Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton spoke to reporters Friday about Russell Wilson’s benching and maintained his story about it being a football move. Moments later, the quarterback flipped the script. Wilson wasn’t scheduled to address the media. But when approached in the locker room, he took the opportunity to confirm reports that Denver’s front office told him he would …

CARSON, Calif — Michigan football practice was just a mile away from Compton, but it wasn’t NWA or Kendrick Lamar up first on the playlist. Instead, the Wolverines went with “Dreams & Nightmares” by Philadelphia’s Meek Mill as they danced, practiced their handshakes and stretched during much of the 15-minute portion of practice the media was allowed to watch Friday …

Per usual, injuries will play a big role in the NFL’s upcoming slate of games. There are several notable ones to keep an eye on in Week 17, including the injury status of Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and Bengals wideout Ja’Marr Chase.  Those are just two in what is seemingly an ocean full of injuries heading into Week 17. To help …

Dec. 29—Hanceville has chosen Levi Estes to lead its football program. Principal Daniel Wakefield confirmed the hire, which became official on Friday. Estes, 32, has spent the past three seasons at Oak Mountain, where he served as associate head coach, strength and conditioning coordinator, and run game coordinator for the Class 7A Eagles. Now, he’s excited to return to the …

Raiders running back Josh Jacobs has missed the past two games with a quadriceps injury. It appears he will miss another. The Raiders list Jacobs as doubtful after he missed practice all week. Interim coach Antonio Pierce calls Jacobs a gametime decision. Jacobs, the NFL’s leading rusher last season, has 233 carries for 805 yards and six touchdowns this season. …

Notre Dame dominated Oregon State in every aspect of Friday’s Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl.  Some might even say the Fighting Irish closed their 2023 season by playing grrrrrrrrrreat! Sorry, I had to. Notre Dame stopped Oregon State quickly on the game’s opening possession and immediately marched down the field to take a 7-0 lead.  That would be rinsed and …

Will Justin Fields-Matt Eberflus relationship continue to be bedrock of Bears’ rebuild? originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago LAKE FOREST, Ill. — No matter what happens next, Matt Eberflus and Justin Fields will always be linked together. When Eberflus took the job as the Bears’ head coach, he prioritized being present with the offense and building a bond with Fields …

Even amid a sign-stealing scandal thought to be led by former assistant Connor Stalions, Michigan football (13-0, 9-0 Big Ten) clinched the No. 1 ranking and faces No. 4 Alabama (12-1, 8-0 SEC) in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Rose Bowl on Monday. That hasn’t stopped the scandal from becoming a talking point, even as the Wolverines are …

Bears vs. Falcons predictions: Can team win to keep playoff dreams alive? originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago If the Bears want to keep their playoff dreams alive for one more week, they’ll have to get a win over the Falcons at Soldier Field. It’s been an up and down year for Atlanta– much like in Chicago. The Under Center …

This might be the one gimmick the Pop-Tarts Bowl whiffed on. Tennessee WR Ramel Keyton has an NIL deal with Cheez-It, sponsor of the eponymous Cheez-It Bowl. So, what better way to promote the deal and bowl game, which will take place on Jan. 1 in Orlando, FL, than to have Keyton a Cheez-It “baked” into his hairstyle? Tennessee WR …

A year ago, Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud used a strong performance against Georgia in the College Football Playoff semifinals to answer some of the pre-draft questions teams may have had of him, which propped up his bid to be the second quarterback taken, by the Texans, in the 2023 NFL Draft.  Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy can use the stage …

The Broncos lost any realistic shot at making the playoffs by falling to the Patriots on Sunday, giving them a 7-8 record — and just a 1.4% chance of reaching the postseason — with 2023 winding down. Now they’re benching quarterback Russell Wilson for the final two games, as he’ll serve as the backup to Jarrett Stidham, per head coach …

The last person to believe everything that Barion Brown accomplished at Friday’s TaxSlayer Gator Bowl in Jacksonville was Barion Brown. “Did I do that today?” the Kentucky wide receiver responded when asked about his unprecedented touchdown hat trick. From the GOAT of Gator Bowl kickoff returns, to a fumble that sparked fears of becoming the game’s goat of a more …

As the Jaguars look to stop the bleeding of their four-game losing streak and hold on to their first-place position in the AFC South, they’ll be doing so without Trevor Lawrence. The franchise quarterback has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers due to an injury to his right shoulder, the team announced. In his place, C.J. Beathard …

2024 NFL draft cheat sheet: What you need to know originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago So you’ve decided to start thinking about the 2024 NFL Draft. With the Bears’ playoffs hopes all but over, it’s hard to blame you. Things are trending towards the Bears securing the No. 1 pick in the draft, so it should be an offseason …