NFL

Ravens K Tucker agrees to 4-year deal; loses franchise tagOWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker agreed to a four-year contract Friday after being designated the team's franchise player.The Ravens and Tucker beat the 4 p.m. deadline in reaching accord on a long-term deal. If no...

CLINCHED: Denver - AFC West; Indianapolis - AFC South; New England - AFC EastClinches home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:- Win and Denver lossClinches first-round bye with:- Win, OR- Tie and Indianapolis loss or tie, OR- Loss and Cincinnati loss or tie and Pittsburgh loss or tie and Baltimore...

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Pittsburgh Steelers are bringing back long snapper Greg Warren.The team and Warren agreed to a one-year contract Wednesday for his 11th season with the team. Warren has played in 149 regular- season games and 10 postseason games since making the team as a free agent...

AP Sports WriterBills sign top draft pick, Lawson, to $10.3 million contractBy JOHN WAWROWORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) The Buffalo Bills have signed their top draft pick, defensive end Shaq Lawson, to a four-year, $10.3 million contract.The signing was announced by the team Monday, while a person familiar with...

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The developers behind a sprawling sports and housing complex in the Los Angeles suburbs - whose centerpiece stadium could become home for an NFL team - expect to recoup up to $100 million in local tax dollars in the first five years of operation, an...

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Sam Bradford kept the New York Giants in the game. His defense wouldn't let Eli Manning do anything.DeMarco Murray ran for 109 yards and a touchdown, Nolan Carroll returned one of Manning's two interceptions for a score and the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Giants 27-7 Monday...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The Minnesota Vikings have been in transition all year.Rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is learning on the job. Coach Mike Zimmer is shaping his new team's mindset. Dave Mansell is making sure a 970-foot steel roof truss will be in place on time and within budget, along...

PHILADELPHIA (AP) If Chip Kelly, Pete Carroll and other NFL coaches want to run zone-read plays, their quarterbacks are fair game - even when they don't have the ball.The league's competition committee has made it clear quarterbacks won't get special protection until they establish a passing posture. The...

DENVER (AP) - Broncos special teams standout David Bruton Jr. was carted off the field after a block in the back while covering a punt Sunday against Oakland.The team said he suffered a concussion and wouldn't return.Bruton was racing downfield when he was hit from behind by Denico Autry,...

FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) - The Massachusetts murder trial of former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez is back underway after the judge received a note from a juror.Hernandez is charged with murder in the June 2013 killing of Odin Lloyd, who was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancee....

Feb. 17-23 - NFL combine, Indianapolis.March 2 - Final day to designate franchise or transition players.March 10 - All teams must be under the 2015 salary cap; all 2014 player contracts expire; free agency begins.March 19 - Trading period for 2015 begins.March 22-25 - Annual league meeting, Phoenix.April 6...

NEW YORK (AP) - Washington Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson is coming to reality TV.He'll be the focus of a BET show premiering in June called ''DeSean Jackson: Home Team.''The network says Friday that the premise of the show is that Jackson's ''life is actually run by a core...