2:25 PM ET CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer, less than a month after saying the starting quarterback job was “open,” on Friday said Sam Darnold was “in the lead for that job.” “We want him to take it and run with it,” Fitterer said. “But we’re gonna add a lot of
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2:43 PM ET BEREA, Ohio — Deshaun Watson said that he has never disrespected women and that he was surprised by the allegations of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct that have been made against him. “I know these allegations [are] very, very serious,” Watson said. “But I’ve never assaulted any woman. I never disrespected any
2:51 PM ET ATLANTA — The Falcons need a full-time starting quarterback other than Matt Ryan for the first time since the 2007 season, and Marcus Mariota understands the significance of potentially being that replacement. “Those are big shoes to fill, no doubt,” Mariota said Friday. “I think, for me, something I definitely learned over
12:19 PM ET There is “a lot of momentum” for changing NFL overtime rules, competition committee chairman Rich McKay said Friday, but it is unclear whether enough owners will agree on a specific proposal when they gather next week for their annual meetings in Palm Beach, Florida. At the moment, two proposals are under consideration.
10:00 AM ET Johnny Manziel is returning for the second season of a professional league known as Fan Controlled Football, he told ESPN. The league, which plays a 7-on-7 format in an Atlanta indoor facility, is scheduled to resume games April 16. It incorporates fan engagement in a blend of traditional and esports environments and
10:35 AM ET ESPN News Services TOPSHAM, Maine — Two teenagers who helped bring a runaway school bus to a stop and called for help have been invited to the New England Patriots season opener. Team owner Robert Kraft delivered the invitation himself during a Zoom call with Connor and Seamus Collins, who stepped in
7:14 AM ET Free-agent quarterback Trevor Siemian has reached agreement on a two-year deal with the Chicago Bears, according to his agent, Mike McCartney. Siemian joins a Bears quarterback room that includes 2021 first-rounder Justin Fields, and the 30-year-old will likely compete with or supplant Nick Foles as Fields’ backup in 2022. He spent the
2:41 PM ET Courtney Cronin Close ESPN Staff Writer Covered the 49ers, Raiders and Warriors for the San Jose Mercury News. She joined ESPN in 2017. Alaina Getzenberg Buffalo Bills restricted free-agent offensive guard Ryan Bates signed an offer sheet with the Chicago Bears on Thursday, a source told ESPN. Bates, 25, had free-agent visits
6:14 PM ET Marcel Louis-JacquesESPN MIAMI — Terron Armstead stepped to the podium Thursday in front of a near-capacity conference room inside the Miami Dolphins‘ Baptist Health Training Complex wearing a throwback Dan Marino jersey with orange sneakers. Someone asked him why he wore the Marino jersey; his response — “why not.” Armstead was introduced
5:28 PM ET OWINGS MILLS, Md. — In becoming the second Black team president in the NFL, Sashi Brown said he wants the Baltimore Ravens to remain leaders in providing opportunities to minorities. “I think this is something that, we as a league [and] we as an organization need to be committed to regardless of
4:14 PM ET The Philadelphia Eagles re-signed free-agent defensive end Derek Barnett to a two-year contract on Thursday. After making significant contributions as a rookie during the Eagles’ championship run in 2017, Barnett hasn’t lived up to Philadelphia’s expectations the past four seasons. Injuries played a part, with Barnett missing 10 games in 2018 with
5:29 PM ET ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — With a thick, black smoke plume that was seen throughout downtown Denver on Thursday afternoon, a fire burned in a portion of the club level on the east side of Empower Field at Mile High, which is home to the NFL’s Broncos. The Denver Fire Department responded at about
3:59 PM ET Wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling is signing a three-year, $30 million deal worth up to $36 million with the Kansas City Chiefs, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. With the move, Valdes-Scantling goes from the NFL’s reigning MVP in Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a former MVP in Chiefs quarterback Patrick
12:43 PM ET FRISCO, Texas — Former Jacksonville Jaguars passing game coordinator Brian Schottenheimer will serve as a consultant to the Dallas Cowboys in 2022, filling the role Ben McAdoo had last season, sources confirmed Thursday. The move will reunite coach Mike McCarthy with the Schottenheimer family. McCarthy entered the NFL under Schottenheimer’s father, Marty,
1:22 PM ET Sarah Barshop Close ESPN Staff Writer Covered the Packers for ESPN Milwaukee Marquette University graduate Jake Trotter Close ESPN Staff Writer Covers the Big 12 Joined ESPN.com in 2011 Graduate of Washington & Lee University A second grand jury in Texas is considering evidence related to another accusation of sexual misconduct against
10:15 AM ET Washington Commanders running back J.D. McKissic said he changed his mind about signing with the Buffalo Bills because he had “unfinished business” with his former team. McKissic had agreed to a two-year deal with the Bills during the preliminary negotiating period, only to pivot back to Washington when the team let him
8:30 AM ET NFL NationESPN With 2022 NFL free agency winding down, we are looking back on what transpired and looking forward to what’s ahead. While there were a number of significant free-agent signings — left tackle Terron Armstead to the Miami Dolphins, pass-rusher Von Miller to the Buffalo Bills, wide receiver Allen Robinson II
7:00 AM ET No one thinks about NFL overtime until it happens, which isn’t that often in the grand scheme of things and is usually pretty tame when it does. But all hell breaks loose when the format impacts the outcome of a playoff game, as it did in January’s divisional matchup between the Buffalo