NFL

NFL includes 7 rookie officials for upcoming seasonNEW YORK (AP) The NFL roster of game officials for the upcoming season includes seven rookies among the 121.The newcomers announced Friday are: field judges Land Clark of the Pac-12, Matt Edwards and Don Willard of the Big Ten, and Anthony...

AP Sports WriterChiefs offense forcing opposing offenses to alter strategiesBy DAVE SKRETTAKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) After watching his Ravens miss a trio of 2-point conversions and fail on fourth down near midfield, coach John Harbaugh was forced to defend his go-for-broke decision-making against the Chiefs last week.Turned out...

AP Pro Football WriterGaroppolo poised to build off late-season success for 49ersBy JOSH DUBOWSANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) When Jimmy Garoppolo got thrown into the lineup as San Francisco's quarterback just weeks after joining the 49ers, simply getting a play off in time was an accomplishment.Garoppolo overcame that limited...

AP Pro Football Writer49ers dominant D prepares for challenge of Lamar JacksonBy JOSH DUBOWSANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) With heavy pressure off the edge and lockdown coverage in the secondary, the San Francisco 49ers dominant defense forced Aaron Rodgers into the least efficient game of his career.Having similar success...

AP Sports WriterHerbert exceeding expectations despite Chargers' 2-6 recordBy JOE REEDYJustin Herbert has exceeded expectations for the Los Angeles Chargers while the rest of the team has been a disappointment.Herbert is a contender for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors with four 300-yard games and 17 touchdowns in seven...

AP Sports WriterChiefs bonding through pandemic in bid for Super Bowl repeatBy DAVE SKRETTADuring a normal season, many of the players on the Kansas City Chiefs defense would leave the facility after a long day of practice and meetings and head to safety Tyrann Mathieu's house for weekly Thursday...

Jan. 18 - Conference championships.Jan. 25 - Pro Bowl, Glendale, Ariz.Feb. 1 - Super Bowl, Glendale, Ariz.Feb. 16 - First day for teams to designate franchise or transition players.Feb. 17-23 - NFL combine, Indianapolis.March 2 - Final day to designate franchise or transition players.March 10 - All teams must...

AP Pro Football WriterAP source: 49ers cleared of COVID-19 violationsBy JOSH DUBOWSANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) The San Francisco 49ers have been cleared of any potential violations of the NFL's COVID-19 protocols following a positive test from receiver Kendrick Bourne.A person familiar with the investigation said Wednesday the league...

AP Pro Football Writer49ers wide receiver Richie James Jr. breaks right wristBy JOSH DUBOWSan Francisco 49ers receiver Richie James Jr. has broken his right wrist during offseason workouts and won’t be ready to return to the field until after the start of training camp.The 49ers confirmed a report of...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Having nine wins with three games left in the regular season used to be almost a guaranteed ticket to the NFL playoffs. It's not for the Detroit Lions and New York Giants as they head into Sunday's game at MetLife Stadium. Both are 9-4, in good position,...

Annapolis-bred Belichick laments newspaper shootingANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick is expressing sympathy for the families and friends of those killed at the office of the Capital Gazette, which he called his ''hometown newspaper.''Though born in Tennessee, Belichick was raised in Annapolis, where his father...

AP Sports WriterRudolph: In Pittsburgh to learn, not 'bother' RoethlisbergerBy WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) Mason Rudolph started wearing the No. 2 while playing high school football in South Carolina. He kept it during his record-breaking career at Oklahoma State, where he left as the program's all-time winningest quarterback.When the...