Top Bears pick Long has school to wrap up

LAKE FOREST | The Bears' draft picks have plenty of obstacles to overcome in the next few months while trying to fit onto the roster.

NFC championship: 2 teams, different perspectives

ATLANTA | The Falcons are well aware of just how desperate this city is for its first Super Bowl championship.

Brady in way on Lewis' last ride

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. | You again!

Kiel OK waiting to ‘show what I have’

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. | He impersonated Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron the past couple of weeks, rather convincingly according to his Notre Dame football teammates.

Liberty Bowl offers different kind of rematch

MEMPHIS, Tenn. | Iowa State and Tulsa don't necessarily think of the Liberty Bowl as a rematch, even though they faced each other Sept. 1 in the season opener for both teams.

Duke looks to end bowl drought vs. Cincinnati

CHARLOTTE, N.C. | Duke wide receiver Conner Vernon sees Thursday night's Belk Bowl against Cincinnati as a perfect opportunity to help the Blue Devils' football team emerge from basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski's shadow.

Interim coach Bruce Arians has Colts clicking

INDIANAPOLIS | Bruce Arians feels like he's living out a fantasy.

Everett Golson's plan is all about preparation

SOUTH BEND | Both are redshirt freshmen. Both have led their teams to January bowls. Both are dangerous because they’re adept at eluding tacklers and extending plays.

Luck has youthful pass-catchers for Colts

INDIANAPOLIS | Andrew Luck's dynamic rookie season is even more impressive when considering that most of the people he's throwing to are new to the NFL, too.

Te'o leads Irish defense, key to perfect season

SOUTH BEND | If Manti Te'o's career at Notre Dame has seemed like something straight out of a Hollywood script, perhaps it is fitting the linebacker is cast as a underdog in the final two scenes of his collegiate career.

T.Y. Hilton making big impact for Colts

INDIANAPOLIS | As the NFL game slows down for him, T.Y. Hilton is playing faster. As opponents pay more attention to Reggie Wayne, he is emerging as a key contributor. And as the smallest player on the Colts' roster, Hilton is making a huge impact.

JOHN DOHERTY: No love story in NFL concussion quandry

With apologies to Andy Williams, where do I begin?

Purdue holds on over Illinois

CHAMPAIGN | Ralph Bolden and his Purdue teammates have been through a lot, but they're one win from bowl eligibility following a 20-17 victory at Illinois Saturday.

Bears GM defends Cutler as franchise quarterback

LAKE FOREST | Bears general manager Phil Emery defended Jay Cutler as a franchise quarterback Wednesday and shrugged off recent sideline incidents with left tackle J'Marcus Webb and offensive coordinator Mike Tice.