NFL

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant is hoping for a smoother ride in his second season in the NFL.Drafted in the fourth round a year ago, Bryant finished his rookie season with 26 receptions for 549 yards and was second on the team to Antonio Brown...

AP Sports WriterPainful calf will continue to keep Luck on Colts' sidelineBy MICHAEL MAROTINDIANAPOLIS (AP) The Indianapolis Colts are taking no chances with Andrew Luck - or Adam Vinatieri.Coach Frank Reich said Friday he expects the starting quarterback to miss at least three more practices with a strained...

CLINCHED: New England - AFC East and home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs; Denver - AFC West; Indianapolis - AFC South; Cincinnati and Pittsburgh - playoff berth.- Clinches home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffsClinches first-round bye with:- Win or tie, OR- Cincinnati Loss, OR- Cincinnati tie and Indianapolis win- Clinched playoff...

Packers bring back veteran cornerback Tramon WilliamsGREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) Tramon Williams is returning to the Green Bay Packers to help replenish the secondary.The team signed the free agent cornerback on Friday. The 11-year veteran spent the first eight seasons of his career in Green Bay, intercepting 28...

Falcons place backup RB Ito Smith on injured reserveFLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) The Atlanta Falcons have placed running back Ito Smith, the team's second-leading rusher, on injured reserve.Smith already had been ruled out of Sunday's game at New Orleans with a neck injury. He suffered the neck injury,...

AP Sports WriterAP source: Buffalo Bills release center Eric WoodBy JOHN WAWROWORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) Eric Wood can finally announce he's retiring after the Buffalo Bills released the veteran center in a move considered a formality after he was diagnosed with a career-ending neck injury in January.Wood was...

AP Sports WriterPanthers rookie WR working on ball-protection techniquesBy STEVE REEDCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) The Panthers drafted wide receiver D.J. Moore in the first round this past April because of his ability to make plays after the catch.But Moore's gift for turning nothing into something got him into trouble...

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Andrew Luck still remembers the pressure he faced in Round 1 against Todd Bowles' defense.Twenty-two months ago, the Colts' second-year quarterback was still trying to learn how to challenge the NFL's best defensive minds - and the Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator seemed to have Luck figured...

AP Pro Football WriterJets interview Titans OC Smith, Saints DBs coach GlennBy DENNIS WASZAK Jr.NEW YORK (AP) The New York Jets interviewed Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and New Orleans Saints defensive backs coach Aaron Glenn on Monday for their head coaching vacancy.Smith and Glenn make nine...

Associated PressGiants' defense hits lowest point in 51-17 loss to RamsBy ERNIE PALLADINOEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) The New York Giants' defense has hit rock bottom, at least for now.It allowed four passes of 35 yards or more, two runs in excess of 20 yards, and 473 yards of...

AP Pro Football WriterTitans lean on core from AFC title loss in new offseasonBy TERESA M. WALKERNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Tennessee Titans know every season means starting over no matter how the previous one ended.They hope having so many starters back from a team that reached the AFC...

AP Sports WriterNFL At 100: Raiders' slow exit from Oakland painful for fansBy BERNIE WILSONSAN DIEGO (AP) The slow, agonizing demise of the Oakland Raiders will continue for at least one more season.There will be one more ''final'' home game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, on Dec. 15...