Judge frees ex-49ers DT Stubblefield from prison

Associated Press

Feb 11, 2025, 05:50 PM ET

A judge has granted the release of former San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield after his 2020 rape conviction was vacated by a California appeals court last December.

The Sixth District Court of Appeal overturned the conviction of Stubblefield, who is Black, after determining that prosecutors had made racially discriminatory statements during his trial. However, Stubblefield remained in prison because a lower court judge said he didn’t have the jurisdiction to grant bail or release.

After the state attorney general’s office and the appeals court weighed in, Santa Clara Superior Court Judge Hector

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Super Bowl averaged record 127.7M U.S. viewers

Associated Press

Feb 11, 2025, 03:50 PM ETOpen Extended Reactions

Despite the game being a blowout, Sunday night’s Super Bowl LIX averaged a record 127.7 million U.S. viewers across television and streaming platforms for the Philadelphia Eagles‘ 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

The game was televised by Fox, Fox Deportes and Telemundo and streamed on Tubi as well as the NFL’s digital platforms.

It is not only a 3% increase from last year but also the second straight year the Super Bowl has reached a record audience. The Chiefs’ 25-22 overtime victory over the San Francisco

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Smith blasts Newton for calling Panthers ‘losers’

Associated Press

Feb 11, 2025, 02:16 PM ETOpen Extended Reactions

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Former Carolina star wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. took exception to comments made by ex-teammate Cam Newton, who called the Panthers “losers” before he arrived in 2011 as the franchise’s No. 1 overall pick.

Newton, in an appearance on Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter‘s podcast, “The Travis Hunter Show,” last week leading up to the Super Bowl, spoke about the pressures Hunter might face if he’s selected as the top pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

“You could potentially be the first pick, but, bro, you have

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Philly expects 1M people to attend SB parade

Associated Press

Feb 11, 2025, 01:26 PM ETOpen Extended Reactions

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia officials are expecting 1 million people in the city Friday for a parade honoring the Eagles after their Super Bowl win.

The team plans to descend the Rocky steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art at around 2 p.m. for a 75-minute ceremony, city leaders said at a Tuesday press conference.

A replay of the team’s 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday will be shown on large screens nearby. The parade itself will start at 11 a.m. near the South Philadelphia stadium, proceed up Broad Street to City

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York: 49ers will ‘do everything’ to extend Purdy

Associated Press

Feb 10, 2025, 01:13 PM ETOpen Extended Reactions

NEW ORLEANS — San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York said the team remains committed to keeping quarterback Brock Purdy as the two sides enter an offseason with the intention of signing a long-term contract.

York said he recently saw Purdy’s agent, Kyle Strongin, and remains hopeful a deal can be reached.

“I know we want Brock to be here for a long time and we’ll do everything we can to make that work,” York said Monday.

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York spoke briefly after a ceremony passing on the responsibility of hosting a Super Bowl from New

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Halftime dancer won’t face charges for protest

Associated Press

Feb 10, 2025, 12:23 PM ET

NEW ORLEANS — The cast member who displayed the Palestinian flag with the word “GAZA” in protest during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show will not face charges, New Orleans police said Monday.

The banner combined the black stripes of the flags honored by the Sudanese and Palestinian peoples and also had the word SUDAN on it. The cast member, one of dozens of dancers clad in identical black sweats, held it high while standing on the roof of the car that was a centerpiece of the hip-hop artist’s performance, and then jumped off

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49ers’ Kittle named ’24 Salute to Service winner

Associated Press

Feb 5, 2025, 09:44 AM ETOpen Extended Reactions

NEW ORLEANS — San Francisco 49ers two-time All-Pro tight end George Kittle is the USAA 2024 Salute to Service award winner.

Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones and Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Morgan Fox were the other finalists for the award.

The award recognizes the “exceptional efforts by members of the NFL family to honor and support the military community.” Kittle will be recognized at NFL Honors on Thursday night.

Kittle hosts military and frontline heroes at every 49ers game, donating more than 400 tickets over the past six years. Kittle and his family

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Crosby, Packers’ all-time leading scorer, retiring

Associated Press

Feb 4, 2025, 12:12 PM ETOpen Extended Reactions

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Former Packers kicker Mason Crosby, who didn’t play in the NFL this season, is retiring from football after 17 seasons.

Crosby, 40, announced his decision Tuesday during “The Mason Crosby Show,” his radio show on Milwaukee’s 105.7 The Fan. He ends his career as the Packers’ all-time leading scorer after kicking for Green Bay from 2007-22.

“I’m just so, so thankful, so grateful for the opportunity to come to Green Bay in 2007, drafted in the sixth round out of the University of Colorado, to become a Packer and to

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Eagles reach Super Bowl behind Barkley, Hurts

Associated Press

Jan 26, 2025, 06:38 PM ETOpen Extended Reactions

PHILADELPHIA — Saquon Barkley dashed 60 yards for a touchdown on Philadelphia’s first play and finished with 118 yards and three scores, Jalen Hurts rushed for three TDs and the Eagles soared into the Super Bowl with a 55-23 win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday.

Hurts and the Eagles are in the Super Bowl for the second time in three seasons, and this time Barkley is along for the ride. Philadelphia will play either the Buffalo Bills or former Eagles coach Andy Reid’s Kansas City Chiefs.

Hurts, wearing a brace on his left

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