NFL

AP Sports WriterBucs, Saints collide with first place on line in NFC SouthBy FRED GOODALLTAMPA, Fla. (AP) Tom Brady vs. Drew Brees won't be the only compelling storyline when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints clash with first place on the line in the NFC South.The...

AP Pro Football WriterTitans' secondary expect to 1 of the best, if not the bestBy TERESA M. WALKERNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Malcolm Butler says he and his fellow members of the Tennessee Titans' secondary have set high goals for this season, and All-Pro safety Kevin Byard and cornerback Logan...

AP Sports WriterJets' Marshall serving up healthy - and a bit strange - menuBy DENNIS WASZAK Jr.NEW YORK (AP) Brandon Marshall is serving up some rather interesting, if maybe not particularly palatable, food combinations for his offseason diet.The New York Jets star wide receiver is trying to lose...

AP Pro Football WriterJets' revamped offensive line bonds with jokes, playbooksBy DENNIS WASZAK Jr.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) The big guys up front on the New York Jets' offensive line got close while being far apart.Group texts. Silly memes. Funny jokes. Serious Zoom conversations.They all helped keep the lines...

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) The Arizona Cardinals already were having problems protecting Carson Palmer. Now they must deal with the loss of Jared Veldheer. The 6-foot-8, 321-pound left tackle is out for the season with a torn triceps, an injury that occurred in the Cardinals' 30-20 loss at Carolina two weekends...

PITTSBURGH (AP) Jay Ajayi's resume wasn't much to look at in early October. Thirteen career games. A grand total of 304 yards rushing and three touchdowns for a Miami Dolphins team that may have cornered the market on ''meh.'' The only truly conspicuous thing about Ajayi in mid-October may...

CLEVELAND (AP) - The NFL has suspended Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon for at least one year without pay for violating the league's substance-abuse program.Gordon, who has already served two league suspensions, will have to apply for reinstatement. A league spokesman said his one-year ban begins immediately. The former...

AP Sports ColumnistColumn: In a crazy world, Steelers provide needed stabilityBy PAUL NEWBERRYIt's comforting to see the Pittsburgh Steelers back atop the NFL.In a topsy-turvy world that's gone completely off the rails in 2020, the franchise that hardly ever changes coaches - the great Mike Tomlin is their third...

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis will make his return from a torn triceps in Sunday's wild-card game against the Indianapolis Colts, coach John Harbaugh said Friday. "He's ready to go,'' Harbaugh said. "He's going to play in this game and he should be full speed.'' It's uncertain how much Lewis --...

Woodyard among 2 defensive starters out for Titans vs BillsNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Tennessee Titans will be without two defensive starters in Buffalo with coach Mike Vrabel declaring linebacker Wesley Woodyard and safety Kenny Vaccaro both out for the game.Vaccaro's absence Sunday is no surprise as he dislocated...

AP Sports WriterChargers MLB Perryman likely out 2 months from ankle surgeryBy GREG BEACHAMCOSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman is likely to be out for at least two months after injuring his ankle in the preseason opener.Perryman had surgery on a torn ligament in...

NFL CalendarBy Associated PressFeb. 24-March 2 - NFL scouting combine, Indianapolis.Feb. 25 - First day for clubs to designate franchise or transition players.March 10 - Deadline for clubs to designate franchise or transition players before 4 p.m. EDT.March 18 - Free agency, trading periods begin, 4 p.m. EDT.March 29-April...