NFL TO STAGE JANUARY CAREERS FORUM FOR WOMEN IN ORLANDO

In its efforts to get more women into administrative, coaching, officiating and scouting jobs, the NFL will offer a careers forum during Pro Bowl week.

The forum in Orlando, Florida from Jan. 25-27 is designed to educate and prepare women to fill such positions. The league's Rooney Rule to enhance diversity in hiring was expanded earlier this year to include interviewing women for all open executive positions at the NFL office.

Earlier this month, the NFL hired Samantha Rapoport, a former tackle football player who previously worked for the league and for USA Football. As director of football development, Rapoport will oversee creating new programming to develop a talent pipeline.

''Really the mission in my role is to provide opportunities for females in positions traditionally held by men,'' she says, ''and to enhance gender equality.

''In my previous role I oversaw the female development in tackle football at USA Football. I saw thousands of women in this country who know football very well, can talk X's and O's ... but felt disenfranchised from football programs. I thought it was a void and a disconnect. We want to connect the two worlds. Both sides are open to it, they just don't know each other yet.''

The Orlando forum will run in conjunction with Pro Bowl week, in which there also will be youth and high school programs. The women's event is one of several Rapoport hopes to make available to women over the next year or so.

It will coincide with the fourth annual Women's World Football Games (Jan. 25-29) that will bring together more than 250 female football players from around the world for five days of training, skill sessions and 11-on-11 competitions. Read more...

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BELL, BURFICT LEAD PACK OF PLAYERS RETURNING FROM SUSPENSION

Le'Veon Bell insists he'll do everything in his power to make sure his latest run-in with the NFL's substance abuse policy is his last. Vontaze Burfict isn't so sure he can say the same about his reprimands from the league's disciplinary committee.

Either way, two of the NFL's most dynamic players head back to work this week after serving three-game suspensions to start the 2016 season. Bell sat for running afoul of the drug policy for the second time, Burfict as penance for a series of unhinged moments on the field that culminated in his helmet-to-helmet knockout blow of Pittsburgh wide receiver Antonio Brown in last year's wild-card round.

Their returns should give their teams - both expected to compete for a playoff spot in the hypercompetitive AFC North and both coming off one-sided losses last Sunday - a boost as October dawns, the front edge of a wave that will include other bold-faced names (including some dude in New England) that will come off the suspended list next week.

How their teams have survived in the absence of such vital parts is a mixed bag.

For all of Bell's talent, DeAngelo Williams led the NFL in rushing through two weeks before Pittsburgh's hot start came to a sudden and decisive halt in Philadelphia. The Bengals, however, have missed Burfict - the emotional touchstone of a defense that is among the NFL's best when it at its finest.

Their comebacks, however, come with a caveat. Any potential missteps going forward would carry far harsher penalties. Bell doesn't think that will be an issue. Read more...

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LIONS ROLL INTO MOTOR CITY AGAINST TITANS STILL ON A ROLL

DETROIT (AP) The Detroit Lions and Tennessee Titans have familiar looks.

Detroit opened with a 39-35 victory at Indianapolis, its seventh win in nine games dating to last year.
The Titans, meanwhile, started the season with a loss at home to Minnesota for their fifth straight setback since last December.

The Lions seem to have a shot at extending their successful stretch against Tennessee on Sunday in their home opener.

Matthew Stafford has simply been sensational since midway through last season, finding a groove with offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter. Stafford has thrown 22 touchdown passes and two interceptions in his last nine games as Cooter has coached him to get rid of the ball quicker in the passing game.

''I think it's a whole sort of offensive philosophy,'' Cooter said. ''We're getting it to our best players, doing what they do best.''

The Lions lost their best player, Calvin Johnson, in the offseason to retirement. That has forced Stafford to spread the ball more, and it worked well in Week 1. Detroit had three receivers, two running backs and a tight end making at least three catches against the Colts.

''The show must go on,'' receiver Golden Tate said. ''So, we don't get caught up worrying about who we don't have. We just try to step up our game individually.''

Marcus Mariota, meanwhile, took a step back in last week's game with a fumble and an interception in the second half that helped Minnesota win 25-16 after trailing by 10 points in the third quarter.
Mariota, the 2015 No. 2 pick overall, insisted he has learned how to move on 24 hours after wins and losses. He hopes, though, that the Titans don't have to do much of the latter this season. Read more....

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JETS FINALLY GET A W AGAINST THE BILLS

The New York Jets after five straight losses to the Buffalo Bills pulled out a win Thursday night. The Jets receiving core played fantastic as Matt Forte ran in three touchdowns to bring the Jets a 37-31 win.

Enunwa for the second straight week led the Jets early in receiving, as the Jets took an early first half lead. An end of half score for the Bills, another added on at the beginning of the second half and a fumble recovery for touchdown. The Bills found their selves up 24-20 just four minutes into the second half after trailing 20-7 with just seconds left in the first half.

The Jets weren't done scoring yet though, as they would score 17 straight points to take a 37-24 lead. The Bills late comeback would mean nothing in the end as the Jets would win 37-31. This was a big win for the Jets after a late week one loss to the Bengals. The Jets will take the field next week at Arrowhead against the Chiefs. The Bills however find themselves 0-2 this season under the Ryan brothers looking for a win against a very good Cardinals team.

Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker and Quincy Enunwa all finished the game with over 90 yards receiving. Forte added 100 yards on the ground and three touchdowns as Fitzpatrick threw for 374 yards and a touchdown.

The Jets offense looked outstanding and were able to do anything they needed to on offense to win this game. They will need every bit of offense in their next four games as they will face the Chiefs, Seahawks, Steelers and Cardinals. Read more...

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TOM TERRIFIC OUT, JIMMY G IN FOR PATRIOTS AT ARIZONA

Jimmy Garoppolo couldn't have a tougher assignment in his first NFL start. While Tom Brady is suspended, the third-year quarterback faces the Arizona Cardinals, one of the Super Bowl favorites, a team owning a strong defense.

At Arizona.

In prime time.

''There's so much going on right now,'' Garoppolo said. ''Mentally, I'm straight Arizona, but it is a phenomenal opportunity. This is why you play the game. You play to be in the game and play; you don't want to be the backup. The opportunity is here. I've just got to go take advantage of it.''
That opportunity is thanks to the ''Deflategate'' saga that finally has played out. Brady is gone for four weeks, and Jimmy G is the guy.

''I think that just comes with being a quarterback,'' said of taking ownership of the position - for now.
''Naturally, that kind of happens on its own. But yeah, you want to go in there and let the guys know that you're here to work and here to do your job the right way.''

Arizona is quite the challenge, with perhaps the most talented roster in the NFL. And back from injury is All-Pro safety Tyrann Mathieu, who adds spark and gumption to the defense.

How did coach Bruce Arians know the Honey Badger was ready after the safety missed the preseason?

''It's about two interceptions every day,'' Arians said. ''He flies around and makes every check and has the energy and passion that he always has.''

Also Sunday, it's Green Bay at Jacksonville, the New York Giants at Dallas, Minnesota at Tennessee, Miami at Seattle, San Diego at Kansas City, Oakland at New Orleans, Cincinnati at the New York Jets, Buffalo at Baltimore, Cleveland at Philadelphia, Chicago at Houston, Tampa Bay at Atlanta, and Detroit at Indianapolis. Read more...

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TRIP TO THE DENTIST: CAM FEELS THE PAIN IN LOSS TO BRONCOS

DENVER (AP) Cam Newton's latest encounter with the Broncos must've felt like another trip to the dentist.

The Panthers quarterback added yet another move to his repertoire - he actually flossed his teeth on the sideline - but his rematch with the Broncos in Thursday night's season opener was a brutal affair that ended with a missed field goal and the same outcome as the last time these teams met.

Newton led Carolina within range of the winning score, but Graham Gano's miss, wide left from 50 yards, gave Denver a win in the Super Bowl rematch, 21-20.

After an opening half in which he debuted a new touchdown dance and looked to have set aside all the bad memories from last year's Super Bowl, Newton met, head-first, with Von Miller and a defense that has now made him look like something less than an MVP in Carolina's last two meaningful games.

Newton ran for a touchdown and threw for another, but passed for only 16 more yards than Broncos newcomer Trevor Siemian.

The Panthers quarterback probably deserved better.

He was hammered throughout this game.

Two of the hits were of the head-to-head variety, and neither drew any penalty yardage. The first came from - who else? - Miller, who met him facemask-to-facemask early in the third quarter while DeMarcus Ware was dragging him down. The hit left Newton doubled over in pain on the sideline. Newton didn't miss a play, but after leading the Panthers to a 17-7 lead in the first half, he produced only a field goal after the collision. Read more...

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