The Green Bay Packers are beginning to see the ramifications from their ongoing rift with star quarterback Aaron Rodgers.Writing in his monthly column on the team website, Packers president Mark Murphy all but confirmed Rodgers' dissatisfaction with the organization but said he's focused on repairing the relationship."The situation we face with Aaron Rodgers has divided our fan base," Murphy said. "The emails and letters that I've received reflect this fact. As I wrote here last month, we remain committed to resolving things with Aaron and want him to be our quarterback in 2021 and beyond."We are working to resolve the situation and realize that the less both sides say publicly, the better."The reigning NFL MVP skipped Green Bay's voluntary offseason program, though head coach Matt LaFleur remains hopeful he'll attend mandatory minicamp next week.Rodgers has voiced his frustration with the Packers and is reportedly seeking an exit due to a poor relationship with the franchise's front office.Second-year passer Jordan Love, who Green Bay selected in the first round last year, took first-team snaps in practice with Rodgers absent."Although it is hard to tell a lot in the offseason practices, both Matt LaFleur and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett have said they like what they've seen from Jordan this offseason," Murphy wrote. "Hackett said that the biggest difference this year is his confidence in the system, and that his decision-making, timing, and accuracy have all improved."It's obviously helped him to get reps with the first-team offense this offseason. The preseason games this year will be crucial in his development."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady's rookie card continues to set records at auction.An autographed Brady 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Rookie Ticket was auctioned off by Lelands on Friday night for just over $3.1 million, setting a new all-time record for a football card. The card was graded a mint nine with an autograph grade of 10.

If the Kansas City Chiefs decide to enter into the Julio Jones sweepstakes, their current No. 1 wide receiver, Tyreek Hill, would be more than happy to welcome the Atlanta Falcons star."If I could play alongside Julio Jones, that would be amazing," Hill said Friday, according to Taylor Eldridge of The Kansas City Star. "I was in high school when he was doing his thing at Alabama, and I've been a fan ever since. How big he is, how fast he is, and how dominant he is, we all know Julio is arguably the best in the game. If I'm able to play alongside Julio, I would love it."The Chiefs already own the most prolific passing attack in the game, led by Hill, quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and tight end Travis Kelce. The AFC West club's 301.9 yards per game through the air topped the NFL last season, far ahead of the second-placed Houston Texans at 283.6 yards.Adding Jones, a seven-time Pro Bowler who's racked up a league-leading 12,896 yards since being drafted in 2011, would allow Kansas City to field arguably the NFL's most talented offense.But the current AFC champions would face stiff competition if they want to acquire Jones. The Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, and New England Patriots are reportedly pursuing the veteran.Jones apparently requested a trade earlier this offseason. The 32-year-old made it clear in late May that his time in Atlanta was done, telling Shannon Sharpe of "Undisputed" that he's "outta there" when asked about his future.The Falcons, who could alleviate their cap issues by trading Jones, reportedly are seeking a second-round pick.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton suffered a slight bone bruise on his throwing hand after hitting it on a helmet during practice Friday, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The injury isn't considered major, but Newton's participation in the Patriots' organized team activities could be limited until training camp in July, Rapoport adds.Patriots staff examined Newton's hand midway through Friday's activities, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. The 32-year-old reportedly remained on the practice field until the end of the session but did not attempt any more passes.

Former NFL tight end Greg Olsen's son, TJ, received a heart transplant Friday hours after discovering a donor match."A day we have prayed for has arrived," Greg wrote Friday on Twitter. "We were alerted last night that there was a donor match for TJ to receive his heart transplant. Walking our little boy, with tears of hope and fear in our eyes, was one of the toughest moments of our lives."We ask for everyone's prayers for TJ and his amazing team of doctors and nurses. TJ has a long road ahead of him but today is a huge step forward."

Assistant coaches from at least four NFL teams are refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccine, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Those assistants will lose their Tier 1 status if they don't receive the first dose by next week, Pelissero adds. As a result, they'd be banned from the practice field, meeting rooms, and other direct interactions with players.Prior to last season, the league divided club personnel into three tiers based on roles, placing staff with direct access to players in Tier 1. Individuals in close proximity to players are in Tier 2, while personnel whose jobs don't require being near players are in Tier 3.

The Minnesota Vikings aren't done adding to their secondary.Minnesota agreed to terms with veteran cornerback Bashaud Breeland on Friday, the team announced.The deal is worth up to $4 million, a source told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.Breeland spent the last two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, playing an important role in the team's Super Bowl LIV title run in 2019. The 29-year-old, who was suspended four games in 2020 for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, racked up 38 tackles through 11 games last year.The Clemson product also amassed nine pass breakups and two interceptions in 2020 while opposing quarterbacks had a 78.3 passer rating when targeting him.Breeland, a 2014 fourth-round pick, enjoyed his first four NFL seasons on the Washington Football Team and also had a one-year stint with the Green Bay Packers in 2018.The Vikings heavily addressed their cornerback position this offseason, signing eight-time Pro Bowl corner Patrick Peterson and Mackensie Alexander in free agency. The team also used a fourth-round pick on Camryn Bynum in this year's draft.Minnesota, which allowed 258.8 passing yards per game in 2020, also drafted cornerbacks Jeff Gladney and Cameron Dantzler in the first and third rounds in 2020, respectively.The club recently traded 2018 first-round corner Mike Hughes to the Chiefs.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tennessee Titans placed cornerback Kevin Johnson on the retired list Friday, signaling the end of his NFL career after six seasons.Johnson signed a free-agent contract with the Titans in March after a one-year stint with the Cleveland Browns. The Houston Texans drafted him in the first round in 2015 following a distinguished career at Wake Forest.The 28-year-old spent his first four pro seasons with Houston but saw injuries stall his development. He recorded the only interception of his career as a rookie, picking off former Titans quarterback Zach Mettenberger in a 20-6 Texans victory.Tennessee signed Johnson hoping he'd vie for a significant role in a thin secondary led by veteran newcomer Janoris Jenkins. Johnson started six contests for the Browns in 2020, doing most of his work in the slot.Johnson, who also played one year for the Buffalo Bills, retires from the NFL with 65 career appearances - including 25 starts - and 22 pass breakups.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jamison Crowder finds himself out on the outside looking in when it comes to the New York Jets' receiving corps.Crowder has been absent from his team's voluntary OTA sessions, and according to Jets head coach Robert Saleh, it's because the wideout is unhappy with his contract."So Jamison, obviously, he's working through some stuff with (his) contract with (general manager) Joe (Douglas) and his staff and (his) agent and all that stuff," Saleh said Friday, according to Nick Shook of NFL.com.New York has been proactive this offseason in revamping a passing attack that finished 31st in yards per game (174.8) in 2020, adding new pass-catching options in Corey Davis, Keelan Cole, and Elijah Moore.Despite that accumulation of talent - which also includes budding second-year star Denzel Mims - Saleh said Crowder "definitely has a role for this team."Crowder, 27, is set to make $10.3 million next season after signing a three-year, $28.5-million deal in 2019, according to Over The Cap.The Duke product has led the Jets in receiving yards and touchdowns in each of his last two campaigns. He's tallied 137 receptions, 1,532 yards, and 12 touchdowns through two years with the organization.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets left tackle Mekhi Becton isn't participating in on-field drills at organized team activities because of a foot injury.The 363-pounder is dealing with plantar fasciitis, reports NFL Network's Ian Rapoport."As you know, he's a very large human being, so we've asked him to stay off his feet," head coach Robert Saleh said Friday, according to SNY's Ralph Vacchiano.Becton is coming off a promising rookie season in which he established himself as a long-term building block for the Jets. New York selected him 11th overall in the 2020 draft out of Louisville.Saleh noted that Becton won't need surgery, and Rapoport reports he should be healed in time for training camp in July.The Jets have been looking to improve their offensive line after the unit struggled mightily last year, and Saleh confirmed the club recently met with former Washington Football Team right tackle Morgan Moses.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Tannehill says Tennessee Titans general manager Jon Robinson has still not approached him to restructure his contract."That's up to Jon," Tannehill said Thursday, according to the Nashville Tennessean's Ben Arthur. "He's going to have to figure that out if that's something we want to do as an organization. I don't know. It's above my pay grade. If he comes to me, then we'll have that conversation then."The Titans are considered contenders to land Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones. However, Tennessee currently has just $3.7 million available in cap space, according to Spotrac. Accommodating Jones’ $15.3 million in guaranteed salary and $23 million cap hit would require the team to do some salary gymnastics.Converting some of Tannehill’s $24.5 million annual salary into a signing bonus for next season could free up close to $15.6 million in cap space. The 32-year-old signal-caller signed a four-year, $118 million contract in 2020.Adding Jones would provide more experience for a young Titans receiving group.Tennessee lost two of its top three passing targets to free agency in wideout Corey Davis and tight end Jonnu Smith. The club added free-agent Josh Reynolds and selected Dez Fitzpatrick and Racey McMath in the 2021 draft.While the Titans still appear interested in obtaining the former All-Pro wideout, their receiving corps, led by Pro Bowl pass-catcher A.J. Brown, excites Tannehill."It's going to be a team effort and details by us to make sure we do everything we can to put him in good positions and execute when we get there," Tannehill said of Brown's production.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buccaneers quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen believes Tom Brady never felt completely healthy last season due to a lingering knee injury despite leading the team to a Super Bowl title in his first year in Tampa Bay."I don't think he was 100 percent last year," Christensen said, relaying a conversation he had with Brady the morning after Tampa Bay beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV, according to ESPN's Jenna Laine. "His quote, or close to a quote, was, 'Hey, I'm gonna get my knee fixed up, and I'm gonna be better next year, and you're gonna be excited about that.'"Performance-wise, you wanna feel good. I think that thing was a nagging nuisance to him, having to tape it every day, just make sure he had that thing loose. So I think he's excited about just feeling good again."Brady resumed throwing two weeks ago after undergoing surgery in February. The veteran passer opted to work out privately with a group of teammates instead of attending Tampa Bay's voluntary organized team activities.The quarterback and other veterans reportedly returned to the Bucs' facility for a coach-less throwing session last week after head coach Bruce Arians expressed concern about players potentially getting hurt while practicing away from the team.The 43-year-old posted an Instagram video Tuesday of him throwing and running:

Though Patrick Mahomes is still rehabbing from toe surgery, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback believes he's ready to get back on the field."If there was a game (today), I'd be able to play in it, I think," Mahomes said Thursday, according to Adam Teicher of ESPN.He added: "I have to continue to rehab, continue to keep strengthening that stuff. But it's good to be able to get out there earlier than the schedule had me and be able to get some work in."The 2018 NFL MVP underwent the procedure shortly after Super Bowl LV to repair a turf toe injury. He said in April that his recovery was "ahead of schedule."Mahomes is already participating in the Chiefs' organized team activities. The 25-year-old says it's important for him to attend OTAs after missing them last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic."I know (the OTAs) are voluntary ... but we're able to experiment and not go extremely hard, but still be able to get some good work in and get the guys together, build that chemistry, and be a part of the team," he added, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra.Mahomes is 43-10, including the playoffs, since becoming Kansas City's starter in 2018. He's led the Chiefs to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances and one title.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels believes a year of experience with the team will help quarterback Cam Newton overcome his 2020 struggles."He's worked really hard. He worked hard all of last year. ... He came back this year at a much different position," McDaniels said of Newton on Thursday, according to Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston. "He has a different grasp of the offense, a different understanding of the terminology. Now we're working on refining the precision, the details."The 32-year-old, who returned to the club on a one-year deal, has reportedly also worked on his passing mechanics this offseason.Newton joined the Patriots last offseason after spending his first nine NFL campaigns with the Carolina Panthers, but his debut season in New England didn't meet expectations.Though the 2015 MVP rushed for 12 touchdowns - his best mark since 2011 - he tossed for just 2,657 yards and eight touchdowns against 10 interceptions while posting a 7-8 record over 15 appearances.The Patriots missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008 last year, doing so in their first season after Tom Brady departed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.New England brought in competition for Newton with its first-round selection of Mac Jones."He's played in some big games, some pressure situations," McDaniels said of Jones. "He takes care of the football. He's demonstrated the ability to function at a pretty high level in (Alabama's) offense with their terminology."The Patriots' quarterback depth chart also features Jarrett Stidham and veteran Brian Hoyer.Head coach Bill Belichick recently said New England's starting passer role is still Newton's to lose.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Pro Bowl linebacker Takeo Spikes thinks the Tim Tebow signing could blow up in the face of Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer.Spikes, who enjoyed a 15-year NFL career spanning from 1998 to 2012, said during an appearance on "The Jake Asman Show on SportsMap Radio" that Tebow's return could have a lot of the team's players eying Meyer."I don't think you can lose the locker room unless you do more moves like that. I will say it will raise the attentive of everybody inside of that locker room and it will make them question you as the coach," Spikes said."I get you want to sell tickets and create an uproar, but at the same time, it don't matter if you're not winning games. If he can't help us win games, you need to clearly explain, articulate what's going on so you don't lose (the team)."Tebow officially returned to the NFL as a tight end last month, reuniting with his former college coach Meyer. The plan to sign Tebow reportedly drew a mixed reaction from within the Jaguars' organization. It was also heavily criticized on social media due to Tebow's inexperience at the position. The 33-year-old last appeared in the league as a quarterback in 2015 but hasn't suited up for a game since 2012."I would like to think Urban Meyer won't lose the team if it don't work out. But, you can't continue to make moves like that when you know you have other qualified players or other qualified people," Spikes added.The newly signed tight end has taken the field for OTAs, with his improvement earning praise from Meyer.For more, check out SportsMapRadio.com streaming live.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Although Lions head coach Dan Campbell confirmed Thursday Detroit is in talks with Todd Gurley, he made clear the Lions' push for the free-agent rusher has nothing to do with his confidence in D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams."I would say this, just because we have interest in (Gurley), that does not affect our feeling and our thoughts on both Swift and Jamaal," Campbell said, according to Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk.Swift accumulated 878 scrimmage yards during his rookie campaign in 2020. Williams, a free-agent addition, rushed for over 450 yards in each of his past four seasons while with the Green Bay Packers.The Lions reportedly hosted Gurley on a free-agent visit last week. Campbell said Thursday he'd like to get a deal done sooner rather than later.Gurley earned three Pro Bowl nods while with the Los Angeles Rams before spending the 2020 season with the Atlanta Falcons. The 26-year-old back rushed for a career-low 678 yards last year.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After primarily lining up from the pistol formation during his first three seasons, Lamar Jackson should see more snaps under center in 2021."That is definitely going to be a part of what we do this year," said Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley.Roman added: "I don't know the extent of it. But we are working on it and evaluating it every day. ... I believe it's a very important part in the development of a quarterback from a forward standpoint."Since becoming the Ravens' starter in 2018, Jackson has taken the fewest snaps under center among quarterbacks with at least 10 starts, per Hensley. He played from that position on just 4% of his 889 snaps last year.In addition to seeing more time under center, Jackson will have some new pass-catching weapons around him this season. Baltimore signed Sammy Watkins and drafted Rashod Bateman and Tylan Wallace to help improve last year's 32-ranked passing attack (171.2 yards per game).Jackson will be with the Ravens through the 2022 season after they exercised his fifth-year option. He's said he'd love to remain with the club "forever."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The United States Football League is returning in 2022, the league announced Thursday.The USFL will relaunch in the spring of 2022 with Fox Sports serving as its official broadcast partner. The league will target a minimum of eight teams and seeks to deliver "high-quality, innovative professional football.""I'm extremely passionate about football and the opportunity to work with FOX Sports and to bring back the USFL in 2022 was an endeavor worth pursuing," co-founder Brian Woods said.He added: "We look forward to providing players a new opportunity to compete in a professional football league and giving fans everywhere the best football viewing product possible during what is typically a period devoid of professional football."The USFL played three seasons during its first stint, beginning in 1983 before ceasing operations in 1986 due to financial struggles amid a push to compete with the NFL. Many notable players participated in the USFL during its first incarnation, including Hall of Fame quarterbacks Steve Young and Jim Kelly.The relaunched USFL will use the same logo from its first stint, according to Arnie Stapleton of The Associated Press. It also retains the rights to key original team names but the specifics are still unknown. The league plans to release more information on host cities, teams, head coaches, and schedules in the future.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL records will likely fall with more regularity, with a 17th regular-season game being added this season.One record that Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino hopes never gets broken is the career wins mark held by his former coach Don Shula.The Miami Dolphins legend has the most regular-season wins by a coach in NFL history with 328.New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick ranks third all time with 280 wins. He would have to coach at least three more seasons to overtake the record, but he's within range of it."I hope he don't get it," Marino said, according to ESPN's Cameron Wolfe. "I'm a Dolphin for life. Coach Shula for life. I don't want him to get it."Belichick has already matched Shula by going undefeated in a single regular season. However, Shula's 1972 Dolphins remain the only team to go undefeated across an entire campaign, going 17-0. Belichick's 2007 Patriots went 16-0 in the regular season but lost the Super Bowl to the New York Giants.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is unsure if Aaron Rodgers will be in attendance when mandatory veteran minicamp begins next week."It's important that we have all our guys, and certainly we'd love him to be here. Hopefully, we'll see him Tuesday," LaFleur said Wednesday, according to Olivia Reiner of Packers News.Rodgers skipped the entirety of Green Bay's voluntary offseason program. While organized team activities aren't mandatory, Rodgers has participated in them in years past.But with the reigning NFL MVP reportedly seeking an exit from the Packers due to a poor relationship with the team's front office, he skipped the voluntary workouts and forfeited a $500,000 bonus.Rodgers can be fined up to $93,085 for missing all three days of minicamp, per league rules.Five of Green Bay's veteran receivers, including Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Equanimeous St. Brown, and Devin Funchess, also didn't participate in OTAs.Rodgers broke his silence about his issues with the Packers in late May, saying they didn't stem from the team selecting quarterback Jordan Love in the first round of last year's draft."I love the coaching staff, love my teammates, love the fan base in Green Bay. Incredible 16 years," Rodgers said. "It's just kind of about a philosophy and maybe forgetting that it is about the people that make the thing go. It's about character, it's about culture, it's about doing things the right way."Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst is reportedly insisting he won't trade the veteran passer. However, Rodgers apparently won't return to the NFC North club unless Gutekunst is fired.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears rookie Justin Fields is already turning heads at practice."Justin is a freakish athlete, to say the least," Bears running back David Montgomery said Wednesday, according to Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times. "He already carries that leader mantra that you rarely see from rookies."The Bears traded up from 20th overall to the No. 11 pick in April's draft in order to select the former Ohio State passer.While Andy Dalton - whom Chicago signed prior to the draft - remains the starter entering camp, Fields has made no secret he intends on winning the starting job."He's great. He's progressing well (and) taking the reins," Montgomery said.Despite Fields' presence, Dalton remains confident his job won't be challenged."I knew the situation I was going into, regardless of if they drafted somebody or they didn't," the 33-year-old said, according to Chris Emma of 670TheScore. "I was on a one-year deal and I was going to be the starter. My mindset didn't have to change."Bears head coach Matt Nagy told reporters that Dalton will be getting the first-team reps during organized team activities, Fields will throw with the second team, and veteran Nick Foles will be the No. 3 quarterback, according to ESPN's Jeff Dickerson.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys plan to keep Leighton Vander Esch despite stocking up on linebackers during the draft and receiving trade inquiries, a source told NFL Network's Jane Slater.The Cowboys selected Micah Parsons in the first round and Jabril Cox in the fourth round of the draft, adding a pair of linebackers who could vie for prominent roles immediately.Dallas declined the fifth-year option on Vander Esch's contract, putting the Boise State product on track to become a free agent after the 2021 campaign.Vander Esch enjoyed a sparkling rookie season in 2018, serving as a rangy defender who could drop into coverage or stuff the run. But he's since struggled with injuries. Even when healthy, Vander Esch hasn't been near the dominant force over the last two seasons that he was as a rookie.The Cowboys once fielded what looked to be a dynamic, young linebacker tandem in Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith, but their production has tailed off over the last two years.Along with the reinforcements Dallas drafted, the Cowboys signed former Atlanta Falcons safety Keanu Neal with the intention to play him at linebacker in 2021.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans have signed free-agent running back Rex Burkhead.Burkhead spent the last four seasons with the New England Patriots after playing four with the Cincinnati Bengals. He suffered a season-ending knee injury last November, causing him to miss six games.The 30-year-old joins a deep backfield in Houston led by David Johnson and recently signed free agents Phillip Lindsay and Mark Ingram.Burkhead is a do-it-all running back, earning key snaps with New England and helping the club capture Super Bowl LII. He averaged 4.4 yards per carry over the last two campaigns while amassing nine total touchdowns and 52 receptions.The Texans added a large number of veterans to their offense this spring amid the uncertainty surrounding star quarterback Deshaun Watson's status. Tyrod Taylor, Marcus Cannon, and Chris Conley were among those added to David Culley's squad this offseason.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians publicly warned players skipping voluntary workouts Tuesday that they could be pushed off the roster."These guys out here are working their asses off, but I'd like to see about 10 more of them out there fighting for jobs that they don't know they're fighting for," he told reporters.The Buccaneers resumed organized team activities with Memorial Day weekend in the rearview mirror. They held practices May 25-27 and will work out again Wednesday and Thursday.The defending Super Bowl champions are slated to host mandatory minicamp June 7-9 before their final three voluntary sessions of the offseason June 15-17.The NFL Players Association has been encouraging players to exercise their right not to participate in offseason activities that aren't mandatory. Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady was at the forefront of the movement, and he's one of several Bucs veterans working out away from the rest of the team."(Brady) is not in town right now so I would hope some of those guys that have been with him will come here tomorrow," Arians said. "We'll see."Tampa Bay practiced Tuesday without its usual depth in the backfield. C.J. Prosise is with his wife, who recently gave birth, while second-year running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn is working out with Brady and other veterans."Ke'Shawn decided to work out with those guys," said Arians. "That's their choice, but hopefully he'll make a better decision tomorrow."The 68-year-old expressed a similar sentiment about second-year wide receiver Tyler Johnson."Yeah, I would wish that he would be over here," he said. "He's not (dumb). Tom is throwing him the ball over there, so I might be with Tom too."The Buccaneers are preparing to enter their third season under Arians, who owns an 18-14 record in the regular season but guided Tampa Bay to a championship in Super Bowl LV.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ben Roethlisberger finds himself making a few key adjustments ahead of his 18th NFL campaign.More than a year removed from major elbow surgery, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback said Tuesday that he expects his arm to feel significantly better due to increased rest."I took a lot of time off from throwing this offseason," Roethlisberger told reporters, according to NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala. "I really hope and pray it will pay dividends.""You know, I had total reconstruction on my elbow," he added, per ESPN's Brooke Pryor. "That might have something to do with (lacking deep ball production in 2020). But no excuses."Following a season in which he averaged a career-low 6.3 yards per attempt, many evaluators wondered whether Roethlisberger would return in 2021.However, the 39-year-old offered to take a pay cut in the offseason, saying "it was necessary" to help the Steelers, according to Kinkhabwala."If they wanted me back, I felt I could give them everything I got," he said.He continued: "I'm black and gold through and through. I want to be here. I don't want to be anywhere else."Pittsburgh will return most of its weapons this year, though the team lost 2020 starters Maurkice Pouncey, Alejandro Villanueva, and Matt Feiler along the offensive line.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A potential Zach Ertz trade could ramp up shortly with the calendar turning to June.At least three teams have looked into a deal for the Philadelphia Eagles tight end, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports.Philadelphia has made it clear to inquiring clubs that it requires compensation for the 30-year-old, making his release unlikely, Fowler adds.Ertz has reportedly been on the trading block since March. However, the Eagles can spread the veteran's dead money over the next two years rather than only one by waiting until June 1 to potentially make a deal.The 2013 second-round pick has spent his entire career in Philadelphia. He's been a consistent pass-catcher over the middle for much of his Eagles tenure, though injuries and a decline in explosiveness led to career lows across the board last season.A favorite to land Ertz via trade has yet to emerge.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Peterson can't hide his excitement to play his former team.The 30-year-old cornerback spent the first 10 years of his career with the Arizona Cardinals. He hit free agency this offseason and signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings.The Vikings visit the Cardinals in Week 2 this season."The one I circled is definitely Week 2, that's not even close. That's not even close," Peterson said on the "All Things Covered" podcast, according to Jeremy Cluff of the Arizona Republic.During his decade in the desert, Peterson was a three-time All-Pro, made eight Pro Bowls, and named to the Hall of Fame's All-2010s team.After signing with Minnesota, Peterson expressed his surprise that he couldn't continue his career in Arizona. Now, he's eager to show his old club that he still has it."I'm going to be juiced up going into that week, or whatever, but as far as once the game gets going, I'm going to be cool, calm, and collected because that's when I'm at my best," he said. "I can't wait to show up and do what I do in they face. I can't wait for that, to do what I do."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Mahomes is already locked in on the 2021 season and his latest goal isn't just another Super Bowl trophy."The only record I have my eyes set on breaking, which would be new this year, is going 20-0," the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback said to Kayla Nicole of Bleacher Report, per NFL.com's Adam Maya.Mahomes is referring to the new 17-game regular season. To get to 20 wins, a team would have to go undefeated through their first 17 games, then remain victorious through the divisional round, conference championship, and Super Bowl."That's not really a record to be broken, I guess you would say. But I think 19-0 is the record right now, so being able to go 20-0, to be the first one to do that, that would be awesome," Mahomes said.The 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only team to record a perfect season, going 17-0. The New England Patriots went 18-0 in 2007 but lost to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl.The Chiefs have reached the past two Super Bowls, winning the Lombardi Trophy in 2019 before falling short in Super Bowl LIV in February.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Green Bay Packers appear to be maintaining their stance regarding Aaron Rodgers' status with the franchise.Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst still insists he won't trade Rodgers, a source told Matt Schneidman of The Athletic.The reigning NFL MVP didn't report to the start of Green Bay's voluntary organized team activities last week, and he isn't contractually obligated to join the team until its mandatory minicamp begins on June 8.Rodgers has been frustrated with the Packers and is reportedly set on staying away unless Gutekunst is fired.If Green Bay were to trade the 37-year-old after June 1, the club would free up $16.05 million in cap space while taking a $21.15 million dead-money hit this year.The Packers would be willing to move Rodgers if they believed he's truly committed to never playing for them again, with the team preferring to receive compensation in return as opposed to forcing him to retire, according to Schneidman.Jordan Love, the club's 2020 first-round pick, has been taking first-team snaps during practice amid Rodgers' absence.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons would accept a "hard" 2022 second-round pick for Julio Jones, reports Peter King of NBC Sports, citing a source.Atlanta is willing to acquire a second-round pick with no conditions around Jones' playing time in a deal that frees the Falcons from paying any of his remaining salary, King adds.Jones has three years left on his current deal, and any team that acquires the 32-year-old will owe him $38.3 million.Multiple clubs have reportedly been linked as potential trade suitors for the longtime Falcons receiver, including the Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Rams, and New England Patriots.Jones reportedly requested a trade earlier this offseason; he told Shannon Sharpe of "Undisputed" that he's "outta there" when asked about his future with Atlanta last week.Dealing the seven-time Pro Bowler after June 1 would free up $15.3 million in salary-cap space for the Falcons.Selected sixth overall by Atlanta in 2011, Jones has been one of the NFL's most productive receivers over the last decade. He ranks first in receiving yards (12,896) and second in receptions (848) since entering the league.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The list of teams interested in trading for Julio Jones is growing.The Seattle Seahawks have held discussions with the Atlanta Falcons about a move for the star wide receiver, sources told ESPN's Dianna Russini.Quarterback Russell Wilson has also spoken with Jones about possibly playing together, Russini adds.Jones has reportedly generated interest from several teams in recent weeks, including the Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Rams, and New England Patriots. Some of the NFL's biggest stars have also publicly recruited the pass-catcher on social media.He's reportedly available because the Falcons are looking to create financial flexibility. Atlanta would open up $15.3 million in cap space if the veteran is traded after June 1. The 32-year-old is currently signed through 2023 after inking a three-year, $66-million extension in 2019.The contract talks between the Falcons and Jones in 2019 reportedly affected their relationship. Despite the two sides agreeing on a deal, the difficultly of the negotiations led to lingering tensions.The seven-time Pro Bowler recently signaled the end of his time with the club during an interview with "Undisputed," telling Shannon Sharpe he's "outta there."Jones became one of the NFL's top wide receivers soon after entering the league as the sixth overall pick in 2011. He's averaged 101 receptions for 1,528 yards and seven touchdowns per 16 games played.The Seahawks already boast a dynamic wideout group, with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett atop their depth chart. Seattle also addressed the position in this year's draft with its selection of D'Wayne Eskridge in the second round.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams and Tennessee Titans are the latest suitors interested in acquiring Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones.The two teams have talked to the Falcons about Jones, though a trade doesn't seem to be imminent, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. The Titans are reportedly considered long shots to land him.The 32-year-old reportedly asked to be traded from the Falcons earlier this offseason. The pass-catcher seemed to confirm his impending departure last week on Fox's "Undisputed," saying he's "outta there."The Falcons are reportedly entertaining offers, and the club is asking for a first-round pick in exchange for the seven-time Pro Bowler.Los Angeles may be at a disadvantage in the bidding war to add the All-Pro wideout. The Rams don’t hold a first-round selection in 2022 or 2023 following their blockbuster deal to bring in quarterback Matthew Stafford.Jones is set to earn $15.3 million in 2021. Both the Titans and Rams would need to create space to fit in the disgruntled star. The Rams currently hold $7.82 million in space, while the Titans are working with just $3.63 million.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Add Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Chase Claypool to the long list of NFL players who would like to see their team acquire Julio Jones."I would love him in Pittsburgh," Claypool told TMZ Sports.The Steelers' wide receiver group already features the likes of Claypool, Diontae Johnson, and JuJu Smith-Schuster. But Claypool believes there's always room for a player of Jones' caliber."We're stacked," the 22-year-old said. "But you can never get too many superstars."Jones reportedly asked the Atlanta Falcons for a trade earlier this offseason and seemingly confirmed his impending departure Monday on "Undisputed" by stating he's "outta there."The longtime Falcons receiver is under contract for another three years and will be owed $38.3 million by any team that acquires him. Atlanta has reportedly been fielding offers for Jones - including a proposal involving a first-round pick - and could move him in the coming week.Jones, 32, is due $15.3 million in base salary for 2021, according to Spotrac, making Pittsburgh an unlikely suitor for him. The Steelers currently have just $7.85 million in cap space.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While many NFL teams skipped the voluntary portion of their early offseason programs, or agreed to modified OTAs, the Dallas Cowboys have had nearly full attendance since team workouts began.Quarterback Dak Prescott believes the extra work this spring will yield benefits during the 2021 season."It's going to be huge. It's going to pay off," Prescott said, according to ESPN's Todd Archer. "Obviously, the mental aspect, knowing the scheme, whether it's the defense learning a new scheme or whether it's the offense being on the same page and communicating better, I think it's going to pay off huge when we get to training camp to have maybe that step that these other teams may not take during the offseason."Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy agreed with his star passer."We have a lot of changes from last year," he said. "The commitment has been tremendous in Phase 1 and Phase 2. It really puts us in a really good place to accomplish and get all eight installations here for these three weeks."The National Football League Players Association advised players to skip all voluntary activities this year. While some clubs negotiated with their rosters, McCarthy opted to shorten Dallas' offseason program. He's running six OTA practices, and minicamp will feature abbreviated meetings."We realize we need this kind of work in the offseason," Cowboys tight end and NFLPA rep Dalton Schultz said. "We support everything the NFLPA's doing. We support all the guys that aren't showing up. That's a very personal decision for a lot of people. We're a very young team, and we can benefit highly from this kind of work that we're doing now."Dallas is attempting to rebound from a disappointing 2020 campaign and will be installing a new defensive scheme run by former Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn. Prescott is also returning to the field after sustaining a season-ending ankle injury last October.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers tight end Robert Tonyan sounds hopeful that Aaron Rodgers will rejoin the team at some point.Tonyan said he keeps in contact with the quarterback, but their conversations don't involve football or the business side of the game. However, he noted that he's poised to put his best foot forward once Rodgers returns."I just think that's a business thing. Obviously, Aaron's been the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers for 16 years. I've been the tight end for four years. I think that's above my pay grade. I don't want to talk for him and all that stuff. I think that's just a business thing," Tonyan said Friday on "The Rich Eisen Show.""I'm just going to continue to get better and play tight end for the Green Bay Packers. If, when, or whatever happens and Aaron comes back, I'm ready, and there's no gray area with me. I'm ready to hit the ground running and win a Super Bowl whenever he's back."Rodgers is in a dispute with the Packers organization and absent from OTAs. The 37-year-old signal-caller spoke about the standoff earlier this week, saying: "It's just kind of about a philosophy and maybe forgetting that it is about the people that make the thing go. It's about character, it's about culture, it's about doing things the right way."Tonyan talked about the effect Rodgers' absence is having on him mentally during the team's OTA sessions."With any teammate who's important to you, whoever's important to you, you want him there," Tonyan said. "You're not thinking about the whole situation and the whole process. I think we're just missing our teammate."The 27-year-old tight end had a formidable connection with Rodgers last season, catching a career-high 11 touchdowns.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Mike Evans, and many of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' veteran offensive players have stayed away from OTAs, but they were at the team facility for a throwing session Friday, reports Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.Coach Bruce Arians reportedly said the players could run drills at Tampa Bay's facility without coaches present. His chief concern was players possibly injuring themselves while working out away from the team, which would void the terms of their contract."Really pleased and excited to see the guys working together," Arians said.The Buccaneers were among a large group of teams who announced earlier this spring that they wouldn't attend voluntary offseason workouts. Brady also hopped on an NFLPA conference call in May to implore players to remain united in their stance against the voluntary team sessions.Brady and the roughly 10 players were reportedly seen practicing at the New York Yankees' training facility in Tampa on Monday before returning to the Buccaneers' complex Friday.Wideout Antonio Brown, tight end Cameron Brate, and backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert were among the other players also present Friday.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If linebacker K.J. Wright is interested in returning to the Seattle Seahawks, the team is all ears."The door is still open," Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said Thursday, according to Seahawks.com's John Boyle.Seattle is open to a reunion, but Carroll did imply that the team won't be making any additions soon. The bench boss added the franchise might revisit the subject during training camp.Wright has spent his entire 10-year career with the Seahawks. The former 2011 fourth-round pick was allowed to reach free agency but has yet to sign with a club this offseason.The 31-year-old ranks fourth in franchise history with 593 solo tackles.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's been nearly four months since the opening odds for this year's NFL MVP were released, and while not much has changed since then, there are still a handful of long shots that early bettors haven't squeezed out.Remember that Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson - two of the last three MVP winners - were priced at 100-1 long shots early in the offseason before their breakout campaigns. So with that in mind, here are the updated MVP odds for 2021 and three of our favorite long-shot plays ahead of the season:PLAYERODDSPatrick Mahomes+450Aaron Rodgers+800Josh Allen+1100Matthew Stafford+1500Tom Brady+1500Lamar Jackson+1600Dak Prescott+1800Russell Wilson+1800Justin Herbert+2000Kyler Murray+2000Ryan Tannehill+3000Baker Mayfield+3300Carson Wentz+4000Christian McCaffrey+4000Matt Ryan+4200Derrick Henry+5000Kirk Cousins+5000Deshaun Watson+5500Jalen Hurts+5500Joe Burrow+5500Dalvin Cook+6000Jameis Winston+6000Tua Tagovailoa+6000Cam Newton+6500Derek Carr+7500Jimmy Garoppolo+9000Trevor Lawrence+9000Alvin Kamara+10000Ben Roethlisberger+10000Daniel Jones+10000Justin Fields+10000Nick Chubb+10000Ryan Fitzpatrick+10000Sam Darnold+10000Saquon Barkley+10000Taysom Hill+11000Field (all others not listed)+12500George Kittle+12500Jared Goff+12500Jonathan Taylor+12500Jordan Love+12500Teddy Bridgewater+12500Trey Lance+12500Aaron Jones+15000Allen Robinson+15000Andy Dalton+15000Calvin Ridley+15000Cam Akers+15000Davante Adams+15000DeAndre Hopkins+15000Drew Lock+15000Ezekiel Elliott+15000Julio Jones+15000Michael Thomas+15000Stefon Diggs+15000Travis Kelce+15000Tyreek Hill+15000DK Metcalf+17500Joe Mixon+20000Justin Jefferson+20000Mac Jones+20000Mike Evans+20000Najee Harris+20000Odell Beckham Jr.+20000Zach Wilson+20000Austin Ekeler+25000Cooper Kupp+25000J.K. Dobbins+25000Josh Jacobs+25000Keenan Allen+25000Leonard Fournette+25000Derek Carr, QB, Raiders (+7500)Could this be the year the stars finally align for Carr? The Raiders quarterback finished third in MVP voting in 2016 despite missing the final game with an injury, and he drew some MVP chatter a year ago before a lackluster final few weeks.The 2014 second-round draft pick still finished 11th in the NFL in passing yards (4,103), passing touchdowns (27), interception rate (1.7%), and QBR (71.0) last season, and his five game-winning drives ranked second - his most since notching seven in 2016. Carr has thrown for 4,000 yards in three straight campaigns and has reached MVP-level heights before, making him an easy play at these odds.Taysom Hill, QB, Saints (+11000)There are two major red flags to Hill's MVP case: We don't know if he'll be the Saints' starting quarterback in 2021, and we don't know if he'll even be a good quarterback if he wins the job. But if he does, there's reason to think he could flash MVP upside.Hill's completion percentage (72.7%) led all players with at least 100 attempts in 2020, and he ranked among the top 11 passers in interception rate (1.7%) and yards per attempt (7.7). The 30-year-old also ranked fifth among QBs in rushing yards (457) despite playing just four full games behind center, and he ranked among the top 15 of all players (minimum 50 carries) in rushing touchdowns (8) and yards per attempt (5.3).If Hill does earn the starting role, he'll be walking into a situation that helped propel Drew Brees to perennial MVP consideration - and adding a highlight-reel element Brees simply never had. Hill could just easily bottom out in his first year as a starter. At these odds, though, it's well worth the gamble.Jordan Love, QB, Packers (+12500)Much like Hill, we don't know if Love will start in 2021, and he has even less proof that he can handle the rigors of the NFL. Unlike Hill, the Packers' signal-caller has first-round pedigree and elite arm talent, and it's hard to imagine a better player to slap down $10 on as a buy-low lottery ticket.We've never seen Love take a snap, which is both the reason for this long price and the intrigue of betting it. The Utah State product could be substantially better than the market credits him for, and his pure talent surpasses almost everyone with similar odds. Love's also in an ideal spot to make a "narrative" case for the award if he can lead Green Bay to 10-plus wins in place of reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers.Love spending a year behind Rodgers draws natural comparisons to Mahomes sitting for a year behind 2017 MVP candidate Alex Smith before his own run in 2018. No, Love isn't Mahomes, but it's hard not to like his chances at a Mahomes-like run at these odds.C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tim Tebow's surprise NFL return is prompting at least one other former player to attempt a similar comeback.Former New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs said he's also willing to change positions to make his old team again.

The Detroit Lions are hosting free-agent running back Todd Gurley on Thursday, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Gurley spent the 2020 season with Atlanta Falcons and rushed for a career-low 678 yards to go along with nine touchdowns. He also had 25 receptions for 164 receiving yards.If the 26-year-old signs in Detroit, he would reunite with former Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff.Gurley was named Offensive Rookie of the Year after the Rams selected him 10th overall in the 2015 draft. The Georgia product was the focal point of the Rams' offense, rushing for 5,404 yards and 58 touchdowns while averaging 4.3 yards per carry through five seasons.Detroit currently has 2020 second-round pick D'Andre Swift and free-agent signee Jamaal Williams headlining its tailback group.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.More in this series

The Philadelphia Eagles announced a number of personnel changes to their football operations department on Thursday, including the hire of Catherine Raiche as vice president of football operations.With the promotion, Raiche becomes the highest-ranking female personnel executive in NFL history, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The Montreal native was hired by the Eagles in 2019 as a football operations coordinator after five years in the CFL.Raiche was the assistant general manager for the Montreal Alouettes in 2017 before moving to the Toronto Argonauts in 2018 as their director of football administration.The 32-year-old takes over the role previously held by Andrew Berry, who was named the general manager for the Cleveland Browns last year.Philadelphia also hired former Jacksonville Jaguars GM David Caldwell with the title of personnel executive.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A potential Julio Jones deal appears to be inching closer.The Atlanta Falcons have discussed several trade offers for their star receiver, including one for a first-round pick, sources told ESPN's Dianna Russini.There's a sense around the league a deal could be finalized as early as next week, Russini adds. The move could then be designated as a post-June 1 transaction.The Tennessee Titans have been in contact with Atlanta, though Russini reports the AFC South squad is a "long shot" to land Jones.The seven-time Pro Bowler has been the subject of rampant trade speculation this offseason. The wideout seemingly signaled the end of his time with the Falcons during an interview with "Undisputed" on Monday, telling Shannon Sharpe he's "outta there" when asked about his future with the club.Jones' relationship with Atlanta has reportedly been deteriorating since contentious contract negotiations in 2019.The Falcons have asked teams inquiring about the 32-year-old for a first-round pick in return, but many around the NFL don't believe the franchise will find a partner willing to meet its asking price.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jordan Love is taking the starter's snaps during the Green Bay Packers' OTAs as Aaron Rodgers continues to sit out, and his teammates are seeing a notable improvement."You can tell he's just a lot more comfortable out there, even from communicating in the huddle to the command of the huddle to just everything," running back Aaron Jones said Tuesday, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky."He's had a year under his belt, he's had time to watch and learn, so you can tell it's a little bit different from what it was before," Jones added. "He's going to continue to grow, and I'm happy to be here working with him."Rodgers is in a standoff with the Packers, and the signal-caller reportedly told some within the organization he doesn't want to return. Green Bay reportedly offered to make him the NFL's highest-paid quarterback, but the 37-year-old is reportedly set on staying away unless general manager Brian Gutekunst is fired.The Packers were also missing the team's top-five wide receivers as OTA practices began on Tuesday, though head coach Matt LaFleur said there's no reason for him to believe their absences are coordinated.Even without most of his offensive weapons, Love has impressed LaFleur thus far following an uneventful rookie campaign."He's definitely matured over the course of the year," the coach said. "You can tell that he's put in the time this offseason, not only just lifting and running and coming in in good football shape, but also you can tell he's put in the time in his craft in trying to continue to work on his mechanics, his fundamentals that are so critical to playing the position at the highest level possible."So he's still got a lot to learn. I think he can tell you that, but he's going to take it one day at a time. He goes out there with purpose. I like his mindset right now."Rodgers was reportedly upset when Green Bay drafted Love 26th overall last year, but the star passer recently said the selection isn't to blame for his issues with the team.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Adam Vinatieri's legendary career is officially over.The former Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots kicker told "The Pat McAfee Show" on Wednesday that he's retiring from the NFL.The four-time Super Bowl champion became the league's all-time leader in points with 2,673 during his 24-year career. He didn't play during the 2020 season.Vinatieri, 48, also holds records for most field goals made (599), total games played (397), most consecutive field-goal conversions (44), most postseason points (238), and most overtime field goals made (12).The future Hall of Famer spent the first 10 campaigns of his career with the Patriots after entering the NFL in 1996 as an undrafted free agent. He won three championships in New England (2002, 2004, 2005) and made a fourth Super Bowl appearance in 2007.Vinatieri's game-winning field goal in the final seconds of Super Bowl XXXVI against the then-St. Louis Rams is one of the most iconic kicks in NFL history. He also made the game-winning kick in Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers.Vinatieri joined the Colts in 2006 and won his fourth Super Bowl title that same year. He played in Indianapolis until 2019.The kicker earned three Pro Bowls nods, three first-team All-Pro nominations, and he was named to the NFL's 2000s All-Decade Team.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Lamar Jackson can't wait to ink a long-term deal with the Baltimore Ravens, and the star quarterback is hoping this is just his first contract extension with the franchise."I would love to be here forever," Jackson said Wednesday, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "I love Baltimore. I love the whole organization. I love everybody in the building. Hopefully, we'll be making something happen pretty soon whenever."The Ravens have been negotiating an extension with Jackson since the 2020 season concluded, and the two sides were reportedly far apart in their talks during the first month.However, the uncertainties surrounding when his deal will be signed don't bother the signal-caller."I'm really focused on the season, and I'm focused on trying to win," said Jackson, who owns a 30-7 regular-season record in Baltimore. "I'm not really worried about if it gets done this year or next year. We're going to see. We don't know yet."The organization exercised the fifth-year option on Jackson's rookie contract this offseason, keeping him signed through 2022. The 2019 NFL MVP is set to make $1.171 million this season, with his annual average salary increasing to $23 million next year.The Louisville product, who the Ravens selected 32nd overall in 2018, was one of five quarterbacks drafted in the first round that year, along with Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, and Josh Rosen.Jackson is all but certain to become one of the NFL's highest-paid quarterbacks. The Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes and the Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott top the league with an annual average salary of $45 million and $40 million, respectively.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The prospect of the Atlanta Falcons trading star wideout Julio Jones went from passive offseason speculation to full-tilt, self-perpetuating news cycle this week. All it took was for Jones to answer a phone call from Fox Sports' Shannon Sharpe and declare "I'm outta there, man!" while seemingly unaware he was on live television. It happens to the best of us.It made for a riveting spectacle, and it also upped the ante on the possibility that Jones will indeed be dealt. Sure enough, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport subsequently reported that Jones requested a trade "a few months ago," and the team had agreed to consider offers. As ridiculous as it might seem for Atlanta to trade one of its cornerstone players, a complex set of factors led to this point, and an important date is looming. Let's break it down.The state of the franchiseAtlanta is in the midst of a rebuild … sort of. The Falcons have had three straight losing seasons, and their 4-12 finish in 2020 led to changes at the top of the football operation, with Terry Fontenot taking over as general manager and Arthur Smith as head coach. But Atlanta notably did not draft a quarterback with the fourth overall pick. The team instead opted to double down on 36-year-old Matt Ryan by restructuring his contract, ensuring he'd be on the roster (or at least extremely difficult to move) through at least 2022.It wasn't just Ryan, either. The Falcons also reworked deals for left tackle Jake Matthews and linebacker Deion Jones. Combined with Ryan's restructure, these moves saved more than $26 million against the 2021 salary cap, which fell 8% because of the pandemic's impact on league revenues after rising consistently for years. Michael Reaves / Getty ImagesAtlanta's strategy is to build on its current roster rather than attempt a teardown. Drafting potential all-world tight end Kyle Pitts at No. 4 set up the tantalizing possibility of Ryan having Pitts, Jones, and Calvin Ridley as targets, with Smith and offensive coordinator Dave Ragone queuing up a play-action-heavy scheme on the order of what Kyle Shanahan did as offensive coordinator in 2016, when Ryan was the league MVP and dang near won the Super Bowl.Sounds great! Ah, but there's way more to consider.The Falcons' cap constraintsEven after all those cap gymnastics - which also included getting edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr. to accept a pay cut - the Falcons still find themselves cap-strapped. According to NFLPA records, Atlanta has just $358,694 in available room, which isn't enough to sign its draft class. Obviously, this a problem.The Falcons have a league-high 38.1% of their cap tied up in what Over The Cap categorizes as the elite tier (or top 32) of commitments. To be more specific, nearly $71 million in cap resources is slated to go to Ryan, Jones, and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett this year. Had there been no pandemic, this wouldn't be an issue, since the cap would presumably be much higher. But here we are. Also, the Falcons made no effort this offseason to restructure Jones' and Jarrett's deals. That is a bit of a tell. But the Falcons now have better depth at receiver than they do on the defensive line, which might explain why Jones is being dangled.Jones' contractUnlike Jarrett, who is signed through 2022 with nothing guaranteed beyond this season, Jones is under contract through 2023. Per Over the Cap, he's slated to count for $23.05 million against the cap this year and $19.263 million in both 2022 and 2023. But the figure to keep in mind here is the $23.25 million in dead money Atlanta would have to eat by trading him. And that brings us to the important date of June 1, which happens to be next Tuesday.Trading Jones after June 1 would permit the Falcons to spread that dead-money hit across two seasons. As Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap wrote, a post-June 1 trade would allow Jones' 2021 cap hit to fall to $7.75 million - the equivalent of his 2021 bonus proration - with the remaining $15.5 million in dead money hitting the books in 2022. That's a savings of $15.3 million in 2021, which would give the Falcons some breathing room. Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesThe structure of Jones' deal is also palatable for potential trade partners. He's owed a fully guaranteed $15.3 million in salary in 2021 but just $11.513 million in both 2022 and 2023. That's a three-year average of $12.7 million, which would rank just 20th among all wide receivers in average annual value, according to Over The Cap's database. Additionally, the only thing guaranteed to Jones after 2021 is $2 million of his 2022 salary. A trade partner could therefore add Jones at a reasonable price for up to three years with virtually nothing tying its hands financially after 2021 if Jones' performance were to crater.Here are six potential trade suitors, but it's worth noting that as many as 12 teams, per NFLPA records, have at least $13 million in cap space. That would allow them to absorb Jones' $15.3-million salary either completely or with some slight alterations to the balance sheet.What Jones has leftJones hasn't lost much time across his 10-year career. A broken foot limited him to five games played in 2013, and he was out for a total of four games from 2014-19. But last season, he missed seven games with a hamstring injury. And he's now 32.Jones' age is a concern, but it's not a cause for alarm. He caught at least 70 passes in seven of his 10 seasons, and there's nothing to suggest he can't do that again: Per Stathead, a receiver has caught 70 or more passes at age 32 or later 95 times in NFL history - and a number of wideouts did it more than once.Many of those receivers are in the Hall of Fame. Jones is certainly on that trajectory.Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer suggested that because Jones has had to manage the effects of a broken foot dating back to before he was drafted, he could extend his career by settling into more of a slot-type role, as Fitzgerald has done. I dug into the data, and it checks out. In 2015, which was Fitzgerald's age-32 season, he was still seeing the majority of his targets while lining up outside, according to PFF. Since then, Fitzgerald has operated increasingly out of the slot:Between the ages of 32 and 34, Fitzgerald caught 109, a league-leading 107, and 109 passes. Barring injuries, Jones can still be highly productive.Trade returnESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday that the Falcons have been demanding a first-round pick in exchange for Jones. But his age and that limited pool of potential destinations seems to be hurting his trade value. Breer thinks Atlanta would be willing to move Jones for a second-rounder.Atlanta could also decide to keep Jones and let him wing it with Ryan, Pitts, and Ridley for at least a season. Jones' contract would be even easier to move next year, when all that's left on it will be two years and $23.03 million, with just $2 million in guarantees. But did Jones foreclose on that option with his comments to Shannon Sharpe? We'll find out soon enough.Dom Cosentino is a senior features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The PGA Tour announced Wednesday the 2021 edition of "The Match," and this year's event involves two NFL superstar quarterbacks.Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady will take on Bryson DeChambeau and Aaron Rodgers on July 6.More to come.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams' aggressive offseason has players on the team thinking Lombardi Trophy.Los Angeles traded for quarterback Matthew Stafford, signed speedy wideout DeSean Jackson, and drafted receiver Tutu Atwell to reinforce an already star-studded roster."Whatever weapons (the team adds) - running backs, receivers, quarterbacks - we've got a team goal, we're trying to win a Super Bowl," Rams receiver Robert Woods said, according to Kevin Modesti of the Los Angeles Daily News."We've got a loaded team. We're bringing in receivers (who) bring explosiveness to our offense."The additions to the offense became a necessity after the Rams dropped from No. 1 in the league in points scored in 2017 to 22nd last season.L.A. also owned the league's No. 1-ranked defense, and with many of those defensive pieces still in-house, the Rams will be expecting to improve on last season's divisional-round exit."I'm still trying to figure out what it will look like," Woods said of the offense. "But it's exciting to see all the pieces."If the Rams do reach Super Bowl LVI, they'll become the second team in as many seasons to play the game in their home stadium.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Along with disgruntled quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers were missing their top five wide receivers Tuesday at organized team activities, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Allen Lazard, Devin Funchess, and Equanimeous St. Brown were reportedly all absent. Team activities up until June minicamp are optional, though most other players were in attendance.Packers head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters he had no reason to believe the five wideouts coordinated their absences."I've had individual conversations with each guy, but never once has that come up," LaFleur said, according to Steve Megargee of The Associated Press.Third-round draftee Amari Rodgers was the only present wideout who has a realistic chance at earning a meaningful role on the offense in 2021. Jordan Love, the quarterback Green Bay traded up to draft in the first round in 2020, led the unit in Aaron Rodgers' absence.The reigning MVP shed light on his feud with Packers management Monday night after failing to join his teammates for the beginning of OTAs."It's just kind of about a philosophy and maybe forgetting that it is about the people that make the thing go," Rodgers said. "It's about character, it's about culture, it's about doing things the right way."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.