theScore goes division by division to identify the biggest need for every NFC team entering free agency, which opens March 17 at 4 p.m. ET. The legal tampering period begins two days prior.AFC I NFCNFC NorthChicago Bears Stephen Maturen / Getty Images Sport / GettyBiggest needs: QB, WR, GMitchell Trubisky is a free agent and unlikely to return to Chicago, while Nick Foles should be nothing more than the backup. The Bears are prime candidates to trade up in the draft but they'll also need to explore free-agent and trade options at quarterback. Chicago would be crazy to allow Allen Robinson out of the building. If the team does, though, it should splash the cash to acquire one of the top names in a strong receiver class.Top potential FA targets: Jameis Winston, Kenny Golladay, Joe ThuneyDetroit LionsBiggest needs: LB, EDGE, WRThe Achilles' heel of the Lions' defense has long been at linebacker, with the group's lack of speed being a particular issue. Detroit should make multiple high-profile signings to reinforce the position. Pass-rusher and wide receiver also need to be addressed even if the Lions find a way to keep both defensive end Romeo Okwara and wide receiver Kenny Golladay. The latter is a prime candidate for the franchise tag.Top potential FA targets: Lavonte David, Ryan Kerrigan, Tyrell WilliamsGreen Bay PackersBiggest needs: CB, LB, WRWith Kevin King set for free agency, the Packers should look to sign an experienced veteran who can solidify the No. 2 cornerback spot. Green Bay cut Christian Kirksey as a cap casualty, creating a hole in the center of the defense. The linebacking group, which was routinely burned in coverage last season, needs even more athleticism now. While Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling had solid seasons, the Packers should explore wideout upgrades to keep Aaron Rodgers happy.Top potential FA targets: Patrick Peterson, K.J. Wright, Corey DavisMinnesota VikingsBiggest needs: EDGE, G, DTThe Vikings are currently 25th in projected cap space, so they'll likely have to make modest free-agent signings. Their pass rush dropped off a cliff after Danielle Hunter suffered an injury, so they should focus on adding a complementary defensive end. A veteran target to better protect Kirk Cousins is also a must as the guard position, particularly Dakota Dozier, was a glaring weakness.Top potential FA targets: Trey Hendrickson, Kelechi Osemele, Kawann ShortNFC EastDallas Cowboys Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyBiggest needs: CB, DT, STrevon Diggs put together a solid rookie season, but the Cowboys could be short of cornerbacks if Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis, and C.J. Goodwin all leave in free agency. Dallas needs to find both outside and slot options. The defensive tackle position must also be addressed if the Cowboys are to avoid being run on at will like last season.Top potential FA targets: Troy Hill, Dalvin Tomlinson, Justin SimmonsNew York GiantsBiggest needs: WR, EDGE, CBNew York needs to improve its pass-catching group to find out if Daniel Jones is the long-term answer. Landing a No. 1 target would allow Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard to move into more suitable supporting roles. Pass-rusher and cornerback are the most pressing holes on defense.Top potential FA targets: Allen Robinson, Haason Reddick, Kevin KingPhiladelphia EaglesBiggest needs: WR, CB, LBDeSean Jackson is gone and Alshon Jeffery will soon follow, leaving a gaping hole in the Eagles' receiving corps. Jalen Reagor was poor as a rookie, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside is barely holding onto his spot, and Greg Ward and Travis Fulgham are best-suited as depth. The cap-strapped Eagles should target a middle-tier option. Elsewhere, Philadelphia has to find a reliable No. 2 cornerback opposite Darius Slay.Top potential FA targets: T.Y Hilton, Shaquill Griffin, Anthony WalkerWashington Football TeamBiggest needs: QB, WR, LBAlex Smith is likely to be a cap casualty despite being an inspiring story in 2020. And while Taylor Heinicke impressed in the playoffs, he's best-suited for a backup role. Washington will likely aim to take a quarterback high in the draft, but it should look to add an experienced veteran in free agency. However, whoever's under center for Washington will need another pass-catcher to draw attention away from Terry McLaurin.Top potential FA targets: Cam Newton, Curtis Samuel, Jayon BrownNFC SouthAtlanta FalconsBiggest needs: EDGE, CB, RBThe Falcons have swung and missed with pass-rushers Vic Beasley and Takk McKinley in the draft. With a win-now mentality and a weak incoming rookie class, it's time to target a free-agent option. While A.J. Terrell flashed potential during an up-and-down debut season, more help at cornerback is needed to improve last season's worst-ranked pass defense. Offensively, Atlanta has to prioritize replacing Todd Gurley as running back is a key component of new head coach Arthur Smith's attack.Top potential FA targets: Melvin Ingram, Troy Hill, Marlon MackCarolina PanthersBiggest needs: TE, LB, LTIan Thomas led the Panthers' tight ends with 145 yards last season. Carolina has talent at the other skill positions but the team needs to find a game-changer at tight end to diversify its attack. The Panthers are still feeling the loss of Luke Kuechly, with Shaq Thompson failing to step up in 2020. While right tackle Taylor Moton will likely be re-signed or hit with the franchise tag, left tackle Russell Okung is probably leaving and will need replacing.Top potential FA targets: Jonnu Smith, Matt Milano, Cam RobinsonNew Orleans SaintsBiggest needs: QB, DE, WRDrew Brees is expected to retire, leaving the Saints with uncertainty at quarterback for the first time in 15 years. With New Orleans unlikely to be able to draft a Day 1-ready signal-caller, the team will need to bring in competition for Taysom Hill. Trey Hendrickson will likely be too expensive for the Saints to retain, so getting pass-rush help should be a priority.Top potential FA targets: Jameis Winston, Tyus Bowser, Nelson AgholorTampa Bay BuccaneersBiggest needs: DL, RB, CBTampa Bay's focus should be on retaining its handful of vital free agents, including Lavonte David, Shaq Barrett, and Chris Godwin. Assuming those three are brought back, the Bucs' biggest need will be the defensive line, as Ndamukong Suh, Steve McLendon, and Rakeem Nunez-Roches are all set to hit the open market. Ronald Jones proved he can be a solid starter in 2020, but he isn't the reliable pass-catcher Brady covets at the position. Therefore, depth is needed with Leonard Fournette and LeSean McCoy heading for free agency.Top potential FA targets: Henry Anderson, James White, A.J. BouyeNFC WestArizona Cardinals Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / GettyBiggest needs: CB, WR, DLWith Patrick Peterson, Dre Kirkpatrick, and Johnathan Joseph set to hit the open market, Arizona needs to find multiple starting cornerbacks. The Cardinals could re-sign Peterson but the position should still be their top priority. Though acquiring DeAndre Hopkins was one of Arizona's best moves last offseason, the team still needs to bolster the group behind its star to help Kyler Murray progress. Larry Fitzgerald is likely to retire, while Andy Isabella hasn't shown enough to be trusted as the No. 2 option.Top potential FA targets: Desmond King, Corey Davis, Shelby HarrisLos Angeles RamsBiggest needs: C, WR, EDGEThe Rams filled their biggest need by trading for Matthew Stafford. But the quarterback will need reinforcements if the gamble is to pay immediate dividends. Center Austin Blythe is a free agent, so L.A. must re-sign him or target an upgrade to avoid a gaping hole in the middle of the line. While the Rams have two quality starting wide receivers, Josh Reynolds is a free agent. The unit needs speed and depth to help ease Stafford's transition into Sean McVay's scheme.Top potential FA targets: Alex Mack, Marvin Jones, Romeo OkwaraSan Francisco 49ersBiggest needs: CB, OL, EDGERichard Sherman doesn't expect to return to San Francisco and Jason Verrett is also a free agent, so the team's top priority is restocking the cornerback position. The offensive line will become less of a concern if the 49ers can re-sign left tackle Trent Williams, but the unit could still be improved at the center and right guard spots. With Dee Ford's return uncertain due to a back injury, San Francisco needs to find pass-rush support to ease the pressure off Nick Bosa.Top potential FA targets: Quinton Dunbar Bud Dupree, Kelechi OsemeleSeattle SeahawksBiggest needs: OL, CB, RBRussell Wilson's message to the Seahawks with his recent public comments is clear: Improve the protection or things could get ugly. It won't be easy, though. Seattle needs to find a long-term successor to Duane Brown as well as replacements for free-agent center Ethan Pocic and recently retired guard Mike Iupati. Defensively, Seattle will probably need to invest in a cornerback with Shaquill Griffin likely to leave in free agency.Top potential FA targets: Corey Linsley, Chidobe Awuzie, Mike DavisCopyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. 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Signs continue to point to the New Orleans Saints choosing Jameis Winston as Drew Brees' successor at starting quarterback whenever the future Hall of Famer hangs up his cleats.The latest indication came from New Orleans defensive end Cameron Jordan. Speaking on the "Great Dane Nation" podcast with former Saints kicker Morten Andersen, Jordan was asked who will be under center if Brees decides to retire."Jameis Winston up next I believe is what (head coach) Sean Payton said," Jordan explained.Winston is scheduled to become a free agent in March. He signed with the Saints on a one-year, $1.1-million deal prior to the 2020 season and then spent the campaign backing up Brees and Taysom Hill. When Brees missed multiple weeks with rib fractures, the Saints turned to Hill rather than Winston.Hill remains under contract for $16 million in 2021. Nonetheless, Jordan is adamant that Winston would be the choice."Sean wouldn't say he's fighting for Jameis to be back if our goal was to have Taysom, but that's, again, rare instances where it's beyond my pay grade," he said.Jordan's comments back up a statement that Payton made on "Good Morning Football" in early February, suggesting the Saints' plans going forward include Winston."We had great exposure for one year with Jameis Winston. We didn't have a normal offseason, but we had enough time to see what we have with him as a player, as a leader, as an athlete. I really like what we had a chance to see. He was a tremendous leader for this team," Payton said.Payton added, "He is a free agent, but him along with Taysom Hill, who's in the building, we've said it all along, we're going to develop and coach those guys, and Jameis is one of those guys that we have a big interest in."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite speculation the San Francisco 49ers could move on from Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason, general manager John Lynch is confident the quarterback will be under center for his team to begin the 2021 campaign.Lynch didn't hesitate when asked if he doubts a healthy Garoppolo will be San Francisco's starter in September."No. Not at all. I really believe that," Lynch said recently, according to Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk.Garoppolo has posted a 24-9 record (playoffs included) as a starter since joining the 49ers in 2017. He's completed 67.5% of his pass attempts for 3,795 yards and 24 touchdowns against 13 interceptions per 16 regular-season games in San Francisco.However, the 29-year-old has missed 23 contests due to multiple injuries over the last three seasons, including 10 matchups in 2020."Being available is a big part of this thing," Lynch added. "So we - probably as a stated goal - we have to insulate ourselves better. We've got to have better options if he's not there."I've watched people go through this in their careers where they struggled early. It happened to me early, and then I went eight years without missing a practice. So I believe things can happen, and I believe they will for him. I really believe that Jimmy is our guy."Garoppolo's average annual salary of $27.5 million ranks 11th in the NFL at his position, according to Spotrac. The signal-caller's five-year, $137.5-million extension signed in 2018 has generated criticism in recent years, but head coach Kyle Shanahan believes "that's how much (quarterbacks) cost."C.J. Beathard and Nick Mullens, the two other passers who were on the 49ers' depth chart last year, are unrestricted and restricted free agents this offseason, respectively.Mullens completed 64.7% of his pass attempts for 12 touchdowns to 12 interceptions while posting a 2-6 record over 10 appearances in 2020. Beathard, meanwhile, played in six games (two starts), and he threw six TD passes.After reaching Super Bowl LIV two seasons ago, injuries plagued a 6-10 San Francisco team in 2020 en route to missing the playoffs.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

JuJu Smith-Schuster is hoping to re-sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers in three weeks when he hits free agency for the first time."At the end of the day, I want to have my legacy in Pittsburgh and retire there," the wide receiver told TMZ Sports. "I don't want to leave."Smith-Schuster faces an uncertain future with the Steelers, who may not have the salary-cap space to match other potential offers. Pittsburgh has stockpiled young talent at wide receiver in recent years, potentially making Smith-Schuster expendable.The 24-year-old posted 831 yards and nine touchdowns through the air last season and has gone over 800 yards receiving in three of his four NFL campaigns. The Steelers voted him team MVP in 2018 after he led the club with 1,426 receiving yards.Free agents can begin negotiating with teams March 15, two days before the market officially opens.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith has authored a remarkable comeback story over the past two years, but a severe leg injury wasn't his only obstacle. He also had to prove his own team wrong.Smith believes Washington didn't expect him to play again, and the 2020 Comeback Player of the Year doesn't think the team wanted him back."There was a very small group of people that actually thought that I could do this. ... When I decided to come back, I definitely threw a wrench in the team's plan," Smith said, according to Clay Skipper of GQ Magazine. "They didn't see it, didn't want me there, didn't want me to be a part of it, didn't want me to be on the team, the roster, didn't want to give me a chance."Mind you, it was a whole new regime; they came in, I'm like the leftovers, and I'm hurt, and I'm this liability ... At that point, as you can imagine, everything I'd been through, I couldn't have cared less about all that."Smith broke his leg during a game against the Houston Texans in November 2018, then battled a life-threatening infection in his surgically repaired right leg. He was sidelined for the entire 2019 campaign.During Smith's rehab, Washington welcomed a new coaching staff headlined by head coach Ron Rivera. Rivera named Kyle Allen as Washington's starter for the first portion of the season after previously coaching him for two seasons with the Carolina Panthers."They tried to put me on (the physically unable to perform list) for two weeks, then they tried to high-arm me," Smith said. "I felt like I still hadn't had my fair shake at that point. I wanted to see if I could play quarterback and play football, and I feel like I hadn't been given that opportunity yet to find that out. ... I'm thankful we worked through all that stuff, but no, it wasn't like open arms coming back after two years."Smith returned to the field in Week 5 last season, replacing an injured Allen. He earned his first start in Week 10 against the Detroit Lions.The 36-year-old made four more consecutive starts before suffering a calf injury that sidelined him for two games. He was able to play in a must-win Week 17 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles to help Washington reach the playoffs for the first time since the 2015 season, but he missed the team's wild-card loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to the same calf ailment.Smith posted a 5-1 record as a starter in 2020. The three-time Pro Bowler completed 66.7% of his pass attempts for 1,582 yards and six touchdowns against eight interceptions through eight appearances.Though Smith has two years left on his contract, his future with Washington is uncertain. The team will save $13.6 million against the salary cap if it moves Smith this offseason, according to Spotrac.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht believes the team could secure the services of Tom Brady beyond 2021.The 43-year-old quarterback signed a two-year deal with the NFC South club last offseason after leaving the New England Patriots.After Brady talked about possibly playing beyond age 45 prior to Tampa Bay's Super Bowl win over the Kansas City Chiefs, Licht hopes their partnership will continue."That's a possibility," Licht told "The Rich Eisen Show" about Brady signing an extension. "He certainly didn't look like he slowed down any this year. So, that's a possibility. We'll have to see how that goes.""I talk to Tom often," he added. "Probably keep that under wraps right now. It appears that he really had a good time this year winning the Super Bowl. Likes our organization, likes our coaches, likes our head coach, and ownership. And we certainly love him. Usually, when you have those things going for each other, it's a match made in happen, so we'd like to keep this going."Bucs head coach Bruce Arians also suggested before the Super Bowl that Brady could ink a new deal after enjoying his first season outside of New England."I think Tom's real happy with where he's at, and I wouldn't be surprised," said Arians.Brady rebounded from a poor final season with the Patriots to throw for the second-most touchdowns of his career (40) and the league's third-most passing yards (4,633).Many of Tampa Bay's key players are set to become free agents this offseason, including wide receiver Chris Godwin, linebacker Lavonte David, and pass-rusher Shaq Barrett.Brady's $28.4-million cap hit in 2021 is by far the team's largest, according to Spotrac.The Buccaneers could suggest an extension this offseason to help lower the quarterback's cap number, and then use the extra space to retain the club's championship core.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite general manager Kevin Colbert recently hinting at a possible split with Ben Roethlisberger, it appears the Pittsburgh Steelers plan to retain the quarterback after all.Roethlisberger's agent Ryan Tollner told NFL Networks' Aditi Kinkhabwala Tuesday that the two sides will be meeting to finalize the veteran's 2021 salary."(The Steelers) want Ben back and will contact me soon to address his cap situation," Tollner told Kinkhabwala. "As we've shared since the season ended, we are happy to creatively adjust his contract to help them build the best team possible."A year ago, Ben wasn't sure if he could throw again, but he battled back to get 12 wins and the eighth division title of his career. They lost steam down the stretch, and that doesn't sit well for him, so the fire burns strong, and there is plenty of gas in the tank."Steelers president Art Rooney II issued a statement Wednesday confirming the team wants Roethlisberger to return."Ben Roethlisberger and I met yesterday morning, and we had a productive meeting," read the statement. "We were able to discuss a lot of things that relate to where we are and where we want to go. Ben assured me that he is committed to coming back to help us win, and I told Ben that we would like to have him back to help us win a championship."We both understand that the next step is to work out Ben's contract situation."Big Ben's payout would cost Pittsburgh $41.25 million against the cap without a restructure, representing the highest charge of any player in the NFL. He's also due a $15-million roster bonus on March 19, the third day of the new league year.The 38-year-old saw his play diminish as the 2020 season progressed, though he tossed 33 touchdowns against 10 interceptions across 15 starts.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dez Bryant believes he still has some football left in him.The receiver took to Twitter on Tuesday and announced that he wants to play two more seasons before hanging up his cleats.

The Washington Football Team will apparently hold only their name for one more season.Washington teased its decision to not choose the organization's new name until 2022 by launching a new team-created website, WashingtonJourney.com, on Tuesday."We've transitioned from our old name," said the club on the site's front page. "Now it's time to write a new legacy. The future of Washington Football arrives in 2022."The site includes a timeline that walks fans through the name-change process. The franchise is also asking for fans to get involved, with a place on the site to submit their own ideas for the next team name and logo.Among the current submissions displayed are the Washington Memorials, Washington Phoenix, and Washington Justice.In October, Washington team president Jason Wright said the lengthy process that comes with an NFL team rebrand meant it was unlikely to happen in time for the 2021 season.Wright also speculated in November that the NFC East team could possibly keep the Football Team brand."I don't think anything is off the table," said Wright.Washington retired the controversial Redskins name before the 2020 campaign amid pressure from many of its marquee sponsors.The club is expected to keep its burgundy and gold color scheme regardless of its ultimate decision.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chris Godwin wants to stay with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he's aiming to land a long-term deal."I want to be here," Godwin, who's scheduled to become a free agent in March, said on "The Pat McAfee Show" Tuesday. "I love the guys on the team, I think we have something special. But at the same time, you got to consider all the possibilities and doing what's best for you and your family."The 24-year-old receiver is a franchise-tag candidate, but he's hoping that can be avoided.“An extension would be ideal. I want to be in Tampa, but I want to get paid, too," he added, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.While Godwin desires to be paid in line with his value, he isn't planning on prioritizing money over winning."The goal obviously is to get paid right, but I'm not stupid. I'm not going to put myself in a situation where I'm going to be miserable for some years to come just for a couple extra dollars," he noted.Godwin has been a vital part of Tampa Bay's offense in recent years, recording 3,540 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns since becoming a third-round selection in 2017.The Buccaneers will need to deal with a handful of other key free agents, including Shaquil Barrett, Rob Gronkowski, Lavonte David, and Ndamukong Suh.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The window for NFL teams to assign the franchise and transition tags begins Feb. 23 and ends at 3:59 p.m. ET on March 9.It might be a particularly interesting period, as tag values are projected to decrease in 2021 while the NFL continues to mitigate financial losses from the COVID-19 pandemic. Tag-and-trade scenarios could be more likely given the salary-cap decrease, too.The franchise tag restricts a player's rights in free agency, and their team offers them a one-year contract worth no less than the average of the top five salaries at their position. The player can sign the tender any time and then get roughly four months to negotiate a multi-year extension. They're not obligated to fulfill any team duties until inking the tender.Meanwhile, the transition tag allows a player to test free agency while his incumbent team gets the right to match any offer. It's a one-year contract worth the average of the top-10 salaries at the player's position.Candidates to get 2nd straight tag Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / GettyDak Prescott, QB, Cowboys

After being ridiculed for his viral press conference last month, new Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell isn't backing away from how he's being perceived by critics."I said this to (special assistant to the owner) Chris (Spielman) the other day, I was like, 'I love the fact we're only known as meatheads," Campbell said, according to Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. "I like (that people think) that. I'm good with that, you know what I mean? I have zero problem with it."Campbell vowed during his introductory press conference that the Lions would kick their opponents in the teeth and "bite a kneecap off."Afterward, USA Today's Mike Freeman labeled Campbell a "football guy" and a "meathead." Freeman also criticized Detroit's hiring of Campbell due to the 44-year-old's relative lack of coaching credentials.However, Campbell, who has 11 years of NFL coaching experience, said his message that day was only for a specific audience."That whole press conference was literally for our team and our fans and community and people that want the Lions to succeed," Campbell said. "I didn't care about outside voices."Campbell, who played with the Lions for three seasons, said he believes he's a reflection of Detroit, and that he used the viral moment as a way to connect with frustrated Lions fans and the city overall."I want to be part of the solution. I want our fans to understand that I get it," Campbell said.But regardless of his infamous comments, Campbell faces a significant task in turning the Lions around. The franchise finished 5-11 last season and hasn't posted a winning record since 2017.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears the relationship between the Tennessee Titans and 2020 first-round pick Isaiah Wilson is coming to an end.After a tumultuous season in which Wilson saw just three snaps, was suspended for violating team rules, and arrested for DUI, Wilson posted - then deleted - the following tweet Monday night: Tennessee selected Wilson 29th overall in April's draft. He would've been a welcome addition at tackle as the team lost left tackle Taylor Lewan to a torn ACL in October while Lewan's replacement, Ty Sambrailo, was put on injured reserve in late November.Titans general manager Jon Robinson said last week that it's up to Wilson to determine whether "he wants to do everything necessary to play pro football."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Veteran linebacker K.J. Wright chuckled Monday before shooting down the notion he could take a discount in free agency to stay with the Seattle Seahawks."I do way too much on the football field to take a discount, it makes absolutely no sense," he told Jim Rome of CBS Sports Network. "Like if you want to win all these championships and look good on Sundays, you've got to compensate your guys that are making plays."Wright has spent his entire 10-year career in Seattle, where he and Bobby Wagner have given the Seahawks a formidable tandem at linebacker. He tested the market for the first time in 2019 but ultimately returned to Seattle on a two-year, $14-million contract.The 31-year-old said it would be a dream to finish his career in the Pacific Northwest but acknowledged the Seahawks may need to free up money to keep him."I have a family, and I'm trying to set up long, long-term success for my family," he said.Wright posted 86 tackles, including 12 behind the line of scrimmage, and broke up 10 passes last year, ranking second on the Seahawks in both categories. He's one of the few remaining members of Seattle's Super Bowl XLVIII team.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin tested positive for COVID-19, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Tomlin took to Twitter to thank those who showed concern for his well-being.

The Philadelphia Eagles will release veteran receiver Alshon Jeffery after the new league year begins on March 17, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.The 31-year-old spent the past four seasons in Philadelphia and won a Super Bowl with the team in 2017.The Eagles will look to a younger receiver core in the 2021 season after officially releasing wideout DeSean Jackson on Monday and Jeffery's impending departure.Jeffery initially signed with the Eagles in 2017 on a one-year, $9.5-million deal and inked a four-year, $52-million extension months before helping the franchise capture its first Lombardi Trophy. The wideout was instrumental in that postseason run, catching 12 balls for 219 yards and three touchdowns, including a score in the 41-33 Super Bowl LIII victory over the New England Patriots.Injuries have hampered Jeffrey in the past two seasons, appearing in 17 games. He saw action in seven contests in 2020 and caught just six passes and one touchdown.Jeffery has been the subject of trade speculation over the past two seasons. There were rumors he had a strained relationship with quarterback Carson Wentz, which the signal-caller denied.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Lions may be poised to use the franchise tag to keep wide receiver Kenny Golladay off the open market.Golladay is a "strong franchise tag candidate," reported NFL Network's Ian Rapoport on "NFL NOW" Monday. The window opens Tuesday to use the one-year tender."I know they had talks last year about a long-term extension" said Rapoport. "Did not happen. Going to try again this year. But expect him to be tagged if they don't get a deal."The wideout is coming off an injury-shortened campaign. He caught 20 passes for 338 yards and two touchdowns in five games.But Golladay produced back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons prior to 2020, and the veteran would be among the most sought-after free agents if he avoids the tag.While the Lions appear ready for a rebuild after trading quarterback Matthew Stafford following head coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn's firings, the team is likely motivated to keep Golladay to help new starter Jared Goff.Marvin Jones and Danny Amendola led the Lions' passing attack in Golladay's absence, but both are also pending free agents.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots have discussed every potential quarterback trade target, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports.The team has aggressively examined the market but have been put off by high asking prices, Howe adds.The club reached out to the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles regarding Matthew Stafford and Carson Wentz, respectively, but weren't considered prime suitors for the now-traded quarterbacks. Stafford reportedly told the Lions he would be accepting of a trade to any team but the Patriots.New England hasn't ruled out the possibility of bringing back Cam Newton, who is scheduled to be a free agent, Howe notes.Newton, who completed his first season in New England, also expressed interest in a return."Yes. Hell yes. I'm getting tired of changing. I'm at the point in my career where I know way more than I knew last year," Newton said on the "I Am An Athlete" podcast, according to Chris Mason of Mass Live.The 31-year-old signal-caller was signed to a one-year deal during last year's offseason as the team searched for a replacement for Tom Brady. The former Carolina Panthers quarterback struggled with an offense that finished 27th in scoring. Newton completed 65.8% of his passes, tossing eight touchdowns to 10 interceptions with 12 rushing scores.The Patriots finished 7-9 last season, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets plan to complete their evaluations of the top quarterbacks in the 2021 NFL Draft before deciding on Sam Darnold's future with the team, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Multiple teams reportedly expressed recent interest in trading for Darnold.The 23-year-old is coming off a poor campaign with New York, and the club changed its entire coaching staff for the 2021 season.New head coach Robert Saleh, who was hired in January to replace Adam Gase, said "a lot of things" need to be done in order to evaluate the Jets' roster.Darnold recorded a career-low 72.7 passer rating through 12 starts in 2020. The 2018 third overall pick has completed 59.8% of his pass attempts, averaging 213.1 yards per game with 45 career touchdowns and 39 interceptions. He's posted a 13-25 record as a starter.Darnold has one year and roughly $9.8 million remaining on his rookie contract. A team trading for him now could also pick up the fifth-year option on his deal, which would cost about $25 million guaranteed for 2022.The Jets own the second overall pick in this year's draft.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carson Wentz will be sporting a different jersey number when he debuts with the Indianapolis Colts.The new Colts quarterback won't be wearing No. 11, as wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. doesn't plan to give it up."I am number 11," Pittman told TMZ Sports. "I don't think there's any deal that is gonna be done."The 23-year-old says there are no hard feelings between the two, and Wentz is on board with his decision."Yeah, so I spoke to (Wentz) and he was just seeing how locked in I was to No. 11, and I told him I was locked in and he was like, 'That’s cool, bro, because I’m probably gonna switch anyway,'" Pittman noted.Wentz has worn No. 11 since his college days at North Dakota State."He asked me very respectfully and I just appreciated him for that," Pittman added. "I think he’s a great dude, because lots of guys with his status, they would come in and demand and stuff like that."He’s just a super chill guy and I can't wait to get with him and start throwing and stuff," he continued.Indianapolis acquired Wentz from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a third-round pick and a conditional 2022 second-round pick.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cam Newton believes he's still a starting-caliber quarterback in the NFL.Despite a disappointing 2020 season with the New England Patriots, Newton isn't considering retirement."Hell no! I can't go out like that," Newton said on an episode of the "I Am Athlete" podcast, which will air Monday, according to Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald. "I hear all of that talk. My pride won't allow me to do it."In his first season in a Patriots uniform, Newton threw for eight touchdowns against 10 interceptions and New England finished with its first losing season since 2000. The 32-year-old is scheduled to become a free agent in March and may find it difficult to land another starting job."There aren't 32 guys better than me," Newton declared.Newton admitted he had little choice but to accept the Patriots' one-year, $1.75-million contract in his last go-around in free agency."Let's keep it honest, what other options did I have?" he said. "I intimidate a lot of people. I intimidated the franchise I was at (the Carolina Panthers). People look at me and assume things about me. But I'm from Atlanta, you put me anywhere, and I'm going to figure it out."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Mahomes and his fiancee, Brittany Matthews, are proud new parents.

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman thinks Washington Football Team receiver Terry McLaurin is just scratching the surface of his potential.Sherman believes the wideout can take his game to another level if Washington adds a secondary receiving threat to take attention away from McLaurin."If he had anybody else beside him and they couldn't just double him and cloud him all the time, he'd be special," Sherman said on "The Cris Collinsworth Podcast," according to Zach Brook of 106.7 The Fan. "But that's the hard thing; they can't find anybody else."Sherman added: "He's one of the better up-and-coming wideouts in the league."McLaurin, 25, has put up 2,037 yards over two NFL seasons, including 1,118 yards in 2020. But other Washington receivers have struggled to post similar numbers. Cam Sims ranked fourth on the team with 477 receiving yards in 2020, but tight end Logan Thomas (670) and running back J.D. McKissic (589) both outproduced him.Washington also dealt with issues under center last season, with four quarterbacks making appearances throughout the campaign.McLaurin ranks third in receiving yards among all receivers drafted in 2019, trailing only DK Metcalf of the Seattle Seahawks and A.J. Brown of the Tennessee Titans.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers have made significant cap-saving moves recently, and they now seemingly have one blockbuster target in mind.Carolina plans to make a strong run at acquiring Deshaun Watson if the Houston Texans grant his formal request to be traded, a source told ESPN's David Newton.The Texans, however, have continuously said they will not part ways with their star quarterback despite his demands."He is a Houston Texan. I want him to be a Houston Texan," new head coach David Culley said at his introductory presser in January. "The reason I'm in this position today is because I know he's going to be a Houston Texan."The Panthers improved their cap space from $8.5 million to $28.48 million after releasing defensive tackle Kawann Short on Wednesday and defensive end Stephen Weatherly, safety Tre Boston, and punter Michael Palardy on Friday.The cap-saving measures give Carolina the ability to take on Watson's $15.94-million hit in 2021 and would better position the club to work around his $40.4-million number in 2022.Carolina also needs to re-sign impending free-agent right tackle Taylor Moton and could need to use the $13.6-million franchise tag if a long-term deal isn't agreed upon before the league's new year begins.The NFC South club has already made clear its desire to upgrade at quarterback with a pursuit of Matthew Stafford prior to his trade to the Los Angeles Rams. Carolina reportedly offered the Detroit Lions the No. 8 pick, a fifth-rounder, and QB Teddy Bridgewater.Carolina would likely be among a host of teams interested in trading for Watson. The Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers, and New York Jets have been speculated as top destinations for the Pro Bowl signal-caller.Watson, who signed a four-year, $156-million extension in September, set career highs with 4,823 passing yards and 33 touchdowns this season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Longtime Los Angeles Chargers tight end Hunter Henry is set to become a free agent for the first time in his career.Though he's never experienced life on the open market, he has his priorities in order for an ideal destination."I want to play somewhere there's a good quarterback. That's huge for our position. It makes things a lot easier," Henry said Friday on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "Playing with a good quarterback always makes things better. You gotta look at both. You gotta look at some of the financial stuff, but not dive too deep into it that you go chasing it because I also want to play with a good quarterback."In his five seasons with the Bolts, Henry has caught the majority of his passes from Philip Rivers and Justin Herbert.With Herbert, Henry saw the most targets of his career and turned them into 60 receptions for 613 yards and four touchdowns. He formed a rapport with the Offensive Rookie of the Year and wouldn't be opposed to rejoining the Chargers."I've really enjoyed my time here, so I'm not going to ever rule that out, you know, with a young quarterback, me and Justin have formed a relationship," he said. "But I think I'm open to whatever, and I think I kind of have to, in a way, but I really enjoyed my time and if that continues, I'll be excited."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carson Wentz addressed the Eagles and the city of Philadelphia in a goodbye message he shared on Instagram Friday night. The farewell comes a day after the Eagles agreed to trade the quarterback to the Indianapolis Colts for a pair of draft picks.

Patriots versus Bulls. Brady versus Jordan. Who you got?Sixteen dynasties entered our bracket, and only Chicago and New England remain. Vote in the final until 4:59 p.m. ET on Saturday.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook turned in an impressive 2020 season, but the team was unable to match his level of success.Cook set career highs in rushing yards (1,557), rushing touchdowns (16), and yards per carry (5.0). The Vikings finished the year with a 7-9 record, good for third in the NFC North."Us starting the season, we didn't adjust to the new life of what today's society is," Cook said on "The Herd with Colin Cowherd." "If you look at the Vikings, some games we just didn't come out ready to play."Minnesota began its 2020 campaign with three consecutive losses before securing its first win in Week 4 over the Houston Texans. The Vikings climbed to .500 by Week 13 but picked up just one win in their final four contests."We just didn't get our groove, we just didn't get that continuity that we needed and we all got hurt," he added.The 25-year-old also believes the lack of fans at games contributed to the team's early season struggles.However, Cook saw some bright spots. He praised rookie receiver Justin Jefferson, who hauled in 88 catches for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns."I think JJ, his ceiling is so high," Cook said. "If he keeps being who he is and keeps working hard, I think he can be one of the best in the game."Meanwhile, Klint Kubiak is set to take over the offensive coordinator role next year with his father, Gary, retiring.Despite the up-and-down campaign, Cook believes the future is bright in the Twin Cities."I think this year coming up for us is going to be a big year for the Vikings," he said.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles released veteran wide receiver DeSean Jackson on Friday, the team announced.The move saves Philadelphia around $5 million in cap space.Jackson spent the last two seasons in Philadelphia but was limited to eight games combined because of injuries. The Eagles also cut him in 2014 after he played his first six campaigns for the franchise.The 34-year-old has been one of the NFL's best vertical threats throughout his 13-year career, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark five times. He's struggled with injuries, though, posting just two seasons in which he played all 16 games.Jackson suited up for the Washington Football Team and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in between his two stints with the Eagles.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Green Bay Packers have released veteran linebacker Christian Kirksey and tackle Rick Wagner, general manager Brian Gutekunst announced Friday.The moves free up more than $10 million in cap space, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. That leaves the Packers within roughly $10 million of reaching the projected salary-cap limit of $180 million.Both players were cut after just one season in Green Bay.Kirksey signed a two-year, $13-million deal in March after spending his first six seasons with the Cleveland Browns. In 11 games in green and gold, Kirksey racked up 73 tackles, two sacks, and two interceptions. He added six tackles in the Packers' two playoff games.Wagner inked a two-year, $11-million deal with Green Bay after stints with the Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens. He played in all 16 games last season but only started nine.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

General manager Steve Keim wants linebacker Chandler Jones to be a part of the Arizona Cardinals' future.Appearing on "The Doug & Wolf Show" Friday, Keim shut down the notion that his talented pass-rusher could potentially be a salary-cap cut this offseason."I'll reject that," Keim said, according to Cardinals reporter Darren Urban.Jones, 30, is set to enter the final year of his contract and has a $20.8-million cap hit in 2021. However, Arizona would save $15.5 million if it cut the veteran defender, per Over the Cap.Despite not intending to release him, Keim declined to say if there have been extension talks with Jones' agent, via team writer Kyle Odegard.The three-time Pro Bowler played in just five games last year after tearing his bicep in Week 5. Prior to 2020, Jones was coming off five straight seasons with at least 11 sacks.Haason Reddick emerged as the Cardinals' top pass-rusher in Jones' absence, but the former first-round pick will hit free agency when the new league year begins.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carson Wentz and Doug Pederson didn't talk for "weeks on end" during the 2020 season, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Friday on 97.5 The Fanatic's "The John Kincade Show."The former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and coach went "eight, nine, 10 weeks, whatever it may be" without speaking as their relationship deteriorated beyond repair, Schefter said.The Eagles reached an agreement Thursday to send Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts for a pair of draft picks. The quarterback's falling-out with Pederson, who was fired at the end of the season, contributed to his desire for a trade.Wentz and Pederson both arrived in Philadelphia in 2016. The two enjoyed success initially, as the Eagles won the Super Bowl in their second year together. Wentz was a prime candidate for the MVP award in his sophomore campaign before tearing his ACL late in the season.Wentz failed to recapture top form after recovering from the injury, but he remained a viable starter until his play nose-dived in 2020. Pederson supported him publicly for most of the season but eventually benched him for rookie Jalen Hurts in Week 12.Schefter also said he believes Indianapolis was the only team to make an offer for Wentz, who had been linked to both the Colts and Chicago Bears for weeks.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the 2020 NFL season officially complete, theScore's NFL editors re-evaluate the performance of each team's rookie class.NFC

The family of former NFL receiver Vincent Jackson has donated his brain to Boston University's CTE Center in hopes of learning more about his death, a family spokesperson told Ken Belson of The New York Times.Jackson was found dead Monday in a Florida hotel room. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said in a report Thursday that the cause of death is "pending further study." Jackson's family is striving to learn whether the 38-year-old suffered from chromatic traumatic encephalopathy."Vincent being who he was would have wanted to help as many people as possible," family spokesperson Allison Gorrell said. "It's something his family wanted to do to get answers to some of their questions."CTE is a degenerative brain disease that can only be diagnosed posthumously. The cause of the disease is often linked to repeated brain trauma. Jackson played 12 NFL seasons before retiring in 2018.Jackson might have died days before he was discovered in his hotel room, according to new information released by the Hillsborough County medical examiner, reports ESPN's Jenna Laine.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tennessee Titans confirmed their interest in free-agent pass-rusher J.J. Watt on Thursday.Titans head coach Mike Vrabel was asked during a fan Q&A about the potential of adding Watt, and said the team has discussed the star defensive lineman."When you go into free agency, there's a lot of things about player acquisition that go into it: what is best for your football team? Cost is also a part of it. The fit is a part of it, and then the need ... You mentioned J.J. Watt, and there will be other veteran players that become available that we'll have discussions on, and we have had discussions on J.J. Watt," Vrabel said, per Titans staff writer Jim Wyatt.The Titans are reported to be among at least a dozen teams that have shown interest in adding the three-time Defensive Player of the Year. Watt tweeted on Wednesday that free agency has been "wild" since he orchestrated his release from the Houston Texans.The Titans ranked third-last in sacks in 2020 with just 19 on the year. They attempted to shore up their pass rush by signing Jadeveon Clowney and Vic Beasley, but neither player recorded a sack."There's a lot of things that go into bringing in free agents, certainly ones that are past 30 (years old) or in the back half of their career," Vrabel said. "Those are all things that you wage and determine."Watt, 31, has 101 career sacks and registered five for the Texans in 2020.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles finally pulled the trigger Thursday by trading franchise quarterback Carson Wentz, sending him to the Indianapolis Colts for a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional second-round selection in 2022. Let's break it down.1. After weeks of trying to gin up a market for Wentz through the media with reports like this ...

Though the Eagles have reportedly agreed to trade Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts, Jalen Hurts won't automatically become Philadelphia's new starting quarterback.The Eagles intend to bring in another arm to compete for the job, ESPN's Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen report.The addition could come via free agency or the draft. Philly owns the sixth overall selection in April's draft and the 37th pick.Hurts was a shocking selection as the Eagles' second-rounder in last year's draft. However, after Wentz struggled mightily during the 2020 campaign, Hurts replaced him late in a Week 13 loss and drew starts in the final four games of the regular season.He finished his rookie year completing 52% of his passes for 1,061 yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions over eight games. He added three rushing touchdowns.Hurts is currently the only quarterback remaining on the Eagles' roster. Third-stringer Nate Sudfeld will be a free agent when the new league year begins in March.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Unprecedented quarterback movement could define the 2021 NFL offseason, and the second domino has fallen - shuffling the early Super Bowl odds as a result.The Colts reportedly acquired Carson Wentz from the Eagles on Thursday for a third-round pick and a second-rounder that could become a first-rounder if he plays 75% or more of the team's offensive snaps, or 70% and the club makes the playoffs. The move comes after 2020 Colts starter Philip Rivers announced his retirement a month ago.With Wentz as the team's presumptive new starting quarterback, Indianapolis' Super Bowl odds were adjusted from 25-1 to 17-1, according to Jay Rood, Bet.Works' chief risk officer and theScore Bet's head trader. Philadelphia remains at 60-1 to win it all after oddsmakers were anticipating a Wentz deal since the start of the offseason.The move sets up the Colts for a potential run at their first AFC South title since 2014, when Andrew Luck was in his third year with the team. With an elite defense and dangerous rushing attack leading the way, Indianapolis tied for the division lead with an 11-5 record in 2020.The weak link was Rivers, who finished 15th in PFF's passing grade among the 20 quarterbacks with at least 500 dropbacks. The only problem? Wentz finished dead last in that category, and in plenty of other metrics - including adjusted completion percentage (70.1%), ball-location accuracy (47%), and turnover-worthy plays (24).There's reason for optimism that Wentz can rebound in 2021 and subsequently justify the Colts' shortened title odds. The sixth-year quarterback was an MVP front-runner in 2017, when he threw for 3,296 yards and 33 touchdowns over 13 games with Indianapolis head coach Frank Reich as his offensive coordinator.Reich helped Wentz with some mechanical tweaks ahead of that 2017 campaign, and he could be the answer to fixing whatever ailed the signal-caller in 2020. If he does, the Colts might be a steal for those who bought early in the title market.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.

The Philadelphia Eagles agreed to trade quarterback Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional 2022 second-rounder that could turn into a first, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The conditional second-round selection in 2022 will become a first-rounder if Wentz plays 75% of the Colts' snaps this upcoming season or 70% and qualifies for the playoffs, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.Philadelphia initially looked for a trade package that rivaled the Detroit Lions' haul from the Los Angeles Rams for Matthew Stafford, but Wentz's market appeared limited due to the four-year, $128-million contract he signed in 2019.The Chicago Bears were the only other team that reportedly expressed interest in acquiring the disgruntled passer.While the 28-year-old hadn't formally submitted a trade request, his displeasure with the Eagles reportedly did not subside after Doug Pederson's firing. The quarterback's level of play dropped substantially in 2020, completing just 57.4% of his passes for 16 touchdowns against a league-high 15 interceptions. He eventually lost the starter's role to Jalen Hurts.Philadelphia will carry a $33.8-million dead cap charge for the former No. 2 overall pick this year, which is the largest in NFL history, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano.Meanwhile, the Colts will hope Wentz can rebound as an upgrade over Philip Rivers, who retired in January. Indianapolis will be able to provide its new signal-caller with a strong offensive line and running game.Wentz is 35-32-1 as a starter across five seasons, throwing 113 touchdowns versus 50 interceptions. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2017 after emerging as an MVP candidate before suffering a torn ACL late in the campaign.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chris Godwin is set to become one of the offseason's top free agents, but Bruce Arians believes the talented wide receiver wants to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.The head coach would be happy to have him back as well."He loves it here," Arians told reporters Tuesday, according to The Athletic's Greg Auman. "It's hard to leave and go to another system just for money. But it's not bad paying two No. 1 receivers, that's for sure, when they're as good as our two No. 1s."Godwin just wrapped up the final year of his rookie contract. After setting career highs across the board in 2019, he hauled in 65 receptions for 840 yards and seven touchdowns over 12 games this past season. Arians' offense is dependent on an aggressive passing attack led by the 24-year-old and Mike Evans, who paced the Bucs with 1,006 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2020.Tampa Bay has a number of other contributors set to hit free agency, including Shaquil Barrett, Rob Gronkowski, Lavonte David, and Ndamukong Suh, but Arians expects most of the group will prioritize re-signing if similar money is offered."It's usually the money ... if it's close, I think our guys really want to stay," Arians added. "They know they have something special (in Tampa Bay). I don't think any of them want to leave. I don't get involved in the dollars. I just let them know we want them back."Godwin could be a candidate for the franchise tag this offseason but will be a highly sought-after commodity should he hit the open market.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former NFL quarterback and current New York Mets farmhand Tim Tebow is retiring from professional baseball, the team announced Wednesday.Tebow, 33, played in 287 minor-league games during his career but failed to reach the majors."I want to thank the Mets, (team president Sandy) Alderson, the fans, and all my teammates for the chance to be a part of such a great organization," Tebow said. "I loved every minute of the journey, but at this time I feel called in other directions. I never want to be partially in on anything."I always want to be 100% in on whatever I choose. Thank you again for everyone's support of this awesome journey in baseball, I'll always cherish my time as a Met."Tebow finishes with a .233/.299/.338 career slash line and 18 home runs across three different levels in the Mets' system after joining the organization in 2016.The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner was taken with the No. 25 pick in the 2010 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. He played in a combined 35 games (16 starts) between the Broncos and New York Jets over three seasons.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2020 NFL season was played before limited crowds and, in some cases, empty stadiums. That could all change by the Hall of Fame Game in August."I think there's a very good shot that we'll be the first full stadium for football in the United States in nearly two years," David Baker, the Pro Football Hall of Fame's president, said on SiriusXM NFL Radio, according to Howard Balzer of Sports Illustrated."And, to me, that's going to be good for the rest of the country and for the football season ahead. It shows that we can get our economy going and our kids educated and make even more advances on health care. But we're going to be ready."The Hall of Fame Game is the NFL's first preseason contest. Although the league canceled the 2020 game - as well as the entire preseason - due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2021 edition is currently scheduled to be held Thursday, Aug. 5 at Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Baker says he has no reason to believe those plans will change."I think by the time we get to August, we're gonna be ready to go. The vaccine is picking up, obviously the trend line is in the right direction right now," he said. "I think the NFL has a wonderful study that they did with the CDC that basically said that there wasn't one infection that could be traced to the 1.2 million people that went to a game."At the Pro Football Hall of Fame, we've got new technology that takes the temperature of as many as 70 people at a time as they go through the Hall. So, there's a lot of things we can do. ... We're going to rely very heavily on the experts at the NFL."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith is striving for more following his 2020 comeback campaign.Smith returned from a serious leg injury last season, winning Comeback Player of the Year honors for his efforts. It was reported earlier this week that the signal-caller wants to continue playing in 2021, and though he hasn't confirmed his plans for the future, he thinks he can impress further if he does decide to play another year."I'm excited, I'm excited to see what I can do this offseason. I feel like I've got a list of things - football-wise and just life - that I want to go do that I've been wondering about ever since I broke my leg and wondering if I'd ever do again," Smith said on "10 Questions with Kyle Brandt," according to NFL.com's Nick Shook. "I want to go chase those down this offseason."He continued: "Obviously, I'll take some time here and sit down with my wife - she deserves obviously quite a bit of input in this - and then go from there. So no rush to make that decision here tomorrow, but just kind of want to get into this offseason."I still feel like I've got a lot of room for growth on the field, based off what happened this last year."Smith went 5-1 as a starter last season, averaging 197.8 passing yards per game and 6.3 yards per pass attempt.The 36-year-old dealt with injuries down the stretch, missing the club's wild-card loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he was pleased with how his leg responded to a full season's workload."That, I think, was the most encouraging thing for me. I pounded on my leg every single day harder than I ever thought I would, and I felt like I got stronger and stronger and stronger, and the more I pushed it, the more my body responded - and my leg for that matter," he said. "I felt like, if anything, it only fueled me even more that I can roll and keep going."Smith is set to earn $18.8 million in 2021 and has two years remaining on his contract. Whether he returns to Washington remains to be seen, as head coach Ron Rivera was noncommittal on Smith's status with the team earlier in February. Washington will save $13.6 million against the salary cap if it moves the passer this offseason.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert hinted at a possible split with Ben Roethlisberger on Wednesday after meeting with the high-priced quarterback following the Super Bowl."As we sit here today, Ben is a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers," Colbert told reporters, via ESPN's Brooke Pryor. "… He reiterated to us that he wants to continue to play. We told him we have to look at this current situation."Roethlisberger's payout will cost the team $41.25 million against the salary cap in 2021, representing the highest charge of any player in the NFL. The veteran signal-caller recently said he's willing to restructure his contract and doesn't care about his salary at this stage of his career.But the 38-year-old also suffered from diminishing skills last season, leading to questions about whether the Steelers can still win a Super Bowl with him. Roethlisberger imploded in the playoffs with four interceptions in an opening-round loss to the Cleveland Browns."Can he still do some special things? Absolutely. Did he do that to his expectations? He would tell you no," Colbert said."Whatever team we come up with in 2021, hopefully, we're not talking about losing a first-round playoff game."Roethlisberger is due a $15 million roster bonus on March 19, the third day of the new league year. If Pittsburgh releases him before then, the franchise can save $19 million against the cap, according to OverTheCap."Hopefully, there's a way that we can try to figure out and do what's best for the organization and do what's best for Ben," Colbert said. "Hopefully, he'll be able to see that and feel the same way we do."The Steelers enter the offseason approximately $30.6 million over the cap.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara is joining the motorsports industry.The Big Squeezy will be the primary sponsor of Ryan Vargas' No. 6 NASCAR Xfinity Series Chevrolet car for Saturday's Super Start Batteries 188 at Daytona International Speedway, the team announced.Kamara is a co-owner of The Big Squeezy chain located throughout Louisiana."When this opportunity presented itself, I knew I couldn’t let it slip by,” said Kamara in a statement. "I did a bit of research on Ryan as an individual and JD Motorsports and was impressed with what I read. I’m excited to play a small role in what they already have going on."The All-Pro running back became a fan of NASCAR last season. Kamara has since attended multiple races, and this move marks his first sponsorship deal in the sport. The NFL star connected with Vargas after the driver attempted to secure the sponsorship via social media.Kamara is the latest crossover star to invest in NASCAR. Michael Jordan and Pitbull both became co-owners of Cup Series teams, respectively."Having the opportunity to work with Alvin Kamara and The Big Squeezy is such a huge honor," said Vargas. "As one of the best running backs in the game, I know Alvin puts 110% effort into everything he does, and that can easily be said for myself and our No. 6 JD Motorsports team."Vargas recently finished 18th in the Xfinity season-opening race in Daytona.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vincent Jackson's family thinks the former NFL wide receiver suffered from the degenerative brain disease known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said Wednesday."They believe he had a lot of concussion problems," Chronister told Q105-FM, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. "When you suffer from that, you're not yourself, you're not your normal self. And they believe wholeheartedly all of these actions are a result of what he suffered while he was playing in the NFL."Jackson was found dead Monday at a Homewood Suites hotel in Brandon, Florida, where he had been checked in since Jan. 11.His family reported him missing on Feb. 10 but the case was canceled two days later when deputies located him, spoke to him, and assessed his well-being.Jackson, who was 38, played for the then-San Diego Chargers from 2005 to 2011 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2012 to 2016.A number of late NFL stars, including Ken Stabler, Junior Seau, and Chris Henry, have been diagnosed with CTE postmortem. The disease is the result of repeated brain trauma and has no cure.Chronister said an autopsy showed Jackson suffered from chronic alcoholism, but authorities are still determining a cause of death."It could be several weeks before we know what led to the untimely and tragic death of Vincent Jackson," the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said in a statement obtained by The Athletic's Greg Auman. "The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office continues to conduct a thorough investigation alongside the Hillsborough Country Sheriff's Office. Based on statements made by relatives of Jackson to detectives, his family had reason to believe he may have suffered from chronic alcoholism and concussions. However, the exact cause and manner of Mr. Jackson's death will not be certain until his autopsy, among other reports, is complete."Jackson posted six 1,000-yard seasons and made three Pro Bowls over his 12-year career.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

LeBron James was once very close to taking his talents to a football field.The Los Angeles Lakers star says he almost tried out for the NFL during the NBA's 2011 lockout, and he's confident he would have caught on with a team."I would have made the team," James said, according to The Athletic's Christopher Kamrani and Bill Oram. "I would have tried out, but I would have made the team."Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones offered him an opportunity to play, while Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll sent James an invitation along with a custom jersey."One thing about it, I don't mind working for something, so if I would have had to try out for the Cowboys or the Seahawks, or if I'd have stayed home and went back home to Cleveland, I'd have tried (out), but I would have made the team. I just know what I'm capable of doing on the football field. Especially at that age," James added.Then-26-year-old James was coming off a frustrating NBA Finals loss to the Dallas Mavericks as a member of the Miami Heat. The versatile forward gave the NFL serious consideration, even going as far as practicing route running and changing his training routine.James, who last played football in high school, didn't end up giving the NFL a try but added he "always thinks about it."The four-time MVP returned to the Association following the lockout and won back-to-back championships with the Heat in 2012 and 2013. James later added two more NBA titles to his trophy case, winning with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Lakers.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tennessee Titans have given offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson an ultimatum after his rookie season."He’s gonna have to make a determination if he wants to do everything necessary to play pro football," said general manager Jon Robinson, according to team reporter Jim Wyatt. "That’s going to be on him."The 2020 first-round selection played just three snaps in his debut campaign with Tennessee.Wilson was subject to multiple absences throughout the season, missing games due to a DUI arrest, violating team rules, and landing on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The 22-year-old ultimately finished the campaign on the non-football illness list to deal with personal issues.Robinson revealed he hasn’t spoken with the lineman since placing him on the NFI list, but the GM did say he knows other people have been in contact with Wilson."I know what the expectation level is here, and it's no different than any other player on the football team," said Robinson. "We have a certain standard that we want players to prepare and perform at professionally, and as people, and there's a lot of work to be done there."At six-foot-six, 350 pounds, Wilson was considered a raw prospect with plenty of upside coming out of Georgia. The franchise expected him to replace former tackle Jack Conklin, who signed with the Cleveland Browns in free agency.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Bears seemingly have a lot of work to do if they want to re-sign Allen Robinson before free agency.The Bears and the wide receiver haven't engaged in contract extension talks since September, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.Robinson has kept the door open regarding a return to Chicago but said in an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio last week that he hadn't spoken to the NFC North club for "some time."With a long-term deal appearing increasingly unlikely before starting the new league year on March 17, the Bears may have to use the franchise tag to either keep Robinson off the open market or help recoup some value via trade."That would certainly seem to bring the (franchise) tag into play," Pelissero said. "Whether it is the Bears to try to do an extension, whether it is setting up Robinson to play on the tag, or maybe even a tag-and-trade scenario."The franchise tag window opens on Feb. 23 and runs through March 9.Robinson would be one of the most sought-after players if he became a free agent. The 27-year-old wideout has racked up 2,397 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns over the last two seasons, despite dealing with inconsistent quarterback play.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers released two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kawann Short, the team announced Tuesday.The move saves the Panthers approximately $8.6 million against the salary cap but leaves a dead cap penalty of about $11 million, according to OverTheCap.Short, 32, spent eight seasons in Carolina but appeared in only five games over the last two years because of injuries. He collected 32.5 sacks over his first six campaigns, notching a career-best 11 in 2015, while also clogging up space as a stout run defender.The Panthers posted their third consecutive losing season in 2020, tumbling to a 5-11 record in Matt Rhule's first year as head coach.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.