Pro Bowl C Mawae, NFLPA prez, to retire
(Fri, 10 Sep 2010 08:39:37 PDT)
Kevin Mawae, president of the NFL Players Association, is retiring from the NFL after 16 seasons and eight Pro Bowls. Mawae has called a news conference for Friday afternoon, and a news release posted on the NFLPA's website Friday morning said he will be announcing his retirement. "It's a time of reflection for me just to think that I (had) the privilege of playing in the NFL,"...

Saints beat Vikes to open title defense
(Thu, 09 Sep 2010 20:15:40 PDT)
The New Orleans Saints -- the top offense in the league last year -- had just enough in Thursday's opener against the Minnesota Vikings to take a 14-9 lead after three quarters. Drew Brees, who drove the Saints 77 yards to open the game, started the third quarter with a 74-yard scoring drive to regain the lead.

Pats make Brady NFL's top earner at $18M
(Fri, 10 Sep 2010 06:27:42 PDT)
A day that started badly for Tom Brady turned out to be a pretty good one after all. After a morning crash left Brady's car damaged but the New England Patriots quarterback unhurt, he came to terms on a contract that will make him the highest paid player in the NFL. Two people with knowledge of the contract said Thursday night that Brady has agreed to a four-year extension beginning in 2011.

Bengals DE Odom to play under appeal
(Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:17:34 PDT)
Bengals defensive end Antwan Odom is expected to play Sunday in the season opener at New England while he appeals a suspension for using a banned substance. Odom wasn't available Friday during the team's open locker room period. Coach Marvin Lewis said there was no change in the status of the appeal.

Bills LB Mitchell out for season
(Fri, 10 Sep 2010 10:19:31 PDT)
The Buffalo Bills placed linebacker Kawika Mitchell on injured reserve Friday, ending the seven-year veteran's season two days after he hurt his foot in practice. "Unfortunately Kawika had a lot worse of a problem than we had anticipated," head coach Chan Gailey said. "It was going to be quite a few weeks, and we just couldn't wait." Gailey added that it was too early to...

Pack give Woodson deal worth up to $55M
(Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:01:30 PDT)
The Green Bay Packers signed cornerback Charles Woodson to a contract extension through the 2014 season on Thursday, a deal that will likely allow the 2009 AP Defensive Player of the Year to retire as a Packer. The 33-year-old Woodson signed a five-year contract that is worth as much as $55 million, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.

Cowboys extend WR Austin for 6 yrs, $54M
(Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:49:37 PDT)
Pro Bowl receiver Miles Austin is going deep with the Dallas Cowboys -- from undrafted rookie to a breakout season and now a long-term contract extension. The Cowboys and Austin agreed to a six-year extension through the 2016 season on Thursday, just three days before the fifth-year player's first season opener as a starter.

Unhurt Brady practices after car wreck
(Thu, 09 Sep 2010 21:16:41 PDT)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was unhurt in a two-vehicle accident near his home Thursday morning before practicing as usual with his team ahead of the season opener and agreeing to a four-year contract extension that, according to two people familiar with it, would make him the NFL's highest-paid player.

Ray Lewis: 'No excuses' Monday for Jets
(Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:01:30 PDT)
Ray Lewis is thrilled Darrelle Revis is back with the New York Jets. This way, the Baltimore linebacker says, the Ravens won't have to hear any nonsense if they beat them Monday night. "I'm just glad he is signed, so there are no excuses," Lewis said in a conference call with New York media Thursday.

NFLPA head wants agreement by November
(Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:27:42 PDT)
The head of the NFL Players Association said the union would like to see a labor agreement with the league worked out quickly. "I think the players would love to have a deal done by November," NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said. "The game is what is most important to the players." Smith spoke before Thursday night's NFL season opener between the Super Bowl...