LAS VEGAS — Based on NFL regular-season win totals, the Saints (4 1/2) will be the worst team in the league this season, followed by the Browns (5 1/2), Giants (5 1/2) and Jets (5 1/2).

But professional sports bettor Jeff Whitelaw and Westgate SuperBook oddsmaker Ed Salmons believe the Giants’ number is too low. They made New York one of ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — “Dr. Alan” Dumond is a two-time top-five finisher in the Westgate SuperContest and runner-up in the Golden Nugget Ultimate Football Challenge.

The Chicago-based handicapper analyzes all 16 AFC teams, designating each squad as a pretender, contender or Super Bowl contender.

Note: A contender is expected to compete for a ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — “Dr. Alan” Dumond is a two-time top-five finisher in the Westgate SuperContest and runner-up in the Golden Nugget Ultimate Football Challenge.

The Chicago-based handicapper analyzes all 16 NFC teams, designating each squad as a pretender, contender or Super Bowl contender.

Note: A contender is expected to compete for a ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers locked up a bookend offensive tackle to protect Baker Mayfield.

Luke Goedeke, a second-round pick in the 2022 draft from Central Michigan, agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Bucs Tuesday evening.

Terms of the deal were not released, but it exceeds the two-year deal signed by Carolina ...Read more

NEW YORK — Sunday’s game between the Jets and the Steelers is a unique quarterback matchup.

Justin Fields and Aaron Rodgers swapped teams during the offseason, with Rodgers joining the Steelers after the Jets released him.

Shortly after the Jets officially released Rodgers, Fields signed a two-year, $40 million contract with the Jets.

“...Read more

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Sorry to break the news, Detroit fans, but the Lions aren’t going 15-2 again. They might not even go 14-3, or 13-4 or, gasp, 12-5.

Sorry to break the news, division rivals, but neither are the Packers, Vikings or Bears. The NFC neighborhood looks tougher than ever, and it’s increasingly fashionable to predict a new ...Read more

You can want it. You can hope for it. But please, I’m begging you — don’t expect it.

The moment the 49ers traded for running back Brian Robinson Jr., the drumbeat started. From fans, from the media, from anyone with a fantasy football team, the call came for Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan to play Robinson and Christian McCaffrey on the ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin said he expects defensive end Cam Heyward to play when the Steelers open the regular season on Sunday, despite the four-time All-Pro’s dissatisfaction with his contract and self-imposed limited participation in training camp.

That, though, doesn’t mean the issue Heyward has with the organization about a new ...Read more

FORT WORTH, Texas — David Mulugheta is one of the most powerful agents in sports, and he appeared on “First Take” with Stephen A. Smith on Tuesday to discuss his client, pass rusher Micah Parsons, and his controversial trade from the Dallas Cowboys to the Green Bay Packers.

Mulugheta said that normally he would prefer not to speak ...Read more

DENVER — Sometimes, sitting at his desk, Sean Payton will get lost in daydreams outside his window. He can see it. Not far across the sky, beyond the glass of his third-floor office in Dove Valley, the boom of a crimson crane places pieces of timber on the Broncos’ new identity.

In a year, this $175 million project will be complete, and the...Read more

CHICAGO — Quarterback Caleb Williams stepped backward with his left foot, signaling the motion. Veteran wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus moved across the formation from his spot to the left. The snap came a beat too late, and by the time the ball was in Williams’ hands, Zaccheaus had nearly blown by him.

Williams tried to recover and stick ...Read more

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Falcons wide receiver Drake London is hoping to turn in another megaseason in 2025.

“I don’t like to share my personal goals, but the main goal is to win,” London said.

London is a key cog in the passing attack for the Falcons, who are set to face the Buccaneers at 1 p.m. Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the ...Read more

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Chargers running back Najee Harris didn’t wish to reveal details about the eye injury that prevented him from practicing with his teammates during training camp. He also said he didn’t want to address any limitations he might have going into Friday’s season opener.

“I don’t want to go into that,” Harris said ...Read more

NEW YORK — At long last, the NFL is back.

Our nearly seven-month drought comes to a merciful end on Thursday night when the Philadelphia Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys in a star-powered rivalry game fit for prime time.

That game alone features no shortage of intrigue, with the Eagles kicking off their championship defense and the Cowboys ...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Jauan Jennings resumed practicing Monday after a five-week hiatus, and before he could break a sweat, he joyfully greeted general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan in warmups, six days before the 49ers’ season opener at Seattle.

Jennings hugged his superiors after catching passes from Brock Purdy and Mac Jones...Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif. — So much for that calf injury. So much for that contract negotiation.

Jauan Jennings was back at work on Monday, seven weeks to the day his contract dispute became public and 36 days after a calf injury took him off the practice field.

And while I’m sure both the 49ers and the wide receiver will play this unnecessary and ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Matthew Stafford will start at quarterback and the plan is for Alaric Jackson to start at left tackle on Sunday in the season opener against the Houston Texans at SoFi Stadium, Rams coach Sean McVay said Monday.

Stafford, 37, practiced the last few weeks after sitting out training camp and several weeks because of a back issue. ...Read more

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins announced their captains for the 2025 season on Monday morning, and star wide receiver Tyreek Hill was not among them.

The Dolphins captains were: Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, center Aaron Brewer, fullback Alec Ingold, defensive tackle Zach Sieler, linebacker Jordyn Brooks and edge defender Bradley ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The word unprecedented gets thrown around a lot in sports. Often, it is used in situations where it doesn’t really apply.

One analyst/talking head, for instance, recently argued that “we are in the midst of literal unprecedented greatness” because the Kansas City Chiefs are “tied for the greatest three-year stretch in ...Read more