NFL

AP Pro Football WriterMatchups for the NFC championship gameBy BARRY WILNERMatchups for the NFC championship game Sunday between the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons:---When the Packers (12-6) have the ballAaron Rodgers (12) couldn't be hotter. After predicting the Packers would rise from 4-6, the quarterback made sure they...

AP Pro Football WriterBroncos rookie running back Lindsay needs surgeryBy ARNIE STAPLETONENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) Broncos coach Vance Joseph says rookie running back Phillip Lindsay needs an operation on his injured right wrist and the recovery could take up to four months.Lindsay, the first undrafted offensive player ever to...

AP Sports WriterKenyan Drake staying with Cardinals on one-year dealBy DAVID BRANDTRunning back Kenyan Drake's agency says he will sign his one-year, $8.5 million tender to stay with the Arizona Cardinals.The Cardinals placed the transition tag on Drake earlier this week, which meant the player could negotiate a deal...

Oakland Raiders sign cornerback Leon HallALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) The Oakland Raiders signed cornerback Leon Hall on Thursday.Hall spent part of last season with the San Francisco 49ers, playing in nine games with one start and totaling 16 tackles.He was drafted in the first round by the Cincinnati Bengals...

AP Sports WriterBritt challenged with 3rd position in 3 seasons with SeattleBy TIM BOOTHRENTON, Wash. (AP) About to begin his third season, Justin Britt is embarking on learning his third position on the Seattle Seahawks offensive line.He's had experience at tackle and guard and is now moving to...

AP Sports WriterCastonzo announces retirement after injury-filled seasonBy MICHAEL MAROTINDIANAPOLIS (AP) When Anthony Castonzo first arrived in Indianapolis in 2011, he figured he'd be a short-timer.He wound up starting at left tackle for the next decade.The Colts' longtime offensive line anchor announced his retirement Tuesday, three days after...

AP Pro Football WriterColts' 1958 championship win over Giants voted greatest gameBy BARRY WILNER''The Greatest Game Ever Played'' is, well, exactly that.The Baltimore Colts' 23-17 victory over the New York Giants for the 1958 NFL championship, the first overtime game in league history, was voted the best game as...

AP Sports WriterSteelers, Roethlisberger eye 2-0 start vs. Lock, BroncosBy WILL GRAVESPITTSBURGH (AP) The pain was familiar to Ben Roethlisberger.Welcome even.And the best part about how his 38-year-old Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback's body felt following his first game in 364 days might have been the fact none of the...

AP Sports WriterSlow build: Rams, Chargers still trying to grow fans in LABy JOE REEDYLOS ANGELES (AP) The Chargers and Rams will meet on the field on Sunday, but both teams are trying to achieve a common goal off it - trying to reignite Los Angeles' passion for...

The latest from NFL games around the league on the seventh Sunday of the season (all times EDT):1:30 p.m.All in one fell swoop, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers got Mike Evans and their first-quarter offense going.Evans, off to a quiet start to Year 2 after a tremendous rookie campaign, caught...

Packers' Matthews needs surgery after softball hits his faceGRAND CHUTE, Wis. (AP) Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews says he needs surgery on his nose after getting hit in the face with a line drive during a charity softball game.Matthews was pitching during Saturday's game when offensive lineman...

AP Sports WriterBengals release oft-suspended LB Vontaze BurfictBy JOE KAYThe Cincinnati Bengals released oft-suspended linebacker Vontaze Burfict on Monday.Burfict's career was marked more by his behavior than his tackling skills. In his seven years with the Bengals, he was suspended by the NFL to start each of the past...