Government and politics
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 24 hrs ago

Oakland Athletics outfielders Mark Canha (20) and Ramon Laureano, second from right, wear masks as they greet teammates after they defeated the Seattle Mariners in the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, in Seattle. Both games were played in air smoky from wildfires in Oregon, Washington, and California. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
The Latest: Falcons and MLS Atlanta United to have some fans

By The Associated Press Sep. 22, 2020 05:19 PM EDT

Los Angeles Rams and the Dallas Cowboys in the first half 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)
SoFi Stadium serving as voting center in NFL vote initiative

Sep. 22, 2020 12:09 PM EDT

White inactive for Patriots following death of father

Sep. 20, 2020 08:36 PM EDT
SEATTLE (AP) — The father of New England Patriots’ running back James White was killed Sunday in a car crash in Florida, authorities said. ...

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (19) offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva (78) and wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) celebrate after Smith-Schuster scored a touchdown against the New York Giants during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
United front? Villanueva's choice surprises teammates

By Will Graves Sep. 16, 2020 04:19 PM EDT

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan walks on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Josie Lepe)
NFL reminds teams to follow sideline rules on face coverings

By Barry Wilner Sep. 14, 2020 11:18 AM EDT

FILE - In this Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 file photo, fans stand for a presentation on social justice before an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans in Kansas City, Mo. The NFL's new stance encouraging players to take a stand against racial injustice got its first test as some fans of the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs booed during a moment of silence to promote the cause, touching off a fresh debate on how players should use their voice. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
Chiefs, Texans booed as racial justice stand sparks outrage

By Heather Hollingsworth Sep. 11, 2020 06:25 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 2, 2015, file photo, former professional wrestler Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka leaves Lehigh County Courthouse in Allentown, Pa. A federal appeals court on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020, dismissed a lawsuit filed by 50 former professional wrestlers, including Snuka, who claimed World Wrestling Entertainment failed to protect them from repeated head trauma including concussions that led to long-term brain damage. (Michael Kubel/The Morning Call via AP, File)
Former WWE wrestlers' lawsuit over brain damage is dismissed

By Dave Collins Sep. 09, 2020 12:59 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 18, 2016, file photo, San Francisco 49ers' Colin Kaepernick (7) and Eric Reid (35) kneel during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C. Four years after Kaepernick spoke out against racism and eventually lost his job for peacefully protesting, the NFL supports his fight and now encourages players to stand up for racial equality and social justice.(AP Photo/Mike McCarn, File)
Now that NFL supports Colin Kaepernick's fight, what's next?

By Rob Maaddi Sep. 08, 2020 03:06 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 17, 2019, file photo, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones waits for the team's NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott wants his teammates to decide for themselves whether to protest during the national anthem. Defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford says they have the “green light” to do so. Jones hasn't said in so many words, but it appears his hard-line stance over his players standing during the anthem has eased amid a national reckoning over racial justice. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
Cowboys players ponder kneeling during national anthem

By Schuyler Dixon Sep. 06, 2020 02:29 PM EDT

NFL, players' union to close facilities on Election Day

Sep. 03, 2020 11:46 AM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — All NFL and NFL Players Association facilities will close on Election Day, and the league and union will televise a one-hour program next week...

Panthers owner frustrated over not having fans at NFL opener

By Steve Reed Sep. 02, 2020 07:01 PM EDT
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Panthers owner David Tepper expressed frustration with government officials over not allowing fans in the stadium for the team’s Sept....

Roger Goodell: 'The NFL stands with the Black community'

By Rob Maaddi Sep. 01, 2020 09:12 PM EDT
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reiterated the league’s support for players fighting for racial justice and protesting police violence. ...

Jacksonville Jaguars starting quarterback Gardner Minshew II signals a play during NFL football training camp, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union via AP)
Column: Jags might be worst franchise in all of pro sports

By Paul Newberry Sep. 01, 2020 03:04 AM EDT

NFL reveals more in-game social and racial justice plans

Aug. 31, 2020 02:27 PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — NFL end zones will be inscribed this season with two slogans: “It Takes All Of Us” on one end line, “End Racism” on the other. ...

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, center, looks on as players run past Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020, during an NFL football training camp in Renton, Wash. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seahawks final scrimmage secondary to Carroll's message

By Tim Booth Aug. 30, 2020 08:29 PM EDT

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, center, watches the team as guard David DeCastro, bottom warms up and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, left , walks by during an NFL football training camp practice, Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
NFL teams huddling up to devise plans for social change

By Dennis Waszak Jr. Aug. 29, 2020 06:33 PM EDT

Men from Milwaukee wear "We're WI Men" T-shirts as they attend the March on Washington, Friday Aug. 28, 2020, in Washington, on the 57th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Athlete power: ‘Shut up and play' is tossed from the game

By Eddie Pells Aug. 29, 2020 12:51 PM EDT

Seattle Seahawks safety Jamal Adams, left, talks with teammates Shaquill Griffin, right, and Quandre Diggs, center during NFL football training camp, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, in Renton, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seahawks' Diggs implores others to register to vote

By Tim Booth Aug. 28, 2020 08:07 PM EDT

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) watches as quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) throws during practice at the NFL team's football training camp in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Colts return to practice with plan to combat injustices

By Michael Marot Aug. 28, 2020 05:17 PM EDT