By MICHAEL MAROT INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — When Philip Rivers first started tossing footballs as a high-school ball boy, he heaved them any way he could. The throwing motion stuck — and success soon followed. Rivers used that strange, shot put-like style to land a college scholarship, become a first-round draft pick and eventually string together…… read more »
By CHARLES ODUM ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday named Terry Fontenot the team’s first Black general manager, and team owner Arthur Blank said it’s the kind of hire that will eventually also create more opportunities for NFL minority coaches. The 40-year-old Fontenot joins Atlanta following 18 seasons with NFC South rival New…… read more »
By TERESA M. WALKER The Tennessee football program is starting over yet again, this time after coach Jeremy Pruitt and nine others were fired Monday for cause when an internal investigation found what the university chancellor called “serious violations of NCAA rules.” Chancellor Donde Plowman said Pruitt was responsible for overseeing the program. Tennessee has…… read more »
By BRETT MARTEL NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Tom Brady’s best game in three tries against New Orleans kept the Buccaneers moving on in the NFL playoffs, and has Saints quarterback Drew Brees headed home — perhaps for good. Brady and the Bucs’ offense turned three of four Saints turnovers into touchdowns and Tampa Bay beat…… read more »
By JOHN WAWROW ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — In what was supposed to be a showdown between Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, Taron Johnson literally stole the show. If not for the wall separating the field from the stands in the back of the east end zone, the Bills cornerback might still be…… 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 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 »
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers says he will be a guest host on “Jeopardy!” during the offseason. The show is currently using a series of interim hosts to replace Alex Trebek, who died of cancer on Nov. 8. That process began when record-holding contestant Ken Jennings made his debut…… read more »
By TIM REYNOLDS MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — DeVonta Smith did not catch a single pass after halftime. He didn’t have to, either. He’d done plenty. The Heisman Trophy-winning receiver from Alabama put his stamp all over the College Football Playoff championship game in the first two quarters, and the Crimson Tide are national champions…… read more »
