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For football fans everywhere, the NFL’s concussion crisis has raised some uncomfortable questions about what it means to love a sport that’s been shown to cause lasting harm to its players. The league’s ratings continue to enjoy near-record highs, yet at the same time, scientific research increasingly suggests that football can lead to a wide range of long-term brain conditions. In one recent poll, a majority of Americans said they expect football to be just as popular in 20 years, but 50 percent said they would not want their son to play the game. Joining the chorus of those worried...

Despite all the knowledge we have about the dangers of playing tackle football, I do not expect the sport to disappear from American culture any more than I count on the extinction of cigarettes. Football is deeply ingrained in America’s fabric. Eliminating its presence would be a more arduous task than turning the Titanic away from an iceberg. The game is deeply embedded with advertisers and the American economy, as well as millions of Americans who spend significant amounts of money to support their favorite teams.

Molly Shattuck, the former Ravens cheerleader who was married to onetime Constellation Energy CEO Mayo A. Shattuck III, was arrested Wednesday and charged with third-degree rape and unlawful sexual contact with a 15-year-old boy, Delaware State Police said.

GEORGETOWN, Del. – Former Baltimore Ravens cheerleader Molly Shattuck was sentenced Friday to two years of probation after pleading guilty to raping a 15-year-old boy at a vacation rental home in Delaware. The 48-year-old collapsed to her knees in the courtroom after she was sentenced and wept as she apologized. Shattuck, who received a suspended 15-year prison sentence, must report every other weekend to a probation center in Delaware, register as a sex offender and continue therapy. The teen's parents said Shattuck stole their son's innocence and urged the judge to send her to prison to send a message to...

In DeflateGate there has been a weird inversion: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell set out to expose Tom Brady, and instead he has exposed himself and the entire league. It was at first baffling to watch Goodell commit such acts of overreach. It has since become merely revealing of a catastrophic arrogance. In going after Brady and the New England Patriots on such a flimsy premise as the inflation of footballs, Goodell has steadily etched out his real character and attitudes, and in doing so he has bared himself, and the league, to searing judicial review. The NFL’s entire legal argument...

Chris Borland's decision to retire from football after just one very promising season in the NFL was a sobering moment for a lot of people partaking in the sport in some capacity -- fans, players, coaches, etc. Borland made the decision after extensive research that went beyond a few inspired Google searches. He directly reached out to researchers, asked his own questions, and made a decision, for himself alone, that he would be better off quitting the sport and saving his brain from the accumulated damage of thousands of impacts.

The NFL's meandering road back to the nation's second-largest market wound through Chicago on Tuesday, with team owners hearing the competing Los Angeles stadium pitches for the first time. A league that goes to great lengths to avoid pitting owner against owner — revenue sharing, salary cap, and cross-ownership rules that preclude owners from fighting over the sports dollar in the same cities — is now bracing for a clash of the titans. "I guess you could use the metaphor of musical chairs, and there's a bit of that going on," said Steve Tisch, co-owner of the New York Giants...

A Delaware judge on Friday ordered Molly Shattuck, an ex-Baltimore Ravens cheerleader, to serve every other weekend in jail for the next two years. Shattuck was facing up to 15 years in prison after she pled guilty to one count of fourth degree rape back in June. Just over a year prior, Shattuck began a physical relationship with a 15-year old boy (reportedly a classmate of her son) she met over Instagram. She was ordered to pay the victim's family $10,500 as well. [Snip] "I will spend the rest of my life making this right," Shattuck said.

The news last night that Giants co-owner John Mara declined to get involved in the Tom Brady settlement discussions arises from a potentially intriguing reality. With the request for Mara’s involvement coming from the court, why would Judge Richard M. Berman be going over Commissioner Roger Goodell’s head? On one hand, the explanation could be that Judge Berman has become exasperated with the NFL’s stubbornness regarding settlement. Earlier this week, the league was still insisting on the NFL Players Association and Brady agreeing to accept the major findings of the Ted Wells report and acknowledging the powers used in this...

The Redskins have plenty of work to do. The offensive line, specifically pass protection, would be a good place to start. Robert Griffin III and the Redskins starters managed 10 total yards on their first three series of Thursday night’s preseason game vs. the Lions. On the fourth series, Griffin got sacked on consecutive plays. On the second sack, his fumble was recovered by Gabe Wright of the Lions at the Redskins’ 11-yard line. To make matters worse, the Redskins announced Griffin was then evaluated for a right-side stinger and possible concussion. He was cleared to return to the game...

“Redskins President Bruce Allen says the team will not change their name even if it prevents them from getting a new stadium,” CBS Sports reported. “If changing the name ‘Redskins’ would get them a new stadium, should the team change their name?” one radio host asked another. The flustered commentator responded, “Wait … again?” The host then rephrased the question: “Their team president says they will not change their name … should they do it?” “No … they’re not changing their name,” the commentator said with certainty. This came as no surprise as the team has been asked several times...

Fort Myers Police Chief Douglas Baker has been fired for the wrongful detainment in February of former University of South Florida football player Nate Allen, who now plays with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders. Fort Myers city manager (a Black man)sent a letter to the mayor Friday notifying him of Baker’s termination after Allen’s controversial arrest in February.

Tom Brady had a solid practice against the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday, according to those on hand in West Virginia, but it seems he had an even better day in court — even though he wasn’t there. “Colts did better against Pats than the NFL did (Wednesday) against (NFL Players association attorney) Jeff Kessler,” Yahoo! Sports’ Dan Wetzel tweeted after the hearing concluded at the U.S. District Court in New York. Wednesday “was more of a blowout than the AFC Title. Kessler all but dropped the mic at the end,” Boston Herald legal columnist Bob McGovern tweeted after witnessing...

WHEN YOU listen to Tim Tebow talk about his love for the game of football, it is hard not to feel like a soulless wretch for all of those years you rooted against him. When he looks into your eyes, you reflexively shrink away, as if he is peering into the darkest part of you. It feels as if he knows, as if the snark still echoes in his ears, as if he can still hear the cry of your cold heart as it begs the Steelers to win the toss in overtime. You want him to hug you and...

TimTebow got a warm Philly welcome. Tebow threw for 69 yards and ran for a touchdown in his first game in two years, Kenjon Barner returned a punt 92 yards for a touchdown and ran for a score and the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Indianapolis Colts, 36-10, on Sunday. Tebow got a standing ovation when he entered midway through the third quarter and the crowd roared so loud when his name was introduced he had to quiet them down because he was taking the snap in a shotgun. He dove into the pylon on a seven-yard touchdown run late in...

Tebow got a standing ovation when he entered midway through the third quarter and the crowd roared so loud when his name was introduced he had to quiet them down because he was taking the snap in a shotgun. Tebow threw for 69 yards and ran for a touchdown in his first game in two years.

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Arizona Cardinals assistant Jen Welter has become the first woman to coach an NFL game, the same night the league's first full-time female on-field official made her preseason debut. Welter worked Saturday night's game against the Kansas City Chiefs as an inside linebackers coach, while Sarah Thomas served as the line judge in the seven-person officiating crew.

MARK SANCHEZ will get the start tomorrow in the preseason opener against the Colts, but Eagles coach Chip Kelly cautioned that Sanchez probably will take only a handful of snaps. The bulk of the quarterbacking will be done by Matt Barkley and Tim Tebow, who would seem to be fighting for a single roster spot as the Eagles' third QB. "I want to see what happens with those guys," Kelly said.

Michael Sam will step away from professional football, he announced via Twitter on Friday night. Sam, the 25-year-old who began the season with the CFL's Montreal Alouettes, cited a tumultuous past year for leaving football at this time. The Alouettes confirmed in a release that Sam has left the club for "personal reasons" and that he has been added to the team's suspended list. Sam made the announcement in a series of three tweets.

There is no reason I should be a fan of the New York Jets, but I am, and have no one to blame but myself. For the past few days, howls of laughter and scorn have emanated from social media and sports radio yak shows around the country, after the Jets' nominal starting quarterback, Geno Smith, fell victim to a broken jaw, courtesy of a locker room "sucker-punch" from teammate IK Enemkpali. Smith will be out of action for six to 10 weeks, and Enemkpali was immediately released from the team.