Buckle up, Hall of Fame voters. Next year’s Hall of Fame induction class may be the most difficult to select given the immense level of worthy candidates who will be eligible for enshrinement.  Along with this year’s modern-era finalists who weren’t part of the 2024 induction class, there are a host of talented players who will be eligible for the …

USATSI Lamar Jackson used his MVP acceptance speech to discuss an old storyline that dominated the headlines for several years.  Now a two-time league MVP, Jackson thanked the Ravens for financially investing in him with a hefty new contract before the start of the 2023 season. The two had been locked in a tough negotiation prior to getting a deal …

National Signing Day was held on Wednesday for high school football seniors. Signing ceremonies were held across the country. Here are Tulare/Visalia football players who signed Wednesday or signed in December to play college football at a four-year program (if we missed someone, please contact sports reporter Vongni Yang at vyang2@gannett.com so that player can be added to this list). …

The 2023 NFL season was a disaster for the New York Jets, and everybody involved is now on alert. “They all got the message. This is the time to go. We have to produce this year. We have to produce this year. … It’s not a playoff mandate, but we have to do a lot better than seven [wins],” Jets …

Jalen Carter edged out by Will Anderson for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia Six sacks, nine quarterback hits, two forced fumbles and eight tackles for loss weren’t enough to earn Jalen Carter AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Texans rookie Will Anderson edged Carter for the honor with 151 points to 122 …

Feb. 8—PULLMAN — Washington State just gained another seat at the table. WSU athletic director Pat Chun has been named to the College Football Playoff Selection Committee, the organization announced Thursday, giving the Cougars two positions on the committee. That’s in addition to university president Kirk Schulz, the Pac-12’s representative on the CFP’s management committee, who is currently holding up …

Lamar Jackson has won the 2023 NFL MVP award, the second time he’s captured the league’s top honor in his six seasons. Jackson, at 27 years and 0 days old (at the end of the regular season on Jan. 7), is the youngest quarterback to win the NFL MVP award twice — passing Brett Favre by 73 days for the honor. …

USATSI TJ Watt likely had his social media post already written prior to Myles Garrett being announced as this year’s NFL Defensive Player of the Year.  Watt fired off the following post on the platform formally known as Twitter as Garrett was making his acceptance speech.  “Nothing I’m not used to,” Watt wrote.  It’s safe to say that Watt is …

Lamar Jackson was a near-unanimous choice for his second AP NFL Most Valuable Player award announced at NFL Honors on Thursday night. Baltimore’s All-Pro quarterback received 49 of 50 first-place votes from a nationwide panel of voters that includes media members who regularly cover the NFL, former players and coaches. Jackson led the Ravens (14-5) to the NFL’s best record …

It was a busy day for the Washington Commanders. First, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN revealed that Washington was expected to hire former Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson to a “prominent role” on the offensive coaching staff. Fowler later noted that Johnson’s role would likely be pass-game coordinator for new head coach Dan Quinn. This will likely be as a pass-game …

Getty Images The newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame were revealed Thursday night at NFL Honors. These players will join the hundreds who are already immortalized in Canton, Ohio.   Here’s a look at the modern era and senior inductees who will receive their bronze busts and gold jackets this summer.  Dwight Freeney, LB  — Freeney’s devastating …

San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan is loving what he’s seeing from quarterback Brock Purdy ahead of Super Bowl LVIII. “He’s had a hell of a week,” Shanahan told pool reporter Nicki Jhabvala. “Brock’s pumped up.” Shanahan has liked his players’ attention to detail during a week when potential distractions abound. “I think it’s been great,” Shanahan said. “The first two …

When Jeff Lebby took over the offensive attack for the Oklahoma Sooners Brent Venables made it abundantly clear that Lincoln Riley’s previous strategy of taking a quarterback every other year would no longer fly. Since then, the Sooners have replenished the quarterback cupboard with talent every year, with at least two new quarterbacks joining the program via the high school …

Ben Arthur AFC South Reporter LAS VEGAS — Early in his Chiefs career, L’Jarius Sneed used to call his father, frustrated.  Kansas City had him playing a heavy dosage of slot cornerback, a position he’d never played before. A 2020 fifth-round pick out of Louisiana Tech, Sneed lined up on the outside his first three years in college. He played …

Getty Images Christian McCaffrey has been named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year, becoming the first San Francisco 49ers player to win the award since Joe Montana in 1989. McCaffrey is the fifth 49ers player to win the award, joining Roger Craig (1988) as the only running backs to win the award.  A First Team All-Pro at running back, McCaffrey …