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Super Bowl 58: Kansas City Chiefs beat Baltimore Ravens to earn shot at title defence


The Kansas City Chiefs will play in the Super Bowl for a fourth time in five years after beating the Baltimore Ravens 17-10 in the NFL's Conference Championships.

The defending champions have had to play on the road during this season's play-offs but have still shown their championship quality by winning at Buffalo and Baltimore to return the NFL's big game.

The Chiefs now have the chance to cement their dynasty by winning a third NFL title in five years and becoming the first back-to-back champions since the New England Patriots in the 2003 and 2004 seasons.

The Ravens earned the top seed in the AFC Conference having had the NFL's best record in the regular season (13-4) and their quarterback Lamar Jackson is favourite to be named this season's Most Valuable Player.

He was up against reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes for a spot at Super Bowl 58, and they looked set for a quarterback shootout after both threw a touchdown pass in the first quarter.

Tight end Travis Kelce, again watched by his superstar girlfriend Taylor Swift, claimed the opening score and continued to be a vital target for Mahomes.

He caught all 11 passes to him for one touchdown and 116 yards to pass San Francisco 49ers legend Jerry Rice for most receptions in NFL play-off history.


BBC
 
The San Francisco 49ers produced a thrilling fightback to set up a Super Bowl rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs in Las Vegas.

Defending champions Kansas City won the first of Sunday's Conference Championship games, beating the Baltimore Ravens 17-10 to reach the NFL's big game for a fourth time in five years.

The Detroit Lions, one of just four NFL teams never to play in the Super Bowl, then led 24-7 at half-time against five-time winners San Francisco.

But the 49ers scored 17 points in a dramatic eight-minute span to draw level, before going in front for the first time with just under 10 minutes left.

The hosts then held on to win 34-31 and set up a repeat of Super Bowl 54, when Kansas City beat San Francisco 31-20 in Miami.

After winning Super Bowl 57 last year, the Chiefs now have the chance to cement their dynasty by winning a third NFL title in five years and becoming the first back-to-back champions since the New England Patriots in the 2003 and 2004 seasons.

49ers beat Lions to set up Super Bowl meeting with Chiefs - reaction

San Francisco have been favourites to win Super Bowl 58 since late November because of their star-studded roster while Kansas City were playing in the AFC Championship game for a sixth straight year.

But in the last two weeks of the play-offs both teams have both had to dig deep to book their spot on the Strip on 11 February.

The 49ers, the top seed in the NFC Conference, had to come from behind to survive a scare against Green Bay in the divisional round before recovering from an even bigger deficit against Detroit.

The Chiefs, meanwhile, had to play on the road in the play-offs for the first time during their recent spell of dominance, yet they have still shown their championship quality by winning at Buffalo and now Baltimore, the AFC's top seed.

Source: BBC
 
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has been named the NFL's Most Valuable Player for a second time.

The 27-year-old received 49 of the 50 votes, with the other going to Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

The award goes to the standout player of the NFL's regular season, in which the Ravens had the best record (13-4).


BBC
 
The Super Bowl is a sporting and cultural phenomenon, as much about the spectacle as the game itself.

Now the show is set to be bigger and better than ever as - for the very first time - the NFL's championship game is taking place under the bright lights of Las Vegas.

Sin City has been transformed into a sports city over the past decade and now the biggest annual event in American sport will be staged on the Strip.

Defending champions Kansas City will play in their fourth Super Bowl in five years and 'Chiefs Kingdom' has gained a legion of new fans this season as music superstar Taylor Swift has been a regular at games since she began dating tight end Travis Kelce.

They face one of the NFL's most popular teams in the San Francisco 49ers, who have won five Super Bowls but lost on their last trip to the big game - to the Chiefs in 2020.

There is normally lots of speculation about the half-time show but it seems casual fans are more interested in whether Swift will be there than who might join Usher on stage.

Either way, dozens of music and screen stars will be at Allegiant Stadium for all the glitz and glamour of a Vegas Super Bowl.

The game starts at 23:30 GMT on Sunday and you'll be able to follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app, plus live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live, followed by post-match video highlights.
 
The Kansas City Chiefs fought back to beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime and win their third Super Bowl in five years.

The 49ers came into the first Super Bowl held in Las Vegas as the slight favourites and were twice on the brink of victory at Allegiant Stadium.

A last-gasp field goal by the Chiefs made it 19-19 to send the game into overtime, and although the 49ers edged back in front, Patrick Mahomes' touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman meant defending champions Kansas City cemented their status as the first NFL dynasty since the New England Patriots.

The Chiefs have reached four of the past five Super Bowls and became the first team to win back-to-back titles since the Patriots in the 2003 and 2004 seasons.

At just 28, Mahomes has become the sixth quarterback in NFL history to win three or more Super Bowls, while Andy Reid has become the fifth coach to win three or more. Tight end Travis Kelce labelled Reid "the greatest coach this game has ever seen" afterwards.

Mecole Hardman started the season with the New York Jets but returned to Kansas City to seal his third Super Bowl win with the Chiefs

While Kansas City's win over the Philadelphia Eagles last season was a high-scoring epic, this will be seen as a classic by anyone who likes to see defences get on top, with San Francisco leading 10-3 at half-time.

But Mahomes still proved the difference, steering the Chiefs within range to make their game-tying field goal before keeping alive the nail-biting drive which resulted in Hardman's touchdown.

That condemned the 49ers and their coach Kyle Shanahan to another painful defeat. The Chiefs began their Super Bowl streak with a fourth-quarter fightback against San Francisco in 2020 and their latest win came in the second Super Bowl to go to overtime - the first saw the Patriots produce a record comeback in 2016 before beating the Atlanta Falcons, whose offensive coordinator was Shanahan.

The 49ers remain five-time Super Bowl winners but have now lost in the big game three times since their last NFL title in 1995.

Source: BBC Sports
 
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce says his behaviour towards head coach Andy Reid during Sunday's Super Bowl was "definitely unacceptable".

Kelce bumped into Reid, 65, and shouted in his face in the first quarter of the game against the San Francisco 49ers, which Kansas City won in overtime.

The 34-year-old was unhappy about being taken off when Isiah Pacheco fumbled the ball eight yards out.

Both Kelce and Reid downplayed the incident after the game in Las Vegas.


www.bbc.com

Travis Kelce: Tight end says outburst at Kansas City head coach Andy Reid was 'unacceptable'

Travis Kelce says his outburst at Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid in Sunday's Super Bowl was "definitely unacceptable"
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Kansas City shooting: One dead and 21 injured near Super Bowl parade

One person has died and 21 people were wounded in a shooting in Missouri at the end of the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl victory parade.

Officials said they treated eight victims who were in immediately life-threatening condition and seven others who had suffered injuries that could prove life-threatening.

Nine children were among the wounded - all are expected to recover.

Police said they have arrested three suspects in connection to the shooting.

The shots were fired west of Union Station, the train station in downtown Kansas City, which was where the parade ended at around 14:00 local time (20:00 GMT) and thousands of fans had gathered to watch the festivities.

Local reports said Kansas City Chiefs players were still on a stage there when the first shots rang out.

The gunfire caused the watching crowd, including the city's mayor and his family members, to run for cover.

Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said officers responded immediately after the gunshots broke out and detectives who were on the scene quickly opened an investigation. The Fire Department also sprang to action, administering aid to the injured.

More than 800 police officers were already on the scene to monitor the parade, officials said. The city's fire department was also present to provide medical attention if needed.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Chief Graves said a total of 22 people were struck by gunfire - one of whom is dead - and three individuals were arrested.

A local radio station said one of its DJs, Lisa Lopez, was killed in the shooting.

The surviving victims were transported to three local hospitals, officials said, with the immediately life-threatening cases taken to hospital within 10 minutes of the shooting.

Nine children aged six to 15 with gunshot wounds are being treated at Children's Mercy Hospital, chief nursing officer Stephanie Meyer said.

"The one word I would just use to describe what we saw and how they felt when they came to us was fear," Ms Meyer added.

Local hospitals said they were also treating people who were not shot but who had suffered other injuries in the sudden stampede that followed the shooting.

City officials did not release the names of any of the victims. They also did not share any information about the suspects who were arrested, including what might have led to the shooting.

A law enforcement source told CBS News, the BBC's US partner, that the shooting appeared to be the result of an argument that turned violent. The source said it was not terrorism related.

Police said they are investigating a motive and gathering physical as well as digital evidence. They asked for any witnesses or individuals with information to contact law enforcement.

A city 'heartbroken'

The shooting broke out as the city was celebrating a second straight Super Bowl win by the Kansas City Chiefs. But this lesser-known American city was robbed of its exhilarating and unifying moment.

Kansas City's mayor Quinton Lucas said he was inside the Union Station when he and others heard the sound of gunfire. He and members of his family started running.

"We went out today like everyone in Kansas City looking to have a celebration," Mr Lucas said at Wednesday's news conference.

"I was there with my wife, I was there with my mother. I never would've thought that we, along with Chiefs players, along with fans, hundreds of thousands of people, would be forced to run for our safety today."

In a statement, the Kansas City Chiefs organisation said it was "truly saddened" by Wednesday's violence. It added that its players, coaches and staff - as well as their families - were accounted for and safe.

Travis Kelce, the star tight end of the team whose relationship with Taylor Swift became a cultural phenomenon, wrote on social media that he was "heartbroken over the tragedy that took place today."

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, a wide receiver for the Chiefs, also took to social media after the tragedy. He said he wanted to get in touch with the young victims of the shooting.

"I want to make sure they're doing ok," Mr Valdes-Scantling said. "But would love to help them out any way I can and get them some stuff from the team to help with the recovery."

The mayor emphasised that the city had security measures in place, and it should make the public think deeply about a path forward. Despite hundreds of law enforcement present, he said, this incident still occurred due to the presence of bad actors with guns.

In a statement, US president Joe Biden also reflected on the issue of gun violence in the country.

"Today's events should move us, shock us, shame us into action," he said, as he called for gun reform and a ban on assault rifles in the US.

BBC
 
Two teenagers charged over shooting at Kansas City Super Bowl parade

Two teenagers have been charged over a shooting at a Super Bowl victory parade in Kansas City that left one person dead and 22 others injured.

The two suspects, both aged under 18, are being held on gun and resisting arrest charges, a court statement said.

Police earlier said the shooting was the result of an argument and was not connected to terrorism.

A third person who was detained after the shooting has been released.

A statement from the Jackson County Family Court on Friday said that additional charges were "expected in the future as the investigation by the Kansas City Police Department continues".

The names of the juvenile suspects have not been released. Juvenile court cases are kept private under Missouri law, and hearings are not open to the public.

Kansas City Police have continued to appeal for information about the shooting, which occurred near the city's Union Station just after a parade and rally for the Super Bowl champions.

On Thursday, Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said the injured victims ranged in age from eight to 47 years old and that at least half were under 16.

The deceased victim was identified as Lisa Lopez-Galvan, 43, a local DJ.

Ms Lopez-Galvan hosted Taste of Tejano, a Tex-Mex music show, on community radio station KKFI.

Her son was shot in the leg but has been discharged from hospital. Two other family members were also injured in the shooting, according to the radio station.

Ms Lopez-Galvan was hailed as a community leader who used her media profile to fundraise for Latino community events and organisations, toy drives for children with cancer and college scholarships.

An online fundraiser in support of the DJ's family raised more than $230,000 (£180,000) - including $100,000 from Taylor Swift.

Further details have also emerged about the reaction of the crowd and the Kansas City Chiefs players, who were celebrating their second straight NFL championship.

The parents of a 13-year-old who got separated from his father during chaos following the shooting praised a player who helped shelter their son.

Zach Cotton got separated from his father inside Union Station and found himself behind the station, near where buses were waiting to pick up players after the victory rally.

Chiefs' running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire and other members of the team sheltered the teenager before he was reunited with his family.

Responding to a thank you note posted by Zach's mother on Facebook, Mr Edwards-Helaire wrote: "Sorry the family and all of Chiefs Kingdom had to experience this. Just wanted to thank Zach for trusting me and knowing I'll protect him."

Another teenager, Gabe Wallace, told the Kansas City Star that he and others were comforted by the Chiefs' head coach in the panic after the shots rang out.

"Andy Reid was trying to comfort me, which was nice," Gabe said. "He was kind of hugging me, just like, 'Are you OK, man? Are you OK? Just please breathe.' He was being real nice and everything."

BBC
 

Two charged with murder in shooting at Super Bowl rally in Kansas City​

Feb 20 (Reuters) - Two men were charged with murder on Tuesday in connection with a shooting in Kansas City, Missouri, that killed one person and wounded 22 near a Super Bowl victory rally for city's NFL Champion Chiefs, prosecutors said on Tuesday.

The two suspects, identified as Dominic Miller of Kansas City and Lyndell Mays of nearby Raytown, each face charges of second-degree murder and two counts of armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon, according to a statement from the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office.

"According to court records, the defendants attended a Super Bowl parade and rally on Feb. 14, 2024, and were armed with firearms," the statement said. It added: "A verbal altercation occurred and gunfire broke out with no regard for thousands of other individuals in the area.

The woman who died in the shooting was a popular radio disc jockey, her station and friends said.

REUTERS
 
Matt Araiza: Super Bowl winners Kansas City Chiefs sign punter after he is dropped from civil case

Super Bowl winners Kansas City Chiefs have signed punter Matt Araiza who was removed in December from a civil case that had alleged his involvement in the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl.

Araiza, 23, was originally drafted by the Buffalo Bills in April 2022 but has never played in an NFL game.

The Bills released Araiza in the summer of 2022, shortly after he was named in the alleged rape case.

Prosecutors said they would not press criminal charges in December 2022.

"I am thrilled to be able to continue my NFL career," Araiza said in a statement.

"I want to thank my family, who have been my rock and my many friends who have been unwavering in their support. I am proud and honoured to sign a contract with the Chiefs.

"I am excited to begin the next phase of my career with the Super Bowl champions."

Araiza has always denied the allegations and released a statement when the original civil case was filed saying he would "look forward to quickly setting the record straight".

Legal representatives of the alleged victim, identified in the civil case as Jane Doe, dropped Araiza from the suit that was filed in August 2022, and Araiza agreed to dismiss a defamation suit against Doe filed in July 2023.

Araiza earned the nickname 'Punt God' for his high, lengthy kicks at San Diego State University and set an NCAA record with a 51.19-yard punting average.



www.bbc.com

Matt Araiza: Super Bowl winners Kansas City Chiefs sign punter after he is dropped from civil case

Super Bowl winners Kansas City Chiefs sign punter Matt Araiza, who was removed from a civil case alleging his involvement in the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl.
www.bbc.com
 

NFL: Jason Kelce confirms retirement after 13 seasons with Philadelphia Eagles​

A tearful Jason Kelce confirmed his retirement on Monday after 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The 36-year-old spent his entire career with Philadelphia, helping them win their first Super Bowl in 2018 and reach the NFL showpiece again in 2023.

Kelce was a sixth-round draft pick by the Eagles in 2011 but is now regarded as one of the NFL's best-ever centres.

He cried as he began a statement lasting more than 40 minutes and continued to hold back tears.

"I am very proud knowing where I was once was and the legacy I have left behind," he said.

Kelce denied that he had decided to retire in January, in the wake of the Eagles' exit from last season's play-offs, saying he needed time to consider his future.

A seven-time Pro Bowl selection, he played 205 games and holds the franchise record for consecutive starts.

He will be remembered as a Philadelphia legend, securing that status with a passionate speech during their Super Bowl parade in 2018 - on the steps made famous by the Rocky movies.

The Eagles returned to the Super Bowl to take on the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023, with Kelce facing his brother Travis.

www.bbc.com

NFL: Jason Kelce confirms retirement after 13 seasons with Philadelphia Eagles

A tearful Jason Kelce confirms his retirement in an emotional speech after 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.
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Saquon Barkley looks set to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his NFL career with the New York Giants reportedly opting against using the franchise tag on their star running back for a second season in a row.

SKY
 
The Denver Broncos have released quarterback Russell Wilson - just two years after signing him in one of the most valuable trades in NFL history.

The 35-year-old had previously spent 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, leading them to Super Bowl victory over the Broncos in 2014.

He was the NFL's fifth-highest paid player in terms of annual salary but won just 11 of his 30 Denver games.

"God's got me," said Wilson. "I am excited for what's next."

BBC
 
Rory Beggan, Charlie Smyth and Darragh Leader have taken a step closer to securing American football contracts after signing with an NFL agency.

Monaghan GAA goalkeeper Beggan and Down youngster Smyth have signed for ProStar Sports after impressing at the NFL Combine as kickers.

Former Connacht full-back Leader has also been signed to the agency.

The trio are looking to earn lucrative contracts as punters through the NFL's international player pathway (IPP).

From the new season, which begins in September, all 32 NFL teams must have at least one international player on their books. The IPP aims to discover new talent and expand American football's global reach.


BBC
 
Aaron Donald, one of the NFL's greatest defensive players, has announced his retirement with immediate effect.

The defensive tackle, who turns 33 in May, spent 10 seasons in the NFL, all with the Los Angeles Rams franchise.

He helped them win the Super Bowl in 2022 and is one of three men to be named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year three times.


BBC
 
The Pittsburgh Steelers have traded for Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields - just a day after signing former Super Bowl winner Russell Wilson.

After leaving Denver, Wilson, 35, was set to be Pittsburgh's new starter after they traded the incumbent Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles.

But now the Steelers have also brought in Fields, the Bears' starter since being a first-round draft pick in 2021.


BBC
 

NFL: Praise Olatoke swapping athletics for shot at American football​

Born in Nigeria. Bred in Glasgow. Bound for the NFL?

Praise Olatoke has walked the unconventional path in life before, so when the opportunity arose to swap the running track for the American football field, the decision came quicker than a 100m sprint.

The 23-year-old finds himself in the final weeks of the NFL's International Player Pathway, in which 16 athletes from the around the world who may never before have known the brown leather of a football are given the opportunity to step on to the sport's biggest stage.

Some would be daunted by ditching their successful career in athletics to pursue a notoriously cut-throat and gruelling new discipline, going from short-distance sprinter to wide receiver.

But, when asked if he can envisage a scenario where he catches the winning touchdown in a Super Bowl, it is clear Olatoke has taken that Scottish gallus streak stateside.

"1000%," he tells BBC Scotland. "Crazier things have happened, so I wouldn't say this is out of the ordinary. I think it's bound to happen - and it will happen. It's only a matter of time."

Bold. But this dream isn't one that recently sprung into the young man's mind. While he was representing Scotland in athletics, scorching out the blocks and climbing the world rankings, his finish line looked different.

www.bbc.com

NFL: Praise Olatoke swapping athletics for shot at American football

Born in Nigeria. Bred in Glasgow. Bound for the NFL? Praise Olatoke has swapped the running track for the gridiron field as he looks to fly the flag for Scotland stateside.
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An arrest warrant has been issued for Detroit Lions defensive back Cameron Sutton who is wanted in connection with an alleged domestic violence incident.

Authorities in Florida have asked the public to contact them if they spot Sutton, 29.

Sutton joined the Lions last year after spending his first six NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Detroit Lions issued a statement on Wednesday and said "we will continue to monitor the situation".

ESPN reported that a warrant for Sutton's arrest had been issued on 7 March after police responded to a call at a house.

Sutton started all 17 regular-season games with the Lions as well as three play-off games.


BBC
 
Taylor Swift phenomenon everywhere, I wouldn’t be shocked if NFL asked her to date a player.
 

NFL owners vote to ban 'hip-drop' tackle at Annual League Meeting​

NFL owners officially voted to ban the 'hip-drop' tackle during the annual league meeting in Orlando, Florida on Monday.

It comes after the 'hip-drop' tackle was cited as a reason for multiple player injuries, resulting in a unanimous vote from owners.

The ban is, however, likely to divide opinion given the impact it will have on how defenders approach the game, with many deeming it a step away from football's physicality.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen, Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland and former NFL pass rusher JJ Watt were among the multiple players to voice their disapproval over the ban on social media.

The hip-drop tackle is defined as a technique in which a player "unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner's legs at or below the knee."

With the ban, any player found to have made a 'hip-drop' tackle will lose 15 yards and surrender an automatic first down.

Owners also adopted a change to challenges, approving a third challenge for coaches after one successful challenge, instead of two. Also approved was the enforcement of a major foul by the offense prior to a change of possession.

NFL executive VP of football operations Troy Vincent said last week the tackle was "something we want to get out of the game."

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews was a notable example of the 'hip-drop' tackle last season when he suffered a cracked fibula and ligament damage after being tackled by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson, resulting in him missing multiple games before his return in the AFC Championship Game.

Source: SKY
 

NFL star Sauce Gardner says he had good intentions when he said Jews ‘run the world’​


New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner says his “intentions were positive” when he echoed an antisemitic trope in a video clip on Monday.

Gardner, 23, the fourth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, had joined a livestream with online influencer Adin Ross, who is Jewish and has his own history of inflammatory comments. In a 29-second clip circulating online, Ross and Gardner are sitting in a room with several other people when Ross says, “A Jew sold it to me because I’m Jewish.”

What he was referring to was unclear, but Gardner jumped in: “Imma be honest, like no funny weird ****,” he said, before pausing and putting his hand over his face.

Gardner continued, “Y’all run the world. They got so much motion throughout the whole world. Y’all gotta see how they be walking in the airport.”

Three of the men in the room laughed at Gardner’s remark, along with Ross. One of the men can be heard saying, “That’s facts.”

On Tuesday, following accusations of antisemitism, Gardner posted a statement on X, formerly Twitter, claiming he was unaware of the negative connotations of his comments.

“I love all people,” he wrote. “While my intentions were positive, I just learned that people use those exact words I shared for hate towards Jewish people. That is not what I am about and I appreciate those who took the time to educate me on that fact.”

A few hours prior, in a post that has since been deleted, Gardner had also written: “I love all people; Including Jewish people. The majority of my agency/marketing team are Jewish. You probably just took what I said the wrong way but what I said was meant to be a good thing.”

The New York Jets did not return a New York Jewish Week request for comment.

Gardner is the latest in a string of athletes in recent years to face accusations of antisemitism following social media posts. In 2020, NFL star DeSean Jackson posted antisemitic quotes attributed to Adolf Hitler, and later apologized. The following year, NBA player Meyers Leonard used an antisemitic slur on the gaming platform Twitch, and later apologized and engaged with the local Jewish community. The year after that, 2022, NBA star Kyrie Irving ignited a firestorm when he promoted an antisemitic film and initially declined to apologize.

Gardner has at least one defender — Ross, who has millions of followers across TikTok, the livestream app Kick and other platforms, and who came to Gardner’s defense in a reply to his X post.

“Bro I’m Jewish,” Ross wrote. “You did and said nothing wrong you said Jews run the world in a good way which is true, I said you were fine so ima defend you. Don’t give in, f— these fake woke ppl.” He added a middle-finger emoji at the end.

Ross, 23, has been surrounded by controversy in the past, including in 2022 when he initially offered to interview rapper Kanye West, who now goes by Ye, after West’s string of antisemitic comments. Ross has also been banned from the popular streaming platform Twitch multiple times for racist, homophobic and antisemitic speech from him and his followers. Ross has also been close with Andrew Tate, the far-right misogynist influencer who was arrested for human trafficking.

www.timesofisrael.com

NFL star Sauce Gardner says he had good intentions when he said Jews ‘run the world’

Jets cornerback thanks those who informed him of antisemitic history of comments made in a livestream Monday with Adin Ross, who is Jewish and has his own history of controversy
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Louis Rees-Zammit: Former Wales rugby union wing joins Kansas City Chiefs

Former Wales rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit has joined back-to-back Super Bowl champions the Kansas City Chiefs.

The 23-year-old drew interest from several NFL franchises, and also had meetings with the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos.

Rees-Zammit, who was part of the 2024 international player pathway (IPP), joins the Chiefs just 10 weeks after quitting Welsh rugby on the eve of this year's Six Nations tournament.

In a video posted on X, Rees-Zammit said he "can't wait" to see Chiefs fans at the team's Arrowhead Stadium.

Rees-Zammit signed a three-year contract with the Chiefs - typifying the faith shown in the Welshman by Andy Reid's team as IPP players aren't guaranteed any length of contract.

He has also been given a guaranteed salary in addition to a signing bonus.

He has targeted a hybrid role playing at both wide receiver and running back, and his next task will be to try to earn a regular-season roster spot.

He was one of 16 players to take part in the 2024 IPP, a 10-week crash course designed to teach the required skills to succeed in the NFL.

The ex-Gloucester player - who has won 32 caps for Wales, scoring 14 tries - showcased his skills at University of South Florida's Pro Day earlier this month, with scouts from all 32 NFL teams in attendance.

While he did not test at an extremely high level in all metrics, his pace was impressive and up to the standard of NFL wide receivers.

Now with the Chiefs, Rees-Zammit will be competing with the rest of the off-season squad to earn a place on Kansas City's final 53-man active roster for the 2024 season, which begins in September.

If he does not make it, Rees-Zammit is likely to spend his first season on Kansas City's practice squad.

This year, for the first time, all 32 NFL franchises will be given an additional place in their practice squads specifically for international players, including those who have come through the IPP.

Teams who have an international player on their practice squad will also be allowed to promote them to their active roster, up to three times during the season.

As well as the hybrid role Rees-Zammit has talked about wanting to play, in the short term he may have a greater chance of being utilised as a kick returner.

NFL rule changes have been implemented to encourage teams to return a greater number of kick-offs, an area where the Chiefs could look to use him.

He has previously said he "would love" to return kicks on special teams, and his size, strength, speed and agility are attributes teams look for at the position.

SOURCE: BBC
 

Vontae Davis: Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback dies aged 35​

Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Vontae Davis has died aged 35.

Davis, who played for Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills, was found dead at his grandmother's house in Southwest Ranches, Florida.

The police report confirmed no foul play was involved and the investigation was still open.

Davis, who played in back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2014 and 2015, retired mid-match while playing for the Bills against Los Angeles Chargers in 2018.

His 10-year career saw him finish with 22 interceptions, 97 passes defended and 395 tackles.

"Extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Vontae Davis," Colts owner Jim Irsay posted on X. "A great guy, team-mate, player. My prayers to Vontae's family."

The Dolphins, who drafted Davis as a first-round pick in 2009, said: "We are heartbroken by the sudden passing of former Dolphins CB Vontae Davis and extend our deepest condolences to his family & loved ones during this difficult time."

The Bills added: "We are saddened to learn of the passing of Vontae Davis. We are thinking of his friends, family, and loved ones during this difficult time."

Source: BBC
 
Charlie Smyth says "this is where the real work starts" after signing a three-year contract with the NFL's New Orleans Saints.

The 22-year-old, who has come from Gaelic football, secured a deal last week after impressing at trials.

Smyth hopes to make the Saints' roster before the start of the 2024 NFL season in September.


BBC
 
Cricket Warrior said:
An arrest warrant has been issued for Detroit Lions defensive back Cameron Sutton who is wanted in connection with an alleged domestic violence incident.

Authorities in Florida have asked the public to contact them if they spot Sutton, 29.

Sutton joined the Lions last year after spending his first six NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Detroit Lions issued a statement on Wednesday and said "we will continue to monitor the situation".

ESPN reported that a warrant for Sutton's arrest had been issued on 7 March after police responded to a call at a house.

Sutton started all 17 regular-season games with the Lions as well as three play-off games.


BBC
Click to expand...

Former Detroit Lions player Cameron Sutton has handed himself in to Florida police to face domestic violence allegations, more than three weeks after an arrest warrant was issued.

BBC
 

Tom Brady: Five-time MVP 'not opposed' to NFL return as emergency quarterback​


Tom Brady says he is "not opposed" to coming out of retirement for a second time to play in the NFL if called upon.

The 46-year-old quarterback retired in 2022, before reversing his decision only six weeks later in order to play a 23rd and final season in the NFL.

While seven-time Super Bowl winner Brady ruled out a full return, he said he would be open to playing again if a team needed an emergency quarterback.

"I'm not opposed to it," he told the DeepCut podcast, external.

In May 2023, Brady - who played for the New England Patriots for 20 years before spending his last three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - reached an agreement with the Las Vegas Raiders to become part of the organization's ownership group.

The NFL is yet to approve the agreement, and the league's approval could scupper any hopes of Brady returning.

"I don't know if they are going to let me [return as a player] if I become an owner of an NFL team," Brady said.

"I'm always going to be in good shape. I'll always be able to throw the ball.

"So, to come in for a little bit, like MJ [basketball legend Michael Jordan] coming back, I don't know if they would let me but I wouldn't be opposed to it."

Brady is the NFL's all-time regular-season leader in pass attempts (12,050), completions (7,753), passing yards (89,214) and touchdown passes (649).

His five most valuable player (MVP) awards is the most for any player in NFL history.

www.bbc.com

Tom Brady: Five-time MVP 'not opposed' to NFL return as emergency quarterback

NFL great Tom Brady says he is 'not opposed' to coming out of retirement in the event of an emergency.
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How does the NFL draft work?

The NFL features more than 2,200 players across the league's 32 teams and most are recruited via the NFL Draft each April.

Every year thousands of players in the US collegiate system become eligible for the draft but the total number of selections is limited to about 250.

Although players who go undrafted can still be signed later, most future stars are picked up during the three-day event.

But early draft picks can often flop in the NFL while some chosen late become greats - Tom Brady was selected 199th overall in 2000 yet went on to win a record seven Super Bowls.

The draft is divided into seven rounds - the first taking place on a Thursday, rounds two and three on Friday and four to seven on Saturday.

All 32 teams have one pick in each round, going in the reverse order of the previous season's standings - so the team with the worst record goes first and the Super Bowl winners last - but previous trades mean that is not strictly the case.

Instead of paying transfer fees, NFL teams trade future draft picks to acquire players from other teams or move up in the draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs, for example, traded away three picks in 2017 to climb into position to select current star Patrick Mahomes.

And previous trades mean that the Chicago Bears have two picks in the first nine this year while the Cleveland Browns' first pick is the 54th overall.

NFL teams scout players at college and then assess them during the NFL Combine, a week-long event in February featuring physical and mental tests where teams can also interview prospects.

Each college/university holds a Pro Day, where draft hopefuls have another chance to showcase their skills, and they may also visit teams for more tests and interviews.

Then comes the draft.

Each pick will not necessarily be the best player still available, they may be the player that team feels best suits their needs.

This year 257 players will be selected. The figure varies each year as teams are awarded compensatory picks for players they lost in free agency and rewarded with picks for developing minority candidates for head coach/general manager positions, while teams may also have to forfeit picks for breaching NFL rules.


BBC
 
Matt Ryan, who was named the NFL's most valuable player in 2016, has announced his retirement aged 38.

The quarterback, who played for the Atlanta Falcons and the Indianapolis Colts, called his 16-year career "a hell of a ride".


BBC
 
The NFL on Tuesday reinstated Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Isaiah Rodgers Sr. from his yearlong suspension for violating the league's policy on gambling.

Rodgers was with the Indianapolis Colts when he was suspended on June 29 but was released by the team later that day. He then signed with the Eagles in August.

ESPN
 
Titans select Sweat on day two of NFL Draft

The Tennessee Titans chose defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat in the pick of the selections on day two of the NFL Draft.

After quarterbacks dominated the picks on day one, teams shifted their focus to defence on day two.

The Titans had the sixth pick on Friday in Detroit, selecting the 22-year-old Sweat from the University of Texas.

Sweat, who is 6ft 4ins and weighs 366lbs, said: "I can play good at 366lbs. My coach said this past season, ‘Yeah, you played great, but you could have played better at 355lbs or 350lbs.' If I go to 355lbs, 350lbs, most likely I'll be a Hall of Famer."

The Titans' decision to select Sweat came after the American was arrested on 7 April on suspicion of drink-driving, external. He was later released on bail.

Elsewhere, the Buffalo Bills used the first pick of the second round to select Keon Coleman, a wide receiver from Florida State.

The Los Angeles Chargers, who had the second pick, chose wide receiver Ladd McConkey while the Atlanta Falcons went for defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro in the third slot.

BBC
 
Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell was shot on Saturday night and suffered minor injuries, his team have announced.

The 24-year-old NFL player was treated in hospital for his injuries and has already been released.

The incident happened in a nightclub in Sanford, Florida, with local media reporting he was caught in the crossfire of an altercation that did not involve him.


BBC
 

Tight end Kelce signs new deal with Chiefs​

Travis Kelce has signed a new two-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs that makes him the NFL's highest-paid tight end.

The 34-year-old helped his side to an overtime Super Bowl victory in February over the San Francisco 49ers.

In a video announcing the deal, Kelce said: "I remember coming here 12 years ago. It's an honour and a pleasure.

"I can't wait to get after it. Just got out on the field with the boys - we're back at it again."

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes celebrated the news by writing: "I told y'all I'll never let him leave!! Congrats my guy!" on X, external.

The NFL Network and ESPN have reported Kelce's deal adds $34m (£27m) to his existing contract, which now ends in 2027.

Kelce joins Chiefs head coach Andy Reid - with whom he had a high-profile spat during the Super Bowl - and general manager Brett Veach in committing their futures to the Chiefs this month.

"A special day and moment in this organisation," Veach said.

Mahomes, regarded as the best player in the NFL, signed a 10-year deal in 2020.

Kelce led the Chiefs with 93 receptions for 984 yards and five touchdowns in 2023.

Source: BBC
 
Free agent wide receiver Tyler Boyd is signing with the Tennessee Titans on a one-year deal worth up to $4.5 million, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler on Tuesday.

The move reunites Boyd with new Titans coach Brian Callahan, who was Boyd's offensive coordinator with the Cincinnati Bengals since 2019.

Source: ESPN
 

Rees-Zammit likens former Wales fly-half Biggar to Mahomes​

Kansas City Chiefs running back Louis Rees-Zammit says his former Wales team-mate Dan Biggar shares similarities with Patrick Mahomes.

Biggar, 34, won 112 caps for Wales before he retired from international rugby at the end of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Chiefs quarterback Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl champion, is already considered to be one of the best to ever play the game despite being just 28 years old.

"Dan is one of the best fly-halves to ever play the game," said Rees-Zammit.

"You can really see how they read the game so quick to be able to make decisions.

"I think his comparison [in the NFL] is probably Patrick Mahomes. He can scan the defence quick and then he can make plays as well.

"That's probably the comparison, you see how quick they can read the game and make decisions based off that."

www.bbc.com

Rees-Zammit likens ex-Wales fly-half Biggar to NFL star Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs' Louis Rees-Zammit says his ex-Wales rugby team-mate Dan Biggar shares similarities with Patrick Mahomes.
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Chiefs to begin Super Bowl defence against Ravens

Super Bowl champions the Kansas City Chiefs will begin the defence of their title against the Baltimore Ravens at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday, 5 September.

The NFL announced the 2024 season will start with a rematch of January's AFC championship game, which the Chiefs won 17-10.

Kansas City beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime to win their third Super Bowl in five years in February.

Head coach Andy Reid's team are chasing a third consecutive Super Bowl title and boast a threatening attack, including last season's Super Bowl Most Valuable Player (MVP) Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.

The NFL had already confirmed it will stage its first game in Brazil on the opening weekend, with the Philadelphia Eagles facing the Green Bay Packers in Sao Paulo on 6 September.

The rest of the 2024 season schedule will be announced on Wednesday.


BBC
 

Buccaneers, Antoine Winfield agree to 4-year, $84.1M contract​

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Antoine Winfield Jr. have reached agreement on a four-year, $84.1 million deal, agent David Mulugheta announced Monday.

The deal makes Winfield the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history -- the first time in modern NFL history that a safety has set this mark.

Winfield's deal includes $45 million guaranteed, the most ever given to a safety.

Mulugheta posted to Instagram a screengrab of his call to Winfield and congratulated his client.

"Couldn't be happier to make this call and let @antoinewinfieldjr know he just made HISTORY! The first time that a safety is the highest paid defensive back in the NFL. In a year where the value of safeties has been questioned, the Buccaneer Organization, the Glazer Family and GM Jason Licht have stepped up and taken care of one of their most valuable family members," he wrote in the post.

"Congratulations Antoine, you have accomplished something that has never been done before. You will forever be etched in history as the first. I appreciate your trust and cannot wait to see you back on the field."

www.espn.com

Bucs make safety Winfield NFL's highest-paid DB

The Buccaneers and Antoine Winfield Jr. have reached agreement on a four-year, $84.1 million deal, agent David Mulugheta told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday.
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Rodgers set for London return in 2024 NFL season

Aaron Rodgers, the NFL's four-time Most Valuable Player, is set to return to play in London as part of the 2024 season's international series.

Rodgers, 40, made his first international appearance with the Green Bay Packers in 2022.

The veteran quarterback could be back at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 6 October when his New York Jets team face the Minnesota Vikings.

For the second year running, the Jacksonville Jaguars will play two international games and the New England Patriots will return to London for the first time since 2012.

The Jaguars will face the Chicago Bears at Tottenham on 13 October before 'hosting' the Patriots at Wembley on 20 October.

The Jaguars have played in each London series since 2013 and last year became the first NFL team to play two regular-season games outside the USA in the same season, beating the Atlanta Falcons and the Buffalo Bills on consecutive Sundays.

Rodgers is one of three active players to be named MVP, along with Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson. The only player to win the award more times than Rodgers is Peyton Manning with five.

Rodgers spent 18 seasons with Green Bay before joining the Jets last April, although the 2011 Super Bowl winner sustained a season-ending injury in his first game.

The Packers became the 32nd and last NFL team to play in London since the international series began in 2007, although Rodgers was unable to stop them losing 27-22 to the New York Giants in 2022.

"Three years ago fans here might have feared they would never see Aaron Rodgers play in the UK, so to have him back is such an exciting prospect," NFL UK's general manager Henry Hodgson told BBC Sport.

The Giants are heading overseas again this season having been confirmed as the opponents for the Carolina Panthers in Munich.

There will be five international games played this season, with the NFL staging a regular-season game in Brazil for the first time on the opening weekend.

The second London game will feature the number one draft picks from 2021 and this year go head-to-head.

"We've got teams coming over that have great support across the UK and Ireland, and the rest of Europe, and some superstars coming with them," Hodgson added.

"We've seen Trevor Lawrence a few times now in the UK - he's such an exciting player - and Caleb Williams might be the most exciting quarterback to come out of the draft since Trevor Lawrence, so that should be a great match-up."

If an NFL franchise were to relocate to the UK, the Jaguars were seen as the most likely option.

The Florida-based team have now agreed a 30-year lease on a new stadium worth $1.4bn, which includes a non-relocation clause but also a commitment to continue playing one home game a year in London.

NFL international games 2024

Friday, 6 September - Green Bay Packers v Philadelphia Eagles (Sao Paulo)

Sunday, 6 October - New York Jets v Minnesota Vikings (Tottenham, London)

Sunday, 13 October - Jacksonville Jaguars v Chicago Bears (Tottenham, London)

Sunday, 20 October - New England Patriots v Jacksonville Jaguars (Wembley, London)

Sunday, 10 November - New York Giants v Carolina Panthers (Munich)



BBC
 

Aaron Rodgers embraces pressure of Jets' do-or-die season​

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Aaron Rodgers is back as the starting quarterback of the New York Jets -- healthy, confident and ready for a potential do-or-die season for him and the entire organization.

"If I don't do what I know I'm capable of doing, we're all probably going to be out of here," Rodgers said Tuesday after his second OTA practice -- the first open to the media. "I like that kind of pressure, though."

The four-time MVP amplified the narrative surrounding the Jets, that the fates of coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas likely hinge on the 2024 season. The Jets are 18-33 under the leadership of Saleh and Douglas, hoping Rodgers and a win-now roster can end the NFL's longest active playoff drought -- 13 years.

Rodgers, 40, put himself on the hot seat as well.

"You might not say it, but as you get older in the league, if you don't perform, they're going to get rid of you or bring in the next guy to take over," he said. "I mean, it happened in Green Bay and I'm a few years older than I was back then.

"I expect to play at a high level. I expect us to be productive and competitive, and all that stuff to take care of itself."

For the first time in eight months, Rodgers presided over the Jets' starting offense, showing no apparent signs of rust and no lingering effects from a torn Achilles that ended his 2023 season on the fourth snap.

"He's doing everything," Saleh said of the practice regimen.

With Rodgers at quarterback, the ball didn't touch the ground until the latter stages of the 90-minute practice. He was perfect in his first 11-on-11 period (2-for-2), perfect in his only 7-on-7 period (5-for-5) and completed his first three attempts in the next 11-on-11 before missing wide receiver Xavier Gipson on a deep sideline route. Moments earlier, he made his best throw of the day, splitting a pair of defenders on a deep seam to Gipson.

"I don't want to go out as a bum," Rodgers said. "So that's why I put the work in and believe in my abilities. I mean, you guys saw today. There's no pads on, but I can obviously still throw it with the best of them and can still move around.

"I look forward to getting back to where I was last year. When I play well, I think all the individual possibilities for recognition would be great. But if I play the way I'm capable of playing, we'll be playing for a lot more than that."

Rodgers' return has energized the team after a bitterly disappointing 2023, which saw the Jets (7-10) cycle through three different quarterbacks after Rodgers' devasting injury in Week 1. Saleh made some changes to the offensive staff, but retained coordinator Nathaniel Hackett amid speculation that he might hire a senior assistant above Hackett.

Hackett will remain the play caller, according to Saleh, who has taken a greater role in the offense. Chances are, a healthy Rodgers will make everyone better.

"It's amazing," defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich marveled. "He's found some sort of Fountain of Youth because I don't ever see a different version of him. It's the same guy I saw the last four weeks of the season when he was dicing us up on the scout-team stuff."

www.espn.com

Rodgers embraces pressure of do-or-die season

Aaron Rodgers is back as the Jets' starting quarterback -- healthy, confident and ready for a potential do-or-die season for him and the entire organization.
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NFL kicker Brandon McManus accused of sexual assault in lawsuit​

Two women are suing kicker Brandon McManus and the Jacksonville Jaguars, alleging that McManus sexually assaulted them during the team's overseas flight to London last year, according to court documents obtained by ESPN.

The two women -- identified as Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II in the lawsuit filed Friday night in Duval County Circuit Civil Court -- accuse McManus of rubbing himself against them and grinding against them. They also accuse the Jaguars of failing to supervise McManus and failing to create a safe environment for staff serving the team.

They are seeking in excess of $1 million and are demanding a jury trial.

A statement from McManus or his attorney is likely to be released later Monday, a source told ESPN. The Jaguars declined to comment through a team spokesman. ESPN has also reached out to McManus' agent, Drew Rosenhaus.

The Jaguars did not re-sign McManus this offseason; he signed a one-year, $3.6 million contract with the Washington Commanders on March 14.

"Earlier today, we were made aware of the civil lawsuit filed on May 24 against Brandon McManus. We take allegations of this nature very seriously and are looking into the matter," the Commanders said in a statement. "We have been in communication with the League Office and Brandon's representation, and will reserve further comment at this time."

According to the lawsuit, the two women worked as flight attendants on the Jaguars' Sept. 28, 2023, Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings charter flight. They allege the flight "quickly turned into a party" as McManus and several other players disregarded the flight attendants' personal space, air travel safety and federal law. The lawsuit also claims that McManus recruited three other flight attendants to the party and passed out $100 bills to encourage them to drink and dance inappropriately for him.

Doe I accuses McManus of trying to kiss her while she was seated during a session of turbulence and twice grinding up against her while she was serving the flight's two meal services, per the lawsuit. Doe I alleges during the first assault she made eye contact with another Jaguars player, who she said looked ashamed of McManus' behavior.

Doe II alleges that McManus grinded up against her while she was serving the flight's second meal service. Per the lawsuit, Doe II confronted McManus, who "smirked and walked away." The lawsuit says Doe II remained in the aircraft's second story to avoid McManus on the team's flight from London to Jacksonville on Oct. 8.

www.espn.com

NFL kicker McManus accused of sexual assault

Two women are suing kicker Brandon McManus and the Jacksonville Jaguars, alleging that McManus sexually assaulted them during the team's flight to London last year.
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Texans, WR Nico Collins agree to 3-year, $72.75M extension​

The Houston Texans and wide receiver Nico Collins have agreed to a three-year, $72.75 million extension that includes $52 million guaranteed, agents Drew Rosenhaus, Ryan Matha and Jason Rosenhaus told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Tuesday.

The contract has a maximum value of $75 million.

Collins, 25, is coming off a career best season in which he had 80 receptions for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games.

Selected in the third round of the 2021 draft, he was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

In three seasons, he has 150 catches for 2,224 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Source: ESPN
 

Dallas Cowboys legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Allen has died aged 52.​

The Cowboys said Allen died suddenly on Sunday, while on holiday with his family in Mexico.

A second-round draft pick in 1994, guard Allen spent 12 of his 14 seasons in the NFL with Dallas, helping them to victory over Pittsburgh Steelers at Super Bowl 30 in January 1996.

He ended his career with the San Francisco 49ers, with whom he earned his 11th and final Pro Bowl selection, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013.

Source: BBC
 

Sources: Justin Jefferson, Vikings agree to 4-year, $140M deal​

The Minnesota Vikings and star wide receiver Justin Jefferson have agreed to a four-year, $140 million contract extension that includes $110 million guaranteed, sources told ESPN. The deal makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

The deal, which was negotiated by WME Football, includes $88.743 million due at signing. The Vikings announced Monday morning that Jefferson agreed to an extension that runs through the 2028 season but did not disclose financial terms.

"The time has finally come. The deal I've been waiting for since I was a little kid," Jefferson said in a video posted to Instagram. "Being doubted my whole career. Not being highly recruited. Not being the first receiver off the draft board. This whole journey wasn't easy for me. ... To be given a gift to play football at the highest level, it's a blessing. It's an honor."

Vikings owners Mark and Zygi Wilf said in a statement that Jefferson has "earned this contract, and we are thrilled he will remain a Minnesota Viking for a very long time."

"From the moment I arrived in Minnesota, Justin has consistently proven to be one of the best players in the NFL on and off the field and we are excited about having him as a cornerstone of our team for a long time to come," Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said. "He is the living embodiment of our culture with his joyful dedication to process and our goals. We couldn't be more excited for Justin and his family."

Jefferson also thanked his parents, his brothers, his agent and the Vikings' front office staff, coaches and fans in the Instagram video.

"Y'all set the tone. Y'all set the mood. Y'all set the energy," Jefferson said in the video. "And I'm definitely excited to set the energy for five more years. ... This is the start of it, but we ain't done yet. Just wait."

www.espn.com

Sources: Jefferson, Vikings agree to historic deal

The Vikings and Justin Jefferson have agreed on a four-year, $140 million extension that includes $110 million guaranteed, sources told ESPN. The deal makes him the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history.
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hassan918 said:

Dallas Cowboys legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Allen has died aged 52.​

The Cowboys said Allen died suddenly on Sunday, while on holiday with his family in Mexico.

A second-round draft pick in 1994, guard Allen spent 12 of his 14 seasons in the NFL with Dallas, helping them to victory over Pittsburgh Steelers at Super Bowl 30 in January 1996.

He ended his career with the San Francisco 49ers, with whom he earned his 11th and final Pro Bowl selection, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013.

Source: BBC
Click to expand...
This is really sad news. Despite being an Eagles fan, I had huge respect for Larry, he was definetly the best guard I have ever seen.

Most importantly Larry was a good person, RIP big dawg, you will always be the greatest in my eyes. Thoughts and prayers with Larry's family, gone too soon, Om Shanti.
 
Never had the interest in this sport but looking at one of the games make me think that it is pretty interesting TBH.
 

49ers reward RB Christian McCaffrey with 2-year extension​

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Reigning Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey again has reset the running back market, signing a two-year extension with the San Francisco 49ers averaging $19 million per year, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Tuesday.

McCaffrey will receive an additional $8 million over what he was scheduled to make in 2024 and 2025 while adding $24 million in guarantees. The deal was negotiated by WME Football.

With his new deal agreed upon, McCaffrey was back with the 49ers for the start of the mandatory minicamp Tuesday after skipping the voluntary portion of the team's offseason program.

His new deal will keep him with the 49ers through the 2027 season. Before the reworked deal, McCaffrey had two years remaining on the lucrative extension he signed with the Carolina Panthers in 2020.

Source: ESPN
 

Chiefs' Thompson awake after seizure and cardiac arrest​

Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman BJ Thompson is "awake and responsive" after suffering a seizure and cardiac arrest in a team meeting.

Thompson, 25, was taken to hospital on Thursday following a Chiefs meeting.

"He's headed in the absolute right direction," said Rick Burkholder, the Chiefs' vice president of sports medicine and performance on Friday.

"Our players, our security staff, everybody involved, coaches and staff, they were phenomenal in handling the crisis."

The Chiefs cancelled a scheduled practice session after the medical emergency, with head coach Andy Reid and players delaying media sessions until Friday.

Thompson, selected in the fifth round of last year's NFL Draft, played in one game for the Super Bowl winners last season.

He was part of the Chiefs team that visited the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl title last week.

The Chiefs are currently in their off-season training programme and will begin a mandatory mini-camp on Tuesday.

Source: BBC
 

Steelers sign Tomlin to 3-year extension​

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed head coach Mike Tomlin to a three-year contract extension through the 2027 season, the team announced Monday.

The 52-year-old is entering his 18th season with the team.

"Mike Tomlin's leadership and commitment to the Steelers have been pivotal to our success during his first 17 years as head coach," Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a statement. "Extending his contract for three more years reflects our confidence in his ability to guide the team back to winning playoff games and championships while continuing our tradition of success."

One of the most respected coaches in the NFL, Tomlin fueled speculation after leaving a press conference when asked about his coaching future following a wild-card loss to the Buffalo Bills. However, the longtime coach - who had one year left on his contract - said he remained committed to the team in January.

"I am appreciative for this contract extension and thankful for Art Rooney II for his support during my first 17 years in Pittsburgh," Tomlin said Monday. "We are continuing to work diligently to get back to where we belong: sustained playoff success with the ultimate goal of winning the franchise's seventh Lombardi Trophy.

"I am very excited to get the 2024 season underway and provide our fans with a memorable year."

The Steelers have never had a losing season under Tomlin, who's helped Pittsburgh post a .500 record or better in a record 17 straight campaigns. He also won a Super Bowl with the team during the 2008 season. The Steelers, however, haven't won a playoff game since the 2016 campaign, having gone one-and-done four times in that span.

Tomlin has posted a 173-100-2 regular-season record in the NFL to go along with an 8-10 postseason mark. With Bill Belichick's departure from the New England Patriots this year, Tomlin is now the league's longest-tenured active head coach.

Tomlin's outfit was active this offseason, signing veteran quarterback Russell Wilson and second-team All-Pro linebacker Patrick Queen, among other players. Pittsburgh also traded for quarterback Justin Fields and dealt Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles.

www.thescore.com

Steelers sign Tomlin to 3-year extension

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed head coach Mike Tomlin to a three-year contract extension through the 2027 season, the team announced Monday.The 52-year-old is entering his 18th season with the team."Mike Tomlin's leadership and commitment to the Steelers have been pivotal to our success during...
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Thompson out of hospital after cardiac arrest

Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman BJ Thompson has been released from hospital after suffering from a seizure and cardiac arrest in a team meeting.

Thompson, 25, received CPR from the Chiefs' staff before being taken to hospital on Thursday.

"The family thanks everyone for their prayers and want to especially thank the Chiefs medical and training staff for their rapid response and professionalism throughout this situation," agent Chris Turnage said.

The Chiefs cancelled a scheduled practice session after the medical emergency, with head coach Andy Reid and players delaying media sessions until Friday.

Thompson, selected in the fifth round of last year's NFL Draft, played in one game for the Super Bowl winners last season.

He was part of the Chiefs team that visited the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl title last week.

The Chiefs are currently in their off-season training programme and will begin a mandatory mini-camp on Tuesday.


BBC
 

Quarterback Lawrence agrees new deal worth £216m​


Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has agreed a five-year contract extension worth a reported $275m (£216m), according to NFL Network Insider.

The deal is reported, external to be worth $55 million (£43m) per year with $200 million (£157m) guaranteed, which would make the 24-year-old the joint-highest earning quarterback alongside the Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow.

Lawrence, the number one overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, would have played the 2024 season for $5.6 million (£4.4m) on a rookie deal if no long-term agreement had been reached.

In 2023 Lawrence threw for 4,016 yards, 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, but despite an impressive start to the season the Jaguars missed out on the play-offs.

He had said he wanted his contract extension done before the start of the Jaguars' training camp,, external having been a key player since his NFL debut in 2021.

Trevor Lawrence has bagged the latest deal in a string of mega money NFL quarterback contracts.

Throwing 14 interceptions in an injury-disrupted 2023-24 season, there's a question of 'why' the Jaguars are investing a franchise record into the extension.

But this is very much a future investment, locking down a number one draft pick who has shown flashes of elite stardom and performance.

Remember - he was the architect of the 2022 play-off comeback victory against the Los Angeles Chargers when they were down 27-0, winning 31-30.

Under the offensive guidance of head coach and former quarterback Doug Pederson, Lawrence could well be on his way to a breakout season and a journey to get Jacksonville back in Super Bowl contention.

www.bbc.com

Trevor Lawrence: Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback agrees new five-year £216m deal

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence agrees a five-year contract extension worth a reported $275m (£216m).
www.bbc.com
 

Scotland's Olatoke lands NFL chance with LA Chargers​

Scottish athlete Praise Olatoke has been signed by the Los Angeles Chargers as a wide receiver after impressing the NFL side during tryouts.

The 23-year-old, who was born in Nigeria and raised in Glasgow, was at Ohio State University as a sprinter.

Olatoke has recorded a 10.27-second 100m time and told BBC Sport Scotland earlier this year than competing in the NFL had been his lifelong dream.

“It's always been something since I was 15 I wanted to do,” he said. “Now that the doors are open, I have to take it."

He joins the side via the NFL’s international pathway programme, which gives 16 athletes from the around the world the opportunity to train with and earn a spot on a top team’s roster.

Source: BBC
 

Ed Policy to succeed Mark Murphy as Packers president, CEO​

The Green Bay Packers' board of directors unanimously approved Ed Policy as the franchise's new president and CEO on Monday, the team announced.

Policy will replace Mark Murphy, who'll step away in July 2025 as he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70.

The 53-year-old Policy has spent 13 seasons with the Packers, serving as their chief operating officer over the last seven years. He'll be the 12th president in franchise history.

"Ed has been a tremendous asset to the organization during his 12 years here and has been greatly instrumental in our success," Murphy said in a statement. "His work on Titletown has been particularly impactful. He is highly respected - both in the building and within the NFL. I've enjoyed working with him and am confident he will be an excellent steward for the organization."

The Packers have been successful during Murphy's tenure, which began in 2008. He helped Green Bay win Super Bowl XLV in 2011, and the team has reached the playoffs in 12 of the last 16 seasons.

Policy said he hopes Green Bay will replicate that success.

"I am incredibly honored, excited, and grateful … for this treasured and one-of-a-kind opportunity," Policy said. "I am particularly grateful to Mark for 12 years of mentorship. I am looking forward to building on his leadership and considerable success on and off the field."

Policy previously spent nine years as an Arena Football League executive. He served as the league's commissioner, president, and CEO in 2008-09.

The Ohio native is the son of Carmen Policy, the former 49ers president and CEO who helped San Francisco win five Super Bowl titles.

Source: The Score
 

Chiefs release D-lineman Isaiah Buggs after multiple arrests​

The Kansas City Chiefs on Monday released defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs, who has been arrested multiple times in Alabama this offseason.

Buggs was booked on a domestic violence/burglary charge in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on June 16. That came after he was charged May 30 with two misdemeanor counts of second-degree animal cruelty in Tuscaloosa. Two dogs allegedly under his care -- a pit bull and a rottweiler mix -- were found to be neglected and severely malnourished. The pit bull had to be euthanized.

Buggs' bail on the animal cruelty charges was revoked after his domestic violence arrest. He is currently in the Tuscaloosa County Jail after being booked last Monday.

Buggs' agent, Trey Robinson, has alleged that his client is a victim of an ongoing "subversive campaign" to force the closure of the hookah lounge he owns in Tuscaloosa.

Buggs, 27, played two seasons for the University of Alabama and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 2019 draft. He played three seasons for the Steelers and two for the Detroit Lions before joining the Chiefs in January as a practice squad player. The Chiefs re-signed Buggs to a futures contract in February.

It has been an offseason of legal troubles for several Chiefs players this offseason. Wide receiver Rashee Rice was arrested in Dallas in March for his involvement in a six-car crash that injured at least seven people. Police say Rice was driving 119 mph on a freeway before causing the crash. Rice is facing one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury.

Rice is also a suspect in an alleged assault that injured a man in a Dallas nightclub. The man does not want police to file charges, however. That investigation remains ongoing, Dallas police said last month.

Offensive linemen Wanya Morris and Chukwuebuka Godrick, meanwhile, were arrested last month in Johnson County, Kansas, on misdemeanor possession of marijuana charges.

Source: ESPN
 

Olatoke relishing 'crazy journey' from Scotland to LA Chargers​

Praise Olatoke, the Los Angeles Chargers' new Scottish wide receiver, has described his journey from Nigeria via Glasgow to the NFL as "crazy".

The 24-year-old has joined the Chargers after he failed to earn a spot with the Philadelphia Eagles when he attended a rookie minicamp in May.

He will now compete to earn a place on the Chargers' final 53-man active roster for 2024.

Olatoke was born in Nigeria but moved to Scotland when he was just five years old and was a pupil at Cardonald Primary School in Glasgow before attending St Columba’s in Kilmacolm.

"It's a crazy journey, honestly," he said. "I was just talking to my mom yesterday about how far I've came from.

"From Kinning Park to Los Angeles is just nuts to think about the different directions and countries and cities taken to get here, so I it feels great. It was a crazy story.

"I strive to live like a life of adventure and this is something that sort of proves that. I'm just going for adventure. Yeah, I'm excited. I'm ready to see where this takes me."

Olatoke says that, after the disappointment of missing out on a place with the Eagles, he was unsure if his dream of playing NFL would come true. Then the call came from LA.

"To be very, very candid, after I got back from Philadelphia, I didn't know if the league was going to work out for me." he said. "So I spent two three weeks sort of decompressing from football, reflecting on what I want to do.

"I was starting to make moves like my next adventure. I didn't know where life was going next.

"But I don't limit myself and what I think I can do. I want to go to Mars, so I'll go to the Moon. Eventually, I think I'll do it."

Olatoke will return to Scotland next week then head back to the United States for thw Chargers' four-week summer training camp before the start of the NFL season in September.

Because he joined the side via the NFL’s international pathway programme, which gives 16 athletes from the around the world the opportunity to train with and earn a spot on a top team’s roster, he does not count towards the Chargers' 90-man off-season roster during training camp.

The Chargers will gradually cut the 90-man roster down to 53 before September.

Olatoke would also not count towards the Chargers' practice squad limit if he were to land a spot.

Source: BBC
 
Sexual assault case against Prescott dismissed

A lawsuit against Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott alleging sexual assault has been dismissed.

A woman filed a criminal complaint against Prescott in March, alleging that the 30-year-old sexually assaulted her in the back of a car in a Dallas strip club car park in February 2017.

In May the Dallas Police Department said criminal charges would not be pursued against Prescott because of a lack of evidence.

The accuser's attorneys dropped the suit in Dallas County and filed a similar one in Collin County, which is also in Texas.

Prescott has now filed an extortion lawsuit to Collin County, alleging that the accuser and her attorneys demanded $100m (£79m) in January before the original criminal complaint was submitted.

Collin County Judge Angela Tucker has set a hearing on 13 September to determine if the accuser should face sanctions for the damage caused to Prescott by the allegations.

"Despite [the accuser] and her legal team's relentless efforts to extort money and damage Dak's reputation, justice has consistently prevailed and will continue to do so," said Prescott's attorney Levi G McCathern.

"These ploys distract from the trauma of legitimate sexual assault survivors and undermine the progress that our society has made in supporting them."

Prescott joined the Cowboys in 2016 and was named NFL offensive rookie of the year in his debut season.



BBC
 

Former 49ers S Tashaun Gipson suspended six games​

The NFL has suspended free agent safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. for six games. Gipson spent the past two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.

Signed for extra depth just before the 2022 season, Gipson reenergized his career with the 49ers, quickly becoming the starter at free safety. He was brought back on a one-year, $2.9 million deal.

In two seasons with San Francisco, Gipson, who turns 34 in August, became a trusted locker room leader for the other young defensive backs and a stalwart on the back end of the defense.

In 2023, Gipson started 16 games, posting 60 tackles with a sack and an interception after tallying 61 tackles and five interceptions in 2022. He also had five of his 14 postseason tackles in the Super Bowl LVIII loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Originally an undrafted free agent in 2012 out of Wyoming, Gipson spent four seasons with the Cleveland Browns, three with the Jacksonville Jaguars, one with the Houston Texans and two with the Chicago Bears before joining the 49ers.

Gipson has 684 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 33 interceptions and 3 defensive touchdowns in 173 career regular-season games.

Source: ESPN
 
Vikings rookie Jackson dies in car crash

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Khyree Jackson has died in a car crash at the age of 24.

Rookie Jackson and two former high school team-mates, Isaiah Hazel and Anthony Lytton Jr, died early on Saturday morning in Prince George's County, Maryland.

The Dodge Charger they were travelling in collided with another vehicle that was trying to change lanes at high speed.

"I am absolutely crushed by this news," said Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell.

"Khyree brought a contagious energy to our facility and our team. His confidence and engaging personality immediately drew his team-mates to him.

"In our short time together, it was evident Khyree was going to develop into a tremendous professional football player, but what was more impressive was his desire to become the best person he could be for his family and those around him."

A Vikings statement read: "We are devastated by the news of Khyree Jackson's death following an overnight car accident.

"Our thoughts are with Khyree's family, friends, team-mates and coaches, as well as all the victims of this tragic accident."

Jackson was selected by the Vikings in the fourth round of the NFL Draft in April but had yet to play a game.

BBC
 
Super Bowl winner Jones dies aged 40

Former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones has died aged 40.

Jones spent eight seasons in the NFL and played a key role as the Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII in 2013.

In helping Baltimore to that victory over the San Francisco 49ers, he set a number of records.

His 108-yard kick-off return for a touchdown is the longest in Super Bowl history, and the longest play ever in the showpiece game.

Jones was also the first player to catch a touchdown and score on a return in the same Super Bowl.

Drafted in the third round in 2007, Jones played for the Houston Texans until 2011 when he joined the Ravens.

After three seasons in Baltimore, where he was selected for the Pro Bowl in 2012, he had spells at the San Diego Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers before retiring in 2017.


BBC
 
Cricket Warrior said:
Super Bowl winner Jones dies aged 40

Former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones has died aged 40.

Jones spent eight seasons in the NFL and played a key role as the Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII in 2013.

In helping Baltimore to that victory over the San Francisco 49ers, he set a number of records.

His 108-yard kick-off return for a touchdown is the longest in Super Bowl history, and the longest play ever in the showpiece game.

Jones was also the first player to catch a touchdown and score on a return in the same Super Bowl.

Drafted in the third round in 2007, Jones played for the Houston Texans until 2011 when he joined the Ravens.

After three seasons in Baltimore, where he was selected for the Pro Bowl in 2012, he had spells at the San Diego Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers before retiring in 2017.


BBC
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There needs to be some accountability for these violent games. Young strong men put their lives on the line for some entertainment while the old fat men make away with the big money.
 
The NFL star being driven to greatness by his blinged-up alter-ego

NFL fans could be watching a legend in the making.

In four years with the Minnesota Vikings, Justin Jefferson has established himself as arguably the NFL's best wide receiver.

If he keeps going the way he's going, he could become the greatest of all-time. And he has the swagger to go with it.

His touchdown celebration went viral and he's caught the eye with some flamboyant outfits, jewellery and sunglasses.

Last month, Jefferson walked down the runway at Paris fashion week and now he features on a Netflix series called Receiver, which follows on from last year's Quarterback series.

Two of the people that see the man behind the bling most often told BBC Sport about what sets him apart.

'He was raised right'

Last month, Jefferson became the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, signing a four-year contract extension worth $140m (£108m).

Yet even before that, he boasted an impressive jewellery collection, including custom-made chains and mouth grills.

The 25-year-old says he's an "ice-style guy" - he loves jewellery covered in diamonds - and his favourite item is a chain with a jet piece that represents his alter-ego, which he calls 'Jets'.

"When I start putting these chains on and the teeth in, I start to become 'Jets'," he says on Receiver.

That helps him transform into the show-stopping entertainer, whose 'Griddy' touchdown dance was imitated across the NFL and added to Fortnite.

But the Vikings' wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell says the 2022 Offensive Player of the Year remains grounded.

"His parents are so humble," he told BBC Sport. "They always say to him 'humble over hype'.

"I think that's the foundation of who he is. He was raised right."

'He loves the grind'

Before Jets, there was the shy kid Justin. Raised in Louisiana, his parents both played basketball and his two older brothers Jordan (33) and Rickey (29) played football at Louisiana State University (LSU).

He grew up in his brothers' shadow and was a late bloomer, physically and athletically. Coming out of high school, he was not a highly-rated recruit. He was barely on the radar.

But because of the family link, Jefferson was given a chance at LSU in 2017 and he set about proving college scouts wrong.

After earning his place on the team, he helped LSU win the national championship in 2020. Three months later he was chosen 22nd overall in the NFL draft.

"It started at home with his parents," said McCardell, who joined the Vikings in 2021. "They made him and his brothers work for everything.

"Justin's the youngest so he knew he had to work harder. He took what he learned at home and put that to his career. He just out-works everybody, he takes it to another level.

"I caught him rather young still, and I knew I had a really good player because he loves to work. In the new age, a lot of guys don't like to do that, but he loves to practice, he loves the grind, so I knew he had a chance to be very successful."

A quest for perfection

Receiver follows five players during the 2023 season, in which Jefferson missed two months with a hamstring injury.

He was unable to complete his first game back as he suffered a tackle to the ribs that left him spitting blood.

While he was on the sidelines, the series shows Jefferson offering advice and encouragement to rookie receiver Jordan Addison. Moments later Addison scores a touchdown.

The 22-year-old told BBC Sport that Jefferson tells him to "be yourself, be creative".

"He's an amazing person," Addison added. "He's a really humble superstar, who just loves to see everybody [on the team] succeed.”

McCardell said: "Justin's a superstar that works extremely hard. When Jordan and everybody else sees that, they know they’ve got to work that hard to catch up.”

That work ethic extends to a quest for perfection, which Jefferson shows in Receiver when agonising over a crucial fumble. He's continued to show it in the off-season.

"He sent me a video earlier this year, before we came back for mini-camp," said McCardell. "I said 'I see you working on your body posture and your break, you're getting your shoulders down now'. And he said 'yeah, you told me to'.

"It's simple stuff like that. I tell him, and he goes and works on his whole game. He wants to be as perfect as a receiver can be. It's a great honour for me that he believes in what I teach and he's out there working on it."

Jefferson 'has the intangibles' to be all-time great

Jefferson has not been the most prolific touchdown scorer in the NFL. But he makes spectacular catches, regularly.

He has registered more receiving yards in his first four years than anyone else (5,899) - despite missing seven games last season. He also tops the all-time list for average yards per game (98.3).

That epitomises "taking care of the football, consistency and relentless effort", which Addison sees as key factors to reaching the Super Bowl.

Jefferson could also become the first non-quarterback to be named the NFL's Most Valuable Player since Adrian Peterson (2012) and has his sights set on beating Calvin Johnson's record for most receiving yards in a season - 1,964 (also from 2012).

"We always talk about it," added McCardell, a two-time Super Bowl winner. "It's a little joke we have, in our meetings. We always say '2k'. He had a chance last year, before he got hurt, but if he stays healthy, we believe he can do it.

"If he stays on this trajectory, he could be right there with Jerry Rice, Randy Moss and Terrell Owens.

"I was fortunate enough to play those guys. They're Hall of Famers. Justin has all the intangibles to be one of those guys."

BBC
 
NFL could soon have Europe division says academy boss

A European division of the NFL featuring franchises in some of the continent's biggest cities could soon become a reality, according to the head coach of the league's England-based academy.

London and Munich will again host games at the likes of Wembley, Allianz Arena and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season.

Sao Paulo will be the stage for the Philadelphia Eagles v theGreen Bay Packers on the opening weekend, and Madrid is due to host its own fixture next year as the league continues to expand its reach outside of the United States through its international series.

The exploratory minor league NFL Europe - which included the London Monarchs and Scottish Claymores - ceased to exist in 2007.

But Steve Hagen, the former Cleveland Browns and New York Jets assistant coach, said it will not be long before franchises are set up this side of the Atlantic - and this time with a direct route to the Super Bowl.


www.bbc.com

Europe could soon have NFL franchises, academy head coach says

A division of the NFL featuring franchises in some of Europe's biggest cities could soon become a reality, says academy coach.
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‘Appearance v reality’: Aaron Rodgers denies fallout with top receiver Garrett Wilson

Aaron Rodgers and Garrett Wilson talk to each other a lot. Sometimes they can get a little animated while making a point. But when a video shot by a fan and posted on social media last week showed the New York Jets quarterback and wide receiver having what some termed “a heated disagreement” on the sideline, it sent the internet and sports talk radio into a frenzy.

A few other recent training camp videos showing similar conversations only added to the worries by fans that Rodgers and Wilson may have issues with their on-field chemistry.

“I think there’s often appearance versus reality in life and on the football field,” Rodgers said on Wednesday. “And what it appears to be might not always be what the reality actually is. As far as whether or not we’re upset with each other, we’re just passionately talking about the details of a situation that might not have to do with either of us. G and I got a great relationship. We spend time together off the field. On the field, there’s a way of doing things that we both agree on.

“And when it doesn’t look exactly how we want it to, sometimes there’s some side conversations that happen.”

Rodgers said he welcomes an opportunity to have open discussions with his teammates. “I love those conversations,” Rodgers said. “It’s about the details, it’s about winning, it’s about seeing what he sees. He’s got to get on my page, but I’ve got to get on his page, too, because he’s got a whole book that I need to understand fully of skill set and ability and feel and rhythm and all the different things that he does out there. So, those are good conversations.

“They might appear to be much more heated than they are, but there’s usually a smile on our face afterward. At least one of us is.”

Rodgers and Wilson know they need each other to be in sync heading into the season. The 40-year-old quarterback will rely heavily on the wide receiver, who’s entering his third year as one of the top players at his position – without having caught a regular-season pass yet from Rodgers.

“I’m a different guy out on the field than whenever you all see me after the game or wherever that may be,” Wilson said. “And Aaron’s kind of the same way. We’re both like-minded and we’re trying to figure out a way to attack our defense.”

Wilson said the conversations are vital to developing a rapport after Rodgers was injured in the Jets’ opening drive of 2023 and missed the rest of the season.

“Whenever we’re out there having those conversations and getting the way we are, we’re getting better,” Wilson said. “We’re gaining an understanding for each other and the way we go about things, the way we think and interpret the game. It’s truly enlightening for me every time we have convos like that, despite how it may look.”

Rodgers added that it was “news to me” when he heard coach Robert Saleh told reporters it was his “instinct” to sit the quarterback in the preseason. Saleh said Rodgers would definitely sit out the Jets’ first two preseason games – with a discussion about him playing in the third upcoming.

“That’s Robert’s decision,” Rodgers said. “I’ve never told him I don’t want to play in the preseason. There’s a lot of thoughts about whether there’s any particular gain from it.”

Rodgers didn’t play in the preseason in his last several seasons in Green Bay. He played two series in New York’s preseason finale last summer against the Giants – and he’s not opposed to doing so again this summer.

“If he decides he wants me to play against the Giants, I’ll strap it up and look forward to that,” Rodgers said.

THE GUARDIAN
 

Chiefs debut 'great first experience' - Rees-Zammit​


Louis Rees-Zammit says making his debut for reigning Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs was a "great first experience".

The former Wales wing featured in the Chiefs' pre-season friendly defeat by Jacksonville Jaguars.

Rees-Zammit performed as running back, kicker and kick-returner during Saturday's match, in addition to being part of the punt coverage team.

He finished with two carries for one yard, one reception for three yards and one tackle on special teams.

The 23-year-old also - somewhat unexpectedly - took a kick-off in the fourth quarter.

"It was a great first experience," Rees-Zammit told the Irish NFL Show following the 26-13 loss at EverBank Stadium in Florida.

"I loved it, I loved getting the snaps I did, on special teams as well, which was great.

"I've just got to look back on this, review it and see how I can get better.

"The atmosphere was great, it was pretty electric in the stadium and there was a load of Chiefs fans, which helped massively. It was a great game and I'm looking forward to the next one."

Rees-Zammit is competing for a spot on the Chiefs' 53-man regular-season roster, but was listed as Kansas City's fifth-choice running back on the franchise's initial depth chart.

There was also a debut for former Gaelic football goalkeeper Charlie Smyth.

He marked his first outing for the New Orleans Saints by kicking a winning field goal to secure a 16-14 pre-season win at the Arizona Cardinals.

The rookie 22-year-old Irishman, who, like Rees-Zammit, joined the NFL's International Player Pathway Programme earlier this year, converted from 37 yards with just five seconds remaining.

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Louis Rees-Zammit: Kansas City Chiefs debut 'great first experience' for former Wales wing

Louis Rees-Zammit says making his debut for reigning Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs was a “great first experience”.
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Smyth's game-winner 'cool to see' for fellow Saints

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr says Charlie Smyth's first NFL field goal is something the County Down kicker can "remember forever" after delivering his new side a pre-season victory on Saturday.

Smyth, a former Gaelic football goalkeeper, came through the NFL's international player pathway (IPP) programme and signed a three-year-deal with the Saints in March.

In what was his first ever kick in an NFL game of any kind, the 23-year-old hit a 37-yard field goal with time expiring to beat the Arizona Cardinals 16-14.

Carr, a four-time Pro Bowler, joked he was lucky not to get injured during the Mayobridge man's exuberant celebrations.

“I hope someone has the most awkward high-five I have ever received in my life [on camera]," he said. "I’m lucky I didn’t break my hand.

“He told us - I didn’t know this - a year ago he had never kicked a football. That’s something he’ll remember forever.”

Smyth is in a fight with the Saints' incumbent kicker Blake Grupe to make the active roster ahead of the regular season starting in September.

However, should he miss out there remains the possibility he could be retained on the practice squad and potentially earn a mid-season promotion.


BBC
 

Could there be an NFL Dream Team at LA 2028?​


"You know how amazing it would be to assemble a super team to play in the Olympics, man?"

NFL star Tyreek Hill joined fans in asking that question after flag football was confirmed as one of five new sports for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

Hill also wasn't the only one who began reminiscing about the US men's basketball team at Barcelona 1992.

Those were the first Olympics that NBA players were eligible for, allowing the US to select a star-studded roster that became known as the Dream Team.

Featuring the likes of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, it is still regarded as one of the best teams ever.

"I grew up a fan of the Dream Team," Hill said on his podcast.

"To say that I was able to compete for a medal for the US, it'd be special. It'd be something dope if NFL players could buy into that."

So is American football now set to field its own Dream Team at LA 2028?

Flag football is a fast, non-contact version of the game watched by millions worldwide in the NFL.

Instead of tackling, defenders must pull a 'flag' from the waist of the attacking player with the ball.

Played by about 20 million people in more than 100 countries, flag's Olympic format will be five v five, with different players on defence and offence.

Many NFL players honed their skills in flag before moving to tackle football and in 2023 the NFL gave them a chance to return to the game they grew up with.

The NFL's Pro Bowl used to be an end-of-season all-star game but is now a weeklong series of skill contests culminating in a game of flag football.

That has whet the appetite for fans and players alike.

In the Olympic format, the offence features a quarterback, a centre/receiver, plus a mix of receivers and running backs.

And since neither tackling nor blocking are permitted, flag is perhaps an even better stage than the NFL for those who play in the 'skill positions' to showcase their talent.

It seems every NFL player asked about the prospect of playing in the Olympics is interested.

Last season's Super Bowl-winning quarterback Patrick Mahomes "definitely wants to", Miami Dolphins receiver Hill added "sign me up" and Dallas Cowboys’ defensive star Micah Parsons says he "should be on the US team".

The NFL's support played a big part in flag football's bid to join the Olympics, but injuries are still possible in non-contact sport so NFL teams are wary of players being sidelined while on multi-million dollar contracts.

NFL executive Peter O’Reilly says the league is working with its teams, the NFL Players Association and USA Football to decide whether players have the opportunity to become Olympians.

"NBA players were given that opportunity so it's a good argument," Izell Reese, the NFL's director of flag football, told the BBC.

"I would be shocked and surprised if players who have played in the National Football League don't end up representing Team USA or other countries."

Ultimately, each team's selection policy for the Olympics will be determined by their national football federation, such as USA Football.

A decision on whether NFL players will be made available is expected later this year.

With each passing year, there are more foreign-born players in the NFL, and there were more than 100 last season.

Many US-born players also qualify for other nations through their family's heritage, such as Amon-Ra St Brown, whose mother is German.

"To be part of the Olympics, whether it's USA or Germany, and to play the sport that I love most would be a dream come true," said the Detroit Lions receiver.

The national football federations for Germany, Great Britain and Nigeria all say they would consider current and former professional players, if they demonstrate they are worthy of selection.

The same goes for athletes from other sports. Gridiron Australia chief executive Wade Kelly says that more than 100 professionals from ball-carrying sports have asked about playing in LA.

"Many of them are NFL fans and they've realised they could play against Patrick Mahomes or Tyreek Hill,” Kelly told BBC Sport.

Record seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady said that the US are "going to have a bit of an advantage, but it will be fun to watch other teams fight for the gold medal".

Their men's team will aim to win a fifth straight gold at the World Championships in Finland later this month (27-30 August) while the women's team is going for a third straight title.

But when flag football featured at the 2022 World Games in Alabama, US women were beaten 39-6 in the final by a Mexico team led by quarterback Diana Flores, who last year became the first flag player to be featured in the pro football Hall of Fame.

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LA 2028 flag football: Could there be an NFL Dream Team at the next Olympics?

With flag football preparing to join the next Olympics in Los Angeles, is the NFL set to field a star-studded roster similar to the NBA Dream Team in 1992?
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Rees-Zammit misses Chiefs training with injury

Louis Rees-Zammit has suffered a setback in his bid to play in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The former Wales wing is a doubt for the Chiefs' pre-season game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday after missing training with a back injury.

The NFL champions then have only one more pre-season game, against the Chicago Bears, before deciding their 53-man roster for the new campaign.

Rees-Zammit received praise after playing several roles in Kansas City's opening warm-up game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The 23-year-old was seen on the sidelines at a training session on Wednesday, stretching his upper body with coaches but not wearing pads or a helmet.

Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub confirmed the back injury as he said his players needed to work on their kick returns, in light of new rules and mistakes in their opening game against the Jaguars - one of the key roles Rees-Zammit is expected to take on.

"We just need to get more reps out there and make sure it's clear what the rules are," said Toub.

"Obviously we made a mistake in the game. It ended up costing us, but it's a great learning experience for us.

"[It will be the] same guys that you saw. So I still want to see other guys. I want to see [Rees-Zammit], but he didn't practice today. He might not be available. We'll see, but I still want to see... there's a lot of guys I want to see. We've got time to do that."

Rees-Zammit performed as running back, kicker and kick-returner during Saturday's 26-13 loss at EverBank Stadium in Florida, in addition to being part of the punt coverage team.

He finished with two carries for one yard, one reception for three yards and one tackle on special teams.

The Chiefs are reigning NFL champions and will confirm their roster on 27 August, before their season-opener against the Baltimore Ravens on 6 September.

BBC
 
Rees-Zammit shrugs off injury to make home Chiefs bow

Louis Rees-Zammit overcame injury concerns to make his home debut for Kansas City Chiefs against Detroit Lions.

The former rugby union wing was expected to miss the pre-season contest at Arrowhead Stadium due to a back issue.

But the 23-year-old shrugged off those concerns to feature in multiple roles as the reigning Super Bowl champions were beaten 24-23 by the Lions.

Rees-Zammit - who represented Gloucester, Wales and the British and Irish Lions in rugby union - took a kick-off in addition to spending time with the punt return team.

He returned a Lions kick-off for 27 yards and briefly operated as a wide receiver.

Following his maiden appearance at Arrowhead, Rees-Zammit told KSNT News: "I got to experience [the atmosphere] a little bit today. I'm excited for another game here next week and then we'll see what happens.

"I'm trying my hardest. I'm working hard in training every day to show what I can do.

"The more reps I get, the better I'll get so I'm excited to see what's going to happen next week and obviously in the future."

Rees-Zammit made his Chiefs debut in a pre-season clash with Jacksonville Jaguars in early August.

The Welshman is now targeting a place in the Chiefs' 53-man roster for the NFL season, which starts against Baltimore Ravens on 6 September.

The Chiefs will confirm their roster in full following their final pre-season fixture against Chicago Bears on Friday, 23 August (01:20 BST).

BBC
 
Rees-Zammit misses out on Chiefs' 53-man squad

Former rugby union star Louis Rees-Zammit has not been selected in the Kansas City Chiefs' 53-man squad for the 2024 season.

The former Wales winger, who quit rugby in January to pursue a career in the NFL, has been training with the Chiefs throughout the offseason.

The 23-year-old played in all three of their pre-season games, but missed out on the NFL's 'cutdown day'.

Teams have an offseason training squad of 90 players and must select 53 for the start of the season, for which the deadline was Tuesday.

Rees-Zammit's hopes of playing during the regular season are not over, though.

He will now be placed on waivers, meaning another team can sign him, but he is expected to continue training with the Chiefs as part of their practice squad.

That would give him more time to adapt to the sport, and the NFL champions can promote him to their active roster up to three times during the season. NFL teams can promote two players from their practice squad each game.

Rees-Zammit's NFL journey began with a 10-week training camp as part of the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP).

He was then signed by the Chiefs, who have won the past two Super Bowls, and although he was earmarked as a running back, he played in a variety of positions during pre-season as the Chiefs tried to find his most suitable role.

But his chances of making the cut were dealt a blow on Monday when they re-signed experienced receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, giving him the number nine jersey that the Welsh rookie has worn during pre-season.

Fellow IPP product Praise Olatoke was signed by the Los Angeles Chargers in June and although the former sprinter featured in their first pre-season game, the Scot was released the following week.

Former Gaelic footballers Charlie Smyth and Jude McAtamney also missed out despite playing in pre-season, with the New Orleans Saints and New York Giants respectively.

A shoulder injury meant Travis Clayton could not play in pre-season for the Buffalo Bills, who have designated the ex-Basingstoke rugby player as an injured reserve so he is set to continue training with the Bills once fit.

Meanwhile, NFL team owners have voted to allow private equity investment in a landmark move that could see billions of dollars in new funding in the league.

Historically, franchises have been run as family businesses or owned by wealthy individuals, but hand-picked firms are set to be allowed to purchase a team stake of up to 10%.

The last franchise to be sold was the Washington Commanders last year for a league-record of about £4.8bn.

BBC
 
Rees-Zammit linked to Jaguars move after Chiefs cut

Louis Rees-Zammit has been linked with a switch to the Jacksonville Jaguars according to reports in the United States.

The former Wales rugby star missed out on the Kansas City Chief's 53-man NFL roster and was expected to continue his contract on their practice squad.

Rees-Zammit, 23, has since removed his Chiefs profile picture from his social media accounts amid suggestions he will instead join the Jaguars' practice squad.

The former rugby union wing was signed as a running back by back-to-back Super Bowl champions Kansas on a three-year deal after successfully coming through the NFL's International Player Pathway program (IPP).

He played three pre-season games for the Chiefs, including one against the Jaguars, but missed out on their 'cutdown day' selection.

Teams have an off-season training squad of 90 players and must select 53 for the start of the season, the deadline for which was Tuesday.

He was placed on waivers meaning other teams could sign him, though it had been expected he would continue his development in Kansas having initially signed a three-year contract with the Chiefs.

Jacksonville were one of several franchises that showed interest in Rees-Zammit after his impressive showing in the IPP pro day in March.

The forrmer British and Irish Lion made his American Football debut against Jacksonville earlier this month in Kansas City's opening pre-season game.

Each NFL team can have one player who was signed through the IPP program on its practice squad alongside 16 other players.

Practice squad players can work out during the week with NFL teams but are ineligible to play in actual games unless the player is elevated to the regular roster.

Rees-Zammit shocked the rugby world in January when he announced he was quitting Wales and Gloucester to pursue a dream to play in the NFL.


BBC
 
NFL player shot during attempted robbery in San Francisco

NFL player Ricky Pearsall has been released from hospital after he was shot in the chest during an attempted robbery in San Francisco.

Pearsall, 23, "sustained a bullet wound to his chest" and was in a "serious but stable condition" according to his team the San Francisco 49ers, following the incident by the city's Union Square on Saturday afternoon.

In an update on Sunday, the team said he has since been released and continues to recover.

Police say a 17-year-old suspect is in custody and "charges are pending".

Footage shared on social media showed a shirtless Pearsall being walked to an ambulance by paramedics and sitting on a gurney as he held a shirt to his chest.

Police said upon arrival at the scene of the incident they found two males suffering injuries and both were taken to hospital.

"During the preliminary investigation, officers learned one of the subjects attempted to rob the victim, San Francisco 49ers player Ricky Pearsall," they said in a statement.

"During the attempted robbery, a physical altercation ensued, and both the suspect and victim were injured."

David Lombardi, the San Francisco 49ers reporter for The Athletic, shared a post made by Pearsall's mother, Erin, on social media.

In it, she said that "he was shot in the chest and it exited out his back."

"Thanks be to GOD it missed his vital organs," Erin Pearsall wrote. "He is in good spirits right now."

In their statement on Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers said Pearsall and the team are thankful to local police and emergency medical personnel, as well as doctors at the San Francisco General Hospital where he was treated.

Pearsall was a first round draft pick by the 49ers in April, when the best college players are chosen to join the NFL.

He has just returned to practice from a shoulder injury before the 49ers play their first game of the new season on 10 September.


BBC
 
Chiefs win opener as late Ravens score ruled out

The Kansas City Chiefs made a winning start to their NFL title defence as the Baltimore Ravens had a touchdown overturned as the game expired.

The Chiefs, who are aiming to become the first team to win three Super Bowls in a row, led 27-20 as the Ravens got the ball back with two minutes remaining.

Lamar Jackson led the Ravens to the Chiefs' 10-yard line with less than 30 seconds and they had three shots at the endzone.

The first two passes were incomplete and the third was caught by Isaiah Likely at the back of the endzone and awarded as a touchdown.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh signalled for his team to go for a two-point conversion to win the game, rather than kick the extra point to take it to overtime.

But replays showed that Likely landed with a toe on the endline and the score was ruled out, allowing the Kansas City crowd, including Travis Kelce's girlfriend Taylor Swift, to celebrate a 27-20 victory.

The 2024 season opener was a repeat of last season's AFC Championship game and means the Chiefs have won five of their six meetings with the Ravens since their quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Jackson came into the league.

During that time, the Ravens have twice finished the regular season with the NFL's best record yet failed to reach a Super Bowl while the Chiefs, who Jackson once described as "our kryptonite", have reached four of the past five, winning three.

New signing Derrick Henry, the NFL's two-time rushing leader, barged over to give the Ravens an early lead before rookie receiver Xavier Worthy drew the Chiefs level with a rushing touchdown.

Two Harrison Butker field goals helped the hosts to a 13-10 lead at half-time, with an Isiah Pacheco touchdown extending their lead.

Likely took a Jackson pass and beat three defenders to claim a 49-yard touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter, before Worthy was left wide open to claim his second touchdown and make it 27-17.

Justin Tucker's second field goal then got the Ravens back within reach, setting up the nervy finish.

The opening weekend continues with the NFL staging its first regular season game in Brazil as the Philadelphia Eagles face the Green Bay Packers in Sao Paulo on Friday (01:15 BST Saturday).

BBC
 
Barkley stars on debut as Eagles beat Packers in Brazil

NFL 2024 regular season

Saquon Barkley scored three touchdowns on his debut as the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Green Bay Packers 34-29 in the first NFL game played in South America.

Barkley ran 24 times for 109 yards and two touchdowns, and caught two passes for 23 yards and a touchdown at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo.

The 27-year-old, who joined from the New York Giants in the off-season, is just the second player to score three touchdowns on their Eagles debut, after Terrell Owens in 2004.

"It was really important for me just to get going," Barkley said. "I just needed that first tackle to get me going again."

Friday's encounter was the first of five NFL regular-season games to be played outside the United States this season, with three games in London in October and one in Munich in November.

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts completed 20 of 34 passes for 278 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in a thriller that featured seven lead changes.

His Packers counterpart Jordan Love completed half of his 34 passes for 260 yards with two touchdown passes and an interception before being forced off with an ankle injury late on.

"It was a good game, back and forth," said Eagles star wide receiver AJ Brown, who had five catches for 119 yards and one touchdown.

"A lot of things were going to go wrong because it's the first game but we made adjustments and it just came down to making plays."

BBC
 
My boys off to a winning start but we won ugly.

First of all it was a soccer field and players from both teams were slipping like crazy. NFL should get sued for putting player health in jeopardy, just pathetic this by Roger Goodell.

Eagles generated almost zero pass rush, and was getting blown out across the middle by Josh Jacobs and co highly concerning... What the hell happened to the Dline after the second half, looked totally gassed.

Eagles may need to trade for a pass rusher before things get real ugly..

Onto the positive, I am real impressed with our 1st round pick Quinyon Mitchell, handled the pressure really well and was solid for his debut NFL game, hopefully he can turn into our own Patrick Surtain.

And special shout out to Saquan Barkley boy looks great as an Eagle, thanks Giants. 😁


Let's go birds, fly Eagles Fly.
 
Cowboys QB Prescott set to be NFL's highest-paid player

The Dallas Cowboys have agreed a contract extension with quarterback Dak Prescott which is set to make him the highest-paid player in NFL history.

Prescott, 31, has agreed to a four-year contract extension reportedly worth $240m, external (£183m), with $231m (£176m) of that total coming in guaranteed money and a signing bonus of $80m (£61m).

At $60m (£46m) a season, that will make Prescott the highest-paid player in NFL history, eclipsing the $55m (£42m) average annual salary on new deals signed by Joe Burrow, Jordan Love and Trevor Lawrence.

The guaranteed sum of $231m is also a record, at just $1m (£760,000) more than the Cleveland Browns handed Deshaun Watson in 2022.

News of the deal, which will run until the end of the 2028 season, emerged just hours before Dallas were due to kick off their 2024 season - with a trip to Cleveland to face Watson's Browns.


www.bbc.com

Dak Prescott: Dallas Cowboys QB to become highest-paid player in NFL history

The Dallas Cowboys agree a contract extension with quarterback Dak Prescott which is set to make him the highest-paid player in NFL history.
www.bbc.com
 
Rodgers returns from injury but 49ers beat Jets

Aaron Rodgers' return from injury ended in defeat as the New York Jets lost 32-19 to the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in California.

Rodgers was back on the field almost a year after tearing his Achilles on his Jets debut, which ruled him out for the whole of last season.

The 40-year-old quarterback, who won four NFL MVPs in his time with the Green Bay Packers, threw for 167 yards, with one touchdown and an interception on Monday night, but it was not enough to overcome last year's Super Bowl runners-up.

"It felt great," said Rodgers. "A lot of gratitude just to be back in pads. So many people helped me get to this spot.

"I'm really thankful for my surgeon, my loved ones, my friends, the staff and the training staff to help me get back. Obviously I wanted to take a shot and feel the physicality of it.

"Once I threw a couple of balls and took a shot, it felt good."

The home team had to secure the win without running back Christian McCaffrey, who was ruled out shortly before kick-off.

The 28-year-old did not play because of a calf and Achilles injury.

That left an opportunity for Jordan Mason, who started a game for the first time in what is his third NFL season.

He finished with an impressive 28 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown.

Mason was not the only 49er to shine, with Jake Moody also adding a franchise-record-tying six field goals.

BBC
 
NFL to review new Watson assault allegation

The NFL said it is reviewing the latest sexual assault allegation made against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson.

A woman filed a civil lawsuit against Watson in Houston, Texas on Monday seeking $1m (£764,000) in damages for an incident that allegedly occurred while the pair were on a date in October 2020.

The NFL added that Watson will not be immediately suspended as there have been no criminal charges brought and its review has just begun.

The Browns say they will "respect the due process "and "follow the NFL's guidelines" on the matter.

In August 2022, Watson was suspended for 11 games without pay and fined $5m following an investigation into multiple sexual misconduct allegations.

He was accused of sexual assault and inappropriate misconduct during massage sessions that took place between March 2020 and March 2021.

Watson denied the allegations, and two grand juries ruled there was not enough evidence to charge him. He later reached confidential settlements with 23 of the 24 women in the summer of 2022.

The 28-year-old moved from the Houston Texans on a five-year deal worth a then-NFL-record $230m (£174.4m) in March 2022.

He played in the Browns' season-opening defeat against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

BBC
 
Falcons score late touchdown to beat Eagles

Atlanta Falcons picked up their first win of the 2024 NFL season with a dramatic 22-21 victory away at the Philadelphia Eagles.

Drake London's touchdown with 38 seconds remaining levelled the match at 21-21, with Younghoe Koo kicking the extra point.

Having started the final quarter 15-10 ahead, the Falcons surrendered a five-point penalty to the Eagles, who scored 11 unanswered points before London's late touchdown.

Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins threw two touchdowns, including a 41-yard pass for Darnell Mooney at the start of the third quarter. Mooney scored by running and performing a front flip with the ball in hand on his way into the end zone.

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts had a hand in both of their touchdowns, throwing the opener for DeVonta Smith before rushing one himself midway through the fourth quarter.

After two rounds of fixtures, both sides have one win and one defeat.

BBC
 
This is pretty cool match up between Micah Parsons and Bumrah.

I always had a soft corner for Micah even though he plays for the Cowboys as he is a Pennsylvania boy like myself :D
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Fit-again veteran Rodgers stars as Jets dominate Patriots

Aaron Rodgers starred for the New York Jets in their dominant 24-3 home victory against the New England Patriots.

The 40-year-old threw for two touchdowns in his first start at the Jets' MetLife Stadium since he suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon on his debut one year ago.

Rodgers, named the NFL's Most Valuable Player four times during his long career with the Green Bay Packers, was given a warm reception in the Jets' first home game of the season.

"I felt pretty good. I was doing some things I did as a younger man," Rodgers said.

"I feel great to be able to play an entire game in front of our amazing fans."

In their opening two games of the new season the Jets lost at the San Francisco 49ers before winning at the Tennessee Titans.

Rodgers, who made his return to action in the opening-weekend loss in San Francisco, completed 27 of 35 passes for 281 yards on Thursday.

He had a stellar career with Green Bay, helping them win the Super Bowl in 2011, before a surprise trade was agreed with the Jets last year.

BBC
 
Ravens run down Cowboys, Chiefs state case for defence

Week three in the NFL was another thriller as six teams grabbed a first win of the season, four tasted their first defeat and we were treated to some frantic finishes.

The Baltimore Ravens and the Los Angeles Rams got off the mark and piled more misery on the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers respectively after contrasting comeback attempts.

The previously winless Denver Broncos beat the previously unbeaten Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while the previously hapless New York Giants pulled off an unexpected victory in Cleveland.

Even the much-maligned Carolina Panthers grabbed a win - beating a Las Vegas Raiders side that produced a stunning comeback victory in Baltimore just last week.

The Kansas City Chiefs moved to 3-0 and the surprising Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings are also unbeaten behind their fearsome defences that continue to dominate.


BBC
 
Bills crush Jaguars while Commanders edge Bengals

Josh Allen threw four first-half touchdown passes as the Buffalo Bills thrashed the Jacksonville Jaguars 47-10 to maintain their perfect start to the season.

Allen set up scores for Dalton Kincaid, Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir and Ty Johnson, while James Cook had a rushing touchdown as the Bills raced into a 34-3 lead after two quarters.

Brenton Strange collected Trevor Lawrence's six-yard pass for a Jaguars touchdown in the third quarter, but Ray Davis rushed over late on to complete a thumping win for the Bills.

Jaguars quarterback Lawrence was sacked four times as Jacksonville suffered their third defeat from as many games this season.

Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin, who suffered a cardiac arrest during a game in January last year, was mobbed by his team-mates when he recorded his first career interception.

In Monday's other game, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels threw two touchdown passes and ran over for a score of his own as the Washington Commanders edged the Cincinnati Bengals 38-33.

Daniels, the second overall pick in the 2024 draft, completed 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards as the Commanders recorded their second win of the season.

Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow completed 29 of 38 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns, including two for Ja'Marr Chase.

Zack Moss scored on a one-yard run with 40 seconds left to narrow the gap to five points, but the Bengals ran out of time.

Defeat means Cincinnati have lost their opening three matches of a season for the first time since 2019.

BBC
 
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