Walter Payton
AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Sep. 16, 2021 11:38 AM EDT
Sept. 17 1897 — England’s Joe Lloyd beats Scotland’s Willie Anderson by one stroke to win the U.S. Open in Wheaton, Ill. ...

Samford's Welch named ASWA small college athlete of year

Jun. 10, 2021 02:22 PM EDT
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Liam Welch had a successful football season, even if it didn't play out on fall Saturdays. With his football team...

San Francisco 49ers first-round draft pick quarterback Trey Lance prepares to throw during the NFL football team's rookie minicamp in Santa Clara, Calif., Friday, May 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
49ers rookie QB Trey Lance ready for work at rookie camp

By Josh Dubow May. 14, 2021 07:38 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 7, 1989, file photo, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice runs past New Orleans Saints' Toi Cook for a touchdown during an NFL football game at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Known for tireless work ethic even in late stages of career, Rice holds virtually every significant receiving mark, including most career receptions (1,549); yards receiving (22,895); total touchdowns (208); and combined net yards (23,546). (AP Photo/Martha Jane Stanton, File)
The famous and the flops: best and worst NFL 1st-round picks

By The Associated Press Apr. 24, 2021 12:19 PM EDT

FILE - North Dakota State lineman Dillon Radunz does drills at the school's NFL Pro Day football event in Fargo, N.D., in this Friday, March, 12, 2021, file photo. There’s a common thread linking most of the Football Championship Subdivision players who expect to hear their name called in this month’s NFL draft. They didn’t participate in their schools’ pandemic-delayed spring season. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton- King, File)
FCS draft prospects generally opted not to play this spring

By Steve Megargee Apr. 22, 2021 02:31 AM EDT

FILE - In this Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020 file photo, Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) reacts to a play during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Glendale, Ariz. The Minnesota Vikings agreed to a one-year contract worth up to $10 million with eight-time Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson on Wednesday March 17, 2021 according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations.(AP Photo/Jennifer Stewart, File)
'Our big prize': Vikes laud Tomlinson's size, skill, smarts

By Dave Campbell Mar. 18, 2021 06:00 PM EDT

Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Rob Gronkowski warms up before the NFC championship NFL football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
Chiefs matriarch, now 82, will continue Super Bowl streak

By The Associated Press Feb. 01, 2021 05:50 PM EST

FILE - Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Vance McDonald (89) plays against the Cleveland Browns during an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, in this Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, file photo. Steelers tight end Vance McDonald is retiring. The 30-year-old announced the decision Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
Steelers tight end Vance McDonald retiring after 8 seasons

By Will Graves Jan. 22, 2021 09:50 AM EST

FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, file photo, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) reacts after swinging a helmet at Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Cleveland. The Browns (10-5) will make the postseason for the first time since 2002 with a win over the Steelers. Pittsburgh, which clinched the AFC North last week, is resting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and will start Mason Rudolph, who has a history with Cleveland's Myles Garrett after an ugly helmet-swinging incident a year ago. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)
Garrett, Rudolph in no mood to rehash career-altering brawl

By Will Graves Jan. 01, 2021 05:23 PM EST

Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner (30) runs away from Indianapolis Colts defensive end Kemoko Turay (57) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
The Latest: KC clinches home field; Steelers grab division

By The Associated Press Dec. 27, 2020 04:49 PM EST

FILE - In this Dec. 6, 2020, file photo, New Orleans Saints outside linebacker Demario Davis leaves the field after an an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta. Davis embarked on a social justice listening tour in Atlanta, Washington, Buffalo, Minneapolis and Los Angeles in five days in June. A portion of profits from his “Man of God” masks and bandanas will benefit the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
NFL players take leading role on social justice front

By Barry Wilner Dec. 22, 2020 03:06 PM EST

Denver Broncos wide receiver Diontae Spencer, left, celebrates after scoring with safety Justin Simmons during the first half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Broncos safety Justin Simmons piling up big plays, accolades

By Arnie Stapleton Dec. 16, 2020 05:24 PM EST

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) walks on the field prior to the start of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Cleveland. Garrett was playing as well as any defender in the league when he fell ill and went on the COVID list after a positive test on Nov. 20. He missed Cleveland's past two games _ wins over Philadelphia and Jacksonville _ while isolating and recovering at home.(AP Photo/Kirk Irwin)
End around: Browns' Garrett goes from villain to Man of Year

By Tom Withers Dec. 11, 2020 01:43 AM EST

FILE - Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce smiles before the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs in Miami Gardens Fla., in this Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, file photo. Seattle's star quarterback Russell Wilson and Kansas City's standout tight end Travis Kelce are among the 32 finalists for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
Russell Wilson, Travis Kelce among NFL Man of Year nominees

By Barry Wilner Dec. 10, 2020 03:02 PM EST

New York Giants cornerback James Bradberry (24) celebrates with teammates after making an interception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Football Team, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
The Latest: Brady, Bucs roll to win, give Packers first loss

By The Associated Press Oct. 18, 2020 03:47 PM EDT

FILE - In this April 29, 2016, file photo, former Walter Payton Man of the Year Chester Pitts poses for photos upon arriving for the third round of the 2016 NFL football draft in Chicago. In the Austin, Texas area Pitts, who played nine pro seasons as a guard and tackle, has been directly involved in getting out the vote for years. Often, he has chartered a bus and helped the elderly get to their polling places. He has similar plans for this fall during the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
Former NFL players getting out the vote in communities

By Barry Wilner Sep. 23, 2020 02:08 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 12, 2017, file photo, Thursday Night Football analyst Deion Sanders gives his take before an NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C. Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders says he will become Jackson State's football coach. Sanders made the announcement Sunday night, Sept. 20, 2020, on the first episode of the “21st & Prime” podcast with Jamie Dukes on Barstool Sports. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone, File)
Deion Sanders set to become Jackson State's football coach

Sep. 21, 2020 09:49 AM EDT

A demonstrator wears a face mask and latex gloves while waving a placard along Lincoln Avenue during a protest Tuesday, June 2, 2020, in Denver over the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man in police custody in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Broncos stop football to talk about race relations, Floyd

By Arnie Stapleton Jun. 02, 2020 09:36 PM EDT