BARRY WILNER
Detroit Lions players point at the football held by Atlanta Falcons' Todd Gurley during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Atlanta. Gurley saw a tantalizing path to the end zone and couldn't help himself. He tried to fall down, but it was too late. Gurley landed on the goal line for a touchdown that, as it turned out, led to another stunning loss for the Atlanta Falcons. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Can Falcons find yet another unique way to lose a game?

By Barry Wilner 53 minutes ago
There is losing, and there is LOSING. The Atlanta Falcons

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, right, gives instructions to linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley (51) in the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
On Football: Brady flourishing, Belichick floundering

By Barry Wilner Oct. 26, 2020 02:50 AM EDT
Tom Brady accounted for five touchdowns in a profitable

Mentoring youth even more important in 2020 for Thompson

By Barry Wilner Oct. 24, 2020 02:04 AM EDT
Mentoring at-risk youths is difficult enough in normal times. There has been

Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Devin White (45) sacks Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Perfection on display when Steelers visit Titans, both 5-0

By Barry Wilner Oct. 23, 2020 05:30 PM EDT
Maybe all the delays involving the Titans and the jumbled NFL schedule led to

Hall of Fame Health launched to help former NFL players

By Barry Wilner Oct. 20, 2020 03:08 PM EDT
Hall of Fame Health, a nationwide effort to offer services to any former NFL

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield celebrates a 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Rashard Higgins during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Browns never win in Pittsburgh, so challenge is immense

By Barry Wilner Oct. 16, 2020 01:43 PM EDT
Once the best of NFL rivalries, Cleveland-Pittsburgh fell on hard times as a

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (34) celebrates with teammates after Rodgers returned a kickoff for 101-yard touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
AP source: Patriots cancel practice, positive COVID-19 test

By Barry Wilner Oct. 16, 2020 08:19 AM EDT
The New England Patriots canceled practice Friday after a member of the

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) yells at members of his offensive line as they walk off the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Old man quarterbacks Brady and Rodgers face off Sunday

By Barry Wilner Oct. 15, 2020 05:31 PM EDT
Hey old-timer, what are you still doing on an NFL field?

Atlanta Falcons intern coach Lance Schulters works at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC, on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019. Schulters faced a dilemma when his decade as an NFL player was ending. Schulters knew he wanted to continue in the game, possibly in coaching. The problem: He was told to basically start from scratch, sort of like a proven chef being told to work the grill at McDonald's. (Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons via AP)
Fellowships helping former players get NFL jobs

By Barry Wilner Oct. 14, 2020 02:20 AM EDT
Lance Schulters faced a dilemma when his decade as an NFL player was ending.

Buffalo Bills free safety Jordan Poyer, left, and cornerback Josh Norman, right, guard Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, in Las Vegas. Poyer was called for pass interference on the play. (AP Photo/David Becker)
On Football: Officiating not much of NFL issue thus far

By Barry Wilner Oct. 09, 2020 12:12 AM EDT
With so much else going on in the pro football world, it's probably no surprise

Houston Texans NFL football interim head coach Romeo Crennel runs his first practice leading the team Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020, at The Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP)
High-powered Browns take on stingy Colts in showcase game

By Barry Wilner Oct. 08, 2020 11:51 PM EDT
The Browns might be for real. The Colts, too. We could find

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass as he is pressured by Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Jerry Tillery (99) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Philly Special? Don't expect Brady to bring it up to Foles

By Barry Wilner Oct. 07, 2020 01:45 PM EDT
Philly Special.

San Francisco 49ers' Jordan Reed, right, tries to grab a pass over New York Giants' Logan Ryan during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
On Football: COVID-19's effect on the NFL now and up ahead

By Barry Wilner Oct. 02, 2020 04:02 PM EDT
A good 700 miles away from Nashville, Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott

FILE - In this Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, file photo, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson looks to pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game in Seattle. Wilson leads the NFL with 14 touchdown passes. The Seahawks play the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Oct. 4. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)
Maybe Patriots-Chiefs will be classic Chiefs-Ravens wasn't

By Barry Wilner Oct. 02, 2020 12:11 AM EDT
One of the NFL’s premier matchups of the early schedule has been postponed due

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton speaks with quarterback Drew Brees (9) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)
NFL threatening suspensions for maskless sideline personnel

By Barry Wilner Sep. 30, 2020 12:30 PM EDT
The NFL is threatening teams with possible suspensions for sideline personnel,

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) celebrates after sacking Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Matchup of unbeatens in Buffalo, of all places

By Barry Wilner Sep. 24, 2020 11:35 PM EDT
Not since the days of Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, Jim Kelly and Marv Levy has

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 02:16 PM EDT
While 14 NFL franchises are using their stadiums in the voting process, former

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew (15) is sacked by Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jack Crawford for a 20-yard loss in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
South Beach vs. North Florida on Thursday night

By Barry Wilner Sep. 23, 2020 12:25 PM EDT
The idea has merit: Take teams you don't expect to be in the playoff chase and

Defensive end Aaron Donald (99) high fives teammate offensive guard Austin Blythe (66) of the Los Angeles Rams after defeating the Dallas Cowboys 20-17 during a NFL football game on opening night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, September 13, 2020. (Keith Birmingham/The Orange County Register via AP)
Top-flight Seahawks await Cam Newton, Patriots in Week 2

By Barry Wilner Sep. 19, 2020 11:36 AM EDT
The Seattle Seahawks have had a nasty habit of starting slowly. If their debut

This rendering provided by MKSK shows the design planned for the NFL dedicated Centennial Plaza in downtown Canton, Ohio. Centennial Plaza, developed with the help of $12 million in funding from the citizens and businesses of Canton, will occupy a two-acre city block formerly known as Market Square. (Courtesy of MKSK/Pro Football Hall of Fame via AP)
Pro Football Hall of Fame dedicates Canton Centennial Plaza

By Barry Wilner Sep. 18, 2020 02:59 PM EDT
It was going to be the “greatest gathering in football ever.” And then the