Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray made an unscheduled media appearance Thursday to defend himself after the revelation of an independent study addendum in his contract extension."To think that I can accomplish everything that I've accomplished in my career and not be a student of the game and not have that passion and not take this serious is disrespectful, and it's almost a joke," Murray said, according to PHNX Cardinals."I'm flattered that you all think that at my size I can go out there and not prepare for the game and not take it serious. It's disrespectful to my peers and all the great athletes and great players that are in this league. This game's too hard. To play the position that I play in this league is too hard.""I refuse to let my work ethic and my preparation be in question," Murray added, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports.The two-time Pro Bowler declined to answer whether he was mad at the Cardinals for the contract clause, according to AZCardinals.com's Darren Urban.The star quarterback, who recently inked a five-year, $230.50-million extension, is required to complete at least four hours of independent study each week during each season as part of the contract. "Independent study" is defined as material given to Murray by the team in order to prepare for the upcoming game."There's multiple different ways to watch film," Murray said, according to Jones. "Of course we all watch film. That doesn't need to be questioned. ... I've put in an incomprehensible amount of time in what I do."Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill was the driving force behind including the clause in Murray's contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Thursday. Bidwill apparently wanted to offset concerns about making the signal-caller the league's second-highest-paid quarterback."Clearly, the Arizona Cardinals, specifically Michael Bidwill, believed that this was something that should be in the contract," Rapoport said. "From my understanding, the thinking from Bidwill and the Arizona Cardinals organization was this: We are committing to Kyler Murray at a place where we maybe feel a little uncomfortable going just money-wise."I'm not saying they felt uncomfortable giving him the money, just literally anyone $46 million-plus per year. They wanted some assurances that he's going to continue to work, continue to perform at the level that is necessary, and the kind of level that deserves that contract. That is why this clause was in there. Kyler Murray knew it before he signed it."Murray, the first overall pick in 2019, has tossed 70 touchdowns against 34 interceptions across three seasons with Arizona. The 24-year-old helped the Cardinals reach the postseason last year for the first time since 2015 after tossing 24 touchdowns and five interceptions in 14 starts.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

"AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals" is still a strange concept for football fans of the last 30-plus years, but here we are. The nature of branding in the NFL means a run to the Super Bowl doesn't necessarily guarantee buy-in from betting markets. If a team with a better historical track record rode a young star quarterback-receiver combination with a quality supporting cast to the season's final game, they'd be all the rage going into the offseason. When it's the Bengals? We'll need to see more.That's how the market is treating Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and company, who head into a season in which expectations are higher than ever in Cincinnati.2022 season oddsMarket Odds (O/U)Win total10.0 (+105/-125)Division+190Conference+1000Super Bowl+2200A surprise Super Bowl trip last season gives the Bengals the biggest jump in prescribed win total, going from a 6.5-win projection before last season to the 10-win median number going into this year. In the hyper-competitive AFC, the playoff-centric markets aren't ready to give Cincinnati as much credit as you might expect for a team that returns with all the key pieces from a conference championship team.Schedule outlookWeekOpponentLookahead line1PIT-6.52@DAL+1.53@NYJ-54MIA-45@BAL+16@NO-17ATL-108@CLEN/A9CAR-711@PIT-2.512@TENPK13KCPK14CLEN/A15@TB+316@NE-117BUFPK18BAL-3The Bengals have 10 games lined at a field goal or less, and that's before accounting for whatever version of the Browns they'll see come Week 8 and Week 14. That comes with the territory of being in a tough division in a loaded conference. Cincinnati has to deal with a first-place schedule that matches it up with the Chiefs, Titans, and Cowboys in a year when it plays nine of 17 games on the road.SWOT analysisStrengthsBurrow would've made a run at 5,000 passing yards if he needed to play a 17th game in 2021, considering the Bengals led the league in yards per pass attempt. Joe Mixon finished third in the NFL in rushing yards. To build upon that success through the air and via the ground, the Bengals revamped an offensive line that was awful with the exception of Jonah Williams at left tackle. Burrow, Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, and Mixon were already so good, yet Cincinnati added veterans Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, and La'el Collins. With better protection, the sky is the limit for the Bengals' offense.WeaknessesWith that type of hope for the offense, a defense that finished in the middle of the league in yards per play allowed and takeaways is the weakness by default. If Jessie Bates signs his franchise tender, the defense will remain largely the same for another season. As a fan of continuity, this may end up being a positive thing.OpportunitiesGiven how many toss-up games are on the schedule - at times, against bigger brands - there will be frequent opportunities to bet on Burrow and the Bengals' offense to win them games. These short point spreads suggest an underrating of Cincinnati on a game-to-game basis that doesn't jive with their relatively ample win total.ThreatsI don't want to lay points with a team when I can't trust its defense or offensive line. The Bengals are trying to address the latter, but the former means susceptibility to backdoor covers late. In games like the ones against the Steelers in Week 1 and the Jets, Falcons, and Panthers later in the season, asking the Bengals to pull away - and stay ahead to cover - might be too much to ask.How to bet the BengalsBurrow (+1200) is part of the selection of high-profile quarterbacks who are strong MVP candidates. With odds longer than Josh Allen, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and Aaron Rodgers, I'd prefer Burrow at this price. He's 12-1 to lead the league in passing yards as well. With better protection, he could surpass Brady and Herbert in yards per game, and with a strong division, there's a better chance the Bengals will have to try come Week 17.Chase isn't sneaking up on anyone this season, as he's the co-favorite at +500 for most receiving touchdowns and the third choice for most receiving yards at +1000. With so many options for those titles and the possibility that Cooper Kupp repeatedly gets fed by Matthew Stafford, there's little value on Chase at these odds.The Bengals are 14-1 to lead the league in points. Given how competitive their schedule is, 60 minutes of offensive effort for 17 games means their point totals may have to be high to get back into a good spot within the division.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Let's start a game of blind resume for a trio of quarterbacks in their most recent season as a starter:Yards per comp.Yards per gameTDINTQBRPlayer A6.2233.8221035.6Player B6.9231.819839.9Player C6.9205.516853.8Player A is Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers legend should be headed to Canton in five years, but his drop-off in play made him comparable to Player B - Jared Goff in 2021.Before we get to Player C and what the drop-off could be for whoever starts for Pittsburgh, let's take a look at what the market expectations are for a team that actually made the playoffs last year.2022 Season oddsMarket Odds (O/U)Win total7.0 (-125/+105)Division+1000Conference+5000Super Bowl+9000The Ravens, Browns, and Bengals all have relatively high expectations, so it doesn't matter if we're not ready to buy into the presumption that the Steelers will be weakened; markets can only set Pittsburgh's win total so high.Schedule outlookWeekOpponentLookahead line1@CIN+6.52NE+13@CLEN/A4NYJ-3.55@BUF+9.56TB+5.57@MIA+4.58@PHI+3.510NO-1.511CIN+2.512@IND+4.513@ATL-2.514BAL+215@CAR+116LV+1.517@BAL+5.518CLEN/AThe Steelers opened last season in Buffalo as touchdown underdogs, lost every key stat category, and still won the game despite only 188 passing yards from Roethlisberger and 3.6 yards per rush. They get a similar situation in Cincinnati this year and are back in Buffalo at a projected point spread even higher than last season.SWOT AnalysisStrengthsThe Steelers have proven they can win with Player C's numbers, which are from Mitch Trubisky's 2020 season. Trubisky was often a frustrating watch in Chicago, even though he quarterbacked the Bears to a pair of playoff appearances, but he's the veteran option.The last time we saw Pittsburgh without Roethlisberger, the team ran out rookies Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges in 2019 for 14 of 16 games. They combined for 2,828 passing yards, a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 18:17, and a QBR in the 30s. Despite the awful quarterback play, the Steelers went 9-6-1.This is a telling example of how everything is relative in the betting market. While Pittsburgh's offense may not be its strength, it will be relative to the perception of most bettors. Whether they turn to Trubisky and his mobility or rookie Kenny Pickett, the Steelers have enough surrounding talent to play complementary football.WeaknessesPittsburgh's strength in 2019 and 2020 was the defense's ability to carry the offense. However, despite T.J. Watt winning Defensive Player of the Year, the unit took a step back in 2021. The Steelers were in the back half of the NFL in yards per play allowed, opponents' yards per pass attempt, and takeaways in 2021. This group will need to return to its 2020 level.OpportunitiesPittsburgh looked awful throughout the first half of the vast majority of games last year but excelled in the second half to get enough wins to make the playoffs. We'll credit the coaching staff. Tomlin's group had victories over Buffalo, Tennessee, and Cleveland (twice) that felt like they were done using smoke and mirrors. I believe those wins come from coaching continuity and teams being able to find edges in game-planning and special teams.ThreatsThe other three AFC North teams are the biggest threat to Tomlin extending his non-losing-season streak, which is essentially what a bet on Pittsburgh's win total hinges on. The Steelers' season would also be torpedoed if Trubisky and Pickett play worse than Rudolph and Hodges did three years ago.How to bet the SteelersPickett (+600) is the Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite because he's the most likely first-year quarterback to play. However, avoid him in this market for now because we're not sure he'll be the Week 1 starter.Trubisky (+1200) is a sneaky choice for Comeback Player of the Year. After a season in Buffalo watching Josh Allen and listening to Brian Daboll, he may be in a better spot to use the talent that made him a No. 2 pick.Tomlin (+3000) is a perfect candidate to get the credit for salvaging a transitional year. He'd need to make the playoffs, but given that Pittsburgh's +175 to go over eight in the alternative win total markets, it's worth a shot for a big payout.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs are signing free-agent pass-rusher Carlos Dunlap to a one-year contract worth up to $8 million, his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Thursday.Dunlap reportedly met with the Chiefs on Wednesday for his second free-agent visit. He had a workout with the Carolina Panthers in June.The Chiefs needed to add experience to their defensive end group, which includes Frank Clark, rookie George Karlaftis, and Mike Danna.Dunlap began his career with the Cincinnati Bengals as a second-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. He racked up 83.5 sacks in 10-and-a-half seasons before being traded to the Seattle Seahawks midway through the 2020 campaign.The 33-year-old produced 13.5 sacks in 25 appearances before Seattle released him in March.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2022 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, and Anchor.In this episode, Eric Moody of ESPN joins Boone to discuss the latest training camp news and the mistakes you need to avoid in fantasy drafts.

Ahead of every NFL season, it seems improbable that any of the last-place teams from the year before can actually win their division. And every year, like clockwork, it happens anyway.Last year, the Bengals came out of nowhere to win the AFC North on the heels of a 4-11-1 campaign the year before. They were the 10th team in the last 10 years to go "worst to first" in 12 months. Only twice in the last two decades has there been a season in which at least one team didn't pull off the feat.So, naturally, we've been scouring the oddsboards for all eight divisions to see which teams are the likeliest candidates to do it this year. Here are the eight teams that finished fourth in their divisions a year ago - ranked by their division odds courtesy of Barstool Sportsbook - followed by our thoughts on every team's chances of flipping the script in 2022:TEAMDIVISIONODDS2021 RECORD2022 WIN TOTALBaltimore RavensAFC North+1658-99.5Denver BroncosAFC West+2707-1010Jacksonville JaguarsAFC South+7003-146.5New York GiantsNFC East+7504-137.5Detroit LionsNFC North+9003-13-16.5Carolina PanthersNFC South+10005-126New York JetsAFC East+18004-136Seattle SeahawksNFC West+20007-105.5Baltimore Ravens (+165 to win AFC North)The Ravens are the only team actually favored to win their division after finishing in last place a year ago, which makes them an easy call atop this list. And they've made all the moves to set themselves up for another AFC North crown.Baltimore revamped its beleaguered secondary by signing safety Marcus Williams and corner Kyle Fuller and adding first-round pick Kyle Hamilton to one of the most talented backlines in the NFL. A healthy J.K. Dobbins should reignite this lethal run game - especially with former MVP Lamar Jackson seemingly motivated by his pending free agency.Denver Broncos (+270 to win AFC West)The Broncos might actually be the best team on this list, as evidenced by their double-digit win total - the highest among any last-place finishers from 2021. Yet they also have arguably the greatest hurdle to clear in the most competitive division in football.Still, you have to like their chances with All-Pro quarterback Russell Wilson leading this young and talented offense that has long been hindered by shaky play under center. Denver's defense has all the pieces to finally put it together as well. Any regression from the Chiefs could leave the door wide open for this group, which is tantalizing on paper.Jacksonville Jaguars (+700 to win AFC South)On paper, the AFC South looks like the easiest division to steal as a long shot. It's the only division without a team priced at 20-1 or shorter to win the Super Bowl, and there isn't an elite quarterback on any of the four rosters (apologies to Matt Ryan and Ryan Tannehill).That doesn't mean the Jaguars are quite ready to seize the moment, though. We still haven't seen Trevor Lawrence find even pedestrian levels of success in the pros, even if his talent level suggests he eventually will. Plus, the exorbitant spending spree this summer won't necessarily translate to immediate results under new coach Doug Pederson. There's upside here, but it's not the best bet on the board.New York Giants (+750 to win NFC East)All five teams priced in the 7-1 to 18-1 range to win their division from this list ranked in the bottom seven in DVOA a year ago, so it's not like any of these rosters are ready-made for a quick turnaround. Yet the Giants appear to have the clearest path to success in 2022.New York's defense showed moments of promise a year ago, but its offense ranked dead last in most key metrics in a season mired by injuries. If Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley can stay on the field - which should be easier behind a new-look offensive line - that alone would do wonders for this group. I've got as much confidence in Jones as the next guy, but if he can just stop giving it away, this offense has significant room for growth in the always-tumultuous NFC East.Detroit Lions (+900 to win NFC North)This Lions roster teased upside a year ago before promptly finishing 3-13-1 in another throwaway campaign. Will it be any different in Year 2 under Dan Campbell, whose group showed some signs of life late in the season?This is clearly a make-or-break year for former top pick Jared Goff, and he's surrounded with enough talent in Detroit to make good on the tools that helped him reach the Super Bowl early in his career. There are still some major questions on defense for this group, though, and it'd take a massive letdown from the Packers for a long-shot bet to pay off here.Carolina Panthers (+1000 to win NFC South)Remember when this team opened the season with three straight wins and looked like a potential dark horse in the NFC? Injuries to key offensive players and a seven-game losing streak down the stretch doomed any potential for a sneaky playoff berth or an unlikely bid at the division crown.Still, the Panthers' defense is legit and led by young stars, which could mean even more gains in 2022. Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold are both fighting for their careers at this point, which could bring out the best in either former top-three pick. The Buccaneers loom large in this division but are the only real threat to consider; one injury in Tampa Bay and steady play from Carolina's QB could spell real long-shot value here.New York Jets (+1800 to win AFC East)I actually like what the Jets are building around young quarterback Zach Wilson ahead of coach Robert Saleh's second year at the helm. They've made a clear commitment to adding weapons around the former BYU star, and a revamped defensive line should help turn around that side of the ball.That said, this is about winning the division, and New York appears far from that mighty task as long as Josh Allen is running the show upstate. The Bills (-200) are the shortest division favorite in the AFC and should be the most complete team in football in 2022. Even a breakout season for Wilson likely won't be enough to close the gap there.Seattle Seahawks (+2000 to win NFC West)Let's take stock of the NFC West for a moment. Three of the four teams in the division won at least 10 games last season, two of them met in the NFC Championship Game, and the other just signed its star quarterback to one of the biggest deals in NFL history.And then there's the Seahawks, who traded away Wilson to accelerate a rebuild that feels a couple of years overdue. There's simply no way this team is winning such a stacked division unless Drew Lock has an MVP-level season - and even the biggest Lock truthers have forsaken that dream long ago.C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at cjackson.cowart@thescore.com.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons have named Marcus Mariota their starting quarterback over rookie Desmond Ridder to start training camp."Obviously, we've got a plan for each of them. Marcus is the starter," quarterbacks coach Charles London said Wednesday, according to The Athletic's Josh Kendall.Mariota was spotted taking snaps with the first-team unit during the Falcons' opening practice.Atlanta is looking for a successor to Matt Ryan after the club dealt the former MVP signal-caller to the Indianapolis Colts for a 2022 third-round pick.Mariota inked a two-year, $18.75-million contract with Atlanta as a free agent this offseason. He spent the past two seasons as a backup with the Las Vegas Raiders. The Oregon product previously spent five years with the Tennessee Titans after they selected him second overall in the 2015 NFL Draft. Mariota has started 61 of 74 career games.Meanwhile, Atlanta drafted Ridder in the third round of the 2022 draft. Ridder, who'll turn 23 next month, helped Cincinnati become the first Group of 5 school to earn a College Football Playoff berth last season. He racked up 3,334 passing yards and 30 touchdowns with a 64.9% completion rate.Feleipe Franks is also on the team's depth chart but is expected to practice as a tight end throughout most of training camp, per Kendall.London notes that he doesn't envision any complacency from either Mariota or Ridder as training camp moves toward preseason action."I expect those guys to compete," he said. "Right now, Marcus is the starter, and he's doing a great job."Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This was the offseason of the helmet as a host of teams around the NFL unveiled alternate and throwback lids to use for the 2022 season.But some clubs did better than others with their new looks. Here are all 13 new helmets ranked from worst to best.13. Chicago Bears At least the Bears have some consistency. Their job selecting the alternate orange helmet is as bad as their effort to upgrade quarterback Justin Fields' supporting cast this season.12. New York Jets The current iteration of the Jets doesn't elicit much excitement, and their alternate helmet follows the path of the on-field product. With so many teams going for black alternates, New York's version is forgettable.11. Washington Commanders Scott Taetsch / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Commanders released their alternate look alongside their uniform rebrand in February. You'll be forgiven if it didn't stick in your memory. The player number on the side isn't too bad but forces the logo to the front, which looks amateurish.10. Arizona Cardinals The Cardinals deserve credit for their effort in their alternate helmet's official announcement. However, those lids don't really have anything special. The best part about the shiny black helmet is the red glitter spots on it.9. New Orleans Saints There's something about this alternate lid that doesn't look good. We're not used to seeing the Saints wear black helmets, and these new lids eliminate the traditional three-stripe appearance, showing off the tiny gold "fleur-de-lis" logos instead. Ruining one of the NFL's best uniforms doesn't do the black helmet any favors, either.8. Dallas Cowboys The Cowboys always have to go bigger than everyone else. They released their throwback for Thanksgiving and could also have a similar-looking alternate on the way. But the throwback is simple, safe, and a bit dull. We expected more from the NFL's brashest franchise.7. Philadelphia Eagles Unlike other teams who tried it, the Eagles logo meshes well with the black look and will undoubtedly be intimidating. It's a pity these are apparently only sticking around for a year with a new throwback uniform coming in 2023.6. Houston Texans More teams should wear red helmets, and Houston's new look might be here to stay. Though there aren't many reasons to watch the Texans this season, make sure their Week 9 game against the Eagles is circled on your calendar - that's when Houston debuts its "Battle Red" helmet.5. New York Giants Throwback helmets always hit different for the more storied franchises, and the Giants are among the most iconic teams in the NFL. The "Giants" on the side draws instant memories of Lawrence Taylor crushing quarterbacks and is far more aesthetically pleasing than the current "NY" decal.4. Atlanta Falcons Falcons fans likely won't have much to cheer about this season, but at least their players will look clean in their throwback helmets. On the other hand, it highlights the lack of imagination in the team's recent standard uniform redesign.3. New England Patriots New England's alternate helmets are awesome on their own, but the return of the popular Pat Patriot logo also means the team will finally wear its red jerseys again.2. Carolina Panthers Few people would complain if the Panthers made the black helmet their No. 1 look moving forward. That's how nice Carolina's alternate lids are.1. Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati is suddenly one of the must-watch offenses in the NFL. And now the club has a beautifully slick all-white look for when it pairs the "White Bengal" helmet with the color rush uniform to match the team's electric talent. It's Cincinnati's first-ever alternate helmet, and it knocked it out of the park.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers couldn't have found a better way to describe wide receiver Allen Lazard after practice Wednesday.Rodgers praised Lazard by trolling Raiders wideout Davante Adams, who seemingly compared the reigning NFL MVP to Las Vegas quarterback Derek Carr.

Deebo Samuel is reporting to the San Francisco 49ers' training camp on Wednesday, but the star wide receiver won't participate in the club's first practice."We all know there's a lot going on with Deebo right now," Shanahan said, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. "We'll see what happens. I just had a great conversation with Deebo, so regardless of what happens, he's going to go out there and condition on the side, we'll see where he's at. Hopefully, we can figure something out soon. But we're in a good place for today."Samuel, who's entering the last year of his rookie contract, requested a trade in April amid stalled contract talks, but 49ers general manager John Lynch has said he doesn't plan to move the All-Pro wideout. San Francisco has reportedly turned down multiple trade offers for Samuel.Lynch also said Tuesday that he hopes the two sides will agree on a long-term contract extension "in the near future."The 2019 second-round pick put on a show last season, racking up 1,770 scrimmage yards to go along with 14 touchdowns. Samuel set career highs with 77 catches, 1,405 yards, and six touchdown receptions while also making plays with his legs. The South Carolina product finished the 2021 campaign with 59 rushing attempts for 365 yards and eight scores.Three of Samuel's 2019 draftmates - A.J. Brown, Terry McLaurin, and DK Metcalf - also entered this offseason seeking extensions, but Metcalf is the only one who hasn't been able to ink a new deal yet as he continues negotiating with the Seattle Seahawks.Brown signed a four-year, $100-million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles after the Tennessee Titans traded him in April, while McLaurin recently agreed to a three-year, $71-million extension with the Washington Commanders.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Julio Jones will get a chance to capture his first championship after joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the wideout is still wrapping his head around the prospect of playing with the Super Bowl hopefuls and star quarterback Tom Brady."Just being with a Hall of Fame quarterback, great quarterback, great coaching staff," Jones said Wednesday, according to NESN's Sean T. McGuire. "I mean, like I said, it's a surreal moment. It's amazing. I'm ready to go. But at the end of the day, it's all about accountability. I have to be accountable for him (Brady), the team, everybody."So with all that said and done, I still have to come to work. I still have to put the work in. You can say, 'We got Mike (Evans). We got Tom.' But we all have to put the work in. Nobody's going to give us anything. We just got to come out here and work each and every day. That's all it's about."The seven-time Pro Bowler signed a one-year deal reportedly worth up to $6 million, picking Tampa Bay over the Green Bay Packers.For the first time in his career, a team likely won't ask Jones to take on a leading role. Although he often played second fiddle to A.J. Brown during his lone injury-riddled season with the Tennessee Titans, Jones will compete for work with Evans, Chris Godwin, and free-agent addition Russell Gage in Tampa Bay.Despite boasting an array of talent on offense, Brady was apparently still working behind the scenes to entice Jones back to the NFC South."You think he gave me a call? Did Tom call me? What's his area code?" Jones said. "Yeah, I talked to him. I talked with Tom several times. But we were just talking. It wasn't really about coming to Tampa, we were just communicating. Feeling each other out, I guess. Probably was a tactic, but I don't know. I'm here."The biggest question facing Jones will be his availability after he missed 14 games over the last two seasons. But Jones has insisted he's "100% healthy" as training camp kicks off, according to The Athletic's Greg Auman.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Give Jerry Jones credit. The Dallas Cowboys owner could have fired coach Mike McCarthy on his way off the field after his team lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the wild-card round last year. The feature play was Dak Prescott's inability to get a final snap off in time, but 14 penalties for 89 yards indicated a more pervasive issue. Dallas committed the most penalties in the NFL for the most yards, and it wasn't particularly close. McCarthy's job survived the immediate playoff aftermath despite discipline costing the club multiple games in 2021.Salary-cap issues forced the Cowboys to trade Amari Cooper this offseason. The amount of money Dallas committed to Ezekiel Elliott brought on the cap constraints, and that's a decision made by Jones.Nevertheless, the market still believes in the Cowboys. However, that may be out of habit from taking bets on "America's Team" at almost any price each year.2022 Season oddsMarket Odds (O/U)Win total10.0 (-110/-110)Division+135Conference+850Super Bowl+1800An 11-win season for Dallas is what it'll take to cash an over bet. Getting to the Super Bowl will likely require three playoff victories against teams who probably have a coaching advantage and are likely just as talented, so +850 is predictably too short.Schedule outlookWeekOpponentLookahead line1TB+22CIN-1.53@NYG-44WSH-65@LAR+4.56@PHIPK7DET-78CHI-710@GB+411@MINPK12NYG-713IND-2.514HOU-815@JAX-3.516PHI-3.517@TEN+1.518@WSH-1The Cowboys see Super Bowl participants from each of the last two seasons right off the bat, hosting the 2020 champs on Sunday Night Football in Week 1. Both contests are near pick'em games. Dallas is lined up to be touchdown favorites on Thanksgiving against the New York Giants, looking for a rare win in its annual showcase. That's one of four games in which the Cowboys may be giving a converted touchdown or more to their opponent.SWOT AnalysisStrengthsPro Football Focus graded Dallas' offensive line as the best in the league last year, with Tyron Smith and Zack Martin leading that group. However, the other three spots are up in the air, with La'el Collins and Connor Williams moving on via free agency. Prescott returned from his season-ending injury in 2020 to finish with the third-best quarterback rating.Defensively, Micah Parsons made a big splash last season, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year. He finished with 13 sacks and created pressure from various locations. Trevon Diggs' second campaign will be harder to duplicate after 11 interceptions in 2021.WeaknessesGiven those big-time performances, you'd think the Cowboys' team metrics would be better, but Dallas was a middle-of-the-pack club in yards per play allowed and yards per pass. Add in their penalty troubles, and the defense was a net-negative even with Parsons and Diggs having exceptional seasons. What if the Cowboys don't create the league-leading number of turnovers they did last year?Next to Parsons, Dallas' leading returning sacker is Dorance Armstrong. Meanwhile, much has been made about Diggs' coverage skills when he's not picking off passes. He allowed over 1,000 yards to receivers he covered last season.Lastly, Elliott averaged 14 carries for 59 yards per game. Those were mostly wasted plays, especially considering his backup, Tony Pollard, averaged 5.5 yards per carry and showed home-run hitting ability.OpportunitiesThe most likely opportunity with regards to betting the Cowboys is to pick your spots to fade them. There's no reason to believe the coaching and team discipline will improve. Elliott is unlikely to get sprier, and the passing offense probably won't pick up where it left off with Cooper in Cleveland and half the offensive line filled with replacement-level players.ThreatsIf the idea is to fade Dallas where possible, the threat is that it's a good team. So, the Cowboys as home underdogs in Week 1 is one of the rare instances when the market might not be overrating them. A win against the Bucs might change how we perceive this club based on the artificiality of a small sample size.How to bet the CowboysWe'll wait and see if the line gets to pushed to +3 in Week 1. After that, our lack of faith in Dallas' defense replicating its 2021 season means we'll frequently be backing the team's underdog opponents throughout the campaign.The player with the biggest upside in futures markets is CeeDee Lamb. He steps into a focal target role for Prescott and is +1500 for most receptions, +1400 for most receiving yards, and +1400 for most receiving touchdowns.Jalen Tolbert is live to have the most receiving yards of the rookie class at +1200 if he can find his way into a regular position in three-wide sets - the Cowboys' formation of choice.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Julio Jones signed a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team announced Wednesday.The wideout's contract contains a base salary of $6 million and a maximum value of $8 million, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Jones generated interest from multiple teams this offseason after being released by the Tennessee Titans in March, including the Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers, according to Schefter.The 33-year-old is already familiar with the NFC South, having played his first 10 NFL seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. The Alabama product, whom Atlanta drafted sixth overall in 2011, led the league in receiving twice from 2011-20 en route to becoming the Falcons' all-time leader in catches (848) and receiving yards (12,896). He also caught 60 touchdowns with Atlanta.Jones' average of 91.9 receiving yards per game is the best in NFL history. He's also posted 59 100-yard games throughout his career, the third-most of all time behind Jerry Rice (76) and Randy Moss (64).The Falcons traded Jones to the Titans last year for a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 fourth-rounder. He appeared in only 10 games with Tennessee, missing time with hamstring injuries for a second consecutive season. Jones finished the 2021 campaign with 31 catches, 434 yards, and one touchdown.The Bucs already have one of the NFL's best offenses with Tom Brady under center. Jones adds to a deep group of wide receivers that features Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Russell Gage, Tyler Johnson, and Scotty Miller, among others.Godwin has been cleared to begin training camp after suffering a torn ACL in December, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. However, Tampa Bay won't rush his return, ESPN's Jenna Laine reports.The Buccaneers, who lost Rob Gronkowski to retirement this year, also roster tight ends Cameron Brate, Kyle Rudolph, and rookie Cade Otton.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kyle Shanahan says everyone on the San Francisco 49ers, including Jimmy Garoppolo, understands that the future of the quarterback position belongs to Trey Lance."This is Trey's team," Shanahan said Tuesday. "That's nothing against Jimmy. We made that decision a year ago. We're going with that."Shanahan shared his appreciation for the veteran's efforts in taking the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game last season."I can't tell you how appreciative I have been of Jimmy and him being here," Shanahan noted. "So appreciative of what he did for us last year. … Jimmy did a hell of a job coming into camp and winning that job and taking us real close to the Super Bowl. But we have moved on to Trey, and we're starting camp out this way."Lance made two starts during his rookie season in place of an injured Garoppolo, throwing for five touchdowns to two interceptions. The 49ers selected him third overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.Garoppolo was expected to be one of the first quarterbacks to be moved in the offseason, but shoulder surgery stalled interest from suitors. Shanahan reiterated Tuesday that the team believes he would've been traded if not for the surgery, though the club has no "ill will" about the procedure.The 30-year-old officially passed his physical Tuesday, meaning he won't open training camp on the physically unable to perform list, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.San Francisco reportedly gave him permission to pursue a trade last week. Garoppolo carries a $26.95-million cap hit for 2022, the final year of his contract.General manager John Lynch also confirmed Deebo Samuel arrived for training camp and said the two sides have had "productive" talks about an extension. Lynch has been adamant the club wants to retain Samuel since the star wideout requested a trade in April."I don't want to get everyone all excited that something's imminent, because we're not there yet," Lynch said. "But really hopeful that in the near future, we'll be able to announce something that's exciting for everyone involved."Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf has reported for training camp, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.By reporting to camp, Metcalf can't be fined by the Seahawks, though it remains unclear if the star wideout will practice with the team without a new contract. The 24-year-old, who skipped mandatory minicamp in June, is entering the last year of his rookie deal.The one-time Pro Bowler could've been fined $40,000 per day if he hadn't reported for training camp, according to ESPN's Brady Henderson.

With the usual suspects nabbing six of the seven playoff berths, the Eagles were the biggest surprise playoff team in the NFC last season. Their campaign was not complicated - with very few exceptions, they beat the teams they were supposed to beat and lost to the teams that were better than them.Philadelphia addressed its need for a top receiver by trading its first-round pick to the Titans for A.J. Brown. Jalen Hurts now has the big play target to pair with DeVonta Smith that he didn't have last year.The Eagles' shopping spree didn't stop there, as they loaded up on veterans, but how does the market view this team and its unproven quarterback?2022 season oddsMarket Odds (O/U)Win total9.5 (-130/+110)Division+165Conference+1100Super Bowl+2500Hopes are high for the Eagles this season. With a win total of 9.5 juiced to the over, double-digit victories appear to be the expectation for 2022. At +165 to win the division, they're priced just underneath the Cowboys. A relatively weak NFC means a higher probability of the Eagles making the playoffs. Therefore, the payouts on a conference title or Super Bowl victory are shorter than you might expect.Schedule outlookWeekOpponentLookahead line1@DET-42MIN-2.53@WSHPK4JAX-6.55@ARZ+26DALPK8PIT-3.59@HOU-5.510WSH-3.511@IND+312GBPK13TEN-214@NYG-1.515@CHI-316@DAL+3.517NO-318NYG-5There's no getting around it - the schedule sets up sweet. Philly is currently projected to be an underdog in just three games, and visits to the Cardinals, Colts, and Cowboys are all winnable. That's good news for a team that did well in games in favorable matchups last year.SWOT analysisStrengthsJust five teams gave up fewer yards per play than the Eagles last season. However, there weren't many teams that had fewer takeaways, as Philadelphia forced less than one per game. The Eagles picked up Haason Reddick to augment the pass rush and James Bradberry to pair with Darius Slay at cornerback. There's so much depth on the defense that first-round nose tackle Jordan Davis and a third-round steal in linebacker Nakobe Dean aren't yet listed as starters on the depth chart.WeaknessesThe passing game averaged just 202 yards per game in 2021, but that was offset by a running game that led the league with 156 yards per contest. Part of that ground success comes from the danger Hurts presents with his legs, as the Eagles used an assortment of running backs playing off of Pro Football Focus's fourth-ranked offensive line. That unit gets back starting guard Jordan Mailata, who played just three games last season.So, how is the offense a weakness? Until Hurts and the Eagles can be effective when the opponents know they have to throw, they'll continue to lose to the teams they're supposed to. Brown's addition moves the pass-catchers one spot over in the priority list, which is only a good thing. The one thing not to like on a pretty loaded roster is the quarterback's throwing ability, but that's something of a problem.OpportunitiesThe Cowboys won the division last year, but for years they've taken up more win probability in the betting markets than they probably deserved. If you deem that to be the case this year, the Eagles' roster deserves every bit of the respect the Cowboys' roster gets - and at a better price.ThreatsThe biggest threat to the Eagles is expectations, as 9.5 wins is a high bar. Will a few new veterans and a big-play receiver get the club into double digits? While they're rarely slated to be underdogs, the Eagles aren't significantly favored much at all either.How to bet the EaglesHurts has gotten enough attention for MVP to be listed at just 20-1, and while it's possible the multidimensional threat can take a leap, there's less than a 5% chance of an MVP season happening. More conservatively, taking Hurts under 10.5 interceptions is a bet that he'll improve on the nine interceptions he threw in 15 games last year.Miles Sanders didn't have a rushing touchdown last year but should have ample opportunity with the offensive line in front of him, and he's 50-1 to lead the league in rushing scores and rushing yards.Dallas Goedert is even-money for over 61.5 receptions, and he's now the sole proprietor of the starting tight end position where Zach Ertz caught more than 70 passes per year. Some of Ertz's 18 catches last year before a trade to Arizona should be tacked on to Goedert's projected total.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With NFL training camps set to kick off, we assess each AFC team's most interesting storyline.NFC I AFCBaltimore Ravens - Will Lamar Jackson enter the season without an extension? Time is running out for the Ravens and Jackson to agree on a long-term deal. It's a tricky situation from many angles. Team owner Steve Bisciotti said in March that the team was still waiting for the quarterback to come to the table, fueling speculation over his future. Jackson quieted the chatter last month, saying he expects to stay in Baltimore for his entire career. That was short-lived, thanks to Jackson's new "I need $" Twitter header, though he refuted rumors that it was about his contract.While details have been sparse on the situation, it's in the Ravens' best interest to tie down Jackson before the 2022 season kicks off. Jackson, who represents himself without an agent, will have certainly noticed the big-money deals handed out to Aaron Rodgers, Deshaun Watson, and Kyler Murray this offseason. The former league MVP is entering the final year of his rookie deal, but there's no shortage of leverage on his part. His future contract, whenever it happens, will surely be astronomical, and now it's up to the Ravens and him to get to the table to make it work.Buffalo Bills - Who will be the Week 1 starting outside CBs?The answer to the question above will be heavily influenced by the health of Pro Bowler Tre'Davious White. The 27-year-old tore his ACL last November, and his status for Week 1 hasn't been clarified. The forthcoming month should provide some clues on whether he'll be out there, but it wouldn't be a total surprise if he's not cleared for the opener.In a world where White is ready to go for the Sept. 8 contest against the Los Angeles Rams, the opposite outside cornerback spot will come down to a feisty competition between 2022 first-rounder Kaiir Elam and third-year pro Dane Jackson. It's a spot that veteran Levi Wallace held down admirably in the past. However, Wallace left for the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency. Elam likely has the early edge, but Jackson will be chomping at the bit after allowing a 50% completion percentage last season, per Pro Football Reference. There's also the prospect that both youngsters will be in the starting lineup if White isn't cleared, though that's a situation Buffalo likely hopes to avoid.Cincinnati Bengals - Joe Burrow's reinforced OLThe Bengals are coming off their first Super Bowl appearance in 33 years, but that wasn't the number the front office focused on this offseason. That number would be 70 - as in the number of times Burrow was sacked last season (including playoffs). The Bengals, Burrow, and likely just about everyone in Cincinnati would like to see that number come down, and the club took positive steps in that direction this offseason.Three newcomers - Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, and La'el Collins - figure to hold down the center position and the right side of the line. With Jonah Williams back at left tackle, only projected left guard Jackson Carman lacks experience. It's easy to assume the Bengals' offensive line will improve, whether moderately or significantly. What does that mean for Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Co.? Well, if a bruised and battered Burrow staked his flag atop the AFC last year, there's no telling what he can do if given more time to stay on his feet.Cleveland Browns - Getting Jacoby Brissett readyNew quarterback Deshaun Watson showed up to training camp, but there's a good possibility he won't be the guy under center in Week 1. Watson is still awaiting a decision on whether he'll be suspended for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. That will likely leave the Browns' offense in the hands of the veteran Brissett.Brissett became the de facto No. 2 quarterback after the team's relationship with the now-traded Baker Mayfield became fractured beyond repair. The Browns' ceiling will surely be lower with Brissett at the helm, but they still can't be counted out due to their strong offensive line and talented skill position players. The journeyman quarterback has filled in on short notice before, going 7-8 in 2019 with the Indianapolis Colts following Andrew Luck's surprise retirement. The key for the Browns will be building an offense that only asks Brissett to manage efficiently while the surrounding playmakers carry the load.Denver Broncos - Russell Wilson's arrival and 2022 expectationsThe game of musical chairs is finally over. Denver has its quarterback - and a good one at that. While the Broncos have a firm answer at the most important position, there are a lot of moving parts involving Wilson and those around him that may shape just how close the club gets to its new sky-high expectations.Like any new partnership, there's always a period of acclimatization. Wilson will step into a new offense under head coach Nathaniel Hackett, but perhaps that's not much of a concern considering every member of the offense will be starting from scratch with Hackett. The bigger adjustment may come at offensive line, where as many as three positions (C, RG, and RT) could be up for grabs. How quickly the Broncos' offense gets into a rhythm may be key to determining how far this team can go in 2022 and beyond.Houston Texans - It's Davis Mills' time to shineOne of the lone bright spots of the Texans' dreadful 2021 campaign was the emergence of rookie quarterback Davis Mills. The third-round pick began the season behind Tyrod Taylor before shining down the stretch, with nine touchdowns to two interceptions over his final five games. After going from an early-season afterthought to a potential diamond in the rough, Mills' development will be a key area of focus for the Texans in 2022.The goal will be to figure out a way to build on Mills' promising play. Houston may not have surrounded him with elite playmakers, but the franchise has done a lot off the field to make his life easier. Finally trading Deshaun Watson from their quarterback room was a necessary move, and promoting Pep Hamilton from QBs coach to offensive coordinator should also do wonders for Mills' ascension. Hamilton has earned praise for his work with other young passers, including Justin Herbert. Expectations are low for the 2022 Texans, though that's probably the perfect environment for a young signal-caller like Mills.Indianapolis Colts - Matt Ryan's impactThe only constant in life is change, especially for Colts quarterbacks. For the sixth consecutive season, Indianapolis will enter Week 1 with a different starting passer than the year prior. While the Colts have a roster qualified to compete, the quarterback position has been a weak point since Andrew Luck's retirement. The acquisition of the 37-year-old Ryan is another short-term solution, but the franchise should still expect improvements from 2021.Why Ryan could lift the Colts above last season's disappointing 9-8 finish has more to do with who he isn't rather than who he is. The bottom line is he isn't Carson Wentz. In fact, he's far from it. With better accuracy, decision-making, and pocket presence, Ryan won't be the ticking time bomb that Wentz was during his brief Indianapolis stay. The Colts went off the rails last season, but they couldn't have picked a better option than Ryan to keep the team on track.Jacksonville Jaguars - Doug Pederson's influence on Trevor LawrenceThe Jaguars wrote a how-to guide on how not to introduce a heralded rookie quarterback to the NFL in 2021. Lawrence played under the disastrous reign of former head coach Urban Meyer in his first year, featuring in an offense that ranked last in scoring. Luckily for him and the Jaguars, the team cleaned up its act before it was too late. The offense was bolstered in free agency, but, most importantly, the team brought in the perfect head coach to further develop the former No. 1 overall pick.Pederson spent last year out of the NFL after a disappointing end to his Philadelphia Eagles' tenure, but that shouldn't overshadow his history with quarterbacks. He had Carson Wentz playing like an MVP candidate in 2017 and then managed to win a Super Bowl with Nick Foles later that year. How those two have fared outside of Pederson's reach speaks volumes. His next project will be elevating Lawrence to the heights that many expected when he took the college world by storm at Clemson. There's reason to be optimistic, considering Pederson's track record and Lawrence's skill set as they prepare to form one of the most interesting collaborations in the NFL.Kansas City Chiefs - How to make up for Tyreek Hill's absenceThe Chiefs lost one of the game's biggest playmakers this offseason in Hill. Despite having superstar Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, Hill was the lightning bolt that made the offense as dangerous as it was. Replacing Hill one-for-one was never going to be a realistic solution. However, the Chiefs have gotten creative with an all-hands-on-deck approach to the issue. Their plan: Assemble a group of hungry receivers who together may be able to replicate some of Hill's production for a fraction of the cost.Mecole Hardman has improved his receiving output in each of his three seasons and carries the most similarities to Hill in raw athleticism. Next comes JuJu Smith-Schuster, who signed a modest one-year, $3.25-million deal. The former Pittsburgh Steeler is a larger slot option and will be eager to rebuild his value. The club also drafted Western Michigan receiver Skyy Moore in the second round. However, the most compelling option is free-agent signee Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Scantling's numbers don't warrant a second look on paper, but his untapped potential as a vertical receiver means he'll likely be a key figure in making the offense click. After all, he's recorded seven touchdowns of 40-plus yards over the last three seasons, tied for fourth most in the NFL.It may not sound like an A-list cast, but the Chiefs will be hoping that in an offense headlined by Mahomes, anyone can be a star.Las Vegas Raiders - Don't gloss over Darren Waller's contract situationLet the fireworks begin. Derek Carr and Davante Adams are set to take the field as teammates for the first time since their college days. The duo dominated years ago at Fresno State, and the expectation is that magic will rekindle with the Raiders. While all is well with Carr and his newest target, the next focus of the franchise will likely be the long-term future of Waller.The Raiders have enjoyed the Pro Bowl tight end's service at a great value in recent years. Waller has led the team in receiving yards in two of the last three seasons, but his contract doesn't reflect that. In the midst of a four-year, $29.8-million deal, Waller's average annual value ranks 17th among tight ends, coming in behind the likes of Will Dissly and C.J. Uzomah, according to Spotrac. He's reportedly looking for a new contract, and negotiations have been civil so far. Waller said in June that he's solely focusing on football and leaving a new contract up to his agent. Though Carr and Adams will steal all the buzz, the state of Waller's contract talks isn't a storyline to skip over.Los Angeles Chargers - A major makeover on defenseThe Chargers topped our top 10 offseasons rankings, and their aggressive defensive reinforcements weighed heavily in their high billing. There's not a whole lot that needs to be said about the quality of Khalil Mack and J.C. Jackson; their talent speaks for itself. Mack is a former Defensive Player of the Year winner, while no one has recorded more interceptions than Jackson (25) since 2018.Now, it'll be up to head coach Brandon Staley to show why he was brought on board in 2021 after receiving rave reviews as the Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator. At his disposal, he's got proper secondary pieces in Jackson, Asante Samuel Jr., and Derwin James. Meanwhile, the front seven looks as good as ever with Mack, Joey Bosa, and new defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day. There's a lot of ground to make up after the club finished 23rd in yardage allowed and 29th in points given up in 2021, but Staley has an abundance of star power and little reason for excuse.Miami Dolphins - Is this Tua Tagovailoa's last chance? The Dolphins have done everything in their power to make Tagovailoa's life easier. Going out and getting All-Pro wideout Tyreek Hill and former San Francisco 49ers offensive guru Mike McDaniel was a testament to that. Tagovailoa has done little through two seasons to convince the franchise he was worth his fifth overall billing, and there's a sentiment that 2022 could be his last opportunity to prove himself.While pressure is building externally, there's been nothing but support publicly from the Dolphins about Tagovailoa. Hill has constantly praised and defended his new quarterback since joining the team. Their chemistry will continue to be a hot topic in camp and throughout the season, especially when it comes to the signal-caller's deep ball. Besides, it's not out of the realm of possibility that McDaniel would want his own hand-picked quarterback if Tagovailoa doesn't deliver. The pressure will be on, but Tagovailoa has what he needs to endure the Miami heat. One way or another, the Dolphins should leave the 2022 season with an answer on how to move forward at quarterback.New England Patriots - Replacing Josh McDaniels For 13 of the last 16 years, McDaniels has roamed New England's sideline as the club's offensive coordinator. But the longtime Patriot has since taken the Raiders' head coaching gig, and the always secretive Bill Belichick hasn't shown his cards yet for who'll replace him as offensive play-caller.The obvious and most-discussed candidates are Joe Judge and Matt Patricia. The former revealed part of his duties will include helping second-year quarterback Mac Jones, while Patricia will aid the offensive line. Neither potential candidate carries a resume that will be reassuring to Patriots supporters if they're handed play-calling duties. Having primarily worked with special teams, Judge's experience on offense is limited to a brief stint as wide receivers coach in 2019. Patricia began with the Patriots as an offensive assistant in 2004 before spending the next year as their assistant OL coach. He went on to coach the defense for several seasons after that.Filling the void left by McDaniels is a hard enough job on its own. Possibly asking an inexperienced offensive play-caller to jump into his now-vacant shoes is an even mightier task. It's unknown who'll be tasked with play-calling duties after the Patriots declined to name an official offensive coordinator, but training camp should provide more clarity to New England fans.New York Jets - What's going on with Mekhi Becton?The Jets put together an impressive group of high-ceiling talent with their 2022 draft class, but it's a different youngster that's provoking concern. That player is none other than Becton, a 2020 first-round pick. The 23-year-old's second season was limited to just one game due to a knee injury, paving the way for George Fant to solidify himself as the team's blindside protector.The job appears to be Fant's to lose, though Becton is set to battle for the spot. Becton, who looked promising at left tackle in his rookie year, undoubtedly has the talent to take back the starting job when healthy. However, it hasn't seemed like Becton has built any momentum on that front all offseason. He opted not to show for voluntary offseason workouts, and rumors of him being overweight circulated when he arrived for mandatory minicamp. Becton said in June that he's going to make naysayers "eat their words," and that's exactly what he'll have to do in 2022 if he hopes to secure his standing in the Jets' long-term plans.Pittsburgh Steelers - Can Kenny Pickett displace Mitch Trubisky? It's a new era in Pittsburgh. Heinz Field is no more, Kevin Colbert has left his post as general manager, and for the first time since 2003, the Steelers won't have Ben Roethlisberger under center. Who steps up to fill the spot of the now-retired quarterback will come down to former top prospect Trubisky and 2022 first-rounder Pickett.The investment in Pickett won't do him any favors in camp. Though Mike Tomlin said there's "certainly" a chance the rookie starts Week 1, it won't come easy. The Pitt product started OTAs No. 3 on the depth chart and will have to put on a very impressive performance to unseat Trubisky, who's hungry for redemption in his third NFL home.Tennessee Titans - Ryan Tannehill's receiving corps Tannehill won't see any of his old targets when he drops back during training camp. The Titans bid farewell to eight combined Pro Bowl seasons from their receiving group this offseason, parting with Julio Jones and A.J. Brown. Jones was cut after looking like a shell of his former self in a one-year trial with the Titans. Brown was not only the team's leading receiver, but he was also among the league's highest-rising wideouts. It's been a tough pill for Tennessee to swallow, and early offseason workouts haven't done much to heal those wounds, either.Robert Woods was brought over from the Los Angeles Rams and was one of the NFL's most under-the-radar pass-catchers while lining up alongside Cooper Kupp. However, he'll have to clear a major hurdle by recovering from last season's ACL tear. First-round pick Treylon Burks is perhaps the most exciting piece of the puzzle, but he's had a less than smooth transition to the pros after being limited with asthma-related problems in OTAs. Behind them lies some uncertainty. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine projects as the No. 3 and only has eight starts to his name, while Dez Fitzpatrick was limited to only five catches in his rookie year in 2021. Kyle Philips, a fifth-round rookie, rounds out the group.While the Titans' offense will still go as far as Derrick Henry takes it, there'll be even more eyes on how Tannehill performs with his new receiving corps.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson is retiring from the NFL due to a neck injury, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The Seahawks officially released Carson with the failed injury designation Tuesday, allowing him to receive several million in injury protection benefits.Carson won't make a retirement statement with the hope his neck issues "dramatically improve," Rapoport added.The 27-year-old suffered the season-ending injury in November after racking up 232 yards and four touchdowns in four games.During workouts in June, which Carson missed, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll suggested the running back's playing future was in doubt."Our guys love this game that they grow up playing, and when they sense that there may be an end to it, it's hard. It's difficult, and it's real," Carroll said.Carson produced back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns in 2018-19 but missed the mark in 2020 after sitting out four games with a foot injury.The Seahawks reinforced their backfield this offseason amid Carson's uncertain future, re-signing Rashaad Penny and drafting Kenneth Walker in the second round.Penny excelled in the lead role down the stretch in 2021, rushing for 749 yards and six touchdowns in 10 appearances while averaging an NFL-high 6.3 yards per carry.Seattle selected Carson in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He finishes his career with 3,502 rushing yards, 804 receiving yards, and 31 total touchdowns.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is confident Mike McCarthy is the right man to end the franchise's championship drought."I want to be real clear," Jones said Tuesday, according to Cowboys Country's Mike Fisher. "He wouldn't be sitting here today if I didn't think he could lead this team to a Super Bowl. And I have choices."Jones opened up his annual training camp press conference by unpromptedly shutting down speculation about his head coach's future.One of Dallas' "choices" is widely believed to be Sean Payton, the former Cowboys assistant and Jones' longtime target who retired this offseason from his job with the New Orleans Saints.Payton left the door open to an NFL return, fueling speculation that he could finally land in Dallas despite McCarthy only being two years into his tenure.On Monday, McCarthy brushed off the noise about his job security, calling it "a media-driven narrative or at least a narrative driven outside my realm."Jones continued to emphasize the safety of McCarthy's position when asked about possibly extending the coach's deal to end talk over his future."We"re in good shape. We have years left on the contract," he said, according to The Athletic's Jon Machota. "There are years past this one, that's all I'll say."The Cowboys are looking to make a second straight playoff appearance after winning the NFC East with a 12-5 record in 2021-22.While Dak Prescott's return to full health pushed Dallas back toward the top of the conference in the regular season, the club lost in the wild-card round to the San Francisco 49ers.Dallas has only won two postseason games since 2014, and its last Super Bowl title came in 1995.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is undergoing surgery to remove his appendix, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Burrow is slated to miss some practice time due to the procedure, Rapoport added.The star quarterback led the Bengals to their first Super Bowl appearance in 33 years last season. He threw for 34 touchdowns to 14 interceptions while completing 70.4% of his passes for 4,611 yards.Drafted first overall in 2020, Burrow is entering the third year of his rookie contract and will be eligible for an extension in 2023. Team president Mike Brown said Monday that his "whole focus" will be on keeping Burrow long term.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears linebacker Roquan Smith showed up for training camp Tuesday but is not slated to participate, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.Reports emerged Monday saying the Bears linebacker won't report for training camp due to his contract situation. Smith, who's entering the last year of his rookie deal, hasn't received an offer he'd "remotely consider," according to Rapoport.The 25-year-old's been a key member of the Bears' defense since joining the team as the eighth overall pick in the 2018 draft. The Georgia product racked up 163 tackles, three sacks, three pass breakups, and one pick-6 across 17 starts last season en route to earning his second consecutive second-team All-Pro nod.Indianapolis Colts star Darius Leonard currently tops the inside linebacker position with a $19.7-million average annual salary, according to Spotrac. He's followed by C.J. Mosley of the New York Jets ($17 million) and Zach Cunningham of the Tennessee Titans ($14.5 million).Bears rookies and quarterbacks reported for training camp Saturday, while the rest of the team is scheduled to join Tuesday.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Bears reached an agreement with former Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Riley Reiff on a one-year deal worth up to $12.5 million, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.At least $10 million of Reiff's total contract is likely to be earned, Schefter adds.Reiff spent last season as the Bengals' right tackle but has experience playing on the left side, too. He started twelve games for Cincinnati before an ankle injury cut his season short.The Bears will be Reiff's third stop in the NFC North. The 33-year-old began his career as a first-round pick of the Detroit Lions in 2012 before spending 2017-2020 with the Minnesota Vikings.Reiff joins a Bears tackle group that consists of 2021 second-rounder Teven Jenkins, rookie Braxton Jones, veteran Julie'n Davenport, and Larry Borom, among others.Chicago allowed 58 total sacks last season, including 36 with Justin Fields under center.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After Mac Jones' standout rookie season was one of the biggest surprises of the 2021 campaign, head coach Bill Belichick is expecting even better things from the New England Patriots quarterback as a sophomore.Belichick said Tuesday that Jones has made a "dramatic improvement" this offseason, according to Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston."His physical work and conditioning, working on his mechanics, working on his footwork, working on his understanding of our offense (and opposing) defenses," Belichick added. "He's made tremendous strides. He did a great job last year, but he's starting from a much, much higher point."Four other quarterbacks - Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, and Justin Fields - were selected ahead of Jones, whom the Patriots picked at No. 15 overall, during the 2021 NFL Draft.While the stability of the New England organization was expected to help Jones' transition to the NFL, most projected the other young signal-callers to steal the spotlight last season.But Jones led all rookie quarterbacks in completion percentage (67.6%), touchdowns (22), passing yards (3,801), passer rating (92.5), and QBR (50.9) while leading the Patriots to a 10-7 record and a wild-card berth. His completion percentage was the second-best mark in NFL history among rookies, and his yards total ranked fifth all time.The 23-year-old has drawn significant praise from his teammates for his growth this offseason, including wide receiver Kendrick Bourne and tight end Jonnu Smith.Jones is facing some adversity entering his second campaign after the departure of longtime offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who left to become the Las Vegas Raiders' head coach.The Patriots won't name an offensive or a defensive coordinator for the season, and Belichick wouldn't say if he intends to name the play-caller who'll work with Jones."I'm the head coach, I'm responsible for everything, let's just leave it at that," he said, according to Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With NFL training camps set to kick off for every team, we assess each NFC club's most interesting storyline.NFC I AFCArizona Cardinals - Replacing Chandler JonesWith Kyler Murray now signed to a long-term deal, Arizona's biggest storyline is how its pass rush will function without the franchise's all-time sack leader, Chandler Jones. Though Jones didn't have the best year of his career in 2021, he still racked up 41 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and six forced fumbles. Plus, he was one of the main leaders of the Cardinals' locker room. Arizona has a few candidates to replace him now that he's with the Las Vegas Raiders, but none of them come without questions.Markus Golden, who amassed a team-high 11 sacks opposite Jones last season, will presumably be Arizona's No. 1 edge rusher. That leaves Devon Kennard, Myjai Sanders, and Cameron Thomas competing for snaps on the other side. Kennard appeared in 15 games last season but didn't register any sacks, while Sanders and Thomas are third-round rookies. This front seven, which lost veteran linebacker Jordan Hicks in the offseason, also features former first-round linebackers Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins, as well as lineman J.J. Watt. Watt was solid when healthy in 2021, but he played only seven games and has missed 18 regular-season contests since 2019.Atlanta Falcons - How will the rookies fare?Don't be surprised if several rookies earn prominent roles with the Falcons. Atlanta doesn't roster many proven standouts, which leaves the door open for its strong 2022 draft class to shine. Desmond Ridder, for example, could create a quarterback competition with Marcus Mariota if the third-rounder continues his strong minicamp performance.Atlanta also drafted a new starter in receiver Drake London and a potential Day 1 contributor in running back Tyler Allgeier. Defensively, the Falcons addressed big needs with pass-rushers Arnold Ebiketie and DeAngelo Malone, as well as linebacker Troy Andersen. Ebiketie is expected to start in 2022, while Malone and Andersen provide immediate depth as well as the potential to become key contributors in the near future.Carolina Panthers - Baker Mayfield or Sam Darnold? Jacob Kupferman / Getty Images Sport / GettyPerhaps the NFL's most intriguing quarterback battle will take place in Carolina. Darnold had chances to prove he was the right guy in his first year with the Panthers but struggled. That's why Carolina traded for 2018 draftmate Mayfield, who's coming off a down campaign but is only two years removed from his best season with the Cleveland Browns. If Mayfield stays healthy and plays as he did in 2020, he could make the Panthers' offense - which features explosive weapons and an improved offensive line - better than many expect.This depth chart also includes veteran P.J. Walker and third-round rookie Matt Corral. Corral isn't ready yet, but his development will become a bigger topic if Mayfield's and Darnold's struggles continue.Chicago Bears - Who'll protect Justin Fields?Bears fans can't wait to see how Fields will perform in his second NFL season, but Chicago's poor job at putting together a strong supporting cast for the young quarterback raises a lot of questions. Although the team's receiving corps looks really unimpressive, we chose the Bears' offensive line as our main storyline because it offers better starting battles. After Chicago allowed the most sacks per pass in 2021, first-year head coach Matt Eberflus recently said "all combinations are open."There seem to be only two locks on the depth chart, with Cody Whitehair at left guard and free-agent acquisition Lucas Patrick sliding in at center. Following a strong minicamp, fifth-round rookie Braxton Jones is in line to take over the starting left tackle job. Many believed that spot would belong to Teven Jenkins, but the 2021 second-rounder has worked with the second-team offense behind Larry Borom this offseason after struggling so far in his career. Chicago might move Jenkins around to give him a chance to compete for other roles. That includes right guard, where Sam Mustipher seems to have an edge.Dallas Cowboys - Dak Prescott's weaponsAll eyes will be on the Cowboys' skill position players over the next few weeks. It starts with the wide receiver depth chart, which doesn't feature Amari Cooper and Cedrick Wilson anymore. CeeDee Lamb gives Dallas a solid No. 1 option, but the rest of the group has questions. Michael Gallup is still recovering from a torn ACL, which means James Washington and third-round rookie Jalen Tolbert have to step up from Day 1. But Washington and Tolbert missed part of the offseason program due to injuries and need to get more work with Prescott, Lamb, and the rest of the offense.It's worth monitoring Dallas' backfield, too. Granted, the running back depth chart didn't change much. But Ezekiel Elliott battled a knee injury last year and wasn't the best version of himself. He hasn't played at a Pro Bowl level for consecutive seasons, so there's a lot of pressure on him in 2022. However, Dallas also needs to give Tony Pollard, one of the team's most explosive weapons, more touches. Although the Cowboys seem unwilling to increase Pollard's workload at Elliott's expense, Pollard's versatility as a slot receiver could be on full display with Dallas trying to have both on the field together more often.Detroit Lions - Aidan Hutchinson's impact Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe Lions added the most important piece of their rebuild after drafting Hutchinson second overall this year. The Michigan product immediately becomes a cornerstone of Detroit's defense due to his absurd talent, work ethic, and leadership qualities. On paper, the Michigan native and the Lions are a match made in heaven.Training camp will be Hutchinson's first big opportunity to prove he's as good as advertised in the NFL. Things will get even more interesting given that Detroit will be featured in this year's "Hard Knocks." The Lions have had one of the league's worst defenses in recent seasons. They particularly struggled at taking down quarterbacks in 2021, ranking only 30th in sacks. Hutchinson will immediately fix that issue while impacting all levels of this defense if he shines.Green Bay Packers - Sorting out the WR depth chartIs this the worst group of pass-catchers Aaron Rodgers has ever had since he became Green Bay's starter? The Packers' wide receiver depth chart presents a mix of unproven players and veterans past their primes after the team traded Davante Adams. Randall Cobb is Green Bay's only wideout who's topped 750 receiving yards in a season over the last five years (828 with Dallas in 2019).Alongside Cobb are Allen Lazard, Sammy Watkins, Amari Rodgers, and rookies Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Samori Toure. The Packers are hoping Watson will step up, but is the second-round pick ready to be the No. 1 guy? Having Rodgers under center helps soften the roster uncertainties, but training camp will show us who'll emerge from this crowded room.Los Angeles Rams - Cornerback depth chartThe reigning Super Bowl champions have interesting battles on both sides of the ball, but none is more important than their cornerback competition. The Rams are thin at the position after Darious Williams' departure and with All-Pro corner Jalen Ramsey having had shoulder surgery in June. He's expected to return by the season opener, but his rehab will be a topic of concern considering his value to L.A.'s defense.Trading for Troy Hill was a solid move that brought back an experienced starter to the group. With Hill playing in the slot, the main question is who starts opposite Ramsey. David Long is the favorite for the job, though he was inconsistent last season. Second-year corner Robert Rochell is expected to be Long's main competitor, but the Rams also drafted fourth-rounder Decobie Durant and sixth-rounder Derion Kendrick.Minnesota Vikings - Kevin O'Connell's new offense David Berding / Getty Images Sport / GettyMinnesota fans can't wait to see what the offense will look like under coach O'Connell. The Vikings, who've had the eighth-most rushing attempts since 2019, are moving away from a run-first scheme and prioritizing the passing game more in 2022. The expectation is that the 37-year-old O'Connell will put together an electric, unpredictable system after he worked for two years with one of football's brightest minds in Rams coach Sean McVay.However, we should still expect running back Dalvin Cook to be a big part of the offense. In fact, O'Connell has lined up Cook as a wideout at times during the offseason. The coach also wants to make things simpler on the field for quarterback Kirk Cousins, whom he previously worked with in Washington. The new offensive system already turned heads in the offseason program, with veteran receiver Adam Thielen saying he's never had to work harder to learn a playbook. Changes are coming for the Vikings, and training camp will give us a good first look at all of them.New Orleans Saints - Getting the stars healthyDennis Allen begins his New Orleans tenure with an eye on the injury report. The main questions are around quarterback Jameis Winston and receiver Michael Thomas. Winston suffered a torn ACL in November, but recent reports indicate he'll be fully available at camp. New Orleans, which finished 2021 9-8, was 5-2 in the games Winston started.There's also optimism that Thomas, who's played only seven regular-season games since 2020 due to ankle issues, will return soon. However, he'll begin camp on the physically unable to perform list. The 2019 Offensive Player of the Year was also expected to play most of last season before a setback sidelined him for the entire campaign. Additionally, it's worth monitoring defensive end Marcus Davenport, who's also on the PUP list. Davenport's status is murky after he underwent shoulder surgeries and had part of his pinky amputated in June.New York Giants - Figuring out the passing gameHead coach Brian Daboll and his new staff have a lot of work to do on both sides of the ball in their first training camp. But the top priority should be figuring out the Giants' passing game, one of the league's least productive in recent years. The main topic will be quarterback Daniel Jones, who hasn't lived up to being the No. 6 overall pick in 2019. Daboll, the Buffalo Bills' former offensive coordinator, previously helped Josh Allen turn his career around and go from one of the NFL's most criticized passers to an MVP candidate, so many believe he can do the same with Jones.Jones' supporting cast also has question marks. Wide receivers Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney, and Sterling Shepard struggled in 2021, and all of them were limited at minicamp due to injuries. New York still rosters second-round rookie Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton, who'll likely compete for snaps with Richie James and C.J. Board, among others. There's also a close battle at tight end, as Evan Engram's departure set up a competition between Ricky Seals-Jones, Jordan Akins, and rookie Daniel Bellinger, who starts camp on the PUP list due to a quad ailment.Philadelphia Eagles - Is Jalen Hurts the QB of the future? Mitchell Leff / Getty Images Sport / GettyThere'll be interesting roster battles in Philly during training camp, but Hurts' play will steal most of the headlines. This is a make-or-break season for the third-year quarterback after the Eagles acquired A.J. Brown in the offseason. Hurts, who made plays with his legs but didn't impress as a passer last year, now has a top duo of receivers in Brown and DeVonta Smith, as well as a solid offensive line around him. Finding chemistry with Brown will be crucial for Hurts to prove he's Philly's long-term answer under center after recording 16 touchdown passes and an 87.2 rating in 2021.Eagles fans have big expectations going into head coach Nick Sirianni's second year. Philadelphia made the playoffs in 2021 despite starting the season 2-5, having a rookie coach, and having limitations in the passing game. But after an offseason in which Philly addressed its main needs, there are no more excuses.San Francisco 49ers - The Trey Lance era beginsEvery starting quarterback change is big, but San Francisco going from Jimmy Garoppolo to Lance in 2022 is even more interesting given the differences between those passers. Lance offers an athletic ability that his predecessor doesn't have, so adjustments must be made during training camp.Is the 22-year-old Lance ready to become the starter? Even two 49ers legends disagree on that. Lance's skill set - highlighted by the ability to make plays with his legs - is fascinating and explains why San Francisco drafted him third overall last year. But his inexperience - he only started two games as a rookie and logged just 19 appearances at North Dakota State - could be an issue.While the 49ers make sure that the transition from Garoppolo to Lance is as smooth as possible, they also have to make a final decision on Garoppolo, who was recently given permission to seek a trade as he enters the final stages of his offseason shoulder surgery rehab.Seattle Seahawks - Drew Lock or Geno Smith?The Seahawks kick off training camp trying to figure out who'll succeed Russell Wilson, the most prolific passer in franchise history. The first candidates up are Lock and Smith. No pressure. Lock joined Seattle this year as part of the Wilson trade after unimpressive seasons with the Denver Broncos. He's started 21 games over the last three years, but Smith is more familiar with the system after having been Seattle's backup since 2020.Neither option is enticing in the short or long term, which is why the club was linked to multiple veteran quarterbacks like Mayfield and Garoppolo. Though it's more likely we'll see Lock or Smith start Week 1, the Seahawks reportedly have discussed the possibility of adding Garoppolo.Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Todd Bowles takes over Julio Aguilar / Getty Images Sport / GettyIt was an eventful offseason for the Bucs. Quarterback Tom Brady retired before eventually coming back, while Bruce Arians stepped down as head coach and named Bowles his replacement. Bowles was Tampa Bay's defensive coordinator for three seasons, so we shouldn't expect drastic changes. Still, any change in leadership is significant, especially for a team with major expectations. Though the circumstances were different, Bowles posted a 24-40 record as the New York Jets' head coach from 2015-18.Bowles will have important decisions to make in his first training camp at the helm in Tampa Bay. Rob Gronkowski retired, leaving Cameron Brate, Kyle Rudolph, and rookies Cade Otton and Ko Kieft in the tight end mix. There's a similar situation at left guard, as second-round rookie Luke Goedeke and second-year lineman Robert Hainsey will compete with veteran Aaron Stinnie to replace the retired Ali Marpet.Washington Commanders - Searching for chemistryTraining camp will be crucial for the Commanders to get their new faces on offense on the same page. It starts with quarterback Carson Wentz - who's on his third different team in as many seasons - and his receiving corps. Wentz didn't work with Terry McLaurin at minicamp, as the star receiver held out amid stalled contract talks. Wentz also needs more reps with first-round rookie Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel, whose participation at minicamp was limited as a precaution after his injury-ravaged 2021. Finally, Logan Thomas is rehabbing from a torn ACL, which leaves second-year tight end John Bates in line for a more significant workload.Chemistry may also be an early issue for the offensive line. The unit, which has been one of the NFL's best in recent years, is expected to have at least two new starters after losing guards Brandon Scherff and Ereck Flowers. Veterans Trai Turner and Andrew Norwell are in line to take over those spots. Left tackle Charles Leno, right tackle Sam Cosmi, and center Chase Roullier are back with the team, but Roullier's unlikely to be on the field for the start of training camp as he recovers from a fractured fibula.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is happy with how the team's quarterback transition took place from Jimmy Garoppolo to Trey Lance."I think our team's ready for Trey," Shanahan said on "The TK Show," according to Rohan Chakravarthi of 49ers Webzone. "Going through OTAs, I'm just pumped to get to work (and) provide him some practices because I know the kid has the abilities, made of the right stuff. He just needs the reps."Lance joined San Francisco as the third overall pick in the 2021 draft but spent his rookie campaign behind Garoppolo, who missed two games during the season due to injury.The 49ers turned to Lance this year and are set to part ways with Garoppolo, who's expected to be traded soon. San Francisco reportedly tried to move Garoppolo in March, but shoulder surgery left the signal-caller in limbo. He'll reportedly be fully cleared to play around mid-August."We had an awesome run with Jimmy. It was great," Shanahan said. "But when you bring in a salary cap and things like that, there are so many tough decisions that you have to make, and we made (that decision) a year ago."The coach added: "This is something that we did last year knowing where we wanted to go with this franchise and how you balance out a salary cap, how you balance out a roster, and Jimmy gave Trey a year that I thought he needed just to get used to this league, get his feet wet a little bit."The 30-year-old Garoppolo has one year left on his current contract, which would be a $26.95-million hit against the 2022 salary cap. San Francisco would gain $25.55 million in cap space by trading or releasing him.The 49ers acquired the 2021 third overall pick from the Miami Dolphins for a package that included three first-round selections. Lance was the third quarterback off the board last year. In two starts as a rookie, the North Dakota State product completed 59.6% of his pass attempts for 441 yards and two touchdowns against two interceptions."I know there's going to be some good," Shanahan added. "I also know there's going to be some bad, but I like the situation we're putting him in where I feel we have the team that if we can stay healthy and build the team around him, I don't think it all depends on Trey right away."Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy doesn't have time for questions about his job security at this point of the offseason."My viewpoint is it's not a story. It's a media-driven narrative or at least a narrative driven outside my realm," McCarthy said Monday, according to David Moore of The Dallas Morning News.The 58-year-old added: "It's irritating that the first question you ask me has nothing to do with how I do my job. I show up every day for work to win a championship. How do we win today? That's what I'm asking."McCarthy's future became a topic of speculation after Dallas suffered a disappointing loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the wild-card game. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones fueled speculation after taking 12 days to commit to McCarthy publicly following the defeat."That was an answer after an emotional playoff loss," McCarthy said. "Maybe those words did not come out exactly as he wanted. I know that's happened to me in those moments."The reality of it is that's not an accurate presentation of who we are as a football team. If you want to talk about how everyone here is working hard to get it right and exemplify what we can become, great. If you want to chase these other narratives for whoever they benefit, I really have no interest."McCarthy is entering the third season of his five-year contract in Dallas. The Cowboys went 6-10 in his first campaign on the sideline while playing most of the season without quarterback Dak Prescott due to injury. The Cowboys bounced back last year, clinching the NFC East title after winning 12 games during the regular season.The biggest name linked to the Cowboys this offseason was Sean Payton. Rumors linking Payton to Dallas have circulated for years, but they reignited in 2022 after the former New Orleans Saints head coach retired in January while leaving the door open for an NFL return. He previously served as an assistant for the Cowboys from 2003-05.Jones, who said earlier this year he never considered moving on from McCarthy, shut down the Payton speculation in June, adding that those rumors were pulled "out of the air."Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Daniel Jones isn't on his third team like Carson Wentz, but he is on his third head coach and offensive coordinator since being drafted in 2019. Your prognosis for the Giants in 2022 probably rests on how you feel about Brian Daboll - along with his right-hand man and first-time offensive coordinator Mike Kafka - and the ability to get the most out of Jones. Will they be an upgrade on... *checks notes*... Mike Shula and Jason Garrett?Before we get into their coaching staff, let's see what kind of belief the market has in New York.2022 season oddsMarket Odds (O/U)Win total7.0 (+105/-125)Division+800Conference+6000Super Bowl+13000OK, so admittedly not a ton of belief. The juice is leaning to the under on seven wins, and if a revamped Jones leads the Giants to a stunning Super Bowl LVII title, the most ardent of New York fans will cash tickets at 130-1. However, there's a narrative behind the Giants and how a championship could arrive after modest regular seasons.Schedule outlookWeekOpponentLookahead line1@TEN+6.52CAR-13DAL+44CHI-2.55@GB+76BAL+3.57@JAX+1.58@SEA+2.510HOU-311DET-1.512@DAL+713WSHPK14PHI+1.515@WSH+3.516@MIN+517IND+318@PHI+5The NFL betting community isn't tripping over themselves to buy futures on the Titans, so they may be ripe for a Week 1 upset by a team that has a fresh offense. Following that, the Giants have three straight home games; 4-0 would be a stretch, but 3-1 would certainly change the outlook for a team with just four wins last season under Joe Judge.SWOT analysisStrengthsThe Giants finished tied for 10th in opponents' yards per play last year. Their 5.3 defensive YPP equaled playoff teams like the Patriots and Packers, and is the exact same average they gave up in 2020. Adding a veteran defensive coordinator in Don "Wink" Martindale is a lateral move, and using their first pick in the draft on Kayvon Thibodeaux - who at various times was thought to be going first overall - shows the Giants' front office knows the talent can be augmented on a pretty good unit.WeaknessesOutside of left tackle Andrew Thomas, who made a leap in Year 2, the offensive line was a disaster last season. The Giants' front office has rightfully blown up a group that was ranked 30th by Pro Football Focus at the end of last year. With their second first-round pick inside the top 10, the Giants grabbed Evan Neal to play opposite Thomas.The decision to pass on pass-catchers and firm up the trenches is a gamble - not on the players picked but on receivers Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney. The pair had high expectations last season but had as many touchdowns as you and I.OpportunitiesDaboll came from stints with Bill Belichick and Nick Saban to be the offensive coordinator in Buffalo in 2018. He was charged with turning a mobile quarterback drafted in the first round from a project to a product. After four seasons, Josh Allen is now the favorite for MVP. It may not be a quick turnaround, but Jones already has three years of experience, albeit with Garrett and Shula calling plays. Meanwhile, Kafka was hired away from Andy Reid in Kansas City.If Jones can't excel with Daboll and Kafka, with as much capital as the Giants have spent on the positions around him, then the Giants can cut bait. However, if Jones makes a 2023 decision difficult by playing well enough to force them to buy him out of free agency, high-end results might be in the cards for New York.ThreatsObviously, the big threat for bettors is that Jones just isn't any good. While that's not even a terrible long-term result for the Giants as a whole, it would lead to 2022 bets crashing and burning.How to bet the GiantsIf there was a "Most Improved Player award" to bet on, Jones would be a great candidate. As it is, he's +800 to be the Comeback of the Year, though it's hard to define what he's coming back from. Jones' passing yards total of 3650.5 is roughly 800 yards shy of what Allen has done the last two years.Daboll would get a ton of credit for his turnaround, which is why he's +1800 to win Coach of the Year.Thibodeaux's +550 odds for Defensive Rookie of the Year are too short now, but if someone else gets the early headlines, and his odds lengthen, we'll jump on his potential to wreck games late in the season.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Justyn Ross can't catch a break.The Kansas City Chiefs placed the wide receiver on injured reserve Monday, effectively ending his rookie season.Ross, who signed with Kansas City in May after going undrafted this year, recently underwent foot surgery, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The 22-year-old was once considered one of college football's top wide receivers at Clemson. However, he was diagnosed with a congenital spinal condition that sidelined him for the entire 2020 season. He then underwent multiple surgeries and was cleared to play in 2021.Ross, who caught 1,865 yards and 17 touchdowns in his first two seasons with the Tigers, was limited to 46 catches, 514 yards, and three touchdowns in 2021 while dealing with a foot injury that eventually ended his campaign in November.The Chiefs will begin training camp with a new-look group of receivers that includes JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mecole Hardman, and second-round rookie Skyy Moore.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals are making sure Kyler Murray is doing his homework.The star quarterback's new five-year, $230.5-million extension requires Murray to complete "at least four hours of independent study each week" during the season over the deal's length, according to an addendum in his contract obtained by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The requirement runs from the first Monday after the end of training camp to the last game on the team's schedule and includes any postseason contests. The club's bye week is excluded."Independent study" is defined as material given to Murray by the team in order to prepare for the upcoming game, with time spent in mandatory meetings not counting.Murray will also receive no credit for studying material on an electronic device if he's not "personally studying or watching the material" while it's displayed or if he engages in a distracting activity. The contract cites watching television, playing video games, and browsing the internet as examples of distracting activities.Failing to meet the addendum will result in Murray being deemed in "default" of his contract.Murray does four hours of studying on his own already, but the Cardinals wanted commitment in writing in order to complete the deal, Rapoport adds.The 24-year-old's extension ranks second among all quarterbacks in average annual value ($46.1 million) and guaranteed money ($160 million). The Cardinals and Murray, who'll be under contract through 2028, opened negotiations earlier this year before agreeing to a deal last week.Murray earned the first postseason appearance of his career in 2021 after throwing for 24 touchdowns and five interceptions over 14 starts.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Green Bay Packers agreed to contract extensions with head coach Matt LaFleur, general manager Brian Gutekunst, and executive vice president Russ Ball this offseason, a source told ESPN's Rob Demovsky.The terms of the deals haven't been reported.Packers president Mark Murphy didn't confirm the extensions while speaking with the media Monday, though he showed optimism LaFleur, Gutekunst, and Ball will stay in Green Bay "for years to come."Gutekunst was promoted to general manager in 2018 on a five-year contract that was set to expire after the 2022 campaign. LaFleur became the Packers head coach in 2019 after inking a four-year pact that included a fifth-year option, according to Demovsky.Green Bay is 45-19-1 since Gutekunst replaced Ted Thompson, including a 39-10 record across three seasons with LaFleur on the sideline. The Packers, who last season became the first team in NFL history to win at least 13 games in three straight years, reached the NFC title game in each of LaFleur's first two campaigns. The team lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round last season after earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sports fans and those turned into sports bettors love the unknown. Potential is often misconstrued as limitless, and hope for the success of a fresh face or new-look team abounds more than we care to admit. However, when it comes to Carson Wentz, we've seen too much.The Washington Football Team won seven games last year without a nickname or a bona fide starting quarterback. They paid more than one would expect to acquire Wentz, a quarterback who inspires as little enthusiasm as the Commanders name. Given how quickly Wentz's previous two teams wanted to rid themselves of his highly volatile, turnover-laden performances, the futures betting markets had an interesting take on this move.2022 season oddsMarket Odds (O/U)Win total8.0 (-110/-110)Division+500Conference+3000Super Bowl+7000Before Washington put Wentz in command of its offense and cleared up the future of Ron Rivera and his coaching staff, the Commanders were 50-1 to win the Super Bowl. Without the uncertainty - or unbridled hope - over who might be under center, their odds lengthened to 70-1. While the Washington faithful is disappointed, the silver lining is that the team's expected to record eight wins this year.Schedule outlookWeekOpponentLookahead line1JAX-42@DET-1.53PHIPK4@DAL+65TENPK6@CHI-1.57GB+3.58@IND+59MINPK10@PHI+3.511@HOU-312ATL-513@NYGPK15NYG-3.516@SF+617CLEN/A18DAL+1There's lots of uncertainty in a Week 1 game with the Jaguars - another team with a quarterback capable of a wide margin in quality of play. None of Washington's games are lined outside of a touchdown, befitting of a team set for eight wins, but a 3-0 start isn't out of the question. Late in the season, the Commanders have the advantage of focusing solely on the division-rival Giants for three weeks, with back-to-back matchups sandwiched by their bye.SWOT analysisStrengthsFrom 2017 through 2021, Washington systematically selected defensive players for the front seven in the first round of the NFL draft. All of the selections are expected to start - and excel - in 2022. Chase Young is the headliner of the group, even though he missed the latter half of an already disappointing season after tearing his ACL in Week 10. Murmurs that the 2020 first overall pick was playing outside of the system to accumulate personal stats undermined his potential to impact games.Including a unit that was 28th in opponents' yards per pass attempt and recorded just 1.1 takeaways per game as a strength is almost unheard of. But with the talent they've built up in the trenches, there has to be improvement.WeaknessesPart of putting our eggs in the defensive basket in D.C. stems from concern about the offense. Taylor Heinicke threw 15 interceptions (two shy of the league most) and added seven fumbles. In an attempt to improve on that, Washington dealt two quality draft picks for Wentz and his 66 career fumbles over six seasons. Wentz did have just seven interceptions last season, after recording 15 in his final season with the Eagles. Did he turn over a new leaf or benefit from a Colts offense that had Jonathan Taylor to make life easier?OpportunitiesIdeally, we'd like to be able to glean something from Wentz in the first few games of the season, but considering he's liable to change on-field personalities like Jekyll and Hyde, fully trusting anything we see seems foolish.Strangely, Young is the one we'll want to get a read on. Is he playing within the design of the defense? That'll go a long way to showing us if the Commanders can keep the game state manageable, allowing them to ask little of Wentz.ThreatsRivera's teams usually produce pretty consistent results, a direct contrast to what we've become accustomed to with Wentz. A positive position on Washington can get washed away quickly, but so can a negative one. It's best to avoid this team in any futures market before the season.How to bet the CommandersWith Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel around, Jahan Dotson should have the opportunity to get lost in the open field, a luxury he wasn't afforded at Penn State. He's +2500 for Offensive Rookie of the Year.Given the hype surrounding Young, if he returns healthy and can fit in better with his teammates, he could get attention for Defensive Player of the Year. At 20-1, that's a pretty good price for someone with the same talent as those at shorter odds, but 25-1 to lead the league in sacks is even better.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals president Mike Brown is fully committed to extending Joe Burrow once the star quarterback becomes eligible for a new deal."We couldn't be happier with Joe Burrow," Brown said, according to ESPN's Ben Baby. "He's everything you would wish for, especially for a quarterback in Cincinnati. Our whole focus is going to be on keeping him here."The former No. 1 overall pick is entering the third year of his rookie contract and will be eligible to receive an extension following the 2022 season. Cincinnati will also be able to exercise the fifth-year option on his current deal next year.Burrow nearly led the Bengals to their first Super Bowl victory after a terrific second season, though the club fell short in a 23-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.The quarterback market has exploded over the offseason, with Deshaun Watson, Aaron Rodgers, and Kyler Murray all earning new contracts worth at least $46 million annually, per Spotrac.Brown said the cost of doing business in today's market may require significant departures but added that the "most important issue" will be finding a way to keep Burrow."This is a puzzle," Brown said. "It just doesn't all fit perfectly. We're going to have some pluses. We're going to get some guys signed that are critical to the team. And we're going to lose some guys."Burrow completed a league-high 70.4% of his passes last season for 4,611 yards and 34 touchdowns.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Most around the NFL believed Von Miller was a lock to re-sign with the Los Angeles Rams this offseason after the pass-rusher helped guide the team to a Super Bowl title.However, Miller made a shocking pivot to the Buffalo Bills, signing a six-year, $120-million contract with $51.4 million guaranteed. Although Miller is happy with his new club, he admitted it'll be tough to leave the Rams behind."So hard to let go of L.A.," Miller told Peter King of NBC Sports. "So hard to let go of coach McVay, (general manager) Les Snead, and especially Aaron Donald, man. Every time I think about it, man, I get sad thinking about not playing with them anymore."The 33-year-old told The Athletic's Dan Pompei earlier this month that he was so torn about his NFL future that he decided while on the flight to Buffalo to sign his contract that he'd inform the Bills he changed his mind. However, Miller reportedly became convinced of the team's vision for him in meetings with head coach Sean McDermott and GM Brandon Beane."Free agency is crazy," Miller said. "You gotta make life-changing decisions, career-changing decisions, in two hours."Heading into the twilight of his career, Buffalo won't ask Miller to take on the workload he did during his prime years with the Denver Broncos. Instead, the Bills want to keep the pass-rusher fresh enough to be a difference-maker in crunch time."We got Von to close games for us," said Beane.Miller won't have to wait long to see his former coaches and teammates as the defending champion Rams host the Bills in the season opener on Sept. 8.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans rookie wide receiver John Metchie announced Sunday that he's been diagnosed with leukemia.Metchie, who the Texans selected in the second round of this year's draft, is unlikely to play in 2022."Recently, I was diagnosed with APL (Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia), the most curable form of leukemia," Metchie said in a statement. "I am currently receiving great medical care, am in good spirits, and I expect to make a recovery at a later point in time."As a result of this diagnosis, I will likely not be playing football this season. My main focus will be on my health and recovery. Thank you in advance for your support and well wishes. I cannot wait to come back stronger than ever."Metchie entered the NFL after posting a successful career at Alabama. He suffered a torn ACL in December 2021 but caught 96 passes for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns before the injury.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

David Bakhtiari's long road back to full health continues.The Green Bay Packers' All-Pro left tackle will begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list, according to ESPN's Field Yates.Bakhtiari tore his ACL in December 2020 and missed all but one game last season before ultimately opting to undergo another knee surgery.The offensive lineman wasn't among the initial group of nine players placed on the reserve list Friday, fueling optimism about his status.At the end of offseason workouts in June, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said he was positive about the 30-year-old's chances of suiting up for camp, which begins Wednesday."We fully anticipate him being ready to go, but we did last year as well," LaFleur said, according to Bill Huber of Packer Central.Bakhtiari suited up in Green Bay's regular-season finale with the hope of being fully ready for a playoff run, but he only played 27 snaps and missed the divisional-round loss to the San Francisco 49ers.The veteran, who earned five straight All-Pro nominations prior to 2021, is the second-highest-paid left tackle in the NFL after inking a four-year, $105.5-million extension in November 2020.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Madden 23 stole headlines this week as EA Sports released the ratings for every player in the NFL. As expected, the ratings generated heated debates and reactions from players and fans across the league.Here are 12 names who were rated either too generously or too harshly:Rated too lowJa'Marr Chase - 87 overall (WR18) Cooper Neill / Getty Images Sport / GettyAn 87 rating isn't the end of the world, but Chase being only the 18th-ranked wide receiver is absurd. Chase took the NFL by storm as a rookie last year, ranking fourth in the league with 1,455 receiving yards and third with 13 touchdown catches while averaging a whopping 18 yards per reception, the second-highest in the league. He followed that with 368 yards in the playoffs, setting a rookie postseason record while helping the Cincinnati Bengals reach the Super Bowl. Granted, Chase had some drops in 2021, but they were nothing compared to his ability to get open, force missed tackles, and create big plays. Very few receivers played better than him last season.Kyler Murray - 84 overall (QB11)The NFL is loaded with high-level quarterbacks. Unfortunately, there isn't enough love for all of them. Murray loses out to the numbers game in this year's edition of Madden, receiving a criminally low 84 rating. Admittedly, his 2021 campaign ended on a whimper. However, let's not forget that injuries to Murray and playmaker DeAndre Hopkins played a big part in the team's demise. When Murray was fully healthy, he looked like an early MVP favorite as he guided the club to a 7-0 start. EA Sports may not think highly of Murray, but it probably should, given he's one of the league's most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks. After all, there's a reason the Arizona Cardinals just gave him a monster extension worth $46.1 million per year.Maxx Crosby - 87 overall (EDGE16) Chris Unger / Getty Images Sport / GettyIt seems EA Sports favors experience over youth in its ratings, and nowhere is that more evident than at edge rusher. Crosby headlines a group of pass-rushers in their mid-20s - including Danielle Hunter (88) and Brian Burns (86) - who aren't getting enough respect. The Las Vegas Raiders standout might not have eye-popping sack numbers, but he smoked his competition with an NFL-high 108 pressures last season, 20 more than second-placed Nick Bosa, according to PFF. Crosby is on the precipice of superstardom, and it shouldn't take him long to force Madden's hand in 2022.Justin Tucker - 90 overall (K1)As expected, Tucker received the top rating among kickers. And though the numbers aren't usually high at this position, the best kicker in the game receiving a 90 rating is too low. What else does he have to do to get a better grade? The five-time Pro Bowler led the NFL in field-goal percentage last year (94.6%). He missed two attempts within 40-49 yards but was perfect on attempts of at least 50 yards and converted all 32 extra points he kicked. Tucker also provided one of the season's top highlights by walking off the Detroit Lions in Week 3 with a 66-yarder, the longest field goal in NFL history. Are we sure there isn't room for one more player in the 99 club?T.J. Watt - 96 overall (EDGE2) Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyIt would usually seem preposterous to argue that a 96 overall rating is too low, but not when it's a player of Watt's caliber. We're still scratching our heads on how Watt not only wasn't invited to Madden's prestigious 99 club but somehow isn't even the highest-ranked edge rusher. There isn't a metric or statistic that displays a valid reason for Watt's lower-than-expected rating. He won Defensive Player of the Year after tying the single-season sack record in just 15 games, and no player has recorded more sacks than him since he entered the league. If that's not enough for the game's top honor, then perhaps Madden needs to go back to the drawing board.Patrick Surtain II - 83 overall (CB20)Surtain is another victim of Madden's reluctance to give top ratings to players coming off great rookie seasons. It's fair to want to temper expectations, but sometimes it's blindingly obvious that some NFL newcomers are stars. Chase was the clearest example in 2021, and Surtain is a close second. While Surtain wasn't able to gain as much national attention as the wideout thanks to a less flashy position and his team's lack of success, he played like a top-10 cornerback out of the gate. Surtain racked up four interceptions and held opposing passers to a passer rating of just 69.7 (ninth in the NFL), so him barely cracking the top 20 is a big whiff.Rated too highTom Brady - 97 overall (QB1)Six months ago, Brady announced a retirement that lasted only 40 days. Now, he's the No. 1 quarterback in Madden. We all know that Brady hasn't shown any signs of slowing down ahead of his age-45 season, but giving the legendary quarterback the highest ranking among QBs is a little too much. There's nothing wrong with Brady receiving a high rating; he led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns last season. But how did Aaron Rodgers - the reigning back-to-back MVP - receive only a 96? Rodgers earned first-team All-Pro nods and led the league in passer rating in each of the last two years. We could also argue that Patrick Mahomes (95) and Josh Allen (92) deserve better ratings.Christian McCaffrey - 96 overall (RB2) Cliff Hawkins / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhen McCaffrey is healthy, he's among the most dangerous weapons in the NFL. But he's suited up for just 10 games over the last two seasons. At some point, his inability to stay on the field should be factored into his rating, especially considering the talent pool at running back. Jonathan Taylor (95), Dalvin Cook (94), and Joe Mixon (93) all have strong cases to be ranked higher than McCaffrey. The veteran could bounce back this year and replicate his All-Pro form from 2018-19, but until then, he shouldn't be among the elite.Amari Cooper - 90 overall (WR10)Cooper is far from an average receiver, proving himself as a No. 1 option for the Dallas Cowboys with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons from 2019-20. But wideout is perhaps the most talent-rich position in the NFL, and Cooper is no longer worthy of being in the top 10. CeeDee Lamb, who came in at a questionable 85 overall, led Dallas last season with 1,102 yards, nearly 250 more than Cooper. Deebo Samuel (89), DK Metcalf (89), and A.J. Brown (87) all deserve to be higher, and the NFL apparently agrees, considering Cooper's tepid market before his trade to Cleveland.Khalil Mack - 92 overall (EDGE5) MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images / MediaNews Group / GettyMack was one of many veterans who received generous ratings based on their history in the NFL rather than their most recent performances. Granted, Mack is disruptive when he's on the field, but he only played seven games last year. The 2016 Defensive Player of the Year hasn't had a double-digit sack campaign since 2018, and his pressure total dropped from 70 to 57 from 2019 to 2020, his last two healthy seasons. The 31-year-old is still capable of making game-changing plays - that's why the Los Angeles Chargers gave up two draft picks for him this offseason - but ranking him as a top-five edge and ahead of teammate Joey Bosa (91) isn't accurate at this point.Tyrann Mathieu - 94 overall (S1)Mathieu is a star and one of the most recognizable faces in the NFL, but it feels like marketability may be doing a lot of work with his placement atop the safety position. That's not to say the New Orleans Saints safety isn't talented, but it's a stretch to label him the best in the game in 2022. The 30-year-old appeared a step slower than usual last year, with his 67.4 PFF grade placing him 38th among all safeties. After nine seasons in the NFL, Mathieu is likely beginning a moderate decline, and that makes him a hard sell as Madden's highest-ranked safety.Bobby Wagner - 91 overall (LB4) Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images Sport / GettyAnything is possible in the world of Madden, so it seems appropriate that the video game might be the only avenue where Wagner is ranked above Darius Leonard (90) and Micah Parsons (88). It's not that Wagner deserves a huge decrease, but his 91 rating sticks out like a sore thumb compared to his talented peers. The new Los Angeles Rams linebacker is still a tackling machine - racking up 170 last season - and was the heart and soul of the Seattle Seahawks' defense over the last decade. However, unless intangibles such as leadership significantly boost ratings, the time feels right to acknowledge the new era of linebackers that arguably have surpassed the now 32-year-old Wagner.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Although Patrick Mahomes' contract looks more team-friendly with every new blockbuster quarterback extension, the Kansas City Chiefs star is just happy to see his compatriots get paid."Yeah, I mean, it's awesome," Mahomes said Friday, according to Charles Goldman of Chiefs Wire. "Not just the quarterback market, but the market of players in general. You want the salary cap going up, you want players getting more and more money."Mahomes set an NFL record when he signed a 10-year deal reportedly worth $450 million ahead of the 2020 campaign. However, Mahomes' average yearly salary of $45 million has now been surpassed by three quarterbacks - Aaron Rodgers ($50 million), Deshaun Watson ($46 million), and Kyler Murray, per Over The Cap - following Murray's five-year, reportedly $230.5-million contract.The 2018 MVP still boasts the largest total deal. However, Watson received a fully guaranteed $230-million pact upon his trade to the Cleveland Browns, while Murray is set to earn $160 million guaranteed. Additionally, Rodgers got more fully guaranteed money than Mahomes ($101.4 million versus $63.1 million) despite only signing a three-year extension.But Mahomes, who's coming off his fourth straight Pro Bowl season, knows money will never be an issue for him."When I signed my deal, I knew I was going to be pretty set for life regardless of what the market kind of happens," Mahomes said. "But you just keep playing. Money is one thing, but when you get those Super Bowl rings, at the end of your career, I think that's going to be what you look back upon."I think I've made enough money from the football field, and then obviously off of it as well, that it won't matter at the end of the day."While Mahomes could soon be knocked out of the top-five highest-paid quarterbacks when the likes of Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and Justin Herbert ink their first NFL extensions, he understands it's an inevitable part of the football business."Especially at the quarterback position, the next guy is kind of the top-paid guy," Mahomes said. "Any of these top-tier quarterbacks, they make such a difference on NFL teams, it's going to get passed up."Even if you look at the guys who signed last year to this year, they got passed up. And I'm sure when Burrow, Herbert, and all these guys come around, they'll keep setting the bar even higher."Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It makes sense that the Bills are favored to win Super Bowl LVII, in theory. They were just seconds from beating Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium and playing in Buffalo for the AFC championship. So, with a fresh season on the horizon, I understand why the Bills are Super Bowl favorites.With just a few roster changes, maybe you agree with Buffalo's place as the NFL's top-rated team. Given that the Bills' starting point on the oddsboard seems to be close to the peak, though, are betting markets doing something we've rarely seen in human history - overrating Buffalo?2022 Season oddsMarket Odds (O/U)Win total11.5 (-140/+120)Division-225Conference+300Super Bowl+600If the standard for being the Super Bowl favorite is being able to beat the Chiefs in Kansas City, then yes, the Bills are one of the few teams that qualify. However, that trickles down to a very cheap payout on an AFC championship, a big price to win the division, and a win total juiced to the over on 11.5 wins.Schedule outlookWeekOpponentLookahead line1@LAR-12TEN-73@MIA-3.54@BAL-15PIT-9.56@KC-1.58GB-49@NYJ-710MIN-7.511CLEN/A12@DET-813@NE-314NYJ-9.515MIA-616@CHI-717@CINPK18NE-7Some of these point spreads will change if the Bills don't confirm what the market currently thinks of them. It's not too early to grab seven points with the Patriots in Week 18, and it might be worth doing the same with the Titans in Week 2. Buffalo getting treated as favorites in Baltimore and Kansas City - where the Bills were underdogs twice last year - is eye-opening.SWOT AnalysisStrengthsAppropriately, given his team's standing, Josh Allen (+700) is the favorite for MVP. However, Buffalo's offense might not even be its strength. The defense, which led the NFL by giving up just 4.8 yards per game last season, added veteran pass-rusher Von Miller and will get back All-Pro cornerback Tre'Davious White from a late-season knee injury.WeaknessesWe can be guilty of grasping at straws when evaluating contenders, but we'll spend the early part of the season trying to determine just how much the absence of former offensive coordinator Brian Daboll will matter to the Bills' offense. Daboll embraced the concept of an almost pass-only offense, but Buffalo spent high-end draft capital on running back James Cook. Are we sure more running by non-Allen players is a good thing?If we're being picky about the defense, it didn't look like a top-rated unit in losses to the Chiefs, Buccaneers, or Colts, where they surrendered 41 points. Try to name a game where the Bills played well against a top offense. I'll wait.OpportunitiesGiven Buffalo's high expectations, just like similarly rated teams we've already discussed in the Bucs and Packers, the first inclination should be to evaluate whether the Bills are worth their price. Comparing last year's schedule to this season's slate, there's enough here to wonder aloud if maybe they aren't the best team in the league.ThreatsThe biggest threat to this line of thinking is that Buffalo might be the best team by default. Once any club has claimed that perch, upward of 14-plus wins isn't out of the question. Allen may have gotten all he needed from Daboll, and there might be continuity without him. Miller, along with White's return, could make the Bills' defense good enough to stop the top offenses they struggled with last year. All of this could mean that the market is actually underestimating Buffalo.How to bet the BillsMiller (+2800) isn't viable for Defensive Player of the Year at this stage of his career, and there are too many options for anyone to stand out on this team, anyway. Similarly, expectations are too high for Sean McDermott (+1800) to be a valuable bet for Coach of the Year.Stefon Diggs is 14-1 for most receiving yards in the league, but there's no reason teammate Gabriel Davis (+4000) couldn't explode with a big year at better than twice the price. They're much closer in the most receiving touchdowns market at +1400 and +1600, respectively.From a team perspective, a 10-win season wouldn't qualify as a disaster; you can take an alternative under on the Bills at 10.5 wins for +185. If they succumb to a tough schedule, +400 to miss the playoffs isn't as crazy as you might think.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Leonard Fournette's trainer Jordan Bush says the running back has "worked his butt off" and talks of him being overweight are exaggerated, according to The Athletic's Greg Auman.The Tampa Bay Buccaneers back's weight has been a discussion since the running back admitted to being above his optimal playing weight during June's mandatory minicamp. Fournette has since spent the last month working with Bush. The latter noted that Fournette arrived bigger than expected but was encouraged by his quick progress."Honestly, he did return to us a little bit bigger than we wanted," Bush said, per Auman. "He was also in the sauna every day, getting extra cardio every single day. We called it ‘fat camp,’ just to mess around with him, but he was doing that type of stuff every single day. We could see the weight coming off."Fournette said: ‘When camp comes around and I report, I’ll be ready to go.' He’s going to pass his conditioning test. He’s going to pass his physical. He’s checking all those boxes. I think it was definitely blown out of proportion."The 27-year-old back told reporters in June, including Auman, he weighed "240-something" but was confident it would come down.Bush added that Fournette's "focus was where it needed to be" during their time together this offseason.Fournette rushed for 812 yards on 180 carries in 2021. He signed a three-year, $21-million deal with the Bucs during the offseason.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury believes Kyler Murray deserves every dollar of the five-year, $230.5-million extension the quarterback signed Thursday."You see the market for these quarterbacks and what guys are getting paid," Kingsbury said on "The Dave Pasch Podcast.""There's very few (quarterbacks) when you line up every Sunday and say we have a chance. Our guy is one of those that give you a chance. And at his best, I don't know who's better in this league."Murray, who's under contract through 2028, also earned $160 million guaranteed as part of his new deal. The 2019 first overall pick now ranks second in the NFL with a $46.1-million average annual salary, behind only Aaron Rodgers ($50.27 million)."He's going to continue to get better," Kingsbury said of Murray. "The contract deal, I feel really good about. I know he's our future here. The talent is generational in what he can do running with the football."Each year, you look at the stats, wins, anything, and it's gotten dramatically better. That's what I've been really excited about. I knew when we drafted him (that) he had a chance to be (one of the) top guys in the league. The kid's come in - Rookie of the Year, back-to-back Pro Bowls. I think he takes criticism. I think some of (it) is unfair for some reasons I won't get into."The Murray-led Cardinals looked like Super Bowl contenders through the first half of last season after starting 7-0. But Arizona - which saw Murray miss three games due to injury - lost steam as the campaign progressed, finishing second in the NFC West with an 11-6 record. The Cardinals then suffered a 33-11 defeat to the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round.Murray was on track to have a career year in 2021 before sustaining an ankle injury in Week 8. The 24-year-old still finished the season with a career-high $69.2% completion rate for 3,787 yards. He also threw 24 touchdowns against 10 interceptions in 14 games while rushing for 423 yards and five scores - down from 819 yards and 11 TDs in 2020.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After seven straight wins, capped by Bill Belichick's voodoo victory in the freezing cold Buffalo winds, it looked like the NFL coaching GOAT was headed for another Coach of the Year award. Then the New England Patriots relinquished the division by losing three of four to end the season and were annihilated in their return trip to Orchard Park for the playoffs.The next time we saw Belichick, he was going way off the board at the NFL draft for guard Cole Strange - a pick befitting the young man's sir name. Has the venerable head coach lost it? As with everything in sports, the answer is maybe. The betting markets can't quite quit the Patriots, though.2022 Season oddsMarket Odds (O/U)Win total8.5 (-115/-105)Division+500Conference+2500Super Bowl+5000There's nothing that says "we don't know either" from oddsmakers than an 8.5-win total in the NFL. Setting the line at .500 for a team as unlikely to be tremendous as they are to be terrible means the decision on these tickets will be up in the air for a while. Despite the uncertainty, there was no other number this could be. A nine-win total - asking the Pats to win 10 games - would have been too high. An eight-win total - asking the Pats to lose 10 games for an under - would have been too low.Where the odds become interesting is the divisional market. One could argue that the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins are taking up too much win probability.Schedule outlookWeekOpponentLookahead line1@MIA+2.52@PIT-13BALPK4@GB+55DET-6.56@CLEN/A7CHI-68@NYJ-2.59INDPK11NYJ-612@MIN+1.513BUF+314@ARZ+2.515@LV+316CIN+117MIA-1.518@BUF+7Belichick and Co. are getting points in Week 1, which will be hard to pass up. That game in Miami should go a long way to determine whether the Patriots are underdogs in their subsequent two contests. The season's final two months are loaded with toss-up matchups before a Week 18 game with the Bills. That contest will likely mean something to the standings, or it won't mean anything because Buffalo won the division as easily as its odds suggest. Either way, I'll want the points with New England.SWOT AnalysisStrengthsIt's still all about coaching. Even though Josh McDaniels departed and the NFL know-it-alls have had a good laugh about the Patriots not knowing who would call plays, I'm going to assume Belichick has it under control. It's not even August, after all.Mac Jones excelled as a rookie last year. The fact that I can't confidently tell you who the best receiver, running back, or tight end is on the roster is exactly what New England is trying to accomplish for Jones. Strange is one of a few minor changes to an offensive line that didn't have anyone graded lower than 73.0 last year, according to Pro Football Focus, and that player is no longer on the team.The offense was largely average in 2021 but excelled in yards per pass attempt. The defense was also largely average but excelled in creating turnovers. On both sides of the ball, the Patriots did those most important things at a top-10 rate. With all but one projected defensive starter new to the system, continuity is there for Belichick's group to do their job.WeaknessesThere's little in the way of peak talent that'll blow your mind for New England. The club opted to load its roster with good-not-great athletes who make themselves good football players with their knowledge, recognition, and efficiency. With that week-to-week baseline, this high floor welcomes all the NFL teams that seem content with beating themselves.OpportunitiesThe Patriots won't beat themselves and thrive in close games in which their advantage comes from the small edges they get from their collective preparation and head coach. Getting points, even as few as two, will always be an opportunity, whether New England is favored or the underdog.ThreatsNot being able to keep up with a talented and well-coached team is the eventual end of the line for New England. The good news is that so few of those squads exist.How to bet the PatriotsIf you're looking for a +500 divisional bet that has the best chance to leave you thinking, "Well, of course, that happened," then this might be your play. The Patriots just need to be better than Miami and hope the Bills aren't all they're cracked up to be.Needing to win multiple games against quality teams come playoff time probably spells doom for New England. By then, Belichick (+2000) may have already won Coach of the Year. Matt Judon (+5000) remains the most likely Defensive Player of the Year candidate on a club that may give up the fewest points this season.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ben Roethlisberger said the Pittsburgh Steelers' decision to bring him back for a final season last year wasn't unanimous inside the organization.The retired quarterback recently revealed that longtime head coach Mike Tomlin and former general manager Kevin Colbert were ready to replace him in 2021, but Steelers owner Art Rooney II had other plans."It was mostly Kevin. He was ready to move on. I think Mike was a little ready to move on, but I think he was OK with me coming back," Roethlisberger told Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I think Mr. Rooney really wanted me to come back last year to play."The 40-year-old is happy with how his final year in Pittsburgh played out."I thought I went out on my terms," said Roethlisberger, who completed 64.5% of his passes for 3,740 yards and 22 touchdowns against 10 interceptions in 2021."I never wanted to stay too long. I know some people might think I did. 'You stayed last year.' But I thought I played pretty well last year, to be honest."He added: "My arm feels like I still could go out and play. I'm pretty confident I could still play. But it's every day. It's mental. Not having to prepare for camp and the season has been the biggest blessing for me."Roethlisberger played for the Steelers from 2004-21 and became the most prolific passer in franchise history, though he visibly lost some of his arm strength in the final years of his career. The six-time Pro Bowler didn't average more than 6.3 yards per pass attempt in 2020 and 2021 after doing so every year from 2004-18.In 18 seasons in Pittsburgh, Roethlisberger passed for 64,088 yards and 418 touchdowns while posting a 165-81-1 regular-season record under center. He also helped the Steelers make three Super Bowl appearances, winning two titles.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the months since the Los Angeles Rams won the Super Bowl, numerous teams have made significant improvements in the hopes of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the 2022 campaign.Below, we rank the 10 teams that have made the biggest strides this offseason.* All contract figures from Spotrac10. Cincinnati Bengals Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / GettyNotable moves:PlayerPositionTransactionLa'el CollinsOLSigned to 3-year deal worth $21MAlex CappaOLSigned to 4-year deal worth $35MTed KarrasOLSigned to 3-year deal worth $18MHayden HurstTESigned to 1-year deal worth $3.5MB.J. HillDLRe-signed to 3-year deal worth $30MDaxton HillDBDrafted in 1st roundThe Bengals are making sure they're prepared to go all the way after falling just short of the franchise's first Super Bowl last season. They aggressively attacked their biggest weaknesses in the offseason, making major improvements on the offensive line and secondary. La'el Collins, Alex Cappa, and Ted Karras should prevent centerpiece Joe Burrow from enduring another 50-plus-sack season. Rookie defensive back Daxton Hill is also an intriguing Swiss Army knife for defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo to utilize.The lone blemish on Cincinnati's offseason is the lack of a long-term agreement for star safety Jessie Bates. That aside, the Bengals have taken all the steps necessary to ensure they avoid a painful Super Bowl hangover.9. New Orleans SaintsNotable moves:PlayerPositionTransactionJarvis LandryWRSigned to 1-year deal worth $3MTyrann MathieuSSigned to 3-year deal worth $28.3MMarcus MayeSSigned to 3-year deal worth $22.5MAndy DaltonQBSigned to 1-year deal worth $3MJameis WinstonQBRe-signed to 2-year deal worth $28MChris OlaveWRDrafted in 1st roundTrevor PenningOLDrafted in 1st roundHow do the Saints and the city of New Orleans move forward after the departure of legendary head coach Sean Payton? How about a homecoming for local veterans Tyrann Mathieu and Jarvis Landry?Don't be fooled, though, the buzz around the Saints is about more than just the return of a couple of former LSU stars. The receiving corps looks like it could challenge anyone in the league with Landry, first-round pick Chris Olave, and a returning Michael Thomas. In what may prove to be a wise decision, the Saints didn't leap for a quarterback in the draft and will instead leave it to Jameis Winston once more. Terron Armstead is a big loss at left tackle, but Trevor Penning is a high-reward prospect who could blossom.The bread and butter of the Dennis Allen-led Saints will be their defense. Good for fourth in the league in points against last year, it'll be tough for teams to find holes in a secondary that features Marshon Lattimore and a new backend pair of Mathieu and Marcus Maye.8. New York JetsNotable moves:PlayerPositionTransactionLaken TomlinsonOLSigned to 3-year deal worth $40MD.J. ReedCBSigned to 3-year deal worth $33MJordan WhiteheadSSigned to 2-year deal worth $14.5MC.J. UzomahTESigned to 3-year deal worth $24MAhmad GardnerCBDrafted in 1st roundGarrett WilsonWRDrafted in 1st roundJermaine JohnsonDLDrafted in 1st roundBreece HallRBDrafted in 2nd roundThe Jets have become a little too comfortable in the AFC East's basement, but their under-the-radar improvements signal that they're in the market for a new home.The first order of business was making life better for young passer Zach Wilson. New York provided him added protection in the form of guard Laken Tomlinson, who'll beef up the offensive line. It then added tight end C.J. Uzomah and rookies Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall.Robert Saleh has to be pleased with the Jets' secondary repairs. Lengthy cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner is the perfect fit for the head coach's defense, while D.J. Reed's addition will also help.After ranking 28th in scoring and last in overall defense last season, the Jets are now better equipped to put up a fight against their AFC East rivals.7. Indianapolis Colts Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyNotable moves:PlayerPositionTransactionMatt RyanQBAcquired via tradeYannick NgakoueDLAcquired via tradeStephon GilmoreCBSigned to 2-year deal worth $20MPhillip LindsayRBSigned to 1-year deal worth $1.1MAlec PierceWRDrafted in 2nd roundTrading Carson Wentz should already constitute a successful offseason. Going from Wentz, who was a disaster down the stretch, to Matt Ryan makes it a better offseason than anyone could've imagined.Ryan should be the perfect conductor for a Colts offense spearheaded by running back Jonathan Taylor. Though Ryan's best days are behind him, the veteran quarterback is a safe and consistent bet, unlike the erratic Wentz.Adding Pro Bowl reinforcements like Yannick Ngakoue and Stephon Gilmore was another stroke of genius from general manager Chris Ballard. The Colts promised drastic change after last season's collapse. They didn't just keep their promise, they overdelivered.6. Las Vegas RaidersNotable moves:Player Position TransactionDavante AdamsWRAcquired via tradeChandler JonesLBSigned to 3-year deal worth $51MRock Ya-SinCBAcquired via tradeBilal NicholsDLSigned to 2-year deal worth $8.6MThe Raiders didn't fold when they saw their AFC West counterparts reload over the spring - they put all their chips in.No move sent more shockwaves through the league than their acquisition of All-Pro receiver Davante Adams in a blockbuster trade with the Green Bay Packers. The three-headed monster of Adams, tight end Darren Waller, and quarterback Derek Carr gives Las Vegas' aerial attack the firepower to hold its own in dogfights against any of the league's top passing units.Don't forget about Chandler Jones, either. Luring the four-time Pro Bowler in free agency not only adds one of the league's most feared pass-rushers but will likely take additional attention off rising star Maxx Crosby.The Raiders also deserve credit for plucking two key members from the New England Patriots in Dave Ziegler and Josh McDaniels. After the Raiders' massive instability last season, the new general manager and head coach could be the glue this historic franchise needs.5. Philadelphia EaglesNotable moves:PlayerPositionTransactionA.J. BrownWRAcquired via tradeHaason ReddickLBSigned to 3-year deal worth $45MJames BradberryCBSigned to 1-year deal worth $7.25MKyzir WhiteLBSigned to 1-year deal worth $3MJordan DavisDLDrafted in 1st roundNakobe DeanLBDrafted in 3rd roundRunning back Miles Sanders said it feels like the Eagles are an "All-Star team," which isn't an exaggeration after the moves general manager Howie Roseman pulled off.The addition of A.J. Brown into a receivers room that already features DeVonta Smith sets the Eagles up not just for the present, but also for the long term. With no shortage of playmakers on offense, Jalen Hurts will have every opportunity to cement his place in the club's future plans. And with two 2023 first-rounders, Roseman can either continue to stockpile talent or potentially move for a top quarterback if Hurts struggles.Brown adds enough star power to make this offseason a dream come true for Philadelphia. Free-agent pickups like Haason Reddick and James Bradberry, as well as draftees Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean, should also make a quick impact.4. Baltimore Ravens Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyNotable moves:Player Position TransactionMarcus WilliamsSSigned to 5-year deal worth $70MMorgan MosesOLSigned to 3-year deal worth $15MMichael PierceDLSigned to 3-year deal worth $16.5MKyle FullerCBSigned to 1-year deal worth $2.5MMike DavisRBSigned to 1-year deal worth $1.2MCalais CampbellDLRe-signed to 2-year deal worth $12.5MJustin HoustonLBRe-signed to 1-year dealKyle HamiltonSDrafted in 1st roundTyler LinderbaumOLDrafted in 1st roundDavid OjaboLBDrafted in 2nd roundThe Ravens have done it again.No other team can seem to match the Ravens' consistent prowess in the NFL draft. That's why it's no surprise Baltimore was able to snag Kyle Hamilton, who many argued was the class' top prospect, and highly rated center Tyler Linderbaum in the first round. Getting David Ojabo - an edge rusher who received first-round love before tearing his Achilles - was just the cherry on top.But the Ravens having a great draft is a regular occurrence. Making a splash in free agency is a little more out of the ordinary. Sometimes, you have to go for it - and that's exactly what the Ravens did with their long-term deal for Marcus Williams, who'll now patrol the secondary with Hamilton. Retaining Calais Campbell and Justin Houston was necessary to keep the front seven competitive. Offensive tackle Morgan Moses should also be an improvement over the inconsistent and now retired Alejandro Villanueva.The Ravens didn't lack talent in 2021 - injuries spoiled their playoff aspirations. Their 2022 offseason was the perfect balancing act of adding more talent and providing depth insurance in case the injury bug comes around again.3. Miami DolphinsNotable moves:Player Position TransactionTyreek HillWRAcquired via tradeTerron ArmsteadOLSigned to 5-year deal worth $75MCedrick WilsonWRSigned to 3-year deal worth $22MConnor WilliamsOLSigned to 2-year deal worth $14MChase EdmondsRBSigned to 2-year deal worth $12.1MMelvin IngramLBSigned to 1-year deal worth $4MRaheem MostertRBSigned to 1-year deal worth $2.1MSony MichelRBSigned to 1-year deal worth $1.7MAlec IngoldFBSigned to 2-year deal worth $6.5MEmmanuel OgbahDLRe-signed to 4-year deal worth $65.4MThe Dolphins got their guy in head coach Mike McDaniel, and his fingerprints are already all over the roster.Miami's moves make it look very similar to the 49ers, McDaniel's previous club. A top left tackle? Enter Terron Armstead. A yards-after-the-catch threat at receiver? Hello, Tyreek Hill. A versatile backfield committee with a proven fullback? Chase Edmonds, Raheem Mostert, Sony Michel, and Alec Ingold can handle that.Of course, the biggest reason the Dolphins should be pleased about their head-coaching choice revolves around the man under center: Tua Tagovailoa. The third-year pro hasn't lived up to his draft billing, but if anyone can extract his potential, it may just be the 49ers' former offensive mastermind.2. Denver Broncos Notable moves:Player Position TransactionRussell WilsonQBAcquired via tradeRandy GregoryDLSigned to 5-year deal worth $70MD.J. JonesDLSigned to 3-year deal worth $30MK'Waun WilliamsCBSigned to 2-year deal worth $5.2MMelvin GordonRBRe-signed to 1-year deal worth $2.5MKareem JacksonSRe-signed to 1-year deal worth $2M"Aim for Aaron Rodgers - even if you miss, you'll land on Russell Wilson" - the Broncos, probably.Denver entered the offseason hungry for a franchise quarterback to take it back to the promised land. Disappointment should have followed when Rodgers stayed with the Packers, but it's hard to be upset when Plan B is a nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback like Wilson.The Broncos have been in quarterback purgatory since Peyton Manning retired following their Super Bowl 50 victory. Eleven players have started under center since then, but Denver hasn't come close to sniffing the postseason. With a deep roster, the front office finally stopped standing pat and snagged what it believes is the missing piece to returning the Broncos to glory.1. Los Angeles Chargers MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images / MediaNews Group / GettyNotable moves:PlayerPositionTransactionKhalil MackLBAcquired via tradeJ.C. JacksonCBSigned to 5-year deal worth $82.5MSebastian Joseph-DayDLSigned to 3-year deal worth $24MGerald EverettTESigned to 2-year deal worth $12MKyle Van NoyLBSigned to 1-year deal worth $2.2MBryce CallahanCBSigned to 1-year deal worth $1.2MMike WilliamsWRRe-signed to 3-year deal worth $60MZion JohnsonOLDrafted in 1st roundThere was a lot of optimism around the 2021 Chargers - and rightfully so - but the team's biggest flaws were exposed during a late-season collapse. Scars of last year's disappointment clearly shaped the team's offseason task list. The Chargers didn't just patch up areas of need - they filled them until they were fully shut.Justin Herbert looks like a quarterback who'll dominate the league for years to come. That's why it was so crucial for the Chargers to retain receiver Mike Williams, who's grown into an explosive weapon for the third-year passer. Keeping Herbert upright was also a big priority after he took 31 sacks last season. Boston College's Zion Johnson should be a Day 1 starter as an interior enforcer on Herbert's offensive line.However, the biggest mess to clean up came on defense, where L.A. ranked 29th in points allowed and last at getting off the field on third down. The Chargers didn't invite a small cleanup crew, though. They brought in the big guns, acquiring former Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack via a trade and Pro Bowl cornerback J.C. Jackson through free agency.With talents like Herbert, Joey Bosa, and Derwin James already on the roster, general manager Tom Telesco's monster additions show he's thinking of a lot more than just making the playoffs.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals and Kyler Murray agreed to terms on an extension that keeps the quarterback under contract through 2028, the team announced.The new five-year deal is worth $230.5 million and includes $160 million guaranteed, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The pact will pay Murray $30 million in the first year, $69 million over two years, and $106.2 million after three years, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Murray's new $46.1-million average annual salary is now the second highest in the NFL and his $160 million in guaranteed money is second only to Deshaun Watson, who inked a fully guaranteed $230-million pact with the Cleveland Browns this year. Here's how Murray's contract compares to other QBs:QBSalaryYrsGuaranteedA. Rodgers (GB)$50.27M3$150.8MK. Murray (ARI)$46.1M5$160MD. Watson (CLE)$46M5$230MP. Mahomes (KC)$45M10$141.5MJ. Allen (BUF)$43M6$150MMurray had two years left on his rookie contract and was scheduled to make $5.3 million this season. The 24-year-old began negotiating a new deal with Arizona earlier this year but the two sides weren't able to come up with an agreement at the time. Murray's agent Erik Burkhardt said in February the signal-caller wanted an extension that included financial security and showed "a real commitment from the organization."Arizona has improved each year since Murray joined the team as the first overall pick in 2019. The Cardinals, who went 5-10-1 in Murray's rookie campaign, won eight games in 2020 before posting an 11-6 record last season en route to earning a postseason berth for the first time since 2015.Murray, who missed three games in 2021 due to injury, posted a career-high 69.2% completion rate last year while tossing 3,787 yards and 24 touchdowns against 10 interceptions in the regular season. He then struggled in his first playoff game, going only 19-of-34 passing with no touchdowns and two picks against the Los Angeles Rams in the wild card.The two-time Pro Bowler has thrown for 70 touchdowns to 34 interceptions across three seasons in Arizona. The Oklahoma product has also rushed for 20 touchdowns in that span, including a career-high 11 in 2020.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots won't hand out an official offensive coordinator or defensive coordinator title for the 2022 season, the team announced in a press release obtained by ESPN's Mike Reiss.The Patriots haven't named a defensive coordinator since 2017, when Matt Patricia commanded the unit. Josh McDaniels previously held the offensive coordinator role from 2012-21 before taking the Las Vegas Raiders' head coaching job earlier this year.The future of New England's offensive play-calling duties was a major talking point throughout the offseason. However, head coach Bill Belichick has remained tight-lipped on who will be calling plays."I've called them, and I haven't called them," Belichick said in June about potentially calling plays himself, according to NFL.com's Nick Shook. "Other people have called them and haven't called them. We'll see."Patricia and the returning Joe Judge will also be assisting the offense this season. Patricia's role was officially announced as senior football advisor/offensive line coach, while Judge holds the title of offensive assistant/quarterbacks coach.Meanwhile, Steve Belichick and Jerod Mayo will coach the linebackers. Mayo received head coaching interest during the 2022 offseason.The Patriots are coming off a playoff appearance after a 10-7 season. Their offense ranked sixth in scoring, while their defense finished second in points allowed.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With fantasy draft season underway, theScore has the award-winning rankings and expert advice you need to dominate your league. Make sure to check back for daily updates right up until the regular season kicks off.You can also subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section. theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and finished among the top seven each of his last seven years in the contest. Follow the links below to see his rankings for every position heading into 2022.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have found Rob Gronkowski's replacement.Veteran tight end Kyle Rudolph tweeted on Thursday that he's joining the Bucs. Tampa Bay will bring him in on a one-year deal, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Tampa Bay was reported to be among the teams that were eyeing Rudolph earlier this month. The Buccaneers needed to replenish their tight end group due to Gronkowski's departure and the loss of O.J. Howard in free agency.Cameron Brate previously figured to be the top option at the position. Behind him are 2022 fourth-rounder Cade Otton and sixth-round rookie Ko Kieft, among others.Rudolph was released by the New York Giants in March after one season with the club. He scored just one touchdown and put up 257 yards during his brief stay in New York.The 32-year-old enjoyed his best years with the Minnesota Vikings, where he caught 453 passes for 4,488 yards and 48 touchdowns over 10 seasons.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Following a head coaching change and the Tyreek Hill addition, there sure is a lot of optimism for the Miami Dolphins heading into 2022.Lawsuits ensued after Brian Flores was fired; Mike McDaniel now takes over the Dolphins. Miami then traded for Tyreek Hill, handing him the big contract he couldn't get in Kansas City. Tua Tagovailoa is healthy, for now, after playing in 13 games last season.How does the market begin to evaluate a somewhat bizarre set of circumstances?2022 season oddsMarket Odds (O/U)Win total9.0 (+105/-125)Division+450Conference+2000Super Bowl+4000The AFC East rival Bills will take up a lot of the win probability for a division title, but at nine wins, the Dolphins are being lined as a contender should Buffalo falter. However, reading the market, we see a lean to the under in the Dolphins' win total.Schedule outlookWeekOpponentLookahead line1NE-2.52@BAL+43BUF+3.54@CIN+45@NYJ-2.56MIN-37PIT-4.58@DET-39@CHI-310CLEN/A12HOU-713@SF+3.514@LAC+5.515@BUF+616GB+117@NE+1.518NYJ-5.5Week 1's line opened at -3, suggesting that the Dolphins were rated higher than the Patriots as the second-best team in the AFC East. That's been bet down under a field goal this summer. The Fins' first nine games are lined at a field goal, with Miami the favorite more often than not. There is an extremely wide range of records the Dolphins could have heading into their Week 11 bye. The schedule gets even more difficult later in the season with three straight road games against Super Bowl contenders.SWOT AnalysisStrengthsAfter leading the NFL with 1.8 takeaways per game in 2020, the Dolphins' sustained that production in 2021, turning their opponents over 1.5 times per game. If that's a matter of scheme over luck, McDaniel was right to retain defensive coordinator Josh Boyer as a holdover from Flores' tenure. They'll need to create those turnovers, as the defense has been just average on a yards per play allowed basis.WeaknessesLast season, the Panthers had to turn to Cam Newton, and the Giants were running consecutive quarterback sneaks with 10 yards to go at one point. The Dolphins managed to just barely edge those teams in offensive yards per play at 4.8.The investment in Hill, veteran offensive linemen Terron Armstead and Connor Williams, along with an armada of tailbacks, is designed to see if Tagovailoa can prove it. A 32nd-ranked offensive line, according to PFF, needed desperately to be improved upon. It might just be a one-year audition, but the Dolphins do have two seasons to figure out whether Tua is their long-term answer.OpportunitiesDolphins-related bets should come from the extremes. Tagovailoa's ability to throw quickly and accurately fits comfortably with the skill sets of Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Mike Gesicki. If he misses time, Teddy Bridgewater - he of the outstanding underdog record - might be able to lead the Fins to a big season as a backup. This presumes the defense keeps turning teams over, causing high-variance game results.ThreatsIf the defensive turnovers dry up the way they're supposed to based on statistical regression, then the defense - without a name more recognizable than Xavien Howard - becomes merely pedestrian.How to bet the DolphinsIt's worth mentioning that the last time NFL games were being played, there was a desire for teams to deploy a "Deebo Samuel-type" player. Should Hill provide that threat at peak performance for former 49ers' coach McDaniel, he's capable of winning Offensive Player of the Year (+6000). Something decidedly more likely than an MVP (+5000) from Tagovailoa.As a general believer in continuity being the most important X-factor in sports, a long shot bet on the Dolphins, for me, would lean to the negative. Given that Bridgewater's presence means their floor is a little higher, I would look at the under on 3950.5 passing yards from Tagovailoa.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets doubled their win total in 2021, going from two victories in 2020 to four. With both a head coach and quarterback in place, it's been a quiet offseason outside of two off-field headlines that were hard not to notice. For our purposes, what's important to know is how bettors are viewing New York in the marketplace.

The Dallas Cowboys are the latest NFL team to unveil an alternate helmet for the 2022 season.Dallas announced Thursday it'll wear its throwback helmets - the white helmet with a single navy star - along with the throwback classic uniforms during the team's Thanksgiving Day game against the New York Giants on Nov. 24.The white helmet will be paired with the classic navy jerseys with white sleeves and shoulders.