Walter Payton
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) pulls in a reception in front of Philadelphia Eagles safety Rodney McLeod (23) during the second half of an NFL wild-card football game Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
Bucs WR Mike Evans focused on team, not individual success

By Fred Goodall Jan. 19, 2022 07:49 PM EST

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) fumbles the football after getting hit by New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Saints' Jordan not letting up in 2nd decade, on field or off

By Brett Martel Dec. 26, 2021 12:14 PM EST

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni reacts to a referee call during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Eagles' playoff run goes on with Sirianni out with COVID-19

By Les Bowen Dec. 22, 2021 06:38 PM EST

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson warms up before taking on the Denver Broncos in an NFL football game Oct. 2, 2016, in Tampa, Fla. Researchers diagnosed former NFL player Jackson, who was found dead in a Florida hotel room in February 2021, as suffering from stage 2 chronic traumatic encephalopathy. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken, File)
Study: Former NFL receiver Vincent Jackson had stage 2 CTE

Dec. 16, 2021 04:41 PM EST

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Browns' harrowing escape keeps playoff push from derailing

By Tom Withers Dec. 13, 2021 03:02 PM EST

Kansas City Chiefs running back Darrel Williams (31) runs with the ball as Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs (39) defends during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Chiefs roll to record-setting 48-9 victory over Raiders

By Dave Skretta Dec. 12, 2021 04:23 PM EST

Former Indianapolis Colts' Robert Mathis, right, reacts after being inducted into the Ring of Honor by Colts owner Jim Irsay during a ceremony at halftime in an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Colts owner donates $3 million for mental health studies

By The Associated Press Dec. 10, 2021 12:19 PM EST

FILE - Los Angeles Chargers center Corey Linsley (63) against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Denver. Corey Linsley has made an impact on and off the field in his first season with the Los Angeles Chargers. Linsley, who signed with the Bolts in the offseason after seven seasons in Green Bay, has provided stability to the offensive line and is the team's nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
Linsley making big impact for Chargers on and off field

By Joe Reedy Dec. 08, 2021 10:14 PM EST

Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (38) intercepts a pass as teammate Tyrann Mathieu (32) watches late in the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Chiefs' Mathieu making important plays on and off the field

By Dave Skretta Dec. 08, 2021 03:29 PM EST

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Dec. 08, 2021 10:00 AM EST
Dec. 9 1934 — The New York Giants wins the NFL championship by beating the Chicago Bears 30-13 in the famous “Sneakers Game.” With the temperature at 9...

FILE - Kansas City Chiefs free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) is shown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Friday, Aug. 20, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. Derrick Henry and Tyrann Mathieu, 2020 All-Pro players, are among the 32 men chosen as finalists for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals 8/20/2021

Dec. 07, 2021 08:51 AM EST

Henry and Mathieu among 32 NFL Man of the Year nominees

By Barry Wilner Dec. 07, 2021 08:50 AM EST
Derrick Henry and Tyrann Mathieu, 2020 All-Pro players, are among the 32 men chosen as finalists for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award. Each...

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Dec. 02, 2021 01:28 PM EST
Dec. 7 1973 — Jerry West of Los Angeles sets an NBA record with 10 steals in the Lakers’ 115-111 loss to the Seattle Supersonics. ...

Denver Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos 11/28/2021

Nov. 28, 2021 03:27 PM EST

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Nov. 19, 2021 10:00 AM EST
Nov. 20 1934 — Busher Jackson scores four third-period goals to power the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Eagles. ...

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Nov. 18, 2021 10:47 AM EST
Nov. 19 1961 — George Blanda of the Houston Oilers passes for 505 yards and seven touchdowns in a 49-13 rout of the New York Titans. ...

NFL Honors moves to Thursday night during Super Bowl week

By Barry Wilner Nov. 15, 2021 07:52 PM EST
NFL Honors, the prime-time television program during which The Associated Press individual league awards are revealed, will be held on a Thursday for the first...

Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill, center, reacts after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
AFC leading Titans host Saints looking for 6th straight win

By The Associated Press Nov. 11, 2021 12:51 PM EST

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, above, tries to get away from Tennessee Titans defensive end Jeffery Simmons before throwing an interception during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Defense carries Titans past Rams 28-16 for 5th straight win

By Greg Beacham Nov. 07, 2021 11:41 PM EST

FILE - Detroit Lions running back Adrian Peterson (28) is seen during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Detroit. The Tennessee Titans have signed 2012 NFL MVP and four-time All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson to help replace NFL rushing leader Derrick Henry. The Titans signed Peterson on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021, to the practice squad with Peterson, 36, not having been with an NFL team this season.(AP Photo/Rick Osentoski, File)
Titans sign Adrian Peterson to help replace Derrick Henry

By Teresa M. Walker Nov. 02, 2021 02:02 PM EDT