The Atlanta Falcons released tight end Jonnu Smith on Tuesday in a cost-cutting move. Smith, 28, set career highs with 50 receptions for 582 yards in his reunion with former Falcons coach Arthur Smith in 2023. Jonnu Smith had three touchdown catches. [Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow …

INDIANAPOLIS — Kirby Smart officially filled a pair of openings on his Georgia football coaching staff this week. One was to replace Bryan McClendon who jumped to the NFL after two seasons as wide receivers coach. Todd Bowles, the Tampa Bay head coach who McClendon will work under with the Buccaneers, shed some light Tuesday here at the NFL combine …

Falcons emerging as Bears’ best Justin Fields trade partner at NFL combine originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago INDIANAPOLIS — Bears general manager Ryan Poles said he would “do right by” quarterback Justin Fields and trade him before free agency should Chicago decide it wanted to move on from the 24-year-old signal-caller. That was the closest Poles has come to …

Free agency is on the horizon around the NFL, even though some players are awaiting to see whether they’ll hit the open market. Some free agents will have the franchise tag placed on them in the days leading up to free agency, giving teams more time to negotiate long-term deals with the player while keeping them under team control for …

Dirk Koetter is returning to Boise State once again to serve as offensive coordinator under first-year head coach Spencer Danielson, according to multiple reports. Koetter, 65, is an Idaho native who coached the Broncos from 1998-2000 before going on to serve as head coach for Arizona State and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also served on Boise State’s staff in …

USATSI Despite recent reports, the New York Giants haven’t ruled out franchise-tagging Saquon Barkley ahead of free agency. And if you assumed that Barkley was on his way out of New York, that doesn’t appear to the case at this point in time.  Giants general manager Joe Schoen said from the NFL Combine on Tuesday that the team “would like” …

Ben Arthur AFC South Reporter Amid questions about Trevor Lawrence’s standing with the Jaguars, in the wake of the disappointing season he just had, coach Doug Pederson on Tuesday reiterated that Jacksonville still views him as its quarterback.  The former No. 1 overall pick is eligible for a second contract this offseason.  “I’m excited for the future with Trevor,” Pederson …

A Lipscomb Academy reunion in Knoxville? That could become a reality if Mustangs linebacker Kris Thompson decides the lure of Tennessee football is too strong to pass up. Thompson received the news he’d been anxiously waiting for when Tennessee, and coach Josh Heupel, offered the three-star 6-foot-1, 225-pound junior earlier this month. The clock now begins for him to make …

USATSI The Kansas City Chiefs are going to franchise tag L’Jarius Sneed, but that doesn’t mean the talented cornerback will be on the team’s roster in 2024. The Chiefs are tagging Sneed, but both sides are open to a possible trade if they can’t come to terms on a longterm deal, according to ESPN.  While the tag usually isn’t used …

Patriots’ new draft grading system among takeaways from NFL Combine originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston The New England Patriots have a new man making roster decisions, and he’s implementing a new draft grading system. The last five or six drafts have produced a couple good players for the Patriots, but these classes overall have been mostly underwhelming. For the …

Feb 27, 2024, 05:55 PM ET For the first time since suffering a knee injury Jan. 11, star center Jack Eichel skated with the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday. Eichel, 27, who wore a red non-contact jersey, won’t play Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tuesday’s game will mark the 16th he has missed since he was injured in a …

Georgia is staying within the men’s tennis program for its next head coach. Jamie Hunt, a former Bulldog All-American in his seventh season as associate head coach, will succeed Manuel Diaz after this season when the longtime coach retires. “Coach Hunt understands what it takes to compete at a championship level,” athletic director Josh Brooks said in a release Tuesday …

The NFL Combine is meant to confirm or reject impressions that teams have of players based on film study. Over the course of the week, 321 draft prospects will be poked and prodded as they are put through medical evaluations, interviews and physical testing in an effort to determine where they should be selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, which …

Greg Auman NFC South Reporter INDIANAPOLIS — New Panthers head coach Dave Canales, shuttling back and forth between work in Charlotte and his family back in Tampa, said he’s constantly bumping into Bucs fans in airports. Meaning well, they tell him how much Tampa Bay’s offense overachieved in his lone season there. “I just hate that,” Canales said Tuesday, speaking …

HATTIESBURG — Southern Miss football’s spring practices began Tuesday morning, and so did another competition for the starting quarterback job. Fourth-year coach Will Hall said following Tuesday’s practice that the quarterback, offensive line, tight end and punter positions are all up for grabs as the Golden Eagles strive for a better 2024 season. Hall named the four who are in …