Jesse Mahelona, a former NCAA football player for the Tennessee Volunteers, as well as a draftee of the Tennessee Titans, has been killed in a car crash in his native Hawaii. He was 26.

The NFL season begins in less than a week and that means the fantasy football season is back again. Fantasy Info has their fantasy football player rankings listed below for all your draft needs in 2009.

Alex Smith was a one time first overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft but he has not lived up to his expectations as a pro. Last season Smith missed the entire year as he had to have surgery on his shoulder.

Lawrence Phillips, an ex-NFL RB who flamed out on many levels, was found guilty on Monday of assault and other felony charges. He had been accused of attacking and choking his girlfriend on two occasions in 2005.

He's got big shoes to fill, but with Sunday's Hall of Fame Game 2009, the opening game of the NFL pre-season, also debuts Al Michael's new partner, Cris Collinsworth. He replaces John Madden, who in fact is irreplaceable, many would say, on NBC's Sunday Night Football.

A feel-good story in sports, with a longshot making a team, is always something heartwarming. In this case, we're talking about Danny Amendola, who's a longshot, but seemingly still impressing the Philadelphia Eagles.

Yesterday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame held its 2009 induction ceremonies, and tonight the NFL is officially back. Tonight the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans will meet in the pre-season opening Hall of Fame Game 2009.

This off-season had been one of hard times and disappointments for the Denver Broncos organization. From Jay Culter being traded to the Bears to their first round pick from two years ago considering retirement.

Eli Manning, who led the New York Giants to a surprising victory over the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl in the 2007 season (Feb. 2008 is when the game was played), is set to sign a contract with the New York Giants that will make him one of the highest-paid players in the NFL, reports say.

Last September Tom Brady went down in the first game of the season year with a bad knee injury, ending his 2009 campaign. Since that time Brady had rehabbed his injury and looks primed to succeed in 2009.

Jim Johnson, longtime NFL defensive coordinator and former Philadelphia Eagles coach, has died. He was 68.

Just three days after wide receiver Drew Bennett signed with the Baltimore Ravens, he now retires from the National Football League. This came as an interesting surprise as earlier in the month the Ravens No.1 receiver Derrick Mason also retired