BARRY WILNER
NFL owners to meet Thursday and discuss labor negotiations

By Barry Wilner 13 hrs ago
NEW YORK (AP) — NFL owners will meet Thursday in Manhattan to discuss ongoing

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2019, file photo, Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores watches from the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis. Pro football is discovering that the spirit of the Rooney Rule is being violated. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made that a point of emphasis in his state of the league speech during Super Bowl week. So count on Goodell finding ways to more strongly implement the policy that requires teams to interview minority candidates for coaching and executive positions.(AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
NFL putting stronger Rooney Rule front and center

By Barry Wilner Feb. 18, 2020 05:35 PM EST
Pro football is discovering that the spirit of the Rooney Rule is being

FILE - In this Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019 file photo,Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) warms up before an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Mo. Now that we know Philip Rivers won't be leading the Chargers into SoFi Stadium in September, the muddied waters of NFL quarterbacking have been cleared a bit. Just a little bit. Not knowing where Rivers might be headed if anywhere in 2020 doesn't simplify things at all. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
Analysis: Offseason Fix: Where are the free QBs headed?

By Barry Wilner Feb. 12, 2020 02:36 AM EST
Now that we know Philip Rivers won't be leading the Chargers into SoFi Stadium

FILE - In this Nov. 30, 2019, file photo, Ohio State defensive end Chase Young plays against Michigan in the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Ann Arbor, Mich. Record-setting defensive end Chase Young is leaving Ohio State early to enter the NFL draft, a widely expected move. The junior Heisman Trophy finalist made the announcement Friday, Jan. 3, 2020, on Twitter. He says he looks forward to "joining a new family in the NFL this spring and being part of something special.” (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
NFL 101: What's ahead as next century of pro football begins

By Barry Wilner Feb. 04, 2020 02:47 AM EST
MIAMI (AP) — The NFL's centennial season concluded with a championship a half

Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson speaks after winning the AP Most Valuable Player award at the NFL Honors football award show Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Jackson wins MVP as Ravens take 3 awards; Harbaugh top coach

By Barry Wilner Feb. 01, 2020 06:53 PM EST
MIAMI (AP) — Lamar Jackson's stunning season not only earned him The Associated

Randle wowed by being among members of NFL's all-time team

By Barry Wilner Feb. 01, 2020 04:33 PM EST
MIAMI (AP) — John Randle looked around the ballroom like

FILE - In this April 15, 2018, file photo, Kenny Chesney performs "Get Along" at the 53rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, in Las Vegas. Through his song “Boys of Fall,” Kenny Chesney has a direct connection to this Super Bowl. The song has become something of an anthem for high school football, celebrating the teamwork and dedication it takes to play the sport _ really on any level. It was written by Pro Football Hall of Famer Bobby Beathard's son Casey, who has penned several hits for the country superstar. Beathard's son, C.J., is a backup quarterback for the 49ers.(Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)
Chesney's "Boys of Fall" has extra meaning at Super Bowl

By Barry Wilner Jan. 31, 2020 03:29 PM EST
MIAMI (AP) — Through his song “Boys of Fall,” Kenny Chesney has a direct

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2013, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers' Troy Polamalu follows the action during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Pittsburgh. John Lynch, now the general manager of the 49ers who will play the Chiefs in Sunday's Super Bowl, is up for the seventh time. Steve Atwater is a finalist for the third time. LeRoy Butler and first-year eligible Troy Polamalu complete the quartet of safeties among the 15 final candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
4 safeties vying for Hall of Fame spot, 3 WRs and OLs

By Barry Wilner Jan. 31, 2020 12:53 PM EST
MIAMI (AP) — There are 11 pure safeties in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Four

Graphic compares team stats for 49ers and Chiefs and predicts the winner of the Super Bowl; 3c x 2 1/2 inches;
Chiefs-49ers: Toughest Super Bowl to pick in years

By Barry Wilner Jan. 30, 2020 01:48 PM EST
MIAMI (AP) — Even the oddsmakers aren't sure about this Super Bowl.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell answers a question during a news conference for the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Goodell: Diversity in coach/executive hirings must improve

By Barry Wilner Jan. 29, 2020 03:30 PM EST
MIAMI (AP) — Stopping short of saying the Rooney Rule is not working, NFL

FILE - This Feb. 1, 1993 file photo shows Pop superstar Michael Jackson performing during the halftime show at the Super Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Regardless of your musical tastes, it seems the Super Bowl halftime show has gone there. From the sublime (Tony Bennett) to the ridiculous ( Janet Jackson's ``uncovering''), and from Michael Jackson's moonwalks to U2's majestic remembrance of the 911 victims, the halftime presentations have drawn nearly as much attention as the NFL championship game itself. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy, File)
From marching bands to The Boss to Lady Gaga at halftime

By Barry Wilner Jan. 29, 2020 03:38 AM EST
MIAMI (AP) — Regardless of your musical tastes, it seems the Super Bowl

Rating Super Bowls: Classics, Memorables and Duds

By Barry Wilner Jan. 26, 2020 12:12 PM EST
MIAMI (AP) — Not all Super Bowls are super. Some are classics, some are

New York Giants NFL football quarterback Eli Manning holds his son Charles after announcing his retirement on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Appreciate Eli for how he met major challenges

By Barry Wilner Jan. 24, 2020 05:03 PM EST
The debate whether Eli Manning is a Hall of Fame quarterback already has begun

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan speaks at a news conference after the NFL NFC Championship football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, in Santa Clara, Calif. The 49ers won 37-20 to advance to Super Bowl 54 against the Kansas City Chiefs. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
How the 49ers and the Chiefs match up in the Super Bowl

By Barry Wilner Jan. 24, 2020 02:50 PM EST
It has been a while since a Super Bowl has appeared to be such a toss-up. This

FILE - In this April 4, 2017, file photo, the fountains of Bellagio erupt along the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas. The NFL on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, detailed its draft plans for April 23-25 on the city's glittering Strip. The league knows it has a long ways to go to match the previous road shows, particularly in Philadelphia and Nashville. It believes it has found the right place in the Nevada desert. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
Another big show in Las Vegas: NFL details draft plans

By Barry Wilner Jan. 21, 2020 02:29 PM EST
Here comes another big show to Las Vegas. The NFL on

Kansas City Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu and Patrick Mahomes (15) hold up the Lamar Hunt Trophy after the NFL AFC Championship football game against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, in Kansas City, MO. The Chiefs won 35-24 to advance to Super Bowl 54. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Finally, Hunt family gets to lift Lamar Hunt Trophy

By Barry Wilner Jan. 19, 2020 08:33 PM EST
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — As the Hunt family stood on a makeshift stage Sunday,

Tennessee Titans' Dennis Kelly (71) celebrates his touchdown catch with quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) during the first half of the NFL AFC Championship football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, in Kansas City, MO. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Mahomes' feet, arm lift Chiefs to Super Bowl over Titans

By Barry Wilner Jan. 19, 2020 07:37 PM EST
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — With his best imitation of a tightrope walker, Patrick

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes addresses the media during a news conference for Sunday's NFL AFC championship football game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020. The Chiefs will face the Tennessee Titans for the opportunity to advance to the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Bettors leaning heavily toward home teams making Super Bowl

By Barry Wilner Jan. 17, 2020 01:18 PM EST
Pro Picks is surprised. Consider that the NFC title game is

FILE - In this Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019 file photo, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid talks to down judge Tom Stephan (68), during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Kansas City, Mo. Of the coaches in the NFL's Final Four, Andy Reid is the outlier. Only Kansas City's coach has been the head man in a Super Bowl. Only Reid is close to having a Hall of Fame-worthy resume. Only Reid has been around for a couple of decades. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga. File)
Of NFL's Final 4 coaches, Andy Reid is the outlier

By Barry Wilner Jan. 17, 2020 02:48 AM EST
Of the coaches in the NFL's Final Four, Andy Reid is the outlier.

Vinovich chosen as Super Bowl ref because of highest rating

By Barry Wilner Jan. 16, 2020 06:16 PM EST
NEW YORK (AP) — Two people familiar with the assignment tell The Associated