NFL

AP Pro Football WriterAfter piggybacking on baseball, NFL stood tall in expansionBy SCHUYLER DIXONGeorge Halas wanted an NFL team in Dallas, and in 1960 the influential founder of the Chicago Bears helped Clint Murchison get one.Less than 10 years later, a league that for decades piggybacked geographically on baseball...

Dallas Zoo giraffe named after Cowboys' Jason Witten diesDALLAS (AP) Officials say a 1-year-old giraffe at the Dallas Zoo that was named after Cowboys tight end Jason Witten died during a medical exam.Zoo officials tweeted that Witten the giraffe stopped breathing Monday during a medical exam to prepare...

AP Pro Football WriterJets' Douglas fills out staff with Hogan, Savage, AlexanderBy DENNIS WASZAK Jr.NEW YORK (AP) Jets general manager Joe Douglas has filled out his front office staff with four hires, including Rex Hogan as the team's assistant GM.The team also announced Wednesday that Douglas hired Chad...

AP Sports WriterNFL teams up with NCAA for next round of safety improvementsBy MICHAEL MAROTINDIANAPOLIS (AP) The NFL's top medical experts believe they can take the knowledge of college football physicians and trainers and the research from the NCAA to make football safer - together.Dr. Allen Sills and...

AP Pro Football WriterJets' Douglas fills out staff with Hogan, Savage, AlexanderBy DENNIS WASZAK Jr.NEW YORK (AP) Joe Douglas filled out his front office staff with some familiar faces who have plenty of NFL experience.The New York Jets general manager hired Rex Hogan as the team's assistant GM,...

AP Pro Football WriterJets' Douglas fills out staff with Hogan, Savage, AlexanderBy DENNIS WASZAK Jr.NEW YORK (AP) Joe Douglas filled out his front office staff with some familiar faces who have plenty of NFL experience.The New York Jets general manager hired Rex Hogan as the team's assistant GM,...

Panthers sign second-round pick Greg LittleCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) The Panthers have signed second-round draft pick Greg Little to a four-year contact.The 6-foot-5, 310-pound Little has the inside track to be the team's starting left tackle this season.He was selected by Carolina with the 37th overall pick out of...

Police find missing former NFL running back Rod Smart safeBy The Associated PressFormer NFL running back Rod Smart has been found safe after missing for the last six days, according to Lancaster County police in South Carolina.Smart, who earned notoriety when he wore ''He Hate Me'' on the back...

Raiders sign top draftee Clemson DE Clelin FerrellALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) The Oakland Raiders signed first-round draft picks Clelin Ferrell and Johnathan Abram on Tuesday.Ferrell, a defensive end from Clemson, was selected fourth overall by the Raiders in April. A three-year starter and two-time national champion, Ferrell started...

AP Sports WriterFans arrive in droves to honor Bowlen at public tributeBy PAT GRAHAMDENVER (AP) Some wore full costumes and others sported jerseys, including one Denver Broncos supporter with "P. Bowlen" on the back. Quite a few devotees stood in the rain for about an hour before making...

AP Sports WriterNFL teams up with NCAA for next round of safety improvementsBy MICHAEL MAROTINDIANAPOLIS (AP) The NFL's top medical experts are asking college football physicians and trainers to help make the game safer.They want the NCAA to pitch in, too.Dr. Allen Sills and Jeff Miller, the NFL's...

AP Sports WriterNFL teams up with NCAA for next round of safety improvementsBy MICHAEL MAROTINDIANAPOLIS (AP) The NFL's top medical experts are asking college football physicians and trainers to help make the game safer.They want the NCAA to pitch in, too.Dr. Allen Sills and Jeff Miller, the NFL's...