INSIDER
Vick, Fitzgerald and Suggs among stars on College Football Hall of Fame ballot for 1st time
Read full article: Vick, Fitzgerald and Suggs among stars on College Football Hall of Fame ballot for 1st timeMichael Vick, Larry Fitzgerald and Terrell Suggs are among the college football stars who will be considered for induction to the Hall of Fame for the first time this year.
Brady apologizes for comparing playing football to military
Read full article: Brady apologizes for comparing playing football to militaryTom Brady has apologized for making a comparison between football and military deployment while interviewing NBA star Kevin Durant on the seven-time Super Bowl champion’s weekly podcast.
Ayton, Booker lead top-seeded Suns past Mavericks 121-114
Read full article: Ayton, Booker lead top-seeded Suns past Mavericks 121-114Deandre Ayton scored 25 points, Devin Booker added 23 and the top-seeded Phoenix Suns rolled to a 121-114 win over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Cards' Fitzgerald: 'Don't have the urge to play' football
Read full article: Cards' Fitzgerald: 'Don't have the urge to play' footballArizona Cardinals 11-time Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald says he currently doesn’t have the desire to play an 18th NFL season, though he left the possibility open that he might resume his career.
Saints' Brees sees playoff clash with Brady's Bucs as fate
Read full article: Saints' Brees sees playoff clash with Brady's Bucs as fateNew Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) reacts after a touchdown by Alvin Kamara in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Chicago Bears in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)NEW ORLEANS – Drew Brees periodically discusses his long, extraordinary NFL journey in terms of fate and destiny. “Other than that, there’s not a lot of bad about” the Saints, Brady said. I think the quarterback-receiver relationship is really important.”Still, no defense has had more success against Brady this season than the Saints. The Saints gained 2,265 yards rushing during the regular season and added another 123 yards in their playoff opener against Chicago's formidable front.
Wolford, defense lead Rams past Arizona 18-7, into playoffs
Read full article: Wolford, defense lead Rams past Arizona 18-7, into playoffsLos Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods, left, catches a pass against Arizona Cardinals middle linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during the first half of an NFL football game in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021. It ended with the inexperienced quarterback fearlessly leading the Los Angeles Rams back to the playoffs. And though Wolford capably did his part, everybody in the Rams' jubilant locker room realized they owed this achievement to a dominant defense that scored as many points as the Rams' offense — and a couple more than the Arizona Cardinals — in Los Angeles' 18-7 victory Sunday. Wolford passed for 231 yards and rushed for 56 more, producing many moments of excitement in place of injured Jared Goff. Wolford racked up 47 yards rushing in the first half — more than Goff managed in any game of his five-year career.
Third-string QB Beathard throws 3 TDs, 49ers stun Cardinals
Read full article: Third-string QB Beathard throws 3 TDs, 49ers stun CardinalsSan Francisco 49ers running back Jeff Wilson (30) celebrates his touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals with quarterback C.J. Beathard threw three touchdown passes, Jeff Wilson ran for 183 yards, and the San Francisco 49ers dealt a brutal blow to the Arizona Cardinals' playoff hopes by defeating them 20-12 on Saturday. If the Chicago Bears win their final two games, they will reach the playoffs because of a tiebreaker over the Cardinals. The 49ers (6-9) pulled ahead 14-6 in the third quarter on Beathard’s 9-yard touchdown pass to fullback Kyle Juszczyk. Cardinals: LB Haason Reddick (hamstring) left the game in the first quarter, but returned early in the second quarter.
Murray, Hopkins lead Cardinals past Eagles 33-26
Read full article: Murray, Hopkins lead Cardinals past Eagles 33-26He had a lot of good moments, but couldn't lead the Eagles to any points on their last two offensive drives. Murray threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns, while Hurts responded with 177 yards passing and three touchdowns. The Cardinals also missed a great opportunity when Hopkins fumbled at the Eagles 8 after catching a short pass from Murray. The Eagles' second touchdown was set up by Murray's costly fumble at the Arizona 21-yard line. Fitzgerald’s 14-yard catch from Kyler Murray pushed the Cardinals ahead 26-14 late in the second quarter.
Murray throws TD, Cards end 3-game skid, beat red-hot Giants
Read full article: Murray throws TD, Cards end 3-game skid, beat red-hot GiantsCoupled with Tampa Bay’s 26-14 win over Minnesota (6-7), the Cardinals are back in a wild-card berth. we have to go out there and execute,” said Murray, who ran 10 times for 47 yards. “I don’t think we have any kind of a hangover from going out to Seattle last week," Giants coach Joe Judge said. The D limited New York to 159 yards in making Jones' return from a one-game absence with a hamstring injury miserable. The first one was set up by a 24-yard punt return by Christian Kirk to the Giants 38.
Colts have left tackle Castonzo, LB Okereke vs. Raiders
Read full article: Colts have left tackle Castonzo, LB Okereke vs. RaidersIndianapolis left tackle Anthony Castonzo and starting linebacker Bobby Okereke are both active for the Colts’ visit to the Las Vegas Raiders. ___GREEN BAY AT DETROITPackers: QB Jordan Love, CB Ka’dar Hollman, LB Jonathan Garvin, G Simon Stepaniak, WR Malik Taylor, TE Jace Sternberger. Raiders: QB Nathan Peterman, CB Damon Arnette, RB Theo Riddick, OT Brandon Parker, OG John Simpson, DE Carl Nassib. Eagles: CB Michael Jacquet, QB Nate Sudfeld, WR John Hightower, RB Jason Huntley, DB Grayland Arnold, S Rudy Ford, LB T.J. Edwards. Jaguars: QB Jake Luton, CB Luq Barcoo, LB Kamalei Correa, LB Quincy Williams, C Brandon Linder, TE Tyler Davis, DE Reggie Gilbert.
Russell Wilson, Travis Kelce among NFL Man of Year nominees
Read full article: Russell Wilson, Travis Kelce among NFL Man of Year nomineesSeattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) talks at the end of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. 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)In a year impacted by a pandemic and social unrest, NFL players have spoken out and stepped up. “The 32 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominees remind us that even in the face of adversity, players continue to raise awareness and use their voice and platform to positively impact their communities. “Being nominated as the Chiefs' Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year is one of the greatest honors of my professional career,” tight end Travis Kelce said. As an organization captain, he directs a team of active NFL players who are committed to using their platform to help address the clean water crisis.
The Latest: Cardinals active Fitzgerald off COVID-19 list
Read full article: The Latest: Cardinals active Fitzgerald off COVID-19 list___Purdue says it has canceled Tuesday’s football practice to “evaluate the results of recent COVID-19 testing.” Athletic department officials provided no additional comment. Coach Jeff Brohm missed the season opener after testing positive and all-conference defensive end George Karlaftis sat out the last two games after also testing positive. ___The NFL says there were 18 new confirmed positive COVID-19 tests among players and 27 among other personnel in the latest round of testing, which concluded Saturday. 7 Houston's men's basketball team has paused all team activities and postponed its two games this week because of positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracing. DePaul announced Tuesday it was pausing all team activities this week following positive COVID-19 tests involving its program, two days after a similar announcement from UConn.
QB Jones inactive for Giants; McCoy to start at Seattle
Read full article: QB Jones inactive for Giants; McCoy to start at Seattle(AP Photo/Aaron Doster)The New York Giants will be without starting quarterback Daniel Jones for Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks. Jones was not expected to play because of a hamstring injury suffered last week against Cincinnati. Colt McCoy will make his first start of the season at QB for the Giants. Seattle was without both starting right tackle Brandon Shell (ankle) and backup Cedric Ogbuehi (calf) leaving a major question on the offensive line. ___CLEVELAND-TENNESSEEBrowns: WR Taywan Taylor, WR KhaDarel Hodge, CB Denzel Ward, RB Dontrell Hilliard, S Tedric Thompson, DE Joe Jackson.
Plenty of reasons for scoring's record-setting pace in NFL
Read full article: Plenty of reasons for scoring's record-setting pace in NFLThe top mark in NFL history through nine weeks was 24 ppg in 2018. That has eliminated the need for silent counts for road teams, making life much easier for offenses. Road teams are 67-65-1 this season, marking the first time since 1983 (68-57-1) that they had a winning record through nine weeks. From 2010-19, home teams outscored road teams by 2.0 points per game. FLAG FOOTBALL: From the crackdown on hits against defenseless receivers to the protections in place for quarterbacks, NFL rules always seem to tilt toward the offense.
Arizona knocks off undefeated Seattle with 37-34 OT victory
Read full article: Arizona knocks off undefeated Seattle with 37-34 OT victoryArizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. Seattle led all of regulation until Gonzalez made a 44-yard field goal as time expired to tie it at 34. Moments later, it appeared Seattle had won on the ensuing drive when DK Metcalf caught a 48-yard touchdown pass, but the play was called back because of holding on receiver David Moore. Christian Kirk caught an 8-yard touchdown pass with 2:28 left to pull Arizona to 34-31. Seattle cruised 75 yards in just six plays, finishing with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Lockett.
The Latest: Tough day for last year's Super Bowl teams
Read full article: The Latest: Tough day for last year's Super Bowl teamsThis hasn’t been a good day for last season’s two Super Bowl participants. The reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs suffered their first loss of the season earlier Sunday when they fell 40-32 at home to the Las Vegas Raiders. This is the first time in the Super Bowl era that the two teams that played in the Super Bowl the previous season have allowed at least 40 points at home on the same day. The reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers both entered Sunday undefeated. Atlanta cornerback Kendall Sheffield suffered a right ankle injury in the second quarter and was listed as questionable to return.
3 different ways the Detroit Lions picked off Kyler Murray
Read full article: 3 different ways the Detroit Lions picked off Kyler MurrayDETROIT – The Detroit Lions picked up their first win thanks to their best defensive performance of the year. Here are the three different ways the Lions picked off Kyler Murray. Mixing Up CoveragesJamie Collins comes up with INT #⃣2⃣ on the day for the #Lions D#DETvsAZ | 📺 FOX | #OnePride pic.twitter.com/zz6Y4Sctcw — Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 27, 2020The Lions second interception comes in the 2nd quarter. The Lions defense has sorely needed plays like these from Okudah, Collins and Harmon. If the Lions defense can keep creating turnovers, it’ll most certainly help this defense, even if it struggles containing opposing offenses.
Direct deposit: WR Hopkins negotiates own deal with Arizona
Read full article: Direct deposit: WR Hopkins negotiates own deal with ArizonaHopkins and the Cardinals agreed to a two-year contract extension on Tuesday that will keep the three-time All-Pro in Arizona through the 2024 season. Hopkins said he worked on about 90% of the deal and had some help from advisers. Cardinals GM Steve Keim said it was a great process and he got to know the receiver even better during negotiations. It was our goal all along to get (Hopkins) extended, Keim said. I was like, man, if I could be in this offense, a pass-first offense one day, the sky's the limit, Hopkins said.
Chiefs keep gambling by doling out another big-money deal
Read full article: Chiefs keep gambling by doling out another big-money dealFILE - Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce smiles before the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the deal has not been announced. The competition that (Fitzgerald) provided me coming into the league, me coming to Kansas City Travis gives me that same kind of competition day-in and day-out, Mathieu said. Travis still comes to work wanting to get better, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said, so you love that part. The rookie broke one of his orbital bones before arriving in Kansas City, Reid said.
Lions vs. Cardinals: Who, what you need to know for Week 1
Read full article: Lions vs. Cardinals: Who, what you need to know for Week 1(Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)DETROIT - It's game week: the Detroit Lions open this season Sunday on the road against the Arizona Cardinals. He suffered an injury in the preseason and if healthy Week 1 will be the first action he'll see in the Cardinals' new defense. Year 2 of Patricia's defense: After picking up Snacks Harrison in the middle of last season the Lions' defense was drastically better against the run and improved overall. Game overviewHeading into Week 1, Lions fans should be cautiously optimistic about starting the year 1-0. Containing Murray won't be easy, but the Lions are expected to have a very good defensive line that could put a lot of pressure on the Cardinals' offense.