Multiple players who had met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and other owners last month in New York about the matter — including Michael Thomas of the Dolphins and Eric Reid of the 49ers — sent out Twitter messages Wednesday morning that announced their withdrawal from involvement in the players coalition founded by Malcolm Jenkins and Anquan Boldin. Goodell was hoping to find a middle ground that would lead players to stand during the anthem without having to install specific penalties for those who sit or kneel....

It’s ridiculous for players to compare what they make to what athletes in other sports make. They might as well whine about movie stars’ pay, since both sports and movies are part of the entertainment industry. The truth is every professional sport is unique with its own economic factors that drive the salary train, and it’s all based on total revenue, salary caps and roster sizes. The salary discrepancy between the NBA and the NFL is basic, and it’s not changing anytime soon — if ever....

A clutch scoop-and-score by Sam Hubbard in the fourth quarter completely flipped the game’s momentum, resulting in a potential 14-point swing and giving the Bengals the lead. After a late drive by the Ravens stalled deep in Bengals territory, Cincinnati was able to walk away with the win. There will be questions going forward, including concerns about the Bengals’ offensive line, but survive-and-advance is the mentality in January. Joe Burrow is now 4-0 against AFC opponents in his playoff career....

Right now Baltimore has the strongest grip with its 7-5 record and with home games remaining against Cleveland and Tampa Bay. Denver also has a favorable schedule, but due to an early loss to Baltimore, the Broncos need to run the table. Indianapolis, Miami and Tennessee need to win at least three games and get help from others. In the NFC, Philadelphia, Minnesota and spiraling Carolina are in the mix for the last playoff spot....

The Chiefs are the current No. 3 seed comiing out of their Week 16 game at the Bears. Here are the scenarios for them to finish right where they are or move to No. 2 or No. 4: MORE SEEDING SCENARIOSPackers | 49ers | Seahawks | Patriots NFL playoff picture: How the Chiefs get the AFC’s No. 2 seed If the Chiefs win out to get to 12-4, the best they can do is No....

It’s the last week of the season and while many teams control their own fate, some need help from other games. AFC leaders Chiefs, Patriots, Chargers, Texans and Titans are still all fighting for that highly coveted first-round bye. The first four mentioned teams also have the chance to claim home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, with some scenarios more likely to play out than others. SPORTING NEWS BEST OF 2018Read our favorite stories from the year in sports...

This weekend they could be joined by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers, with a playoff spot within touching distance for the trio. Of the quintet, the Bills are the only team who can’t win their division this week. Here’s a breakdown of the playoffs permutation ahead of Week 14. AFC The Chiefs clinched a playoff berth for a franchise-record sixth consecutive season by beating the Denver Broncos in Week 13 and could win the AFC West by avoiding defeat against the 8-4 Miami Dolphins this Sunday....

Most teams came out unscathed without major injuries, while some were not so lucky. Many good teams look like they will live up to their promise, while several lesser teams look primed for a fade. Here’s piecing together that big puzzle to update the numbers in front of every team in advance of Week 1, rating them from best to worst: MORE: QB Rankings | RB Rankings | WR Rankings | Buy NFL tickets...

Between Tom Brady not retiring and other blockbuster trades involving quarterbacks and wide receivers, several teams improved or hurt their outlook for next season since early February. The 2022 NFL Draft helped some contending teams rebound and other rebuilding teams jump up a few spots. Going into the quieter part of the offseason ahead of training camp with all the rosters reset, here’s how all 32 teams stack up against each other now:...

The playoffs have gone mostly according to form with the higher-seeded teams winning five of the six games so far. The NFC No. 3 Cowboys were the early exit as the No. 6 49ers extended their stay with the lone upset. Here’s a ranking of the remaining playoff teams in relation to updated Super Bowl 56 odds at FanDuel, with either Arizona or Los Angeles seeing their championship aspirations dashed or enhanced soon:...

Many of the NFL’s most popular teams — the Cowboys, Steelers, Packers, 49ers and Bears, just to name a few — are Super Bowl contenders. Big names like Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown and Odell Beckham Jr. have the Jets, Raiders and Browns, respectively, thinking they can make runs to the postseason, too. As is the case before every NFL season begins, league-wide optimism is never higher than it is as the calendar hits September....

Players are looking to build momentum as the regular season approaches, and quite a few did just that. Here are three takeaways from the first big night of the 2019 preseason: Daniel Jones looked ready to go from the start New York received a lot of heat from its fans after it selected Jones out of Duke with the No. 6 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. But, he showed promise en route to his team’s 31-22 win over the Jets in his preseason debut....

Tampa Bay got the ball first and Winston led the offense down the field on an eight-play, 80-yard drive capped off by his 1-yard touchdown run. MORE: NFL preseason: Week 2 photos | Fantasy 2015: QB rankings | Fantasy RB rankings Winston was only on the field for four drives, and appeared to tweak his ankle after taking a hard sack on the final drive. He came away limping but stayed in for two more plays before the Bucs punted and coach Lovie Smith pulled him from the game....

The NFL does not release their referees’ exact salaries to the public, but some sources have done studies in the last few years to determine an average salary for NFL referees. Here’s what you need to know about how much NFL referees make in a given year. NFL playoff schedule: Dates, times, TV channels for every 2022 postseason game How much do NFL referees make? The official salary for NFL referees has not been disclosed, but as of 2019, it was reported that NFL referees make an average of $205,000 per year....

“Last week, the New England Patriots requested reinstatement of both John Jastremski and Jim McNally. The Patriots have satisfied the league’s requirement for reinstatement and the league has granted permission for the employees to return,” the NFL said in a statement Wednesday. MORE: Week 2 picks: Pats put Bills in place | Power Rankings The two were suspended in May for their alleged roles in deflating footballs during January’s AFC championship game....

Rodgers missed a headline matchup with the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes when he went into the protocol last week. Giants running back Saquon Barkley entered the protocols as well. Packers receiver Davante Adams, a 2020 All-Pro, Vikings safety Harrison Smith, and Bucs wideout Antonio Brown are other key players that have sat out at times this season. Under league guidelines, all coaches must be vaccinated. However, according to The Associated Press, Arizona’s Kliff Kingsbury and Chicago’s Matt Nagy have been sitting out for games because of COVID protocols....

First, in the late Sunday afternoon slot, the Eagles travel to Dallas in hopes of avenging their loss to the Cowboys earlier in the season. Then, on “Sunday Night Football,” two first-place NFC teams in the Rams and Bears clash with playoff seeding on the line. The capper on Week 14 is a massive game as far as the NFC wild-card playoff picture is concerned. Minnesota travels to Seattle as both second-place teams battle for the 5th and 6th seeds in the NFC playoffs....

That, of course, means that Brady’s Buccaneers will be taking on Bill Belichick and the Patriots during the 2021 campaign. Needless to say, the stakes will be high in that game as both members of the long-time coach/quarterback duo will look to out-duel one another on the field. By virtue of the 2021 NFL schedule release, we now know when Tampa Bay is traveling to New England for the contest....

MORE: Watch NFL games live with fuboTV (7-day free trial) The league has held Saturday games in late December every season but one (2013) since 1970. This year, the Saturday showcase features a tripleheader with major playoff implications in all three games. We start off with the Texans (9-5) visiting the Buccaneers (7-7), followed by an AFC East showdown between the Bills (10-4) and Patriots (11-3). Finally, the 49ers (11-3) take on the Rams (8-6) in the nightcap....