Previously worked at Indianapolis Star, covering the Indiana Pacers for nine seasons Also covered Vikings for St. Paul Pioneer Press INDIANAPOLIS — New Colts quarterback Carson Wentz felt like the beginning of the end of his five-year career with the Philadelphia Eagles began when he was benched in their Week 13 game against the Green Bay Packers last season. Wentz […]

The start of the new league year — especially this year, with its lowered salary cap — has brought a flurry of activity, with free agency and trades significantly altering rosters across the NFL.  On Wednesday night, I took a look at all of the developments (so far) through the lens of contextual production data and forward-looking projections, along with […]

A company in Chicago estimates March Madness will cost U.S. businesses more than $13 billion in lost productivity because employees will be watching the basketball games instead of working. And that company — Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc., which helps people with job searches and career transitioning and produces economic research — will happily absorb its share of the financial […]

NEW ORLEANS — The Black College Football Hall of Fame has established the HBCU Legacy Bowl, a postseason all-star game that will showcase NFL draft-eligible players from historically Black colleges and universities. The game will take place on the Saturday after the Super Bowl next February at Yulman Stadium at Tulane University. NFL Network will broadcast the game. The league […]

Covered the Buccaneers since 2009 Joined ESPN in 2016 TAMPA, Fla. — Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin has signed his $15.9 million franchise tender for 2021, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The move does not preclude the Bucs and Godwin from reaching an agreement on a long-term extension, however, which sources say is the goal. They have until July […]

After landing one big-name free agent wide receiver, the New York Jets are considering reeling in another. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday that the Jets have been having conversations with wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster, per sources informed of the situation. The Jets signed Corey Davis to a three-year, $37.5 million deal, but with plenty of salary-cap space and a […]

Covered the Packers for ESPN Milwaukee Marquette University graduate HOUSTON — A third civil lawsuit filed against Deshaun Watson accuses the Houston Texans quarterback of sexually assaulting a massage therapist by allegedly forcing her to have oral sex with him in December 2020. The lawsuit was filed by Houston attorney Tony Buzbee on Wednesday night and appeared on the Harris […]

With A.J. Green heading to Arizona on a one-year, $8 million contract, the Cincinnati Bengals’ receiver corps is ready to take the torch from the all-time great and run with it. Following an impressive rookie season, wideout Tee Higgins said he’s ready to fully take over Green’s role on the outside. Alongside slot maven Tyler Boyd and dynamic running back […]

Covered Patriots since 1997 Joined ESPN in 2009 FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Longtime New England Patriots safety Patrick Chung, who had intended to play this season after opting out of the 2020 campaign, has reversed course and announced his retirement Thursday. Chung, 33, said on Instagram that “it’s time to start a new life.” https://www.instagram.com/p/CMj8q3KBZ3K/ This would have been Chung’s 12th […]

For 15 straight seasons, New Orleans Saints fans knew they could count on Drew Brees as their quarterback. Not now. Brees, the 13-time Pro Bowler who brought a Super Bowl championship to New Orleans, announced his retirement Sunday. He has joined the broadcast team at NBC Sports, where his roles will include studio analyst on "Football Night in America" and […]