Arthur Smith explains decision to ride with Desmond Ridder, not Lamar Jackson

A year ago, the Falcons made a play for quarterback Deshaun Watson. This year, they’re not giving much of a thought to quarterback Lamar Jackson. Instead, second-year signal caller Desmond Ridder continues to be QB1 as the 2023 season approaches. “He won a lot of games in college and helped Luke Fickell at Cincinnati really [more]

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Brock Purdy: Elbow rehab going as planned, protocol is to start throwing at three months

Three weeks after elbow surgery, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy says rehab is going well. Purdy said on Fox Sports 910-AM in Phoenix that his recovery is “going as planned” following his March 10 surgery. “The protocol is you start throwing at three months, but it all depends on how your therapy and your range of [more]

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How the Deshaun Watson contract derailed Lamar Jackson’s situation

When the Browns gave a five-year, $230 million, fully-guaranteed contract to quarterback Deshaun Watson, they surely didn’t intend to throw a wrench in the relationship between the Ravens and quarterback Lamar Jackson. But they did. (Browns fans regard that as a collateral benefit.) In hindsight, why wouldn’t Watson’s deal create an issue between the Ravens [more]

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NBA ditches marijuana testing under new CBA; when will NFL follow suit?

Three years ago, the NFL dramatically reduced the potential penalties for marijuana use — but the league didn’t wipe out marijuana testing entirely. Maybe that day is coming. Via Shams Charania of TheAthletic.com, the new Collective Bargaining Agreement finalized Friday between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association ditched marijuana from the drug-testing program, [more]

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Jed York explains decision to spend big on Javon Hargrave

The 49ers surprised many by signing former Eagles defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to a four-year, $84 million contract. But they’ll spend, selectively, to make the team better. “We are never going to be a huge spender, but I think when we do spend, we have to make sure it’s deliberate,” CEO Jed York said at [more]

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Bill Belichick: Jonathan Jones “epitomizes what we want in a Patriot”

Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones was only officially a free agent for a few minutes before he agreed to a new contract to stay in New England. And Bill Belichick was thrilled. Belichick said that with the retirement of Devin McCourty after 13 seasons in the Patriots’ secondary, it was particularly important to keep Jones for [more]

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J.C. Tretter: Injury data from 2022 season makes clear that grass fields are safer

NFL owners glossed over the differences between grass and artificial playing surfaces at this week’s league meeting. But the NFL Players Association is renewing its call for grass fields. In fact, NFLPA President J.C. Tretter says that the data from 2022 makes it clearer than ever that grass is safer than artificial turf. “We got [more]

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