List/Grid Monthly Archives: January 2019

Edwin Jackson’s foundation to award scholarships one year after his death
Edwin Jackson’s foundation donates 53 youth scholarships a year after his death, Von Miller spends time during Super Bowl weekend hosting a free football camp, C.C. Sabathia celebrates Jackie Robinson’s…

Mark Sanchez and Ryan Lindley cursed the NFL with a spectacular display of awful quarterbacking
All anyone wanted to do was enjoy a football game. No one deserved the horror show that descended upon MetLife Stadium on December 2, 2012 when the New York Jets…

Botched call in NFC title game brought intense scrutiny and NFLPA worries gambling will make it worse – for players
As gambling tied to the NFL ramps up in the coming seasons, how could that impact players involved in game-shifting (or score-shifting) moments? Powered by WPeMatico

Mark Craig’s Postcard from Atlanta: Ramon Huber goes from Brooklyn Park to NDSU to 10-year NFL vet
ATLANTA – There was a time when Ramon Humber’s only goal in the game of football was to play for his hometown Gophers. “Things didn’t work out,” he said. “Oh,…

Meet the man who solved the NFL’s L.A. problem
It took a man of Stan Kroenke’s vision and pocketbook to bring the NFL back to Los Angeles. Powered by WPeMatico

Diehards Flood Super Bowl Fan Experience In Atlanta
Diehards Flood Super Bowl Fan Experience In Atlanta From NFL-style drills to team memorabilia, the Super Bowl Fan Experience has something for everyone. Powered by WPeMatico

FILM ROOM: Josh McDaniels’ Pass Offense vs Wade Philips’ Pass Defense (Super Bowl 53 Preview)
I think the biggest question for this Patriots Offense will be who the Rams will use to cover Gronk in man coverage. Last year, we thought we’d see Malcolm Jenkins…

Marietta High to host NFL Play Football Family Festival
Marietta High will be the host site for the NFL’s Play Football Family Festival on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It will include NFL players to meet and…

Boldin says it’s a ‘travesty’ Kaepernick isn’t in NFL
Former NFL wide receiver Anquan Boldin says it’s a “travesty” that Colin Kaepernick isn’t in the league. Boldin, the co-founder of The Players Coalition, tells PodcastOne Sports Now guest host…

Pepsi using Super Bowl week to take a few digs at Coke
Pepsi is pouring it on in Coke’s house — injecting some fizz into its biggest rivalry during the buildup to the Super Bowl. While the visitors had called for a…

Union, league preparing “war chests” for 2021 labor talks
ATLANTA (AP) — Two years before the labor agreement with the NFL runs out, the players’ union is gathering a war chest it hopes it doesn’t need. Powered by WPeMatico

Column: Atlanta art exhibit reminds us of Kaep’s brave stand
Just a few miles from the stadium where the Super Bowl will be played on Sunday, there’s a special display of drawings, paintings and sculptures honoring the legacy of Tommie…

After further (judicial) review: No do-over of Rams-Saints
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A courtroom quest by two New Orleans Saints ticketholders for a full or partial do-over of this year’s NFC championship game because of a blown “no-call”…

Super Bowl fans beware: scammers on the prowl – NFL
Federal agents have seized about 285,000 counterfeit tickets and pieces of gear worth $24 million in a law enforcement effort dubbed “Operation Team Player,” Nick Annan, special agent in charge…

Sarah Thomas, first full-time female NFL ref, shares story in Atlanta
In the middle of the week-long celebration ahead of the Super Bowl, the NFL’s first full-time female referee headlined an event in Atlanta focused on empowering women to work in…

Retired NFL Players Fight for Better Retirement Benefits
Updated on Jan 31 2019 The upcoming Super Bowl is top-of-mind, yet retired NFL players are still fighting for better pensions. Football is an intense, physical sport but players before…

Raiders in Discussions About Playing in San Diego in 2019
From the former home of an AFC West rival to the Raiders 2019 home stadium? That’s what’s San Diego could become. It’s 2019 and the Raiders still have no home for the…

Drew Brees missed out on Super Bowl, but he’s helping one Mississippi veteran get there
After a week of sulking over bad news, here’s a bright spot for Saints fans. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees has helped award a trip to the Super Bowl to…

Cheap beer is good press: Why the Falcons’ fan-friendly pricing is a win-win
Fan-friendly pricing makes it possible to feed a family of four at Mercedes Benz Stadium without taking out a second mortgage. But that doesn’t mean the Falcons are making less…

Guided by his Gilman lessons, Rams rookie Micah Kiser is just getting ‘better and better’
As Los Angeles Rams inside linebacker Micah Kiser headed for the Houston Texans’ backfield in a preseason game last August, Texans offensive lineman Roderick Johnson got to him first. Johnson…

Coach identifies Holmes’ greatest skill as a receiver
Valentine Holmes’ wide receiver coach has praised one ‘silky’ aspect of his game. Powered by WPeMatico

Super Bowl mystery: Why does Brandin Cooks keep getting traded?
The Rams are Brandin Cooks’ third team in three seasons, and he has finally found a home. Powered by WPeMatico

Giants RB Saquon Barkley wins Pepsi Rookie of the Year over Browns QB Baker Mayfield
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns’ fans passionately voted for every one of their players nominated for the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week Award throughout the year, so much so…

With Eagles in the forefront, NFL is quietly entering a new age of analysis using player-tracking data
At the time, the reporters barely knew what Lurie was talking about. Didn’t RFD have something to do with delivering mail in the boondocks? No, this was different: radio frequency…

Dolfan Maniac In Running To Be First Inductee In NFL’s “Ford Hall Of Fans”
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – It is a dream come true for Roger Avila the man otherwise known as the Dolfan Maniac who is now one step closer to possibly making history….

Hines Ward calls Steelers ’embarrassing,’ praises Patriots for sustained success
Former Pittsburgh wide receiver Hines Ward called the state of the Steelers “embarrassing,” and he said the franchise would benefit from being more like the Patriots. “I look at what…

Court: Counterfeit NFL gear, tickets can be seized ahead of Super Bowl
Copycats, be warned: Through early next week, police and NFL officials will be able to seize any counterfeit tickets or merchandise they see, no questions asked. A Fulton County judge…

Huge day coming from Atlanta
Thursday will be our biggest day yet from Atlanta, or arguably from any Super Bowl city. PFT Live will feature Chris Simms and Dan Katz a/k/a Barstool Big Cat (if…

Colin Kaepernick ‘deserves’ to still be in the NFL, claims former Super Bowl champion Anquan Boldin
Colin Kaepernick, who has been unable to find a team to play for in the NFL following his protests during the national anthem, is unlikely to ever take the field…

Choir combines NFL players’ love of gospel music, football
ATLANTA – ATLANTA (AP) – Retired Dallas Cowboys safety Dextor Clinkscale gets a chance each year to re-experience the camaraderie of playing in the NFL when the Super Bowl Gospel…

Lots of Questions for Goodell, Not a Lot of Answers
AP Pro Football Writer ATLANTA — Faced with a blitz of officiating questions and queries about the effectiveness of the Rooney Rule, Colin Kaepernick’s football unemployment, and the cancellation of…

Players Coalition draws strength from progress after shaky start, public spats
For an organization that drew criticism for accepting the NFL’s money, this day was proof of the good the Players Coalition felt could be done by agreeing to the deal….

Several Los Angeles Rams trades among the most impactful this season
As one of only two teams still playing football in February, the prior offseason for the Los Angeles Rams seems so distant. It feels like a lifetime ago that guys…

Todd Gurley: Hopefully Sony Michel plays how he did before I taught him everything
Todd Gurley hopes the student doesn’t become the master Feb. 3 when the Rams and Patriots face off in Super Bowl LIII. Gurley, who was teammates on Georgia with both…

Rex Ryan’s bro scores NFL return first
Before Buffalo, Ryan served as defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints from 2013-2015, Dallas Cowboys in 2011 and 2012, Cleveland Browns in 2009 and 2010 and Oakland Raiders from…

NFL Commissioner Blasted For Dodging Questions On Colin Kaepernick Situation
Roger Goodell wouldn’t address how history will view the football league’s treatment of the activist quarterback. Powered by WPeMatico

Rams’ Todd Gurley and Aaron Donald are hoping to make a signature Super Bowl play
Percy Harvin’s kickoff return for a touchdown for the Seattle Seahawks. Consecutive kickoff returns for touchdowns by the New York Giants’ Ron Dixon and the Baltimore Ravens’ Jermaine Lewis. Linebacker…

Instant replay fix a lot easier than it appears
Saints coach Sean Payton held his end of season press conference Wednesday morning outside the team’s facility in Metairie In the aftermath of the blown pass interference call in the…

The underrated piece of Patriots dynasty? The ‘greatest OL coach’ in NFL history
The Patriots offensive line is a main reason they’re in Super Bowl LIII, and their offensive line coach has a lot to do with that. Powered by WPeMatico

The Super Bowl Is About To See Its First Male Cheerleaders
The Los Angeles Rams’ Quinton Peron and Napoleon Jinnies were two of three men who made history last year as the NFL’s first male cheerleaders. Powered by WPeMatico

What NFL players eat in the off-season: NFL players share their favorite foods
ATLANTA (NEXSTAR) — It takes a lot of food to fuel 200, 300, even 400 pounds of football player. And, let’s go ahead and get it out of the way that…

How to get free tickets to the NFL Draft and top things to see in Nashville
ATLANTA (NEXSTAR) — While we’re counting down the days until the Super Bowl this weekend, there’s another NFL event on the horizon: the NFL Draft. In Nashville for 2019, the…

Chargers RB Melvin Gordon will wait and see on next contract
Chargers running back Melvin Gordon doubled down on his anti-Rams comments this week while making the media rounds in Atlanta for Super Bowl LIII. Gordon will sit back Sunday hoping…

NFL security chief: No threats to Super Bowl have surfaced
ATLANTA — The NFL’s top security officer say the league is not aware of any security threats against the Super Bowl, now four days away. National Football League Chief Security…

Goodell: No rush on roof decision; praises Atlanta’s ‘incredible job’
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who has the final say on whether Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s retractable roof will be open or closed for the Super Bowl, on Wednesday deferred the decision until…

Chasing Brady: Donald, Suh to lead Rams’ Super Bowl pursuit
ATLANTA (AP) — Practically every member of the Los Angeles Rams has a favorite story about Aaron Donald’s feats of ridiculous athleticism. Powered by WPeMatico

The Baker Mayfield effect: How the QB’s rookie season will impact Kyler Murray
“Everybody is going to knock him for his size,” the six-foot Mayfield said of the 5-10 Murray, who succeeded him in Norman and won the Heisman Trophy for the Sooners….

Opinion: Roger Goodell won’t give NFL fans the honest answers they deserve
What I’m Hearing: USA TODAY Sports’ Nancy Armour was on hand for Roger Goodell’s state of the NFL address at Super Bowl LIII and breaks down the vibe around Atlanta…

Tom Brady Is Labeled A ‘Known Cheater’ By TV News Station Caption
Pittsburgh’s CBS affiliate KDKA fired the employee responsible. Powered by WPeMatico

Did Saints’ Sean Payton take swipe at Roger Goodell with infamous clown T-shirt?
Saints head coach Sean Payton appeared to deliver his season-ending news conference on Wednesday wearing a concealed Barstool Sports T-shirt featuring the commissioner with a clown nose. Powered by WPeMatico

Super Bowl quarterbacks bolster Cal’s reputation
As the Super Bowl approaches, a sudden ray of light shines upon Cal football. The Rams’ Jared Goff will become the fifth former Bears quarterback to start the game, joining…

Roger Goodell on missed penalty in NFC title game: ‘Technology is not going to solve’ NFL’s officiating issues
For the first time since a controversial no-call late in the NFC Championship Game proved crucial in the New Orleans Saints falling short of the Super Bowl, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell publicly…

Ex-Seahawk Richard Sherman sounds off on perception of athletes in business matters
If you’re a sports fan who frequents the interwebs or social media, you’ve probably come across reports of players wanting more guaranteed money from their franchises. Or asking for player-friendly…

How far can Greg Zuerlein make a field goal from? His personal record is 76 yards
Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein is one of the curiosities of the Super Bowl, given his incredible leg strength. Powered by WPeMatico

NFL committed to playing in Mexico to “grow the game”
Six days before kickoff, the NFL moved its one scheduled game in Mexico City this season. The condition of the field at Azteca Stadium forced the switch of the Rams-Chiefs…

Goodell: San Diego not option for Raiders in ’19
ATLANTA (AP) – The Latest on Super Bowl 53 (all times EST): 1:40 p.m. Commissioner Roger Goodell says adding an extra official isn’t the answer to all the league’s issues….

Former NFL kicker says Robbie Gould should be at top of Bears’ wish list
Arguably the most unappreciated position in all professional sports is the kicker. It’s not until a game-winning kick is missed — or double-doinked and missed — that fans realize just…

Super Bowl 2019: Odds, Vegas betting lines, moneyline and fun props for the NFL’s thrilling climax
The New England Patriots are favourites for Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta this Sunday , with Vegas bookmakers giving them 2.5 points over the Los Angeles Rams on the handicap….

Bill Cowher: Giants should add a running back to compliment Saquon Barkley
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley established himself as one of the most dominant at his position as a rookie, tallying over 2,000 yards from scrimmage and breaking countless…

Reporter Asks Bill Belichick For Selfie During Super Bowl Press Conference
The Patriots coach had his patience tested by a familiar face. Powered by WPeMatico

Maroon 5 Cancels Super Bowl Halftime News Conference
The band is scheduled to perform with Big Boi and Travis Scott at halftime during Super Bowl LIII. Powered by WPeMatico

How panicked kicker delivered epic trick play
Thomas Morstead overcame a virtual panic attack to deliver an extremely challenging onsides kick to go from an unknown rookie to a place in Super Bowl lore. Powered by WPeMatico

Schmuck: NFL is getting what it deserves for massive screwup in NFC title game
There are plenty of interesting story lines that will play out during Super Bowl week in Atlanta, but none as delicious as the one currently playing out in New Orleans….

NFL’s scoring boom contributes to drop in minority coaches
After all the points were piled up in the second-highest scoring season in NFL history, the popular prototype for a head coach became predictably clear. Teams on the annual coaching…

Gurley over Gronkowski in Madden NFL 19 video game matchup
ATLANTA (AP) — It might have zero bearing on Sunday’s Super Bowl, in which the Patriots are a 2½-point favorite over the Rams. Still, on Tuesday night, Los Angeles All-Pro…

C.J. Anderson’s mind was far away from football
C.J. Anderson wasn’t sure if a chance to play football would come again. So instead of fretting about his career, Anderson continued to focus on the bigger picture. Powered by…

Before Rams’ fateful call, RB C.J. Anderson kept busy opening doors for kids
At the time, Anderson had been in Tampa setting up business meetings for his company and his foundation, Dreams Never Die, which aims to help inner-city youth back in his…

Patriots explain mindset going into matchup with high-powered Rams passing offense
The New England Patriots defense has certainly come a long way this year: after an inconsistent start into the season, the unit grew into one of the NFL’s better units…

Here’s why pass interference should not be reviewable
Making pass interference reviewable would open up a pandora’s box for the NFL. Powered by WPeMatico

Maroon 5 cancels Super Bowl halftime news conference
ATLANTA (AP) — Maroon 5 has canceled its news conference to discuss the band’s Super Bowl halftime performance, choosing to not meet with reporters as most acts have done. Powered…

For NFL players, adding Jr., II and III to their jerseys is deeper than you think
Six players on the Rams and Patriots are part of a growing NFL trend of African-American players having “Sr.,” “Jr.,” “II” or “III” listed after their surnames on their jerseys….

NFL cancels Maroon 5’s Super Bowl news conference amid backlash from music world
Maroon 5 won’t be taking any questions before it takes the stage at the Super Bowl LIII halftime show on Sunday. Powered by WPeMatico

Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips prepares for reunion with Tom Brady
ATLANTA – Like an old lawman, Wade Phillips has traveled from town to town – San Diego, Dallas, Houston, Denver, and now Los Angeles – in search of his foil,…

NFL: Brady body guards key to unlocking Super Bowl win
The problem facing the Rams is that Patriots Trent Brown, Marcus Cannon, Shaq Mason, Joe Thuney and David Andrews have provided a virtual force field around the 41-year-old Brady allowing…

Top defensive prospect slides, Chargers get huge steal in latest NFL.com mock draft
The Chargers are no new victims to getting steals in the NFL draft. It occurred most recently in 2018 when safety Derwin James, who was projected to go within the…

Rams’ Andrew Whitworth, NFL’s oldest offensive lineman, finally gets playoff success
Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth is the NFL’s oldest offensive lineman, and he’s finally experiencing a deep playoff run. Powered by WPeMatico

Cashless Super Bowl coming? Visa says yes
ATLANTA (AP) — So you’re headed to the Super Bowl some year in the future, and you’re wondering how much cash you’ll need for the big game. Powered by WPeMatico

What Roger Goodell says on pass interference and replay in his Super Bowl address will matter this year
The league office presumably will break its public silence on the botched call that decided the NFC championship game when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addresses the media Wednesday at his…

Is Baker Mayfield trying to recruit players to join Browns?
CLEVELAND — Former Cleveland Cavaliers small forward LeBron James said he did not recruit players to Northeast Ohio to join his pursuit of NBA championships for the hometown team, but…

Packers bring back Getsy as QBs coach to work with Rodgers
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers are bringing back Luke Getsy, this time as their quarterbacks coach to work with Aaron Rodgers. Getsy spent four seasons on…

Full 7-round mock draft brings Raiders 4 immediate starters
January and February are two of my favorite months of the year because it typically starts “Mock Draft Season.” For the first few weeks of January, we’ve seen a dozen…

Rock On: Bat isn’t the only thing scaring the Jazz
OFF THE BAT Jazz pregame warmups were interrupted Friday when a bat flew into the arena and buzzed the court. “That was scary,” Donovan Mitchell told reporters. “I was not…

Aaron Hernandez Podcast Investigates Football’s Drug Problem
‘Gladiator’ spent six episodes going deep into the tragic story of Aaron Hernandez — but a new bonus episode pivots to the problem of drug use in the NFL at large…

No offense, but Cardinals know points = hope
The most points the Cardinals have scored in a season is 489, back in 2015 when No risk-it, no biscuit was at its peak. The Cardinals reached the NFC Championship…

Madden NFL Simulation Just Predicted The Super Bowl Winner
The video game has had a pretty good success rate, so Rams and Patriots fans better take note! Powered by WPeMatico

Redskins grab Duke QB Daniel Jones in new mock draft
The 2019 NFL mock drafts continue to flow and each seems to have a new scenario involving the Washington Redskins. For NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks, the easy call was giving the Redskins…

Every NFL Team’s Best Candidate to Break Out Next Season
Outside Linebacker Leonard Floyd It’s rather difficult to peg a breakout player for the Chicago Bears—if only because so many of the team’s young players have already broken out. In…

Meet the NFL’s class of 2018: Players who graduated to stardom
Dan Graziano ESPN Staff Writer Close Joined ESPN in 2011 New Jersey native and author of two published novels Follow on Twitter Stardom is a tricky thing in the NFL….

Detroit Lions’ Luke Willson thinks ‘the world of’ new OC Darrell Bevell
L.A. Rams defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh reflects on his time with the Detroit Lions at Super Bowl Opening Night in Atlanta, Jan. 28, 2019. ATLANTA — Luke Willson has done…

Chicago Bears News: January 29. 2019
BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!! BEARRRSSSS 2019 NFL Draft: Chicago Bears add Senior Bowl OT in latest mock draft – Bears Wire – The Chicago Bears add an intriguing…

NFL has turned the event sports writers hate into an event fans love
For years, Super Bowl Media Day was the event that sports writers viewed as a necessary evil: It was big and loud and not an easy place to get work…

Collins to Judge NFL 1st & Future
During the program, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Atlanta Falcons President and CEO and NFL Competition Committee Chairman Rich McKay will participate in a panel discussion on leveraging the latest…

In the younger, cheaper NFL, Super Bowl champs get cut, too
A word of warning to all those soon-to-be Super Bowl champions in New England or Los Angeles: Don’t get too comfortable. You might be looking for a job fairly soon….

Monday Sports in Brief
The five-time All-Star has told the Pelicans that he wants to be traded to a championship-contending team and will not sign an extension with New Orleans, agent Rich Paul told…

Monday Sports in Brief
The five-time All-Star has told the Pelicans that he wants to be traded to a championship-contending team and will not sign an extension with New Orleans, agent Rich Paul told…

In the younger, cheaper NFL, Super Bowl champs get cut, too
A word of warning to all those soon-to-be Super Bowl champions in New England or Los Angeles: Don’t get too comfortable. You might be looking for a job fairly soon….

Former Raiders linebacker Duane Benson dies at age 73
Former NFL linebacker Duane Benson died Saturday at age 73 after a five-year battle with cancer, according to Rochelle Olson of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Benson played 10 seasons for the…

Super Bowl 2019: Why Arsenal villain Stan Kroenke is deemed a ‘hero’ among Los Angeles Rams fans
Stan Kroenke‘s presence will be firmly in Atlanta on Sunday whilst Arsenal, more than 4,000 miles away, attempt to snatch a result at title-chasing Manchester City to steady their season….

EDITORIAL: ‘Fess Up: Years after admitting Dez caught it, NFL drops the ball once again
It’s been a little over five years since we all watched in disbelief as Dez caught it. Most fans that aren’t major Packers’ backers or big-time Cowboys haters agree that…

Most pressing 2019 fantasy questions the AFC West has to answer
Matt Harmon breaks down the most pressing questions faced by the four teams in the AFC West, including where the Raiders will spend their countless resources and if John Elway…