DETROIT -- Matthew Stafford's back injury has cost the Detroit Lions on the field, and now it's costing the team in the pocket book.

The NFL fined the Lions $75,000 as an organization and handed down personal fines to head coach Matt Patricia ($25,000) and general manager Bob Quinn ($10,000) for violating the league's injury report policy for ...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Panthers continue to take steps forward for the 2020 season and beyond.

The team announced Saturday that it signed linebacker Shaq Thompson to a four-year contract extension. Per a source, the deal is worth $54.2 million with max value of $57M and also includes a $16M signing bonus and $28M guaranteed.

Thompson is now ...Read more

Stop us if you've heard this before: Antonio Brown wants another chance.

"First and foremost," Brown posted on Instagram, "I'd like to apologize to my family, friends and anyone who I offended."

Observation No. 1: His English seems to be improved since he went back to Central Michigan. A few months ago, he requested help for an assignment ...Read more

The Los Angeles Times' NFL writer, Sam Farmer, examines this week's matchups. Lines according to Pregame.com (O/U = over/under). Last week's record 10-6 (.625); season 119-72-1 (.623). Using point spreads with the scores Farmer predicted, the record against the spread last week would have been 9-6-1 (.600); season 100-88-4 (.532). Times are ...Read more

Dallas Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones is usually a master of keeping his emotions in check when talking about his team.

But after a third consecutive loss, including another disheartening 31-24 loss to the Chicago Bears, Jones was in no mood during an interview with KRLD/105.3 The Fan Friday morning.

Jones had to be bleeped several times for ...Read more

Steve and Mary Turner refuse to sit together when the Seahawks and 49ers play. They have to watch the game from separate rooms in their Creswell, Oregon, home.

To cheer on her beloved Seahawks, Mary gets the main TV, the couch and the fireplace in the living room.

Her husband of 30 years escapes to a bedroom-turned-office upstairs, where he ...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Rams' loss to the Seattle Seahawks in October came with a high price for Rams linebacker Clay Matthews.

The 11th-year pro suffered a broken jaw that sidelined him for three games.

Matthews, called for a roughing-the-passer penalty in that defeat, also was fined by the NFL a few weeks later when he posted a tweet ...Read more

CHICAGO -- December football in Chicago has some meaning after all.

In arguably their most complete game of the season, the Bears disposed of the Cowboys 31-24 on Thursday at Soldier Field to keep their remote playoff hopes alive.

The prime-time matchup pitted a pair of surprise 6-6 teams. But the Bears looked like the group on the upswing, ...Read more

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- In the NFL, the onside kick appeared to headed the way of the dinosaur to extinction.

NFL's rule changes on kickoffs were designed to reduce the risk of injuries and concussions before the 2018 season, and they nearly erased the onside kick from the game.

The Falcons, who lead the league in onside kicks (seven) and ...Read more

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Several 49ers players came to Tim Ryan's defense Thursday, a day after the radio analyst was suspended for Sunday's game after referring to Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson's "dark skin."

Ryan personally apologized to players at the team's nearby hotel, and while they vouched for his upstanding character, they also ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA -- The Eagles have made a habit this season of parting ways with players who had significant roles in the coaching staff's game plans in the weeks prior.

Six players this season have been asked to clean out their locker despite playing a large chunk of snaps for the team when healthy. Mack Hollins became the latest to say goodbye ...Read more

Well done, if you advanced to your league's fantasy football playoffs.

Your journey continues. Which means there's work to be done. Feel free to skip ahead and check out this week's match-up breakdown.

Otherwise, ESPN recently released a list of 38 players who were on rosters of playoff teams in at least 50% of its 10-team standard leagues.

I...Read more

BEREA, Ohio -- Odell Beckham Jr. offered three lengthy and vague answers Thursday about his future with the Browns.

Interpretations will vary, but the main takeaway is the wide receiver did not express a desire to stay in Cleveland beyond this season, which has been filled with disappointment for him and the entire organization.

Traded from ...Read more

MIAMI -- Dolphins fans need to prepare themselves for this very real possibility:

That they do not take a quarterback in the first round of the 2020 draft.

That Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen -- and maybe a mid-round pick -- are the Dolphins' QBs next fall.

And that Tank for Tua could become Trade for Trevor (or Justin Fields or someone we ...Read more

NFL Thursday

Dallas Cowboys (6-6) at Chicago Bears (6-6)

TV: Fox, NFL Network, 8:15 p.m. EST.

Line: Cowboys by 3.

Over/under: 43.

Neither team has established any kind of consistency this season. Chicago's Mitch Trubisky is coming off one of his better games, but the Cowboys should be able to rattle him with a strong rush up front.

Cowboys...Read more