Hurts, Eagles pound Giants early, coast to NFC title game
Jalen Hurts erased lingering doubts about the state of his right shoulder by throwing two touchdown passes and running for a score during a dominant first half, and the Philadelphia Eagles overwhelmed the New York Giants 38-7 in an NFC divisional playoff game.
Hurts returns from injury, leads Eagles to No. 1 seed in NFC
Jalen Hurts returned from a sprained right shoulder and threw for 229 yards under a conservative game plan in his first game in three weeks and the Philadelphia Eagles finally clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a 22-16 win over the New York Giants on Sunday night.
Patriots, Bucs among those making biggest waves so far
(AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)Bill Belichick never was one to spend wildly in free agency. Whether by trade, free agency or re-signings, the group brings a good mix of offense, defense and special teams. In addition to keeping Von Miller, Justin Simmons and Shelby Harris, Paton filled his biggest defensive pothole by signing free agent cornerbacks Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller. FUTURE CONSIDERATIONSThe Lions didn’t do much in free agency but nobody in Detroit should be bothered. The Lions are focused on rebuilding through the draft after sending QB Matthew Stafford to the Rams and then letting star wide receiver Kenny Golladay walk in free agency.
Giants sign WR Kenny Golladay to 4-year, $80 million deal
The person spoke on condition of anonymity on Saturday, March 20, 2021, because the deal has not yet been announced. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)The New York Giants' anemic offensive is adding quite possibly the best free agent receiver on the market. The Giants on Saturday signed former Detroit Lions star Kenny Golladay to a four-year contract worth roughly $80 million in the hopes of giving quarterback Daniel Jones a big-threat receiver. “This team is going to get a competitor, a guy who is going to come and work,” Golladay said. “They just wanted to lay eyes on me, taking a different approach about this whole process,” Golladay said of the Giants having questions about him.
March 16 bond hearing next in killing of ex-Saint's star
Cardell Hayes was sentenced to 25 years in prison for a manslaughter conviction in Smith’s shooting and attempted manslaughter for wounding Smith’s wife, Racquel. Hayes could get a much lower bond than the $1 million-plus bond set for him in 2016, when he was charged with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. First Assistant District Attorney Robert White sought bond Thursday based on the manslaughter charge and attempted manslaughter charges that the jury returned, although he said prosecutors would seek to try Hayes again on the second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder charges he originally faced. AdAfter Thursday's bond hearing, Judge Camille Buras set the next bond hearing for March 16, amid questions on whether Hayes could be retried on the original charges. Attorney John Fuller argued for a low bond, saying Hayes is neither dangerous, nor a flight risk, and noting that he did not flee the scene of the shooting.
Washington replacing cheerleading team with coed dance team
FILE - Washington Football Team cheerleaders perform before an NFL football game against the New York Giants in Landover, Md., in this Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, file photo. The Washington Football Team will not have cheerleaders for the 2021 season as part of an organizational rebranding. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr., File)Washington will not have cheerleaders for the first time since the NFL’s longest-running cheerleading team was founded in 1962, with a coed dance team taking its place. Wright has said he expects “Washington Football Team” to continue for 2021 with a new, permanent name to be ready in 2022. “My goal is to create this team, reinvent this team and make it more modern.”___AdMore AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
Saquon Barkley says knee doing well, won't set return date
FILE - New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley warms up before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, in this Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, file photo. Saquon Barkley says his surgically repaired knee is doing well, though the New York Giants star running back wont set a target date for his return. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)Saquon Barkley says his surgically repaired knee is doing well, though the New York Giants star running back won’t set a target date for his return. “Very lucky to have a great team around me, great trainers, great doctors. It’s not going to work if we don’t buy and the culture won’t work.
AP sources: Michael Strahan tests positive for COVID-19
FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017 file photo, Former New York Giant Michael Strahan poses for a picture at the opening of "NFL Experience" in Times Square, New York. Pro Football Hall of Famer and Good Morning America host Michael Strahan has tested positive for COVID-19 and is self-quarantining, according to people familiar with the situation. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)Pro Football Hall of Famer and “Good Morning America” host Michael Strahan has tested positive for COVID-19 and is self-quarantining, according to people familiar with the situation. Strahan, who also provides analysis on the “Fox NFL Sunday” pregame show, appeared remotely during last Sunday’s NFC championship game. The 49-year-old Strahan has been absent from the ABC morning show all week and it remains uncertain when he will be on again.
Gutsy or insane? Depends on the outcome of tough calls
“My coaches were on board, they all did a great job with the spot, with the calls, everything — they were spot-on. It was a great job.”That play is part of a pick-6 of great jobs — and great flops — with gutsy calls. PHILLY SPECIALThe Eagles led New England by three points approaching halftime in the Super Bowl for the 2017 season. Philadelphia went on to win its first Super Bowl. The Packers then won their second Super Bowl.
Washington beats the Eagles 20-14, captures NFC East title
Washington Football Team's Logan Thomas (82) catches a touchdown against Philadelphia Eagles' T.J. Edwards (57) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Philadelphia. Alex Smith threw two touchdown passes and Washington beat the Philadelphia Eagles 20-14 Sunday night to capture the lowly NFC East. “This one’s special just because of how hard it was," said Washington coach Ron Rivera, who overcame a form of skin cancer during the season. Washington opened the season with a 27-17 victory over the Eagles. Eagles: They face difficult decisions in the offseason, including figuring out which quarterback they plan to build around for 2021.
Giants outlast Cowboys, lose division hours later to WSH
New York’s postseason chances hinged on Philadelphia beating Washington later Sunday, but the Eagles flopped in a 20-14 loss. Hardly how first-year coach Joe Judge planned it, but there were no complaints about extending the season for at least a few more hours. Limited to 26 points over its previous three games, the Giants’ 31st-ranked offense busted out with 239 yards and 20 points in the first half. Giants: Williams had seven tackles, three sacks and hit the quarterback five times. Giants: LB Blake Martinez left the game briefly after appearing to injure his left ankle or foot in the third quarter.
The Latest: Henry runs for 2k, Titans' doink wins AFC South
Henry came into Sunday’s regular season finale needing 223 yards rushing to become the second man in franchise history to reach 2,000. He came in as the NFL’s rushing leader for a second straight season with a career-best 1,777 yards rushing. The Green Bay Packers have set an NFL season record for second-quarter points. With the run Newton also passed Grogan for the single-season team record for rushing yards by a quarterback. Newton entered the game 26 yards behind Grogan, who had 539 rushing yards in 1978.
Torrid Ravens get jump on Giants, roll to easy 27-13 victory
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson looks to throw a pass against the New York Giants during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)BALTIMORE – Lamar Jackson directed four scoring drives during the decisive first half, and the surging Baltimore Ravens beat the New York Giants 27-13 Sunday to gain control of their own fate in the AFC playoff chase. Baltimore's fourth straight victory, combined with Pittsburgh's win over Indianapolis, lifted the Ravens past the Colts in the AFC wild-card hunt. With a victory in Cincinnati next week, the Ravens (10-5) will earn a playoff berth for the third year in a row. The Giants (5-10) lost their third straight and were left with only a miniscule chance of making the postseason.
The Latest: USC basketball to return against Santa Clara
The Trojans will host Santa Clara instead of Long Beach State, which had to cancel because of ongoing COVID-19 issues in its program. ___UCLA’s women’s basketball game at Oregon State on New Year’s Day has been postponed indefinitely. The Beavers announced a confirmed case of COVID-19 on Dec. 20. The team issued a statement Saturday announcing the positive test and saying it had closed its facility for tracing. The day's other suspended games include league leader Portsmouth against Swindon Town.
Browns closing in on ending lengthy playoff drought
Cleveland Browns' Nick Chubb (24) rushes during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)The Cleveland Browns' lengthy playoff drought is nearly over. And the Browns are only one game behind Pittsburgh for first place in the AFC North and host the rival Steelers in Week 17. The Rams can earn a playoff spot with a win or either a loss by the Chicago Bears or an Arizona Cardinals win. The Cardinals can wrap up a playoff spot with a win and a Bears loss. The Washington Football Team can wrap up the NFC East with a win over the Carolina Panthers and a New York Giants loss in Baltimore.