MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — On the day after Christmas, the Miami Dolphins granted veteran edge rusher Shaquil Barrett his wish.

The Dolphins on Thursday, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus, are waiving Barrett, the 32-year-old defender who signed with the team in March, retired in July and wanted to return from retirement in November.

The Dolphins...Read more

DETROIT — The Detroit Lions are bringing back a familiar face to their quarterback room, signing Teddy Bridgewater out of retirement.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell confirmed the news Thursday, saying he's been in contact with Bridgewater "for a while. It was always a ... possibility." Bridgewater officially signed his deal prior to Thursday's...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Steve Mariucci displayed a clock at 49ers headquarters reading “NOW ... NOW ... NOW” instead of the usual intervals of “1 ... 2 ... 3 ... etc.” This emphasized the urgency required in the NFL.

He was the 49ers’ coach when I came aboard as a beat writer in 2000. Back then, we had greater media access — to ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — On the Friday night before Christmas, Jalyx Hunt slipped through the Frankford High School gymnasium door with a tower of cardboard boxes in his arms. The familiar sound of sneakers squeaking on the hardwood as the boys’ basketball team practiced transported him back in time.

Long before the Eagles rookie edge rusher chased ...Read more

FORT WORTH, Texas — Eight of the top 10 players in the 2022 Heisman Trophy balloting were quarterbacks, and nine are currently on NFL rosters. The other “one” is former TCU quarterback Max Duggan.

This sort of thing happens every year to one or two players, and it can ruin that person’s perspective on football, and life.

“Guys take ...Read more

NEW YORK — The future is cloudy for the Jets after a disappointing 2024 season.

After owner Woody Johnson fired both Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas during the season, there’s a lot of uncertainty within the organization.

That also includes Aaron Rodgers and the quarterback position.

Following this season, Rodgers’ contract has no ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Shortly after the Chiefs bristled to their third win in 11 days and second in 96 hours, Travis Kelce on Wednesday essentially said it all as he stepped awkwardly onto a platform in the postgame interview room.

“Ow!” he exclaimed before promptly resetting and saying, “Merry Christmas, guys.”

In a season largely marked by ...Read more

The record Lamar Jackson has long seemed destined for is now his.

With a masterful outing Wednesday against the Houston Texans, the Ravens quarterback became the NFL’s all-time rushing leader among quarterbacks. He dashed past legendary dual-threat quarterback Michael Vick’s mark of 6,109 yards. Jackson reached the threshold in 41 fewer ...Read more

HOUSTON — A security guard outside NRG stadium greeted fans joyously Wednesday afternoon, bellowing, “We got the greatest QB nationwide ... Merry Christmas!” as fans made their way inside for what was billed as a blockbuster showdown between AFC division leaders, the Ravens and Texans.

He was referring to the home team’s C.J. Stroud, ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — These were not the holiday plans the Steelers had in mind shortly before Thanksgiving.

This is not what they were thinking — maybe even hoping — this stretch of three games in 11 days would transpire.

One thing is certain, though: What was looking like a promising season in which they even had visions of the top seed dancing...Read more

PITTSBURGH — This is becoming Mike Tomlin’s worst December since the infamous “unleash hell” year of 2009.

OK, maybe it was 2020, when the Steelers crumbled down the stretch and got destroyed by the Cleveland Browns in a home playoff game.

Wait. Maybe it was 2018, when the Steelers blew a huge lead in the AFC North and Antonio Brown ...Read more

SEATTLE — In August, former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said he was “not desiring” being an NFL coach again, instead expressing his enthusiasm for a planned teaching job at USC this spring.

But during that interview with Sports Radio 93.3-KJR, he held open the idea that he could change his mind.

A report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter ...Read more

CHICAGO — Who would have ever imagined the Chicago Bears would be here on Christmas morning, with nary a football present and a dark lump of something beneath a scraggly tree that looks like it belongs on Mount Crumpit.

This, certainly, wasn’t what was promised. This wasn’t what anyone was imagining back in the summer when the “Hard ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles did not practice on Christmas, and had they done so, quarterback Jalen Hurts would not have participated due to the concussion he sustained in a 36-33 loss to the Washington Commanders.

Hurts’ status for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys is in question while he is in the concussion protocol.

Eagles backup...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 9-7 (.563); season 163-77 (.679). Using point spreads with the scores Farmer predicted, the record against the spread last week would have been 6-10 (.375); season 126-112-2 (.529). Times Pacific.

...Read more

Here’s a look back at Week 16’s action and fantasy advice for the week ahead:

WEEK 16 RECAP

Chargers 34, Broncos 27: Gus Edwards had his best game of the season against the Broncos last Thursday, gaining 68 yards on 14 carries and scoring twice. Edwards now has four touchdowns in the last five games without J.K. Dobbins in the lineup.

...Read more

A season of down-to-the-wire victories has an outlier.

The adjective, not the noun.

The Chiefs destroyed the Steelers, 29-10, in a Christmas Day game that looked just a tad different than the holiday outing a year earlier.

A week — err, four days — after head coach Andy Reid referred to a win as the Chiefs’ best performance of the ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — The 2024 Kansas City Chiefs stand alone in team history following a dominant performance on Christmas Day.

KC’s offense was exceptional behind quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and the defense created havoc for a third straight week in a dominant 29-10 road victory at Acrisure Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

With that, the Chiefs ...Read more

ATLANTA — After steering his team out of a four-game plummet, Falcons coach Raheem Morris could not ask for much more than what his team has now.

The Falcons’ win over the New York Giants on Sunday coupled with Tampa Bay’s narrow loss to Dallas has improbably returned control of the NFC South to the Falcons, as both teams lead the ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Brian Oliver sat at the foot of his hotel bed on a Sunday morning. He pulled out his phone and searched, “Ravens game Mexico City.” There had to be some sports bar nearby that could show the game, he thought.

A Facebook group popped up. That led him to a watch party at Gallo Cervecero.

“I just assumed I’d be showing up to...Read more