FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski underwent back surgery on Tuesday, his fourth operation this year.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A contrite Chad Johnson apologized Monday for disrespecting a judge when the former NFL star slapped his attorney on the backside in court last week and was released from jail after only a week instead of 30 days.

STATE COLLEGE — About 325 former Penn State players have signed a statement supporting the lawsuit filed by the family of former coach Joe Paterno and other former players seeking to overturn NCAA sanctions against the football program for the Jerry Sandusky child...

NEW YORK— The patriarchs of the NFL's first families of quarterbacks and coaches are anything but interfering dads. In fact, Archie Manning and Jack Harbaugh are just as influenced by their successful sons as their boys are by them.

A quick look at the rain-interrupted first round of the U.S. Open at the 6,996-yard, par-70 Merion Golf Club (all times EDT):

PHILADELPHIA — While Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson are eager to know who will be the Philadelphia Eagles' starting quarterback, it's clear Chip Kelly isn't picking a guy before training camp.

SAN DIEGO — Manti Te'o is just one of the guys.He's confident he can be a three-down linebacker in the NFL.It takes some serious leverage to play against tight end Antonio Gates.

The Associated Press

ASHBURN, Va. — After showing that he can now do “explosive sprinting” — his dreadlocks flowing behind him as he dashed from sideline to sideline in the end zone of the Washington Redskins practice bubble — Robert Griffin III then held a news...

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tim Tebow is back on the field with an NFL team — the New England Patriots.

Tim Tebow may still have a future in the NFL after all.The New England Patriots seem to think so and plan to sign him on Tuesday if he passes a physical.He won't be a starting quarterback,...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Mathias Kiwanuka is going back to being a defensive end for the New York Giants — and as a starter.

PHILADELPHIA — It'll be a little quieter in South Philadelphia over the next month.

PITTSBURGH — Bruce Gradkowski knew exactly what he was getting into when he signed to be the backup quarterback for the Steelers.That's why the Pittsburgh native took the gig.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Mark Sanchez or Geno Smith? Rex Ryan is in no rush to decide.

NEW YORK — Penn State's trustees are on a mission to promote the reforms they have enacted as a result of the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal, hoping their record might persuade the NCAA to reconsider its crippling penalties against the university...

David “Deacon” Jones, the original sackmaster, has died.

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh police say an offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers was stabbed twice during an attempted carjacking on the city's South Side district.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Steve Smith said the competition at the Panthers wide receiver position this year is “cut throat,” and the 13-year veteran receiver plans to stick around to see how it shakes out.

New England tight end Rob Gronkowski will have back surgery on a disk in mid-June.

PITTSBURGH — Sean Spence's coaches appear split over whether the linebacker's mangled left knee will be ready to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2013.Spence, however, has no such concerns.

IRVING, Texas — Anthony Hargrove trudges through mundane conditioning drills while the Dallas Cowboys conduct more spirited offseason workouts on the same fields.

BC-FBN—2014 Draft Dates, 1st Ld-Writethru,101NFL draft to May in 2014; future dates undecidedEds: APNewsNow. Deletes previous sentence on May drafts; dates are undecided.

The Associated PressSANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers suddenly have a huge void in their receiving corps as they chase another Super Bowl berth: Michael Crabtree is sidelined after surgery on his right Achilles tendon.

CHICAGO — Brian Urlacher wasn't sure how dominant he could be any longer, so he's calling it a career after 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears.And what a career it was:• Eight Pro Bowl seasons;

BOSTON — The 50th Super Bowl will be held in the San Francisco Bay Area and the NFL championship will go to Houston the following year.

Imagine Sean Payton holding up a Surface tablet instead of a cardboard playsheet on the sideline.