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Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Sport
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NFL and Nike introduce Rivalries uniform program
Fans crowd around the draft stage during the second round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 25, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) NEW YORK (AP) — Nike and the NFL will highlight rivalries over the next four seasons through a new uniform program. The league and Nike announced the launch of the Rivalries Program on Friday during the second round of the NFL draft. Teams from the AFC East and NFC West will wear specially designed uniforms and fan gear for one home game against a division rival this season. Advertisement Rivalries uniforms will be included in a team's uniform lineup for three years after introduction, in addition to existing alternate uniforms. The program will expand to the AFC South and NFC North in 2026, followed by NFC East and AFC West teams in 2027, and the AFC North and NFC South in 2028. ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Sport
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Shedeur Sanders' wait continues as teams pass on Colorado QB early in 2nd round of NFL draft
San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears fans cheer during the second round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 25, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The wait continues for Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who wasn't among the first several players picked in the second round of the NFL draft on Friday. Although Sanders never was considered a sure bet to get selected in the first round, he garnered so much attention over the last several months that his slide to the draft's second day has dominated coverage of the NFL's spring extravaganza and even caught the attention of President Donald Trump. Advertisement Cleveland had two of the first four picks in the second round and has a clear need at quarterback after the team got little production out of Deshaun Watson, who will miss the upcoming season with a torn Achilles tendon. Kenny Pickett and 40-year-old Joe Flacco are the Browns' current QBs. Yet the Browns selected UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger at No. 33 and Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins at No. 36. Houston chose Iowa State wide receiver Jayden Higgins with the second pick of the second round. The Seattle Seahawks and Miami Dolphins both traded up to get picks early in the second round. Seattle chose South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori with the 35th overall pick. Miami took Arizona guard Jonah Savaiinaea at No. 37. Sanders spent the last four seasons playing for his outspoken, at times polarizing father — Hall of Famer Deion 'Coach Prime' Sanders — first at Jackson State and later at Colorado. Advertisement In a post on his Truth Social platform on Friday, Trump criticized teams for not selecting Sanders and said the quarterback's 'PHENOMENAL GENES' made him 'all set for Greatness.' Sanders finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy balloting last season while throwing for a school-record 4,134 yards and helping Colorado go 9-4. Although Sanders was rated by some draft analysts as a better QB prospect than Miami's Cam Ward — who ultimately went No. 1 overall to Tennessee — concerns mounted as the draft drew closer. One issue: Sanders was sacked 94 times over his last two college seasons. There also were worries about his arm strength and questions about how well he would adapt to playing for someone other than his dad. Only two quarterbacks were selected in the first round. For a few moments, it appeared Sanders' wait might be over when the New York Giants traded up to the 25th pick, but the team opted for Mississippi's Jaxson Dart. Advertisement The Pittsburgh Steelers, who need a QB following the offseason departures of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, used the 21st pick on Oregon defensive lineman Derrick Harmon. Sanders didn't travel to Green Bay for the draft. Instead, he watched the proceedings with his family in Canton, Texas. 'We all didn't expect this of course, but I feel like with God, anything's possible, everything's possible,' Sanders said in a video posted on YouTube on Thursday night. 'I don't think this happened for no reason. All this is, is of course fuel to the fire. Under no circumstance, we all know this shouldn't have happened, but we understand we're on to bigger and better things. Tomorrow's the day. We're going to be happy regardless.' ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Green Bay and Lambeau Field provide a festive setting for the first night of the NFL draft
Miami quarterback Cam Ward takes a selfie with fans after being chosen by the Tennessee Titans with the first overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) New York Giants fans celbrate during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell, center, celebrates with fans after being chosen by the New England Patriots with the fourth overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) Las Vegas Raiders fans celebrates during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) Las Vegas Raiders fans celebrates during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) Miami quarterback Cam Ward takes a selfie with fans after being chosen by the Tennessee Titans with the first overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) New York Giants fans celbrate during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell, center, celebrates with fans after being chosen by the New England Patriots with the fourth overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) Las Vegas Raiders fans celebrates during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Andy Neumann moved out of Wisconsin a dozen years ago and now lives in Georgia, where he generally doesn't have to worry about temperatures in the 50s after Easter. But he also is a Green Bay Packers shareholder, and nothing was going to stop him from attending the NFL draft at the home of the league's only publicly owned team. So he flew from his home in Savannah to visit relatives in Minnesota, then drove more than four hours to catch Thursday's first round outside Lambeau Field. Advertisement 'I was prepared for cooler weather,' Neumann said, wearing a Packers jersey with Ray Nitschke's name on the back. 'I have all my sweaters in my suitcase.' Neumann had plenty of company. Having the draft in the NFL's smallest market assured that it wouldn't approach the record total of 775,000 fans over three days who attended last year's version in Detroit. Yet there still was quite a crowd, as evidenced by the homeowners charging $100 or more for parking spaces in the neighborhoods surrounding the stadium. As he opened the draft, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said there were '125,000 people here and still counting.' Advertisement 'Green Bay may be small, but it's mighty,' Goodell said. Goodell started the draft by riding a bicycle onto the stage, a nod to a Packers' training camp tradition in which players borrow children's bikes to ride from their locker room at Lambeau Field to the practice fields. He was joined by rapper and Packers fan Lil Wayne and several former Packers, including Clay Matthews, who thrilled the Green Bay fans by taking the microphone and joking that he had a message from President Donald Trump that said, 'My fellow Americans, the Bears still suck!' Yet this wasn't a Packers-only event. The crowd featured a rainbow of jerseys from across the league. Justin Ramos and Kyle Polinski both attended the draft when it took place in Chicago, where they live, in 2015 and 2016. But they always wanted to visit Lambeau and considered this a prime opportunity. Advertisement They said they didn't even get much grief for wearing Caleb Williams Bears jerseys. 'The Wisconsinites are very nice. ... Some 'Bears suck' here and there, but it's been pretty good,' Polinski said. Larry Laurello of Ashtabula, Ohio, had an entirely different reason for bringing his Browns-themed party bus all the way to Green Bay for this draft. 'First time we've had a (first-round) pick in four years,' Laurello said as he sported a Bernie Kosar jersey. 'Got to show up.' Laurello wasn't fazed by driving 10 hours to get to the draft. 'We've taken our bus to Seattle from Cleveland before, for games,' he said. Advertisement Green Bay's status as a unique draft site goes beyond its smaller size. The Packers leaned into the Packers' rich history by making Lambeau a featured part of the event. Projected first-round picks made a red-carpet entrance Thursday that led them into the stadium. Thousands of fans already had gathered in the stands by that point to watch the draft on the end-zone scoreboards. Atlanta Falcons fan Tyrone Pritchett lives in Detroit and attended last year's draft in the heart of the Motor City's downtown. Pritchell said this draft had a different feel because the stadium was such a big part of the setting. The Lambeau atmosphere was different from usual. Advertisement Ryan Babcock of Milwaukee had been anticipating this night for months. He arrived in an RV and wearing a green-and-gold jersey that said 'Draft Day-Green Bay' with the number 25. He regularly attends Packers games but said this scene was crazier than a typical NFL Sunday because of the larger crowd. 'Everything is so good, so far,' he said. ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Giants take Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter with No. 3 overall pick in NFL draft
Draft prospect, Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter, works with local youth football players and Special Olympics athletes during the league's annual prospect clinic ahead of the NFL football draft Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) FILE - Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter (11) prepares to sack Maryland quarterback MJ Morris, left, during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger, File) FILE - Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter (11) runs during an NCAA football game against Southern California on Saturday, Oct.12, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File) Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter walks on the carpet before first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter poses on the carpet before first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter poses on the carpet before first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) Draft prospect, Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter, works with local youth football players and Special Olympics athletes during the league's annual prospect clinic ahead of the NFL football draft Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) FILE - Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter (11) prepares to sack Maryland quarterback MJ Morris, left, during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger, File) FILE - Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter (11) runs during an NCAA football game against Southern California on Saturday, Oct.12, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File) Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter walks on the carpet before first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter poses on the carpet before first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) The New York Giants selected Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter with the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL draft Thursday night. Carter, who led the country with 23 1/2 tackles for loss and had 12 sacks last season, bolsters a Giants defense that already has solid pass rushers in Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns and a strong D-line that includes Pro Bowler Dexter Lawrence. Advertisement The speedy and explosive Carter was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous All-American pick last season and steadily saw his draft stock soar. Carter, a native of Philadelphia, was originally a traditional linebacker during his first two seasons at Penn State before moving to defensive end last year. The move paid off as the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Carter's athleticism and elite first step off the ball immediately made him one of college football's most dominant pass rushers. ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Sport
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A stunner in Jacksonville: Jaguars trade up in NFL draft to land 2-way star Travis Hunter
Draft prospect Travis Hunter of Colorado works with local youth football players and Special Olympics athletes during the league's annual prospect clinic ahead of the NFL football draft Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter poses on the carpet before first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) FILE - Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) runs after catching a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Central Florida, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File) Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter poses on the carpet before first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter poses on the carpet before first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) Draft prospect Travis Hunter of Colorado works with local youth football players and Special Olympics athletes during the league's annual prospect clinic ahead of the NFL football draft Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter poses on the carpet before first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) FILE - Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) runs after catching a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Central Florida, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File) Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter poses on the carpet before first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars traded up three spots to select Heisman Trophy winner/two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter with the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft Thursday night. The Jaguars gave up four picks — including second- and fourth-rounders this year and their 2026 first-rounder — to land one of the most intriguing NFL prospects in draft history and set the tone for a new regime that features first-time general manager James Gladstone, first-time head coach Liam Coen and first-time executive vice president Tony Boselli. Advertisement Now, they have the first two-way player in franchise lore. The Jags also received a fourth-rounder and a sixth-rounder in return from the Browns. Hunter will join franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Pro Bowl receiver Brian Thomas Jr. to create the core of Coen's offense — and maybe his defense, too. Hunter told NFL teams he plans to play both sides of the ball as a pro. The Jaguars envision him primarily as a receiver — he will start opposite Thomas and should give Lawrence another dynamic playmaker — but plan to have defensive packages for him. Deion Sanders, who played defensive back and receiver during his Pro Football Hall of Fame career, coached Hunter at Jackson State and Colorado and had no qualms about playing him both ways. Advertisement Sanders allowed Hunter to take several days off after games to recuperate, a luxury he's unlikely to have as a rookie. Last season, Hunter caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns and notched 35 tackles, 11 pass breakups, eight forced incompletions and four interceptions while allowing just one touchdown. Gladstone, Coen and Boselli wanted to make a splash with their top pick. After weeks of speculation about staying put at No. 5 and selecting Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, they made a much bolder move. Now, it's up to trio to get the most out of Hunter. ___ AP NFL:
