Recreation and leisure
Levy set to be inducted into CFL Hall of Fame

By The Associated Press Jun. 16, 2022 05:24 PM EDT
Marv Levy is poised to join a very select pro football group. On Friday night, the former Buffalo Bills and Montreal Alouettes head coach will be...

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, center, runs a play as head coach Sean McVay watches during an NFL mini camp football practice Tuesday, June 7, 2022, in Thousand Oaks, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Rams' Stafford not worried about pass-free offseason

By Greg Beacham Jun. 08, 2022 04:00 PM EDT

Howard Katz honored with Rozelle Radio-TV Award

Jun. 02, 2022 03:37 PM EDT
CANTON, Ohio (AP) — Howard Katz, who has been involved with NFL media for nearly two decades and has helped drive the popularity of the league to new heights, was...

FILE - Harini Logan, 11, of San Antonio, smiles after correctly spelling her word as she competes in the finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Oxon Hill, Md., Thursday, May 30, 2019. The Scripps National Spelling Bee is back, fully in person at its usual venue outside Washington for the first time since 2019. But the pandemic continues to affect kids who've spent years preparing to compete for spelling's top prize. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
Pandemic has lingering toll on smaller National Spelling Bee

By Ben Nuckols May. 28, 2022 09:11 AM EDT

'Forgotten Four' to be honored during Hall of Fame week

May. 26, 2022 05:48 PM EDT
CANTON, Ohio (AP) — The four men who smashed the race barrier in professional football in 1946 have been selected to share the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Ralph Hay...

FILE - Mid-American Conference Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher speaks to reporters in Cleveland on March 12, 2020. With sports betting now legal in more than half the states and generating millions in revenue for once-apprehensive professional sports leagues, college conferences are starting to explore ways to cash in, too. The MAC was the first to jump in, selling the rights to its data and statistics to a company called Genius Sports, which will in turn sell it to sportsbooks. Steinbrecher said it is impossible to ignore the changing reality. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)
College sports eye gambling money amid safeguard concerns

By Ralph D. Russo May. 26, 2022 02:23 AM EDT

NFL partners with Mythical Games for blockchain-enabled game

May. 25, 2022 09:01 AM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL and NFL Players Association are partnering with Mythical Games for the first blockchain-enabled NFL video game. The game —...

USA Today's Jarrett Bell wins writers' award for service

By The Associated Press May. 11, 2022 01:20 PM EDT
USA Today sports writer/columnist Jarrett Bell has won the Bill Nunn Jr. Award for journalistic contributions while covering pro football. Bell, who...

FILE - Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (21) celebrates his touchdown with fans during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Cleveland. The Cleveland Browns are betting on betting. The team announced a long-term partnership Tuesday, April 26, 2022, with Bally's that will make the gaming leader the official sports betting partner of the NFL team. As as part of the agreement, Bally's will have a branded lounge at FirstEnergy Stadium. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)
Column: Draft cements the marriage of Las Vegas and NFL

By Tim Dahlberg Apr. 27, 2022 01:23 AM EDT

FILE - Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (21) celebrates his touchdown with fans during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Cleveland. The Cleveland Browns are betting on betting. The team announced a long-term partnership Tuesday, April 26, 2022, with Bally's that will make the gaming leader the official sports betting partner of the NFL team. As as part of the agreement, Bally's will have a branded lounge at FirstEnergy Stadium. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)
Browns team with gaming giant Bally's as betting partner

By Tom Withers Apr. 26, 2022 12:34 PM EDT

Attorney: Cowboys player in SUV from which man was shot

Apr. 15, 2022 06:05 PM EDT
DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Cowboys cornerback Kelvin Joseph was riding in a sport utility vehicle from which a man was fatally shot about two months ago, Joseph's attorney...

Football Hall of Fame announces inaugural excellence awards

Mar. 21, 2022 08:11 PM EDT
CANTON, Ohio (AP) — The late Broncos offensive line coach Alex Gibbs and longtime NFL public relations steward Joe Browne are among the inaugural winners of the Pro...

Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) practices with the team during NFL football practice, Aug. 2, 2021, in Houston. Watson's complicated past didn't dissuade the Cleveland Browns from betting on the quarterback's future. He's on Cleveland's roster, and at this point that's the only certainty with the talented yet controversial QB. Watson's stunning trade to the Browns became official Sunday, March 20, 2022 capping a whirlwind few days during in which the three-time Pro Bowler — accused by 22 women of sexual harassment or assault — agreed to come to Cleveland after initially telling the team he wouldn't. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)
Deshaun Watson trade done, Browns defend decision to add QB

By Tom Withers Mar. 20, 2022 12:03 PM EDT

Arizona guard Dalen Terry (4) celebrates while cutting the net after an NCAA college basketball game against California, Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Tucson, Ariz. Arizona won the Pac-12 Conference Championship. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Hoop hype: March Madness brackets get America talking again

By Eddie Pells Mar. 15, 2022 10:59 AM EDT

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores smiles on the sidelines during an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, on Nov. 28, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Pittsburgh Steelers hired the former Miami Dolphins coach on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, to serve as a senior defensive assistant. The hiring comes less than three weeks after Flores sued the NFL and three teams over alleged racist hiring practices following his dismissal by Miami in January. (AP Photo/Doug Murray, File)
Column: National Hypocrisy League shows true colors again

By Paul Newberry Mar. 11, 2022 06:05 PM EST

FILE - Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley (18) warms up before an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been suspended for the 2022 season for betting on NFL games in the 2021 season. The suspension announced by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday, March 7, 2022, is for activity that took place while Ridley was away from the team while addressing mental health concerns. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)
Ridley suspension for '22 makes WR area of need for Falcons

By The Associated Press Mar. 10, 2022 11:46 AM EST

FILE - Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley (18) makes a catch during the team's NFL training camp football practice Monday, Aug. 9, 2021, in Flowery Branch, Ga. Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been suspended for the 2022 season for betting on NFL games in the 2021 season. The suspension announced by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday, March 7, 2022, is for activity that took place while Ridley was away from the team while addressing mental health concerns.(AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Column: 1 betting rule remains sacrosanct in the NFL

By Tim Dahlberg Mar. 08, 2022 02:14 AM EST

FILE - Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley (18) makes a diving touchdown reception in front of Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back Ross Cockrell (43) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been suspended for the 2022 season for betting on NFL games in the 2021 season. The suspension announced by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday, March 7, 2022, is for activity that took place while Ridley was away from the team while addressing mental health concerns.(AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio, File)
Falcons WR Ridley suspended for '22 for bets on NFL games

By Charles Odum Mar. 07, 2022 03:53 PM EST

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley suspended through at least the 2022 season for betting on NFL games

Mar. 07, 2022 03:43 PM EST
NEW YORK (AP) — Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley suspended through at least the 2022 season for betting on NFL games. ...

Hall of Fame inductions moving from prime time to afternoon

Mar. 07, 2022 11:37 AM EST
CANTON, Ohio (AP) — The Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies are moving from prime time to Saturday afternoon in August. The enshrinement on...