PHILADELPHIA — Former Eagles running back Wendell Smallwood Jr. is facing federal charges over allegedly defrauding COVID-19 relief programs and the Internal Revenue Service in a series of schemes that resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in falsely obtained payments.

Federal prosecutors in Delaware charged Smallwood late last month ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Get ready for Operation Snowball.

The Philly Specials are planning to raise enough money with the new Eagles Christmas album to give every student in the School District of Philadelphia a gift this holiday season.

All 116,000 of them.

A Philly Special Christmas Party, the third album of holiday songs to feature singing ...Read more

Los Angeles Times NFL writer Sam Farmer examines the matchups this week. Lines according to FanDuel Sportsbook (O/U = over/under). Record last week 9-5 (.643); season 107-59 (.645). Using point spreads with the scores Farmer predicted, the record against the spread last week would have been 8-5-1 (.615); season 90-74-2 (.549). Off: Bills, ...Read more

I will never be happy with 8-6 straight-up, but the same numbers vs. the spread are in the acceptable range, at least. Nailed a pair of dogs-with-points on covers by the Bears and Steelers. Pretty much bull’s-eyed the Dolphins’ win (it was 34-19; I had 31-16). Missed a couple of games late and agonizingly (I hate you, Geno Smith). Also had ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Former NFL safety and current CBS game analyst Adam Archuleta said something on Sunday’s broadcast from Tennessee that’s becoming more of a common take as the Vikings continue to shock the NFL with a quarterback few if anyone other than coach Kevin O’Connell believed in.

“You can tell that Sam Darnold has been coached in...Read more

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — It ain’t easy being perfect. Or anything close to it, for that matter.

So forgive Jared Goff for bristling at the suggestion it might be. Just because the Lions’ high-powered offense is making things look easy this season — running up scores and racking up records — doesn’t make it so.

“No, none of this is ...Read more

RENTON, Wash. — I’m not sure how many people out of 100 in a random Seattle coffee shop would recognize Julian Love’s face in a picture. Also don’t know that there would be much recognition for the Seahawks safety if you showed his mug to fans in stadiums besides Lumen Field or MetLife Stadium, where he used to play with the New York ...Read more

DENVER — His phone rings in December 2014, and it’s too early. Sean Payton has a bad feeling. He is on his way to present a game ball to Bailey Elizabeth Leon, a 12-year-old patient at Ochsner Hospital in New Orleans. The pair have become friends over the course of multiple visits. Payton promises her the Saints will beat the Chicago Bears ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Jalen Hurts was a limited participant at Eagles practice Wednesday because of an ankle injury, but the quarterback said afterward that it was the final day of a program the team put in place during the mini-bye week to strengthen his lower body following Thursday night's win over the Washington Commanders.

"I'm fine," he said. ...Read more

When watching Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye play this season, it’s important to try to imagine what it will look like when he has a more impressive supporting cast around him.

Maye is coming off his best NFL game, but he still makes routine rookie mistakes. He leads quarterbacks in PFF’s turnover-worthy play rate and has turned the...Read more

NEW YORK — There was no energy on the field at the start of the Giants’ practice on Wednesday.

“A little dead” is how one player described it afterwards.

The humiliating scene of Daniel Jones taking snaps as the No. 4 quarterback behind new signing Tim Boyle had everything to do with that. And it was just as much about the questions ...Read more

CHICAGO — The first thing that comes to mind with the Minnesota Vikings is the aggressive, foot-on-the-gas approach defensive coordinator Brian Flores brings in terms of a pass rush.

“He’s the king of the Cover-0 blitz,” Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams said Wednesday afternoon.

The variety of blitzes and fronts the Vikings ...Read more

MIAMI — Tua Tagovailoa has not lost to the New England Patriots.

Yes, you read that right. The Miami Dolphins signal caller is a perfect 6-0 when he lines up against the Patriots. And what exactly does that mean?

“It means nothing for this week and I think that’s important in either scenario of matchups; those are different teams, those ...Read more

NEW YORK — Eli Manning is getting closer to adding another giant honor to his résumé.

The two-time Super Bowl champion is one of 25 modern-era semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025, the hall announced Wednesday.

Manning is in his first year of eligibility for Hall of Fame consideration, having retired in 2019 ...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Brock Purdy was officially limited in practice Wednesday due to shoulder soreness.

While it’s a good sign for the San Francisco 49ers as they prepare for their Week 12 road game against the Green Bay Packers, Purdy, while in view for 25 minutes during the media window never threw the ball.

Instead, Purdy worked on his...Read more

NEW YORK — Before the Jets fired Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas, team owner Woody Johnson reportedly suggested starting the in-season reckoning with Aaron Rodgers.

Johnson proposed benching Rodgers as the starting quarterback for Tyrod Taylor following the Jets’ 10-9 home loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 4, according to The Athletic, which ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles will be without edge rusher Bryce Huff for the foreseeable future.

Huff will undergo a procedure on his left wrist Thursday, NFL sources said. The hope is Huff will be able to return to play toward the end of the regular season.

Huff, whom the Eagles signed to a $51.1 million contract this offseason, injured his ...Read more

NEW YORK — Davante Adams’ short tenure with the Jets hasn’t gone the way the involved parties had hoped.

Sunday’s 28-27 loss to the Indianapolis Colts dropped the Jets’ record to 1-4 since they acquired Adams in a long-anticipated trade with the Las Vegas Raiders.

That loss proved to be the final straw for general manager Joe Douglas...Read more

GREG COTE’S NFL WEEK 12 THURSDAY PICK

STEELERS (8-2) at BROWNS (2-8)

Line: PIT by 4.

Cote’s pick: PIT, 24-13.

TV: 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Prime Video.

King Sport’s Week 12 kickoff Thursday night could be a better game than the records suggest. NFC North rivals are a two-hour drive apart along I-80, and it’s been a pretty even series the...Read more