Sports
/ArcaMax
Former Vikings RB Dalvin Cook, ex-girlfriend settle lawsuit for unspecified amount
MINNEAPOLIS — Former Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook has settled a Dakota County District Court lawsuit in which Gracelyn Trimble, a former girlfriend, accused him of giving her a concussion and holding her hostage at his Inver Grove Heights home, according to court documents.
A hearing was set for the matter Tuesday before Judge ...Read more
Mike Vorel: The case for Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. as a first-round NFL draft pick
SEATTLE — On March 28 I stood behind New York Giants coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen, while Michael Penix Jr. put on a show.
I watched a different one.
Because after each impressive Penix pass, Daboll provided punctuation. The 49-year-old former offensive coordinator shook his head in disbelief. Or he turned to stare at ...Read more
Dieter Kurtenbach: The 2024 NFL draft is 49ers GM John Lynch's prove-it moment
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — John Lynch should be out of a job.
The 49ers’ general manager was responsible for one of the worst moves in recent NFL history — three first-round picks for the right to select quarterback Trey Lance.
The quarterback is now gone, traded away before the 2023 season, and all the 49ers received in return was a Day 3 ...Read more
Taxpayers would pick up half the tab for Bears' lakefront stadium, sources say
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears are set to announce a $4.6 billion plan for a new enclosed stadium and lakefront area, half of which would come from taxpayers, sources said, but the team will have to overcome serious skepticism from several directions.
The stadium itself would cost $3.2 billion to build, with another $1.4 billion in proposed ...Read more
Lions QB Jared Goff parlays Jared Jewelry sponsorship into $50,000 donation for Detroit non-profit
DETROIT — Life is unquestionably good, both personally and professionally, for Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff.
On the field, Goff is coming off a season where he led the Lions to their first division title in 30 years, and first playoff victories in 32. The city, which had been slow to embrace the quarterback when he first arrived via a...Read more
How will Caleb Williams fit into the team culture the Bears are building? 'He's all ball, wants to work.'
CHICAGO — Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles gave a sly smile as he provided the answer he knew would satisfy nobody.
After months of courting USC quarterback Caleb Williams at the NFL scouting combine, his pro day and his top-30 visit to Halas Hall … after Williams’ private dinner in Los Angeles with Bears brass and coaches and ...Read more
Brad Biggs: Options at 'premium positions' give Bears GM Ryan Poles confidence at No. 9. Now he just has to nail the pick.
CHICAGO — Some calculated decisions aimed at fulfilling long-range plans — plus a dose of good fortune — have put Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles in the most enviable position for the past 3 1/2 months.
Since last season ended, Poles has been able to chart critical steps in his bid to turn the franchise into a perennial contender...Read more
2024 NFL Draft Big Board: Eddie Brown's Top 100 Prospects
Part of my weekly mock draft preamble explains it is an attempt at figuring out the best players available in this season's draft class, and which teams they'd match up well with considering the draft order. The closer we get to draft day, the more I attempt to match what teams will actually do with their draft picks as opposed to what I believe...Read more
49ers GM Lynch addresses Brandon Aiyuk extension talks ahead of NFL Draft
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — 49ers general manager John Lynch met with the media to discuss the NFL Draft, which starts Thursday, but the biggest topic was a star receiver currently under contract, rather than a prospective rookie.
All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, 26, has been the subject of much speculation, as he’s entering the final year of...Read more
Falcons great Matt Ryan officially retires from NFL, ready for 'next chapter of life'
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Matt Ryan, perhaps the greatest quarterback in Atlanta Falcons history, officially retired from the NFL on Monday.
“It was a helluva ride,” Ryan said. “I’m excited to see what’s next. This next chapter of life and kind of see where that takes us. Today, it’s exciting for me because you never have control in ...Read more
Jets trade Zach Wilson to Broncos three years after drafting QB second overall
Zach Wilson’ s time with the Jets has officially come to an end.
According to sources, Wilson and a 2024 seventh-round pick (256th overall) will head to the Broncos in exchange for a 2024 sixth-round pick (207th overall). The Jets and the Broncos will divide his remaining roster bonus of $5.5 million.
After owner Woody Johnson voiced his ...Read more
Championship-minded 49ers return to NFL Draft's first-round festivities
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Here comes the 49ers’ most dramatic first-round action in an NFL Draft since 2021.
Disclaimer: They haven’t had a first-round pick in either of the past two drafts, by virtue of their ill-fated climb in 2021 to select quarterback Trey Lance at the No. 3 overall slot.
“It’ll be more fun,” coach Kyle Shanahan ...Read more
Jim Alexander: Chargers might trade the No. 5 pick -- and they should
With the fifth pick in Thursday’s NFL draft, the Los Angeles Chargers … should trade down.
Seriously.
When new general manager Joe Hortiz met the media Thursday for the traditional pre-draft briefing, he didn’t come right out and say that was the plan. Executives do not ever tip their hands leading up to a draft. But there have been “...Read more
Sam McDowell: Three clues that Chiefs GM Brett Veach dropped about his NFL draft plans
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In the final weeks before the NFL draft, the Chiefs front office will, at some point, engage in the same exercise that you, me and thousands of others outside those walls partake.
A mock draft.
With a tad different motive.
They are dry-run exercises designed to produce a collection of road maps — or contingency plans �...Read more
2024 NFL draft prospect rankings: Wide receivers
Editor's note: The Union-Tribune's Eddie Brown is breaking down prospects, position by position, leading up to the NFL draft (April 25-27). Here are his top 10 wide receivers, plus "bonus" players he believes will be drafted or signed as a priority free agent:
———
— 1. Marvin Harrison Jr. (Jr., Ohio State, 6-foot-3, 209 pounds)
The ...Read more
Mark Bradley: ESPN asks why the Falcons didn't hire Belichick. Here's why.
ATLANTA — The first time you read it, ESPN’s recount of Bill Belichick’s failed job search expresses more than a dollop of incredulity. How could any team — the Falcons having been the only club to grant him an interview, this mostly means them — be so silly as to leave the greatest-ever NFL coach unhired?
The second time through, it ...Read more
Chris Perkins: Here's the backdrop for everything I write or say about the 2024 Dolphins
Sports writers rarely reveal the philosophy that guides their coverage. Readers assume things — sometimes correctly, sometimes incorrectly — but perhaps that’s because sports writers don’t clearly define the situation.
So, as the Dolphins prepare for the NFL draft, and as we take more steps down the path to the regular season, I’m ...Read more
2024 NFL draft prospect rankings: Running backs
Editor's note: The Union-Tribune's Eddie Brown is breaking down prospects, position by position, leading up to the NFL draft (April 25-27). Here are his top 10 running backs, plus "bonus" players he believes will be drafted or signed as a priority free agent:
———
— 1. Jonathon Brooks (So., Texas, 6-foot, 216 pounds)
Brooks is a former...Read more
Zach Wilson remains in limbo as Jets still seeking trade partner for disappointing QB
NEW YORK — No news is not good news for Jets quarterback Zach Wilson.
In February, GM Joe Douglas and the Jets gave Wilson permission to seek a trade. However, two months later, Wilson remains on Gang Green’s roster.
Then last month, at the NFL owners meetings in Orlando, Fla., Jets owner Woody Johnson said they would not release Wilson if...Read more
2024 NFL mock draft: Six quarterbacks selected in first round
We're a week away from the NFL draft (April 25-27) kicking off in prime time in the Motor City.
This is my penultimate mock draft of the season. My final version will be posted next week.
I'm not factoring trades into this version, but I will be discussing the possibilities throughout.
There's still plenty of uncertainty (outside of the first...Read more
Popular Stories
- 2024 NFL Draft Big Board: Eddie Brown's Top 100 Prospects
- Mike Vorel: The case for Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. as a first-round NFL draft pick
- Dieter Kurtenbach: The 2024 NFL draft is 49ers GM John Lynch's prove-it moment
- Taxpayers would pick up half the tab for Bears' lakefront stadium, sources say
- How will Caleb Williams fit into the team culture the Bears are building? 'He's all ball, wants to work.'