FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — I was all in favor of the Falcons drafting quarterback Desmond Ridder in the third round. He won a lot of games as a four-year starter at Cincinnati. Ridder’s main weakness, passing accuracy, can be improved. His plus athletic ability at the position is valuable. Ridder is a high-floor guy with room to grow.

I also ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Reggie Scott knows the value of a pipeline program — two decades ago one started him on his way to becoming the Rams' vice president for sports medicine and performance.

Thomas Brown, the Rams' tight ends coach, is looking forward to another pipeline program producing similar results for coaches and front office executives.

...Read more

NEW YORK — Kayvon Thibodeaux’s work ethic has impressed Giants outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins from the jump.

“He’s incredibly eager,” Wilkins said after Thursday’s sixth OTA practice. “He comes here, he gets his playbook. I’m out with my wife at the Comedy Cellar. You know how you gotta put your phone in the little bag? ...Read more

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ hometown of Whitehouse, Texas, is about 400 miles northeast of Uvalde — site of this week’s school shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers.

That wasn’t the only reason, though, that Mahomes said Tuesday’s events deeply affected him. “As a father now, it’s scary,” Mahomes...Read more

CHICAGO — Though Robert Quinn hasn’t been present for the voluntary portion of the Chicago Bears offseason program to this point, he’s still making an impact in the defensive line meeting room.

New line coach Travis Smith spent the last two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders working alongside Rod Marinelli, who coached Quinn with the ...Read more

As Jay Z said so eloquently and obtusely a couple of years ago, the NFL is past kneeling.

The league is seemingly also past placating videos and on-field displays in trying to fix its decades-old problem with racism and diversity.

The NFL is now pulling out all the stops in trying to let everyone know that it is real serious this time. And ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — First things first. How are you feeling physically, Tom Brady?

It’s been a year since Bucs quarterback Tom Brady had surgery to repair the MCL tear in his left knee that he suffered during the 2019 season with the Patriots.

Brady, who retired and then unretired over the past few months, insists he’s been able to do a lot ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, was absent for the second straight day of voluntary organized team activities on Wednesday.

When coach John Harbaugh was asked on Wednesday whether Jackson would attend OTAs, he said, “I’ll let Lamar speak for himself on this topic.”

�...Read more

Colin Kaepernick is going from being blackballed to working out for the silver and black.

Kaepernick, 34, a Black quarterback exiled from the NFL for his stance against police brutality and racial injustice, is scheduled to work out for the Las Vegas Raiders this week, according to ESPN.

The Seattle Seahawks hosted Kaepernick on a visit in ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The reactions to Daniel Snyder tell you all you need to know about the priorities of the NFL.

Hint: It’s the money.

Snyder is the worst owner in sports, and he doesn’t try to hide it. Now, though, the Football Billionaires Club is considering expulsion, but not for the reasons any decent person might think.

Snyder’s ...Read more

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — It doesn’t matter how many defenders you send Tyreek Hill’s way, or how much attention you give the Miami Dolphins’ new playmaker, blink at the wrong time and he’s gone.

We’ve seen him do it repeatedly during his first six years in the NFL, where he delivered six straight Pro Bowl seasons for the Kansas City ...Read more

FORT WORTH, Texas — Of the many developments from ex-Dallas Cowboys, “Herschel Walker: U.S. Senator” was not on the Jeopardy board when his NFL playing career finished in 1997.

It’s one thing to be a campaigning political hopeful, and quite another to go full on “Marjorie Taylor Greene.”

Walker, 60, has made his choice.

Walker is ...Read more

ATLANTA — The Rams and NFL paid $790 million last year to settle a lawsuit with St. Louis over the team's relocation to Los Angeles.

Now, the league is sorting how to cover that bill and already has spread some of that staggering expense between all 32 teams — meaning everyone is on the hook for at least several million. Owners discussed ...Read more

DENVER — Russell Wilson plays football with evangelical zeal. In the Book of Russ, sloth is a deadly sin. The sinners might be forgiven. But they also will be left behind by a quarterback who earnestly treats the pursuit of a championship like a crusade.

“You have to set the tone every day. There is no other option,” Wilson said Monday, ...Read more

NEW YORK — Zach Wilson’s mental growth was evident during the Jets’ second day of OTAs in Florham Park on Tuesday.

The Jets’ OTAs only competition drills featured 7-on-7. For the majority of Wilson’s reps, he showed slightly more decisiveness, which shows more command of the offense.

“He clearly has much better understanding,” ...Read more