night's preseason action in San Diego will make a little NFL history. As first reported by Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times, replacement official Shannon Eastin will work Thursday's game between the San Diego Chargers and Green Bay Packers.... more

The reps at the Seattle Seahawks' training camp continue to be divided evenly between Tarvaris Jackson, Matt Flynn, and Russell Wilson. But it was no mistake that it was Jackson's turn with the starters during the team's scrimmage Sunday. "He's working... more

We ranked the Chicago Bears left tackle spot as one of ten most important battles to watch during training camp. It appears we can stop watching. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune writes that the job has "all but officially been given " to J'Marcus... more

Brian Urlacher essentially missed the Chicago Bears' entire OTA/minicamp season after knee surgery. The Bears said it wasn't a concern. They were just being cautious. When training camp opened, coach Lovie Smith said the team wouldn't hold Urlacher back... more

There's only room for so many reclamation projects on Pete Carroll's Northwest Isle of Misfit Toys. Antonio Bryant got the boot over the weekend . Braylon Edwards remains. Terrell Owens might be joining the club soon . We have no idea whether Owens... more

Carolina Panthers rookie linebacker Luke Kuechly is the latest in a proud tradition of NFL players with difficult names to spell. "Kuechly" might not be as long as Houshmandzadeh or Tuiasosopo, but there are a lot of places to mess it up. Some poor... more

The limited New York Jets offense has something new to worry about: Wide receiver Santonio Holmes might have suffered a broken rib during the team's Saturday night scrimmage, according to coach Rex Ryan. "I don't know if Santonio broke a rib or not ,... more

The New York Jets' team scrimmage Saturday night was scheduled to go from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET. It wrapped up around 7:15, perhaps out of mercy to the offense. Darlington: Why I love training camp Training camp is here! Jeff Darlington provides 42... more

The Tennessee Titans went into the offseason hoping to upgrade the interior of their offensive line. Signing Steve Hutchinson should help, but an injury to starting center Eugene Amano will set this group back. Titans coach Mike Munchak announced... more

It was only a scrimmage. But at this stage, a scrimmage is all we have. Miami Dolphins rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill looked sharp overall during Saturday's scrimmage at Sun Life Stadium, leading the Miami offense on its only touchdown drive during... more

Folks planning to draft Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson in fantasy football leagues can stop panicking. He's set to return from his groin injury. Hanzus: Johnson vs. Johnson Andre Johnson has long been considered the top WR in the NFL, but... more

Vontae Davis has the big name and reputation as one of the most physically gifted young cornerbacks in football. He does not have a starting job locked up with the Miami Dolphins. Dolphins camp report Ryan Tannehill's training camp tardiness... more

The optimism surrounding the Cleveland Browns on Friday following the arrival of new owner Jimmy Haslam turned into some old-fashioned Browns bad luck on Saturday. Browns coach Pat Shurmur confirmed that starting linebacker Chris Gocong will miss the... more

An afternoon full of fights at New England Patriots training camp turned into an even full of love. Forget 1,000 words: This Bill Belichick photo has us speechless. "I had a little bruise on my elbow and I was whining about it, and he was just showing... more

The first full week of training camp is now in the books. We could write up a recap, but we write up a daily recap every morning with our Training Camp Buzz . Plus, it's Friday afternoon and I'm lazy and videos would be more fun. We present three cool... more

There were a few big scuffles at New England Patriots practice earlier this week, which we avoided mentioning just because there are big scuffles at training camp every year throughout the NFL. That's partly what training camp is for. (Hit the same... more

The Arizona Cardinals are excited about the potential of their young offensive backfield this season with Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams. Unfortunately, neither player will be on display Sunday night in Canton at the Hall of Fame Game. Wells still... more

Publicly, Miami Dolphins coach Joe Philbin says the Dolphins' quarterback competition is wide open. He noted recently that David Garrard and Matt Moore's practice stats are nearly identical. Dolphins camp report Ryan Tannehill's training camp... more

We've talked up the Atlanta Falcons' Julio Jones as a potential top-five receiver all offseason . Now teammate Roddy White is doing the work for us. "He's going to be really good this year. I mean really, really special," White said. The duo's... more

The immediate questions facing the Cleveland Browns can wait. Friday was a day for celebration. Based on the introductory press conference for Jimmy Haslam, who has agreed to buy the team, there should be a lot of smiling faces in Cleveland. Tony... more

It's one thing for the NFL to try to grow its product overseas through games in London and increased marketing. It's another thing to get other countries to play football at the highest levels. American football, that is. NFL Commissioner Roger... more

We've seen a lot of training camp injuries over the years, but Philadelphia Eagles guard Evan Mathis is missing work for one that we haven't heard before. Darlington: Why I love training camp Training camp is here! Jeff Darlington provides 42 reasons... more

This is a time of change, excitement, and uncertainty in Cleveland . Browns coach Pat Shurmur is caught in the middle. The man that hired Shurmur, Mike Holmgren, is likely to be replaced. The future of everyone from general manager Tom Heckert to... more

We're two days away from the first preseason game of the year. That means the wave of criticism of the NFL's replacement officials is on the way. Darlington: The ref-placements As things heat up between the NFL and disgruntled refs, are players... more

Robert Griffin III has a few things to work on , but things are trending up overall. Washington Redskins tackle Trent Williams should have made my list of veterans making noise early in camp. Numerous reports suggest he's on the cusp of a breakout... more

Inside linebacker Dont'a Hightower isn't the only New England Patriots rookie making noise early in training camp . While Bill Belichick has showered Hightower with praise for his intelligence and versatility, fellow first-round pick Chandler Jones is... more

The Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles completed a trade Thursday designed to bolster the depth of each squad. The Eagles acquired cornerback Kevin Thomas and a conditional seventh-round pick in 2013 for linebackers Moise Fokou and Greg Lloyd.... more

The worldwide search to find Bill Belichick's biggest fan is over. NFL Network's Michael Irvin wins. "I think the world of Belichick. I told him this, 'Man, if it was up to me, that (Super Bowl) trophy would be called the Lombardi/Belichick.' I don't... more

The Cleveland Browns have been sold by Randy Lerner to Jimmy Haslam. Browns fans will be happy that a new era is on the way, but the move raises a lot of questions. We hope to provide answers. 1. When will the sale be officially official? NFL owners... more

Even Rex Ryan is tired of the New York Jets' trash talk. At least when the Jets are trash-talking each other. On the same day that Chaz Schilens expressed annoyance at Antonio Cromartie for his comments about being the No. 2 receiver on the team,... more

Well, that didn't take long. NFL Network learned Thursday that the sale of the Cleveland Browns to businessman Jimmy Haslam has been completed, less than a week after the possibility first surfaced . Haslam is the president and CEO of a Tennessee-based... more

President Barack Obama weighed in on Michael Vick's inability to slide, and it's clear that Vick is listening . Perhaps just as important: Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid is actually changing the way he calls plays to keep Vick from getting... more

Football season really is underway now. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has created a little extra drama. It looked like a juicy headline : Roethlisberger reveals torn rotator cuff. But Big Ben says the injury no longer bothers him... more

San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews was back on the field Wednesday night, just 48 hours after losing control of his car during a two-vehicle crash in San Diego. Mathews went to the hospital for precautionary reasons, but he clearly didn't... more

It took just over three months, but we've found the first item in the Washington press containing something vaguely critical about Robert Griffin III. OK, calling it critical might even be a stretch. It's just honest football analysis, which can be lost... more

Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur says quarterback Colt McCoy is improved this year despite his backup status. In related news, McCoy is likely available in a trade. Kinkhabwala: New-look Browns Brandon Weeden and Trent  Richardson head... more

It takes a lot to impress the citizens of Earth in 2012. Everything is amazing and no one is happy . If the Internet on our direct flight to Los Angeles is spotty, we grumble before watching a downloaded movie on our tablet. The bar is set incredibly... more

Around the League looked at the rookies making noise early in training Monday. Now, it's time for the veterans. First, a disclaimer. We are wary of putting too much stock in practice reports. A player that looked great one day can struggle the next.... more

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's week started with some eye-opening comments from one of the NFL's biggest stars. New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees told SI's Peter King that , among players, "nobody trusts" Goodell. As you might imagine, this... more

Depth-chart climbing Miami Dolphins receiver Chad Johnson said a bunch of ridiculous things Wednesday during his media session. It is our duty to pass them along to you, along with a handy translation for what they really mean: Quote: "It feels good... more

There are no early leaders in the Miami Dolphins' quarterback race. David Garrard and Matt Moore have flip-flopped turns with the first team. Ryan Tannehill remains in the mix. No one has stood out. Dolphins camp report Ryan Tannehill's training camp... more

It's one thing for Antonio Cromartie to call himself the second-best wide receiver on the New York Jets. It's another thing for him to specifically explain why he's better than his teammates . One of those teammates, wide receiver Chaz Schilens, didn't... more

Jay Cutler is happy because Mike Martz is gone. Jay Cutler smiles because his buddy Brandon Marshall is in town. Jay Cutler loves new weapon Alshon Jeffrey. If offseason puff pieces about "comfort" lead to on-field success, this is the year that Cutler... more

Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said he didn't realize he was criticizing Mike McCarthy and the Green Bay Packers' adventures in skeet shooting. Schwartz thought he was just making fun of skeet shooting teams in general. This story goes back to... more

This is Golden Tate's time. Or at least it was supposed to be. The highly touted Notre Dame product enters his third season with his best chance by far to be a starting wide receiver with the Seattle Seahawks. He's healthy. He's the subject of a lot of... more

We have an early favorite in one of the biggest training camp battles in the NFL. NFL Network's Michael Lombardi said he's learned Jake Locker is the favorite for the Tennessee Titans' starting quarterback job on "Inside Training Camp Live" on Tuesday.... more

Antonio Cromartie lacks experience at wide receiver. He does not lack confidence. After just a few snaps at the position during the New York Jets' training camp, Cromartie was asked where he'd rank himself on the Jets' depth chart. Instant Debate:... more

The apparent suicide of Tennessee Titans wide receiver O.J. Murdock remains confusing and heartbreaking one day after we first learned the news. His family and friends in Tampa, Fla., are in a state of shock. Murdock left a suicide note which could... more

Andrew Luck started to study NFL quarterbacks a year and a half ago, once he knew that he was headed for the pros. Luck's list of quarterbacks to model his game after was quite specific and targeted. Jeremiah: Peyton's mirror image Daniel Jeremiah... more

Bill Parcells used to ward off early praise of a player by saying, "Let's not put him in Canton yet." Houston Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is a different sort of coach. Both Phillips and Parcells share an ex-employer in the Dallas... more

Marvin Lewis won't have to answer questions about his contract again, at least not for a while. The Cincinnati Bengals made the surprising announcement Tuesday morning that Lewis had signed a contract extension through 2014. We call it surprising... more

Well, it looks like it's Wayne Hunter vs. The World again. The New York Jets' lauded trade for Carolina Panthers tackle Jeff Otah will not go through, a source with knowledge of the situation told NFL Network on Tuesday. The Jets got a lot of... more

The way San Francisco 49ers safety Donte Whitner looks at it, a good defense doesn't need any extra incentive to hit hard. "If you have the right type of guys in that (defensive) room, you don't have to set bounties or pay money for guys to play... more

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings hurt his elbow at training camp on Friday and hasn't been seen since. However, Packers coach Mike McCarthy didn't sound worried about the wideout in an an appearance on NFL Network's "NFL AM" on Tuesday.... more

We said throughout the summer that Maurice Jones-Drew's contract dispute could be the ugliest potential holdout of the 2012 season. We've gone from potential to reality and have no reason to change our stance. The Jacksonville Jaguars simply aren't... more

Chad Johnson looks like the best wide receiver in Miami Dolphins training camp thus far, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. In related news, he wasn't one of the New England Patriots' best six receivers. The former Ocho's ability to... more

Los Angeles needs to do better than this if they expect to attract another NFL team. Lombardi: All eyes on Romo When Jerry Jones talked about the Cowboys' window closing, he sent a message to Tony Romo, Michael Lombardi writes. More ...... more

Adrian Peterson has worked through his rehabilitation from a torn anterior cruciate ligament with impressive speed. Debate: Can Vikings right the ship? Questions abound for the Vikings. After the 3-13 debacle of 2011, what are reasonable expectations... more

A trend has emerged early at Jaguars camp. The receivers are struggling, starting at the top of the depth chart with Laurent Robinson. "He's got to make some plays. Maybe he's pressing. I'm not sure," Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Mike Mularkey said... more

It's too early to say whether Peyton Manning can take a hit during live NFL action. It's too early to see if he's going to be the Peyton Manning of old when the Denver Broncos' season starts. With that said, can we ease up on the concerns this early in... more

Felix Jones is healthy enough to participate in practice again. He's just not in shape. Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett was disappointed to announce that Jones failed his conditioning test to start camp. Jones is recovering from shoulder surgery, but... more

It's early. We know it's early. But the first half-week of training camp meant more than the entire OTA and minicamp season combined. We can start to draw conclusions, especially about rookies that are making a quick move up the depth chart. Here are five... more

Houston Texans running back Arian Foster already is tired of hearing about his Vegan diet. He believes he's the victim of slow time during the 24-hour NFL news cycle. We agree. (Even if we're hoping to drive that news cycle.) "There's nothing to... more

The Tampa Police Department has confirmed to NFL.com and NFL Network that Tennessee Titans wide receiver Orenthal James Murdock, 25, died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on Monday morning. He died at 10:43 a.m. ET. 'NFL Total Wellness'... more

The statue honoring Steve Gleason's blocked punt against the Atlanta Falcons signifying the New Orleans Saints' "Rebirth" as a franchise is one of the coolest, most beautiful ideas ever realized at an NFL stadium. That's why the Atlanta Falcons'... more

Drew Brees knows that his voice is heard by a lot of fellow NFL players and fans. And he's trying to send a message to them all with strong words about Commissioner Roger Goodell to Sports Illustrated's Peter King. "Nobody trusts him. Nobody trusts... more

Pittsburgh Steelers President Art Rooney voiced his concern with the team's running game by dumping offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. As Kurt Warner can tell you, new hire Todd Haley is not afraid to spread teams out. Haley also is not afraid to shove... more

The latest Cleveland Browns rebuilding effort won't get finished, just like all the ones before it. President Mike Holmgren tried to build a foundation on top of all the other failed plans, but the imminent sale of the franchise means Holmgren's... more

The NFL world, not to mention Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur, was stunned to learn Friday that the Browns are for sale . It sounds like owner Randy Lerner is in his final days as the team's owner. NFL.com and NFL Network's Michael Lombardi reports... more

Dwayne Bowe was nowhere to be found , but that didn't slow down the optimism in Kansas City Chiefs camp after the team's first full practice. Darlington: Why I love training camp Training camp is here! Jeff Darlington provides 42 reasons why he... more

Training camp is finally here. They allow tackling there and everything. Around the League will count down the top 30 position battles to watch throughout the preseason. No. 1. Seattle Seahawks QB: Matt Flynn vs. Tarvaris Jackson vs. Russell Wilson... more

DeSean Jackson brought back some unpleasant Super Bowl memories for longtime Philadelphia Eagles fans at afternoon practice Friday. That's the bad news. The good news is that training camp is the time for puking . The fourth quarter of the Super Bowl is... more

NFL players often talk about their "Welcome to the NFL" moment. Tim Tebow had his "Welcome to New York" moment on Saturday at training camp. Tebow heard some jeers from the crowd during his first open practice. A few "wobbly or underthrown" passes by... more

Training camp is finally here. They allow tackling there and everything. Around the League will count down the top 30 position battles to watch throughout the preseason. No. 2. Tennessee Titans QB: Matt Hasselbeck vs. Jake Locker â?¢ It really... more

It's rare that we go to fake Twitter accounts for our football analysis, but "FauxJohnMadden" summed up the Mike Wallace-Antonio Brown situation perfectly following Brown's big contract extension on Friday. Mike Wallace has been demanding Larry... more

Gerald Herbert/Associated Press A banner with suspended New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton hangs in the team's practice facility.   Suspended New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton will loom large over everything the team does this year.... more

Training camp is finally here. They allow tackling there and everything. Around the League will count down the top 30 position battles to watch throughout the preseason. Position Battle No. 3: The Oakland Raiders â?¢ Okay, so we got a little... more

San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh decided to back away Friday from a statement he made earlier this offseason that indicated Randy Moss was the team's No. 1 receiver . Harbaugh said Friday that Moss is one of five players competing for that No. 1... more

We interrupt our ongoing coverage of the Cleveland Browns organization in upheaval to tell you about another club that knows drama. Overanalysis of the Tim Tebow-Mark Sanchez OTA season is finished. Let the overanalysis of training camp begin!... more

NFL coaches are famously secretive about injury information, but Jacksonville Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey is taking a potentially unprecedented step. He plans to fine players $10,000 for talking about injuries to the media. "They saw a lot of numbers... more

We've harped on the New York Jets' lack of depth at wide receiver for much of the offseason. But Jets fans should have no fear: Antonio Cromartie is here! Rex Ryan mentioned Friday at his first post-practice press conference that we shouldn't be... more

Michael Vick has heard the news that President Barack Obama wants him to slide more . And he has the only appropriate reaction. ATL: The new Vick? Michael Vick's style of play at the quarterback position has inspired guys like Robert Griffin III,... more

Bob Robert Griffin III has impressed just about everyone with the Washington Redskins. The approach he takes at quarterback reminds most veterans of, well, a veteran. Darlington: RG3 ready to work Robert Griffin III is eager to put the offseason... more

Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley was missing from practice Friday morning for an undisclosed reason. And then his wife Courtney disclosed it on Twitter. Legan: A pitching coach for QBs? Tom House is well known in baseball circles, but... more

The transition from college to the NFL is notoriously difficult for rookie quarterbacks. That's especially true when you are learning a much different offensive system than you worked under in college. Photo gallery: The NFL goes to camp » NFL... more

Steve Gleason was already a permanent part of New Orleans Saints history because of his blocked punt against the Atlanta Falcons in 2006. On Friday, the Saints will make it official. The team will unveil a statue of Gleason's famous play outside the... more

Things appear to be moving fast regarding the potential sale of the Cleveland Browns. Just hours after owner Randy Lerner issued a statement confirming that he was in negotiations to sell the Browns to businessman Jimmy Haslam, team president Mike... more

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross told NFL Network's Jeff Darlington way back in May that Matt Moore was the quarterback most likely to start Week 1. Instant Debate: Weeden vs. Tannehill Which rookie quarterback will enjoy more success this season:... more

Peyton Manning reportedly ran a "clinic" during his first Denver Broncos training camp practice on Thursday. One report says his accuracy was "impeccable." None of this matters. We already know Manning can practice in T-shirts and shorts. He's further... more

Robert Griffin III participated in his first Washington Redskins training camp practice Thursday, receiving a terrific bit of advice on his big day. Grossman comes in to run second-team offense, and a fan yells "ok close your eyes now Griffin" â??... more

Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano continues to aggressively re-shape his roster, letting go of pieces he believes no longer fit. The Buccaneers traded defensive tackle Brian Price to the Chicago Bears for an undisclosed 2013 draft pick. ESPN's... more

Training camp finally is here. They allow tackling there and everything. Around the League will count down the top 30 position battles to watch throughout the preseason. No. 5: Dolphins WR Chad Johnson vs. a whole lot of guys â?¢ New coaching... more

The timing of Joseph Addai's release from the New England Patriots Wednesday was a surprise, even if New England has become a noted nightmare for ex-Colts. Asked to explain the move Thursday, Patriots coach Bill Belichick was typically circumspect.... more

Darrelle Revis showed up to New York Jets training camp . He reportedly looked good on the Jets' conditioning test. Everything is cool between him and the team, right? Not so fast. Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports paints a relatively dire picture of the... more

And then there were six. That's the number of rookies without a contract following news that Vikings left tackle Matt Kalil has agreed to terms on a contract, a source close to the siutation told NFL.com and NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport. Coaches... more

LaRon Landry won't just be handed the New York Jets' starting strong safety job. But at least it looks like he'll be ready to start competing soon. Instant Debate: Breakout stars Who'll be the breakthrough studs of training camp? Our analysts reveal... more

The biggest crowd in Broncos training camp history welcomed Peyton Manning to Denver on Thursday. The 4,371 fans in attendance, a Broncos training camp record, erupted like it was Week 1 when Manning jogged on the field. Manningmania is here. NFL... more

Martellus Bennett is going to love New York. And the New York media is going to love Bennett's daily ridiculous quotes even more. Shortly after comparing himself to Gandhi, the Giants tight end said he had "ill feelings" about the Dallas Cowboys. "I... more

It appears Charles Woodson's much-discussed position change is happening. The 15-year veteran lined up at safety with the Green Bay Packers' base unit to open training camp Thursday, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Darlington: Why I love... more

We didn't list the Indianapolis Colts running back situation in our top 30 position battles countdown because we thought the job was Donald Brown's alone. Brown finally lived up to his potential late last year and the players behind him aren't inspiring.... more

Signing coach Mike Tomlin to a contract extension with little fanfare and less pre-contract chatter was the most Pittsburgh Steelers move possible. The same is true for the team's reported decision to cut off negotiations with wide receiver Mike Wallace... more

Training camp is here. They allow tackling there and everything. Around the League will count down the top 30 position battles to watch throughout the preseason. No. 8: Miami Dolphins QB: Matt Moore vs. David Garrard vs. Ryan Tannehill â?¢... more

The New England Patriots' signing of Joseph Addai made a lot of sense on paper. It didn't work out so well on the field. The Patriots released Addai on Wednesday before he ever suited up for training camp. There were suggestions he didn't perform up to... more

Missing the playoffs was rough for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson. Watching the New York Giants win the Super Bowl made it that much worse. Brooks: Asomugha vs. Samuel The Eagles chose to keep Nnamdi Asomugha and trade... more

Mike Wallace didn't arrive at Pittsburgh Steelers training camp Wednesday. The renewed hope in Pittsburgh that the Steelers and Wallace will reach a new deal has taken a turn for the worse. Brooks: Haley's impact on Pittsburgh Some questioned... more

Move over, LeSean McCoy . New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora has a new NFC East rival to poke fun at. "Who is this RG3 guy you guys keep talking about?" Umenyiora told WFAN, via the New York Post. "You talking about Bob Griffin? You guys are... more

A Cam Newton drive will only exist on football fields for the near future. WAGA-TV reports that the proposal to re-name a street in Fulton County "Cam Newton Drive" officially was rejected Tuesday night . His parents live on the 23-house street, which... more

The mother of Dez Bryant does not want to press charges against her son after his arrest for assault. The family, through lawyer Royce White, hopes to solve their problems through counseling. ATL: Bryant discipline complicated Dez Bryant potentially... more

Tennessee Titans fans are so excited about the Jake Locker era in part because it's not the Vince Young era. They have a new franchise quarterback to pin all their hopes on. Brooks: Hasselbeck vs. Locker The Titans face a difficult decision at... more

An annual reminder: The actual NFL season will be 500 times crazier than any preseason predictions. That's why we keep coming back. Keep that in mind while checking out Around the League's first power rankings. This isn't a ranking of how teams... more

First things first: We love Carolina Panthers center Ryan Kalil's full page ad in Wednesday's Charlotte Observer . It is bold, it is well written, and it is even a little silly. It is the action of a veteran who isn't afraid to take a little personal... more

Training camp is here. They allow tackling there and everything. Around the League will count down the top 30 position battles to watch throughout the preseason. No. 10. Cardinals RB: Beanie Wells vs. Ryan Williams â?¢ This battle wasn't on my... more

Training camp is finally almost here. They allow tackling there and everything. Around the League will count down the top 30 position battles to watch throughout the preseason. No. 12. San Francisco 49ers WR: Randy Moss vs. Father time. (Plus Mario... more

Ah, training camp. The hard hits, the position battles, the chunks of grass that look like golf divots get stuck in facemasks. Oh, and the legal proceedings. In his first press conference from camp, New Orleans Saints interim head coach Joe Vitt... more

Green Bay Packers team president Mark Murphy might be the perfect symbol for the fate of the 18-game season. Once in favor of it, Murphy now is against the idea. "Now, to be honest with you, I couldn't support a move to 18," Murphy told Packers... more

Dez Bryant and his mother, Angela Bryant, held a joint news conference Tuesday to discuss a domestic incident that led to the Dallas Cowboys wide receiver's arrest. "I would love to make a statement, but I can't," Dez Bryant said, via ESPNDallas.com .... more

The new-era Cleveland Browns offense is ready to go. Rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden agreed to terms with the Browns on Tuesday, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer, less than one day after No. 3 overall draft pick Trent Richardson signed... more

The Baltimore Ravens are expecting a lot out of rookie linebacker Courtney Upshaw. It's not the greatest sign in the world that he didn't pass his conditioning test to start training camp on his first try. It's also not too big a deal. He passed it on... more

The NFL won't wait to change Chad Johnson's name this time around. Crack NFL researcher Matthew Pomeroy confirmed with the league and the Miami Dolphins that they are both changing the name of the receiver formerly known as Ochocinco back to Chad... more

This offseason has a different feel to it. We don't have to track Albert Haynesworth drama for the first time in a long time. Harrison: On the defensive Offenses embarrassed defenses in 2011, producing crazy numbers. Elliot Harrison says that won't... more

Training camp is finally almost here. They allow tackling there and everything. Around the League will count down the top 30 position battles to watch throughout the preseason. No. 15. The safety dance: 11 battles to choose from â?¢ OK, this... more

Fred Taylor doesn't seem to think that his buddy, Maurice Jones-Drew, will show up to training camp on time. Jacksonville Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey would rather not take a guess. Mularkey said Monday that he doesn't know if Jones-Drew will be in... more

One day after free-agent tight end Visanthe Shiancoe visits with the Philadelphia Eagles , a bigger name will hit town. Multiple reports indicate that Jeremy Shockey will take a physical with the Eagles this week. CBSSports.com reports Shockey will... more

A lot of folks are uncomfortable with comparisons between Michael Vick and Robert Griffin III because they have such different skill sets outside of their running ability. Rapoport: Upward mobility Mobile quarterbacks have excelled at the college... more

The Ravens like making veteran offensive line acquisitions at the last minute. Last year, they picked up Bryant McKinnie and Andre Gurode late in the free agency game. This time around, former Cleveland Brown Eric Steinbach may get a shot. CBS Sports... more

Lofa Tatupu's pectoral injury left the Atlanta Falcons short-handed at linebacker. So they called up a familiar name. The Falcons announced Monday that they signed middle linebacker Mike Peterson, a 14-year NFL veteran who started five games for... more

Training camp is finally almost here. They allow tackling there and everything. Around the League will count down the top 30 position battles to watch throughout the preseason. No. 17 Jacksonville Jaguars: Quarterback Blaine Gabbert vs. offseason... more

It wasn't so long ago that we expressed our fan boy excitement about the news that Coaches Film would be available to fans for the first time via NFL Game Rewind . On Monday, the NFL unveiled another nugget. Coaches Film, only on NFL.com Purchase NFL... more

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Morris Claiborne missed practices throughout the offseason because of his wrist injury. He won't miss any practices in training camp because of his contract. Claiborne signed a four-year, $16.26 million deal with the Cowboys, a... more

The decision by the Detroit Lions to cut cornerback Aaron Berry was the culmination of a long, ugly offseason. The organization is embarrassed, and that includes the players. One Lions player told me just now: "This s--- has to stop. We're becoming... more

Louis Murphy doesn't have to worry about being cut by the Oakland Raiders after all. He has found a team with a much greater need at wide receiver. Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports reported Monday that Murphy is headed to the Carolina Panthers via trade ,... more

Suspended New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma continues to battle the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell in the court room. In the meantime, the Saints are moving forward without his services. (Not that they have a choice.) Wyche: What's next... more

Some athletes wouldn't want to advertise the fact that they have hair plugs. Wes Welker isn't one of those athletes. Breer: Prison tag? Since first coming into practice 20 years ago, the franchise tag certainly has evolved. Albert Breer investigates.... more

Former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Mike Williams completed one of the more improbable comebacks in recent NFL history when he returned after two years away from the sport. Travis Henry is going to try to top him. Coaches Film, only on NFL.com... more

Cornerback Aaron Berry apparently picked the wrong time of year to get arrested for a second time. With the Detroit Lions under increasing scrutiny for their offseason of trouble, DetroitLions.com reported Monday that the team had released Berry just... more

Former New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien wanted the Penn State football job badly enough that he passed up a potential interview for the Jacksonville Jaguars head coaching job in January. Despite the massive discipline imposed on... more

We cover the NFL around these parts, but we can't ignore when history is made elsewhere in the football universe. I'll always remember where I was at the league offices while I watched the NCAA's crippling sanctions against the Penn State football... more

Training camp is finally almost here. They allow tackling there and everything. Around the League will count down the top 30 position battles to watch throughout the preseason. No. 19. Colts TE: Coby Fleener vs. Dwayne Allen â?¢ Rob Gronkowski... more

Fifty-eight percent of Detroit Lions fans responding to an online poll want the team to cut cornerback Aaron Berry after his latest arrest over the weekend. The Detroit Free Press calls it a "no brainer." The Detroit News says Berry "should be cut" if... more

Training camp is finally almost here. They allow tackling there and everything. Around the League will count down the top 30 position battles to watch throughout the preseason. Position Battle No. 20. New England Patriots WR: Deion Branch vs. Donte'... more

Training camp is finally almost here. They allow tackling there and everything. Around the League will count down the top 30 position battles to watch throughout the preseason. No. 22 Washington Redskins running back: Tim Hightower vs. Roy Helu vs.... more

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt is past his second chance. He was charged Friday with driving under the influence in Kentucky, his eighth incident involving the police since he was drafted in 2009. Let's be real: A player less talented would... more

This is simply not a good a week in the NFL. The string of arrests continued Friday with Tennessee Titans receiver Kenny Britt , and now we've learned of another arrest that actually occurred in 2011. Coaches Film, only on NFL.com Purchase NFL Game... more

The tragic shootings at an Aurora, Colo., movie theatre has impacted countless lives, including a Colorado State football recruit. Zack Golditch, who committed to CSU in June, was among the 59 people wounded when a gunman opened fire during a showing... more

This is one of those days where there are no words. A day where everything football related feels trivial. The shooting tragedy at a movie theatre in Aurora, Colo. especially hits home in nearby Denver. "Our deepest, most heartfelt condolences go out... more

The Philadelphia Eagles' trade of Asante Samuel to the Atlanta Falcons inspired a lot of heated reaction in Philadelphia and Atlanta. It gave the Eagles great cap flexibility and fewer distractions, possibly at the expense of the team's talent level.... more

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt is in trouble with the law again. Britt was charged with driving under the influence and implied consent while trying to gain access to the Fort Campbell, Ky., Army base, a military spokesman confirmed to NFL.com... more

The three-way battle at quarterback for the Miami Dolphins figures to be the best storyline during the upcoming season of "Hard Knocks." The receivers on the team just hope it doesn't take all five episodes to reach a resolution. Play fantasy football... more

Training camp is finally almost here. They allow tackling there and everything. Around the League will count down the top 30 position battles to watch throughout the preseason. No. 23: New York Jets linebacker: Bart Scott vs. Demario Davis â?¢... more

Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy knows that Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz took a mild jab at his team's decision to go skeet shooting instead of practicing earlier this offseason. McCarthy had a lot of great quotes in response to Jason Wilde of... more

Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed is known for vacillating in his public statements about his future. But there was no reading between the lines when it came to his actions on Thursday. One day after saying he would be playing football this season ,... more

Conventional wisdom says that Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III's completed contracts will result in the rest of the unsigned first-round draft picks quickly following suit. The Miami Dolphins may have something to say about that. Rapoport: Decoding... more

Training camp is finally almost here. They allow tackling there and everything. Around the League will count down the top 30 position battles to watch throughout the preseason. No. 25: Cardinals receiver: Andre Roberts vs. Early Doucet vs. Michael... more

Mike Wallace and the Pittsburgh Steelers might get a contract done this offseason after all. With training camp approaching, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports the two sides are in "close contact" and have made recent progress toward a deal .... more

Another NFL first-round draft pick was arrested last week. We just didn't know about it. The Florissant, Mo., Police Department confirmed to NFL.com and NFL Network that Robert Quinn was involved in a single-car accident on an exit ramp on I-270 at 5:38... more

I can't wait for training camp to start next week , but there is a small part of me that will miss these dog days of the NFL news offseason. When else would we notice Reggie Bush take an online tutorial in french fry history? Wait this is a real... more

Training camp is finally almost here. They allow tackling there and everything. Around the League will count down the top 30 position battles to watch throughout the preseason. No. 26. Raiders backup quarterback: Matt Leinart vs. Terrelle Pryor... more

I've lived in New York City since 2003. If there is one thing I've learned about the New York sports media, it's that they are wildly positive. And they love it when athletes tell them what to do. "If you guys want to be, and this is for the New York... more

Fred Taylor has a unique perspective with which to comment on Maurice Jones-Drew's contract situation. Not only does Taylor know what it's like to carry the Jacksonville Jaguars running game, he also has been working out with MJD this offseason. Wyche:... more

File this one under news that we expected to hear and makes a lot of sense. ESPNNewYork.com's Rich Cimini cites "team insiders" who say the New York Jets plan to use Tim Tebow in the red zone , where they can replace Mark Sanchez in an effort to create... more

The Philadelphia Eagles have a ton of cap space. Amazingly, they don't have that many ways to spend it. Reuben Frank of Comcast SportsNet takes a great look at how well situated the team is over the next three years. Almost all of their core pieces are... more

Robert Griffin III is signed . Andrew Luck should soon follow suit . Griffin's deal is expected to make it easy for the other top eight players in the draft to sign their contracts, right? First-round signings Is your team's first-round draft pick in... more

Cedric Benson's emotional plea to get back into the NFL made me root for the guy. Even if he's a little unrealistic about his market value. Benson did not sound open to taking a veteran's minimum contract, which is a mistake. There's a chance he could... more

Houston Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph made some waves over the weekend when he took shots at the Cincinnati Bengals' spendthrift ways in comparison to his current team. "They help with anything you ask of them because they are a very caring... more

Michael Vick is thankful for his second chance at NFL life with the Philadelphia Eagles. But the quarterback can't help but wonder what the first part of his career would have been like had he studied the playbook more. "(I) probably would have already... more

The drama surrounding Ed Reed can be put to rest. Sort of. Jeremiah: Return trips unlikely How hard is it to make it to the AFC or NFC Championship Game two straight years? Daniel Jeremiah says recent history doesn't bode well for Ravens, Patriots,... more

Every once in a while, we write a post that has no higher purpose than to kindly tell you to read something cool. This is one of those posts. Jeff Darlington's piece on iPads is a great look at how tablet technology has quickly changed how NFL teams... more

Training camp is finally almost here. They allow tackling there and everything. Around the League will count down the top 30 position battles to watch throughout the preseason. No. 29. Green Bay Packers No. 3 receiver: Donald Driver vs. Randall Cobb... more

With NFL training camps approaching, fantasy football draft season is right around the corner. The debate over which wide receiver should be taken first seems to be an open-and-shut case this season. Just ask Larry Fitzgerald. During a Wednesday... more

Training camp is finally almost here. They allow tackling there and everything. Around the League will count down the top 30 position battles to watch throughout the preseason. I love training camp. For news junkies, you learn more in two days of camp... more

Robert Griffin III and his agent have helped to take the pressure off Andrew Luck's contract negotiations. With the No. 2 picked signed, sealed, and delivered, it's hard to imagine Luck missing any training camp. My old boss at ProFootballTalk, Mike... more

Although Drew Brees is on the way up, Peyton Manning can enjoy at least one more year as the highest paid athlete in the NFL. Debate: Can Peyton trump Tebow? Tim Tebow led Denver on a magical run last season. Can Peyton Manning top these... more

Don't call it a holdout. The Washington Redskins signed rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III early Wednesday morning, according to NFL Network's Albert Breer and Michael Lombardi. Breer cited a source with knowledge of the situation in reporting that... more

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick famously lied to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about his involvement with dogfighting. Lying was a habit for him back then, when he was with the Atlanta Falcons. "I lied to my mom," Vick told CNN's Piers... more

Dwayne Bowe wants a monster contract. He wants to become a superstar. And it's increasingly unlikely he'll get his wishes granted while with the Kansas City Chiefs. When Franchise Tag Day ended , Bowe and the Chiefs remained stuck in a stalemate that... more

Kenny Britt can't stop having knee surgeries. Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean reported Tuesday that the Tennessee Titans wide receiver recently underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. That's the second surgery in three months for Britt, who had... more

The Pittsburgh Steelers added some veteran insurance to their plan to go young at offensive tackle this season. The team signed longtime Steeler Max Starks on Tuesday in a move originally announced ... by Starks. On Instagram. It's real and sealed!... more

The days of Chris Johnson leading the NFL in rushing attempts are over. The buzzword around the Tennessee Titans these days is balance. "We were more of a smash-mouth team when I got here," Chris Johnson told The Tennessean. "And now it is more of a... more

We don't relish writing these arrest stories. This is especially true as we learn more about Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant's alleged assault against his mother . The 911 call made by Angela Bryant was released Tuesday, via ESPNDallas.com.... more

Dez Bryant's lawyer told NFL.com and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport on Tuesday morning that his client "did not want to be a distraction" to the Dallas Cowboys. The details emerging following Bryant's recent misdemeanor domestic violence arrest in a Dallas... more

Robert Griffin III is in our collective head. From his victory in the Alamo Bowl to the NFL Scouting Combine through the draft process and life with the Washington Redskins , it seems like the kid can't make a wrong move. Rapoport: What's the holdup?... more