By MARK LONG JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Urban Meyer first started thinking about the NFL about a decade ago. He was getting phone calls from team owners. He was intrigued by the notion of testing his coaching skills at football’s highest level. He was ready to make the jump. But he put it off time…… read more »
By CHARLES ODUM ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons have chosen offense and youth as the calling cards of their new coach. Atlanta agreed to terms with Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith on Friday to become the team’s head coach. Smith, only 38, has no experience as a head coach. The Falcons’ last full-time…… read more »
By BRETT MARTEL NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Drew Brees periodically discusses his long, extraordinary NFL journey in terms of fate and destiny. The Saints quarterback says, for example, that his career-threatening throwing shoulder injury at the end of the 2005 season was meant to be. It precipitated his departure from the Chargers and move to…… read more »
By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Jets were searching for a leader, someone who could bring a frustrated, playoff-starved franchise back to respectability. They think they found their guy in Robert Saleh. The Jets reached an agreement in principle with the popular and energetic San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Thursday…… read more »
By MARK LONG JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Urban Meyer has won everywhere he’s coached. Small colleges. Big-time programs. He’s been a difference maker at each stop during his storied career. He’s ready to try something new: the NFL. Meyer agreed to become head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday, leaving the broadcast booth and…… read more »
By PETE IACOBELLI COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina coach Shane Beamer can’t look at his phone these days without worrying if it’s bad news. Player transfers, de-commitment by recruits and offensive assistants Beamer hired opting to leave for a Southeastern Conference rival is not the smooth transition the first-time head coach had hoped he…… read more »
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Thousands of University of Alabama football fans partied in the street near campus after the Crimson Tide defeated Ohio State 52-24 for the national championship, ignoring pleas for safety at the height of the coronavirus pandemic in a celebration a top health official said Tuesday could worsen disease. Students and others…… read more »
By MARK ROSNER AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Fresh off a national title with Alabama, Steve Sarkisian plans big changes to Texas’ football program. “The Eyes of Texas” isn’t one of them. At his introductory press conference Tuesday, Sarkisian defended the controversial school song and said his players will “sing it proudly.” His predecessor, Tom Herman,…… read more »
By JOHN ZENOR Nick Saban wasn’t ready to contemplate his legacy moments after capturing a record seventh national championship “because you’re always looking forward.” It was time to start chasing No. 8, after all. The Crimson Tide capped off a 13-0 season with a 52-24 win over Ohio State Monday night in the national championship…… read more »
By JOSH DUBOW The NFL has never seen a playoff matchup quite like the upcoming one between Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Drew Brees’ New Orleans Saints. A pair of quarterbacks in their 40s still thriving on the playoff stage at an age when nearly every other great passer in NFL history was already…… read more »
