Athlon Sports Features
NFL: Free Agency Preview
The craziness of NFL free agency begins Friday. Mike Nahrstedt previews the upcoming open-market period and explains what could happen if a new CBA isn't reached before Friday.
[FULL STORY]NFL: Combine - Defense
Put down your stopwatch and step away from the orange cones, the NFL Scouting Combine is officially over. Check out which defensive players made the most of their job interview in Indianapolis.
[FULL STORY]NFL: Combine - Offense
While the Vancouver Olympics were wrapping up, the NFL Scouting Combine was just getting started. Check out which offensive players made the most of their job interview in Indianapolis.
[FULL STORY]NFL: Lockout Would Cost League Too Much
The NFL, by any calculation, is at the height of its all-time popularity. So it would be a shame if the owners and players managed to screw that up with a 2011 lockout.
[FULL STORY]NFL: Athlon's All-AFC and All-NFC Teams
The Pro Bowl has turned into a joke, but that doesn't mean the league's All-Stars should be discounted. Here's how Pro Bowl lineups would look if it were up to Athlon Sports, plus picks for the major award winners.
[FULL STORY]NFL: Athlon's All-Rookie Team
Some of them were the stars of last April's Draft and others flew under the radar, but all of Athlon's Rookie Team members excelled in their first season in the league.
[FULL STORY]NFL: Greatest Moments in Super Bowl History
We prepare you for Super Sunday with a little history lesson. Our writers have gone list crazy in identifying the best of the best in the 43-game history of the Super Bowl.
[FULL STORY]NFL: End of the year power rankings
The NFL playoffs are set to begin this weekend but first, Mike Nahrstedt wraps up the regular season with the final edition of his Power Rankings column.
[FULL STORY]NFL: Week 17 Preview
It's the final week of the NFL's regular season, and that means there are some huge games on the slate ... and plenty of unimportant ones. Mike Nahrstedt runs through them all in his Week 17 Preview.
[FULL STORY]NFL: Week 16 Power Rankings
The Colts sat their starters and took their first loss of the season, but did Mike Nahrstedt bump them from the top spot of this week's power rankings?
[FULL STORY]NFL: Week 15 Preview
The Bengals play one of their biggest games of the season Sunday at San Diego with very heavy hearts. Mike Nahrstedt looks at that game and the other 14 on the weekend slate in his Week 15 preview.
[FULL STORY]NFL: Bubble teams vying for playoff spots
Nine of the NFL playoff spots are pretty much set. That leaves only three spots realistically open for a big group of bubble teams. Ralph Vacchiano takes a quick look at those teams and their chances for extending their season beyond Week 17.
[FULL STORY]NFL: Week 14 Preview
We have reached the season’s quarter pole, the point at which the big games get bigger and the lesser games start to fall off the map entirely. Mike Nahrstedt looks at them all in his Week 14 NFL Preview.
[FULL STORY]NFL: Week 13 Power Rankings
The Colts and Saints remained undefeated in decidedly different fashions this week but they're both still atop this week's power rankings.
[FULL STORY]NFL: Week 13 Preview
The Titans seem to be a team of destiny, but they will face their stiffest challenge yet against undefeated Indianapolis this week. Mike Nahrstedt looks at that and the other 14 games on the Week 13 NFL slate.
[FULL STORY]NFL: Week 12 Power Rankings
What a weekend of football. The Thanksgiving Day games were pretty much snoozers, but Sunday brought a number of come-from-behind wins and Monday showcased the powerful Saints. Mike Nahrstedt sorts through the excitement to bring you his Week 12 NFL power rankings.
[FULL STORY]NFL: A feast of Thanksgiving games
Thanksgiving features three NFL games from morning to night. Ralph Vacchiano previews the Turkey Day matchups.
[FULL STORY]NFL: Week 11 Power Rankings
The AFC North had a breakdown this week as all four teams lost close games. Mike Nahrstedt sorts out the week's results and dishes out the latest edition of his NFL power rankings.
[FULL STORY]Fantasy Updates - PlayerScope
Ahmad Bradshaw
Bradshaw has been playing with a fracture in his left foot for most of this season, but now he thinks he might have the same injury in his right foot. His playing status for Week 17 is uncertain and if he's out, that will mean more playing time for Danny Ware and Gartrell Johnson. Remember, Brandon Jacobs is on IR with a knee injury....
[FULL STORY]Brandon Jacobs
Jacobs, who rushed for one yard on six carries last week, indicated that he has been playing with a knee injury all season. He has been placed on injured reserve. We expect Ahmad Bradshaw will see additional carries this week, but would not be surprised if rookie Gartrell Johnson sees some playing time too....
[FULL STORY]Mario Manningham
He suffered a separated shoulder in practice last Thursday and was inactive for Week 8. He is a big question mark going into Week 9. He practiced on a limited basis this week....
[FULL STORY]Eli Manning
Manning bruised his right heel against the Chiefs on Sunday and did not finish the game. He will be evaluated during the week to determine his status for the Week 5 game against Oakland....
[FULL STORY]Hakeem Nicks
He practiced on a limited basis Wednesday and practiced on a full basis on Thursday. If he returns, the Giants still are likely to make the greatest use of Steve Smith and Mario Manningham....
[FULL STORY]Danny Ware
He dislocated his elbow on the first kick return of the game and will miss the next two games. Ware will be listed week to week from there. The Giants claimed RB Gartrell Johnson off waivers from the Chargers as an insurance move. Johnson could be used in short-yardage situations....
[FULL STORY]More Inside Athlon Sports ...
Vacchiano: Patroits are the favorites in '07
A lot of things can change between now and next February. But the events of draft weekend, and some of the events of the two months before, have Ralph Vacchiano convinced that the Pats are the early favorite to win Super Bowl XLII.
Vacchiano: Quinn's value being overlooked
No player in this year’s draft has seen his stock yo-yo more than former Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn. Ralph Vacchiano says the "Golden Boy" will be a great pick up for whichever team doesn't out-think themselves.
Vacchiano: NFL must send message to teams
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Pacman Jones and Chris Henry on Tuesday for their off-the-field problems. Ralph Vacchiano applauds the decision but says the league should focus on punishing the teams as well.




