All articles tagged with #american football
With training camp approaching, the 49ers reportedly have two surprise cut candidates: WR Demarcus Robinson and S Ji’Ayir Brown, though Jake Brendel should be safe; Brown’s release would save $3.67M, while Robinson’s cut would incur $2.43M in dead money but could net $2.54M in cap space later via void years, reflecting a tight numbers game at WR and safety.
CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan maps out best- and worst-case scenarios for every NFL team ahead of the 2026 season, painting a spectrum from potential division titles and deep playoff runs to rebuilds, coaching changes, or disappointing collapses across all 32 franchises.
Aldon Smith, the 2011 NFL Draft’s seventh overall pick and a former All-Pro whose peak came during a dominant 2012 season, has died at 36. The 49ers mourned his passing, noting his immense talent, while his career was also marked by suspensions and multiple team stints. No cause of death was disclosed.
The D.C. Defenders upset the No. 1-seeded Orlando Storm 28-22 to advance to the UFL Championship, which will be hosted by D.C. on June 13. QB Jason Bean threw for 233 yards and a TD, while four running backs combined for 172 rushing yards led by Abram Smith (57 yards). DC sealed the win with a 61-yard field goal by Matt McCrane, worth four points under the league rule for 60-yard-plus kicks. The Defenders will host the winner of Louisville Kings vs. St. Louis Battlehawks in the title game.
A sports writer predicts multiple teams will reach double-digit wins in 2026, starting with the AFC: the Ravens are projected 11-6 after a rough 2025, aided by better injury luck and a stronger defense, while the Bengals are forecast at 10-7 thanks to aggressive offseason upgrades and a healthier Burrow, underscoring growing league parity.
A round-up of four new album reviews: Kacey Musgraves’ Middle of Nowhere is polished and atmospheric but not revelatory; American Football’s LP4 is a bold, introspective redefinition that pushes their sound forward; Noah Kahan’s The Great Divide is lengthy and thematically repetitive despite strong moments; Metric’s Romanticize the Dive marks a confident, self-sufficient tenth album that embraces experimentation and perseverance.
Detroit enters the 2026 NFL Draft with nine selections, including two in the top 100, giving GM Brad Holmes a chance to add impact players or find late-round diamonds. The open-thread format invites fans to discuss Day 1 and cheer as the Lions’ 17th overall selection, while also promoting a live draft show on Twitch and YouTube.
The Boston Herald lays out a round-by-round tight end plan for the Patriots in the 2026 NFL Draft: Round 1 targets Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon) but he’s unlikely to fall that far; Round 2 could land Max Klare (Ohio State); Round 3 Oscar Delp (Georgia); Round 4 Will Kacmarek (Ohio State); Round 5 Jack Endries (Texas); Round 6 Carsen Ryan (BYU/UCLA/Utah); and Round 7 John Michael Gyllenborg (Wyoming). The piece emphasizes size, blocking ability, and upside at the position to complement veterans like Hunter Henry, noting the Patriots have 11 picks (including No. 31 overall) and could bolster depth at tight end given other needs.
Former Jets running back Matt Snell, a star of Super Bowl III, died at 84. He burst onto the scene as the 1964 AFL Rookie of the Year and powered the Jets’ upset in SB III, rushing 121 yards and scoring the team’s only touchdown on an injured knee. Snell finished with 4,285 rushing yards (fourth in Jets history), 24 rushing TDs, and 193 receptions for 1,375 yards and seven receiving TDs, earning three Pro Bowls and All-Pro honors before retiring in 1972. He is survived by his wife Sharon, son Beau, daughter Jada, and grandson Donte.
The NFL announced the Detroit Lions will play a regular-season game in Munich during the 2026 season as part of the NFL International Series, to be held at FC Bayern Munich Stadium with opponent and kickoff time to be announced in the schedule release; the Lions have grown their German presence through the Global Markets Program with marketing rights in the DACH region, youth camps, partnerships (including with 1. FC Köln) and travel packages via On Location, marking the team's return to international play after a 2015 London game.
Matthew Stafford, 37, won his first NFL MVP and said he will play at least one more season with the Los Angeles Rams after narrowly beating Drake Maye by one first‑place vote; he becomes the oldest quarterback to win MVP for the first time and adds another chapter to his Rams success after their 2021 Super Bowl win, with other award winners including Jaxon Smith‑Njigba and Myles Garrett highlighted at the ceremony.
An opinion piece blames Rams coach Sean McVay for their 31-27 NFC Championship loss to the Seattle Seahawks, pointing to a late-first-half sequence that stalled the run, a muffed punt that gave Seattle a scoring drive, and a controversial fourth-and-4 decision at the Seattle 6 that cost a potential go-ahead field goal. Despite Matthew Stafford’s 374 yards and 3 TDs and 479 total yards, costly coaching decisions and special-teams miscues overshadowed a competitive Rams effort as they fall short of back-to-back Super Bowls; the article calls for accountability while noting the team still has talent and that McVay is expected to return.
The New England Patriots edged the Denver Broncos 10-7 in a blizzard to book Super Bowl 60, their first appearance since 2019. After Jarrett Stidham’s early turnover, Drake Maye scampered in for a second-quarter touchdown and New England added a field goal in the third. A late interception by Christian Gonzalez sealed the win, sending the Patriots to face the NFC Championship winner (Rams or Seahawks) in Santa Clara on February 8.
The Los Angeles Rams edged the Chicago Bears 20-17 in overtime to reach the NFC Championship, while the New England Patriots beat the Houston Texans 28-16 to book their spot in the AFC Championship. The Rams travel to Seattle for the NFC title game, and the Patriots head to Denver for the AFC showdown, with Super Bowl 60 set for February 8 at Levi’s Stadium.
American football's popularity in Ireland has been growing, driven by NFL's marketing efforts, Irish fans' enthusiasm, and the sport's entertainment value, with many locals supporting NFL teams and attending games, despite some finding the rules confusing.