Urban Meyer's coaching staff in Jacksonville has found its offensive coordinator.The Jaguars are expected to hire Darrell Bevell to replace Jay Gruden at the position, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Bevell reportedly generated interest from multiple teams this past month after spending the last two seasons as the Lions' offensive coordinator.The 51-year-old was also Detroit's interim head coach for five games in 2020, posting a 1-4 record.Bevell was previously the offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings (2006-10) and Seattle Seahawks (2011-17), helping the latter win Super Bowl XLVIII.The Arizona native is now set to replace Gruden, whose offensive unit scored just 19.1 points per game during the 2020 regular season.The Jaguars have been looking for a new coaching staff since hiring head coach Urban Meyer last week.Jacksonville owns the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Veteran defensive coordinator Dean Pees will end his second retirement to join the Atlanta Falcons, the team announced Thursday.Pees, who will take on the same role in Atlanta, retired one year ago following his second season with the Tennessee Titans. The 71-year-old also retired after the 2017 campaign while he was with the Baltimore Ravens.Pees will work under Arthur Smith, whom the Falcons tabbed as their new head coach. Smith and Pees were on the same staff in Tennessee.Atlanta also hired Chicago Bears passing game coordinator Dave Ragone as its offensive coordinator. Smith previously said he'll call plays for the Falcons, just as he did for the Titans.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

At Robert Saleh's introductory press conference Thursday, the New York Jets' new head coach declined to guarantee Sam Darnold's future with the team."There's a lot of things that we have to do moving forward. We're just getting the staff into the building. There's so many things that we have to do from an evaluation standpoint with regards to the entire roster, not just the quarterback," Saleh said, according to SNY's Danny Abriano."To give you that answer right now would not be fair. There's a lot of discussions that need to be had with staff and, obviously, himself. To give you that answer right now would be a bit premature."Darnold is coming off his worst season as a pro. The former No. 3 pick set new career lows in touchdown passes (nine), passer rating (72.7), and yards per game (184). His poor play coupled with the Jets owning the second overall selection in the upcoming draft has led to speculation that Darnold could be moved this offseason.Saleh, then still the San Francisco 49ers' defensive coordinator, praised Darnold before a Week 2 matchup, calling him a talented quarterback. The Jets' new bench boss continued to laud the 23-year-old's ability Thursday."What I can tell you about with regards to Sam is that he's got an unbelievable arm talent. There's a reason why he was the No. 3 pick," Saled noted."He's fearless in the pocket, he's got a natural throwing motion, he's mobile, he's extremely intelligent, and he's tough as nails. His reputation in the locker room is unquestioned."Darnold has thrown 45 touchdowns to 39 interceptions over 38 career starts and will carry a $9.7-million cap hit in 2021, according to Spotrac.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith finds it absurd that Kansas City offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy hasn't yet landed a head coaching job in the NFL."It's ridiculous that he hasn't been hired yet," the Washington Football Team signal-caller told Terez Paylor of Yahoo Sports. "I know that the interview process is weird with the (Chiefs) still in (the playoffs), but, regardless, I don't see how you can excuse it."He added: "I think Eric's No. 1 quality - and it was apparent the first time I met him - was his leadership. Leadership ability, a true leader of men. He's a guy that had played for a long time, was a great teacher, commanded respect because he gave respect also."Smith worked with Bieniemy on the Chiefs from 2013 to 2017 while the latter worked as the team's running backs coach. He was then promoted to offensive coordinator in 2018.The 36-year-old praised Bieniemy's relationship with players and knowledge of offensive systems."In the NFL, you have these good-luck coaches," Smith added. "You're about to take the field and (they say), 'OK, good luck.' For me, I was always like, 'Why aren't you going out there with us? Aren't you in it with us?' For me, EB is the epitome of the opposite of that ... He's a guy that there's not a facet of the game on offense that he hasn't been incredibly involved from protections to the run game to the passing game. He knows it all."The Houston Texans remain the only club of seven in search of a new head coach this offseason that hasn't yet found one.Bieniemy was reportedly one of the top choices for Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, but Houston didn't make the coach a priority early during the interview process. The team only met with the 51-year-old earlier this week.Bieniemy has helped turn the Chiefs' offensive unit into a juggernaut alongside head coach Andy Reid. Kansas City, which is set to play in the AFC title game for the third straight year on Sunday, has finished in the top six in scoring in each of the last three seasons.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak announced his retirement Thursday."It's been the honor of my lifetime to work for 36 seasons as an NFL player and coach. I've been on a football field for most of my life, and now I look forward to stepping away from the game and enjoying more time with my family and friends," Kubiak said.The longtime coach joined the Vikings in 2019 as an offensive advisor before being promoted to the coordinator position following Kevin Stefanski's departure. The Vikings' offense was productive during Kubiak's lone year as coordinator, finishing fourth in yardage and 11th in scoring this past season.Kubiak's departure means the Vikings will open next season with their sixth offensive coordinator in as many years.Kubiak, who was also serving as the assistant head coach for the Vikings, has held coaching jobs with numerous teams over his career, including the Houston Texans, Denver Broncos, and Baltimore Ravens.This is Kubiak's second retirement after he also stepped away from coaching following two years as head coach of the Denver Broncos. He won a Super Bowl during his time in Denver, and Kubiak also served as the sideline boss of the Texans from 2006 to 2013. He retires with a head coaching record of 82-75.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Although new Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley has only coached the defensive side of the ball in the NFL, he's excited about the opportunity to build an offensive system around quarterback Justin Herbert."My vision for the offense really fits Justin and what he can do well," Staley said Thursday, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "Creating a system for Justin and uniquely shaping it for his skill set, because he is unlike anybody in the NFL."Staley was the defensive coordinator for the NFL's top-ranked scoring defense with the Los Angeles Rams in 2020 and previously served as the outside linebackers coach for the Chicago Bears (2017-18) and Denver Broncos (2019).The Chargers hired the 38-year-old on Sunday, replacing former head coach Anthony Lynn.Staley played quarterback at Dayton before transitioning to the sideline, posting a 16-5 record as a starter over two seasons (2003-04). The Ohio native now believes his brief playing experience will help him in Los Angeles."That's what I was so excited about, to convey in this process, was my offensive vision, because I do consider myself an offensive coach," Staley added. "I've had some great teachers who have taught me a lot of offensive football."The Chargers enter the offseason with a positive outlook on their future after Herbert's historic rookie campaign in 2020. The sixth overall pick threw for 4,336 yards and a rookie record 31 touchdowns while earning a 6-9 starting record.Los Angeles has yet to decide whether the organization will keep offensive coordinator Shane Steichen.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed former Washington Football Team quarterback Dwayne Haskins to a futures contract, the team announced Thursday.Haskins and Steelers coaches met Thursday with the expectation that a deal would follow, sources told Albert Breer of The MMQB. The new contract ties him to the Steelers throughout the offseason and gives him a chance to crack the roster in training camp.Washington released Haskins, the 15th overall pick in 2019, before the end of the regular season following several off-field incidents that raised questions about his maturity. On the field, Haskins didn't look like the phenom who dominated at Ohio State in 2018 en route to a Heisman Trophy nomination.The Steelers face long-term uncertainty at quarterback, with 38-year-old Ben Roethlisberger showing signs of deterioration and approaching retirement.In 16 career outings for Washington, Haskins threw for 2,804 yards with 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions while completing 60.1% of his pass attempts.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles are hiring Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni as their new head coach, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Sirianni has spent the last three seasons in Indy working under Frank Reich, who helped guide Philadelphia to a Super Bowl win in 2017 as its offensive coordinator.The 39-year-old was previously an assistant for the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers for five seasons and the Kansas City Chiefs for four campaigns.Sirianni will be tasked with turning around the Eagles and quarterback Carson Wentz after a disastrous 4-11-1 season that culminated with the franchise parting ways with head coach Doug Pederson.Pederson benched Wentz in favor of rookie Jalen Hurts toward the end of the season after a turnover-laden campaign, a move that reportedly fractured Wentz and Pederson's relationship beyond repair.The Eagles have insisted Wentz is part of their future plans despite reports prior to Pederson's dismissal that the quarterback intends to seek a trade this offseason.Under Reich and Sirianni, the Colts were ninth in scoring offense this season after ranking 16th in 2019 and fifth in 2018. Reich handled play-calling duties in Indy.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The Super Bowl's right around the corner, which means it's time to get in shape for props season.The conference championship games this weekend don't offer quite as many exotic markets, but there are a couple of standard game props that we're dialing in.Here are some of the best bets for both the AFC and NFC Championship Games.Buccaneers-Packers Highest-scoring quarter - 2nd (+180)There's something about the second quarter for this high-powered Packers offense.They put up 14 points in the second frame during last week's win over the Rams and have now scored at least 10 points in 14 of 17 second quarters this year. Green Bay's averaging 13.3 points per second frame overall.Not to be outdone, the Buccaneers' highest-scoring quarter this season has also been the second, at 8.8 points. This one's a no-brainer.Bills-ChiefsHighest-scoring half - 1st (-110)Both offenses start hot. The Bills rank No. 3 in the league in first-half points at 15.7 per game while the Chiefs are right on their heels, tied for fourth at 15.4.Buffalo's offense in particular will be licking its chops right out of the gates. The Bills were limited to just nine drives and 50 total plays in the previous meeting back in Week 6. Kansas City's secondary was peaking around that time, ranking No. 6 in pass defense DVOA through the first nine weeks. However, from Weeks 10 to 17, the Chiefs dropped to No. 29, per Football Outsiders.Meanwhile, Kansas City scripted a gem last weekend, scoring on its first four drives. There might be more combined points in the first half this Sunday than there were altogether in the previous tilt.And I'm only partly joking.Total field goals - Under 3.5 (-140)Field goals aren't going to cut it in a matchup featuring two top-five DVOA offenses with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.The red zone is an area where both teams should get six points, not three. Both the Bills and Chiefs allow opponents to score touchdowns on more than 60% of their red-zone drives, while Kansas City is last by a wide margin.Percentage of red-zone trips resulting in TDs (bottom five)TeamRZ TD %Patriots65.31%Saints65.52%Titans67.65%Lions72.31%Chiefs77.55%Hopefully, the head coaches leave the kickers on the sideline and the quarterbacks on the field when it matters most.(Odds source: theScore Bet)Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown will be a game-time decision for the NFC Championship Game due to a knee injury, head coach Bruce Arians told reporters Thursday, according to Ben Volin of The Boston Globe.Arians added that Brown doesn't need to practice during the week to suit up versus the Green Bay Packers."He's a veteran, he knows what he's doing," he said.Brown reportedly underwent an MRI after the divisional round, but the scan didn't show any major damage. The 32-year-old was seen tending to his knee during a win over the New Orleans Saints, and he was limited to one catch for 10 yards in the contest.In two appearances this postseason, Brown has recorded three catches for 59 yards and a touchdown.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ted Thompson, a two-time Super Bowl champion executive with the Green Bay Packers, died Thursday, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur announced, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky.Thompson, who celebrated his 68th birthday four days ago, revealed in May 2019 that he had been diagnosed with an autonomic disorder."His impact is still felt to this day when you look at our roster … I just know how important he was to many people in this building," said LaFleur.Thompson served as GM of the Packers from 2005-17 and was the primary architect of their Super Bowl XLV team. Rarely reliant on free agency to build his rosters, Thompson developed a reputation as one of the most shrewd drafters in the game.After surrendering his GM duties following the 2017 season, Thompson moved into an advisory role and was eventually inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.Thompson was responsible for drafting cornerstones such as Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Clay Matthews, Randall Cobb, Davante Adams, and Kenny Clark during his reign as GM. His two largest free-agent splashes - Charles Woodson and Julius Peppers - both paid huge dividends.The former linebacker played for the Houston Oilers from 1975-84. Thompson then began his front-office career as an assistant director of pro personnel for the Packers in 1992 and picked up his first championship ring when Green Bay defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The divisional round was a breeze for scoreboard operators.Following three straight lower-scoring games to close out the weekend, postseason totals of 50 or higher are currently on a 19-9 run to the under. With four top-five DVOA offenses set to take the field this weekend in the conference championships, will the trend flip?Let's preview the totals for Sunday's highly anticipated matchups.Buccaneers @ Packers (-3, 51); It took the Buccaneers' offense a while to get going. Granted, it was quarterback Tom Brady's first season with a new supporting cast, tight end Rob Gronkowski had come out of retirement, and arguably the biggest wild card of them all - wide receiver Antonio Brown - didn't join until Week 9.What the Buccaneers have done over the last five games is what we expected from this unit.Tampa's averaged 36.6 points per contest, cashing all five team total overs. Although the competition's been light, Brady's logged at least 365 yards in four of five, with 14 total touchdown passes over that span.The Packers rank just No. 17 in DVOA defense, and this could be a wake-up call considering the competition they've faced of late. Over the last seven weeks, the average DVOA offense rank of Green Bay's opponents is 17.8. How could you not like the matchup for the Bucs' offense, ranking No. 3 in that department?PFF ranks Green Bay cornerback Jaire Alexander tops at his position, but Brady has plenty of mismatches elsewhere, particularly in the middle of the field. His tight ends should feast against the Packers' Krys Barnes and Christian Kirksey, who rank No. 67 and 61 out of 79 linebackers in coverage grade.Meanwhile, it'll be business as usual for the Packers' offense. They've scored at least 30 points in seven of the last eight and hit the last six playoff overs with Rodgers under center.Let the seasoned vets sling it all around Lambeau with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.Pick: Over 51Bills @ Chiefs (-3, 53.5); I've already recommended the first-half over in Bills-Chiefs, so let's stick to the script and play the full game.Kansas City slowed the contest down in its 26-17 win over Buffalo during the regular season. Both teams had just nine drives, but the Bills were limited to only 50 plays and 4.1 yards per. However, the defensive unit they faced in Week 6 is a whole lot different than the one they'll draw Sunday.The Chiefs ranked No. 6 in DVOA pass defense through the first nine weeks of the season, per Football Outsiders. Since then, they've dipped all the way down to No. 29. A shootout would be welcomed by quarterback Josh Allen, who's helped Buffalo cash four straight team total overs as an underdog.As for the Chiefs' offense, it might be scratching the surface of a breakout game. The unit scored only 22 points last weekend, but it was running like a well-oiled machine: 7.0 yards per play, zero punts, and points on the first four drives.Look for head coach Andy Reid to make it 5-1 to the over the last six in January.Pick: Over 53.5(Odds source: theScore Bet)Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bills fans continue to show their support to quarterback Lamar Jackson after he suffered a concussion in the Baltimore Ravens' divisional-round loss to Buffalo.Bills Mafia started donating to one of Jackson's favorite charities, Blessings in a Backpack, following Saturday's game. As of Wednesday, 16,450 individual donations totaling more than $458,000 were made to the Louisville-based organization, according to Yahoo Sports' Dan Wetzel.Nikki Grizzle, chief marketing officer for Blessings in a Backpack, told Wetzel she learned about the charitable movement Sunday morning when the man monitoring the organization's website sent out a mass text to staff."We get a notification every time someone donates," Grizzle said. "And when there are suddenly 400 donations on a Sunday morning in the middle of January, he said, 'Did anybody know this was happening and forget to tell me?'"By the time I looked, the 400 was up to 1,500."Grizzle noted that Jackson is "amazed" by the gesture. He released a statement Wednesday through Blessings in a Backpack thanking Bills fans for their generosity."I would like to thank all of the Buffalo Bills Mafia fans for your generous donations and contributions," Jackson said. "I'm extremely grateful that you all communed together and donated to Blessings in a Backpack in my name. Your acts of kindness and generosity have not gone unnoticed, and it is greatly appreciated."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.By now, you've surely heard the inescapable narrative from Sunday's NFC Championship between the Packers (-3.5, 51) and Buccaneers. When Tom Brady (43) and Aaron Rodgers (37) step onto Lambeau Field, they'll comprise the oldest quarterback matchup in a conference championship in NFL history.Brady will also be the oldest quarterback to start in a conference title game, a distinction he already earned two seasons ago. For years, that was a blessing in the AFC, a conference ruled by dynasties and seasoned quarterbacks. That hasn't been the case in the NFC, where older statesmen have long been bested by their younger counterparts.Since 2005, the team with the younger quarterback is 13-2 straight up with an 11-4 record against the spread in the NFC Championship. The younger QB has won eight straight with a 7-1 ATS record - including three times at Rodgers' expense. Can he avenge those losses against the oldest quarterback in conference title history?No substitute for youthAs we broke down Wednesday, the AFC has been ruled by veteran signal-callers since the NFL expanded its playoff format in 2002. It's been exactly the opposite story in the NFC, where only one quarterback older than 31 has won in this spot in the last 15 years.Here's a list of every NFC title matchup since 2005 and how the younger quarterback fared:SEASONQB MATCHUP (AGE)MATCHUPRESULTSU/ATS2019Jimmy Garoppolo (28) vs. Aaron Rodgers (36)49ers (-8.5) vs. Packers37-20W/W2018Jared Goff (24) vs. Drew Brees (40)Rams (+3) at Saints26-23W/W2017Nick Foles (29) vs. Case Keenum (29)Eagles (+3) vs. Vikings38-7W/W2016Matt Ryan (31) vs. Aaron Rodgers (33)Falcons (-6) vs. Packers44-21W/W2015Cam Newton (26) vs. Carson Palmer (36)Panthers (-3) vs. Cardinals49-15W/W2014Russell Wilson (26) vs. Aaron Rodgers (31)Seahawks (-8) vs. Packers28-22W/L2013Russell Wilson (25) vs. Colin Kaepernick (26)Seahawks (-4) vs. 49ers23-17W/W2012Colin Kaepernick (25) vs. Matt Ryan (27)49ers (-3.5) at Falcons28-24W/W2011Alex Smith (27) vs. Eli Manning (31)49ers (-2) vs. Giants17-20L/L2010Aaron Rodgers (27) vs. Jay Cutler (27)Packers (-3.5) at Bears21-14W/W2009Drew Brees (31) vs. Brett Favre (40)Saints (-3.5) vs. Vikings31-28W/L2008Donovan McNabb (32) vs. Kurt Warner (37)Eagles (-3.5) at Cardinals25-32L/L2007Eli Manning (27) vs. Brett Favre (38)Giants (+7) at Packers23-20W/W2006Rex Grossman (26) vs. Drew Brees (28)Bears (-3) vs. Saints39-14W/W2005Matt Hasselbeck (30) vs. Jake Delhomme (31)Seahawks (-4) vs. Panthers34-14W/WJust two of those 15 games were won outright by the older quarterback and only four beat the number, defying what you'd expect when glancing at the names on that list. Those 13 victories by younger signal-callers have come by an average of 14 points, while the last five winners have outscored their opponents by more than 21 points per game.As the age gap increases, so does the struggles of older passers. Five quarterbacks have entered this game with at least six years on their counterpart. Those five went 0-5 SU / 1-4 ATS with a combined eight touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and an average passer rating of 73.9.Who will make history on Sunday?Of course, both quarterbacks are long in the tooth ahead of this matchup, which adds an extra layer of intrigue for both sides. At 37, Rodgers would be the second-oldest quarterback to win an NFC Championship. If Brady wins, he'd be the oldest. Both are also playing arguably as well as they have at any point in their illustrious careers.Ironically, Rodgers will be the younger signal-caller for the second time in his five trips to the conference title game - winning once as a young gun with three subsequent losses as the respective veteran. If history is any indication, his relative youth will be on his side Sunday.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.

Philip Rivers' time in the NFL is over after 17 seasons.The longtime San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers quarterback is one of the most prolific passers in an era dominated by legendary signal-callers, ending his career among the league's all-time top five in both passing yards and passing touchdowns.However, Rivers didn't enjoy anywhere near the level of playoff success that his most prestigious contemporaries did. Tom Brady has so many rings that he can't fit them on one hand; Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, and Eli Manning each have two Super Bowl titles; and Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers have one apiece.Rivers now serves as one of the most interesting Hall of Fame cases in recent memory. Does he deserve a place in Canton alongside the aforementioned quarterbacks, or is his career the new standard for very good, but not great? theScore's Jack Browne and Mike Alessandrini dive in for a debate:Rivers is a HOFer Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / GettyFootball is a team sport. Yes, quarterbacks bear a lot of the responsibility for their club's results, but Hall of Fame candidacy for every other position in the NFL is essentially debated on a player's individual merits. That's what we should do with Rivers.He doesn't have a Super Bowl ring or an MVP award, but the level of worthiness among Hall of Fame quarterbacks shouldn't begin and end with Brady, Manning, and Rodgers. We don't judge every receiver on how close they are to Jerry Rice or Randy Moss, or every pass-rusher to Lawrence Taylor or Bruce Smith. There aren't simply just surefire first-ballot inductees and then players who aren't worthy of entry.Unfortunately for Rivers, he played during arguably the most talent-rich quarterback era in NFL history. If Brees - the all-time leader in passing yards - joins Rivers in retirement, he'll end his career with just one first-team All-Pro nomination and no MVP awards. That's how competitive it's been over the last two decades. But Rivers isn't exactly hurting for career accolades.He's fifth in passing yards (63,440) and touchdowns (421) in NFL history. Brett Favre is the only quarterback to produce a longer streak than Rivers' 242 consecutive regular-season starts from 2006 to 2020. Rivers has eight Pro Bowl nods and a Comeback Player of the Year award in 2013. He's consistently been among or close to the top at his position throughout most of his career.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2020 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and Anchor.In this episode, Ray Garvin of Destination Devy joins Boone to break down the top NFL prospects in the 2021 draft class.

Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are again one win away from reaching the Super Bowl.But circumstances are different this time. Rodgers is 37 years old and playing in his 16th season, and the Packers drafted his potential replacement last spring. He may not get many more opportunities to play in the title game, especially with Green Bay."I've always just tried to stay present, especially this year, as much as anything, and just enjoy the moments," Rodgers said Wednesday. "I hope there's more opportunities, but I don't know. I really don't, and that stuff is out of my control. My future is a beautiful mystery, I think."Rodgers is under contract through the 2023 season, but a potential out exists in his deal after the 2021 campaign.The Packers have lost during their last three trips to the NFC Championship Game, and there's no guarantee Rodgers will get another chance in green and gold.So for now, the likely 2020 MVP is looking forward to the opportunity ahead of him."The present is such a gift, to just be able to stay in the moment and to have gratitude to be in this situation again and being with the guys and having fans in our stadium and maybe snow in an NFC Championship Game. I'm going to enjoy these moments for sure and just not worry about what happens down the line," he said."I'm thankful for the opportunity again to be leading these guys, to play the way I want to play, to be called upon for a greater leadership role. Those things are really, really important to me," he added.The Packers will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday with a trip to Super Bowl LV on the line.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday, the team announced."He looked good on a limited basis," Reid said, according to The Athletic's Nate Taylor. "He took all the snaps and he feels good."However, Mahomes still remains in the league's concussion protocol.The 25-year-old - who's reportedly symptom-free - will undergo tolerance tests, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. His workload in practice will increase throughout the week, Rapoport adds.Mahomes suffered a concussion during the third quarter of Sunday's divisional-round win against the Cleveland Browns.Meanwhile, running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, cornerback Bashaud Breeland and wide receiver Sammy Watkins returned to practice. The rookie tailback hasn’t played since suffering a high-ankle sprain in Week 15, while Watkins has been inactive since leaving the team's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons with a calf injury. Similar to Mahomes, Breeland left last week's clash with a concussion.Reid says Thursday will be a big day for all of the wounded Chiefs ahead of an all-important showdown for the AFC title against the Buffalo Bills.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Only three games remain in the 2020-21 NFL season, two of which take place on Sunday in the conference championship round.We've got you covered with betting trends from every angle.Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay Packers (-3.5, 51), 3:05 p.m. ETTwo future Hall of Famers face off on Sunday when Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers meet for just the fifth time in their careers. Brady is 3-1 against the spread in those four meetings, including a 38-10 beatdown of Green Bay earlier this season as a one-point underdog.The 43-year-old is a career 36-17-1 ATS as an underdog, and Brady is 6-1 ATS in his last seven playoff games against a team he beat during the regular season. Rodgers, meanwhile, is 8-4-1 ATS in playoff rematches since 2010, and he's looking to redeem himself after the Packers' loss to the 49ers in last year's NFC Championship Game. Since the 2005 season, teams that lost in this game have gone 7-3 ATS when returning the following year.This has been a tough spot for Brady, who's 3-7 ATS in his last 10 conference championship games. He also faces the difficult task of trying to lead the Buccaneers to a road win in this round, which the veteran has done just three times in his career. Since 2013, home teams are 10-4 ATS and 12-2 straight up on Championship Sunday, with a scoring margin of 13.7 points per game.Will age catch up to Brady in this game? Over the last 15 NFC title contests, the younger quarterback has gone 11-4 ATS and 13-2 straight up. Rodgers is 1-3 outright in the conference championship round, winning once in 2010 as the younger QB, and losing three times since to more youthful foes.Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs (-3, 54), 6:40 p.m.The big story here is whether Patrick Mahomes suits up for the defending champions. If he does, the trends are in his favor.The Chiefs are 4-1 ATS in Mahomes' five postseason starts, winning the last three by a combined 42 points. Josh Allen is 0-1 ATS in his postseason career, while Chad Henne had never thrown a playoff pass before last week.Could that inexperience hurt Allen? The last 10 quarterbacks to make their AFC title debut went 0-10 straight up with a 2-8 ATS record, losing by an average of 13.1 points. They also all lost by at least four points, which would lead to a Kansas City cover if that continues on Sunday.Recent play from both clubs suggests a different narrative. The Bills are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games, while the Chiefs have lost nine straight ATS after last week's narrow win over the Browns. Since the NFL changed its postseason format in 2002, only one playoff team has lost that many consecutive games ATS. Playoff clubs with a four-plus game ATS losing streak are 4-9 ATS during that stretch.If it holds, Sunday's total in this contest will be tied for the 18th-highest in a playoff game since 2002, and the fifth-highest in a conference-championship matchup. The under has gone 11-6 in those previous 17 games, including 5-1 since 2018, and 2-1 when the Chiefs are involved.(Odds source: theScore Bet)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.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees fought through various ailments during the 2020 season.Brees’ wife, Brittany, revealed the nature of those injuries in a social media note, according to Garland Gillen of Fox 8.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Bettors will be in for a treat for Super Bowl LV, no matter how the conference championships pan out. Frankly, there isn't a bad matchup on the board.Football's version of the Final Four has narratives aplenty. There's MVP hopeful Aaron Rodgers and the Packers taking on Tom Brady in his first year with the Buccaneers in the NFC Championship, and the defending champion Chiefs squaring off with Josh Allen and the high-powered Bills' offense a few hours later.There are eight potential outcomes for the Super Bowl - again, not one of them would be short on entertainment, especially for those without a dog in the fight. But which is the most intriguing to bet?Let's dig into the Super Bowl matchup prop market.Outcome OddsChiefs to beat Packers+325Packers to beat Chiefs+450Bills to beat Packers+525Chiefs to beat Buccaneers+575Packers to beat Bills+575Buccaneers to beat Chiefs+825Bills to beat Buccaneers+900Buccaneers to beat Bills+900Best betBuccaneers to beat the Bills +900We're betting on both underdogs to win outright this weekend, but we're also investing in arguably the two hottest teams in the NFL. Let's start with Tampa Bay.DVOA sees the Buccaneers as the best team left standing. Truthfully, it's not even close.Rank TeamDVOA 1Saints33.3%2Buccaneers31.5%3Packers25.9%4Bills23.8%5Seahawks20.1%6Chiefs19.5%Tampa Bay's rise from No. 14 in this department last year to No. 2 this season was the third-biggest improvement, behind only Washington (No. 30 to 16) and Miami (No. 32 to 14). As it stands, the Bucs are the only team with both a top-five DVOA offense (No. 3) and defense (No. 5).The offense is on fire over the last five, cashing all five team total overs to the tune of 36.6 points per game. The defensive unit hasn't allowed more than 27 points in nine straight, ranking No. 7 in yards per play and No. 8 in scoring.This is the perfect opportunity to invest in Brady and Co. - after all, the future Hall of Famer's a blistering 40-17-1 against the spread as an underdog.Now, let's turn our attention to the Bills.They've won nine of their last 10, both straight up and ATS. Buffalo's advanced metrics check out, with the team ranking third in total DVOA. In the last meeting against the Chiefs, Kansas City had the ball for roughly 16 more minutes, ran 22 more plays, and logged 260 more yards. It was a masterful game plan from head coach Andy Reid.From a pure numbers perspective, this is simply the perfect time to buy the Bills. The club is playing its style of football at the right time and also happens to draw the Chiefs during a week in which quarterback Patrick Mahomes' status is up in the air.Finally, I'd project Tampa Bay as slight favorites over Buffalo in the Super Bowl. Brady faces a foe he faced twice per season for roughly 20 years and cements his legacy as the GOAT, leading the franchise to a title in his first season and ultimately tying the bow on this 9-1 long shot.Oh, and if the Bills and Bucs both suffer double-digit losses this weekend, you'll know who to thank for the jinx.(Odds source: theScore Bet)Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The AFC Championship Game could be an all-timer if Patrick Mahomes is healthy.The reigning Super Bowl MVP's status for Sunday's clash against the Buffalo Bills is still uncertain after he suffered a concussion last weekend. If he can't play, veteran quarterback Chad Henne would start for the Kansas City Chiefs (-3, 53).Let's dive into Sunday's matchup and see where we can find value.Trends and resultsThe public continues to look foolish when fading the Bills.Buffalo beat the Ravens and covered as 2.5-point chalk in the divisional round, improving to 9-1 both straight up and against the spread over the team's last 10 games. The Bills promptly go from a home favorite to a road 'dog this Sunday, but head coach Sean McDermott hasn't been fazed in that spot, with his club covering in each of its last four contests when getting points, and four straight away from home.The Chiefs, meanwhile, failed to cover last Sunday against Cleveland, marking the team's seventh ATS loss over its last eight games as a favorite. Kansas City has also been held to 22 points or fewer in three straight contests.These two squads can score fast, as both offenses rank among the top five in DVOA. But some totals this postseason haven't come close to hitting the over. In fact, playoff games featuring totals of 50 or higher are on a 19-9 run to the under after all three cashed in the divisional round.X-factorJosh AllenAll the talk is centered around Mahomes and Henne, but Allen is the real X-factor here.The Chiefs put on a ball-control clinic during the regular-season meeting between these two teams, holding on for roughly 38 minutes while running 22 more plays, and outgaining the Bills by a whopping 260 yards.Allen was given only nine drives to work with in the 22-17 loss. He finished the outing just 14-of-27 passing for 122 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, and 42 yards on the ground.His job Sunday is to make every drive count.The Bills rely heavily on Allen. He's first on the team in rushing touchdowns, and Buffalo ranks No. 12 in pass-play frequency despite ranking No. 5 in scoring margin. The coaching staff prefers to put the ball in the passer's hands, which was evident when Buffalo called just nine rushing attempts for players not named Allen last weekend.To defeat Kansas City in its own building, Allen needs to be a one-man wrecking crew.Best betFirst half over 26McDermott, offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, and the rest of the Bills' coaching staff have typically come out with a solid game plan, as Buffalo ranks No. 3 in the NFL in first-half points per game at 15.7. The Bills should show a serious sense of urgency Sunday after how difficult it was to maintain possession during the previous meeting between these clubs, especially early as road 'dogs in a hostile environment.Kansas City, meanwhile, is tied for fourth in first-half points per game (15.4). If Mahomes returns, it should be business as usual. But if Henne is under center, I'd feel much more comfortable playing the first-half total than the full game. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and his staff will likely dial up a couple of early scripted plays tailored to Henne's strengths before the defense adjusts.Look for the offenses to come out firing.(Odds source: theScore Bet)Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is "totally certain" star quarterback Lamar Jackson will ink a long-term extension with the team, according to The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec.It was reported prior to the club's divisional-round loss to the Buffalo Bills that Jackson and Baltimore are expected to engage in contract talks this offseason. The reigning MVP will likely become one of the league's highest-paid quarterbacks.Jackson won his first career playoff game while rushing for 136 yards and a touchdown in a wild-card matchup against the Tennessee Titans. But he struggled in the loss to Buffalo before exiting during the second half with a concussion."He's a young player still and he's going to continue to grow," said Harbaugh on Wednesday. "Lamar is just embarking on that, just starting on that.""The truth is that he needs to get better just like all the players," he added.Jackson's passing stats dipped across the board from his MVP season a year ago.He threw for 2,757 yards and 26 touchdowns against nine interceptions compared to 3,127 yards and 36 scores against six picks in 2019. His completion percentage (66.1% to 64.4%) and yards per attempt (7.8 average to 7.3) also decreased.In the two playoff games, Jackson went 31-of-48 passing (64.6%) for 341 yards and zero touchdowns against two interceptions, including a pick-6 against the Bills.Harbaugh knows his offense needs reinforcements at wide receiver to help Jackson's development, but he said the Ravens will be smart about how they spend money in free agency."It depends on who you are going to get and what's the cost and whether he wants to be here," said Harbaugh. "I think a big, physical receiver would be awesome for us. We can use anybody who is talented and good."A host of productive veteran receivers are set to headline this year's free-agent class, most notably Allen Robinson, Kenny Golladay, and Chris Godwin.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Richard Sherman offered a potential solution for Deshaun Watson's frustration with the Houston Texans: team up with Sherman's former defensive coordinator.The San Francisco 49ers cornerback, who's scheduled to hit free agency this offseason, believes Watson should angle for a trade to the New York Jets, who recently hired Robert Saleh as their new head coach."If I was Deshaun, I'd get out of there as quickly as possible," Sherman said on "The Cris Collinsworth Podcast," according to Justin Tasch of the New York Post. "I'd head to New York."Sherman added: "It would be the most beautiful (match). Decent offensive line. They'd have to find some threats, they'd have to find some offensive weapons, but I think there would be a lot more people excited to be there. ... I'd be out of there on the first thing smokin'."Watson has been involved in trade speculation after he reportedly expressed frustration with the club over being left out of the team's general manager and head coaching searches.People within the Texans organization have apparently speculated that the star quarterback has played his final snap with the club."They're saying (Watson is) not answering any calls or any texts - I wouldn't either," Sherman said. "He's done everything. He's taken a beating for you guys and played efficiently."The Jets currently hold the second overall pick in this year's draft and could potentially offer Houston one of the more intriguing packages to acquire Watson.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley and Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. are planning to join forces this offseason to continue to rehab from torn ACLs that prematurely ended both their 2020 seasons."Only thing I do know that I have planned for sure, I'm definitely going to link up with (Odell)," Barkley told ESPN's Jordan Raanan. "Obviously Odell tore his knee a little too. I think we both need just being there. We're really good friends. Competing with each other and pushing each other will also be good too. That's the only thing I know for certain I will do. Everything else is up in the air."Barkley and Beckham developed a friendship during their lone campaign together in New York in 2018 and continue to speak regularly.The two star players are in similar places in their rehabilitation timeline as Barkley underwent surgery on Oct. 30 and Beckham had his procedure on Nov. 10.Barkley left an open invitation for other NFLers who suffered significant knee injuries this season to join him and Beckham for training."Every year we always link up with him at some point, somewhere. Definitely going to find a way to link up," Barkley said. "Obviously I would love to, any of those guys that are going through this injury, whether it's Joe (Burrow), (Devin) Bush, Bud (Dupree), there are a couple guys, any guy, I think it would be really dope if we could all link up."Barkley will be entering a pivotal fourth year in NFL in 2021 and is eligible for a contract extension this offseason. However, he'll likely try to produce another standout campaign to maximize his value.The 2018 draft's No. 2 pick racked up 2,310 rushing yards, 1,159 receiving yards, and 23 total touchdowns over his first two seasons.Meanwhile, Beckham will presumably also be looking to remind the NFL world of his talents in 2021. The wideout had a below-par first year in Cleveland in 2018 and was on pace for just a 730-yard campaign before suffering his injury in Week 7.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Lions officially announced on Wednesday the hiring of Dan Campbell as the team's next head coach.Campbell will receive a six-year contract with Detroit, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports."With more than 20 years of experience as both a coach and player in the National Football League, Dan knows the rigors of professional football and what it takes to be successful," Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp said in a statement."He will help promote the culture we want to establish across our organization while also bringing with him high energy, a respect for the game, and an identity with which everyone can align themselves."The 44-year-old spent the last five seasons with the New Orleans Saints as their tight ends coach and assistant to the head coach.Campbell also served as the Miami Dolphins' interim head coach in 2015, going 5-7 on the job.The Lions will be hoping their new head coach can bring some much-needed stability after they fired Matt Patricia during the 2020 campaign. Patricia finished with a 13-29 record during his tenure.Detroit has missed the playoffs in each of its last four seasons and has just three postseason appearances since 2000.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The Titans were the NFL's breakout stars a year ago and entered the AFC Championship Game with something to prove. They were riding a 9-3 run against the spread behind the historically efficient play of Ryan Tannehill, who took a backseat in the playoffs as Derrick Henry tore through the Patriots and Ravens to set up a semifinal matchup with the Chiefs.When it was Tannehill's time to shine, he came up short. He posted one of his least efficient showings of the season in his first-ever conference championship appearance, as Kansas City rolled to the Super Bowl behind the steady play of Patrick Mahomes. It was a similar story for Mahomes in his debut title game a year prior, and for the long line of quarterbacks before him.Since the NFL changed its playoff format ahead of the 2002 season, 10 signal-callers have reached the AFC Championship Game for the first time. Those quarterbacks went 0-10 straight up and 2-8 ATS, losing by an average of 13.1 points per contest. The last quarterback to win their AFC title debut was Tom Brady during the 2001 campaign. Brady has since crushed the dreams of six first-timers in the last two decades.This year, Josh Allen has played at an MVP level to carry the Bills (+3) to Sunday's matchup with the Chiefs, who are making their third consecutive title game appearance. The dynamic of Sunday's contest obviously changes if Mahomes can't play, though the challenge remains for Allen in his first-ever AFC Championship Game. Can he reverse the daunting trend of first-time quarterbacks in this spot?New challenger, same resultThe AFC has been the conference of dynasties and all-time great passers for the better part of two decades. Since the 2003 season, every single AFC title game has featured one of Brady, Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, or Mahomes, and only one quarterback (Joe Flacco) has outdueled that group to reach the Super Bowl.None have done so on their first try. Here's a list of every quarterback since the 2002 campaign who made his first AFC championship appearance and how his team fared in that matchup:SEASONQUARTERBACKMATCHUPRESULTSU/ATS2019Ryan TannehillTitans (+7.5) at Chiefs24-35L/L2018Patrick MahomesChiefs (-3) vs. Patriots31-37L/L2017Blake BortlesJaguars (+7.5) at Patriots20-24L/W2014Andrew LuckColts (+7) at Patriots7-45L/L2009Mark SanchezJets (+8.5) at Colts17-30L/L2008Joe FlaccoRavens (+6) at Steelers14-23L/L2007Philip RiversChargers (+14.5) at Patriots12-21L/W2005Jake PlummerBroncos (-3.5) vs. Steelers17-34L/L2004Ben RoethlisbergerSteelers (+3) vs. Patriots27-41L/L2003Peyton ManningColts (+4) vs. Patriots14-24L/LTwo of those quarterbacks were coming off MVP seasons. Two were favored, four were at home. None of it mattered. Only Philip Rivers and Blake Bortles managed an ATS win by squeaking out close losses as big underdogs. Eight of those passers lost by at least nine points, and all 10 lost by at least four - which would spell an ATS loss for the Bills if that trend continues Sunday.Yes, every one of those quarterbacks had to face one of Brady, Manning, Roethlisberger, or Mahomes in their conference title debut, but that alone doesn't justify the record of the first-time challengers. Those four have gone a combined 8-1 ATS in the AFC title game against quarterbacks making their first appearance. They're a lackluster 6-9 ATS against all other passers in the championship game, and only Manning has a winning record in such contests.Those four all-time greats also don't explain the newcomers' struggles on the big stage. The 10 aforementioned signal-callers averaged 221.8 passing yards in their conference title debuts with a combined 12 touchdown throws, 17 interceptions, and six fumbles. Only two of them completed more than 60% of their passes in the semifinals, and six of them threw multiple picks.Can Allen handle the pressure?Allen has been on a tear this year, ranking in the top five in passing yards (4,544), touchdowns (37), and first downs (228) en route to a likely top-three finish in MVP voting. Still, he's struggled in two of his three career postseason games and has been contained in two career contests against the Chiefs.Truthfully, it's hard to know how Allen will look in the biggest game of his career. Manning won the MVP in 2003 and was on fire in the playoffs before wilting in his first conference championship game. Roethlisberger (2004) and Rivers (2007) threw multiple picks in their debuts. It's up to Allen to rewrite that narrative in a favorable matchup Sunday - unless the AFC title jitters get to him.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.

Philip Rivers is hanging up his cleats after 17 seasons.The Indianapolis Colts quarterback told Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune that he's retiring from the NFL."It's just time," Rivers said. "It's just right.""What has helped me come to this (decision) is the growing desire to coach high school football," he added. "That's what I've always wanted to do. It's been growing. I can't wait."One of the most productive and consistent quarterbacks in league history, Rivers played the first 16 years of his career with the then-San Diego (later Los Angeles) Chargers before signing with Indianapolis last March.The 39-year-old is the Chargers' all-time leader in wins, passing yards, and passing touchdowns, and he was named to eight Pro Bowls while with the club.Rivers also ends his career starting 240 straight games without missing one to injury, trailing only Brett Favre at quarterback.The former No. 4 overall pick ranks fifth in league history with 63,440 career passing yards and 421 touchdowns. Despite never capturing a Super Bowl, he should have a legitimate chance of being enshrined in the Hall of Fame.Rivers led the Colts to an 11-5 record and a postseason berth in 2020, topping 4,000 yards for the eighth straight season and 12th time in his career. His final campaign ended with a wild-card loss to the Buffalo Bills."This is the first year I felt like the ending was real," he said. "We talked about it other years, but we knew we weren't doing it. This year felt different. … It just seemed right."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson likely won't be on an NFL sideline for the 2021 season.Pederson texted The Philadelphia Inquirer's Les Bowen on Tuesday night and said he is "leaning toward taking the next year off and preparing for (the) next season."The 52-year-old hasn't been mentioned as a contender for the Houston Texans' head coaching job, the lone remaining vacancy outside of Philadelphia's.Pederson has reportedly spoken with the Seattle Seahawks regarding their offensive coordinator role following the dismissal of Brian Schottenheimer.Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy similarly opted for a year away from football in 2019 after being fired by the Green Bay Packers. Dallas hired him ahead of the 2020 campaign.Pederson ended his time in Philadelphia with a 42-37-1 record, a 4-2 postseason mark, and a Super Bowl victory during the 2017 season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to make Trent Baalke their general manager, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Baalke served as the club's interim general manager to close out the 2020 season following the firing of Dave Caldwell. He'll now join forces with new head coach Urban Meyer.The general manager's role in the Jaguars' roster management remains to be seen. Team owner Shad Khan said earlier this month that Jacksonville will be "carrying out Urban's vision for the team," according to MMQB's Albert Breer.This will be Baalke's second opportunity as a general manager after serving in the same role with the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2016. Baalke brings a proven track record, as the 49ers reached the conference championship on three consecutive occasions during his tenure.The Jaguars will have a fortune of flexibility to work with this offseason. Jacksonville is slated to pick first overall in the upcoming draft and projected to have over $75 million in cap space next season, the most in the NFL, according to Spotrac.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and has finished among the top seven each of the last seven years.For fantasy owners looking to get a head start on the competition, here's the first look at the 2021 dynasty rookie rankings. Superflex rankings can be found in the second table.Dynasty Rankings & Trade Values

NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith says the upcoming offseason will likely be virtual again due to the COVID-19 pandemic."We're planning for an offseason that looks a lot like (the 2020) offseason," Smith said, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Smith added he's pessimistic about the widespread vaccinations of players by August and described the situation as not having a "rosy outlook."The NFL barred in-person minicamps and OTAs last year as teams held virtual sessions instead. Players then reported for training camp but with new measures implemented, such as daily testing.The players union and league negotiated all the previous offseason adjustments, and the expectation is that will happen again. Smith said the situation would likely get assessed sometime in March or April.The NFL has already made an alteration to the 2021 offseason by changing the combine's format. Workouts will take place at individual pro days on college campuses, while interviews will be conducted virtually.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Lions introduced new executive vice president and general manager Brad Holmes on Tuesday, and the man entrusted with turning around a downtrodden franchise shared his vision for the team's future, both short and long term."When you get into the offseason, every franchise will look at the areas that they might need some, let's say, retooling at, areas that need to be addressed. But the ultimate goal is to make sure that the most competitive team is on the field and that starts right this year and entering the 2021 season," Holmes said."Not viewing this as, 'Oh this will be long term, I don't know how long it's going to take,' that's not the approach. That's not the mindset going into it. The approach is to make sure that we can put the most competitive team possible out there on the field in 2021."The Lions finished last in the NFC North each of the last three seasons and have missed the playoffs every year since 2016.Detroit has an aging roster and is projected to have just $5 million in cap space with which to turn its fortunes around.Holmes, his front office staff, and the incoming head coach will have decisions to make on impending free agents such as Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones, but even more pressing is determining what to do with franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford. The 32-year-old is under contract for three more seasons and would represent a $33-million cap hit in 2021.Holmes hasn't yet began the process of evaluating his new quarterback."Matthew, great player ... I think the talent level is easy to see, but you really appreciate how his intangibles show in film: how urgent he plays, how competitive he is, the toughness he shows," he said."But, it is my job to evaluate the entire roster and through that process, I have not had any discussions with Matt, or any players, for that matter. I just want to be fair to the process and make sure that we evaluate that thoroughly."Finally, when asked about a defense that ranked dead last in both points and yards allowed, Holmes again said the team will "retool in some areas, but there are some building blocks there.""We will address that side of the ball just like we'll address the offensive side of the ball. There's no area that we won't work to improve in. But I do think that there are some good young, talented pieces that are still in their phase of developing," he said.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In his first press conference as Denver Broncos general manager, George Paton wasn’t ready to endorse quarterback Drew Lock as a franchise cornerstone.Paton stated he would need more time before delivering his thoughts on Denver's second-year passer."I liked Drew coming out of the draft. A big arm, athletic, a playmaker," said Paton, according to Kyle Fredrickson of the Denver Post."I haven't studied him. I haven't gotten into a lot of tape. I've only been here four days. I've watched enough tape to know that he's talented. He can develop."Paton wasn't ready to name Lock the unquestioned starter, but did highlight the importance of having a leader."The quarterback is the most important position in sports. If you don’t have stability at quarterback, you're going to have a hard time sustaining winning. I think we all want the franchise quarterback, and that's the No. 1 goal is trying to draft and develop or acquire any way you can."The 24-year-old was selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft and started five games as a rookie. The Broncos won four of their final five contests, leading to plenty of optimism entering 2020.Ultimately, Lock passed for 2,933 yards and 16 touchdowns last season while tossing a league-high 15 interceptions. He also added 160 rushing yards for three touchdowns."I still think that Drew is a young guy," president of football operations John Elway said. "He showed flashes this year, but he made mistakes. Young quarterbacks always make mistakes. I made a million mistakes my first two or three years, but it’s how you can learn from those. Drew did a nice job this year, but George will continue to look to fill that spot if we don’t think that Drew is that guy."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke highly of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy on Tuesday.The Chiefs offensive coordinator has been frequently discussed during the 2021 coaching carousel and Reid believes Bieniemy would align perfectly with any front office."He's tremendous, a leader of men. There's nobody better that's a better leader of men than Eric Bieniemy. Nobody. He is tremendous, and for an organization to have him be a part of that and to just take off and run with that is an owner's dream," Reid said on The Team 980's "Brian Mitchell Show."Bieniemy has interviewed with numerous clubs but most have gone in a different direction for their head coaching vacancy. Reid suggested the virtual hiring climate could be the reason for teams snubbing the coordinator."I don't know if they can learn that (about Bieniemy) in an hour Webex meeting, you know," Reid added.Only two teams - the Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles - remain on the hunt for a new head coach, and each club has expressed various levels of interest. The Eagles reportedly put in a request to interview the coordinator while the Texans spoke to Bieniemy on Monday after receiving clearance from the NFL.Bieniemy was reportedly one of the top choices picked out by Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, but the team opted to interview other candidates first.The Chiefs' offense has thrived under Bieniemy, who's been in his current role since 2018. Kansas City has ranked first in total offense in two of his three years while also finishing in the top 10 in scoring throughout his tenure.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent wide receiver Corey Coleman received a six-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Coleman spent time with the New York Giants in 2020 but didn't appear in a game. He settled into a role as kickoff returner for the Giants in 2018 while also seeing occasional snaps on offense, but his momentum was stunted in 2019 when he tore his ACL in training camp.The Cleveland Browns drafted Coleman 15th overall out of Baylor in 2016. Memorably, he dared the Browns to trade him in a meeting with Hue Jackson that aired on HBO's "Hard Knocks" in 2018, and Cleveland shipped him to the Buffalo Bills days later. The Bills cut him less than a month after acquiring him.Coleman, 26, posted 61 receptions for 789 yards and five touchdowns across 27 appearances split between the Browns and Giants.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints secondary coach Aaron Glenn is close to signing a deal with the Detroit Lions to be the team's new defensive coordinator, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Glenn becomes the latest Saints staff member to head to the Motor City after tight ends coach Dan Campbell accepted the Lions' head coaching job. Glenn has spent the past four seasons as a member of the coaching staff in New Orleans and was with the Cleveland Browns as an assistant secondary coach in 2014-15.Glenn, 48, was a first-round selection of the New York Jets in the 1994 NFL Draft. The Texas A&M alum played in the league for 15 years, spending time with the Jets, Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Saints.As the architect of the Lions' defense, Glenn will be tasked with improving a unit that allowed the most yards per game (419.8) and surrendered the most points (32.4) in the NFL.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes cleared "some big steps" Tuesday but remains in the NFL's concussion protocol, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Mahomes, who is also dealing with a foot issue, is hopeful to return to practice on Wednesday, adds Schefter.The star passer left Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns after leaving the divisional round playoff match with an apparent concussion.More to come.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL announced its eight-member officiating crew for Super Bowl LV on Tuesday.Down judge Sarah Thomas will make history as the first woman ever to officiate a Super Bowl."Sarah Thomas has made history again as the first female Super Bowl official,” said Troy Vincent Sr., the NFL's executive vice president of football operations. "Her elite performance and commitment to excellence has earned her the right to officiate the Super Bowl. Congratulations to Sarah on this well-deserved honor."Thomas will join Carl Cheffers, Fred Bryan, Rusty Baynes, James Coleman, Eugene Hall, and Dino Paganelli in overseeing the game. Mike Wimmer will serve as replay official.The on-field officiating crew boasts a combined 88 years of NFL experience, including 77 combined playoff game assignments.Super Bowl LV is scheduled for Feb. 7 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams are focused on former Atlanta Falcons interim head coach Raheem Morris to fill their vacancy at defensive coordinator, sources told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.The Rams lost their previous coordinator, Brandon Staley, to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers hired Staley as their head coach after his unit ranked first in the NFL in yards allowed during his only campaign with the Rams.Morris entered the 2020 season as the Falcons' defensive coordinator. He was promoted to head coach on a temporary basis after Atlanta fired Dan Quinn. Morris guided the Falcons to a 4-7 mark after they began the season 0-5 under Quinn.Morris hadn't served as a defensive coordinator prior to 2020, though he did collect experience as a head coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009-11.The Jacksonville Jaguars are among the other teams that have reportedly shown interest in Morris as a defensive coordinator candidate.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas needs surgeries to repair a torn deltoid ligament and other ligaments in his bothersome ankle, reports ESPN's Adam Schefter.Thomas battled through the season after suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 1. He missed a slew of games after that and spent the final three weeks of the regular season on injured reserve while still dealing with the effects of the injury.After leading the NFL with 149 catches and 1,725 yards last season, Thomas managed only 40 receptions and 438 yards over seven outings this year. He caught five passes for 73 yards and a touchdown in a victory over the Chicago Bears on Wild Card Weekend, but he failed to reel in any of his four targets in a divisional-round loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Thomas, 27, was a first-team All-Pro selection in 2018 and 2019 after topping the league in receptions both years.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown is day-to-day after suffering a knee injury in the NFC divisional round, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Brown underwent an MRI after the Buccaneers defeated the New Orleans Saints, Rapoport reports, but it showed no serious injury.Brown, who was seen tending to his knee during Sunday's contest, was limited to one reception for 10 yards against the Saints. The 32-year-old had 45 catches for 483 yards and four touchdowns in eight regular-season appearances.Antonio Brown playoff stats (2 games)TargetsReceptionsYardsTouchdowns53591The Buccaneers will hit the road for the third time this postseason when they visit the Green Bay Packers for the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 24. Tampa last reached the NFC title game in 2002, the season the team won its only Super Bowl.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons have hired New Orleans Saints director of player personnel Terry Fontenot as their new general manager, the team announced Tuesday.Fontenot spent 18 seasons rising through the ranks of New Orleans' front office. He spent the seven years prior to 2020 as the Saints' director of pro scouting before being promoted to assistant general manager to Mickey Loomis."When we started this process, we were focused on finding someone that not only has a track record of identifying key building blocks that result in successful teams but also someone who focuses on cohesive relationships within the building," Falcons owner Arthur Blank said. "We feel very strongly that we've found that individual in Terry Fontenot."In his past positions, he has shown the ability to make strong decisions and judgments that result in championship-caliber teams while also understanding a variety of viewpoints and respecting a collaborative process throughout. Landing a leader of Terry's stature, I believe our organization, players, fans, and community will have confidence in our approach throughout this process as I am certain Terry will represent them and the expectations they have to a high level."Fontenot will take over a veteran-heavy team looking to rebound from three straight years without a playoff appearance. The Falcons finished 4-12 this season after firing longtime head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff in October.Atlanta has already picked its new head coach, agreeing to a deal with Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jerry Rice has weighed in on the quarterback GOAT debate.Asked Monday whether he would choose Joe Montana or Tom Brady with a game on the line, Rice went with his former San Francisco 49ers teammate."I'm going with Joe Montana because, like I said, it was a different era," the Hall of Fame wide receiver said during an appearance on 95.7 The Game. "Not taking anything away from what's happening today, but you look at the game today, the way it's played, you look at how receivers are protected - I never thought I would see an era where the running back doesn't have to be on the ground for them to stop the play because this, to me, is supposed to be tackle football."So, it's a whole different era, and I would go with Montana any day because he was Joe Cool, and he was in an era where he was not as protected."Montana played in the NFL from 1979-94, winning four Super Bowls and three Super Bowl MVP awards. Brady, who's in the midst of his 21st pro season, owns six Super Bowl rings and is a four-time Super Bowl MVP.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens will release veteran running back Mark Ingram on Tuesday after two seasons with the team, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Ingram's release will give the Ravens $5 million in salary-cap relief while also allowing the veteran an early start on free agency.The running back rushed for over 1,000 yards during his first year with the Ravens but fell out of favor during the 2020 season. Ingram's role decreased as the year progressed, and he fell behind the likes of J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards. Ingram was a healthy scratch for four of the team's final five games, including its two postseason contests.The Ravens will likely continue to rely on a potent rushing attack that features Dobbins, Edwards, and quarterback Lamar Jackson next season. Jackson led the team with 1,005 rushing yards but Dobbins also impressed during his rookie campaign, compiling 805 yards on the ground. Edwards contributed 723 rushing yards of his own.Ingram finished with a career-low 299 rushing yards this season and appeared in only 11 games, his fewest since 2013.The running back thanked the organization Monday night and also noted the best is still ahead for him.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans interviewed Eric Bieniemy for their head coaching position Monday after getting permission to speak with the Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator early.The Texans also interviewed Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, and Baltimore Ravens assistant head coach David Culley.The NFL waived a rule preventing teams from conducting an initial interview with a candidate who's still in the playoffs, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. The amendment allowed the Texans to ask - and receive - permission from the Chiefs to meet virtually with Bieniemy before the AFC Championship Game.Bieniemy was expected to be a coveted candidate in the 2021 coaching cycle, but five of the seven vacancies are already filled. The Texans and Philadelphia Eagles are the only clubs still looking for a new head coach.Bieniemy reportedly received an endorsement from Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson weeks ago, but Houston interviewed other candidates before reaching out to him.Watson, upset over the hiring process the Texans used to find a new general manager, has reportedly grown frustrated with the franchise to the point where he could seek a trade."(The Texans have) gone from the least desirable head coaching (opening) to the most undesirable head coaching job in the NFL," a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Sunday. "That's a fact. That's how that job is now looked at by everybody."The Chiefs finished first, fifth, and sixth in the NFL for points per game since Bieniemy became offensive coordinator in 2018.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay and quarterback Jared Goff may not be on the same page entering the 2021 offseason.The relationship between the two isn't great but can still be fixed, sources told NFL Network's Steve Wyche."The people I've spoken to said basically at this moment the relationship with Goff and McVay (is) not great. They need 'marriage counseling' is what one person said to me. I think this is something that they're going to be able to work through, but there's got to be some healing," Wyche said.McVay has been noncommittal on Goff as the team's quarterback since the Rams were eliminated from the postseason. The head coach described the passer only as the quarterback for "right now" and said "everything is being evaluated" when it comes to the franchise's future under center.The 26-year-old stumbled down the stretch, finishing with a passer rating under 90 in four of his last seven games.Goff missed the regular-season finale due to thumb surgery but returned for the playoffs. He was initially forced to sit behind John Wolford for the Rams' wild-card game before entering due to an injury to Wolford.Drafted with the first overall pick in 2016, Goff found success to begin his career. He led the Rams to a Super Bowl appearance during his third season and signed a four-year, $134-million contract in 2019.The Rams will incur a $65.5-million dead cap hit if they cut Goff this offseason, with that figure dropping to $30.9 million the following year, according to Spotrac. The contract includes a potential separation in 2023 at the cost of $8.6 million.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL informed all 32 teams on Monday that it's changing the format of the 2021 combine.There will be no in-person workouts, but they will instead take place at individual pro days on college campuses, the league stated.Team interviews and psychological testing and assessments will be done virtually."This plan will likely involve a combination of virtual interviews by club medical staff and testing done at labs medical facilities near the prospects' residence," the league said.Leading up to the 2021 NFL Draft, invited prospects will be scheduled for media interviews with league and team media personnel.Any head coaches and general managers who are often available during the combine are being asked to do so virtually this year.The NFL held its first combine in 1987 in Indianapolis. The annual event has become a staple of the offseason calendar.No information was given about the possibility of moving the date of the 2021 draft. The three-day event is set to take place from April 29 to May 1.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Championship Game, head coach Bruce Arians praised Tom Brady's leadership abilities in contributing to the team's success. In fact, Arians believes he's allowed Brady to lead like never before."(Brady's) got the air of confidence that permeates through our team every day. I allow him to be himself. Like, (the) New England (Patriots) didn't allow him to coach. I allow him to coach. I just sit back sometimes and watch," Arians told Peter King of NBC Sports.Linebacker Devin White echoed his coach's sentiments, complimenting Brady's leadership qualities and team-first attitude."(The) thing I love about Tom is he's always teaching," White said. "Teaching me how to be a great leader. Every single day, every single practice, he puts the team before himself."White added: "(A) few weeks ago, I was kinda upset I didn't make the Pro Bowl. He's like, 'D, there's a bigger bowl I'm chasing. We're all chasing it. C'mon.'"I just thought, 'Man, it's a blessing to hear that. I need to hear that.' This thing's about us. He's still chasing those bowls in his 40s. I am just so grateful to be able to spend this time with him."Brady, 43, has enjoyed another stellar season after 20 years with the Patriots. He threw 40 touchdowns in 2020, his most since 2007. He also became the first quarterback in their 40s to register 40 scores.The Buccaneers are set to take on the Green Bay Packers on Sunday in their first NFC title game since the 2002 season. The matchup will mark Brady's 14th conference title game but his first without the Patriots and Bill Belichick.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Carolina Panthers general manager Marty Hurney is the top candidate to assume the same role for the Washington Football Team, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Hurney is reportedly meeting with Washington head coach Ron Rivera and other team officials Monday. Rivera and Hurney previously worked together with Carolina.Washington didn't hire a general manager in 2020; Rivera led football operations while vice president of player personnel Kyle Smith oversaw the draft. The franchise planned to hire a GM this offseason to support Rivera, who should retain roster control.Hurney had two stints as the Panthers' general manager, first filling the role from 2002-12 before returning in 2017. Carolina fired him in December as the team sank to its third consecutive losing season.While the Panthers were looking for a more analytics-minded executive when they dismissed Hurney, Washington is rooted in more traditional scouting techniques under Rivera.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.