J.J. Watt
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

Broncos keep Harris in Denver, bolster secondary with Darby

By Arnie Stapleton Mar. 15, 2021 09:08 PM EDT
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos have addressed their biggest defensive need by agreeing to terms with former Washington cornerback Ronald Darby on a...

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady leaves the field an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, in this Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, file photo. om Brady has agreed to a contract extension with the Buccaneers that provides the Super Bowl champions with much-needed salary cap relief and will help the seven-time NFL champion reach a goal of playing until he’s at least 45. Brady posted a picture of himself on Twitter, signing the extension Friday, March 12, 2021, with the message: “In pursuit of 8 ... LFG@ Buccaneers we’re keeping the band together.” (AP Photo/Brett Duke, File)
Agents see caution in free agency after 8% salary cap drop

By Bernie Wilson Mar. 13, 2021 02:54 PM EST

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady leaves the field an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, in this Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, file photo. om Brady has agreed to a contract extension with the Buccaneers that provides the Super Bowl champions with much-needed salary cap relief and will help the seven-time NFL champion reach a goal of playing until he’s at least 45. Brady posted a picture of himself on Twitter, signing the extension Friday, March 12, 2021, with the message: “In pursuit of 8 ... LFG@ Buccaneers we’re keeping the band together.” (AP Photo/Brett Duke, File)
Nobody comes for free in NFL free agency that begins Monday

By Barry Wilner Mar. 13, 2021 01:20 PM EST

FILE - Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) celebrates during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills in Houston, in this Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020, file photo. J.J. Watt has agreed to a two-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals. The team announced the deal with the free-agent edge rusher on Monday, March 1, 2021. Watt was released last month by the Houston Texans. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith, File)
Free agency an antidote for offensive fireworks, mobile QBs

By Arnie Stapleton Mar. 12, 2021 02:25 AM EST

File-This Sept. 17, 2020, file photo shows Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski before an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, in Cleveland. Stefanski's first season as an NFL coach was sublime, almost storybook. He ended Cleveland's long playoff drought, won a postseason game _ while watching from his basement as he recovered from COVID-19, and guided his team around endless obstacles in a global pandemic to almost the AFC championship. An unforgettable year, indeed. And as far as Stefanski's concerned, nothing to celebrate.(AP Photo/Ron Schwane, File)
Stefanski, Browns back at 'square one' after '20 turnaround

By Tom Withers Mar. 02, 2021 07:08 PM EST

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) is seen during pregame warmups before an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Houston. It's too early to know where the NFL salary cap will end up in the range of $180 million to $198 million coming off a pandemic-dominated season that was completed on time but still cost the league billions of dollars in revenue. Although Houston and star defensive end J.J. Watt said his release was a mutual decision, it might have happened regardless with the 32-year-old set to make $15.5 million while the guaranteed money had already been paid in the $100 million, six-year extension he signed in 2014. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
NFL teams brace for tight budgets with likely salary cap cut

By Schuyler Dixon Feb. 19, 2021 03:28 PM EST

Steelers GM Colbert: Work to do to bring back Big Ben

By Will Graves Feb. 17, 2021 03:36 PM EST
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger is still a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yet despite optimistic overtones from both the team and its longtime...

In this photo provided by Gary Schottle, Derek "Tank" Schottle competes in the long jump as part of the Pentathlon competition at the Texas Special Olympics track meet in Arlington, Texas, on May 27, 2017. The Special Olympics, founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, have melded competition and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities since the first games were held in 1968. Special Olympics has since branched out to 174 countries, empowering more than five million athletes who had often been cast aside.(Gary Schottle via AP)
One Good Thing: Special Olympian spreads message of love

By John Marshall Dec. 31, 2020 12:55 PM 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

Chubb up and running as Browns return from bye, face Texans

By The Associated Press Nov. 12, 2020 11:29 AM EST
HOUSTON (2-6) at CLEVELAND (5-3) Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox OPENING LINE - Browns by 2 1/2 RECORD VS....

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) passes against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
AFC features plenty of star power even without Tom Brady

By Arnie Stapleton Nov. 10, 2020 03:18 PM EST

New York Giants' Daniel Jones runs with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Perfection on display when Steelers visit Titans, both 5-0

By Barry Wilner Oct. 23, 2020 05:30 PM EDT

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 Feb. 2, 2020 file photo, Kansas City Chiefs fans arrive for the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game between the Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Kansas City Chiefs fans who file into Arrowhead stadium Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 for a masked and socially distanced start to the current season won't be wearing headdresses or face paint amid a nationwide push for racial justice following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara File)
Chiefs nix headdresses, war paint to start NFL season

By Heather Hollingsworth And Dave Skretta Sep. 09, 2020 11:55 PM EDT

Fans watch the Kansas City Chiefs during NFL football training camp Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs opened the stadium to 5,000 season ticket holders to watch practice as the team plans to open the regular season with a reduced capacity of approximately 22 percent of normal attendance. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Texans-Chiefs set to kick off NFL season unlike any other

By Dave Skretta Sep. 09, 2020 02:24 PM EDT

Texans look to take next step in 2020 behind QB Watson

By The Associated Press Sep. 08, 2020 02:48 PM EDT
HOUSTON TEXANS (11-7) New faces: RB David Johnson, WRs Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb, SSs Eric Murray and Jaylen Watkins, OTs Roderick...

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) warms up with his teammates during an NFL training camp football practice Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, at The Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP)
Watt continues to impress as Texans star enters 10th season

By Kristie Rieken Aug. 18, 2020 05:27 PM EDT

This combination photo shows, from left, Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt during a news conference in Houston on Jan. 4, 2020, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Chris Paul during a game against the Phoenix Suns in Phoenix on Jan. 31, 2020 and Brad Paisley at the 51st annual CMA Awards in Nashville, Tenn. Watt, Paul and Paisley will appear in upcoming episodes of Amazon’s docuseries “Regular Heroes,” focusing on everyday people who are supporting communities during the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo)
Chris Paul, JJ Watt to appear in Amazon's 'Regular Heroes'

By Jonathan Landrum Jr. Jun. 11, 2020 04:02 PM EDT

Philonise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd attends the funeral service for Floyd at The Fountain of Praise church Tuesday, June 9, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, Pool)
`He is going to change the world': Funeral held for Floyd

By Juan A. Lozano, Nomaan Merchant And Adam Geller Jun. 09, 2020 12:02 PM EDT