LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Offensive lineman Mitch Petrus, a walk-on at Arkansas who went on to a three-year NFL career that included a Super Bowl win with the New York Giants, has died. Pulaski County Coroner Gerone Hobbs said Petrus died of heat stroke Thursday night at a North Little Rock hospital after working outside that day at his family's shop about 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Little Rock.

Sad news out of Arkansas: Mitch Petrus, who played for the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI, died on Thursday night. He was just 32 years old. Heat-related illness blamed Via the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the Pulaski County coroner said Petrus died at 10:45 p.m.

Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith suffered perhaps the worst injury of the 2018 season last November after he was awkwardly sacked, snapping his right leg. The injury was eerily similar for Redskins fans, who — exactly 33 years prior — watched quarterback Joe Theismann suffer the same fate. Theismann, who played in the league from 1974-1985, broke his fibula and tibia after he was sacked by New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor in a similar fashion, an injury that ended his career.

The NFC East has seen a lot of movement during the offseason, including huge contract news at the defending division champions the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants losing Odell Beckham Jr. Let's not forget the murkiness surrounding the Washington Redskins' quarterback situation, and whether Carson Wentz will manage to stay healthy throughout the season for the Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys play a more difficult first-place schedule in 2019, while the Eagles look to return to the form that made them Super Bowl champions two seasons ago. Here's the outlook for the NFC East heading into training camp: TEAM ON THE RISE: Dallas Cowboys Are the Cowboys back?

Veteran defensive end Robert Ayers announced his retirement on Tuesday, ending a nine-year NFL career. Ayers, a 33-year-old who last played with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2017, announced the decision on Facebook, also posting a highlight video from his college and pro career. A first-round pick (18th overall) out of Tennessee by the Denver Broncos in 2009, Ayers underwhelmed in Denver with 12 sacks and 37 QB hits over five seasons, starting 27 of 72 games.

The AFC North has been dominated by the Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers for years, but this finally could be the year of the Cleveland Browns. It is a division that has a new look all around, as the Browns and Ravens made some big offseason signings, the Bengals added a new head coach for the first time in 17 years and the Steelers moved on from two thirds of their 'Killer B' trio. Here's the outlook for the AFC North heading into training camp: Team on the rise Cleveland Browns The Browns had nowhere to go but up in 2018 after posting a winless record the previous season, but after going 7-8-1 last time out they could really take off in 2019.

The Giants and Dodgers' franchises have been around for a really long time. Today is the first time the @SFGiants and @Dodgers have both scored 16+ runs on the same day since May 20, 1896. In 1896, they were the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Bridegrooms.

As he prepares to take the field with his fourth NFL team in the New York Giants, it's safe to say that Golden Tate has had a solid career up to this point. The Notre Dame product won a Super Bowl ring during his four years with the Seattle Seahawks, then posted three 1,000-yard seasons with the Detroit Lions before getting traded to the Philadelphia Eagles and signing with the Giants in free agency. Among the quarterbacks that Tate has worked with are Matt Hasselback, Russell Wilson, Matthew Stafford, Carson Wentz and Nick Foles.

The New York Giants suspended safety Kam Moore on Monday amid charges he punched a woman, stepped on her neck and rendered her unconscious. Moore appeared in state Superior Court in Union County on Monday to face charges of third-degree aggravated assault. According to a criminal complaint, the unidentified woman, who told authorities she had been dating Moore since January, stopped by his home in Linden late Thursday.

With an overall rating of 89, the Philadelphia Eagles are the highest rated team in the game. They edged out the Dallas Cowboys (88), New Orleans Saints (87), New England Patriots (87) and Green Bay Packers (87). The lowest ranked teams in the game are the Miami Dolphins (74), followed by the New York Giants (77).