NFL

AP Sports WriterBuffalo Bills hire Eric Washington to coach defensive lineBy JOHN WAWROWORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) The Buffalo Bills hired former Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Eric Washington on Friday to become their defensive line coach.Washington has 12 years of NFL coaching experience. His future with the Panthers was...

AP Pro Football WriterFormer Titans see game vs. Ravens as chance for some revengeBy TERESA M. WALKERNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Chris Johnson saw his rookie season end at Baltimore's hands with his ankle injured so much he missed the Pro Bowl.To Eddie George, a divisional round loss to the...

Falcons' Mularkey retiring, Joe Whitt to coach secondaryFLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) Atlanta Falcons tight end coach Mike Mularkey, the former Tennessee Titans coach, is retiring.Mularkey's retirement came after he returned for his second stint in Atlanta, lasting only one season, to cap 25 years of coaching. He also...

AP Pro Football WriterTop seeds back in action as NFL's divisional round kicks offBy DENNIS WASZAK Jr.NEW YORK (AP) The bye-week breaks are over for the top two seeds in the AFC and NFC after a, well, wild wild-card weekend to open the NFL playoffs.That means it's back...

Vikings WR Thielen questionable with ankle injury vs. 49ersEAGAN, Minn. (AP) Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen has been listed as questionable to play in the divisional round game Saturday at San Francisco because an ankle injury that occurred in practice.Thielen wore a wrap on his left ankle...

AP Sports WriterWatson's mind key to success with Houston TexansBy KRISTIE RIEKENHOUSTON (AP) When not practicing or breaking down film, Deshaun Watson looks for ways to motivate.Before Houston's playoff win last week, the quarterback gave his offense high-end headphones with a note that read: "Let's be great."“I just...

AP Sports WriterBrowns interview Vikings OC Stefanski for head coaching jobBy TOM WITHERSKevin Stefanski was the Cleveland Browns' second choice last year. He could be the first this time.The Vikings offensive coordinator interviewed with the Browns for their coaching job on Thursday, the 37-year-old taking a break from preparing...

AP Sports WriterJoe Judge, old-fashioned at 38, wants blue-collar GiantsBy TOM CANAVANEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Joe Judge has every intention of bringing old-fashioned blue-collar football back to the struggling New York Giants.Roughly three minutes after being introduced as the head coach of the Giants, the relative unknown 38-year-old...

Titans LB Jayon Brown to miss playoff game with RavensNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Tennessee starting linebacker Jayon Brown will miss the Titans' AFC divisional playoff game with the Baltimore Ravens because of an injured shoulder.The Titans ruled out Brown and wide receiver Adam Humphries for Saturday night's game. Humphries...

AP Sports WriterRedskins hire former Panthers exec Rogers, Schaffer leavesBy STEPHEN WHYNOASHBURN, Va. (AP) The Washington Redskins made their latest move Thursday in an organizational overhaul by hiring former Carolina Panthers executive Rob Rogers as senior vice president of football administration.Rogers fills a key role in the front...

Associated PressWorker help sought to combat Super Bowl human traffickingBy CURT ANDERSONMIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) To combat human trafficking during the Super Bowl, law enforcement officials said Thursday that they need hotel workers, ride-hailing service drivers and security personnel to be especially alert.These are the people most likely...

AP Pro Football WriterGlove love: Rudolph's mitts go from scam to fundraiserBy DAVE CAMPBELLEAGAN, Minn. (AP) In the celebratory chaos of the victorious locker room, Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph was approached after his game-winning touchdown catch in overtime in New Orleans by a man with a...