Titans’ strength to meet Chiefs’ speed in AFC championshipVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Andy Reid rarely digs into his past, preferring to stay in the moment or focus squarely on the future. It’s an approach that has served him well during a coaching career that might land him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Yet when his Kansas...
Warrant for Odell Beckham Jr. rescinded in butt-swat caseVideo
NEW ORLEANS — A misdemeanor simple battery warrant for Cleveland Browns wide receiver and former LSU star Odell Beckham Jr. was rescinded, the New Orleans Police Department confirmed Saturday. The warrant was issued Thursday as video posted on social media appeared to show Beckham swatting a security officer’s buttocks during...
Titans’ Greg Joseph OK kicking extra points instead of field goalsVideo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans have found a way to fix the NFL’s worst field-goal unit: Ignore the kicker and just score touchdowns. The Titans went a measly 8 of 18 on field-goal attempts during the regular season, easily the league’s worst, making only 44.4%. Greg Joseph, their fifth...
Aaron Rodgers-Richard Sherman matchup highlights NFC championship gameVideo
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Nine years into his career and a little more than two years removed from a debilitating torn Achilles injury, Richard Sherman still is tormenting quarterbacks on a weekly basis. Just ask Kirk Cousins. Sherman had his third career playoff interception last week in a victory over...
Prolific pass-catcher Kittle takes more pride in blocking for 49ers RBsVideo
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — No tight end in NFL history has been as productive catching the ball over the first three years of a career as George Kittle. A player that skilled as a receiver might be expected to ask — or even demand — for the ball to come...
Former starting QB Mariota still finding ways to help TitansVideo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans benched Marcus Mariota for Ryan Tannehill in mid-October after a 2-4 start. Finding the No. 2 overall pick from the 2015 draft isn’t that hard during their amazing playoff run. Just keep an eye on the field. The Titans (11-7) have gotten Mariota into...
Warrant issued for Odell Beckham Jr. after allegedly slapping officer’s backsideVideo
Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. did not endear himself to New Orleans police Monday night when he apparently slapped a Superdome security officer on the backside in the LSU football team’s locker room after the Tigers defeated Clemson for the national championship. On Thursday morning, New Orleans police obtained...
Demi Lovato to sing national anthem at Super Bowl
NEW YORK — Grammy-nominated pop singer Demi Lovato will perform the national anthem at the Super Bowl. NFL and Fox on Thursday announced the performance, which will take place ahead of the big game on Feb. 2 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Jennifer Lopez and Shakira will headline the...
First Call: Eagles may want Hines Ward; charity drops Antonio BrownVideo
Wednesday’s “First Call” features some news about a pair of former Steelers receivers. A dreadful call crushes Pitt. And two hockey oddities. Thanks. But no thanks Here is the latest, greatest example of how toxic Antonio Brown has become. The former Steelers wide receiver recently posted a video where he...
Lots of memorable moments between Packers, 49ers in recent historyVideo
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Brett Favre vs. Steve Young. Aaron Rodgers dueling with Colin Kaepernick. The catch by Terrell Owens, electrifying returns from Desmond Howard and breathtaking runs by Kaepernick. Few franchises have been as intertwined over the last quarter-century as the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers, with...
Titans’ gamble hiring Mike Vrabel paying offVideo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Titans safety Kenny Vaccaro listened to how coach Mike Vrabel praised his performance in Tennessee’s wild-card win with the hint of a smile. “I know how Vrabel is,” Vaccaro said. “He’s tough. He wants you to be physical, gritty, grindy, and he just likes guys that are...
Panthers LB Luke Kuechly retiring after 8 seasons in NFLVideo
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly is retiring from the NFL after eight seasons. The 28-year-old Kuechly made the surprising announcement Tuesday night in a video posted on the team’s website. He said, “I think now is the right chance to move on.” Kuechly was selected to seven...
Stefanski ready to tackle task of turning around BrownsVideo
Kevin Stefanski made a favorable first impression. Dressed impeccably, he came across lawyer-like, polished and articulate. He exuded confidence and passion. Now, he has to win. In Cleveland, that always is the issue for coaches. “I’m excited for this challenge,” Stefanski said. “I’m ready for it.” The former Vikings offensive...
Tim Benz: Is Tony Romo, or any NFL analyst, worth $14 million?
A report from Front Office Sports states that ESPN is preparing to offer CBS NFL analyst Tony Romo somewhere between $10-$14 million annually. Let’s split the difference and say it’s $12 million. If Romo were to sign that deal, he’d make more cash in 2020 as a broadcaster than: •...
49ers expecting different Packers for NFC Championship gameVideo
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — When Aaron Rodgers greeted Jimmy Garoppolo following the least productive start of his sterling career, he had a simple message for the San Francisco 49ers quarterback: “We’ll see you later on.” Less than two months after that lopsided loss, the Green Bay Packers quarterback has proven...
Drug charge to be dropped against Patriots safety Patrick Chung
CONCORD, N.H. — A cocaine possession charge against New England Patriots safety Patrick Chung will be dropped with the understanding that he will undergo periodic drug testing and perform 40 hours of community service, a prosecutor said Monday. A grand jury in New Hampshire indicted Chung in August. Belknap County...
NFL playoff schedule: Titans vs. Chiefs, Packers vs. 49ers set for conference championships
The NFL playoffs rolled along with a exciting slate of games for the divisional round this weekend and the results mean a matchup of the No. 1 and 2 seed in the NFC, and the No. 6 seed facing the No. 2 in the AFC. On Saturday, the San Francisco...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden break down Penguins’ western sweep, Tristan Jarry’s brilliance, AFC playoff stunners
In this week’s “Madden Monday,” Mark Madden is playing hurt. Why should he be different than anyone else in the Pittsburgh sports scene? Mark is really sick. But he joins us anyway for this week’s podcast. Kinda like the Penguins, right? Everyone is injured. But they are managing to win....
Packers hold off Seahawks to reach NFC championship gameVideo
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Aaron Rodgers connected with Davante Adams eight times for 160 yards and two touchdowns, Green Bay’s spruced-up defense fended off a spirited Seattle rally and the Packers held on for a 28-23 victory Sunday night to reach the NFC championship game for the third time in...
Super Bowl-winning coach Jimmy Johnson elected into Hall of FameVideo
Jimmy Johnson, who coached the Dallas Cowboys to two Super Bowl championships in the 1990s, has been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The hall announced his selection Sunday night as part of a centennial class that was chosen on Wednesday by a special committee. Former Pittsburgh Steelers...
Patrick Mahomes tosses 5 TDs, Chiefs rally from 24-0 hole to top TexansVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes stalked up and down the sideline like a field marshal rallying his troops, the brilliant young quarterback imploring the Kansas City Chiefs to stay together even as the Houston Texans were on the verge of taking them apart. The Chiefs already faced a 24-0...
John Steigerwald: Lamar Jackson deserved better from Ravens teammates
Lamar Jackson can’t win the big one. If you haven’t heard that yet, be patient, you will. After the Baltimore Ravens’ loss to the Tennessee Titans on Saturday night, Jackson is 0-2 in the NFL playoffs. Of course, he’s one of those athletic, mobile quarterbacks, who many observers just can’t...
As Ravens move on after stunning playoff loss, they look back and ahead: ‘It was fun, man, while it lasted’Video
BALTIMORE — Cornerback Marcus Peters was one of the first Ravens to head to his locker late Sunday morning, pack up his belongings and acknowledge that the end had well and truly come. “It was fun, man, while it lasted,” he said before a legion of cameras and microphones, but...
AP source: Browns hiring Vikings OC Kevin Stefanski as next coach
CLEVELAND — The Browns didn’t pass on Kevin Stefanski a second time. Cleveland is hiring the Vikings’ offensive coordinator to be its new coach, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Sunday. Stefanski agreed to accept the position a day after Minnesota was beaten 27-10 by...
Patriots WR Julian Edelman arrested for vandalism in Beverly Hills
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — New England Patriots star Julian Edelman was arrested in Southern California on suspicion of misdemeanor vandalism after jumping on the hood of someone’s car, authorities said Sunday. Edelman, 33, caused unspecified damage when he jumped on the vehicle Saturday night on a commercial block of Beverly...
