The family of former NFL star Aldon Smith is donating his brain to the Boston University CTE Center to research the long-term effects of repetitive brain injuries following his sudden death at age 36.

Aldon Smith, a former All-Pro linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers whose playing career was sidetracked by legal issues, has died.

For well over a decade now, general manager Les Snead and the Los Angeles Rams have consistently pulled off the aggressive, audacious moves that every NFL fan wishes their team would make.

The Seattle Seahawks have won the franchise’s second Super Bowl title.

Christian McCaffrey, Roquan Smith and Von Miller were the best trade deadline acquisitions over the past four years.

The NFL trade market has become more active in recent years.

It’s only been two games so far, but Jayden Daniels and the rest of the Washington Commanders have looked quite a bit like the oldest team in the NFL and very little like the club that went 12-5 and made it to the NFC title game last season.

Micah Parsons’ arrival in Green Bay has his new Packers teammates believing any goal is realistic.

Rookie TreVeyon Henderson had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the game, quarterback Drake Maye added a 5-yard touchdown run and the New England Patriots beat the Washington Commanders 48-18 in the exhibition opener for both teams.

Washington’s NFL franchise used to be in the news all the time for reasons other than football.

Von Miller is joining the Washington Commanders.

Safety Damar Hamlin is returning to Buffalo, and the Bills also continued restocking their their defensive front by agreeing to sign tackle Larry Ogunjobi.

The Buffalo Bills have turned to Joey Bosa to fill their pass-rush needs.

The Buffalo Bills made the long-anticipated decision to release Von Miller, parting ways with the aging edge rusher whose contract proved too expensive for his dwindling playing time and production.

The road to the NFL’s final four features seven of the eight division winners.

To start, Marvin Mims Jr. was counted on mostly as a returner.

The Denver Broncos are back in the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season.

The Bills are already missing suspended pass rusher Von Miller.

The Buffalo Bills have grown accustomed to spending the first month of the season leaning on backups stepping up on a depleted defense.

No charges have been filed, and Von Miller says he considers the case of him allegedly assaulting his pregnant girlfriend as being closed based on feedback the Buffalo Bills edge rusher got from his legal representatives.

Buffalo Bills edge rusher Von Miller has disputed the allegations that he assaulted his pregnant girlfriend, calling them “100 percent false” and “blown out of proportion.”.

Buffalo Bills edge rusher Von Miller declined to take questions at his locker a week after turning himself in to police in a Dallas suburb after allegedly assaulting the mother of his children, who is pregnant.

Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane is disappointed in the allegations of domestic violence made against Von Miller, while stressing he and the team are waiting for the legal process to play out rather than rush to judgement.

Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller has turned himself in to police in a Dallas suburb after he was charged in a warrant with domestic violence against the mother of his children, who is pregnant.

The Denver Broncos will face former captain and Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller for the first time Monday night when they play the Buffalo Bills.

Bills edge-rusher Von Miller is active for Buffalo’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars but defensive end Shaq Lawson is out with a toe injury.

Buffalo Bills edge rusher Von Miller says it’s a “safe bet” that he’ll make his season debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday in London.

Von Miller knows Stefon Diggs’ competitive makeup all too well to buy into the narrative the Bills receiver wants out of Buffalo.

The Buffalo Bills ended a season in which they overcame much adversity by producing a dud in a 27-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and the divisional round of the playoffs.

The Buffalo Bills’ top pass-rusher Von Miller will miss the remainder of the season after having surgery to repair an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills head to New England looking for their first division win of the season.

A person with direct knowledge of Von Miller’s injury told The Associated Press that tests showed no tear to the anterior cruciate ligament in the injured right knee of the Buffalo Bills star pass-rusher.

Buffalo Bills edge rusher Von Miller injured his right knee in the second quarter and was ruled out for the rest of the game against the Detroit Lions.

Bills coach Sean McDermott is trying to keep things light as a major snowstorm hits Buffalo and disrupts the team's schedule.

The Denver Broncos have agreed to trade linebacker Bradley Chubb to the Miami Dolphins for their first-round pick in 2023.

The Los Angeles Rams are used to making the NFL’s boldest moves and getting the big-name players they want.

Josh Allen threw for 329 yards and three touchdowns, including the go-ahead toss to Dawson Knox with 1:04 left in the game, and the Buffalo Bills beat the Kansas City Chiefs 24-20 on Sunday to exact a small measure of revenge for their epic overtime loss in last year’s playoffs.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Chiefs counterpart Patrick Mahomes have one of the best young rivalries in the NFL.

The Los Angeles Rams’ honeymoon from their Super Bowl championship didn’t even last until the first Sunday of the next regular season.

Josh Allen passed for 297 yards while accounting for four touchdowns as the Buffalo Bills stamped themselves as a clear contender for the Rams’ Super Bowl crown with a 31-10 victory over Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead have agreed to contract extensions through the 2026 season, keeping the defending Super Bowl champions’ brain trust in place with lucrative new rewards.

Von Miller will always carry fond memories of his brief and successful stint with the Los Angeles Rams, where he won his second Super Bowl last season.

After one of the wildest offseasons in NFL history featuring blockbuster trades, rapid free-agency movement, record-setting contracts and plenty of off-field drama, the regular season is almost here.

Bobby Wagner is still getting used to the fact he’s now working with Sean McVay, not against him.

The Los Angeles Rams threw the last of their lavish offseason parties so they could hand out their massive Super Bowl championship rings to their current and former players.

A year after having to rely solely on virtual visits the NFL returned to a normal spring evaluation process.

A person with direct knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press that Buffalo Bills receiver Stefon Diggs agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $96 million.

Cole Beasley and Julio Jones are looking for new teams.

It’s Von Miller time in Buffalo.

Russell Wilson to Denver, Carson Wentz to Washington, Amari Cooper to Cleveland.

Sean McVay was the youngest head coach in modern NFL history, and now he is the youngest coach to win the Super Bowl.

Three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald.

Aaron Donald has won just about every individual award available to a defensive lineman during his spectacular eight-year career with the Los Angeles Rams.

Across both Super Bowl rosters, there is a great divide.

Aaron Donald is firmly in conversations about the top pass rushers in NFL history.

The Los Angeles Rams will host the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC championship game.

The Denver Broncos have agreed to terms with Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as their head coach.

Matthew Stafford passed for 202 yards and two touchdowns in his first playoff victory and the Los Angeles Rams roared out of the wild-card round with a 34-11 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

The Associated Press will hand out its individual NFL awards on Feb. 10 at NFL Honors in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Rams snapped their three-game losing streak with a 37-7 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Odell Beckham Jr. arrived in Los Angeles on Friday and made his way north to the Rams’ training complex.

Receiver Odell Beckham Jr. agreed to a one-year deal with the Rams.

Dak Prescott and Joe Burrow are the top contenders for the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year honors after bouncing back from injuries that ended their 2020 seasons early.

Cam Newton is returning to the franchise that drafted him No. 1 overall in 2011.

Kevin Byard returned an interception 24 yards for a touchdown, and Tennessee’s defense carried the Titans to a 28-16 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in a showdown between conference co-leaders.

Teddy Bridgewater threw for a touchdown and had a sneak for another, and the Denver Broncos stymied the NFL’s No. 1 offense when it mattered in a 30-16 victory over Dallas.

Von Miller spent Monday in a sentimental daze after the Denver Broncos traded him.

The Los Angeles Rams are on top of the latest AP Pro32 poll.

Two people with knowledge of the deal tell The Associated Press that the Denver Broncos have agreed to trade star linebacker Von Miller to the Los Angeles Rams for a pair of 2022 draft picks.

Case Keenum stepped in for Baker Mayfield and made the most of his first start in two years, leading Cleveland’s injury-ravaged offense and the Browns to a 17-14 win over the Denver Broncos.

Broncos star linebacker Von Miller left Thursday night’s game against the Browns late in the first half with an apparent left leg injury.

The Broncos and Broncos look a lot alike these days and it's not just their orange-toned uniforms.

With Jon Gruden tendering his resignation Monday amid reports of emails he sent before being hired in 2018 that contained racist, homophobic and misogynistic comments, longtime special Rich Bisaccia makes his debut as interim head coach of the Raiders, and offensive coordinator Greg Olson will be the new voice in quarterback Derek Carr’s ears, calling the plays in a matchup that pits 3-2 rivals seeking their first win in October.

Courtland Sutton’s career day helped the Denver Broncos beat woeful Jacksonville 23-13, handing the Jaguars a 17th consecutive loss.

For the first time since Peyton Manning retired after winning Super Bowl 50, the Denver Broncos may have a quarterback.

The Denver Broncos are going with Teddy Bridgewater over Drew Lock as their starting quarterback.

From players getting COVID-19 vaccinations to relaxed coronavirus protocols to lineup issues, particularly at quarterback, the NFL faces a multitude of questions as training camps open.

The Jacksonville Jaguars expect quarterback Trevor Lawrence to be fully cleared to practice by training camp next month.

(AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)Bill Belichick never was one to spend wildly in free agency. Whether by trade, free agency or re-signings, the group brings a good mix of offense, defense and special teams. In addition to keeping Von Miller, Justin Simmons and Shelby Harris, Paton filled his biggest defensive pothole by signing free agent cornerbacks Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller. FUTURE CONSIDERATIONSThe Lions didn’t do much in free agency but nobody in Detroit should be bothered. The Lions are focused on rebuilding through the draft after sending QB Matthew Stafford to the Rams and then letting star wide receiver Kenny Golladay walk in free agency.

(AP Photo/Gary McCullough, File)For people wondering where is all the free-agent quarterback movement as the NFL's “legal tampering” period enters its second day, well, calm down. He started seven and played in nine games last season for Miami, throwing for 2,091 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He will be replaced as Tua Tagovailoa's backup by Brissett, who will get a one-year, $5 million deal in Miami. The Bengals also reached agreement with Pittsburgh safety Mike Hilton on a four-year, $24 million contract, also according to a person with knowledge of the deal. Kelly signed a three-year, $21 million deal exactly a year ago and started all 16 games at right tackle.

FILE - Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller takes up his position during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, Wisc., in this Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, file photo. The Denver Broncos have exercised star linebacker Von Miller's 2021 option. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer, File)ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – The Denver Broncos have exercised star linebacker Von Miller's 2021 option. The Broncos tweeted without comment an image of Miller celebrating the team's Super Bowl triumph five years ago. 2 overall pick behind Cam Newton, whom he dominated in Super Bowl 50 to help Denver beat Carolina 24-10 in Peyton Manning's farewell game.

(AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith, File)DENVER – Teams searching for an antidote to the high-octane offenses and mobile quarterbacks that dominate the modern NFL won't have to wait around for the draft. Free agency this year promises a deeper pool of possibilities than usual because the league's lost revenues during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 resulted in the first decrease in the salary cap in a decade. Then, the league scuttled its annual scouting combine in Indianapolis, making it harder still for teams to evaluate the incoming class. Ad“In the draft, you’re just shooting from the hip because you just haven’t really spent any time around players,” former Bucs GM Mark Dominik said. “You talk about being able to deal with all the speed, I love the linebacker group, off-the-ball linebackers," Jeremiah said.

With his farm and family commitments, Goldberg noted it’s “harder and harder” to get pulled away from home. His match against McIntyre took place in front of fans that appeared live on digital video boards WWE dubbed the ThunderDome. Ad“It’s very difficult, but character-wise, I’m just focused in on who I’m wrestling,” he said. Goldberg said he’s contractually obligated for one more match this year with WWE and two more each year for the remainder of his contract. “It seems as if Texans are helping out Texans and that’s why I like the place.”

“He was determined to get it by any means, wouldn’t let failure be an option,” Barrett recounted. Barrett will have a starting — and maybe starring — role in Super Bowl 55 when the Buccaneers (14-5) face Mahomes and the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs (16-2) Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. Barrett had a monster debut in Tampa, collecting an NFL-best 19½ sacks, forcing six fumbles and earning his first Pro Bowl nod in 2019. Mahomes remembers Barrett in Denver as a player who never let quarterbacks exhale whenever Miller or Chubb tapped out for a breather. He’s got great speed, he’s got great power, he’s got a ton of moves,” Remmers said.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Many viewers cringed at Denver’s ugly loss to the Saints behind a rookie receiver pressed into duty because every Broncos quarterback was barred by the NFL over coronavirus concerns. A three-year starter at Vanderbilt, Shurmur spent last season on the Chiefs’ practice squad. After Driskel’s positive test, a league investigation deemed Lock, Rypien and Bortles as high-risk close contacts and ordered them into quarantine Saturday. Hinton returned to catching passes, not throwing them, when he went back to the practice squad Wednesday. Miller has made it his goal to play this season after a freak ankle injury six days before the opener.

Patrick Mahomes piled up some very big numbers at Arrowhead Stadium last week. Five days before throwing for four touchdowns and nearly 400 yards in the Kansas City Chiefs’ 33-31 victory over the Carolina Panthers, Mahomes helped turn his home stadium into a giant polling place on Election Day. Chiefs president Mark Donovan and head coach Andy Reid were among the first to vote at Arrowhead on Tuesday. “Don’t be mad at paying customers when the product stinks and they are upset about what they’re watching. Not just one half.”___Follow Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton___More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

From the season-altering (Dak Prescott, Barkley) to the bizarre (Tyrod Taylor, Trent Brown), injuries are playing their traditionally significant role in the NFL. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)ARLINGTON, Texas – From the season-altering to the bizarre, injuries are playing their traditionally significant role in the NFL. Brown also recently went back on the COVID-19 list, a newcomer among potential ailments with the NFL playing during a pandemic. Few teams have had the volume of injuries that have hit defending NFC champion San Francisco. New Orleans' star receiver, Michael Thomas, has had a tumultuous season in part because of ankle and hamstring injuries.

DENVER – Before kickoff, Tom Brady sauntered over to Peyton Manning, who owns four fewer Super Bowl rings but has something Brady desperately craves: a championship with a second team. “It was good to see him,” Brady said after leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers past Manning’s former team 28-10 in Denver on Sunday. “There’s still a lot to learn, a lot to grow, a lot of room for improvement. Before Sunday, the Broncos were the only team in the NFL with a winning record against the six-time Super Bowl champion. “It just felt good to be out there making a couple of plays, get involved in the passing game,” Gronkowski said.

Denver Broncos inside linebacker Josey Jewell (47) celebrates his stop of Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)DENVER – New kicker Stephen Gostkowski avoided a disastrous debut with the Tennessee Titans in the nick of time. The Titans escaped Denver with a 16-14 victory Monday night on Gostkowski’s 25-yard field goal with 17 seconds left after he’d missed four kicks, one in each quarter. Gostkowski missed three field goals: wide left, wide right and a block, and he missed an extra point. And Gostkowski became the first kicker to miss three field goals and a PAT in the same game since Mason Crosby missed four field goals and a PAT for the Packers against the Lions in 2018.

The Titans traded Casey to Denver this offseason in a salary dump, clearing $11 million in cap space by sending the five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman to Denver for a seventh-round draft choice. Even with Casey on his side last year, Henry was stifled in a 16-0 loss at Denver, gaining just 28 yards on 15 carries. That was easily the low point in a season in which Henry ran for an NFL-best 1,540 yards. “Having a player of his caliber and his leadership not be out there with us is definitely going to be a blow to the team," Casey said. “He’s a game wrecker,” Henry said.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. A person with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press the Denver Broncos fear star linebacker Von Miller suffered a season-ending ankle injury toward the end of practice Tuesday. The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because the team hadn't addressed Miller's injury, said the team was awaiting results of an MRI on Miller. The practice took place indoors because of a snowstorm that struck the Rocky Mountains after a series of upper-90s and 100-degree days. Miller appeared primed for a big season after adding several pounds of muscle in the offseason and rededicating himself. The Broncos open the season Monday night against Tennessee.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. From the antimicrobial mist the Denver Broncos strolled through on their way to the practice fields to the hand-held whistles for masked-up coaches, NFL training camps have a very different look and feel this year. What it does is it really creates less of an opportunity for those guys to make our football team. Were going to have to find guys with the expanded practice squad, which we have spots for four veterans. Were going to have to find the right guys to be able to expand the practice squad with, Elway said. We have to appeal to their intelligence, their pride, their responsibility that, hey, this is different, Fangio said.

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to his agent. Rocky Arceneaux told the NFL Network on Monday that Elliott was feeling OK and recovering. Arceneaux did not immediately return messages seeking comment, but a person with direct knowledge of the diagnosis told The Associated Press that Elliott had the positive test about a week ago and could be described as symptomatic. Los Angeles Rams center Brian Allen was the first to publicly acknowledge a positive test, on April 15. The 24-year-old Elliott has led the NFL in rushing twice in his first four seasons.

By and large, however, those same players say they trust the protocols the NFL will have in place by the time practices resume and games return. Safeguards are expected to include daily temperature checks and frequent virus tests, with sick players quarantined for two weeks. We dont know how interesting.The pandemic hit home for a lot of players in April when Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller announced he had contracted COVID-19. And so, boy, I dont know. I dont know.