FOXBORO, Mass. — Drake Maye has only been throwing to A.J. Brown for just over a week, but you wouldn’t know it based on their already impressive connection.

The bond between quarterback and wide receiver was already apparent three days into minicamp.

Brown challenged Maye heading into Thursday’s minicamp practice, the Patriots’ final ...Read more

DENVER — Sean Payton is staying in Denver long-term.

The Broncos head coach agreed on a new five-year deal with the club, the team announced Thursday.

Payton, 62, is entering his fourth year as Denver’s head coach. His initial contract ran through the 2027 season. Now, with a Super Bowl contender built and coming off a run to the AFC ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — The Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners released its decision to deny parole for former Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs Thursday.

Ruggs, 27, was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison in 2023 for killing 23-year-old Tina Tintor. He pleaded guilty to a felony charge of DUI resulting in death and a count of vehicular ...Read more

CHICAGO — Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay has been considered one of the NFL’s sharpest offensive minds for some time, and that might overshadow his leadership skills to some degree.

McVay has talked about being an “elevator” for staff and players alike. Simply put, it means finding a way to lift those around him to their highest ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Is anyone quite ready to buy stock in everything the Ravens are displaying in June? I’m not there just yet.

Last season, Baltimore produced a forgettable 8-9 record defined by the team’s first missed playoff appearance since 2021, a roster with Super Bowl expectations that never got close to meeting them, and a pass rush that ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday agreed to terms with quarterback Patrick Mahomes on a revised contract that added two years to the superstar’s already lucrative long-term deal.

The revised contract ties Mahomes to the Chiefs through the 2033 season. A source confirmed the agreement to The Kansas City Star Wednesday ...Read more

MIAMI — Two down. One to go.

The Miami Dolphins rewarded center Aaron Brewer, 28, with a three-year, $52.5 million extension, $37 million of which is guaranteed, a source confirmed to the Miami Herald.

This comes just weeks after the Dolphins signed star running back De’Von Achane to a four-year extension worth $68 million. With deals for ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles are bolstering their edge rusher corps by signing six-year veteran A.J. Epenesa on Wednesday.

Epenesa, 27, had spent his entire NFL career with the Buffalo Bills, the team that drafted him in the second round, No. 54 overall in the 2020 draft out of Iowa. He became an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

...Read more

DENVER — J.K. was not OK. He found himself bouncing back and forth a little in his head, between a contract offer from the Denver Broncos, and one from another AFC contender.

Only J’Kaylin Dobbins wanted to be sure, right? He opened up his phone contacts. He thumbed through names. The bigger the decision, the smaller the circle of trust.

...Read more

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins’ rebuild is in full swing. And now that general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley are about to turn the page this week from the end of the offseason (free agency, draft, organized team activities and minicamp) to focusing on the regular season, starting with next month’s training camp ...Read more

Brandon Aiyuk’s recent emergence on social media now includes his bluntest message yet about a mysterious estrangement with the 49ers.

“You want to know why they really mad, though? They mad because they stupid. They dumb,” Aiyuk posted Tuesday afternoon on Instagram. “They mad because they paid me $50 million in eight months, and then ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Nick Sirianni offered his final words on the A.J. Brown saga on Tuesday.

Speaking for the first time since Brown was traded to the New England Patriots last week, Sirianni reminisced about the fond times he had with the superstar wide receiver, before offering some glowing words about his current wideouts.

“I would say there...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Rams offensive lineman Alaric Jackson was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence Monday night in Los Angeles, according to a person with knowledge of the incident not authorized to speak publicly.

Jackson was arrested shortly before 11 p.m. after police responded to a call at a home in West Hills. Upon arrival, police...Read more

MIAMI — It was one moment during one drill that Chop Robinson has probably done 100-plus times throughout his professional career as an edge rusher.

Push the blocking sled back, move the cushions mimicking an offensive linemen to the left and place your head and body on the outside of its left shoulder to ensure that the edge is set.

...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — James Develin was raised in Gilbertsville, Pa., on the voice of Merrill Reese and the mystique of Brian Dawkins, “Weapon X.” But in the wake of Super Bowl LII on Feb. 4, 2018, he felt sad.

There was good reason for this. The fullback was in his sixth season with the New England Patriots. He’d won two Lombardi trophies, in...Read more

DENVER — Denver Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper pleaded not guilty to domestic violence charges in Douglas County court on Monday, setting plans for a July jury trial.

Cooper, 28, and his girlfriend were arrested last Thursday and charged with criminal mischief as a crime of domestic violence after Parker police officers responded ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — A.J. Brown now is a Patriot, an ironic misnomer since he’s such an obvious traitor.

Philadelphians generally seem relieved that Brown’s diva act no longer will be a distraction for a perennial title contender. That’s just A.J. fatigue. What he has done is no better than what Carson Wentz did five years ago: hamstrung his ...Read more

MIAMI — There’s a popular saying in the church community that goes “favor isn’t fair.”

It refers to God creating blessing, and opening doors for his believers, showing the faithful favoritism.

But the saying can also apply in the traditional sense, explaining that favoritism, and biases, are a part of life, society, business and ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Last week, the Pittsburgh Steelers opened up the checkbook to secure a pair of up-and-comers.

On Tuesday, they inked edge rusher Nick Herbig to a new five-year, $103.67 million contract. His deal includes $42 million of guaranteed money. A day later, they gave tight end Darnell Washington a new contract. His deal features the ...Read more