Free-agent wide receiver Chris Hogan is signing with the New York Jets, a source told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.The Jets will be Hogan's third official AFC East team. He played for the Buffalo Bills from 2012-15 before joining the New England Patriots for three seasons.Hogan was also spent time on the Miami Dolphins' practice squad in 2011 but never made their roster.The wideout spent the 2019 campaign with the Carolina Panthers. He played just seven games due to a knee injury.Hogan is joining a Jets wide receiver group that includes Breshad Perriman, Jamison Crowder, and rookie Denzel Mims.The veteran's best season came with the Patriots in 2016. He racked up 680 yards and four touchdowns on 38 catches, averaging 17.9 yards per reception.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Green Bay Packers signed defensive tackle Kenny Clark to an extension Saturday, the team announced.Terms of the pact weren't officially disclosed, but a source tells ESPN's Adam Schefter Clark inked a new four-year contract worth $70 million.The 24-year-old will take home a $25-million signing bonus and $37 million in total over the first two years of the deal, Schefter adds.The veteran's $17.5-million annual salary average tops all nose tackles and ranks 12th among defensive players.There was one year left and $7.69 million remaining on the 2016 first-round pick's rookie deal, and he's now under contract through the 2024 season.Clark made his first Pro Bowl last campaign after racking up six sacks and 62 tackles.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Mahomes has received all sorts of high praise since bursting onto the NFL scene two years ago but maybe none quite like the compliment the star quarterback received Saturday from Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy."You guys have been around him, you know him. He's a competitive prick, OK," Bieniemy said with a smile, according to NFL.com's Grant Gordon. "He's a great kid, but he's a competitive prick."

There are a number of contradictory factors to consider when evaluating Sam Darnold's standing as the New York Jets' quarterback ahead of his third NFL season.Over here, he had mono. Over there, he saw ghosts. Over here, he went 6-2 to finish the 2019 season. Over there, that second-half schedule was populated with relatively weak pass defenses. Over here, most of his advanced stats are pretty meh. Over there, the Jets' offensive line was terrible. Over here, he made a lot of bad throws. Over there, he improvises a lot and his pass-catchers were subpar. And so on. In the middle of all that? Head coach Adam Gase.Yes, it's low-hanging fruit to rag on the Jets for being a clown-shoe operation that specializes in finding new frontiers of comic dysfunction. But Darnold was supposed to be the hinge upon which they might finally snap themselves out of their decade-long funk. Yet the Jets still look on paper like a team likely to stagger through another losing season, which means they'll have wasted the opportune years afforded them by the value of Darnold's rookie contract.One obvious caveat: general manager Joe Douglas has only been on the job for 14 months. This offseason was his first chance to attack free agency and the draft, to implement his slow-but-steady approach to team building. Douglas reworked the offensive line - a vital but long-neglected unit that will feature four new starters this year - with value signings. He also traded safety Jamal Adams for a bounty of draft capital. Douglas is setting the Jets up to succeed in the future. But when will that future arrive? And will Darnold be a part of it when it does? That it's already fair to ask the latter question speaks to the sort of burden Darnold faces this season.The 2020 Football Outsiders Almanac offers up a damning statistic: Darnold is one of 13 quarterbacks since 2004 to post a negative DYAR (defense-adjusted yards above replacement) in each of his first two seasons. Alex Smith is the only member of that group who's had a decent career. In addition, per the Almanac, of the 43 quarterbacks drafted since 2004 to have started at least 17 games in his first two seasons, Darnold ranks just 24th with an ANY/A (adjusted net yards per pass attempt, which factors in sacks and interceptions) of 5.37. Timothy T Ludwig / Getty ImagesInterestingly, one of the QBs with a lower ANY/A in his first two seasons was Ryan Tannehill, who earned a big contract from the Tennessee Titans this offseason after flowering into an efficient replacement for Marcus Mariota. But Tannehill's experience reveals how much a quarterback can be influenced by circumstances beyond his control like coaching and surrounding personnel. It's important to keep that in mind when it comes to Darnold.One of the Jets' biggest acquisitions in 2019 was running back Le'Veon Bell, whose versatility figured to be a major asset. Inexplicably, Gase didn't use Bell the same way the Pittsburgh Steelers did. Bell still racked up 311 touches, including 66 catches, according to PFF. He ran a receiving route on 50% of his snaps played - a jump from 31.6% during his final season with the Steelers in 2017. But Gase largely positioned Bell in the backfield, rather than line him up in the slot.In 2017, Bell ran 12.9% of his receiving routes from the slot, per PFF. But last season, the Jets had him do that just 5.9% of the time, which was only 23 snaps. According to analyst Warren Sharp's data, the Jets ranked dead last in early-down success rate (50% of necessary yardage on first down, 70% on second down). They ran the ball third-most on second down and 10 or more yards, and those runs had a 15% success rate. When the Jets won the early-down success rate battle, they were 6-1. When they lost it, they were 1-8.Gase also had a way of telegraphing that the Jets might run the ball when they had multiple tight ends on the field. Per Sharp, whether they were in "12," "13," or "22" personnel (the first number indicates the number of running backs and second the number of tight ends), their tendency to run the ball ranked in the top three in the league. Brett Carlsen / Getty ImagesGase told reporters this week he did a "bad job" using Bell early last season, when he "was really trying to get him going, and at the same time teams kind of knew what we were doing and they were loading up the box and he was taking some shots." Gase is allegedly an offensive innovator. What took him so long to recognize this?Darnold's been saddled with crummy pass-catchers in his first two seasons, and not having injured tight end Chris Herndon was certainly a blow. Herndon is back, and Breshad Perriman and rookie second-round pick Denzel Mims are now the complements to slot man Jamison Crowder. But ESPN's Bill Barnwell noticed something worrisome about the route combinations in the Jets' passing game:

It's safe to say Jon Gruden is comfortable with his quarterback room heading into the 2020 campaign.Speaking to reporters Friday after his team's third training camp practice, the Las Vegas Raiders head coach lauded recently signed passer Marcus Mariota."He's interesting," Gruden said, according to ESPN's Paul Gutierrez. "He took off a couple times today and it really fired me up. He's been hurt, but (it) looks like the ankle really turned a corner. He's a dazzling playmaker with his feet and that's the key to his game."I saw glimpses of that today. It's exciting. Started off slow on seven-on-seven (drills), but (he) picked it up, had a nice day. Had a real nice day."Gruden has repeatedly stated this offseason that Derek Carr is firmly entrenched as the Raiders' starter, but Vegas inked the former No. 2 overall pick after five inconsistent years with the Tennessee Titans.Mariota lost his job last season to Ryan Tannehill, but profiles as one of the NFL's more reliable backups.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett might have lost the starting role this offseason, but he's optimistic he'll become a starter again - even if it's not with the Colts."I still believe in myself," Brissett told reporters Friday, including Mike Chappell of Fox 59. "I know I'm a starter in this league. I know I can play at a very high level. I did it last year."I know I'll be a starter in this league one day, again, wherever that may be."Brissett took over the starting role before the beginning of the 2019 season after Andrew Luck's surprise retirement. He posted a 7-8 record while tossing 2,942 yards and 18 touchdowns with six interceptions through 15 games.The 27-year-old previously filled in for Luck when he missed the entire 2017 campaign with an injury. Indianapolis finished 4-11 with Brissett under center that year.However, the Colts signed eight-time Pro Bowler Philip Rivers this offseason. The 15-year veteran signal-caller inked a one-year, $25-million contract in Indy.Brissett, meanwhile, signed a two-year extension last year and will become a free agent after the upcoming campaign. He's set to earn $21.3 million in 2020, according to Over The Cap.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns entered last season as the trendy pick to win the AFC North following Baker Mayfield's standout rookie campaign.But both the Browns and the 2018 No. 1 selection fell far short of expectations, and Mayfield said Friday the team's failures impacted him."Having success all through high school and college, and having that standard so high, and then (last year) not nearly as much success as I'm used to - so I would say I lost myself," said Mayfield, according to ESPN's Jake Trotter. "Not having that success, not finding out what was working, I think I tried different ways of trying to have that success and I didn't find it."So I lost myself in that, and I wasn't able to be who I (need to be) for these guys on the team."In 2019, Mayfield's interception total increased from 14 as a rookie to 21, the third-most in the league. The 25-year-old also threw five fewer touchdown passes and saw his completion percentage fall from 63.8% to 59.4%.The Browns' 6-10 finish led to the firing of head coach Freddie Kitchens after just one season. Cleveland also parted ways with general manager John Dorsey.The duo of head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry is tasked with making sure Mayfield gets back on track in 2020.To bounce back following his sophomore slump, the third-year quarterback spent the offseason focused on improving his conditioning."I think there was a lot of plays - looking back on last year - physically, I wasn't able to work out as much, being beat up. So I was heavier than I was ever playing before at a playing weight," said Mayfield. "I needed to be able to have the scrambling ability to move in the pocket. It's my job to be in prime physical shape, to show up and do my job on Sundays."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Holding out was never an option for Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook.It was reported in early June that Cook wouldn't report to training camp without a "reasonable extension," but the Pro Bowler said Friday that he never considered skipping team-related activities."That was never coming from me," Cook said, according to Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune. "I love being around the guys. Football is like a stress reliever for me.""I was going to be here, regardless of the speculations that came up about me not coming," he added.Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said in late July that Cook had already told him he'd report to training camp on time. Hours later, the player's agent, Zac Hiller, denied Cook made such statements.Under the NFL's new collective bargaining agreement, a player under contract won't receive an accrued season if he fails to report to his team's preseason training camp on the mandatory reporting date, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano.Cook joined the Vikings facility to undergo COVID-19 testing July 28.The 25-year-old believes it's just a matter of time until he inks a long-term contract extension and insists he's only focused on leading the Vikings to their first Super Bowl."I want to win a championship," Cook said, per Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "I love Minnesota, and I just think it hasn't been done yet, so I want to be the first to bring one here. So that's exactly what I'm thinking about, holding that trophy."Cook finally broke out in 2019 after missing 17 games due to injury in his first two pro seasons, racking up 1,135 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in 14 games. He also recorded 53 catches for 519 yards.The 2017 second-round pick is set to earn $1.33 million in base salary this season, according to Spotrac.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Francisco 49ers plan to sign veteran wide receivers Tavon Austin and J.J. Nelson, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.The agreements are pending physicals, Schefter adds.The 49ers have been dealing with issues at wide receiver. After losing veteran Emmanuel Sanders in free agency, San Francisco drafted Brandon Aiyuk in the first round this past April.However, the team is expected to kick off the 2020 season without second-year wideout Deebo Samuel, who suffered a foot injury this offseason. General manager John Lynch previously said Samuel "may miss some games."Austin, 30, appeared in 14 contests for the Cowboys in 2019, amassing just 13 receptions for 177 yards and one touchdown. The 2013 eighth overall pick, who can also contribute as a punt returner, enjoyed a career year with 58 catches for 509 yards and three scores with the Los Angeles Rams in 2016.Nelson, meanwhile, played in just two games with the Raiders last season. The 28-year-old's best campaign came with the Arizona Cardinals in 2016, when he racked up 34 catches for 568 yards and six touchdowns.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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, Andrew Erickson of Pro Football Focus joins Boone to discuss how to approach tight ends in this year's fantasy drafts, including which TEs will help lead you to a championship.

The reigning Super Bowl champions continue to make sure their biggest stars aren't going anywhere.The Kansas City Chiefs signed tight end Travis Kelce to an extension, the team announced Friday.Terms weren't disclosed, but sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter the veteran received a four-year extension worth $57.25 million. Kelce's deal includes $28 million in guaranteed money, Schefter adds.The reported agreement will keep Kelce under contract for the next six seasons. The five-time Pro Bowler was previously signed through 2021 after inking a five-year extension in 2016.Kelce's reported deal makes him the second-highest-paid tight end in NFL history. He trails only George Kittle, who reached an agreement with the San Francisco 49ers on a record five-year, $75-million extension Thursday. Kittle is set to earn $15 million per season under his new deal.Kelce, 30, has racked up at least 80 catches and 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last four seasons, including a 103-reception, 1,336-yard, 10-touchdown campaign in 2018.Kansas City already extended quarterback Patrick Mahomes and defensive lineman Chris Jones earlier this offseason. Mahomes inked the biggest contract in sports history while Jones become one of three interior defensive linemen to earn an average annual salary of at least $20 million.Mahomes was evidently excited about reports of Kelce's new contract:

New York Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams doesn't think safety Jamal Adams will find his new role with the Seattle Seahawks to be as exciting as his old one.Williams believes the Seahawks lack the defensive variations to utilize Adams' versatility as effectively as the Jets did during the All-Pro defender's tenure in New York."We're very multiple on how we do those things," Williams said of the Jets' defensive scheme. "Jamal may get bored there because they don't use their safety-type things and all the different complexities of maybe not showing what they're doing as much as we do."We'll do still the same patterns of things. We'll still do a lot of the same exact things, but we'll highlight the people we have here ... (Adams) had maybe his most productive year here because of how we highlighted the skill set that he's had."Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll responded to Williams' comments in a joking manner, noting Seattle's impressive track record in recent years."Well let's just pass it back: we don't make as many mistakes as he does," Carroll told Dave Mahler and Dick Fain on 950 KJR Radio. "Let's let him have a chance to come back. We might as well do something coast-to-coast - that will be fun."Gosh, we're so simple here you know and basically we probably won't get to that stuff," he added. "That might be a good idea, thanks for bringing it up."Adams has emerged as one of football's premier safeties since the Jets selected him sixth overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. The two-time Pro Bowler has averaged 91 tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles, and nine pass breakups per 16 games over his career.The Seahawks acquired the 24-year-old in a blockbuster trade with the Jets in July after Adams failed to ink a long-term extension with New York.Seattle's defense ranked 22nd in scoring and 28th in yards per carry allowed last season. The team's 32 forced turnovers, however, were the third-most in the NFL.Adams, who still has two years left on his rookie deal, is set to earn $3.59 million in 2020, according to Over The Cap.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Following an offseason mired in controversy, minority partners are pressuring Dan Snyder to sell the Washington Football Team, sources told Andrew Beaton and Cara Lombardo of The Washington Post.There's a growing sense of frustration among the ownership group regarding the handling of multiple situations this year. However, Snyder reportedly has no intention of selling the franchise at this time.The minority partners - who own approximately 40% of the team - include FedEx Corp. CEO Fred Smith, Black Diamond Capital chairman Robert Rothman, and NVR Inc. chairman Dwight Schar. The group recently hired an investment firm to sell their interest in Washington, according to Beaton and Lombardo.Tension within the organization reportedly predates its recent name-related controversy, and a lawsuit filed by Snyder suggests that one partner leaked defamatory information about him.Snyder purchased the franchise in 1999. The team changed its name last month after 87 years. Shortly after that, 15 women said team executives sexually harassed them during their time with the organization.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL teams are following the league's new COVID-19 guidelines very seriously.The Seattle Seahawks cut cornerback Kemah Siverand earlier this week after the undrafted rookie was caught on video attempting to sneak a woman into the team hotel, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.The woman tried to disguise herself as a player by wearing Seahawks gear, Pelissero adds.Seattle officially waived Siverand on Tuesday.The defensive back spent his last two collegiate seasons at Oklahoma State. Siverand appeared in 26 games for the Cowboys.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills and starting left tackle Dion Dawkins have reached an agreement on a four-year contract extension, the team announced Thursday.Dawkins' new deal is worth $60 million, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The 26-year-old was set to become a free agent after the 2020 season.Dawkins has become one of Buffalo's most reliable offensive linemen since the team selected him in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He's started 45 games for the Bills over the last three seasons, including 42 consecutive starts.Buffalo also gave head coach Sean McDermott a six-year contract extension earlier this week.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Francisco 49ers have agreed to a record five-year, $75-million contract extension with George Kittle, the tight end's agent, Jack Bechta, confirmed to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports.The deal includes $40 million in total guaranteed money. Kittle will also earn an $18-million signing bonus.Kittle's new deal easily makes him the highest-paid tight end in NFL history with an average annual salary of $15 million. Austin Hooper will earn $10.5 million a year on his new deal with the Cleveland Browns, while Los Angeles Chargers tight end Hunter Henry is set to make $10.6 million under the tag this season.Kittle, 26, has amassed at least 80 catches, 1,000 receiving yards, and five touchdowns in each of the last two seasons. The two-time Pro Bowler set the record for most receiving yards by a tight end in a single season when he amassed 1,377 in 2018.San Francisco selected the Iowa product in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft.Kittle's extension marks the latest significant move in a busy offseason for the 49ers:

The Dallas Cowboys added a big free agent to their pass rush late in the offseason, agreeing to terms with former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson GriffenThe deal is for one-year and worth $6 million, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Griffen is a four-time Pro Bowler and notched eight sacks in 15 games last year. He spent the last 10 seasons in Minnesota.The Seattle Seahawks and a reunion with the Vikings had been the most likely destinations for the 32-year-old prior to Wednesday, Rapoport added, but the veteran defender will contribute to a deep Cowboys front four.Dallas lost Robert Quinn in free agency, but still roster DeMarcus Lawrence, Dorance Armstrong, Tyrone Crawford, and recently-reinstated Aldon Smith at defensive end.Cowboys owner Jerry Jones also added Dontari Poe and Gerald McCoy to the interior of head coach Mike McCarthy's defensive line in 2020, while former second-round pick Randy Gregory could enter the mix if reinstated.Griffen accumulated at least eight sacks in five of his last six campaigns and is also a stout run defender.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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, Rich Hribar of Sharp Football Analysis joins Boone to discuss how to approach receivers in this year's fantasy drafts, including which wideouts will help lead you to a title.

The NFL and NFLPA are extending the daily testing period for the coronavirus through Sept. 5, the union announced Wednesday.The details of the agreement are being finalized, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.The NFL previously agreed to administer COVID-19 tests to players daily throughout the first two weeks of training camp, which started in late July. The players' association will continue to monitor positive test rates from each team in order to evaluate testing frequency.The first game of the schedule is set for Sept. 10.As of Aug. 5, 56 players had tested positive for the coronavirus since they began to report to training camp, according to the NFLPA. The league created a reserve/COVID-19 list for players who have been infected or have had contact with someone who tested positive.

Quarterback Dak Prescott didn't get a contract extension from the Dallas Cowboys this offseason, but that hasn't changed his plan to remain with the franchise.Prescott believes he'll retire as a member of the Cowboys and he doesn't want his contract dispute to impact the team's locker room."Business is business, and once I'm in the locker room and part of what’s going on now, I don't focus too much about the future," Prescott said Wednesday, according to Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. "It's more about today."With that being said, I'm excited to be a Dallas Cowboy. I've been a fan of this organization. I've been a fan of this program for years. I love every bit of the opportunity and the platform that I get to be the quarterback here. I love this team. I'm excited about what we can do and accomplish this year. No frustration as far as that. Once again, I believe something will get done, and I also believe I'll be a Dallas Cowboy for the rest of my career."Prescott is set to play the 2020 season under the franchise tag after the Cowboys failed to sign him to a long-term extension this offseason. Both parties can re-start negotiations after the upcoming campaign."We think he's outstanding," owner Jerry Jones said about Prescott. "We think he's our quarterback of the future. We just couldn't get together at this particular time."Dallas' latest offer to the 26-year-old reportedly included $33 million to $35 million annually with more than $100 million guaranteed.Prescott is coming off the best statistical campaign of his career after setting personal highs in passing yards (4,902) and touchdowns (30) in 2019. However, the Cowboys posted an 8-8 record last season, their worst campaign since Prescott took over the starting role in 2016.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Football Team will play the first season after its name and logo change without a home crowd.FedEx Field will be empty for the team's home games during the 2020 season, Washington announced Wednesday.The organization has been monitoring the situation with the state of Maryland and Prince George's County (MD), and this decision "comes out of an abundance of caution due to the rapidly changing dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic," Washington's statement read.Washington plans to re-evaluate the decision if the coronavirus outbreak improves once the regular season begins."We are fortunate to host the best fans in the NFL year after year, but the well-being of those supporters, along with that of our players, coaches, and each and every member of our gameday staff is simply too important, and the current knowledge of COVID-19 too unpredictable, to welcome our fan base to FedExField to start the season," owner Dan Snyder said."This decision was not an easy one, but after several discussions with federal, state, and local officials - along with input from some of the nation's foremost medical experts, based right here in the nation's capital - we are confident that it is the right one. We are working to find ways to make our fans' presence felt in new and innovative ways for 2020 and can't wait to welcome the community through the gates as soon as it's safe."Washington is going through a re-branding process this offseason after a review of the team's name. The franchise retired the Redskins nickname and logo after facing intense pressure from sponsors, including FedEx.Several teams have made limited-capacity plans for the upcoming campaign in case attendance protocols change. The Raiders recently announced they will play their first season in Las Vegas without fans.Washington's decision apparently won't be uniformly followed across the NFC East as Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Wednesday that he doesn't intend to see his team play its home games in an empty stadium."The Dallas Cowboys plan on playing all of our football games and we plan on playing them in front of our fans," Jones said, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills signed head coach Sean McDermott to a multi-year contract extension, the team announced Wednesday.McDermott's new deal is a six-year pact that will run through the 2025 season, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter."Sean's leadership on and off the field has been nothing but genuine and transparent, qualities we appreciate as owners," Bills co-owner Kim Pegula said in a statement. "He is the same great person to us, the players and everyone across all our organizations ... Sean's attention to detail was apparent back then and his process driven approach has brought great stability to our organization. We are happy to extend his contract and keep him in Western New York for many years to come."The Bills hired McDermott in 2017 with the team mired in a 17-season playoff drought. The former Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator then led Buffalo to the postseason in his first year at the helm.Buffalo has enjoyed two playoff berths in three seasons under McDermott. It's posted a 25-23 regular-season record over that span, including a 10-6 mark in 2019, which was the Bills' best campaign since 1999.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to major college football during the COVID-19 pandemic, which will mirror the rest of the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic: a patchwork collection of operations with no central authority to set standards or to provide a coherent message, while the vulnerable bear most of the risk and no one can agree on anything.The Big Ten and Pac-12 will not play fall sports, including football. But the Big 12 will, while the ACC and SEC have yet to make a formal decision. Give the NCAA credit for living down to the expectations many of its most ferocious critics have long harbored about the way it operates.The NCAA exists to provide institutional cover for the nebulous concept of amateurism. This is often sold as protection for the sanctity of educational and athletic opportunity, but it's really a way for coaches and administrators to pay themselves gobs of money on the backs of those who serve as their unpaid labor force. Not even a worldwide public health threat that continues to gallop across the U.S. could get the NCAA to shrink from its duties, as Mark Emmert, its president, showed this week.

Sean McVay is still early on in his NFL career, but he's already generating interest from broadcast networks.ESPN has talked to the Los Angeles Rams head coach about becoming a Monday Night Football analyst, sources told Andrew Marchand of The New York Post.ESPN executives believe McVay could stand out in the broadcast booth and the network would be interested in hiring him if he wants to leave coaching, Marchand adds.Despite the short head coaching tenure, McVay is already considered one of the brightest offensive minds in football. The 34-year-old helped the Rams reach Super Bowl LIII two seasons ago and was named Coach of the Year in 2017.In three seasons under McVay, Los Angeles posted a 33-15 regular-season record while winning two NFC West titles.This is not the first time ESPN has tried to add a major name to Monday Night Football. The network's ideas have included acquiring Al Michaels from NBC Sports and pairing him with retired quarterback Peyton Manning. However, Manning allegedly turned the offer down.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The coronavirus pandemic hasn't changed the NFL's plans regarding Super Bowl LV.NFL executive vice president Peter O'Reilly wants to move forward with Super Bowl LV as planned at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. However, the league is acknowledging it'll have to be "flexible and adaptable" amid the epidemic."We're very confident in our protocols and are very focused on a Super Bowl and a season that ends on Feb. 7 and starts and ends as scheduled," O'Reilly said Tuesday, according to the Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud and Charlie Frago. "(We're) laser focused on Feb. 7."O'Reilly was part of a virtual news conference with the Super Bowl LV host committee on Tuesday. The committee unveiled the Super Bowl LV experience, which will cover 2.7 miles of the Tampa Riverwalk and provide the first free all-outdoor venue to fans.The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are one of several NFL teams that recently announced they'll play the 2020 season with a reduced seating capacity for home games. Other clubs - such as the Washington Football Team and Las Vegas Raiders - will play the upcoming campaign with empty stadiums for home contests.Tampa has hosted the Super Bowl four times - 1984, 1991, 2001, 2009 - and despite the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the city is ready to welcome its fifth edition in 2021."Whether it was in 1991 during the Gulf War or 2009 during the recession, our community steps up when it needs to step up most," host committee chairman Rob Higgins said. "And there's no doubt, the last few months have been really challenging, and our partnership with the NFL has never been stronger, and we're ready for the challenge ahead."If there needs to be adjustments, we'll be ready to make them. At this point in time, there haven't been any adjustments. We just continue to plan. And through our great partnership with the NFL, we'll continue to stay joined at the hip with them and be ready to be as nimble as we need to be."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver John Ross III has left training camp after both his young son and the boy's mother tested positive for COVID-19, sources told Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.Ross missed practice Tuesday and there's no timetable for his return, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. He's expected to be placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.The Bengals drafted Ross ninth overall in 2017. He's amassed 49 receptions for 716 yards and 10 touchdowns through 24 career games.Cincinnati declined the fifth-year option on Ross' rookie contract this offseason.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2020 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Fantasy football might be powered by skill-position stars, but offensive lines are the driving force behind most week-winning efforts.So, as you prepare for your fantasy drafts, it's crucial to consider how O-lines across the league have changed this offseason, and how those changes will impact the players they're blocking for.Below, we've ranked all 32 offensive lines, taking into account past performances, roster upgrades, overall depth, and the very underrated element of continuity. Given the lack of offseason practices and preseason games, continuity will have an even bigger impact on offensive line play in 2020.Starting lineups are projections and will be updated throughout training camp.Offensive Line Rankings

This year's "Hard Knocks" opened with an emotional conversation between head coach Anthony Lynn and his team, the Los Angeles Chargers.During the scene, Lynn revealed he was infected with COVID-19.

The NFL informed all 32 clubs it has lifted the prohibition on player tryouts at team facilities effective immediately, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the league banned clubs from bringing in players for a visit, with a recent exception for physicals. Teams will now be allowed to evaluate some free agents on the field before deciding whether to sign them, Pelissero adds.Incoming free agents must still pass two COVID-19 tests before they are allowed on the field, and clubs will be limited to a maximum of eight tryouts per day, per Tuesday's memo.The NFL and NFLPA recently approved the league's return-to-play plan, which included a handful of testing protocols and an opt-out deadline that passed on Aug. 6.A number of notable players remain unsigned less than a month away from the 2020 campaign, including pass-rushers Jadeveon Clowney and Everson Griffen.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys appear intent on creating ways to have the upper hand on their NFC East opponents.A large number of Dallas players are forming a separate virtual training camp bubble at a hotel near the team's practice facility to prevent spreading COVID-19, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter and Todd Archer.While the bubble could help fight the pandemic in their community, players also believe it will help preparations under new head coach Mike McCarthy.One source told ESPN the majority of Cowboys would be staying at the five-star Omni Hotel. Players are not mandated to stay at the hotel, but it was strongly suggested by coaching staff.Dallas joins the New Orleans Saints as two teams setting up its own bubbles to help keep themselves and cities safe.Receiver Jon'Vea Johnson and cornerback Saivion Smith landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list since league-wide testing began, but both players rejoined the active roster this week. Star running back Ezekiel Elliott also tested positive for the coronavirus in June.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is pleased that the NFL is adjusting its coronavirus protocols after he was wrongly placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list last week.Stafford was forced to sit out due to a false-positive test. The Lions later confirmed that the signal-caller never contracted COVID-19."This is just totally unknown times for all of us," Stafford said Tuesday, according to Kevin Patra of NFL.com. "The league, the players, coaches, the organization as a whole. Everything is new, and it's unknown. I know everybody is doing the best that they possibly can. I'm glad it happened to me at this point, and the league is doing what they can to try and change it and make sure this doesn't happen again."However, Stafford acknowledges that this won't be the last issue the league will face amid the pandemic."I'm sure there is going to be another problem down the road at some point that we're going to have to figure out when we get there. That's the way this has been for the past six months," he said. "We've all been living it. Whether it's the league trying to test thousands of players or just trying to go out and get our groceries. We understand that things are going to change and we're going to have to adapt."The NFL will conduct two more tests for an asymptomatic person who tests positive as part of the league's changes to its COVID-19 testing protocols, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert.Stafford was the first starting quarterback to hit the COVID-19 list. The Jacksonville Jaguars recently placed second-year signal-caller Gardner Minshew on the list and removed him two days later.The NFL's reserve/COVID-19 list is for players who either test positive for COVID-19 or are quarantining after close contact with an infected person.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite being fired by the Dallas Cowboys after 10 seasons as their head coach, Jason Garrett wasted no time finding a new job this offseason, joining the New York Giants as their offensive coordinator.The 54-year-old says he found the position to be a very tempting opportunity."It was just too good an opportunity to pass up," Garrett said Tuesday, according to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.Garrett also said he didn't want to take time off after Dallas fired him, according to Vacchiano.Garrett is apart of a staff headlined by rookie head coach Joe Judge. Despite Judge's relative inexperience, Garrett said he has "my notebook open every day" in order to learn from the former New England Patriots special teams coordinator, per Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site.The Giants are coming off a 4-12 season. New York is set to start second-year signal-caller Daniel Jones, who Garrett believes has "all the tools you’re looking for" at quarterback, according to Danny Abriano of SNY.Garrett coached the Cowboys from 2010 to 2019. Though he led Dallas to an 85-67 record, he never made it past the divisional round of the postseason.Despite receiving a lot of criticism during his time in Dallas, Garrett said he's "awfully proud" of the program he built with the Cowboys, according to The Athletic's Jon Machota.Garrett also served as the Cowboys' offensive coordinator prior to his first head coaching job.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Football's first bubble concept experience is set to take place.The Spring League is scheduling a six-team football tournament for October in Las Vegas, and it plans to use a bubble concept for the competition, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN.The teams will mostly feature players released by NFL clubs, and dozens of college players from FBS Power 5 schools either who opt out of the upcoming campaign or have their season canceled, Spring League CEO Brian Woods told Seifert.The league plans to house a total of 228 players in the same location, and its bubble would follow professional leagues' models, such as the NBA, NHL, and WNBA, Woods adds. All players will practice and play at the same facility.The Spring League is an elite professional football development league. It takes place annually in March and April, but it wasn't able to host the event in its usual months due to the coronavirus pandemic.Instead, the Spring League hosted a four-day showcase in Colorado in late July. The league's COVID-19 protocols for the event included a 14-day self-quarantine before camp, most meetings via video conference, and daily symptom and temperature checks.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2020 NFL offseason was dominated by movement at the game's most important position. With the season looming, theScore is predicting the statistical production for all veteran and rookie quarterbacks who are set to play for new teams. Only QBs expected to start a significant number of games were considered.VeteransTom Brady New England Patriots ➡️ Tampa Bay BuccaneersThough few would deny that Brady's supporting cast in 2019 was one of his worst under Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, the future Hall of Famer also looked well past his prime.Brady's 3.9 touchdown percentage was a career-worst mark, his 253.6 yards per game were his lowest total since 2010 (Brady won MVP that year but threw 121 fewer passes), and his 60.8 completion percentage was just his since 2007 that was below 63%.Not only did Brady fail to live up to his own lofty standards in 2019, but he was also an average passer at best when compared to the rest of the league. Brady finished 17th in both QBR and DVOA, 18th in passer rating, and 20th in adjusted yards per attempt. He was roughly as accurate as Jacoby Brissett, threw a touchdown about as often as Ryan Fitzpatrick, and racked up yards at the same per-game rate as Kyle Allen. Only Jameis Winston's 44.5 passer rating against pressure was worse than the six-time Super Bowl winner's 51.8, according to PFF.Now, Brady has basically everything he could dream of with the Buccaneers. He'll have old friend Rob Gronkowski and two Pro Bowl receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, as well as solid pass-catching tight ends O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate and a strong offensive line. Brady will also be working with offensive mastermind Bruce Arians.So, should we put more stock in Brady's struggles during his final year in New England or the talent in Tampa Bay? Winston put up eye-popping totals last season (5,109 yards and 33 touchdowns) with the Bucs, but he was also inefficient, even for a quarterback in Arians' no-risk-it, no-biscuit scheme, and was sacked 47 times.If anyone has earned the right to be trusted until it's clear he's finished, it's Brady. Tampa Bay should be confident it gets the quarterback we saw from 2016 to 2018.2020 stats prediction: 4,500 passing yards, 34 TDs, 13 INTs, 64% completion percentage, 7.9 YPA (16 games)Cam Newton Streeter Lecka / Getty Images Sport / GettyCarolina Panthers ➡️ New England PatriotsYou can believe Belichick's statement that the Patriots will hold a starting quarterback competition in camp if you want, but Newton will be under center in Week 1. It remains to be seen, though, whether the former Panthers star can avoid injury and stay in that spot. Newton's last two seasons have been plagued by injuries - he played through most of the 2018 campaign with a shoulder issue before missing the majority of 2019 with a foot ailment.Newton recently said he's fully healthy. Some will need to be convinced that his injury issues are behind him, but he missed just three games in seven seasons before 2018, a near-miraculous feat considering his style of play.If the 2015 NFL MVP is to rebound, his biggest obstacle will be New England's lack of offensive firepower. No one could consistently get open for Brady, not even Julian Edelman. New England did little to address its skill positions this offseason outside of drafting a couple of tight ends, so Newton may be destined for the same struggles.Newton's ceiling in 2020 is likely limited by his lack of pass-catching options, but arguably no quarterback is better at creating their own yards outside of their system. Newton overcame a lack of talent year after year in Carolina, and now he has Belichick and coordinator Josh McDaniels spending every waking minute designing the offense to suit his skill set.In the first half of 2018, before his shoulder worsened, Newton was lighting it up in Norv Turner's quick-hit passing game. He threw 15 touchdowns against four interceptions, completed 67% of his passes, and rushed for another 342 yards and four scores across eight games. Maybe that version will never return, but if there's one team with which it could, it's Belichick's Patriots.2020 stats prediction: 3,400 passing yards, 23 TDs, 13 INTs, 64% completion percentage, 7.8 YPA; 550 rushing yards, 9 TDsPhilip RiversLos Angeles Chargers ➡️ Indianapolis ColtsVirtual offseason workouts and limited training camps will mean quarterbacks on new teams face a far tougher task getting up to speed with their new systems. But Rivers should have an advantage thanks to his time working with Colts head coach Frank Reich and offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni with the Chargers.He struggled during his final season with the Chargers, throwing just 23 touchdowns against 20 interceptions (the third-most in the league). Rivers finished 15th in DVOA, 16th in adjusted yards per attempt, 17th in passer rating, and 22nd in QBR. It was a dramatic decline from an MVP-caliber season the year before when he ranked third, fifth (tied), fifth, and seventh in those metrics.The longtime Chargers standout will be replacing Brissett, who started strong in 2019 but declined dramatically as the Colts were decimated by injuries. Reich also didn't trust Brissett, as Indy was 31st in first-down passing attempts, according to teamrankings.com.Rivers' arm might not be what it once was, but the 38-year-old is still a gunslinger and will be able to open up the passing attack again. With the Chargers, he was working behind an offensive line that PFF ranked 29th, and he also didn't get much help from the running game, which produced just 90.8 yards per game (fifth-worst in the league). Rivers often tried to do too much with too little support.That should change with the Colts, who own what is arguably the NFL's best offensive line in addition to a strong rushing attack that will likely be even better in 2020 after pairing rookie Jonathan Taylor with Marlon Mack. Indy also drafted Michael Pittman - the kind of big-bodied wideout Rivers has historically loved playing with - to pair with speedster T.Y. Hilton.Reich is one of the most creative play-callers in the league, and with such a dominant ground game at his disposal, the head coach likely won't ask Rivers to carry the offense as he did in Los Angeles. He'll put up numbers that easily exceed Brissett's from last year but fall well short of Andrew Luck's from his final campaign.2020 stats prediction: 4,100 passing yards, 27 TDs, 15 INTs, 68% completion percentage, 7.2 YPA (16 games)Teddy Bridgewater Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / GettyNew Orleans Saints ➡️ Carolina PanthersBridgewater's long journey back to a starting job is complete. The veteran spent the last two seasons with the Saints as Drew Brees' backup, rebuilding his value and health following a career-threatening knee injury in 2016. Bridgewater took full advantage of an opportunity when Brees went down with an injury, winning all five of his starts.He was highly efficient during those games, throwing nine touchdowns against two interceptions to go with 1,205 yards while completing nearly 70% of his passes. Bridgewater would've finished with around 29 touchdowns against seven interceptions and 3,850 yards if those numbers carried over a 16-game campaign. However, he was also playing in Sean Payton's system with star receiver Michael Thomas and dynamic back Alvin Kamara.Bridgwater threw 14 touchdowns in each of his first two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings - he started 12 games as a rookie and 16 as a sophomore. He averaged 201.9 yards per game in 2015 and easily beat that in 2019, hitting 241 yards per game. He got a big statistical boost from playing in one of the most quarterback-friendly environments last year, but he wasn't working with a ton of talent in Minnesota and was only two years into his career.The signal-caller won't have the same support in Carolina, but he won't be forced to carry the offense, either. Do-it-all running back Christian McCaffrey is the workhorse, and receivers D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel should make Bridgewater's life a lot easier. Still, with the Panthers more likely to be in the running for a top-five draft slot than the playoffs, Bridgewater will likely struggle to produce better than average stats in 2020.2020 stats prediction: 3,400 passing yards, 23 TDs, 10 INTs, 68% completion percentage, 7.1 YPA (16 games)Nick FolesJacksonville Jaguars ➡️ Chicago BearsThe only true veteran quarterback competition this season will take place in Chicago, where incumbent Mitchell Trubisky will attempt to bring his career back from the brink against Foles, a former Super Bowl MVP. It's unlikely one will be able to keep the job for the entire campaign, but, for our money, it'll be Foles who racks up the majority of the starts.Foles was traded to the Bears just one year after signing a big free-agent deal with the Jaguars. The former Philadelphia Eagles standout broke his left clavicle in the first quarter of the opening game and wasn't able to return until Week 11. Rookie Gardner Minshew exceeded all expectations after becoming the starter, and the Jaguars went back to the 2019 sixth-rounder after Foles returned for three underwhelming starts. The veteran finished 2019 with 736 passing yards and three touchdowns against two interceptions.He was unable to take advantage of Jacksonville's offensive talent, which has been the story of his career. Foles is capable of hot streaks - such as the one during Philly's Super Bowl win in 2017 - and has had strong full seasons, but his poor play with the Jaguars was also nothing new.The Bears boast better talent - Allen Robinson is a stud who deserves a more talented quarterback than either he's stuck with for 2020 - but the difference isn't huge. Foles' experience should make him a more enticing option for head coach Matt Nagy, who often couldn't hide his frustrations when Trubisky made rookie-like errors in Year 3. However, Foles' play will likely be much closer to that of his short Jacksonville tenure than his legendary Super Bowl run.2020 stats prediction: 2,300 passing yards, 14 TDs, 12 INTs, 65% completion percentage, 7.3 YPA (10 games)RookiesJoe Burrow Chris Graythen / Getty Images Sport / GettyLSU ➡️ Cincinnati BengalsBurrow produced the most dominant college quarterback campaign of all time last season at LSU. He set CFB records with 60 touchdown passes and a 202.0 efficiency rating, and his 5,671 passing yards were the third-most all time.Though Burrow could get a pass for any rookie struggles due to the fact he's entering the NFL amid unprecedented circumstances, sophomore quarterbacks are winning MVP awards now. There simply isn't the same level of patience - from fans or teams - granted to young passers. And, due to his late breakout, Burrow will turn 24 years old in December.Fortunately, he isn't joining a talent-poor offense as some No. 1 picks do. The Bengals have more firepower to offer their new quarterback than the Arizona Cardinals did with Kyler Murray in 2019 or the Cleveland Browns did with Baker Mayfield the year prior. The wild card is the health of A.J. Green, who is a legitimate top-10 receiver but has missed 13 games during the last three years. However, even if Green isn't quite the same player anymore, Burrow will have Tyler Boyd, who is coming off consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, 2017 first-round speedster John Ross, and 2020 second-rounder Tee Higgins at his disposal.The Bengals' porous offensive line remains a major concern and will likely be the reason if Burrow fails to hit the ground running. With limited training camps and virtual offseason workouts, Cincinnati could rely on budding star running back Joe Mixon early in the campaign to give Burrow time to acclimate.But even if that happens and his production takes a hit, Burrow is too talented to stay shackled for long. He'll overcome the circumstances and put together a strong first year that should have Bengals fans pinching themselves.2020 stats prediction: 3,850 passing yards, 24 TDs, 10 INTs, 62% completion percentage, 7.7 YPA; 280 rushing yards, 3 TDs (16 games played)Tua TagovalioaAlabama ➡️ Miami DolphinsBurrow is the only first-year quarterback with a clear path to his team's starting job. Tagovailoa is the next best bet, but the former Alabama standout will have to beat out wily veteran Fitzpatrick. Fortunately, the rookie is entering camp with a clean bill of health following a draft process dominated by lingering questions about his season-ending hip injury in November.Even if Tagovailoa is unable to win the job out of camp, he'll likely take it early in the season. Fitzpatrick is an all-or-nothing passer, and it will be a matter of time before he puts in a turnover-filled performance that causes Dolphins fans to cry out for their new star.Tagovailoa will likely need to form an instant connection with wide receiver DeVante Parker if he's to produce a good rookie year. Parker enjoyed a breakout 1,202-yard season in 2019 and is by far Miami's most dangerous weapon on offense. The wideout's ability to challenge teams downfield - he averaged 16.7 yards per catch, tied for the eighth-best mark in the NFL - meshes well with Tagovailoa's skill set. Third-year tight end Mike Gesicki is in line for his own breakout campaign after a 570-yard, five-touchdown sophomore season, especially after the wide receiver group was further depleted when Allen Hurns and Albert Wilson opted out.As is the case with Burrow, Tagovailoa's ceiling might be capped by terrible protection. The only offensive line that is worse than the Bengals' is the Dolphins', according to PFF. Tagovailoa was often unshakeable under pressure in college, even if he got more clean pockets compared to most other quarterbacks. He won't put together a full 16-game stat sheet, but he'll look every bit worth the No. 5 overall pick as soon as he starts.2020 stats prediction: 2,900 passing yards, 17 TDs, 9 INTs, 61% completion percentage, 6.9 YPA; 100 rushing yards, 2 TDs (13 games)Justin Herbert Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyOregon ➡️ Los Angeles ChargersChargers head coach Anthony Lynn said Tyrod Taylor will "probably" be the starter over sixth overall pick Herbert, citing the limited offseason work for the decision. Though Taylor will probably earn the job officially, teams are often forced to play their young quarterback sooner than they plan. Taylor knows that better than anyone after losing his job to then-rookie Mayfield with the Browns after just three starts in 2018.Taylor will likely last longer than that this season, but it's hard to see him keeping Herbert on the bench for more than half of the campaign. When Herbert does take over, he'll arguably have better weapons at his disposal than either Burrow or Tagovailoa.Keenan Allen might be the most underrated receiver in the league and is an outstanding route-runner, and Mike Williams dominates downfield in contested catch situations. In the backfield, he'll have an amazing security blanket in Austin Ekeler, who had 92 catches in 2019.As is a running theme with potential rookie starters this year, the former Oregon standout will be working behind a questionable offensive line. However, even if Herbert has solid protection (as he did with the Ducks), he still needs to vastly improve his decision-making, pocket presence, and downfield accuracy.Herbert has all the tools to be a good starter, but he'll go through a lot of growing pains as a rookie.2020 stats prediction: 1,700 passing yards, 9 TDs, 13 INTs, 60% completion percentage, 6.7 YPA (9 games)Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Yannick Ngakoue has parted ways with his agent as he continues to pursue a trade from the Jacksonville Jaguars, a source told ESPN's Michael DiRocco.Ngakoue still hasn't signed his franchise-tag tender and has yet to attend Jaguars training camp, though he's not contractually obligated to do so.The defensive end hasn't backed off his trade request from earlier this offseason and doesn't plan to sign in the immediate future. The former third-round pick even reportedly engaged in contract discussions with other teams and is open to playing on the one-year tender elsewhere.Despite Ngakoue's desire to leave, Jacksonville has been unwilling to deal him this offseason.Head coach Doug Marrone said in July that he hasn't recently been in contact with his star pass-rusher.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots and Lamar Miller have reached an agreement on a one-year contract pending a physical, the running back's agent told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Miller tore his ACL during the Houston Texans' third preseason game last August and missed the entire 2019 campaign as a result.The veteran joins a crowded running back room in New England that also features Sony Michel, Rex Burkhead, Damien Harris, and pass-catching back James White.The Patriots struggled to run the ball last season, ranking 25th in yards per carry and 18th in rushing offense. Adept as a receiver and pass-blocker, Miller could see significant playing time if Michel fails to improve on his disappointing 2019.Miller joined Houston after spending the first four seasons of his career with the Miami Dolphins. In 2018, the 29-year-old's previous healthy campaign, he amassed 973 yards on the ground and five touchdowns.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Julian Edelman and Tom Brady made a decorated duo for more than a decade together on the New England Patriots. While Edelman's feelings for Brady haven't changed, the wide receiver is now focused on the future after the quarterback's departure this offseason."Obviously, we played a lot of football together, and I love him to death, but the train keeps moving, as it will when I'm not playing here," Edelman said Monday, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. "You got to move on and understand it's the business. You have to worry about the people we have here, and try to prepare ourselves the best we can."The Patriots added Edelman in 2009, and the former seventh-round pick became one of Brady's top targets throughout the years.In 11 NFL seasons, the wideout topped 1,000 receiving yards three times and caught at least 100 passes in two campaigns, including a 100-reception, 1,117-yard, six-touchdown season at the age of 33 in 2019.With the Patriots' offseason losses, the Super Bowl LIII MVP is now ready to become an even bigger veteran presence ahead of his age-34 campaign."I can remember like it was yesterday when I was a rookie," Edelman said, according to Kevin Patra of NFL.com. "Time flies when you're having fun. ... Wise old vet now, I guess."New England recently signed former league MVP Cam Newton, the team's presumed starter, who has made a good first impression on Edelman."When you first meet him, just his stature. He's large - put together well," Edelman said. "He has a great energy about himself. I was really impressed with his work ethic and mindset."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera said that the decision to release running back Derrius Guice was a difficult one, but is in the best interest of the organization."I made a decision that I believe was in the best interest of this organization, our players, and our fans going forward. Very difficult decision," Rivera said Monday. "Anytime you have to release a very talented young football player, it's always a tough decision.""Sometimes, it's one of those things where there are processes, there are situations, there are circumstances that you go through," Rivera added. "Each situation, each circumstance is unique. Each one will be handled and dealt with differently to what we believe is best for the organization going forward, and that's probably the most important thing."The team cut Guice after his arrest Friday. They charged the 23-year-old with multiple domestic violence counts, including strangulation, which is a felony.Washington selected Guice in the second round in 2018, but the LSU standout battled multiple injuries since entering the league. After missing his entire rookie campaign due to a torn ACL, Guice appeared in just five games last season. He amassed 245 yards and two touchdowns.Rivera also said that he takes "full responsibility" for trying to make things "the right way" in his first season with Washington.Washington hired Rivera in January after he spent the previous nine seasons with the Carolina Panthers. The 58-year-old was named Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2015.In 2018, the Rivera-coached Panthers didn't have Guice on their draft board due to concerns regarding the player's character and knee, sources told John Keim of ESPN.Rivera declined to give more details on the specific factors that led to Guice's release.Washington's backfield has the presence of future Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson. The team has also addressed the running back position in recent drafts, selecting Bryce Love in the fourth round in 2019 and Antonio Gibson in the third round last April.Additionally, Washington signed veteran Peyton Barber this offseason after he spent his first four NFL campaigns with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ed Oliver felt "violated" after his recent arrest, and though the Buffalo Bills defensive tackle knew he was innocent, he said he also felt guilty because of the incident.Oliver was arrested in May and charged with driving while intoxicated and unlawfully carrying a weapon. All charges were dropped in late July after he blew 0.0 on the breathalyzer, and his blood tests were all negative."I don't know how you get arrested with nothing in your system," Oliver said Monday, according to Michael Giardi of NFL Network. "I felt like I was guilty until proven innocent and not innocent until proven guilty.""You get stripped down, you get put in this jumpsuit," Oliver added. "I shouldn't be doing this. I didn't work my life and walk in a straight line my whole life to be put in a jumpsuit and be taken to jail for what?"Authorities pulled the 22-year-old over when responding to a 911 call about a white Ford Superduty pickup driving dangerously in a construction zone. Police said Oliver had an open beer bottle between his legs and determined the defensive lineman to be impaired "by possibly something besides alcohol."After getting the charges dismissed on July 22, Oliver's attorney Gary Patterson said the report about a beer bottle between his client's legs was "totally inaccurate."Oliver, meanwhile, condemned the actions of police officers involved in the incident questioning, "how do five cop cars show up before I take a sobriety test?"The Bills drafted Oliver No. 9 overall in 2019. The Houston product racked up 43 tackles and five sacks in his rookie campaign.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Defensive tackle Mike Daniels is meeting with the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday and is expected to sign with the club if the visit goes as planned, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The veteran defender hasn't attracted much interest as a free agent after appearing in nine games last season with the Detroit Lions. He landed on injured reserve late in the year with an arm injury.Before signing with Detroit in 2019, Daniels spent the first seven campaigns of his career with the Green Bay Packers. He's accumulated 30 career sacks.The 31-year-old could provide a stable presence in Cincinnati behind starters Geno Atkins and D.J. Reader. The Bengals were lacking depth at defensive tackle after they released Ryan Glasgow and Josh Tupou opted out of the 2020 season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Football Team activated Reuben Foster off the physically unable to perform list Sunday as the linebacker continues to work his way back from a major knee injury.Foster tore his ACL, MCL, and LCL last May while also suffering nerve damage. But more than a year after going under the knife, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports that he's on track to play Week 1.Washington claimed the former first-round pick off waivers in November 2018 from the San Francisco 49ers, who cut ties with him after he was arrested and charged with a domestic violence misdemeanor.The NFL then placed Foster on the commissioner's exempt list while it investigated the matter. The charges against Foster were dropped in January 2019, and he was reinstated last April after the league determined it had no grounds to suspend him. However, he's yet to play in any games with his new club due to injuries.If healthy, the 26-year-old provides a significant boost to Washington's linebacking corps, which features Thomas Davis, Jon Bostic, Cole Holcomb, and Shaun Dion Hamilton.Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith was out of action for 18 months after suffering a similar injury to Foster during his final campaign at Notre Dame.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL is removing Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar from the commissioner's exempt list, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Authorities didn't charge Dunbar in the alleged robbery involving New York Giants cornerback Deandre Baker, clearing him to join his team for training camp.The league could still investigate the defender further if new information is discovered, Pelissero adds, but prosecutors cited "insufficient evidence" for clearing him in court.Meanwhile, Baker faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in state prison for the May incident if convicted.Both players have been on the exempt list since late July and attorneys for each maintained their clients' innocence throughout the offseason.Acquired from Washington in March, Dunbar will provide a significant boost to a Seattle secondary that already features Shaquill Griffin, Quandre Diggs, Marquise Blair, and recently-added superstar Jamal Adams.The 28-year-old enjoyed a career year in 2019, picking off four passes and consistently thriving in coverage.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns activated wide receiver Jarvis Landry off the active/physically unable to perform list Saturday as he continues to recover from his 2019 hip injury.Landry was cleared to participate in all team activities during training camp after undergoing surgery in February. He didn't miss a game last season but admitted the injury bothered him throughout the campaign.The 27-year-old caught 83 passes in 2019, and his 1,174 receiving yards and 14.1 yards per reception were both career highs.Landry is expected to once again play a major role in Cleveland's offense alongside Odell Beckham Jr. and third-year quarterback Baker Mayfield.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dak Prescott may be bitter after failing to land a long-term contract extension this offseason, but he's still impressed his new coaching staff.Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy lauded the quarterback as his team works through the early stages of training camp, particularly Prescott's attitude on and off the field."I've really enjoyed his personality," McCarthy said, according to The Dallas Morning News' David Moore. "He's very upbeat, very driven. I'd say he's kind of picked up where he left off based on what I've been told about him as far as he operates. Very detailed in his preparation."McCarthy added: "I'm very pleased with where he is and very impressed."Prescott will play the upcoming campaign on the $31.4-million franchise tag but stated last month he holds no ill will toward Dallas over the inability to work out a deal.The former fourth-round pick set career highs last year with 4,902 passing yards and 30 touchdowns while completing 65.1% of his attempts.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Football Team released Derrius Guice after the running back was arrested Friday afternoon, the team announced.

Carolina Panthers left tackle Russell Okung is contemplating retirement amid fears over the COVID-19 pandemic, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.Okung, who Carolina acquired from the Los Angeles Chargers this offseason, missed 10 games last year with a pulmonary embolism due to blood clots.The veteran reportedly seriously considered opting out of the season prior to Thursday's deadline.In late July, Okung took to Twitter to seemingly air his grievances about the United States' response to the coronavirus crisis.

Tennessee Titans edge rusher Vic Beasley Jr. reported to training camp Friday for COVID-19 testing as expected following an unexcused absence from the team, according to Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky. Beasley, who signed a one-year, $9.5-million contract with Tennessee in March, was a no-show for the first 10 days of camp.The Titans hit Beasley with a $500,000 fine, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, players can be fined $50,000 for every missed day of camp.Titans general manager Jon Robinson said last Thursday that the team had placed Beasley on the reserve/did not report list but was expecting him to return soon after making contact. Robinson didn't expand on why Beasley was absent.Beasley is expected to start alongside Harold Landry as the Titans attempt to improve on their surprising playoff run last season, which ended in the AFC Championship Game against the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.A No. 8 overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 2015, Beasley led the NFL with 15.5 sacks in 2016 but has struggled to replicate that form since, racking up just 13 over the last two seasons.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants cornerback DeAndre Baker is charged with four counts of robbery with a firearm, Broward County State Attorney Mike Satz announced Friday, according to Pat Leonard of NY Daily News.If convicted, Baker faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in state prison.Prosecutors declined to charge Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar, citing "insufficient evidence."Baker's attorney, Bradford Cohen, blasted the decision to charge his client. In a statement, Cohen described it as "disgusting" and called for people to "go out and vote" for candidates who will reform the judicial system.

George Kittle will eventually be paid more than any other tight end in the NFL. The reason his next contract still isn't done? Because he plays tight end in the NFL.Kittle is like a pocket knife for the San Francisco 49ers. He's a masterful blocker. He catches passes in great volume. He's difficult to bring down. All that versatility, which features prominently in the structure of head coach Kyle Shanahan's unique offense, undoubtedly enhances Kittle's value for a team that reached the Super Bowl last year.But the NFL's salary system places artificial limits on how much Kittle can earn, all because of the position he plays. As an excellent tight end, Kittle is too good for his own good.Kittle is a complete player, which is to say he functions as both a receiver and an extra offensive lineman. His 85 catches and 107 targets in 2019 far and away led all Niners pass-catchers. His 1,377 receiving yards in 2018 set a league record for tight ends. He's also one of just nine players with at least 170 receptions and 2,000 receiving yards combined in the last two seasons.And once Kittle gets the ball in his hands, he's extremely difficult to bring down: His 1,406 combined yards after the catch in 2018 and 2019 led all receivers and tight ends, and he has a particular knack for barreling over would-be tacklers, as this remarkable stat demonstrates:

Cam Newton is fired up about the chance to remind the NFL world of his talents.The New England Patriots quarterback admitted Friday he's driven to prove himself after his messy exit from the Carolina Panthers following nine seasons."I wake up mad ... I'm a self-motivator," Newton said, according to Albert Breer of MMQB.The Panthers shockingly released the 2015 NFL MVP in early April with one year remaining on his contract, and Newton has since said he believes the club gave up on him prematurely.Most of the rest of the NFL appeared to share Carolina's concern that Newton - who struggled with injuries the last two seasons - is no longer the same player, as the quarterback's only offer was from New England.While Newton lacked options and has only spent a short time in the Patriots' building, he praised the team's approach as "invigorating" and a "breath of fresh air," per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk.Patriots head coach Bill Belichick won't hand Newton the starting job, saying recently that he'll make it a competition between the former Panthers standout, Jarrett Stidham, and Brian Hoyer. However, Newton is widely expected to be under center in Week 1.While the star signal-caller will have to prove his health on the field, he's confident his injury woes are behind him."At this particular time, I'm full go," said Newton.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.