NFL

NFL CalendarBy Associated PressMarch 16 - Deadline for clubs to designate franchise or transition players before 11:59 a.m. EDT.March 18 - Free agency, trading periods begin, 4 p.m. EDT.March 29-April 1 - Annual league meeting, Palm Beach, Fla.April 17 - Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.April...

AP Pro Football WriterNFL putting stronger Rooney Rule front and centerBy BARRY WILNERPro football is discovering that the spirit of the Rooney Rule is being violated.NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made that a point of emphasis in his state of the league speech during Super Bowl week. So count on...

Police shooting protesters kneel before Vikings home gameMINNEAPOLIS (AP) Protesters kneeled outside of U.S. Bank Stadium before the Minnesota Vikings' game against the Baltimore Ravens.About 50 people took part in the demonstration Sunday while the national anthem played inside the Minneapolis stadium. The protesters say they want to...

Jets sign RB Rawls and LB HewittFLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) The New York Jets have signed running back Thomas Rawls and linebacker Neville Hewitt.The Jets announced the moves Friday. In need of help at running back after starter Matt Forte retired, New York turned to Rawls, who spent...

PITTSBURGH (AP) The training wheels are off for Bud Dupree. Finally.The Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker heads into Sunday's game against the New York Giants without any limitations, ending a patience-testing stretch in which the 2015 first-round pick missed training camp then underwent sports hernia surgery before beginning the arduous process...

Mike Ditka apologizes for comment on racial oppressionCHICAGO (AP) Mike Ditka has apologized for saying he wasn't aware any racial oppression over the last 100 years in the United States.The famed Chicago Bears coach came under fire for making the comments during a radio interview on Monday about...

FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) - Prosecutors say Aaron Hernandez's DNA on a marijuana cigarette shared with the friend they say the ex-NFL star murdered is compelling forensic evidence of the crime.Jurors are set to hear more testimony Friday in the case against Hernandez, a day after the trial started...

Jay Cutler to join Fox broadcasting team for NFL gamesNEW YORK (AP) Another former NFL quarterback is headed to the broadcast booth.Jay Cutler was hired Friday by Fox as an analyst to work on its No. 2 NFL team with Kevin Burkhardt and Charles Davis.Last month, CBS replaced...

AP Sports WriterBrowns release veteran cornerback T.J. Carrie, 3 othersBy TOM WITHERSCLEVELAND (AP) New Browns general manager Andrew Berry cleared $13 million in salary-cap space Monday by releasing veteran cornerback T.J. Carrie and three others players signed by former GM John Dorsey.Along with Carrie, Cleveland terminated the contracts...

Reports: Edelman headed for 4-game suspensionFOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) Speaking for the first time at the Patriots' minicamp, Tom Brady could have had plenty to talk about had he waited a few hours.Instead, reports broke later Thursday that one of the New England quarterback's favorite receivers, Julian Edelman, could...

DE Brian Robison signs 1-day contract to retire with VikingsEAGAN, Minn. (AP) Former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Brian Robison has announced his retirement from the NFL.Robison signed a one-day contract Wednesday to officially retire with the Vikings, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2007 out of...

Jaguars sign 3 linebackers for depth, special teams helpJACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed three veteran linebackers - D.J. Alexander, Najee Goode and Ramik Wilson - in hopes of bolstering depth at the position and improving special teams play.The additions came one day after Jacksonville claimed...