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Noah Hiles: Has Art Rooney II officially become Pittsburgh's new punching bag?

Sports / Football /

PITTSBURGH — On Thursday, ESPN published the leaked results of this year’s NFL Players Association annual report cards. For the first time in the four-year history of the union’s survey, the Steelers finished last among the NFL’s 32 franchises. And when this news was announced, very few were surprised.

This year’s report card covered ...Read more

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Stefon Diggs, A.J. Brown and free-agent targets: Inside the Patriots' plans at the NFL scouting combine

Sports / Football /

INDIANAPOLIS — Barely two weeks after losing the Super Bowl, the Patriots flew most of their coaching staff and front-office members to get back to work at the NFL scouting combine.

After speaking with several coaches, scouts, agents and executives around the league, here is everything the Boston Herald learned about the Patriots’ plans for...Read more

As the NFL combine winds down, all eyes shift to Pittsburgh for the league's next showcase event

Sports / Football /

INDIANAPOLIS — The city of Indianapolis is playing host to its 39th consecutive NFL combine, an event that has grown from an under-the-radar offseason gathering of NFL teams to a televised spectacle that is a must-watch for armchair GMs who want to look into the future of their favorite team.

An even bigger, brighter spotlight will shine on ...Read more

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Mark Sanchez accused of being on multiple drugs during stabbing incident

Sports / Football /

Former Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez may have been under the influence of several illicit drugs during his violent encounter with a truck driver in Indianapolis last year, at least according to court documents filed by the alleged victim.

Sanchez, 39, is facing a felony charge of battery involving serious bodily injury and three misdemeanors in...Read more

Emily Curiel/ecuriel@kcstar.com/Kansas City Star/TNS

Sam McDowell: Why Travis Kelce's decision is much more complex than last year for the Chiefs

Sports / Football /

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The focus of the NFL scouting combine is the looming draft and the flood of college prospects who will comprise it. It’s a head start on a free-agency window that opens in a couple of weeks. It’s the chance to finalize an ideal blueprint for the next couple of months.

Or, more simply, the focus of the combine is the ...Read more

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Chris Perkins: Dolphins, specifically Sullivan and Hafley, would be risking it all on Malik Willis

Sports / Football /

You wonder whether Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley are willing to risk it all on Green Bay quarterback Malik Willis.

Because that’s what they’d be doing if they sign the 26-year-old Willis, who they know from their two years together in Green Bay, to a multi-year free-agent contract.

Sullivan and Hafley ...Read more

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Could Ravens draft a WR in first round? The prospects are tantalizing.

Sports / Football /

INDIANAPOLIS — There is no position on the Ravens’ roster more polarizing than wide receiver.

The label is inherent to the job, which is high volume/limited opportunity, high pressure and highly visible. But it has also been a particular issue for Baltimore through the years.

Since 2019 — Lamar Jackson’s first year as a full-time ...Read more

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The Eagles are assessing A.J. Brown's trade market. Just don't expect Howie Roseman to give him away.

Sports / Football /

INDIANAPOLIS — Mike Vrabel’s recent comments about A.J. Brown may not qualify as tampering, but they are reflective of a certain preoccupation those associated with the Eagles have had with the wide receiver’s future at the scouting combine this week.

And, to some degree, the rest of the league shares that preoccupation — elite ...Read more

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Assault claims against ex-Michigan assistant investigated; Moore did nothing wrong, lawyer says

Sports / Football /

DETROIT — A former Michigan football assistant coach has been fired from his job with the Atlanta Falcons following allegations of sexual and physical abuse stemming from his time on staff in Ann Arbor.

LaTroy Lewis was fired as assistant defensive line coach with the Falcons, the team announced Friday afternoon, hours after it said it was ...Read more

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Lions' Terrion Arnold 'had no involvement whatsoever' in alleged crimes, lawyer claims

Sports / Football /

DETROIT — The attorney for Terrion Arnold denied the Detroit Lions cornerback's alleged ties to an armed robbery and kidnapping that occurred in Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 4.

In a statement provided to The Detroit News, R. Timothy Jansen said that "Mr. Arnold had no involvement whatsoever in the activities" that have led to the arrest of at least ...Read more

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Fernando Mendoza has 'fantastic' meeting with Raiders at combine

Sports / Football /

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza lauded his first formal meeting with the Las Vegas Raiders at the NFL scouting combine.

“It was a fantastic interview,” Mendoza said Friday morning. “The coaching staff was in there, and we went through some of my previous plays and drew some plays on the board. I thought it was a ...Read more

Katy Kildee/The Detroit News/TNS

Falcons fire ex-Michigan football assistant; police investigate sexual assault claims

Sports / Football /

A former Michigan football assistant coach has been fired from his job with the Atlanta Falcons following allegations of sexual and physical abuse stemming from his time on staff in Ann Arbor.

LaTroy Lewis was fired as assistant defensive line coach with the Falcons, the team announced Friday afternoon, hours after it said it was investigating ...Read more

Monica Herndon/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

Brandon Graham, Jaelan Phillips among athletes working with organization to prepare for post-playing career

Sports / Football /

PHILADELPHIA — It’s common advice, Brandon Graham said, to plan out what you’re going to do after you retire while you’re still playing pro sports.

You never know when your career will be over, the Eagles defensive end said. Just take it from him — Graham retired at the end of the 2024 season, then decided to come back midway through ...Read more

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Indiana governor signs Chicago Bears stadium bill into law as Illinois inches closer to a tax deal

Sports / Football /

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed a bill that outlines a financial structure for a Chicago Bears stadium in Hammond about an hour after the state Senate gave the bill its final approval on Thursday, while Illinois lawmakers were inching closer to a tax deal to try to keep the team in the Land of Lincoln.

“We made it clear from the beginning that...Read more

John T. Greilick/The Detroit News/TNS

Lions' Terrion Arnold tied to robbery, kidnapping in court order

Sports / Football /

DETROIT — Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold's name has surfaced in a Florida court order detailing the orchestration of an armed robbery and kidnapping that took place shortly after midnight on Feb. 4 in Tampa.

The allegations mentioning Arnold were included in a seven-page order from Hillsborough County Circuit Judge J. Logan Murphy ...Read more

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Bill Gates says he's not interested in buying Seahawks

Sports / Football /

SEATTLE — Bill Gates won’t be buying the Seattle Seahawks, the Microsoft co-founder said this week.

The Seahawks organization, run by fellow Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s sister Jody Allen, announced this month it was beginning the formal sale process of the team. The team’s price is expected to surpass $6 billion.

Though Gates ...Read more

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Why Rueben Bain Jr.'s short arms, measurables further complicate his draft stock

Sports / Football /

For Rueben Bain Jr. to become an NFL star, he’ll need to do it as an outlier.

The ultra-productive Miami edge rusher’s arms measured at 30 7/8 inches at the NFL scouting combine — one of the shortest measurements at his position in recent decades.

Since 1999, only four edge rushers measured in with shorter arms than Bain, according to ...Read more

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Jets trade pass rusher Jermaine Johnson to Titans for DT T'Vondre Sweat

Sports / Football /

NEW YORK — Another member of the Jets’ 2022 draft class has been traded.

The Jets are trading pass rusher Jermaine Johnson to the Titans in exchange for defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat, sources told the New York Daily News. NFL Network was first to report the trade.

The deal cannot be processed until the start of the new league year on ...Read more

Gerry Dulac: Is the Steelers' belief in young QB Will Howard real or just pre-draft posturing?

Sports / Football /

INDIANAPOLIS — Two things are true of the Pittsburgh Steelers as they continue to strip away the layers of their confounding quarterback position.

They still don’t know if Aaron Rodgers intends to return for another season, though they believe he is not signing somewhere else if he does come back.

And they believe Will Howard, despite ...Read more

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Troy Renck: Broncos' Sean Payton made right move giving up play-calling. How long before he calls an audible?

Sports / Football /

INDIANAPOLIS — Fresh off a bout with food poisoning, Sean Payton made a decision he believes will improve the health of his offense.

Tuesday, he officially, publicly handed off play-calling duties to new offensive coordinator Davis Webb. He did not look sick or gag when he said it. So, for now, we must believe it. Take him at his word.

In ...Read more