Minnesota Vikings
Cowboys' Frederick wins Halas Award for overcoming adversity

By The Associated Press Jun. 22, 2020 01:33 PM EDT
Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick has won the George Halas Award presented by the Pro Football Writers of America. Frederick, who...

FILE - In this July 29, 2019, file photo, Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo watches a drill during NFL football training camp in St. Joseph, Mo. When the coronavirus pandemic forced everyone indoors — away from their everyday environments — creativity was the key. To working. To keeping in touch. And, for those making their living playing on football fields, to thinking up ways to bond as teammates. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
NFL teams went high-tech for team bonding this offseason

By Dennis Waszak Jr. Jun. 19, 2020 11:20 AM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 20, 2019, file photo, Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook rushes during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, in Detroit. The Vikings have centered their offense around running back Dalvin Cook and praised him at every turn, but now the bill has come due. Cook is holding out of team activities until he has a new contract.(AP Photo/Duane Burleson, File)
Vikings, Cook present NFL's latest RB contract standoff

By Dave Campbell Jun. 18, 2020 05:31 PM EDT

FILE - In this May 19, 2020, file photo, Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL football quarterback Tom Brady runs across the field at Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa, Fla. With coaches and players scattered and team facilities shut by the NFL because of the COVID-19 pandemic, video meetings helped the league act as if business continued as usual. “Walking through and practicing is the best way to teach,” Tampa Bay coach Bruce Arians said. “So those are valuable reps missed. I don’t know how we’ll make them up. Hopefully we’ll get some extra time in practice in camp; a few extra days would help." (Chris Urso/Tampa Bay Times via AP, File)
Coaches, players make best of NFL's 1st virtual offseason

By Teresa M. Walker Jun. 16, 2020 12:57 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 20, 2019, file photo, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen speaks to the media following an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, in Orchard Park, N.Y. Allen earned praise for continuing to grow into a team leader by organizing several workouts with teammates during the coronavirus pandemic-altered offseason.(AP Photo/Adrian Kraus, File)
Bills QB Allen stays busy despite pandemic restrictions

By John Wawrow Jun. 11, 2020 07:23 PM EDT

Protesters gather outside the Minnesota Vikings football stadium Friday, May 29, 2020, in Minneapolis. Protests continued following the death of George Floyd who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on Memorial Day. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Floyd death spurs action in Minn. sports for societal change

By Dave Campbell Jun. 11, 2020 04:56 PM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 14, 2020, file photo, Cleveland Browns NFL Football head coach Kevin Stefanski answers a question during a news conference at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland. When Stefanksi was hired by the Browns in January, the first-time NFL coach knew he'd face major challenges while preparing for his first season. Stefanski never imagined doing it in the midst of a global pandemic and nationwide civic unrest. (AP Photo/Phil Long, File)
Coach Stefanski bonding Browns amid pandemic, social unrest

By Tom Withers Jun. 10, 2020 06:31 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 20, 2008, file photo, Nebraska's Cookie Miller (24) body surfs the crowd that rushed the court after Nebraska beat Kansas State 71-64 in a college basketball game in Lincoln, Neb. When the virus wanes enough to allow the games to begin again, the very essence of these events will likely be missing. Playing in empty buildings would require a significant recalibration.(AP Photo/Dave Weaver, FIle)
'Create your own excitement': Players ponder empty buildings

By Dave Campbell Jun. 08, 2020 02:10 AM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 22, 2020, file photo, New Orleans Saints guard Larry Warford runs during NFL football NFC Pro Bowl practice in Kissimmee, Fla. After being selected for the last three Pro Bowls, Warford was cut by New Orleans earlier this month. He immediately became the most enticing offensive lineman on the market, and will likely find a starting spot somewhere. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
Some big names remain unsigned late in NFL's odd offseason

By Dennis Waszak Jr. May. 26, 2020 01:23 PM EDT

In this photo taken from video, Minnesota Vikings NFL football team defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo talks on a conference call from his home in Chicago, Thursday, May 21, 2020. Odenigbo's progression from the practice squad accelerated last season with regular playing time and made an even bigger leap forward this spring when stalwart Everson Griffen did not re-sign with the team. (Dave Campbell via Zoom)
Odenigbo's opportunity: Vikings pass rusher now in key role

By Dave Campbell May. 21, 2020 07:58 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 17, 2017, file photo, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell answers questions during a season ticket member fan forum before practice at the Cleveland Browns NFL football team's training camp facility in Berea, Ohio. Several NFL teams are reopening their training facilities Tuesday, May 19, 2020, while many are prohibited by government restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic. Commissioner Roger Goodell gave the 32 clubs the go-ahead for limited reopenings as long as state and local municipalities allow them. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)
NFL teams can reopen training facilities with government OK

By Barry Wilner May. 19, 2020 12:29 PM EDT

FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, file photo, Utah State quarterback Jordan Love works out at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis. Green Bay quarterback and two-time MVP Aaron Rodgers will participate in a conference call, Friday, May 15, 2020, that gives him a chance to make his first public comments since the Packers drafted quarterback Jordan Love in the first round. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
Rodgers says Packers' decision to draft Love surprised him

By Steve Megargee May. 15, 2020 05:21 PM EDT

The supporter's entrance of the Signal Iduna Park, Germany's biggest stadium of Borussia Dortmund, is closed in Dortmund, Germany, Thursday, May 14, 2020. Bundesliga will now restart on May 16, 2020 when Borussia Dortmund will play the derby against FC Schalke 04 at home without spectators due to the coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
The Latest: Aussie rules football to kick off on June 11

By The Associated Press May. 14, 2020 01:04 PM EDT

In this image made from video, Minnesota Vikings NFL football team head coach Mike Zimmer speaks during an interview from the family's sprawling ranch in Walton, Ky., Wednesday, May 13, 2020. Mike Zimmer has managed to conduct some extra strategy sessions during this sequestered NFL offseason, despite being disconnected from all of his players and almost all of his staff. That's because the Vikings coach has his newly appointed co-defensive coordinator spending these homebound days with him. Adam Zimmer, of course, is his son. (Dave Campbell/Zoom via AP)
Vikes' Zimmer sequestering at ranch with assistant coach son

By Dave Campbell May. 13, 2020 07:42 PM EDT

WAITING FOR VERIFICATION- DO NOT MOVE - FILE In this Aug. 29, 2009, file photo, Indianapolis Colts defensive line coach John Teerlinck, front right, looks on during the first quarter of a exhibition NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit. Longtime NFL assistant coach Teerlinck has died. He was 69. Colts owner Jim Irsay made the announcement in a Twitter post Sunday, May 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
Longtime pass-rushing tutor Teerlinck dies at age 69

By Michael Marot May. 11, 2020 09:00 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 25, 2020, file photo, Jacksonville Jaguars general manager David Caldwell speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis. General managers around the league ran their drafts virtually without a hitch last month, thanks largely to the work and ingenuity of their information technology staffs. Tech support remains a vital role in the NFL offseason as long as team facilities are closed, with coaches and officials needing to connect with players scattered about the country.(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
Remote control: Tech support staffers star in NFL offseason

By Dave Campbell May. 09, 2020 02:04 AM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 17, 2018, file photo, former NFL quarterback Brett Favre speaks with reporters in Jackson, Miss., about his support for Willowood Developmental Center, a facility that provides training and assistance for special needs students, The Mississippi state auditor said Wednesday, May 6, 2020, that Favre is repaying $1.1 million he received for multiple speaking engagements where auditor’s staffers said Favre did not show up. An audit of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, released May 4, said a nonprofit group used welfare money to pay Favre for $500,000 in December 2017 and $600,000 in June 2018. Favre is not charged with any wrongdoing. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Favre denies auditor's claim he was paid for no-show work

May. 08, 2020 05:18 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 17, 2018, file photo, former NFL quarterback Brett Favre speaks with reporters in Jackson, Miss., about his support for Willowood Developmental Center, a facility that provides training and assistance for special needs students, The Mississippi state auditor said Wednesday, May 6, 2020, that Favre is repaying $1.1 million he received for multiple speaking engagements where auditor’s staffers said Favre did not show up. An audit of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, released May 4, said a nonprofit group used welfare money to pay Favre for $500,000 in December 2017 and $600,000 in June 2018. Favre is not charged with any wrongdoing. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Favre repaying $1.1 M for no-show speeches, auditor says

By Emily Wagster Pettus May. 06, 2020 06:20 PM EDT

FLE - In this Jan. 23, 2020, file photo, San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa speaks at a news conference at the team's NFL football training facility in Santa Clara, Calif. Bosa is doing his best to make an uncertain offseason as normal as possible. Forced to be training back at home in South Florida with his Pro Bowl brother Joey instead of his San Francisco 49ers teammates, the younger Bosa has found a routine amid the COVID-19 pandemic.(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
49ers DE Nick Bosa prepares for bigger second season

By Josh Dubow May. 06, 2020 04:48 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 29, 2019, file photo, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) readies to push off of Seattle Seahawks' Ugo Amadi on a carry during the first half of an NFL football game in Seattle. Kittle, a fifth-round pick in 2017, has one year remaining on his rookie deal. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear, File)
Tight end contracts could be next to see significant rise

By Rob Maaddi May. 05, 2020 07:37 PM EDT