NFL

AP Sports WriterPayton: Saints doing due diligence on receiver Antonio BrownBy BRETT MARTELMETAIRIE, La. (AP) Saints coach Sean Payton says the club has no immediate plans to sign Antonio Brown after including him in a workout with six free-agent receivers Friday morning.Payton says the Saints are mainly doing...

AP Sports WriterStill ticking: "Big Ben" to set franchise mark vs. TexansBy WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) Randy Fichtner watched the big kid with the strong arm and the sense of invincibility that is the province of the very young and immediately grew worried.So Fichter, then the Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterbacks...

AP Sports WriterSaints QB Brees chasing NFL history again in prime timeBy BRETT MARTELNEW ORLEANS (AP) Drew Brees has a knack for making history when the only NFL game to watch is being played inside the Superdome.There was the Sunday night in 2012 when Brees' 40-yard pass to...

Jonathan Stewart signs 1-day contract to retire as a PantherBy The Associated PressRunning back Jonathan Stewart has announced he is retiring from the NFL.Stewart, who spent last season with the New York Giants, signed a one-day contract Tuesday with the Carolina Panthers. Stewart spent 10 seasons with the Panthers...

AP Pro Football WriterVikings' Cook making strong offseason comeback in knee rehabBy DAVE CAMPBELLEAGAN, Minn. (AP) The Minnesota Vikings made a splash on the free agent market last month, with their fully guaranteed contract for quarterback Kirk Cousins and the signing of defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson for another...

Dwight Freeney to be inducted into Colts' Ring of HonorINDIANAPOLIS (AP) Former Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney will be inducted into the team's Ring of Honor later this year.A date for the ceremony has not yet been chosen. Team owner Jim Irsay made the announcement during Thursday's...

Vikings sign Kendall Wright, who led Bears in receivingEAGAN, Minn. (AP) The Minnesota Vikings have signed wide receiver Kendall Wright, who led the Chicago Bears in receptions and yards last season.The Vikings announced the addition Friday, putting Wright in the mix behind standouts Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs....

Bears hoping interceptions become contagious after big winLAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) Before Sunday, interceptions had been harder to come by this season for the Chicago Bears than victories.Now 2-4, the Bears hope they can climb among the NFC North leaders by starting a trend after producing two interceptions...

CLEVELAND (AP) Hours after a 28-12 loss to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers in the season finale, Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam fired coach Mike Pettine and general manager Ray Farmer.Pettine went 10-22 in two years, dropping 18 of his final 21 games after a promising 7-4 start in...

Cowboys LB Wilson arrested on assault with weapon chargesFRISCO, Texas (AP) Dallas Cowboys linebacker Damien Wilson has been arrested on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, police said.Frisco police said Wilson was arrested Tuesday outside of Toyota Stadium during the city's Fourth of July celebration....

AP Sports WriterBrowns' Gordon cleared to practice, slowed by hamstringBy TOM WITHERSBEREA, Ohio (AP) Josh Gordon got the go-ahead from the NFL to practice. Now one of his hamstrings is holding him back.The former Pro Bowl wide receiver, whose career has been derailed by drug and alcohol addictions,...

AP Sports WriterNFL medical boss: New COVID-19 protocols to verify positivesBy TOM CANAVANThe NFL's chief medical officer says the league is establishing a new two-step protocol for players and coaches who have no known history of the COVID-19 infection and receive a positive test.Dr. Allen Sills said Friday any...