NFL

Detroit Lions free agency capsuleBy The Associated PressDETROIT LIONS (9-7)UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: DTs Haloti Ngata and Jordan Hill; LBs Tahir Whitehead, Nick Bellore, Dwight Freeney and LB Paul Worrilow; CBs D.J. Hayden and Nevin Lawson; C Travis Swanson; Ss Don Carey and S Tavon Wilson; TE Darren Fells; OTs...

AP Sports WriterGore, Mack team up to give Colts ground game change of paceBy MICHAEL MAROTINDIANAPOLIS (AP) Chuck Pagano has a new recipe for the Indianapolis Colts offense.And he plans on giving opposing defenses a full helping.As the Colts deal with the likelihood that short-yardage specialist Robert Turbin...

AP Pro Football WriterBroncos new QB Keenum gets first taste of Denver's defenseBy ARNIE STAPLETONENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) One thing that Peyton Manning, Brock Osweiler, Trevor Siemian, Mark Sanchez and Paxton Lynch all quickly learned in Denver was that nothing comes easy against the Broncos' ''No Fly Zone'' secondary...

AP Sports WriterSeahawks first-rounder Collier embracing Bennett comparisonsBy TIM BOOTHRENTON, Wash. (AP) The comparisons began the night L.J. Collier became a first-round draft pick and have persisted since, including Friday when the Seattle Seahawks' rookie minicamp opened.They go like this: if Collier develops the Seahawks could have found...

PITTSBURGH (AP) - On a defense in the middle of a generational shift, Lawrence Timmons is the constant.The faces that mentored the Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker when he broke into the NFL in 2007 are gone. James Farrior and Larry Foote have been replaced by youngsters Ryan Shazier, Sean...

METAIRIE, La. (AP) New Orleans Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro will serve a four-game suspension, starting this Sunday at Tampa Bay, because he violated league rules pertaining to performance enhancing drug use, the NFL announced Friday.The league did not specify which banned substance was found in Vaccaro's system. The league...

HOUSTON (AP) - The Houston Texans signed outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus to a four-year contract extension on Monday.A first-round draft pick in 2012, Mercilus has appeared in 47 games (33 starts) and has made 139 tackles, 18 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, forced four fumbles and had one fumble...

Jaguars to interview Linehan for potential OC replacementJACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) The Jacksonville Jaguars plan to interview former Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan for their offensive coordinator job.Linehan is scheduled to meet with coach Doug Marrone this weekend. Linehan was out of the NFL the past year after...

The Latest: Broncos kicker snaps string of 7 straight missesBy The Associated PressThe Latest on the NFL's Week 6 (all times EDT):---5:40 p.m.Broncos kicker Brandon McManus broke a streak of seven straight misses from 50 or more yards when he connected from 53 late in the first half against...

AP Sports WriterNew York Giants interview former Packers coach Mike McCarthyBy TOM CANAVANEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Mike McCarthy, who won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers and led them to nine playoff appearances in 13 seasons, has interviewed for the head coaching job with the New...

The Latest: Kansas City clinches No. 2 seed in AFC after winBy The Associated PressThe Latest on Week 17 in the NFL (all times EST):4:20 p.m.Kansas City earned the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoff race and clinched a first-round bye after beating the Los Angeles Chargers. The...

AP Sports WriterBromley, Tomlinson front-runners for defensive right tackleBy TOM CANAVANEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) The battle to replace Johnathan Hankins at defensive right tackle for the New York Giants has come down to Jay Bromley and Dalvin Tomlinson.Both have split the work with the first team in recent...