INSIDER
Lamar Jackson's 5-TD game fell just short of a perfect passer rating
Read full article: Lamar Jackson's 5-TD game fell just short of a perfect passer ratingLamar Jackson couldnโt have performed much better as a passer when he threw five TD passes, only five incompletions and no interceptions while throwing for 281 yards in a victory for Baltimore over Tampa Bay.
Colts rest QB Anthony Richardson on final day of minicamp with soreness in throwing shoulder
Read full article: Colts rest QB Anthony Richardson on final day of minicamp with soreness in throwing shoulderIndianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson played it safe on the final day of minicamp, resting his sore right shoulder.
Inside NBC's Olympics bet on pop culture in Paris, with help from Snoop Dogg and Cardi B
Read full article: Inside NBC's Olympics bet on pop culture in Paris, with help from Snoop Dogg and Cardi BNBC has partnered with several entertainers and non-Olympic athletes like Megan Thee Stallion, Dolly Parton and Peyton Manning to promote the Paris Games this summer.
Peyton Manning says he has no desire to go from broadcasting to an NFL executive position
Read full article: Peyton Manning says he has no desire to go from broadcasting to an NFL executive positionPeyton Manning says he has no desire to leave broadcasting with brother Eli and head to the executive suite of an NFL franchise.
Kelly Clarkson and Peyton Manning join NBC's Paris Olympics opening ceremony coverage as hosts
Read full article: Kelly Clarkson and Peyton Manning join NBC's Paris Olympics opening ceremony coverage as hostsSinger Kelly Clarkson and NFL legend Peyton Manning will bring a new flavor to NBC Universalโs upcoming Paris Olympics coverage this summer.
Chris Mortensen, an award-winning ESPN reporter who covered the NFL, dies at 72
Read full article: Chris Mortensen, an award-winning ESPN reporter who covered the NFL, dies at 72Chris Mortensen, the award-winning journalist who covered the NFL for close to four decades, including 32 as a senior analyst at ESPN, died Sunday morning.
Sean Payton hints at moving on from Russell Wilson, says Broncos have to hit on 'the next one' at QB
Read full article: Sean Payton hints at moving on from Russell Wilson, says Broncos have to hit on 'the next one' at QBDenver Broncos head coach Sean Payton says he won't know until next week at the earliest if he's moving on from quarterback Russell Wilson.
Mahomes throws TD pass, Kelce has big game with Swift watching again as Chiefs beat Broncos 19-8
Read full article: Mahomes throws TD pass, Kelce has big game with Swift watching again as Chiefs beat Broncos 19-8Patrick Mahomes threw for 306 yards and a touchdown, Harrison Butker kicked four field goals, and the Kansas City Chiefs held off the Denver Broncos 19-8.
Pro Picks: Expect Broncos to be competitive, but still lose to Chiefs for the 16th straight time
Read full article: Pro Picks: Expect Broncos to be competitive, but still lose to Chiefs for the 16th straight timeTurning the Denver Broncos into a winner has been a tougher task than Sean Payton couldโve imagined when he ended his brief retirement and returned to coaching.
Early season downturn in offense avoids Ravens, Dolphins
Read full article: Early season downturn in offense avoids Ravens, DolphinsThe downturn in offense from the first two weeks of the NFL season hasnโt touched all corners of the league with a handful of players and teams putting up staggering numbers.
Thomas, Revis, Freeney headline 1st time Hall candidates
Read full article: Thomas, Revis, Freeney headline 1st time Hall candidatesSix-time All-Pro offensive lineman Joe Thomas, shutdown cornerback Darrelle Revis and speedy pass rusher Dwight Freeney headline the list of nine first-year eligible players picked among the 129 nominees for the 2023 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Chiefs' Mahomes still thrives on proving naysayers wrong
Read full article: Chiefs' Mahomes still thrives on proving naysayers wrongItโs sometimes hard to believe that Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, for all that heโs accomplished during his young but brilliant NFL career, would carry such a considerable chip on his shoulder.
College football, XFL, Australian Open headline ESPN slate
Read full article: College football, XFL, Australian Open headline ESPN slateThree huge matchups to kick off the college football season, the XFL, a new Australian Open agreement and two new โ30 for 30โ documentaries were announced by ESPN as part of its presentation to advertisers in New York.
LEADING OFF: Balkovec up; Scherzer, Freeman, Correa debut
Read full article: LEADING OFF: Balkovec up; Scherzer, Freeman, Correa debutRachel Balkovec is set to become the first woman to manage a minor league affiliate of a major league team Friday when her Class-A Tampa Tarpons in the New York Yankeesโ organization face the Lakeland Flying Tigers in the Florida State League.
AP sources: Seahawks agree to trade Russell Wilson to Denver
Read full article: AP sources: Seahawks agree to trade Russell Wilson to DenverTwo people familiar with the negotiations tell The Associated Press that the Seattle Seahawks have agreed to trade star quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a package of draft picks and players.
NFL executives want, expect more Black coaches to be hired
Read full article: NFL executives want, expect more Black coaches to be hiredThe NFL has taken several steps to improve diversity among leadership positions, yet Mike Tomlin is the only Black head coach after Brian Flores and David Culley were fired this week.
Bennett, No. 1 Georgia remain perfect, rout Tennessee 41-17
Read full article: Bennett, No. 1 Georgia remain perfect, rout Tennessee 41-17Stetson Bennett ran for a touchdown and threw for another as top-ranked Georgia remained perfect, wrapping up its Southeastern Conference schedule by routing Tennessee 41-17.
Close calls: NFL has record number of games decided late
Read full article: Close calls: NFL has record number of games decided lateFrom Lamar Jacksonโs improbable comeback that ended in an overtime win for Baltimore to the missed kick festival between Green Bay and Cincinnati, the NFL had several more games go down to the wire in Week 5.
Tom Brady beats Patriots in New England return, 19-17
Read full article: Tom Brady beats Patriots in New England return, 19-17Tom Brady rallied the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 19-17 victory over the Patriots on a rainy Sunday night in his return to New England, with Ryan Succop hitting the winning 48-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter.
Matt Ryan says he loves Atlanta, not worried about future
Read full article: Matt Ryan says he loves Atlanta, not worried about futureMatt Ryan has watched Joe Montana, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady switch teams, so he knows thereโs a possibility he wonโt finish his career with the Atlanta Falcons.
Hall of Fame class has something for everybody
Read full article: Hall of Fame class has something for everybodyFrom bone-rattling tacklers Troy Polamalu, Steve Atwater and Cliff Harris to hard-charging runner Edgerrin James to the pass-catching brilliance of Isaac Bruce and Harold Carmichael, the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2020 has something for everyone.
Texas extends CWS stay, knocks out Volunteers with 8-4 win
Read full article: Texas extends CWS stay, knocks out Volunteers with 8-4 winFreshman Tanner Witt pitched 5 2/3 innings of shutout relief and Silas Ardoin hit a tie-breaking, two-run single as Texas eliminated Tennessee from the College World Series with an 8-4 victory.
MacKinnon records hat trick, Avs beat Blues 6-3 in Game 2
Read full article: MacKinnon records hat trick, Avs beat Blues 6-3 in Game 2Nathan MacKinnon finished his first career playoff hat trick with an empty-net goal to help the Colorado Avalanche pull away late for a 6-3 win over St. Louis in Game 2 after the Blues avoided a pregame virus scare that nearly sidelined several players.
Denver Broncos exercise Von Miller's 2021 option
Read full article: Denver Broncos exercise Von Miller's 2021 optionFILE - Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller takes up his position during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, Wisc., in this Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, file photo. The Denver Broncos have exercised star linebacker Von Miller's 2021 option. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer, File)ENGLEWOOD, Colo. โ The Denver Broncos have exercised star linebacker Von Miller's 2021 option. The Broncos tweeted without comment an image of Miller celebrating the team's Super Bowl triumph five years ago. 2 overall pick behind Cam Newton, whom he dominated in Super Bowl 50 to help Denver beat Carolina 24-10 in Peyton Manning's farewell game.
Bucs' Arians scoffs at rumors, says he's returning 'for 2'
Read full article: Bucs' Arians scoffs at rumors, says he's returning 'for 2'(AP Photo/Ashley Landis)TAMPA, Fla. โ Seconds after linebacker Devin White intercepted a pass in the end zone, Tampa Bay coach Bruce Arians started doling out hugs. Arians unplugged his headset, slipped on a Super Bowl championship hat and braced for the traditional Gatorade shower. Together, Arians and the 43-year-old Brady helped Tampa Bay win its first championship in 18 years and cemented their spot in the franchise history books. He took a year off and worked in television before returning to the NFL with Tampa Bay โ joining a young team he saw as full of potential. His biggest coup was landing Brady, who engineered yet another masterpiece and won his seventh Super Bowl after six titles with the Patriots.
Gronk, AB, Fournette team up for Super Bowl TDs, Bucs top KC
Read full article: Gronk, AB, Fournette team up for Super Bowl TDs, Bucs top KCBrady wound up with his seventh NFL championship and was the Super Bowl MVP for the fifth time. โAll week he made us believe we were going to win,โ Fournette said. โHe was amazing and just did it all: blocked, ran, just had an incredible season,โ Brady said. Brady's seventh Super Bowl triumph broke a tie he held with three members of Vince Lombardi's great Green Bay Packers teams of the 1960s for most NFL championships. "There's nothing that he can't do: new team, new scheme, first year with a new team and going to the Super Bowl and winning it all.
Tom Brady wins Super Bowl No. 7, Buccaneers beat Chiefs 31-9
Read full article: Tom Brady wins Super Bowl No. 7, Buccaneers beat Chiefs 31-9The Buccaneers defeated the Chiefs 31-9 to win the Super Bowl. With help from old friend Rob Gronkowski and a ferocious defense, Brady and the Buccaneers are Super Bowl champions. The GOAT earned his fifth Super Bowl MVP award and extended his Super Bowl titles' record in his 10th appearance, nine with New England. Stunningly, it was easier than any of his previous Super Bowl victories, which came by an average margin of five points. They won three road games as a wild card to reach the Super Bowl, and joined the NHL's Lightning as a 2020 season champion.
Manning and Lynch join together for a 3rd career highlight
Read full article: Manning and Lynch join together for a 3rd career highlightManning was selected Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2021. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File)NFL greats elsewhere, Peyton Manning and John Lynch shared a second career in Denver. Close friends Manning and Lynch, who joke about drinking Mai Tai cocktails together at Pro Bowls in Hawaii and then charging them to hotel rooms of other players, are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 2021. This is the ultimate that one player could ever achieve after their playing days are over.โLike Pearson, Flores and Lynch, Faneca had a lengthy wait. During the pandemic, Baker instead traveled to the houses of the four modern-day players and Flores, and he surprised Manning at the Broncos' stadium.
Game changers: Manning, Woodson, Megatron headed to Hall
Read full article: Game changers: Manning, Woodson, Megatron headed to HallCharles Woodson beat out Peyton Manning for a prestigious college award. On Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, they likely will share an even more impressive football honor: entry into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Not three years later, Manning threw 55 touchdown passes โ that record still stands as the most in a season โ and started in the Super Bowl for the Broncos. But he guided the Broncos to a win in Super Bowl 50 โ then left the field forever. He finished his career with 65 interceptions and 13 defensive touchdowns, tied for the career record with Rod Woodson and Darren Sharper.
The Latest: Peyton Manning gets Hall call
Read full article: The Latest: Peyton Manning gets Hall callPeyton Manning, Charles Woodson, Jared Allen and Calvin Johnson are first-year eligible players to make the list of 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fames class of 2021. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta, File)TAMPA, Fla. โ The Latest on the 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame class announced Saturday during the NFL Honors TV show (All times EST):___10:49 p.m.Peyton Manning is heading to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, an all-but-preordained honor for a quarterback who helped redefine offense in the 21st century. Manning spent his first 14 years in Indianapolis, where he won his first Super Bowl. ___10:08 p.m.Alan Faneca, the sturdy guard who spent years opening holes open for Jerome Bettis and protecting Ben Roethlisberger, is going into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. ___9:33 p.m.Calvin Johnson, the receiver better known as โMegatron,โ has been named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
Brady, improved defense keys to Bucs winning Super Bowl
Read full article: Brady, improved defense keys to Bucs winning Super BowlTampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady during NFL football practice, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers will face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 55. (Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers via AP)TAMPA, Fla. โ Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wonโt be denied. The 43-year-old six-time Super Bowl champion may no longer be the best quarterback in the NFL, however, heโs shown in his first season with the Bucs that heโs still good enough to lead a team to the NFL title game. You want to make some moves that hopefully get your team into the Super Bowl.
Peyton Manning, Charles Woodson top Hall of Fame candidates
Read full article: Peyton Manning, Charles Woodson top Hall of Fame candidatesMore than two decades ago Charles Woodson beat out Peyton Manning for a prestigious college award. On Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, they likely will share an even more impressive football honor: entry into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File)More than two decades ago, Charles Woodson beat out Peyton Manning for a prestigious college award. On Saturday, they likely will share an even more impressive football honor: entry into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. When everybody is seeing it through the same eyes, it is a great way to play a football game.
Tom Brady has denied 27 QBs in unparalleled playoff success
Read full article: Tom Brady has denied 27 QBs in unparalleled playoff successBrady is shooting for his seventh ring when he leads the Buccaneers (14-5) against the reigning champion Chiefs (16-2) in Super Bowl 55 on Sunday. Brady's postseason record includes a 33-11 mark, 14 conference championship appearances and 10 trips to the Super Bowl. If the Bucs dethrone the champs, Mahomes would become the sixth quarterback Brady has beaten multiple times in the playoffs. Although heโs not showing his age, 43, Brady will be the oldest to play in a Super Bowl, displacing Colts kicker Matt Stover, who was 42 in Super Bowl 44. Unlike Warner, he wasn't going to get ahead of himself and talk about anything but the Super Bowl title in front of him.
QB whisperers Christensen, Moore see different side to Brady
Read full article: QB whisperers Christensen, Moore see different side to BradyTom Moore worked with Manning, Terry Bradshaw and many others before the 82-year-old assistant got a chance to coach Brady. Christensen and Moore were on the opposite sideline against Brady during the Colts-Patriots rivalry. Both have a different view of the six-time Super Bowl champion after getting to know him during his first season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Joking aside, Brady appreciates the wisdom from Christensen and Moore. He loves throwing them and heโs an extremely elite, deep-ball thrower.โChristensen has one Super Bowl ring and Moore has three.
Old (Brady), young (Mahomes), different Super Bowl 55 awaits
Read full article: Old (Brady), young (Mahomes), different Super Bowl 55 awaits(AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)For Tom Brady, another trip to the Super Bowl โ but this time, in a Tampa Bay uniform. โWhoever would've thought a home Super Bowl for us? It gave New England its third straight trip to the Super Bowl, and Brady's last of nine as a member of the Patriots. He's leading the Buccaneers to only their second Super Bowl; the Bucs won on their first trip, back in 2002. But nobody would mistake Johnson for Brady, who could join Peyton Manning as the only other quarterback to win a Super Bowl with two franchises.
All eyes on QBs as Packers host Bucs for NFC championship
Read full article: All eyes on QBs as Packers host Bucs for NFC championshipThe Packers defeated the Rams 32-18 to advance to the NFC championship game. When Rodgersโ Green Bay Packers (14-3) host Bradyโs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-5) in the NFC championship game Sunday, it will be just the fourth time theyโve squared off as starting quarterbacks, and first in the playoffs. โIโm excited about the opportunity to play against him one more time.โThe Bucs trounced the Packers 38-10 in Tampa on Oct. 18. A win at Lambeau Field clinches their first Super Bowl berth since their 2002 championship season. โWe play the Packers in the NFC championship game.
Colts QB Rivers, 39, retires from NFL after 17 seasons
Read full article: Colts QB Rivers, 39, retires from NFL after 17 seasonsโEvery year, Jan. 20 is a special and emotional day,โ Rivers said in a statement posted on the teamโs website. โIt is St. Sebastianโs Feast day, the day I played in the AFC championship without an ACL, and now the day that after 17 seasons, Iโm announcing my retirement from the National Football League. I am grateful to the Chargers for 16 seasons, and the Colts for the 17th season.โRivers was one of a kind. In the 2006 season opener, Rivers made his starting debut โ and then the next 251 in a row including the playoffs. โMy son never did throw a big ball like I did at that age and he throws it the exact same way,โ Rivers said.
3 title game quarterbacks have similar draft history
Read full article: 3 title game quarterbacks have similar draft historyThe Packers then made Rodgers the starter in 2008 and have made the playoffs 10 times since then with one Super Bowl title. TOM TERRIFIC: Tom Brady can join some illustrious company with a win this week for another Super Bowl appearance. Brady will appear in his staggering 14th conference title game in 19 seasons as a starter when Tampa Bay visits Green Bay on Sunday. MIGHTY MATT: Packers coach Matt LaFleur is back in the NFC title game for the second time in two seasons as an NFL coach. All those coaches reached at least one Super Bowl in those years with the exception of Ryan, who lost to Indianapolis and Pittsburgh.
Harbaugh, Ravens happily travel road to success in playoffs
Read full article: Harbaugh, Ravens happily travel road to success in playoffsHome-field advantage in the playoffs is overrated for Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who has found that the road to success in the postseason usually involves packing his bags and getting the heck out of Baltimore. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, FIle)Home-field advantage in the playoffs is overrated for Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who has found that the road to success in the postseason usually involves packing his bags and getting the heck out of Baltimore. In fact, Harbaugh has a better road record in the playoffs (8-5) than at home (2-2). For Harbaugh and the Ravens, there's nothing like a good old road trip in January. Asked to explain his ascent to the top of the list of road wins for an NFL coach, Harbaugh came up empty.
Mahomes leads champion Chiefs to 14-2 mark in stacked AFC
Read full article: Mahomes leads champion Chiefs to 14-2 mark in stacked AFCWhile the Chiefs get another weekโs rest, the six other AFC playoff teams get going this weekend. For just the second time since the 1970 league merger, every team in the AFC playoffs has at least 11 wins. Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 54, 31-20 over the San Francisco 49ers on Feb. 2, 2020, at Miami. Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 43, 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Feb. 1, 2009, at Tampa, Florida. Their pass rush is nearly nonexistent with 19 sacks, the fewest by a playoff team since Denver had 19 in 1979.