Bill Polian
Former Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder watches the game action from the field during an NCAA football intrasquad scrimmage, Saturday, April 9, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
1st NIL draft class could have long-lasting impact on NFL

By Michael Marot Apr. 26, 2022 12:56 PM EDT

FILE - Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Atlanta. The Indianapolis Colts acquired quarterback Matt Ryan in a trade Monday, March 21, 2022, with the Atlanta Falcons, The Associated Press has learned. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik, File)
Blockbuster: Colts get QB Matt Ryan in trade with Falcons

By Michael Marot Mar. 21, 2022 03:08 PM EDT

FILE - Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Von Miller (40) celebrates their victory against the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl 56 on Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano, File)
NFL teams ready to spend even with no franchise QBs around

By Barry Wilner Mar. 11, 2022 11:14 AM EST

Baylor defensive back Kalon Barnes runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Plenty of studs, paucity of duds at NFL scouting combine

By Arnie Stapleton Mar. 08, 2022 06:17 PM EST

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) throws a pass over Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Ben Niemann (56) during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Polian's book a behind-the-scenes look at building teams

By The Associated Press Feb. 06, 2022 07:03 PM EST

FILE - Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus is shown on the sidelines during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Indianapolis. Matt Eberflus is the new coach of the Chicago Bears, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press, tasked with turning around a franchise mired in mediocrity for much of the past decade. The person confirmed the move to the AP on condition of anonymity Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, because there had been no announcement by the Bears.(AP Photo/Zach Bolinger, FIle)
Chicago Bears hire Colts DC Matt Eberflus as head coach

By Jay Cohen Jan. 27, 2022 12:02 PM EST

FILE - Chicago Bears chairman George H. McCaskey talks to reporters after an end of season NFL football news conference with coach John Fox and general manager Ryan Pace, Jan. 4, 2017, in Lake Forest, Ill. McCaskey simply could not ignore the Bears' record, no matter how much he and the rest of his family that owns the team enjoyed having general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy around. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
Chicago Bears hire Chiefs' Ryan Poles as general manager

Jan. 25, 2022 09:05 PM EST

FILE - Chicago Bears President and CEO Ted Phillips talks to media after a news conference in Lake Forest, Ill., Jan. 9, 2015. The Bears fired general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, and have brought in Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian to be part of part of a five-person search team that includes Phillips. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
Bears-Pace 1/9/2015

Jan. 10, 2022 05:51 PM EST

FILE - Chicago Bears chairman George H. McCaskey talks to reporters after an end of season NFL football news conference with coach John Fox and general manager Ryan Pace, Jan. 4, 2017, in Lake Forest, Ill. McCaskey simply could not ignore the Bears' record, no matter how much he and the rest of his family that owns the team enjoyed having general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy around. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
Bears make sweeping changes, fire GM Pace, coach Nagy

By Andrew Seligman Jan. 10, 2022 10:16 AM EST

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) calls signals during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Analysis: Patriots' downfall after Brady lasted one season

By Arnie Stapleton Dec. 07, 2021 02:29 AM EST

Miami Dolphins defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah (91) sacks Carolina Panthers quarterback P.J. Walker (6) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Top the left is Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Taylor Moton (72). (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Struggling Panthers limp into bye week having lost 7 of 9

By Steve Reed Dec. 02, 2021 02:36 PM EST

This Thursday, April 15, 2004, photo shows Bill Nunn in Pittsburgh. For those who consider the Steel Curtain teams of the 1970s as the NFL’s all-time best, the name Bill Nunn needs to be remembered. And honored. That happens in Canton, Ohio, next week when Nunn enters the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2021 as a contributor. (Peter Diana/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP, File)
Bill Nunn, key scout for Steelers, heads to Hall of Fame

By Barry Wilner Jul. 30, 2021 03:00 AM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 3, 2000, file photo, Indianapolis Colts running back Edgerrin James (32) takes a pass from quarterback Peyton Manning 27 yards for a touchdown during the third quarter of their NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Mo. The man drafted fourth overall in 1999 — ahead of Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams and as the hand-picked replacement for Marshall Faulk — carved out his own Hall of Fame career with a gritty work ethic, a freewheeling personality and a commitment to stay true to his roots.(AP Photo/Ed Zurga, File)
James' unique style took him on Hall of Fame journey

By Michael Marot Jul. 29, 2021 02:16 PM EDT

FILE - Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence passes against Ohio State during the first half of the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game in New Orleans, Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. About the only certainty in the confounding 2021 NFL draft is Trevor Lawrence going to the Jaguars with the first overall pick Thursday night in Cleveland. This year's NFL draft is like none other because teams weren't able to meet face-to-face with the pool of prospects outside the lucky few who got to play in the Senior Bowl after a season that was marked by opt outs and cancellations. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Unorthodox offseason means unusual, unpredictable NFL draft

By Arnie Stapleton Apr. 25, 2021 02:04 PM EDT

FILE - In this file photo dated Wednesday, April 21, 2021, a protest banner against the proposed Super League is seen outside Liverpool's Anfield Stadium after the collapse of English involvement in the proposed new league, Liverpool, England. The aborted plan to create a breakaway Super League with 12 of the biggest clubs in European soccer was perhaps the most egregious example of a sporting venture that quickly fell flat on its face. (AP Photo/Jon Super, FILE)
Super League among sporting ventures that went wrong

By Steve Douglas And Ken Maguire Apr. 22, 2021 12:48 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020 file photo, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (14) makes a diving catch in front of Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Rashad Fenton (27) during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla. Applying franchise and even transition tags to players can have major ramifications on a team's present and future. That was never more of a consideration than this year, with the salary cap decreasing by, for now, $18 million. That's the first time the cap has gone down, which is due to lost revenues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.(AP Photo/Jason Behnken, File)
Playing tag is no kids' game for NFL teams

By Barry Wilner Feb. 23, 2021 05:12 PM EST

Taron Johnson, de los Bills de Buffalo, anota tras interceptar un pase en el encuentro divisional de la postemporada ante los Ravens de Baltimore, el sábado 16 de enero de 2021, en Orchard Park, Nueva York (AP Foto/Adrian Kraus)
Shades of '88? Bruce Smith sees same potential in 2020 Bills

By John Wawrow Jan. 21, 2021 04:37 PM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 30, 2019, file photo, Pro Football Hall of Fame outside linebacker Kevin Greene stands on the sideline during warmups before an NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals in Pittsburgh. Hall of Fame linebacker Greene, considered one of the fiercest pass rushers in NFL history, has died. He was 58. Greene died Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, the family confirmed, as did the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
HOF linebacker, pass rush great Kevin Greene dies at 58

By Steve Reed Dec. 21, 2020 05:19 PM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 14, 2014, file photo, Mary Wilson, wife of late Buffalo Bills owner Ralph C. Wilson, holds a game ball for stadium construction workers as she gestures to the new renovations to the stadium before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in Orchard Park, N.Y. Wilson is taken aback by how many people have begun noticing the clutch, emblazoned with the Bills' charging buffalo logo, she carries while running errands from her winter home in Florida. “I’m not trying to advertise or anything, but it’s like `Oh, you’re a Bills fan. Your team’s doing so great,‘” she told The Associated Press by phone. “I’m so popular now because I’m a Bills fan.” (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert, File)
Bills close in on clinching 1st AFC East title in 25 years

By John Wawrow Dec. 18, 2020 02:57 AM EST

FILE - In this May 22, 2019, file photo, NFL vice president Troy Vincent speaks to the media during an owners meetings in Key Biscayne, Fla. When the Rooney Rule was adopted by the NFL in 2003, Vincent was in his 12th of 15 seasons as an outstanding defensive back. He was soon to become the president of the NFL Players Association, an impactful position he held for four years. He joined the league office in 2010 as vice president of player engagement, and by 2014 Vincent was in charge of NFL football operations. Vincent, who is Black, had made great strides in the sport. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
NFL develops 7-point mobility plan for diversity hiring

By Barry Wilner Nov. 17, 2020 04:31 AM EST