I’m an eternal optimist. Always have been. Always will be.

My mother hardwired it in me, and please believe, the circumstances weren’t always rosy. When faced with adversity, she’d turn to me and say, “You either believe you can or you can’t. You’re right either way.”

I took it to heart.

I began my journey in journalism at the ...Read more

NEW YORK — Former New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez was caught by security cameras as he stumbled and wandered around Indianapolis in the minutes before his violent encounter with a truck driver outside his hotel.

Surveillance video newly obtained by TMZ shows the former football star roaming about downtown for nearly 20 minutes before ...Read more

WARE, England — The juxtaposition is striking.

Three years ago in London, co-owner Greg Penner stood at the Barrowboy and Banker restaurant and supported a hapless coach and defended a washed-up quarterback. The enormity of the challenge and organizational layers of dysfunction were laid bare as Penner awkwardly navigated explanations about a...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Some 25 months ago, Chris Jones sat in a club-level stadium seat, sandwiched by his two agents, and spent the evening watching a football game. He and the Chiefs had been locked in a standoff, resulting in a one-game holdout that turned him into a spectator for his own team’s season opener against the Lions.

Two years ...Read more

MIAMI — It’s dangerous to live life with regrets, but we all have them.

Two of the Miami Dolphins’ biggest second-guess specials will grace the Hard Rock Stadium field Sunday when Miami plays the Los Angeles Chargers, and their presence in South Florida should make us all wonder what if.

What if Jim Harbaugh had picked the Dolphins ...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The NFL season is five weeks old, and for the San Francisco 49ers, the early returns have offered both reassurance and startling confusion.

Did anyone see this coming?

Call it bizarro 2024, where the Niners are equally injured and are playing in tight games, only this year, they’re finishing them with wins.

The ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — During a meandering chat a few days before Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Ariz., then-Chiefs punter Tommy Townsend somehow ended up reciting part of a Chinese proverb.

The parable starts with a farmer’s horse running away and neighbors bemoaning his bad luck.

“We’ll see,” the farmer says.

When the horse returns the ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — The Cleveland Browns, who handle quarterbacks like a one-armed juggler, are at it again.

The franchise that once started a season with three quarterbacks who had never won an NFL game will try to end a 21-game regular-season losing streak in Pittsburgh with two rookie quarterbacks — Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders — who ...Read more

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — As the third quarter ended here Thursday night and several members of the New York Giants’ defense celebrated tackling Saquon Barkley for a 2-yard loss, A.J. Brown wandered around in the nearest end zone, alone, as if he were tipsy and trying to find his way home.

Then, a few minutes later, after Jalen Hurts threw a ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Chris Godwin’s return from a dislocated ankle turned out to be short-lived.

The receiver played against the Eagles and Seahawks the past two weeks, but a fibula injury will keep him out of Sunday’s game against the 49ers.

It’s a new injury in a different area from the ankle Godwin dislocated last October against the ...Read more

BALTIMORE — Lamar Jackson was absent from Ravens practice in Owings Mills for a third straight day this week Friday as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.

Jackson, who missed last week’s game against the Houston Texans, is expected to miss his second straight game when Baltimore hosts the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at M&T Bank ...Read more

NEW YORK — The NFL and players’ union on Friday initiated a review of Brian Daboll’s actions while the Giants administered the concussion protocol to quarterback Jaxson Dart during Thursday night’s win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Giants co-owner John Mara also issued a statement indicating he supports the league and union in ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — Raiders tight end Brock Bowers is not expected to play Sunday against the Titans at Allegiant Stadium, coach Pete Carroll said Friday.

Bowers also missed last week’s game against the Colts due to a knee injury he suffered in the team’s season opener against the Patriots. The 22-year-old played through the ailment for three ...Read more

FRISCO, Texas — For Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, the Dallas Cowboys have ruled out wide receiver CeeDee Lamb for a third consecutive game, as he continues to work back from a high ankle sprain that he suffered in week three against the Chicago Bears. The team also ruled out offensive lineman Tyler Booker (high ankle sprain), ...Read more

LA BELLE, Pa. — Wayne Smith walks into a classroom wearing a chestnut-colored jumpsuit and white Nike sneakers. Those shoes give him a small sense of normalcy, but on this day, so does seeing and hugging his brother Jonnu.

Wayne then lets out a "MUUUTH!" cheer when he sees Pat Freiermuth, which gets everyone smiling.

Jonnu Smith and Wayne ...Read more

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Eagles saw the Phillies and the Flyers lose on Thursday and decided they wanted in on the misery.

The New York Giants handed the Eagles their second consecutive loss of the season, 34-17, at MetLife Stadium. Down Jalen Carter (heel) and Quinyon Mitchell (hamstring), the Eagles defense conceded 366 total yards, ...Read more

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Jaxson Dart and the Giants didn’t just earn a win with Thursday night’s 34-17 upset win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

They earned respect.

Brian Daboll’s Giants (2-4) cleaned up their hysterics from last Sunday’s loss in New Orleans and dictated terms to the reigning Super Bowl champions almost from wire to ...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Mac Jones was bobbing and weaving, doing his best not to divulge too much information regarding his health.

During the brief media window during practice Thursday, the most able-bodied quarterback on the roster was Adrian Martinez. The other thrower was quarterbacks coach Mick Lombardi. Jones is playing with a heavy knee...Read more

Los Angeles Times NFL writer Sam Farmer examines the matchups and makes his predictions for Week 6 of the NFL season.

All lines and over/under numbers are according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Last week, Farmer posted a 7-7 (.500) record. Through the first five weeks of the season, he is 51-27 (.654).

Using point spreads with the scores Farmer ...Read more