NFL

7:06 AM ET METAIRIE, La. — It was Nolan Cooney‘s passion for sports that motivated him most when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs during his junior year of high school. The New Orleans Saints‘ rookie punter was a three-sport standout at East Greenwich High in Rhode Island. He

5:31 PM ET HOUSTON — A member of the team representing the women suing Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson recently reached out to Watson’s legal team to discuss the case, according to text messages and a recording reviewed by ESPN. In a statement released Thursday afternoon, Watson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, suggested Tony Buzbee, the attorney for

3:08 PM ET GREEN BAY, Wis. — Nothing has changed in Aaron Rodgers‘ standoff with the Packers, and nothing has changed in the way the team feels about its quarterback either. In fact, Matt LaFleur doubled down on his desire to continue coaching the reigning NFL MVP. “I’ve got nothing new to update, and we

5:12 PM ET The Kansas City Chiefs have acquired cornerback Mike Hughes in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings, a source tells ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Chiefs and Vikings agreed to swap late-round draft picks in the deal, the source said. Hughes was drafted by the Vikings in the first round (30th overall) of the

7:15 AM ET GREEN BAY, Wis. — The date was Aug. 30, 2018 — one day after Aaron Rodgers signed a record contract extension worth $134 million with the Green Bay Packers that ran through the 2023 season. That day was largely celebratory on the part of the quarterback and the team, except for one

2:36 PM ET Tony Buzbee, the attorney for the 22 women suing Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, expressed concern to a Houston television station on Wednesday over how the National Football League is handling its investigation. Buzbee, in speaking to Fox 26 in Houston, said “some of the women did not feel like they were

9:15 PM ET ESPN NFL experts The 2021 NFL schedule is out, and the regular season will begin with the Dallas Cowboys facing the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, Sept. 9. Week 1 also features a meeting of AFC powerhouses in the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns, the New Orleans Saints

9:00 PM ET The 2021 NFL schedule was released on Wednesday. Can quarterback Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers repeat as champs? Brady kicks off the NFL season Thursday, Sept. 9 with the Dallas Cowboys at the Buccaneers. ESPN’s Monday Night Football opener is Sept. 13 will feature the Las Vegas Raiders hosting the

8:35 AM ET TAMPA, Fla. — The defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers will host the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL Kickoff Game on Thursday, Sept. 9, at Raymond James Stadium. It will mark the first time the Bucs will play in the Kickoff Game, the season-opening contest that was introduced in 2002. The

7:04 PM ET Associated Press NEW ORLEANS — A Louisiana man whose seriously ill son gained fame in New Orleans for his devotion to the Saints football team was sentenced to eight years in prison Tuesday for drug trafficking and for fraudulently capitalizing on his son’s illness with a phony charity. Jordy Robertson, 37, was

8:20 PM ET Associated Press JACKSON, Miss. — Retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre has yet to pay back $600,000 he received from the state of Mississippi for multiple speaking events where he never showed up, authorities said Tuesday. Favre promised to repay the state after an audit released in May 2020 revealed $1.1 million had

6:00 AM ET HENDERSON, Nev. — Not very likely, given the level of investment in their current quarterback. Or, to phrase it in “Jeopardy!” speak: What are the chances of the Las Vegas Raiders trading for Aaron Rodgers? Look, the disgruntled reigning NFL MVP-turned-guest host of the iconic game show can hit Daily Doubles all

7:11 PM ET GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Aaron Rodgers‘ trickle-down effect has begun, and the first player it could impact is All-Pro receiver Davante Adams. Adams is in the final year of his contract and if his quarterback is done in Green Bay, then it could complicate things for Adams in Wisconsin. “Potentially, potentially;

11:54 AM ET Pro Bowl left tackle Eric Fisher is signing a one-year, $9.4 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The former No. 1 overall pick now will be quarterback Carson Wentz’s blindside protector. The Colts were in search of a starting left tackle after Anthony Castonzo announced his

2:48 PM ET JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It looks like Tim Tebow is finally going to be playing for his hometown team. Just not as a quarterback. The Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to sign the 33-year-old Tebow to a one-year contract either later this week or next week to play tight end, a position he never

4:44 PM ET Brady HendersonESPN DK Metcalf did not run fast enough in the 100 meters Sunday to advance to the finals of the USA Track and Field Golden Games and Distance Open. But the Seattle Seahawks wide receiver fared better than some expected for an NFL player competing against professional sprinters. Metcalf’s time of

7:50 PM ET Former NFL defensive end Brandon Bair saved a man from a flaming semi-truck minutes after it had been struck by a train, according to East Idaho News. Bair said he was driving on a highway in St. Anthony, Idaho, on Thursday when he saw a train plow into a semi-truck, triggering an

6:00 AM ET FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Quick-hit thoughts/notes around the New England Patriots and NFL: 1. QB contrast: Sixteen years ago, coach Bill Belichick said something that highlights one of the more fascinating topics surrounding his current Patriots team. How can two quarterbacks with such contrasting styles of play — Cam Newton and Mac Jones