Salvador Perez Has Evolved Into Elite Power Hitter

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez tied a franchise record with his 48 home runs last season, and he also set a new single-season record for home runs by a catcher. Perez credited his success to constantly studying pitchers' tendencies and months spent in the offseason in the batting cages. The power-hitting backstop had the […]

Rockies Sign Zach Lee To Minor League Deal

The Colorado Rockies signed right-handed pitcher Zach Lee to a minor league deal. The Rockies have also added catchers Jonathan Morales and Carlos Perez and outfielders Tyler Hill and Wynton Bernard to minor league deals since the calendar flipped to February. Lee, a former first-round pick (28th overall) in 2010, was traded from the Los […]

Dodgers Sign Stefen Romero To Minor League Deal

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed first baseman/outfielder Stefen Romero to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training on Saturday, according to a source. Romero smacked 96 home runs in the last five seasons while playing in Japan, including the shortened season in 2020. The 33-year-old could be a designated hitter option for […]

Tommy Kahnle Expected To Be Ready For Opening Day

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle (elbow) has made excellent progress from Tommy John surgery, and he's expected to be ready for Opening Day after missing all of the 2021 season. Kahnle has yet to pitch for the Dodgers after signing a two-year, $4.75 million deal. The hard-throwing 32-year-old right-hander will add depth to […]

Matthew Boyd Expects To Be Ready By June

Left-handed pitcher Matthew Boyd (elbow), who was designated for assignment by the Detroit Tigers just before the lockout began in early December, said he expects to be ready for game action in early June after having surgery last September to fix the flexor tendon in his left arm. The 31-year-old southpaw said his "elbow feels […]

Austin Meadows Could Be A Trade Candidate

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Austin Meadows could be a trade candidate after Major League Baseball's lockout ends. Of the Rays players, Meadows and outfielder Kevin Kiermaier are the two likeliest to be dealt before the regular season. Manuel Margot is another possibility. Meadows, 26, will be arbitration-eligible for the first time after the 2022 season […]

Players Union Unimpressed By MLB's Latest Offer

Major League Baseball and the Players Association met for less than an hour on Saturday, and there remains no deal on a new collective bargaining agreement. The players came out of the meeting unimpressed by the offer from the league, and there's very little progress made between the two sides in negotiations. The league proposed […]

Rob Ryan Hired By Raiders As Defensive Assistant

Former Baltimore Ravens linebackers coach Rob Ryan has been hired as the senior defensive assistant with the Las Vegas Raiders, according to sources. Ryan spent five years as the Raiders defensive coordinator from 2004-08. Baltimore parted ways with Ryan and defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale after the 2021 season. The Ravens hired Mike Macdonald to […]

Mariners Re-Sign Asher Wojciechowski

The Seattle Mariners have re-signed right-handed pitcher Asher Wojciechowski to a minor league deal. In addition, the M's added pitchers Ian McKinney, Danny Young and Cameron Ming and shortstop Erick Mejia to minor league deals. Wojciechowski originally signed with the Mariners last July, but he never got the call-up to the big-league team in 2021. […]

Eric Thames Signs With The A's

Free-agent first baseman/outfielder Eric Thames signed a minor league deal with the Oakland Athletics on Friday, according to a source. Thames is a South Bay native that had most of his season in Japan last year wiped out by a torn Achilles. The 35-year-old left-handed slugger spent four seasons in Major League Baseball before that […]

Andrew Whitworth Likely To Retire If Rams Win

Asked if he'd retire if the Los Angeles Rams win the Super Bowl over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, left tackle Andrew Whitworth said, "What an unreal way to walk off. I don't think there's anything else I would have to do." The 40-year-old tackle missed the Divisional Round win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers […]

C.J. Uzomah Listed As Questionable For Super Bowl

Cincinnati Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah (knee) is listed as questionable for the Super Bowl on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams, although he was a full practice participant on Friday. Head coach Zac Taylor said Uzomah is expected to play after suffering a sprained MCL in the AFC Championship win over the Kansas City […]

Eric Studesville To Remain In Miami

New Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel will keep running backs coach and co-offensive coordinator Eric Studesville from the offensive staff, according to a league source. McDaniel is also retaining linebackers coach Anthony Campanile and cornerbacks coach Charles Burks, alongside defensive coordinator Josh Boyer and defensive line coach Austin Clark. Studesville won't be the offensive […]

Rod Marinelli Planning To Retire

Former Detroit Lions head coach and Las Vegas Raiders defensive line coach Rod Marinelli plans to retire, according to sources. Marinelli continues to have interest in coaching, but he has packed up and headed to Texas. The 72-year-old has been one of the NFL's most respected teachers, but this might be it for him. Before […]

Rams Officially Activate Darrell Henderson Jr. From IR

The Los Angeles Rams officially activated running back Darrell Henderson Jr. (knee) and nose tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day (pectoral) from Injured Reserve on Friday, so the Rams will have both of them available on Sunday for the Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals. Head coach Sean McVay said earlier this week that Henderson had a "good […]

Tyler Higbee Placed On IR, Won't Play Sunday

The Los Angeles Rams placed tight end Tyler Higbee (knee) and offensive tackle Joseph Noteboom (chest) on Injured Reserve on Friday, so they will both be out for the Super Bowl on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Higbee sprained his MCL in the NFC Championship win over the San Francisco 49ers, and head coach Sean […]

Wes Welker To Join Dolphins Coaching Staff

Former NFL wide receiver Wes Welker will join Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel's coaching staff as their wide receivers coach. Welker will be returning to South Florida after playing for the Dolphins in the mid-2000s. Welker and McDaniel worked together with the San Francisco 49ers for the last three years under head coach Kyle […]

Broncos Expected To Hire Dom Capers

The Denver Broncos are expected to hire long-time defensive coordinator Dom Capers as a senior defensive assistant to help expected defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, according to a source. Capers has been a defensive coordinator for four different teams and will bring a wealth of experience for Evero, who will be a first-time defensive coordinator. The […]

Seahawks Fire Offensive Line Coach Mike Solari

The Seattle Seahawks fired offensive line coach Mike Solari on Friday, according to sources. Solari had returned to Seattle in 2018 for his second stint with the team after coaching the offensive line from 2008-09. Seattle's offensive line hasn't been very good since Solari rejoined the team, so his firing doesn't come as a huge […]

Seahawks Hire Sean Desai To Help With Defense

The Seattle Seahawks hired former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Sean Desai as their associate head coach of defense on Friday, according to a source. He becomes one of the youngest associate head coaches in the NFL at only 38 years old. Desai will work closely with Clint Hurtt, who was promoted to defensive coordinator after […]

C.J. Uzomah Expected To Play In Super Bowl

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor expects tight end C.J. Uzomah (knee) to play in the Super Bowl on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. Uzomah sprained his MCL in the AFC Championship win over the Kansas City Chiefs and missed all of last week's practices, but he was able to practice on a limited […]

Pete Carmichael Won't Be The Offensive Coordinator

Long-time New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael is expected to remain on new head coach Dennis Allen's staff, but he'll work in a lower-profile position than coordinator, according to sources. Carmichael has been the team's offensive coordinator since 2009 and called plays in 2012 when head coach Sean Payton was suspended for the year. […]

Vikings To Name Ed Donatell The DC Next Week

The Minnesota Vikings will name Ed Donatell as their new defensive coordinator next week under soon-to-be head coach Kevin O'Connell. The 65-year-old Donatell was the Denver Broncos defensive coordinator for the past three seasons. Donatell has also served as the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons. He has mostly focused on […]

Tyrann Mathieu Wants A Four-Year Deal

Kansas City Chiefs impending free-agent safety Tyrann Mathieu wants a four-year deal in free agency, but the Chiefs might only want to go two years to re-sign him. The starting line for a new contract could be at $16 million per year. But in free agency, Mathieu could be offered a deal worth $18 million […]

Eric Bieniemy Expected To Return As Offensive Coordinator

Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is expected to return to the Chiefs in the same role after not getting the New Orleans Saints head-coaching position. It's possible that he'll sign another one-year deal, with the hope that he'll become a head coach for the 2023 season. "Everyone wants him to stay," one source […]

Jaguars Choose Press Taylor As Offensive Coordinator

The Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to terms with Press Taylor on Thursday to be their next offensive coordinator, according to a source. The 34-year-old, who is the brother of Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, will reunite with head coach Doug Pederson from their time together with the Philadelphia Eagles. Taylor spent five years with Pederson […]

Steelers Could Try To Re-Sign JuJu Smith-Schuster

The Athletic's Ed Bouchette believes that the Pittsburgh Steelers will try to re-sign wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster at a reasonable price. Just like he found a year ago in free agency, Smith-Schuster might not find much out there on the open market to his liking after an injury plagued season in 2021. The 25-year-old played […]

Mike Vrabel Named 2021 Coach Of The Year

Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel was named the 2021 Associated Press Coach of the Year on Thursday night. Vrabel, who also received a contract extension from the Titans this week, won the award over Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. Vrabel led Tennessee to their second […]

Micah Parsons Wins Defensive Rookie Of The Year Award

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons unanimously won the 2021 Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year award on Thursday night. The 12th overall pick in 2021, Parsons had one of the most dominant rookie seasons in NFL history, setting a franchise rookie record with 13 sacks while tying for the league lead with 20 tackles […]

T.J. Watt Takes Home Defensive Player Of The Year Honors

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt was named the 2021 Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday. The 27-year-old pass-rusher was the most disruptive defensive player last season when it came to putting heat on the opposing quarterback. Watt tied the single-season sack record with 22.5 sacks and also recorded 64 total tackles, which […]