CATEGORIES

PAYING FOR THE BE$T

Kittle sets bar high for NFL tight ends

PANDEMIC PRIMER

A 12-step guide to get 49ers through COVID-19 NFL season

CHAMPIONSHIP PARTNERSHIP

49ers extend winning combination into future

49ers rich in Kittle complements at TE

Now that he’s the highest-paid tight end in NFL history, and generally regarded as the league’s best player at his position, George Kittle and the 49ers see no reason their tight ends can’t achieve the same kind of recognition as a group.

Q & A with Ken Zampese

Quarterbacks Coach Ken Zampese spoke with reporters over the challenges of teaching a new system and working with different passers.

Can the best be even better?

Buckner gone, but DL’s quest for next level remains intact

‘We have the best facility I have ever seen in my life'

Raiders head coach Jon Gruden had his hands full as the team went through its first training camp in Las Vegas. Because of the pandemic, it has been unlike any other training camp Gruden has been a part of and it’s forced the entire coaching staff to be creative and innovative in how they approach things. Gruden talked about some of that and various other topics when he met with reporters throughout the early part of camp.

Offense needs diverse flow

What will Washington’s offense look like in 2020?

10 BURNING QUESTIONS

Teams that lose the Super Bowl always enter the next season facing a different sort of question than most others in the NFL.

Raiders continue to reshape roster

The Raiders made a series of roster moves early in training camp, most notably the decision to part ways with talented-but-often-injured linebacker Marquel Lee.

Mr. Smith returns to Washington

Alex Smith threw a short sideline route that felt like victory. The quarterback returned to the field for the first time since suffering a badly broken leg in Nov. 2018 that required 17 operations and nearly proved deadly because of infection. He nearly lost the leg and endured months of a ghastly metal brace.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

“It’s the No. 1 area that I want to see Derek Carr become what he was, what, three years ago when he was trending really well.

Kerrigan on sack mark: ‘I want it'

Ryan Kerrigan heard the offseason whispers.

No more excuses for Carr, offense

For so many reasons, the spotlight is shining brighter on Derek Carr than it ever has before.

Defense strong across board

What will Washington’s revamped defense look like under coach Ron Rivera and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio?

Ferrell blocking out noise

Clelin Ferrell proved to be a stand-up player throughout his rookie season, even as a multitude of critics quickly tried to bury him as a first-round bust. He wasn’t, of course. Not even close. But, with a tip of the cap to Chappelle’s Show, haters gonna hate.

Choosing quarterbacks is never ‘comfortable'

Let me make this clear – I think that Dwayne Haskins will be the starting quarterback for the Washington Football Team. There are too many circumstances working in favor of that outcome and also too many working against any other result.

NEW MIDDLE MAN

Prized free agent Littleton set to anchor defense

Change was offseason's constant

Wow, what an offseason.

It's not about proving anybody wrong; it's about the Super Bowl

There has been a lot written, said and talked about when it comes to Derek Carr ever since he entered the NFL in 2014. Good, bad, or otherwise. And while Carr has mostly danced around conversations pertaining to himself, particularly any sort of criticism, he was pretty open when speaking with reporters early in training camp. He talked about dealing with the pandemic, the benefits of a third consecutive season in the same offense, teaming with Marcus Mariota and a variety of other topics. Here are excerpts from that conversation. Call it Carr in his own words.

5 Players to watch

Dwayne Haskins

INSIDE JOB

Collins emerging as leader on interior defensive line

Cancer won't stop Rivera

The diagnosis was a shot across the internet. Washington coach Ron Rivera has cancer.

CAMP BUZZ

CAMP BUZZ

3 big thoughts

SMITH SHOULD BE QUARANTINE QB

AFC WEST ROUNDUP

AFC WEST ROUNDUP

NO MERCY, NO FEAR

THE NBA IS BACK AND NEW ORLEANS PELICANS STAR ZION WILLIAMSON IS AS CONFIDENT AS HE’S EVER BEEN. LET THIS BE YOUR FINAL WARNING.

U-N-C-E-R-T-A-I-N-T-Y is certain

G-MAN ON THE G-MEN

THE PEOPLE'S CHAMP

NATASHA CLOUD HAS ALWAYS FOUGHT FOR WHAT’S RIGHT. BY OPTING OUT OF THE 2020 WNBA SEASON TO FOCUS ON SOCIAL JUSTICE, THE REIGNING CHAMP CONTINUES HER FIGHT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

Sterling Shepard: Buying into the Giants' wide receiver unit

Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard has become one of the faces of the franchise, expounding on the positives and hoping to fulfill the promise while sporting that infectious smile he brought with him four years ago from the University of Oklahoma.