Walter Payton
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan watches a drill NFL football rookie minicamp in Santa Clara, Calif., Friday, May 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
49ers rookie QB Trey Lance ready for work at rookie camp

By Josh Dubow May. 14, 2021 07:38 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 24, 1989, file photo, Tony Mandarich backs off the line during the second quarter at Anaheim stadium as the Green Bay Packers played the Los Angeles Rams in an NFL football game. Considered one of best offensive line prospects in history, lasted only three seasons in Green Bay. (AP photo/Alan Greth, File)
The famous and the flops: best and worst NFL 1st-round picks

By The Associated Press Apr. 24, 2021 12:19 PM EDT

NFL draft: Breaking down top offensive players available

By Ralph D. Russo Apr. 22, 2021 01:01 PM EDT
Top offensive players available in the NFL draft, scheduled for April 29 to May 1 (x-early entrant; y-did not play in 2020, opt out). ___ ...

FILE - North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance throws at the school's football NFL Pro Day in Fargo, N.D., in this Friday, March, 12, 2021, file photo. Lance will likely be one of the first two players drafted from non-Football Bowl Subdivision programs next week. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King, File)
FCS draft prospects generally opted not to play this spring

By Steve Megargee Apr. 22, 2021 02:31 AM EDT

Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith watches the players during the school's Pro Day football workout on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Falcons re-sign DE Steven Means to 1-year contract

Apr. 01, 2021 04:31 PM EDT

Bengals add safety Ricardo Allen to bolster secondary

Mar. 24, 2021 03:29 PM EDT
CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Bengals agreed to a one-year deal with safety Ricardo Allen on Wednesday. Agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed...

FILE - In this Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, file photo, New York Giants nose tackle Dalvin Tomlinson looks on against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game, in Seattle. In a deal announced late Monday, March 15, 2021, the Minnesota Vikings have agreed to terms on a contract with former New York Giants defensive tackle Tomlinson. (AP Photo/Larry Maurer, File)
'Our big prize': Vikes laud Tomlinson's size, skill, smarts

By Dave Campbell Mar. 18, 2021 06:00 PM EDT

File-This Feb. 7, 2010, file photo shows New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) celebrating with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Saints' 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL Super Bowl XLIV football game in Miami. Brees, the NFL’s leader in career completions and yards passing, has decided to retire after 20 NFL seasons, including his last 15 with New Orleans. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File)
Next play: Brees joins NBC Sports after retiring from NFL

Mar. 15, 2021 11:11 AM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 3, 2021, file photo, Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) looks on before an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in Houston. Watt and the Texans have “mutually agreed to part ways,” ending the tenure of the face of the franchise and adding another huge change to an offseason filled with upheaval. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson, FIle)
Cardinals agree to terms with free agent edge rusher JJ Watt

By Barry Wilner And David Brandt Mar. 01, 2021 01:19 PM EST

This photo provided by the New Orleans Saints shows Terry Fontenot during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans in Houston in 2016. The Atlanta Falcons have named Terry Fontenot the team's general manager. The 40-year-old Fontenot becomes Atlanta's first Black general manager after spending 18 seasons with division rival New Orleans. (Michael C. Hebert/New Orleans Saints via AP)
Falcons clear cap space by releasing veterans Allen, Bailey

Feb. 18, 2021 03:33 PM EST

FILE - In this June 14, 2016, file photo, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson (83) attends drills at an NFL football minicamp in Tampa, Fla. Florida authorities are looking into the death of former Buccaneers player Jackson, who was found dead Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, at a Florida hotel room. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
Former NFL receiver Vincent Jackson found dead in hotel room

Feb. 15, 2021 05:31 PM EST

FILE - In this Jan. 3, 2021, file photo, Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) looks on before an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in Houston. Watt and the Texans have “mutually agreed to part ways,” ending the tenure of the face of the franchise and adding another huge change to an offseason filled with upheaval. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson, FIle)
Watt, Texans 'mutually' agree to split in more team upheaval

By Kristie Rieken Feb. 12, 2021 10:31 AM EST

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson speaks after winning the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year awards at the NFL Honors ceremony as part of Super Bowl 55 Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Wilson relishes honor, but football concerns remain in focus

By Tim Booth Feb. 09, 2021 04:25 PM EST

Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) carries the ball against Baltimore Ravens free safety DeShon Elliott (32) in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Rodgers wins 3rd MVP, Donald gets 3rd top defensive player

By Barry Wilner Feb. 06, 2021 10:53 PM EST

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) runs from Buffalo Bills safety Jordan Poyer (21) and defensive tackle Justin Zimmer (61) after catching a pass during the second half of the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Ready, set, show: Chiefs' Hill offers to race Bucs' Miller

By The Associated Press Feb. 01, 2021 05:50 PM EST

FILE - Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Vance McDonald (89) plays against the Cleveland Browns during an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, in this Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, file photo. Steelers tight end Vance McDonald is retiring. The 30-year-old announced the decision Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
Steelers tight end Vance McDonald retiring after 8 seasons

By Will Graves Jan. 22, 2021 09:50 AM EST

FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, file photo, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) reacts after swinging a helmet at Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Cleveland. The Browns (10-5) will make the postseason for the first time since 2002 with a win over the Steelers. Pittsburgh, which clinched the AFC North last week, is resting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and will start Mason Rudolph, who has a history with Cleveland's Myles Garrett after an ugly helmet-swinging incident a year ago. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)
Garrett, Rudolph in no mood to rehash career-altering brawl

By Will Graves Jan. 01, 2021 05:23 PM EST

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) runs the ball for a first down in the first half of an NFL football game agains the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 27. 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Washington gets 2nd chance to win NFC East at Philadelphia

By Stephen Whyno Dec. 31, 2020 04:30 PM EST

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, right, coaches defenders John Simon, left, Terez Hall, center, and Josh Uche on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Monday, Dec. 28, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Offseason changes on tap as Jets, Patriots meet in finale

By Kyle Hightower Dec. 31, 2020 04:19 PM EST

FILE - In this Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020 file photo, Minnesota Vikings middle linebacker Eric Kendricks (54) readies for the play in the second quarter during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Minneapolis. Eric Kendricks and the Minnesota Vikings have had a rough year between the lines, but the 2019 All-Pro linebacker, whose 2020 season has been shortened by a calf injury, has made quite an impact off the field. He’s the team’s nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award, for his community work focused on criminal justice reform. (AP Photo/David Berding, File)
Vikings LB Kendricks has done vital work on and off field

By Dave Campbell Dec. 31, 2020 02:46 PM EST