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In 2021, there will be more inductees than ever. The 2020 Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the class of 2020 will be honored along with the class of 2021. Further adding to the excitement, the NFL’s class of 2020 features a whopping 20 inductees. It was part of the NFL’s centennial celebration, so 15 candidates were selected for enshrinement along with the five who were voted in that year....

With the coronavirus creating the very real possibility of an early-September start without spectators, fans could be tuning in in record numbers when the 101st NFL season kicks off. Here are six Week 1 games that fall into the can’t miss category, as well as a few others that figure to provide ample entertainment. Tampa Bay at New Orleans (Sunday, Sept. 13) Tom Brady’s first regular season game in which he won’t be wearing a New England Patriots uniform....

On Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 23, the Vikings will face the Lions in an NFC North showdown. Next, the improving Chargers will face the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. In the night game, the Giants will take on the Redskins in Landover, Md. On Sunday, the two-loss Saints face another tough challenge against the Rams in Los Angeles. Other interesting matchups include Panthers-Jets, Jaguars-Cardinals and an AFC West battle between the Broncos and Raiders....

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been one of the league’s biggest surprise, and the Jags’ league-leading defense takes on the talented offense of the Rams. The search for the first win of the season for the Giants is no easier this week, as the Giants face the Broncos in primetime Sunday night. Sunday afternoon also brings two important divisional matchups. The Packers can build on early dominance in the NFC North if they beat the Vikings in Minneapolis....

Although the playoff picture for the AFC and NFC won’t be finalized until Week 18, it’s time to keep looking at the updated standings and what teams would be in the playoffs if the season ended after Week 15. Here’s a breakdown of the NFL’s latest playoff field and seedings, also looking at the contenders on the brink of joining the potential postseason party: POWER RANKINGS: Lions, Giants, Chargers boost playoff outlooks; Cowboys, Patriots, Jets fade for Week 16...

A photo of the billboard was posted to social media by Darren Rovell of ActionNetwork with a caption that said, “Pro Bowl tackle and Bitcoin advocate @RussellOkung launches billboards today to dismiss narrative put out by @ElonMusk over Bitcoin mining energy use.” The billboard states, “STICK TO SPACE, ELON,” and includes the name of Okung’s website Bitcoinis.com. According to Decrypt, Okung launched his “Stick to space, Elon,” campaign on Wednesday, targeting Musk’s recent criticism of Bitcoin mining’s energy use....

NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reported that the league sent teams a memo Tuesday outlining COVID-19 protocols during training camp and the preseason. Per the report, players — whether or not they are vaccinated — would face a $14,650 fine if they refuse to wear a tracking device that can detect whether they’ve gone to banned areas outside team facilities. Pelissero also reported that players who refuse to undergo virus testing would face a $50,000 fine....

The biggest players to still watch are those with faded roles or pending free agency in 2023. The biggest teams to watch are those need a boost or a rebuilding spark. Here’s a look at the 12 players still most likely be dealt and top landing spots to consider in each case: LIVE: Trade Tracker | Grading every trade at the 2022 NFL deadline 12 NFL players most likely to be traded before 2022 deadline Kareem Hunt, RB, Browns...

The Vikings have reported that they are interested in shopping wide receiver Adam Thielen, tight end Kyle Randolph, and free safety Harrison Smith. Thielen and Smith are the big names that would get a lot of suitors for the Minnesota Vikings. Three teams come to mind that could really utilize Harrison Smith on their defense and make a deal with the Minnesota Vikings. NFL Trade Rumors: Harrison Smith to the Dallas Cowboys?...

His future with the Texans, though, is uncertain. Though the Texans want to cut his pay, The Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson reported that there is mutual interest for David Johnson’s return. He currently has an $8.512 million salary-cap figure. NFL Trade Rumors: 3 potential landing spots for Texans RB David Johnson Asking a player to give up money is never easy and often leads to parting of ways. That could be Johnson’s reality if he doesn’t agree with Houston’s vision, as the franchise might then opt to trade him....

If you’re looking for the biggest news and rumors throughout Thursday, bookmark this page — I’ll be updating it with everything I hear, until and after the Browns go on the clock with the No. 1 pick in the draft. Here are the latest 2017 NFL Draft rumors and news updates leading up to Round 1. MORE: Final mock draft | Top 50 prospects NFL Draft rumors: Live news updates before Round 1 — Like those in the media, NFL teams make their own internal mock drafts to predict who may be available before their pick and who may be drafted afterwards....

The next few days are refreshing and intriguing for the general managers and coaches who have had a tough past couple weeks. They are finally about to find out how the teams they built will perform when it counts. MORE: NFL GM rankings | LINEMAKERS: Week 1 odds, point spreads It’s truly a joy for team execs to come to work this week and see the team enter regular-season mode — everything ramps up....

The Eagles wouldn’t have become Super Bowl champions had they not invested in No. 1 go-to guy Alshon Jeffery and speedy deep threat Torrey Smith last offseason. The Rams changed their passing game fortunes by signing Robert Woods. The 49ers found good help in both Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin. That said, the position typically has been more buyer beware than surefire hits on the open market. For every Jeffery, Woods and Garcon, there’s a Terrelle Pryor, DeSean Jackson and Kenny Britt....

The Panthers and the 27-year-old safety have agreed to a one-year, $3 million contract, according to a report from ESPN, which cites an unidentified league source. Boston spent last season with the Cardinals, where he recorded 79 total tackles and three interceptions in 14 games. Boston was originally selected by the Panthers out of North Carolina in the fourth round of the 2014 draft. He spent his first three seasons with the team and has also played for the Chargers during his five-year career....

For Troy Vincent, the league’s executive vice president of football operations and a five-time Pro Bowl cornerback from 1999-2003, every player who ever put on a uniform is a legend. “If you made it to this level, you are not just a former player, you are a legend in your own right and we want to celebrate and honor your contribution to the game,” Vincent told The Associated Press....

At the midway point of the 2017 season, the Eagles (7-1) and Steelers (6-2) are sitting atop their respective conferences with inside tracks for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Philadelphia has the league’s best record, while Pittsburgh enjoys a tiebreaker edge over the AFC’s other 6-2 clubs in New England and Kansas City. But before “Iggles” and “Stillers” fans start booking airplane tickets to Minneapolis for Super Bowl 52, keep in mind nothing is a sure thing in a year when eight new teams would qualify for the playoffs if the season ended today....

The three biggest changes involve the Chiefs, Packers and Texans, as well as the Raiders and Browns. While Kansas City, Green Bay, Houston are now picking twice after the Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams and Deshaun Watson trades, neither Las Vegas nor Cleveland nor Miami will go on the clock on April 28. Before expanding back into two and three rounds again, that means Sporting News has to reset the mock draft table with updated first-round projections based on the recent developments involving re-signings, signings and trades....

New Orleans won a second consecutive divisional title last season and was one missed passed interference call away from winning the NFC Championship. A decade has passed since Drew Brees guided the Saints to their maiden championship at Super Bowl XLIV and he is desperate to reach the Big Game again before his window shuts. The NFL all-time leader in passing yards and completions, Brees could surpass Peyton Manning as all-time leader for touchdown passes this season....

Elsewhere around the league, the reality of injuries suffered opening weekend began to sink in as some players hit injured reserve early. Three things that matter Antonio Brown practices in wake of rape accusation Just when you thought the saga was finally over, the Patriots receiver was accused of sexually assaulting and raping his former trainer, Britney Taylor, in a civil lawsuit filed Tuesday in the Southern District of Florida....