LAS VEGAS — If the Raiders are trying to hide their love of star prospect Ashton Jeanty, they’re not doing a good job of it.

The powers that be in Henderson are acting like awkward, bespectacled teenagers who can’t help but shyly drop their head and flash a silly grin every time their crush’s name gets mentioned.

Not that this analogy ...Read more

MIAMI — How is this not a rebuild?

Anyone who looks at the moves the Miami Dolphins have made since Valentine’s Day, when the roster remodeling started with the release of a couple veterans, shouldn’t even question this.

The Dolphins’ decision-makers run and hide at the mention of the R words — rebuild, remodel, a reset, whatever you...Read more

Editor’s note: The Union-Tribune’s Eddie Brown is breaking down prospects, position by position, leading up to the NFL draft (April 24-26). Here are his top 10 edge rushers, plus “bonus” players he believes will be drafted or signed as a priority free agent:

— 1. Abdul Carter (Jr., Penn St., 6-foot-3, 250 pounds)

After spending his ...Read more

Editor’s note: The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Eddie Brown is breaking down prospects, position by position, leading up to the NFL draft (April 24-26). Here are his top 10 defensive tackles, plus “bonus” players he believes will be drafted or signed as a priority free agent:

— 1. Mason Graham (Jr., Michigan, 6-foot-3, 306 pounds)

A ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — A week from now, there will be instant reactions to how the Steelers and other teams executed the NFL draft. Winners and losers will be declared, grades will be assigned and some teams will be skewered for their selections.

But it takes three to five years to accurately evaluate a draft class, and there are different benchmarks ...Read more

Editor’s note: The Union-Tribune’s Eddie Brown is breaking down prospects, position by position, leading up to the NFL draft (April 24-26). Here are his top 10 linebackers, plus “bonus” players he believes will be drafted or signed as a priority free agent:

— 1. Jihaad Campbell (Jr., Alabama, 6-foot-3, 235 pounds)

Campbell is a ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Anyone who has spent any time around Howie Roseman knows that he has a chip the size of a soccer ball on his shoulder. Through two Super Bowl victories and three Super Bowl berths and his rise into the consensus best general manager in the NFL, he has never bothered to set that boulder down. It would be stunning if he ever did. ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Shortly before Christmas one year back home in Mount Carmel, Pa., ever-eager young Brett Veach intercepted or otherwise discovered a package anticipating his name was on the gift within.

Careful to slowly pull away the Scotch tape lest he give himself away, he discovered the new Tecmo Bowl video game indeed intended for him...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Former Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney spent part of his Thursday knocking down internet rumors from “goofies” that he is done playing football.

But he took advantage of all the yacking to promote his other career — rapping as his alter ego Yung Joka.

“Goofies on the net hollering im retiring,” the two-time ...Read more

Editor’s note: The Union-Tribune’s Eddie Brown is breaking down prospects, position by position, leading up to the NFL draft (April 24-26). Here are his top 10 cornerbacks, plus “bonus” players he believes will be drafted or signed as a priority free agent:

— 1. Will Johnson (Jr., Michigan, 6-foot-2, 194 pounds)

Johnson is a press ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Thanks, Aaron. Appreciate the time and conversation. Hope you enjoyed seeing our city in your rented Chevy Malibu. But we need to move on.

That's what the Steelers should say to Aaron Rodgers, who sounded a lot like a man leaning toward retirement when he appeared on ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show" on Thursday afternoon.

Rodgers ...Read more

NEW YORK — Since the Jets released him last month after two seasons, Aaron Rodgers had remained silent.

But that changed on Thursday during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.”

In his first public comments since his Gang Green exit, Rodgers had some damning comments about the Jets organization and his meeting with new coach Aaron ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Howie Roseman was on a podcast last month, talking about the lessons he has learned over his years as the Eagles’ player-personnel chief, from his two Super Bowl victories to his 2015 exile under Chip Kelly and everything in between. Asked about his evaluations of players and the role that character plays in those evaluations,...Read more

BALTIMORE — Former quarterback Joe Flacco had a brief conversation about returning to the Ravens this offseason, and once that didn’t happen, he made another investment in the Baltimore community with Caddix cleats, a local shoe company.

According to Flacco, the Ravens inquired about his return but eventually signed former Dallas Cowboys ...Read more

Editor’s note: The Union-Tribune’s Eddie Brown is breaking down prospects, position by position, leading up to the NFL draft (April 24-26). Here are his top 10 safeties, plus “bonus” players he believes will be drafted or signed as a priority free agent:

— 1. Malaki Starks (Jr., Georgia, 6-foot-1, 197 pounds)

Starks was the top-...Read more

Editor’s note: The Union-Tribune’s Eddie Brown is breaking down prospects, position by position, leading up to the NFL draft (April 24-26). Here are his top 10 interior offensive linemen, plus “bonus” players he believes will be drafted or signed as a priority free agent:

— 1. Donovan Jackson (Sr., Ohio St., 6-foot-4, 315 pounds)

...Read more

NEW YORK — The story of the Giants’ NFL draft will be whether they draft Shedeur Sanders or not — and why.

They have guaranteed that will be the case with Thursday’s return to Colorado for a private workout with Sanders only a week out from the draft’s first round, when the Giants will pick No. 3 overall.

Joe Schoen, Brian Daboll and...Read more

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — With star cornerback Jalen Ramsey on the trading block, left tackle Terron Armstead retiring and veteran defensive tackle Calais Campbell departing in free agency, is it time for the Miami Dolphins to label 2025 the start of at least a soft rebuild or reset?

Don’t use that phrasing around general manager Chris Grier.

...Read more

PITTSBURGH — When Cam Heyward was unhappy with the status of his contract negotiations last spring, the Steelers captain and face of the franchise brought up the possibility he could finish his career elsewhere. He also sat out a portion of last year's voluntary spring workouts to signal to ownership he was ready to play hard ball if need be. ...Read more

Editor’s note: The U-T’s Eddie Brown is breaking down prospects, position by position, leading up to the NFL draft (April 24-26). Here are his top 10 offensive tackles, plus “bonus” players he believes will be drafted or signed as a priority free agent:

— Will Campbell (Jr., LSU, 6-foot-6, 319 pounds)

Campbell was the fourth-ranked...Read more