NFL

4:20 PM ET Multiple team officials are skeptical that the NFL will be able to start its league year next week, expressing doubt to ESPN’s Adam Schefter given the ongoing coronavirus outbreak in the country and the typical in-person visits, including physicals, that would have to happen as part of free agency. It’s a situation

6:00 AM ET The first time he entered free agency, former NFL linebacker Bart Scott wasn’t afraid to make a tough call. He had survived a rough Detroit neighborhood. He prided himself on playing through pain, having endured Michigan winters and playing on dirt fields. And he arrived in the NFL as an undrafted free

4:01 PM ET MINNEAPOLIS — The makeup of the Minnesota Vikings defense changed in a major way Friday, when the team announced it had terminated the contracts of cornerback Xavier Rhodes and nose tackle Linval Joseph. Five days ahead of the start of the new league year and free agency, which is set to begin

3:00 PM ET ESPN staff The NFL offseason is in full swing, and 2020 NFL free agency kicks off next week. Teams can begin to negotiate with free agents on Monday afternoon, but they’re already striking deals to re-sign players — and make trades — and rumors are flowing on all the latest news across

Mar 9, 2020 NFL NationESPN The deadline for the NFL franchise tag has been extended to Monday. Six teams — the Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers — already have decided to use the franchise tag, which binds the player to the team for one season.

12:33 PM ET The NFL said Thursday it has “no plans to move the start of the league year” as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The NFL’s statement comes after several teams have restricted travel for their coaches and scouts because of the virus. The Washington Redskins, New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings were

7:30 AM ET In this most unusual NFL offseason, a familiar sight awaits. The 2020 free-agent market is set to open Monday with a three-day negotiating period for players with expiring contracts. Deals can be formalized beginning Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET. To be clear, however, 2020 is no ordinary year for the free-agent market.

6:48 PM ET The Green Bay Packers will release tight end Jimmy Graham on Thursday, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday. Graham will become an immediate free agent. Graham, who turned 33 in November, ranked as the highest-paid tight end in the NFL with an average salary of $10 million and was scheduled

1:01 PM ET The Houston Texans and Johnathan Joseph have mutually agreed that the veteran cornerback will enter free agency, the team announced Wednesday. Joseph, 35, has spent the past nine seasons with the Texans. He had 51 tackles, 13 pass breakups and one interception in 14 games last season. “Johnathan has been a consummate

6:00 AM ET FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The perfect New England Patriots free-agent scenario could be summed up in five words: “Hunter Henry, come on down!” Henry, the Los Angeles Chargers‘ top tight end, would help fill the Patriots’ most notable void. The problem with that scenario, however, is the Chargers are expected to make a

4:04 PM ET Two NFL teams have proposed the addition of a booth umpire to each officiating crew for the 2020 season, one of seven team-based rule changes that league owners will consider this offseason. None of the proposals have been vetted or endorsed yet by the competition committee, which will meet later this month

6:45 AM ET NFL NationESPN With 2020 NFL free agency getting underway next week, many teams will be looking for the veteran impact players to put their franchise over the top, or to contribute to culture change. But it doesn’t always work like that. While many free agents have a positive impact upon signing with

3:49 PM ET KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. — Soon-to-be Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Russell Okung has accused the NFLPA of negotiating the proposed CBA in bad faith taking the step of filing an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board Monday. In the filing, Okung is accusing NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith of

6:40 AM ET NFL free agency kicks off in less than a week — the deadline for teams to franchise tag players is now Monday, and teams can begin negotiating with free agents also on Monday — which means it’s time to start our annual analysis of the notable deals. Each year in this space,

7:00 AM ET FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL: 1. Open-minded approach: When receiver Phillip Dorsett entered unrestricted free agency last offseason, his first choice was to return to the Patriots and that contributed to him not visiting with other teams. As for this year? “I would

7:00 AM ET A look at what’s happening around the New York Jets: 1. Corner market: It happens every two or three years; the Jets, desperate for a CB1, pay a premium price for a big-name free agent. It was Darrelle Revis in 2015 ($39 million guaranteed) and Trumaine Johnson ($34 million) in 2018. To

10:24 AM ET A number of NFL owners are hoping the proposed collective bargaining agreement doesn’t pass next week because they believe they can negotiate a better deal with eyes on an 18-game season in the future, a league source told ESPN. “They think they can get a better deal next year,” the source said.

5:59 PM ET METAIRIE, La. — The New Orleans Saints offered a first-round tender to restricted free-agent quarterback Taysom Hill on Friday, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, meaning another team would have to cough up a first-round draft pick to sign him away. The Saints also will have the right to match any offer