NFL

AP Pro Football WriterPro Football Hall of Fame to expand inductees class for 2020By BARRY WILNERCANTON, Ohio (AP) The Pro Football Hall of Fame will expand the number of potential inductees to 20 in 2020 as part of the NFL's celebration of its 100th season.Calling it a centennial...

AP Pro Football WriterGonzalez enters hall with 3 DBs who tried covering himBy BARRY WILNERCANTON, Ohio (AP) At one end of the room sat Tony Gonzalez. All the way across it was Ed Reed.Sometimes in the past, that's as close to each other as the two new Hall...

AP Pro Football WriterPro Football Hall of Fame to expand inductees class for 2020By BARRY WILNERCANTON, Ohio (AP) The Pro Football Hall of Fame will expand the number of potential inductees to 20 in 2020 as part of the NFL's celebration of its 100th season.Calling it a centennial...

AP Sports WriterBallage tries to overtake Drake for Dolphins RB jobBy STEVEN WINEDAVIE, Fla. (AP) Now that Ryan Fitzpatrick has pulled ahead in the battle for the quarterback job, the stiffest competition in the Miami Dolphins' backfield may be at running back.Second-year pro Kalen Ballage took a lot...

AP Sports WriterRookie LB Devin White new face of Tampa Bay's defenseBy FRED GOODALLTAMPA, Fla. (AP) Devin White is the new face of Tampa Bay's defense, and the 21-year-old rookie linebacker welcomes the responsibilities that come along with that.''I've always been in big roles in my life. Everything...

AP Pro Football WriterGonzalez enters hall with 3 DBs who tried covering himBy BARRY WILNERCANTON, Ohio (AP) At one end of the room sat Tony Gonzalez. All the way across it was Ed Reed.Sometimes in the past, that's as close to each other as the two new Hall...

Lions activate Slay from NFI listDETROIT (AP) Darius Slay was activated from the active/non-football injury list prior to the Detroit Lions' practice Friday night at Ford Field.Slay had been on the NFI list since the start of camp, but the cornerback was on the field in uniform Friday.Slay,...

Seahawks 1st-rounder L.J. Collier out with sprained ankleRENTON, Wash. (AP) Seattle Seahawks rookie first-round pick L.J. Collier will be sidelined for weeks after the defensive end suffered a badly sprained ankle in practice earlier this week.Seattle coach Pete Carroll said Thursday that Collier's ankle injury was an unusual...

AP Sports WriterSaints WR Thomas plans to earn 'every penny' of new dealBy BRETT MARTELMETAIRIE, La. (AP) Saints receiver Michael Thomas took extra time after his first practice of training camp to catch footballs fired from a machine at close range, first while facing the machine, then while...

AP Pro Football WriterZimmer upset with camp D: 'They think they're pretty good'By DAVE CAMPBELLEAGAN, Minn. (AP) With six players who have been to the Pro Bowl and only one new starter in a well-regarded scheme that has remained largely unchanged entering a sixth season under coach Mike...

AP Pro Football WriterJets' Bell feels 'a million times better' than Day 1 of campBy DENNIS WASZAK Jr.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) Le'Veon Bell firmly believes he made the right decision, refusing to second-guess missing a season while in a contract dispute with the Pittsburgh Steelers.The New York Jets...

AP Pro Football WriterLocal kids pick up trash, get schooled on footballBy BARRY WILNERCANTON, Ohio (AP) Nearly 200 local youngsters weren't dissuaded by the task of picking up trash in their neighborhood Thursday. Not with the chance to be taught football skills by former NFL players, even a...