NFL Football News 99

NFL owners will vote this week on a rule proposal that will expand the definition of “defenseless” players to include punt and kickoff returners even after they have caught the kick. The proposal, which was put forward by the Competition Committee and will be voted upon by the owners, expands defenseless player protection to a […]

Defensive end Jonathan Garvin was the last of nine Packers draft picks last month, but he’s the first to agree to a contract with the team. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that Garvin has agreed to a four-year deal. Garvin was the second of two Green Bay seventh-round picks. Garvin had 97 tackles, […]

Aldon Smith has been reinstated to the NFL after a long substance abuse suspension, and despite a nearly five-year layoff, he says he can still be the All-Pro he once was. Smith told TMZ.com that he sees no reason he can’t be the guy on the field who had 19.5 sacks in 2012, plus a […]

The center position is one of the few question marks in the Cowboys’ starting lineup. That’s because Travis Frederick retired this offseason. Joe Looney, rookie Tyler Biadasz, Connor Williams and Connor McGovern are candidates for the job. The Cowboys will miss Frederick, and Frederick will miss the Cowboys. He will spend his time rooting on […]

New York State says NFL teams can open training camps without running afoul of the state’s COVID-19 guidelines. Governor Andrew Cuomo confirmed today that NFL training camps — as well as training for other pro sports teams in New York — will be permitted, as long as teams follow the appropriate health protocols. The Bills […]

If the NFL’s owners vote this week to pass the proposed “fourth-and-15” alternative to the onside kick, teams will be able to use it whether they’re leading, trailing or tied. There was some confusion about the proposed rule because an NFL summary said it would “allow a team who is trailing in the game” to […]

Not long after Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford met virtually with reporters to dispel offseason rumors that he could be moving on from Detroit, his $6.5 million Michigan home landed on the market. Stafford’s wife, who had a hand in stoking the offseason rumors, quickly tried to shoot down the notion that the Stafford’s are preparing […]

Chargers tight end Hunter Henry said that he and the team were close to an agreement to a long-term extension earlier in the offseason, but momentum slowed before they could hammer out the final details of a new deal. That didn’t appear to leave any hard feelings as Henry signed his franchise tag in April […]

If Stanford coach David Shaw wanted to make the jump to the NFL, he likely wouldn’t have to do much to conjure interest. The NFL has wanted him for years, but he has rebuffed making the jump from the college to the professional level. Shaw recently explained to Mike Tirico of NBCSN’s Lunch Talk Live […]

The latest All-In Challenge auction is going to require someone to go more than all in. Already, bidding on Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s Super Bowl LI ring has hit $650,000. And there are still more than 10 days left in the auction, as of this posting. The ring, which comes from New England’s early 2017 […]

Now that the Rams finally have unveiled their new uniforms, the seven new Nikefications of the NFL officially have been introduced. So how do the new uniforms rank? The options are the Rams, Patriots, Falcons, Buccaneers, Colts, Chargers, and Browns. In the comments, put them in order of best to worst. Here’s mine, if you […]

Two of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history will do something today that people throughout the country routinely do, to varying degrees of success and/or failure: They’re going golfing. Peyton Manning, teaming up with Tiger Woods, will face Tom Brady, whose partner will be Phil Mickelson. The match will raise millions for COVID-19 relief, with […]

Aaron Rodgers spoke publicly for the first time last Friday about the Packers’ decision to draft quarterback Jordan Love in the first round and the attention paid to his comments underscored how many eyes will be on the two players once the Packers get on the field. Everyone watching will be thinking about when Love […]

One of the common reactions from those down on the Packers’ decision to draft quarterback Jordan Love in the first round was that the team needed players who could help them win now. Some have wondered if the Packers will find a way for Love to do that while serving as the backup behind Aaron […]

Wide receiver K.J. Hill left Ohio State with a school-record 201 career receptions, but that didn’t help him get picked in the early rounds of this year’s draft. It didn’t help Hill get drafted in the middle rounds, either. Hill became the 34th receiver picked when the Chargers finally took him off the board in […]

The Patriots used a second-round pick on cornerback Joejuan Williams last year, but then used him on just 82 defensive snaps. Now, they’re asking him to be ready to be do more. According to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, the Patriots are asking Williams to prepare to play a varied role this year, adding safety to […]

The Denver Broncos have not made the playoffs in any of the four years since their victory over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50. Despite finishing second in the AFC West last year, their 7-9 record was five games back of the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in the division. However, Broncos […]

Despite a proposal put forth in March, owners will not vote at this week’s meeting to make overtime 15 minutes again. When the league first began discussing offseason rules changes two months ago, one of the proposals was expanding overtime to 15 minutes, as it had been until it was shortened to 10 minutes three […]

Summer unofficially has begun. Days after summer unofficially ends, the NFL season officially begins. The league remains determined to play all 256 regular-season games. And, for now, to do so in full stadiums. “We are planning to have full stadiums until the medical community tells us otherwise,” NFL executive V.P. of football operations Troy Vincent […]

Ever since the Commissioner first floated the fourth-and-15 kickoff concept in his 2012 Time “Enforcer” profile, it has seemed inevitable that it would make its way to the NFL. It soon could, not as a replacement for the kickoff (yet) but as a twice-per-game alternative to the onside kick, which has become harder than ever […]

In recent years, plenty of teams haven’t kept a third quarterback on the roster. This year, there’s potential value in keeping an extra quarterback off the roster. The issues and uncertainties arising from the coronavirus pandemic include the possibility that, out of nowhere, the starting quarterback will test positive and, in turn, be instantly quarantined. […]

As most of the NFL world comes to the conclusion that Jarrett Stidham will get the first shot to replace Tom Brady as the Patriots’ starting quarterback, one former Patriot thinks otherwise. Rob Ninkovich, who played for the Patriots from 2009 to 2016, believes that Bill Belichick will want 12-year veteran Brian Hoyer at the […]

The Browns have made an addition to their front office. According to multiple reports, the Browns have hired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as their new vice president of football operations. Adofo-Mensah comes to Cleveland after a couple of years as the director of football research and development for the 49ers. He spent seven years with the 49ers […]

Patrick Mahomes gets it. The 2018 NFL MVP and reigning Super Bowl MVP’s remarks to Texas Tech graduates during Saturday’s virtual commencement exercise lasted less than two minutes, via Adam Teicher of ESPN.com. “I know this isn’t the graduation ceremony that you and your families had envisioned, but that doesn’t change the outcome or all […]

The 49ers signed guard Tom Compton as a free agent this offseason and familiarity had a lot to do with making the deal happen. Compton played for 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan when Shanahan was an assistant in Washington and Atlanta, which he said made it “a no-brainer for me” to sign with the team […]

Free-agent defensive Everson Griffen remains in a holding pattern. The 32-year-old has been linked to Seattle but not many other teams has he looks for a new NFL home. The Cardinals reportedly have interest in Griffen, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Arizona is trying to boost a defense that needs plenty of help. Given […]

George Kittle has built himself an incredible home gym, which comes in handy during a quarantine. But no matter how many weights he lifts, he can’t get far from the gnawing feeling of the way his offseason started. The 49ers tight end admitted to Albert Breer of SI.com that giving away a fourth quarter lead […]

The Raiders knew moving from Oakland to Las Vegas would be lucrative, but the revenue at the new stadium is exceeding the team’s expectations. The Raiders have made $549 million from the sale of personal seat licenses at Allegiant Stadium, more than doubling the team’s initial projections of $250 million, according to the Las Vegas […]

The coronavirus outbreak has devastated the economy and, in turn, busted state budgets, primarily via reduced tax revenues. When the dust settles on a new normal, states will be looking for ways to boost empty coffers. Enter sports betting. And weed. States were gradually embracing both traditional vices as legal activities before the pandemic. After […]

Deebo Samuel put up solid numbers as a rookie, catching 57 passes for 802 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 159 yards. It did not come easy, though. That’s why, soon after the 49ers selected Arizona State receiver Brandon Aiyuk with the 25th overall pick, Samuel asked receivers coach Wes Welker for Aiyuk’s phone […]

The 49ers have most of the starters back from their NFC championship team, but one notable exception is defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. Buckner was traded to the Colts in a move that defensive end Arik Armstead, who played with Buckner at Oregon before teaming up again in the NFL, called a shock earlier this offseason. […]

Raheem Mostert has spent time with seven teams over five seasons, but he has only 178 carries in his NFL career. This year he expects something different. After an excellent postseason that 53 times for 336 yards and five touchdowns, Mostert has earned the right to be the 49ers’ primary ball carrier. And he says […]

Colin Kaepernick hasn’t retired, and now the league-owned website properly reflects that fact. NFL.com has changed Kaepernick’s designation from “retired” to “UFA,” presumably after the incorrect verbiage was brought to light on Friday night. “Thank you to everyone who held the @NFL accountable for falsely reporting that Colin ‘retired’ on their website,” his girlfriend, Nessa, […]

A few hours after posting bail and leaving a Florida jail, Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar posted a statement on his Instagram page. “I would like to thank all my fans for the support and apologize to the Seattle Seahawks organization for any unnecessary distractions that these allegations against me may have caused,” Dunbar wrote Sunday […]

Washington running back Adrian Peterson has an eye on the career rushing leaderboard as he heads into his 14th season. Peterson is currently fifth in NFL history with 14,216 career rushing yards. In fourth place is Barry Sanders, who had 15,269 yards in his 10 NFL seasons. Peterson hopes he can top Sanders this year. […]

Some 22 of 32 team facilities will reopen next week sans coaching staffs, who are prohibited by the NFL from returning yet. The Giants are among the teams that won’t reopen next week, which isn’t a surprise given New Jersey remains under a public health emergency through at least June 6. Giants senior vice president […]

Former Jets and Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards does not agree with the proposal to reward teams that hire minority coaches and GMs with better draft picks. The proposal, which NFL owners decided to table this week, would have moved a team up 10 spots in the third round of the draft if it had […]

Aldon Smith earned his second chance Wednesday, with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell granting the edge rusher’s reinstatement application. The Cowboys continue to await word on edge rusher Randy Gregory. The team hopes Smith and Gregory can fill a pass rushing need opposite DeMarcus Lawrence, where the now-departed Robert Quinn led the team with 11.5 sacks […]

The Cowboys were expected to have five primetime games. As America’s Team, they traditionally play five night games. But they’re joined by seven other teams with five primetime appearances. The Ravens, Packers, Chiefs, Rams, Patriots, 49ers and Buccaneers also play five night games. The Ravens, having posted the league’s best regular-season record last season, the […]

The Texans no longer have DeAndre Hopkins. They will have to find a way to replace the 97 catches, 1,300 yards and nine touchdowns he averaged the past six seasons. It will help if Will Fuller can remain healthy. Brandin Cooks, who arrived in a trade, and Randall Cobb, who signed in free agency, also […]