PITTSBURGH — Aaron Rodgers might have escaped New York, but seven months after his release by the Jets, he still can’t escape the back pages of the New York tabloids.

There he was Wednesday morning on the back page of the New York Daily News after new Jets coach Aaron Glenn sidestepped questions about his decision to release Rodgers. The ...Read more

The NFL’s 106th season is the 35th anniversary year for our picks in the Miami Herald, and also marks King Sport’s 20th season of kicking off in prime time on a Thursday. (Sadly, an even older tradition than the Thursday night game is the Dolphins’ NFL-long streak of consecutive seasons without a playoff win since the last in 2001.) ...Read more

All the drafts are officially in the rearview. It’s time to see what all that studying (or lack thereof) got you.

I’m managing five fantasy teams myself — six if you count the Saturday Night Live fantasy league I’m in with my wife, stepdaughter and her best friend, in which we draft hosts and musical guests for points and pop culture ...Read more

NEW YORK — The injury bug has hit the Jets ahead of the 2025 season.

Jets right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker has an arm injury, which could put his season in jeopardy, sources confirmed to the New York Daily News.

He is receiving a second opinion on the injury, but there is a possibility that Vera-Tucker could need surgery, ESPN reported.

If ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — It could've been as simple as backing his players, something every coach obviously strives to do. But Mike Tomlin — intentional or not — upped the ante on the Steelers' defensive hyperbole.

No, check that. He actually pushed a gigantic pile of chips into the middle of the table.

In mid-August, while appearing on 102.5 WDVE, ...Read more

DENVER — Peyton Manning cried when he retired, but his tears paled in comparison to those shed by Broncos Country over his successors.

It took 14 attempts for the Broncos to find his long-term replacement.

The Broncos knew it would never be the same when Manning left the building, but they had no idea his exit would become the curse of ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — Based on NFL regular-season win totals, the Saints (4 1/2) will be the worst team in the league this season, followed by the Browns (5 1/2), Giants (5 1/2) and Jets (5 1/2).

But professional sports bettor Jeff Whitelaw and Westgate SuperBook oddsmaker Ed Salmons believe the Giants’ number is too low. They made New York one of ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — “Dr. Alan” Dumond is a two-time top-five finisher in the Westgate SuperContest and runner-up in the Golden Nugget Ultimate Football Challenge.

The Chicago-based handicapper analyzes all 16 AFC teams, designating each squad as a pretender, contender or Super Bowl contender.

Note: A contender is expected to compete for a ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — “Dr. Alan” Dumond is a two-time top-five finisher in the Westgate SuperContest and runner-up in the Golden Nugget Ultimate Football Challenge.

The Chicago-based handicapper analyzes all 16 NFC teams, designating each squad as a pretender, contender or Super Bowl contender.

Note: A contender is expected to compete for a ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers locked up a bookend offensive tackle to protect Baker Mayfield.

Luke Goedeke, a second-round pick in the 2022 draft from Central Michigan, agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Bucs Tuesday evening.

Terms of the deal were not released, but it exceeds the two-year deal signed by Carolina ...Read more

NEW YORK — Sunday’s game between the Jets and the Steelers is a unique quarterback matchup.

Justin Fields and Aaron Rodgers swapped teams during the offseason, with Rodgers joining the Steelers after the Jets released him.

Shortly after the Jets officially released Rodgers, Fields signed a two-year, $40 million contract with the Jets.

“...Read more

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Sorry to break the news, Detroit fans, but the Lions aren’t going 15-2 again. They might not even go 14-3, or 13-4 or, gasp, 12-5.

Sorry to break the news, division rivals, but neither are the Packers, Vikings or Bears. The NFC neighborhood looks tougher than ever, and it’s increasingly fashionable to predict a new ...Read more

You can want it. You can hope for it. But please, I’m begging you — don’t expect it.

The moment the 49ers traded for running back Brian Robinson Jr., the drumbeat started. From fans, from the media, from anyone with a fantasy football team, the call came for Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan to play Robinson and Christian McCaffrey on the ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin said he expects defensive end Cam Heyward to play when the Steelers open the regular season on Sunday, despite the four-time All-Pro’s dissatisfaction with his contract and self-imposed limited participation in training camp.

That, though, doesn’t mean the issue Heyward has with the organization about a new ...Read more

FORT WORTH, Texas — David Mulugheta is one of the most powerful agents in sports, and he appeared on “First Take” with Stephen A. Smith on Tuesday to discuss his client, pass rusher Micah Parsons, and his controversial trade from the Dallas Cowboys to the Green Bay Packers.

Mulugheta said that normally he would prefer not to speak ...Read more

DENVER — Sometimes, sitting at his desk, Sean Payton will get lost in daydreams outside his window. He can see it. Not far across the sky, beyond the glass of his third-floor office in Dove Valley, the boom of a crimson crane places pieces of timber on the Broncos’ new identity.

In a year, this $175 million project will be complete, and the...Read more

CHICAGO — Quarterback Caleb Williams stepped backward with his left foot, signaling the motion. Veteran wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus moved across the formation from his spot to the left. The snap came a beat too late, and by the time the ball was in Williams’ hands, Zaccheaus had nearly blown by him.

Williams tried to recover and stick ...Read more

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Falcons wide receiver Drake London is hoping to turn in another megaseason in 2025.

“I don’t like to share my personal goals, but the main goal is to win,” London said.

London is a key cog in the passing attack for the Falcons, who are set to face the Buccaneers at 1 p.m. Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the ...Read more