Atlanta Falcons
49ers sign cornerback Jamar Taylor to one-year contract

Jul. 06, 2020 07:27 PM EDT
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers signed cornerback Jamar Taylor to a one-year contract. San Francisco announced the deal...

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 Dec. 29, 2019, file photo, Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay stands on the sideline during the first half of the team's NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals n Los Angeles. McVay wrapped up the Rams' virtual offseason program this week. He could have kept going for another two weeks, but the head coach feels the Rams got plenty of work done in this unusual NFL spring. He still hasn't seen most of his players in person this spring, and he doesn't know when he'll see them next. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
LA Story: Rams, Chargers to appear on 'Hard Knocks'

By Joe Reedy Jun. 18, 2020 01:19 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 31, 2019, file photo, Baylor defensive coordinator Phil Snow walks the sideline in an NCAA college football game against West Virginia in Waco, Texas. Carolina Panthers new defensive coordinator Phil Snow has a monumental task ahead of him, returning the once proud Carolina defense to among the best in the league without retired linebacker Luke Kuechly. Carolina's defense is coming off a season in which they allowed 29.4 points per game, the second-most in the league. (AP Photo/Jerry Larson, File)
Snow faces huge task restoring once-proud Panthers defense

By Steve Reed Jun. 17, 2020 05:58 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 25, 2016, file photo, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneels during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle. Kaepernick was a second-round draft pick in 2011 who the next year led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl. By 2016, he had begun kneeling on the sideline at games during the national anthem to protest social injustice and police brutality.  Soon after, he was gone from the NFL, and he has not played since. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
NFL commissioner Goodell encourages team to sign Kaepernick

By Joe Reedy Jun. 15, 2020 11:25 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 22, 2018, file photo, Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson (26) stands for the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville, Tenn. NFL players who want to kneel during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racism have far more support than Colin Kaepernick did four years ago. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski, File)
Despite far more support, kneeling might not be widespread

By Rob Maaddi Jun. 11, 2020 05:14 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 29, 2019, file photo, Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley sits on the bench during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Los Angeles. Gurley has passed his physical, clearing the final hurdle for his return to Georgia with the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons said Tuesday, June 9, 2020, Gurley passed his physical a day earlier in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Todd Gurley passes physical with Falcons, impresses Ryan

Jun. 09, 2020 04:23 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 17, 2004, file photo, San Diego Chargers wide receiver Reche Caldwell (82) is taken off the field during first half play against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Caldwell, the former University of Florida and NFL receiver, was fatally shot Saturday, June 6, 2020, in his hometown. Caldwell's mother, Deborah, did not return phone messages left by The Associated Press on Sunday, but confirmed her son's death to the Tampa Bay Times. (AP Photo/John Amis, File)
Former Florida, NFL star Reche Caldwell fatally shot

Jun. 07, 2020 08:45 PM EDT

Longtime Atlanta Falcons DE John Zook dies at age 72

Jun. 07, 2020 05:24 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — John Zook, who teamed with Hall of Famer Claude Humphrey to give the Atlanta Falcons a dynamic combination at defensive end, has died. He was 72...

FILE - In this Oct. 4, 2019, file photo, Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson speaks to the media after an NFL training session at the Allianz Park stadium in London. Many players polled by The Associated Press over the last couple of weeks say they are scared to return to work without a cure or a vaccine for the coronavirus. By and large, however, those same players say they trust the protocols the NFL will have in place by the time practices resume and games return. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)
NFL players both eager & anxious to return during pandemic

By Arnie Stapleton Jun. 06, 2020 10:48 AM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 25, 2020, file photo, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis. More than half of the 32 NFL teams will not have their coaching staffs back at their facilities Friday. June 5, 2020, even though the league has approved such returns where local governments allow them. Clubs with coaches in place at their training complexes were Super Bowl champion Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Houston, Denver, Dallas and Atlanta.(AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
More than half of NFL coaching staffs not at team facilities

By Barry Wilner Jun. 05, 2020 03:04 PM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2020, file photo, Seattle Seahawks' Russell Wilson waits to run onto the field for the team's NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Philadelphia. Speaking to the media for the first time since the end of last season, Wilson didn't care to talk about the game that’s helped make him famous. “To be honest with you, I don’t even want to talk about football right now,” Wilson said during a video conference Wednesday, June 3. "I can’t compare football to life and what the black community is going through right now,” he said. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
Seahawks' Wilson: 'I don't even want to talk about football'

By Tim Booth Jun. 03, 2020 07:26 PM EDT

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, seated toward center, and city of Amarillo Mayor Ginger Nelson, seated left, along with various state government representatives, host a news conference regarding the area's coronavirus situation, Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at City Hall, in Amarillo, Texas. (David Gay/Amarillo Globe-News via AP)
The Latest: Iowa AD looking at different football scenarios

By The Associated Press May. 28, 2020 01:27 PM 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

FILE - In this Feb. 5, 2017, file photo, New England Patriots' Tom Brady raises the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Atlanta Falcons in overtime at the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game in Houston. Brady’s journey to each of his nine Super Bowls with the New England Patriots will be the subject of an ESPN series released in 2021. Entitled “The Man in the Arena: Tom Brady,” the nine-episode series will include a look from Brady’s perspective at the six NFL titles and three Super Bowl defeats he was a part of. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Falcons CB Oliver ready for leadership role in secondary

By Paul Newberry May. 21, 2020 04:07 PM EDT

Kansas City Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub addresses the media during an NFL football news conference Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs will face the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 54. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Chiefs holding unique virtual competition for punting job

By Dave Skretta May. 20, 2020 02:45 PM EDT

In this May 2020 photo provided by Riddell, a Riddell SpeedFlex helmet sits next to a computer screen displaying information from the InSite tool. Teaming with Catapult, an Australia-based technology company, Riddell is providing coaches, players and medical staff detailed information regarding anything from practice regimens to helmet contacts to overall preparation for athletes. (Riddell via AP)
NFL studying helmet face guard that works like surgical mask

By Paul Newberry May. 20, 2020 12:47 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 July 27, 2017, file photo, Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn works with his defensive linemen during the first day of an NFL training camp football practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. Quinn knows this is an offseason unlike any other. Hes not shying away from that reality. But this is also a time that craves a bit of normality, so Quinn is dealing with plenty of familiar issues, including rookie camp, roster moves, position changes, and focusing on areas that need the most improvement. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
In strange offseason, Falcons' Quinn embraces the challenge

By Paul Newberry May. 12, 2020 03:27 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 15, 2019, file photo, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) tries to avoid Chicago Bears outside linebacker Leonard Floyd (94) during an NFL football game in Green Bay, Wis. Floyd moved from Chicago to Los Angeles for the chance to realize his full potential as a pass rusher with the Rams. (AP Photo/Jeff Haynes, File)
Floyd hopes to find own path in Fowler's footsteps with Rams

By Greg Beacham May. 11, 2020 09:08 PM EDT