Roger Goodell
FILE - In this Nov. 29, 2020, file photo, Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta. Nassib on Monday, June 21, 2021, became the first active NFL player to come out as gay. Nassib announced the news on Instagram, saying he was not doing it for the attention but because “I just think that representation and visibility are so important.” (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Column: Nassib's video shatters decades-old sports barrier

By Jim Litke Jun. 22, 2021 07:24 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 29, 2020, file photo, Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta. Nassib on Monday, June 21, 2021, became the first active NFL player to come out as gay. Nassib announced the news on Instagram, saying he was not doing it for the attention but because “I just think that representation and visibility are so important.” (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Nassib becomes first active NFL player to come out as gay

By Arnie Stapleton Jun. 21, 2021 07:03 PM EDT

FILE - Washington Football Team's Montez Sweat (90) walks off the field before an NFL football game against the New York Giants in East Rutherford, N.J., in this Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, file photo. Sweat says he isn't a fan of the organization attempting to convince players to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Sweat says he “probably won’t get vaccinated” until he has more facts. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)
Sweat against Washington persuading players to get vaccine

By Stephen Whyno Jun. 09, 2021 12:39 PM EDT

NFL expects full stadiums this season, remains cautious

By Rob Maaddi May. 26, 2021 05:21 PM EDT
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says the league expects full stadiums this season and players and staff are being encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. ...

FILE - In this Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015 file photo, NFL Logo is seen on the goal post padding before an NFL preseason football game between the Detroit Lions and the New York Jets at Ford Field in Detroit. The process of building the NFL schedule used to be a painstaking one with executives like Val Pinchbeck spending months slotting the games one by one on his board until there was a final product for the commissioner to approve. Making late tweaks or looking at alternative options with a big game moving from early to late in the season weren't really possible for all the pieces of the complicated jigsaw puzzle to fit.(AP Photo/Rick Osentoski, File)
NFL schedules get off to strong starts with Week 1 twinbills

By Joe Reedy May. 13, 2021 01:28 AM EDT

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady throws against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game in Tampa, Fla., in this Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, file photo. The NFL is returning to London in October and Tom Brady begins his pursuit of an eighth Super Bowl title against Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys when Tampa Bay hosts the league’s annual kickoff game on Sept. 9. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
Brady-Prescott kicks off NFL season plus a return to London

By Rob Maaddi May. 12, 2021 11:47 AM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 10, 2021, file photo, Cleveland Browns center JC Tretter (64) snaps the ball during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh. Following the advice of Browns center and NFL Players Association President Tretter, Cleveland's players joined a list of teams who say they will skip voluntary in-person workouts this offseason. (AP Photo/Don Wright, File)
Analysis: After draft, some obstacles ahead for NFL in 2021

By Barry Wilner May. 03, 2021 03:37 PM EDT

Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans cheer after Tampa Bay picked Kyle Trask, from Florida, in the second round of the NFL football draft Friday, April 30, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
The Latest: Broncos end 3rd round with Ohio State's Browning

By The Associated Press Apr. 30, 2021 05:47 PM EDT

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addresses the crowd as the first round of the NFL football draft finishes early Friday, April 30, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Betting millions on QBs who can turn clubs around on a dime

By Jim Litke Apr. 30, 2021 03:53 AM EDT

Cleveland Browns fans wait for the team to make its first round pick in the NFL football draft Thursday, April 29, 2021, in Cleveland. The Browns chose Northwestern cornerback Greg Nerwsome II. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Browns select Northwestern CB Greg Newsome in first round

By Tom Withers Apr. 29, 2021 11:46 PM EDT

Images of Alabama running back Najee Harris are displayed after the Pittsburgh Steelers made him the 25th pick in the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 29, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Steelers turn to Alabama star Harris to jump-start run game

By Will Graves Apr. 29, 2021 11:29 PM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020 file photo, Michigan defensive lineman Kwity Paye (19) reaches in on Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford (14) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich. With Oregon's Penei Sewell likely to be long gone, two other heralded tackles could be available to the Vikings at No. 14: Northwestern's Rashawn Slater and Virginia Tech's Christian Darrisaw. Slater has a random connection to Minnesota: His father, Reggie Slater, played in the NBA for the Timberwolves in parts of two seasons.(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
Indianapolis Colts add pass rusher Kwity Paye of Michigan

By Michael Marot Apr. 29, 2021 11:13 PM EDT

Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II greets fans after he was chosen by the Denver Broncos with the ninth pick during the first round of the NFL football draft Thursday, April 29, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
NFL draft: No suspense as 3 QBs dominate early picks

By Barry Wilner Apr. 29, 2021 09:07 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 29, 2019, file photo, Clemson's Trevor Lawrence greets fans as he arrives for the team's NCAA college football game against Georgia Tech in Clemson, S.C. Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson are expected to be the top two picks selected in the NFL Draft on Thursday, April 29, 20212, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro, File)
Jaguars open NFL draft, Meyer era by drafting Lawrence

By Mark Long Apr. 29, 2021 08:29 PM EDT

FILE - Florida wide receiver Kadarius Toney (1) sets up for a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas in Gainesville, Fla., in this Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, file photo. Toney is a possible first round pick in the NFL Draft, April 29-May 1, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
The Latest: SEC, Alabama dominate first round of NFL draft

By The Associated Press Apr. 29, 2021 06:59 PM EDT

Workers continue preparing the NFL Draft Theatre for the 2021 NFL Draft, Tuesday, April 27, 2021, in Cleveland. After going all virtual in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the three-day draft, which has grown into one of America's biggest, non-game sporting events, returns with thousands of fans who will be separated by their loyalties, and whether they've been vaccinated. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Networks realize draft drama without frills sometimes best

By Joe Reedy Apr. 28, 2021 07:34 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 5, 2021, file photo, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell talks during a ceremony as part of Super Bowl 55 in Tampa, Fla. The NFL is modifying COVID-19 protocols for all personnel who have been fully vaccinated. In a memo sent by Commissioner Roger Goodell to the 32 clubs Friday, April 23, 2021, and obtained by The Associated Press, he cited the “advice of our medical and scientific experts” for the agreement to modify protocols to ”reflect the reduced risk of infection and transmission for fully vaccinated individuals." (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
Column: Will draft make your team better? Don't bet on it.

By Tim Dahlberg Apr. 27, 2021 02:53 PM EDT

Joseph Toliver, 4, plays on one of the 32 NFL team helmets on display, Tuesday, April 13, 2021, in downtown Cleveland. Forced to cancel last year's NFL Draft in Las Vegas, the league is using lessons learned while plowing through an unprecedented, socially-distanced 2020 season and holding the Super Bow in Tampa, to have a draft that will look much more like normal — well, the new normal — with fans wearing their favorite team's colors and required masks.(AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Hello, Cleveland: NFL takes 'blended' draft back on road

By Tom Withers Apr. 27, 2021 02:02 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 5, 2021, file photo, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell talks during a ceremony as part of Super Bowl 55 in Tampa, Fla. The NFL is modifying COVID-19 protocols for all personnel who have been fully vaccinated. In a memo sent by Commissioner Roger Goodell to the 32 clubs Friday, April 23, 2021, and obtained by The Associated Press, he cited the “advice of our medical and scientific experts” for the agreement to modify protocols to ”reflect the reduced risk of infection and transmission for fully vaccinated individuals." (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
NFL modifies COVID-19 protocols for vaccinated people

By Barry Wilner Apr. 23, 2021 02:40 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 30, 2019, file photo, Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons (11) tackles Rutgers tight end Johnathan Lewis (11) in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, in State College, Pa. Andre Odom joined Athletes First as an agent two years ago and later this month two of his clients — Kyle Pitts and Micah Parsons — could be picked in the top 10 of the NFL draft. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger, File)
Andre Odom went from scouting players to representing them

By Rob Maaddi Apr. 20, 2021 03:36 PM EDT