SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Quick, name a good offensive line in the NFL.

You probably said the Philadelphia Eagles, and you’d be right. The Super Bowl champions’ o-line is fantastic.

But what is the second-best offensive line in the NFL?

When I ask that to folks around the league, I hear a few different names: Baltimore, Detroit, Denver and ...Read more

MIAMI — The trauma Miami Dolphins fans experience isn’t accidental.

It has been triggered by 25 years of being lost in the wilderness as a franchise, a result of neglect, or malpractice.

The problem South Florida has entering this season is there’s little evidence anyone in the organization has found a way back to NFL relevancy, ending ...Read more

DENVER — Watch the slants. Crunch the stats. And it is hard not to come to this conclusion: Wide receiver Devaughn Vele will be a breakout star for the Broncos this season.

No, really.

Vele arrived for spring workouts with clear intent, determined to open eyes and change minds. During media viewing periods, few players have looked better, ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — No to Shedeur Sanders in the draft, no to journeyman Mason Rudolph as the starter.

Yes to Aaron Rodgers at age 41.

No to improving the odds of losing up to a high slot in the 2026 NFL draft, though draftniks like the next quarterback class.

Yes to another winning season. Because we’re the Steelers. We don’t tear our home ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Aaron Rodgers’ one-year deal with the Steelers is for $13.65 million with $10 million guaranteed and includes another $5.85 million in incentives, sources have told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Rodgers, 41, a four-time NFL MVP, arrived at the Steelers facility in the South Side on Saturday morning to sign the contract, which ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The best throw of Super Bowl LIX didn’t mean a thing. Not really, anyway.

It arrived long after the outcome became obvious, deep into the fourth quarter of a blowout. And it actually came from the arm of the losing quarterback, the one who would arrive at his team’s facility only days later, there to ask his coaches a ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Aaron Rodgers is an upgrade over Mason Rudolph and is probably an upgrade over Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett and even probably the broken-down, end-of-the-road version of Ben Roethlisberger.

He represents the Steelers’ best quarterback since 2020, when Roethlisberger threw for 3,800 yards, 33 ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — There is something endearing, and quite important to the Eagles, about Vic Fangio’s no-nonsense way of doing and discussing things.

They made him available to the media Tuesday during their latest round of organized team activities, and he answered each question with the clipped frankness that has been one of his hallmarks ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Derrick Henry doesn’t have a lot left to prove.

The Ravens running back put up historic numbers in high school, won a national championship and the Heisman Trophy at Alabama and ranks 19th on the NFL’s all-time rushing yards list. About the only thing missing from his resume, like his equally accomplished quarterback Lamar ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — When Aaron Rodgers steps under center to take his first snap as Steelers quarterback, he won't be the only new face in the starting lineup. More than half of the starting offense — six of the 11 players — will be first-time Steelers starters.

Rodgers and DK Metcalf are new to the Steelers altogether. Rodgers comes to the ...Read more

RENTON, Wash. — From 2001-10 it was Matt Hasselbeck. From 2012-21 it was Russell Wilson. From 2022-24 it was Geno Smith, and during the majority of those seasons it was clear from the jump who would be behind center for the Seahawks.

This trend isn’t exclusive to the new millennium when it comes to this franchise. Jim Zorn was the starting ...Read more

CHICAGO — Every day last season, after Jaquan Brisker was sidelined with a concussion, the Chicago Bears safety told his mother, Mijohni, he was OK.

Something clearly was amiss, however, as weeks of missed games turned into months and Brisker ultimately never returned to the field, missing the final 12 games after a vicious shot in an Oct. 6 ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Chuck Pagano enjoyed the easy-going nature of retirement. He played golf, worked out and visited with his grandkids. He’d do chores around the house. But most days, by 10 a.m., he’d stare at the clock wondering what to do with the rest of his time.

“Life was pretty good,” he said. “A lot of my friends were like, ‘Are ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — Derek Carr was guaranteed $30 million from the Saints whether or not he played a snap this season. All he had to do was be on New Orleans’ roster.

But the former Raiders quarterback, who sustained a shoulder injury last season that put his career in peril, did not think that was the right thing to do. So, rather than play ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — After a lengthy courtship that was beginning to take on the look of a Netflix mini-series, Aaron Rodgers has told the Steelers he plans to sign a one-year deal and attend minicamp next week, sources have told the Post-Gazette.

Rodgers, a four-time NFL MVP who is the league's seventh all-time leading passer, was brought in to ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Aaron Rodgers is no longer holding the Steelers hostage, embarrassing them, making them look foolish and whatever other nonsensical thing was said about him since this saga began a few months ago.

He is a Steeler, he will be the starting quarterback, and hopefully now we can all get back to our regularly scheduled programming and...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Our long-running local nightmare has ended.

The Penguins have a coach and the Pirates still can't hit. But Aaron Rodgers is finally joining the Pittsburgh Steelers, with the 41-year-old, four-time NFL MVP agreeing to a one-year deal on Wednesday afternoon.

While the deal will inevitably produce some skepticism, the Steelers didn...Read more

RENTON, Wash. — There’s a national consensus surrounding the 2025 Seahawks.

It’s that they’re not very good.

So say the sportsbooks, which set Seattle’s over/under for wins at either 7.5 (FanDuel, Bally) or 8.5 (BetMGM). And ESPN’s Football Power Index projection metric, which assigned the Seahawks an FPI of minus-1.4 — 21st in ...Read more

DENVER — After holding off from casting any free-agent stones and turning to UCF’s RJ Harvey in April’s NFL draft, the Broncos’ backfield plans for 2025 seemed all but set.

Suddenly, a new name may be entering the fray.

Denver is hosting former Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins on a visit Wednesday night and Thursday, a source ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Jared Verse and Braden Fiske joined the Rams last season as something of a one-two punch.

The former Florida State teammates were drafted in the first and second rounds, respectively, and lived up to their billing as individuals and as a collective force.

Verse, an edge rusher, became the NFL defensive rookie of the year. Fiske...Read more