7:39 AM ET NFL NationESPN NFL players and their uniform numbers are inextricably connected. The numbers are how fans quickly recognize players on the field. They become part of each player’s persona, and fans proudly rock them when they wear an NFL jersey. Sometimes the numbers even become an iconic brand, such as Tampa Bay

5:00 PM ET Editor’s note: This originally ran Monday and has been updated with the news the NFL is appealing Deshaun Watson’s six-game suspension, seeking a tougher penalty for violating the league’s personal conduct policy based on accusations ranging from inappropriate behavior to sexual assault during massage sessions. More than two years after the first

6:00 AM ET SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Wide receiver Rashard Higgins held tightly to his 11-month-old son in the back of a golf cart while discussing the “open” competition between Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold for the Carolina Panthers‘ starting quarterback job. He joked that young Sevin got his name — with a tweak to the

6:00 AM ET FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – It was late in Saturday’s practice, and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota appeared to have nowhere to throw. The coverage was good, but this was a red zone play, so he took off for the end zone. And when he scored, Mariota celebrated by launching the football more

4:06 PM ET BEREA, Ohio — The NFL on Wednesday appealed the six-game suspension for Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, seeking a tougher penalty under the league’s personal conduct policy in the wake of disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson’s ruling Monday. In a statement, the league said it notified the NFL Players Association that it

3:09 PM ET Marcel Louis-JacquesESPN MIAMI — While an NFL-backed investigation found Dolphins owner Stephen Ross made it known he believed the team’s draft position should take precedence over winning games in 2019, those beliefs did not make it down to the football field. Dolphins running backs coach Eric Studesville, who has held that title

4:52 PM ET OXNARD, California — After talks that covered a couple of months, the Dallas Cowboys reached a one-year agreement with veteran linebacker Anthony Barr on Wednesday. The deal is for $2 million but can max out at $3 million, a source told ESPN’s Todd Archer. With the Cowboys keeping Micah Parsons in a

3:34 PM ET ESPN News Services GLENDALE, Ariz. — Arizona Cardinals receiver Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown was arrested and charged with criminal speeding Wednesday morning. Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman Bart Graves confirmed that Brown was arrested at 7:05 a.m. on State Route 101, which surrounds three-quarters of the Phoenix Metro area. He was booked

4:02 PM ET New Orleans Saints rookie left tackle Trevor Penning and defensive tackle Malcolm Roach were both kicked out of practice Wednesday afternoon after flaring tempers led to a fracas involving several other teammates. A teammate came in and shoved Penning after the initial issue between him and Roach, causing at least 10 other

6:13 PM ET LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Teven Jenkins‘ extended absence from training camp continues to raise questions about the second-year offensive tackle’s status with the Chicago Bears. Jenkins missed a sixth straight practice on Wednesday, the team’s second day in pads, after only participating during the Bears’ first day of training camp on July