Athlete compensation
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (17) makes the catch as Tampa Bay Buccaneers strong safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (31) defends during the second half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)
Signs point to Saints entering new era in 2021

By Brett Martel Jan. 18, 2021 08:12 PM EST

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) tosses a cleat to a fan after an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Analysis: Wentz, Elliott provide little bang for buck

By Josh Dubow Jan. 08, 2021 02:22 AM EST

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill runs down the sideline after evading a tackle by Atlanta Falcons A.J. Terrell during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Chiefs enter playoffs favored for rare Super Bowl repeat

By Dave Skretta Jan. 07, 2021 01:24 PM EST

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) passes against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Ticking clock? Time running out for Steelers veterans

By Will Graves Jan. 06, 2021 08:36 PM EST

FILE - In this Jan. 20, 2019, file photo, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy greets a player during the second half of the team's AFC championship NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Kansas City, Mo. One year ago, Bieniemy and San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh missed out on the coaching carousel despite being coordinators of the two Super Bowl teams. The two figure to be near the top of many of the lists of possible head coaching candidates again this offseason when the NFL is hoping some new rules lead to more opportunities for minority coaches. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
For non-playoff teams, important NFL offseason is underway

By Rob Maaddi Jan. 06, 2021 02:42 AM EST

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) tries in vain to pull in a pass over New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore in the end zone in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Friday, Dec. 25, 2020. The Saints won 52-33. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)
Vikings enter offseason with deteriorated defense to repair

By Dave Campbell Jan. 04, 2021 06:29 PM EST

FILE - Vanderbilt kicker Sarah Fuller walks along the sideline during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Tennessee in Nashville, in this Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, file photo. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)
Breakthroughs come on, off field in 2020 for women's sports

By Eric Olson Dec. 31, 2020 04:08 PM EST

Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon (25) runs against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Melvin Gordon 107 yards shy of 1,000 in 1st season in Denver

By Arnie Stapleton Dec. 30, 2020 06:58 PM EST

FILE - NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell answers a question during a news conference for the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game in Miami, in this Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, file photo. Playing through the COVID-19 pandemic has yielded countless lessons for a league that was born in the shadows of the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. Goodell said the league will confer with the players union after the Super Bowl to discuss what measures might make sense keeping once the crisis subsides. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
COVID-19 changed NFL in 2020 and some shifts are permanent

By Arnie Stapleton Dec. 30, 2020 03:03 PM EST

Carolina Panthers' Curtis Samuel can't catch a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers won 24-16. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Panthers face growing dilemma on whether to keep WR Samuel

By Steve Reed Dec. 28, 2020 02:15 PM EST

Philadelphia Eagles' Doug Pederson walks the field during practice at the NFL football team's training facility, Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, Pool)
Doug Pederson makes it clear he wants to stay in Philly

By Rob Maaddi Dec. 22, 2020 01:07 PM EST

FILE - In this Jan. 29, 2020, file photo, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell answers a question during a news conference for the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game in Miami. Goodell says the league remains committed to finishing the regular season as scheduled. Goodell also said on a conference call that while the NFL is considering a bubble format for the playoffs, it wouldn’t necessarily resemble what the NHL and NBA used successfully in completing their seasons. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
NFL owners delay decision on 17-game regular season

By Barry Wilner Dec. 16, 2020 04:39 PM EST

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) tries to catch a pass as Denver Broncos cornerback A.J. Bouye (21) defends in the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020. The pass was called incomplete but replays showed the ball never hit the ground. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Broncos' A.J. Bouye suspended six games for PED violation

By Arnie Stapleton Dec. 09, 2020 12:16 PM EST

Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) runs from Carolina Panthers cornerback Corn Elder (29) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Vikings still committed to core, as Jaguars starting over

By Dave Campbell Dec. 03, 2020 05:54 PM EST

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff throws against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams 11/29/2020

Nov. 29, 2020 04:26 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 9, 2020, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton (1) gestures at the line of scrimmage during an NFL football game against the New York Jets in East Rutherford, N.J. The college quarterbacks class is shaping up nicely, just in time to perhaps rescue some NFL teams from themselves. Those guys salivating about such prospects work in the personnel departments of the Jets, Jaguars and Bears. Maybe for the Lions, Patriots, Falcons, Saints and 49ers. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)
On Football: NFL QB quandaries from coast to coast

By Barry Wilner Nov. 27, 2020 01:24 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 1, 2020, file photo, New York Jets kicker Sergio Castillo (6) celebrates kicking a 55-yard field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Mo. Castillo had the same dream a few times every year since he was in the sixth grade. The Jets kicker would be on the field at a stadium when he’d look into the stands and see his mother and future girlfriend in the stands cheering him on. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
Road to NFL for Jets' Castillo began with one repeated dream

By Dennis Waszak Jr. Nov. 26, 2020 02:31 PM EST

New York Jets head coach Adam Gase reacts during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. From the unbeaten Steelers at the top to the winless Jets at the bottom, predictability has taken a hike halfway through NFL 2020. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Jets hit bye week with no wins, lots of questions for future

By Dennis Waszak Jr. Nov. 12, 2020 04:57 PM EST

Minnesota Vikings middle linebacker Eric Kendricks intercepts the ball intended for Detroit Lions tight end T.J. Hockenson in the end zone during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 in Minneapolis. (Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune via AP)
Cook hasn't broken stride despite early stumble by Vikings

By Dave Campbell Nov. 09, 2020 06:59 PM EST

Atlanta Falcons running back Ito Smith (25) runs from Minnesota Vikings defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Vikings not declaring rebuild; DE Hunter has neck surgery

By Dave Campbell Oct. 28, 2020 03:00 PM EDT