Chris Long learned pretty quickly that his status as the St. Louis Rams' No. 1 pick in this year's draft does not disqualify him from rookie chores.

Joe Flacco dropped back in the pocket, scanned the field, cocked his arm and tossed a spiral far downfield. Mark Clayton sprinted under the ball and made the catch in stride, one step ahead of the defender.

Matt Ryan will have his first chance to prove he can be more than just another clipboard-toting rookie observer when the new Atlanta Falcons quarterback participates in a three-day minicamp beginning Saturday.

Darren McFadden's spot on the Oakland roster was assured the minute the Raiders used the No. 4 overall pick on him in last month's draft.

Mario Manningham has given people a lot to talk about with all his off the field problems.

The Green Bay Packers have released Koren Robinson , the wide receiver whose struggles with alcohol led to an NFL suspension and jail time.

The start of Houston Texans minicamp on Friday was more than just a practice to Charles Spencer. The 6-foot-4, 338-pound offensive lineman took the field with his team for the first time since breaking his left leg nearly two years ago, a severe injury that doctors thought could end his career.

The Green Bay Packers have released Koren Robinson, the wide receiver whose struggles with alcohol led to an NFL suspicion and jail time.The team announced his release Friday.Robinson completed a one-year suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy in October. He also has served jail time for a high-speed chase with police in Minnesota in 2006. But he appeared to put his troubles behind him, impressing teammates with his work ethic and efforts to stay clean.

Joe Flacco dropped back in the pocket, scanned the field, cocked his arm and tossed a spiral far downfield. Mark Clayton sprinted under the ball and made the catch in stride, one step ahead of the defender.Ah, if only playing quarterback in the NFL was that easy. Instead of pumping his fist or showing any outward sign of pleasure, the first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens simply walked away from the line of scrimmage and awaited another opportunity."I'm just moving onto the next play.

Baltimore Ravens tight end Quinn Sypniewski will miss the entire 2008 season following a serious knee he suffered during a pre-draft minicamp, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said today.

Xavier Omon falls to his knees. Soon, he'll cry. The man on the other end of the phone is a Buffalo Bills executive. Omon has just been drafted. What happens next? Elizabeth Merrill takes you inside the life of an NFL rookie in his first week on the job.

Bears running back Cedric Benson has hired a prominent defense attorney to help him fight charges of drunken boating and resisting arrest in Texas.

Now that Matt Walsh's tapes apparently have nothing on Bill Belichick, Steve Serby says the Spygate saga will become Diegate.

Matt Walsh's video tapes didn't prove anything, other then how the media, the NFL and the fans can blow a situation out of proportion. Walsh is a tough one to figure out, and the Hatriots will need a new target, Mike Freeman says.

The N.F.L. said eight videotapes submitted by a former Patriots employee that showed the team spying on opponents were consistent with what the league already knew.

The League needs to send a message in how they deal with Bill Belichick and his extensive video library of N.F.L. spy tapes.

Browns linebacker Willie McGinest says the 2008 season will be his last.

There was Matt Hasselbeck throwing to ... Logan Payne?

Browns linebacker Willie McGinest says the 2008 season will be his last.

A federal judge on Thursday ordered imprisoned quarterback Michael Vick to repay more than $2.4 million to a Canadian bank for defaulting on a loan.