By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Pro Football Writer The Minnesota Vikings were forced by a salary-cap crunch this spring into a soft remodel, with many more exits than enhancements to the lineup. They ramped up the project over the weekend. While NFL draft picks never come with warranties, particularly ...
By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer The Detroit Lions addressed pressing needs on offense and defense, took a running back too talented to pass up and bolstered one of their strongest position groups. Lions general manager Bob Quinn said he hopes his fifth NFL draft with the franchise proves to ...
By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer ANN ARBOR — A legal team that says it represents more than 100 people who allege that they were abused by a deceased University of Michigan sports doctor on Friday announced the first step in filing a lawsuit against the school. The Anderson Survivors Legal ...
By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer D’Andre Swift’s favorite all-time running back is Barry Sanders, even though he was born after the Hall of Famer ended his career with the Detroit Lions. Swift heard so much about Sanders that he watched the way he ran and tried to emulate him. The Lions, ...
By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer The Detroit Lions became the first team in more than two decades to take a cornerback in the first three picks in the NFL draft. Jeff Okudah seems to merit the faith. Detroit drafted the Ohio State standout with third overall pick Thursday night, making him ...
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Saints again invested their top available draft pick in offensive line talent, selecting Michigan center Cesar Ruiz with the 24th overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night. The 6-foot-3, 307-pound Ruiz joins a unit that has all five starters ...
ANN ARBOR (AP) — Michigan guard Franz Wagner says he is returning for his sophomore season. Wagner started 27 games last season, averaging 11.6 points and leading the team in steals. The 6-foot-9 German missed the first four games because of a fractured wrist. Isaiah Livers is testing the ...
By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer ANN ARBOR — The first former University of Michigan football player to publicly say that a team doctor abused him believes he would have sought medical help sooner for what has become late-stage cancer if he hadn’t been victimized in college. Chuck ...
ALLEN PARK (AP) — The Detroit Lions re-signed cornerbacks Mike Ford and Dee Virgin. The team announced the moves Tuesday. Ford and Virgin were exclusive rights free agents. Ford has played 22 games for the Lions and made six starts in two seasons. Virgin also has played two seasons for ...
By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer BEST FIRST-ROUND DRAFT PICK: RB Barry Sanders. Detroit took the 1989 Heisman Trophy winner from Oklahoma State after Dallas drafted Troy Aikman and Green Bay selected Tony Mandarich. Sanders averaged 99.8 yards rushing per game — trailing only Jim Brown in NFL ...
By TOM CANAVAN AP Sports Writer To trade or not to trade? An especially difficult question in this year’s NFL draft? The coronavirus pandemic has forced the NFL to conduct its annual draft remotely, which might reduce the number of times Commissioner Roger Goodell or anyone else announces ...
By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer The NFL will hold a practice remote draft Monday, three days before the real thing is done in the same way. Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn on Friday did not provide details on the proceedings — except what his team has planned. “We’re ...
NEW YORK (AP) — Isaiah Todd has become the second player to jump from high school to the G League this week, signing with the league with the intent of joining its new elite program. The signing of Todd, who had been a University of Michigan recruit, was announced Friday, one day after Jalen ...
By Journal Sports Staff HOUGHTON — Former Michigan Tech goaltender Tony Esposito is on the 2020 Michigan Sports Hall of Fame ballot as one of 10 finalists in the amateur category. The ballot was unveiled Monday and allows for online fan voting through April 30. The 2020 induction is ...
By The Associated Press 3rd pick — DETROIT (3-12-1) LAST SEASON: Lions lost last nine games and 12 of 13 to finish with their worst record in decade. Ownership gave general manager Bob Quinn and coach Matt Patricia chance to come back, telling them contending for playoffs in 2020 is ...
By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer The Detroit Lions should have an opportunity to turn a weakness into a strength in the NFL draft. If Detroit chooses to keep the No. 3 pick overall, cornerback Jeff Okudah is expected to be available. The Ohio State star appears worth being the highest-drafted ...
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota has added two accomplished frontcourt players to its roster, bringing in Liam Robbins from Drake and Brandon Johnson from Western Michigan. The Gophers announced the signings of both big men on Wednesday. The 6-foot-8, 220-pound Johnson is a graduate transfer ...
By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Rams center Brian Allen says he tested positive for COVID-19 three weeks ago. Allen is the first active NFL player to acknowledge testing positive during the coronavirus pandemic. The third-year pro is not hospitalized and is ...
By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer On March 11, Western Michigan announced it was changing coaches in men’s basketball. The following day, the NCAA Tournament was canceled, and the enormity of the coronavirus crisis started to hit home throughout college sports. Before long, WMU athletic ...
By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer Emoni Bates of Michigan was awakened with good news on Tuesday. Bates was named Gatorade’s national player of the year in high school basketball, becoming the first sophomore to win the award, and was informed during a FaceTime call with Boston Celtics ...