DENVER -- An inconspicuous backpack occupies the bottom shelf of Drew Lock's cubbyhole inside the Denver Broncos' practice facility in Dove Valley, Colo. Although he has owned it for less than a year, it rarely leaves his side.

A few minutes before practice Wednesday, he unzipped its top flap to glance at an item he purposefully views almost ...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- His recent highlight-reel exposure might have been a revelation for some, but the dynamic pass-catching ability Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee displayed during consecutive 100-yard receiving performances was no surprise to others.

Bob Hudson helped develop it while coaching Higbee in high school in Florida. Jeff Brohm ...Read more

DAVIE, Fla. -- As a reward for his breakout season with the Miami Dolphins, receiver DeVante Parker is getting a long-term contract extension, with the 26-year-old getting a four-year deal that features an $8 million signing bonus.

The extension, which could pay Parker as much as $40 million, ensures that the Dolphins' 2015 first-round pick, ...Read more

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Former football star Michael Vick left his Hampton mansion years ago, but he still owes the city $70,800 in unpaid taxes on a fleet of luxury cars.

Vick lived in the city after serving time in prison on federal charges of running a dog-fighting operation in Surry County, in which, federal investigators reported, he was ...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 13-3 (.813); season 132-75-1 (.638). Using point spreads with the scores Farmer predicted, the record against the spread last week would have been 11-4-1 (.733); season 111-92-5 (.547). Times are ...Read more

Jerry Jones liked the head coaching he saw last week at AT&T Stadium.

Specifically, Oklahoma's Lincoln Riley and Baylor's Matt Rhule in the Big 12 Conference championship game.

But the Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager is not so sure a coach straight from the college level is the way to go for an NFL team.

"I am impressed with (Riley),...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Vikings appear on track to get Adam Thielen back in their lineup for the first time since Nov. 3.

The wide receiver was not listed with an injury designation on the team's final injury report of the week, indicating he'll make his return on Sunday from the right hamstring injury that's plagued him since Oct. 20. Thielen's ...Read more

CHICAGO -- Akiem Hicks' road back from a gruesome left elbow injury is almost complete. The Pro Bowl defensive lineman completed three practices this week and is trending toward playing against the Packers on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

The Bears have until 3 p.m. Saturday to activate him from injured reserve. A corresponding roster move would be ...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Warranted or not, there were plenty of questions surrounding Jimmy Garoppolo during the first half of the season.

Is he good enough to win a Super Bowl? Is he worth his $137.5 million contract? Can he continue the 49ers' tradition of elite quarterback play that's been in flux since Steve Young retired in 1999?

There's ...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- Don't be fooled by statistics.

Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey emphasized that point Thursday when asked about an impending matchup against Dallas Cowboys star receiver Amari Cooper.

Ramsey pointed to a 2016 game, the seventh of Ramsey's rookie season with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Cooper, playing for the Oakland ...Read more

BALTIMORE -- The celebration was almost muted Thursday night, as it had been the week before, when a playoff berth was clinched with a month left in the season. The Ravens were AFC North champions for the second straight year, and at the end, it looked almost like just another preseason win, quarterback Lamar Jackson relaxing on the sideline, M&...Read more

BALTIMORE -- Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has put another stamp in NFL record books, breaking Michael Vick's single-season rushing record for a quarterback in the first quarter of Thursday night's game against the New York Jets.

Jackson's 5-yard run on the offense's first drive of the game gave him 1,044 yards for the 2019 season, and ...Read more

SEATTLE -- Marshawn Lynch has been in town this week, and he paid a visit to the VMAC to say hello (along with the coaches, former teammates and other personnel he knows, his uncle, Lee, still works for the team).

Because he's still an unrestricted free agent and has not filed retirement papers, the team had to report it as an official visit ...Read more

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Charles Woodson always did have his finger on the pulse of the Raiders' local fan base.

That's why they turned out in startling numbers at the club facility in May of 2013, an organic, social-media driven flash mob that helped convince him to sign with the Raiders after seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers.

Woodson was ...Read more