Each week I’ll list the best widely available free agents for fantasy football — I define “widely available” as being owned in around half of all ESPN or Yahoo leagues — and some guys who are probably better off in the free-agent pool than collecting dust on your roster.

Follow me on X (formerly known as Twitter) @UTEddieBrown if you ...Read more

NEW YORK — Eli Manning is a semifinalist for the Hall of Fame once again.

The former Giants quarterback is among the 26 candidates for the class of 2026 who advanced to the semifinalist portion of the voting in the modern-era players category, the Hall announced Tuesday.

Manning, a two-time Super Bowl MVP, is in his second year on the ballot...Read more

CHICAGO — It’s still hard to believe a team was audacious enough to record a rap video revealing their plans to go to the Super Bowl, but the “Super Bowl Shuffle” remains one of the more endearing stories of the 1985 Chicago Bears, whose legendary swagger never seems to grow old.

In Chicago, we’ve relived the ’85 Bears over and over...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The NFL is making a statement with its punishment of Carolina Panthers safety Tre’Von Moehrig.

The league office announced Tuesday afternoon that Moehrig will be suspended one game without pay for his “act of unsportsmanlike conduct” in the Panther’s Monday against the San Francisco 49ers.

Moehrig and San Francisco�...Read more

PITTSBURGH — The PittsburghSteelers will be without starting left tackle Broderick Jones and starting defensive tackle Derrick Harmon for Sunday’s home game against the Buffalo Bills.

Jones, who suffered a neck injury in the fourth quarter of last Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears, will miss his first game of the season. Veteran ...Read more

The Chicago Bears didn't want to seem cocky.

They didn't want to jinx themselves.

They certainly didn't want to provide opponents with bulletin board fodder during their attempt to bring a Super Bowl championship to their home city after the 1985 season.

As a large group of players from that team — billed as the Chicago Bears Shufflin' Crew...Read more

Bernie Kosar doesn’t start with, “Hello,’’ on the other end of the phone.

He starts “It’s almost not believable — it’s Disney-type stuff.”

He’s on the ninth floor of University Hospital in Cleveland, and tells how he was being discharged last Sunday when told they finally had a liver for him. A 21-year-old Cleveland Browns ...Read more

SEATTLE — In the Seattle Seahawks’ season-opening, 17-13 loss to San Francisco on Sept. 7, Jaxon Smith-Njigba provided a preview. In his first game without DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, the 23-year-old excelled, torching the 49ers for nine catches and 124 yards. Smith-Njigba earned 13 of his team’s 22 targets, and his teammates combined ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers appear to have cured their inability to run the football, something they were determined to do.

And, between Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, they have been mostly responsible for the explosive plays in their offense. Good thing, too.

They haven't had that in their passing game, particularly from their...Read more

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Just came here to say: Matthew Stafford > Drake Maye for MVP.

Stafford > Jonathan Taylor.

Stafford > everyone.

There’s no one doing it like the Los Angeles Rams’ 37-year-old, 17th-year QB, who doesn’t want to label it this way himself, but who is, in fact, playing the best football the best of his long, illustrious...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Brock Purdy threw an opening-drive touchdown pass to Jauan Jennings, duping all into thinking this “Monday Night Football” affair would be a Brock-Is-Back showcase and a San Francisco 49ers’ blowout.

Then Purdy got intercepted on the 49ers’ next drive. And the next. And the next.

The 49ers overcame that ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Another week, another new injury for Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

This time it’s his toe. Jackson was listed with the injury on the team’s first injury report of the week, which was an estimation after Baltimore held a walk-through Monday evening.

He was one of four players not to practice and coincidentally ...Read more

CHICAGO — Even the always-optimistic Calvin Austin III didn't want to discuss the Pittsburgh Steelers' 31-28 loss Sunday to the Chicago Bears. He just felt as if he had nothing positive to say after the Steelers let another one get away.

It's their fourth loss in six games since pounding the Cleveland Browns made them 4-1. At that point, ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers allowed themselves to exhale just a bit Monday after learning that quarterback Baker Mayfield’s left shoulder injury is not as bad as they had feared.

An MRI revealed a sprained AC joint but no fracture or structural damage, the Tampa Bay Times confirmed. His availability may come down to pain ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers allowed themselves to exhale just a bit Monday after learning Baker Mayfield’s left shoulder injury may not be as bad as feared.

The team believes the quarterback has a sprained AC joint but no fracture or structural damage. It will know more after he undergoes an MRI later on Monday.

“That’s the ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is in the concussion protocol after reporting symptoms during the Vikings’ travel home from Green Bay, Wis., on Sunday, coach Kevin O’Connell announced at his news conference Monday.

McCarthy’s availability for the Vikings’ trip to Seattle to face the Seahawks next Sunday is unclear.

O�...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker was scheduled for a tryout with the New Orleans Saints on Monday, according to multiple media outlets.

It is said to be the first tryout for the six-time Pro Bowl player since serving a 10-game suspension at the start of this season for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.

...Read more

LOS ANGELES — A crescendo is building, and the Los Angeles Rams might be best to ignore it.

So much can happen from week to week in the NFL — check out Philadelphia’s loss to Dallas— that the Rams can’t get too comfortable, even with the way they’re playing.

In the last five games, culminating with their 27-point stomping of Tampa ...Read more

MIAMI — The NFL bye week isn’t just a time for players to rest their bodies and get their minds off football. It’s also a time for each team’s front office and coaching staff to do a thorough self scout, an evaluation of their team, seeing what changes can be made to improve the season’s outcome in what’s left on the schedule. The ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Raiders fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly after Sunday’s 24-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns at Allegiant Stadium.

The dismissal of their play-caller comes on the heels of another lackluster performance when the Raiders struggled to score and protect quarterback Geno Smith.

It was a continuation of the Raiders...Read more