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, JJ Zachariason of FanDuel and numberFire joins Boone to discuss how to approach quarterbacks in this year's fantasy drafts, including which QBs will help lead you to a title.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott wrote to the governor of Oklahoma to advocate for the release of Julius Jones, a Black death row inmate, according to TIME's Sean Gregory, who obtained a copy of the letter that was sent Thursday.Prescott is the latest sports star to join the movement to help free Jones, with the likes of Baker Mayfield and Russell Westbrook also calling on Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt to spare Jones' life."Current events are shining a much-needed light on deep-seated prejudices and systemic mistreatment of Black people, and it is my sincere hope that the cultural movements of today will lead to significant social changes that will create a better tomorrow," Prescott wrote. "To that end, you all are in the unique position of being able to make a direct impact by addressing a specific miscarriage of justice."Prescott added he experiences daily racial injustices, "even as an athlete with celebrity status."In 2002, Jones was sentenced to death for the 1999 murder of 45-year-old white businessman Paul Howell during a carjacking. Howell was shot in the head while sitting in a vehicle in his parents' driveway in Edmond, Oklahoma.Jones, who was 19 in 1999, has maintained his innocence. His family has claimed he could not have committed the murder as he was at home playing board games at the time of the crime."After reviewing the facts of the Julius Jones case, I firmly believe the wrong person is being punished for this terrible crime; furthermore, an evaluation of the process that led to Mr. Jones' conviction raises serious legal and ethical concerns," Prescott wrote. "I implore you to right this wrong. Please don't let another innocent Black man die from the systemic mistreatment that has plagued our nation for far too long."Jones' case gained national attention following a 2018 docuseries, "The Last Defense," and an online petition to have him freed has since gained six million signatures.Advocates for Jones have said the conviction should be overturned due to potential racial bias from the jury, the inexperience of Jones' defense attorney, and a failure to properly investigate the crime.Jones' execution date has yet to be set, but he has exhausted all appeal options.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL is considering adding virtual fans to games, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.The league experimented with virtual fans during the draft in April, and a similar approach could be used when the season begins, Fowler adds.The NBA has been using virtual fans during games in its Orlando bubble.The NFL is also prepared to enhance the game-day experience with potentially large virtual backdrops inside venues, a source told Fowler.Several teams have already announced limited-capacity plans for fans this season. The Raiders, meanwhile, will play in front of empty stands during their first year in Las Vegas, and the Green Bay Packers said Thursday fans won't be allowed at their first two home games. The Packers will then re-evaluate the situation and make a decision regarding their remaining home contests.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's been a long time since Tom Brady spent an offseason with a new playbook in his hands, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback forgot that the learning process can be challenging."It's been different having the opportunity over this time to move and to, for example, study my playbook - I mean I really haven't had to do that in 19 years, so you forget, 'Man, that's really tough,' like all of the different terminologies," Brady said Thursday, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN. "You're going back a very long time in my career to really have to put the mental energy in like I did."Learning new plays isn't the only hurdle Brady is facing so far during training camp."You're trying to learn a bunch of different things and you're trying to not only learn an offense, but learn your way to work or learn guys' names," Brady said. "I didn't even know where the quarterbacks' room was or (where) the full-team meeting room was."Every day that goes by it's getting a little bit better," he added. "I'm glad we're not playing a game this Sunday - I'm glad we have time to prepare."The Buccaneers signed Brady to a two-year contract this offseason after the signal-caller spent two decades as a New England Patriot, with Bill Belichick his head coach the entire time.Brady also worked with the same offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in Josh McDaniels from 2012 to 2019.The 43-year-old has been trying to improve his chemistry with his new teammates. In April, he conducted multiple private workouts with his new pass-catchers at a high school field.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chandler Jones is eyeing Michael Strahan's single-season sack record, and the Arizona Cardinals pass-rusher doesn't think establishing a new mark will be difficult."I don't think that's hard to get," Jones said Thursday of the 22.5 sack record, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN. "And I feel like if there was a year to do it, this could be the year to do it, honestly, for me. That's a personal goal of mine. But we have more help on our team. We have a better team."Strahan, a former New York Giant, set the record in 2001, surpassing Mark Gastineau's 22 sacks. Gastineau's standout season came in 1984 with the New York Jets.Multiple defenders have recently fallen just short of eclipsing Strahan's record. Former Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Justin Houston and former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen each amassed 22 sacks in 2014 and 2011, respectively.Jones, meanwhile, notched a career-high 19 sacks last season, finishing second in the league behind only Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Shaq Barrett (19.5).The 30-year-old has now racked up 11-plus sacks in five straight seasons, including 17-plus in two of his last three campaigns."I feel like I'm getting closer and closer," Jones said. "And I don't feel older, and I had a pretty decent year last year. I feel even better actually. With some of this time off my body got some time to rest. So why not? Why can't I break the record?"Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A total of 68 NFL players decided to sit out the 2020 season before Thursday's 4 p.m. ET opt-out deadline.Kansas City Chiefs guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif was the first player to opt out of the upcoming season on the same day the NFLPA approved the league's return-to-play plan.Plenty of players have followed his lead, including Duvernay-Tardif's teammate and Super Bowl LIV hero Damien Williams, who decided not to play to protect his mother amid her cancer battle; New York Jets Pro Bowler C.J. Mosley; and New York Giants left tackle Nate Solder.The New England Patriots have been the hardest-hit team, with eight players deciding not to play, including longtime defensive standouts Dont'a Hightower and Patrick Chung.Players will still be able to opt out after the deadline if they are deemed to be high risk for the coronavirus or if a close relative dies or becomes hospitalized due to COVID-19.Here is a team-by-team rundown of everyone who won't play in 2020:TeamPlayers opted outARIOT Marcus GilbertATLBALWR/KR De’Anthony Thomas / OT Andre SmithBUFDT Star Lotulelei / CB E.J. GainesCARLB Jordan Mack / DE Christian MillerCHIDT Eddie Goldman / S Jordan LucasCINDT Josh Tupou / OT Isaiah PrinceCLEG Drew Forbes / OT Drake Dorbeck

Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White did not opt out of the 2020 season before Thursday's 4 p.m. ET deadline, sources told Chris Mortensen of ESPN.White said Wednesday he was "undecided" about playing in the upcoming campaign and was discussing it with his family.The 25-year-old has yet to announce his decision. He responded earlier Thursday to fans who had criticized him for considering an opt-out.

Coming off a career-best campaign and widely considered the No. 1 pick for fantasy football drafts, Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey knows the expectations are high for him this season.McCaffrey spoke about the pressure of being the top fantasy pick Wednesday in an interview with Sports Illustrated's Bill Enright."That's probably more pressure than anything," he jokingly admitted. "I think I've had more fantasy football fans over the last two years than anything else in my entire life, so I hope I don't let them down."McCaffrey became the third running back in NFL history to finish a season with over 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in 2019. He also set a single-season record for most receptions by a running back, finishing with 116 catches.When asked about his goals for this season, McCaffrey kept it simple."Couple of the things I've prided myself on has been to just enjoy playing football," he said. "Enjoy training, enjoy all the work that goes into formulating the best player, the best me that I can be and let the results speak for themselves ... for me it's about enjoying the process."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks are looking to upgrade their pass rush.The NFC West club is interested in free agents Clay Matthews and Everson Griffen with the return of Jadeveon Clowney seemingly unlikely, according to Michael Silver of NFL Network."A deal could happen soon," added Silver.Matthews racked up eight sacks and 37 total tackles in 13 games for the Los Angeles Rams in 2019. But L.A. released the former Green Bay Packers star after one year with the team.Meanwhile, Griffen opted out of his contract with the Minnesota Vikings despite it having three years remaining. Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said in February that he expects Griffen to return, but the pass-rusher remains on the open market nearly six months later.Griffen had eight sacks and 41 total tackles last year.The Seahawks are in desperate need of more pass-rushers. The team's 28 sacks tied for the second-fewest in the league last season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Maryland head coach Michael Locksley announced Thursday the formation of the National Coalition of Minority Football Coaches, according to Jim Trotter of NFL.com.The group will aim to identify and groom male and female coaches of color and help create paths toward upward mobility within the profession."When I took the Maryland job last year and looked at the landscape of college football, I thought to myself, 'There's something missing. I'm on the back nine of my career and the pathway to becoming a head coach is still as difficult as when I got into the business in 1992,'" Locksley said Wednesday. "I wanted to create an organization that would be able to help prepare, promote, and produce the next group of coaches coming up through the ranks at every level."The NCMFC's board of directors includes marquee names such as former Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome, who was the first Black general manager in the NFL; two-time Super Bowl-winning Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin; and six-time national title-winning Alabama head coach Nick Saban."These are all people that have either hired head coaches or coordinators or filled upper-level positions throughout their careers," said Locksley, who is entering his second year at Maryland. "They all have been at the top of the mountain, per se, in their respective areas .... We want to use their experiences to help us formulate and produce the list of qualified candidates, so when people say there aren't enough minorities to fill the positions that have come open over the years, we're going to produce a list of qualified people that shows there are qualified people. What's needed is opportunities."The lack of diversity among NFL head coaches and general managers came under greater scrutiny this offseason after a hiring cycle that saw just one minority candidate, Ron Rivera, earn a head coaching role with the Washington Football Team. The Cleveland Browns also hired Andrew Berry, making him only the second Black general manager in the league.There are currently only three Black head coaches among the NFL's 32 teams. Across college football's 130 teams, there are just 14 Black head coaches.In response, the NFL enhanced the Rooney Rule. Now, clubs will now be required to interview at least two external minority candidates for head coaching jobs, one minority candidate for any coordinator vacancies, and one external minority candidate for senior football operations or general manager positions.Copyright © 2020 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.Don't look now but the NFL season is scheduled to kick off in a month. Bill Belichick opened as the NFL Coach of the Year favorite and that hasn't changed despite multiple New England Patriots players choosing to opt out of the 2020 season.Here is a look at the odds for all 32 coaches and a breakdown of the field.OddsCoachBill Belichick+1000Bruce Arians+1200Mike McCarthy+1300Andy Reid+1600Kyle Shanahan+1600Kevin Stefanski+1800John Harbaugh+1900Brian Flores+2000Frank Reich+2000Mike Vrabel+2000Sean McDermott+2000Sean Payton+2000Kliff Kingsbury+2500Mike Tomlin+2500Sean McVay+2500Vic Fangio+2500Anthony Lynn+2800Doug Pederson+2800Mike Zimmer+2800Pete Carroll+2800Zak Taylor+2800Matt LaFleur+3000Ron Rivera+3000Dan Quinn+3300Matt Nagy+3300Bill O'Brien+4000Joe Judge+4000Jon Gruden+4000Matt Patricia+4000Matt Rhule+4000Adam Gase+5000Doug Marrone+5000FavoritesBelichick remains the favorite even with Tom Brady departing for Tampa Bay and eight Patriots opting out of the season, including offensive tackle Marcus Cannon, linebacker Dont'a Hightower, and safety Patrick Chung. Belichick is arguably the greatest coach in NFL history, but given all the key pieces New England is missing, +1000 is too short a price for bettors to take a bite.Bruce Arians (+1200) and Mike McCarthy (+1300) are next in line. Like Belichick, McCarthy is a little overvalued heading into the season. The Dallas Cowboys are loaded on offense and should be improved overall with McCarthy taking over for Jason Garrett. However, Dallas' defense lacks depth and the secondary could be one of the NFL's worst, making McCarthy a pass at 13-1.Arians is the obvious choice among the favorites. Brady and Rob Gronkowski join an already talented roster that is +1500 to win the Super Bowl. The Buccaneers went 7-9 last season with Jameis Winston turning the ball over every time he turned around. With Brady stabilizing the offense and a defense that improved over the course of last year, the Bucs are strong candidates to improve their win total by four or five games. If you're looking to bet one of the favorites, Arians is the best option on the board.ValueThe coach with the most value is Seattle's Pete Carroll at 28-1. The Seahawks are seemingly all-in this season after trading for New York Jets safety Jamal Adams and expressing interest in receiver Antonio Brown. Russell Wilson finally has weapons on the outside and the Seahawks' young defense is likely to improve in 2020 with the addition of Adams. Carroll sitting at +2800 is too good to pass up.The other obvious candidate is Ron Rivera at 30-1. Rivera takes over a Washington team that won just three games in 2019. However, he does have some talent to work with. Washington's defensive front is one of the best in the NFL, while the return of quarterback Alex Smith from a devastating leg injury could boost an offense that finished last in scoring (16.6 points per game). Washington will be one of the most improved teams this season under Rivera. He's a steal at 30-1.Best betMike Tomlin +2500Tomlin sitting at 25-1 to win NFL Coach of the Year is a gift from the Gods. He led the Pittsburgh Steelers to an 8-8 record and just missed reaching the playoffs despite losing Ben Roethlisberger for the season in Week 2. Pittsburgh features one of the NFL's top defenses, and with Roethlisberger healthy, the offense will be much better than the 27th-ranked unit that averaged 18.1 points per game last year.The Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens are the AFC's two best teams, but don't count out the undervalued Steelers. Back Tomlin at 25-1.(Odds source: theScore Bet)Thomas Casale is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. He's been following the sports betting industry for almost 30 years. A devoted fan of the wishbone offense, Thomas bets on all sports but specializes in college football, NFL, and college basketball. Find him on Twitter @TheTomCasale.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With Thursday's 4 p.m. ET deadline to opt out of the 2020 NFL season fast approaching, Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White is still on the fence.White said Wednesday he is "undecided" about whether to play in the upcoming season and is still talking over the decision with his family, according to Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News."At the end of the day, no matter what, my family is always going to come first," he said. "My kids are always going to come first."White added he came to training camp to evaluate the Bills' health and safety protocols for COVID-19 before making his decision.On Thursday, the fourth-year cornerback hit back at the negative reaction to his comments:

The NFL Players Association sent players a phone number for them to report teams' violations of the COVID-19 protocols, sources told Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.Players can text the number, and they'll remain anonymous, Garafolo adds. The union is allowed to file a grievance on players' behalves for violations."Our player affairs staff is taking the health and safety of players seriously," NFLPA's assistant executive director of external affairs George Atallah said, according to Alex Prewitt of Sports Illustrated. "We set this up to ensure players felt comfortable at their workplace, but also to ensure they know we would act if they didn't feel safe.""Clubs are strictly prohibited from retaliating, in any way, against any person for reporting a violation of these protocols (regardless of whether the report is proven to be accurate)," NFL vice president of communications Brian McCarthy wrote in an email, according to Prewitt.The NBA also implemented an anonymous hotline to report protocol violations in its bubble in Orlando. The hotline quickly was nicknamed the "snitch line" and became a topic of parody videos.The NFL and NFLPA signed the revised collective bargaining agreement Monday to play the 2020 season amid the coronavirus pandemic. The league will administer COVID-19 tests to players daily throughout the first two weeks of training camp.The recently-finalized CBA also includes potential fines for the players.

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, Scott Barrett of Fantasy Points joins Boone to discuss how to approach running backs in this year's fantasy drafts, including which RBs will help lead you to a title.

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory isn't satisfied with how the NFL has handled his reinstatement process.Gregory applied for reinstatement in early July, and although he says he's ready to play, he's still waiting.One of the issues Gregory raised is related to COVID-19 testing. The league wants a testing record from the player, but it hasn't tested him for six months because of the pandemic, a source told Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk."I really miss playing football and being a player in the NFL," Gregory wrote on Twitter. "I'm doing everything that is asked of me and I'm in great shape physically, mentally, and emotionally, but I'm being held back from furthering my career because of COVID and testing."I've been ready to play and test for months but still have gotten little to no help to resolve my reinstatement," he continued. "I'm asking more questions than I'm getting answered. It's amazing that the powers that be can keep passing the buck and also use this pandemic as a way to prevent me from joining my team. Telling me to just sit and wait in limbo over things I can't control, all the while doing everything right off the field, is unfair and flat-out wrong!"The NFL suspended Gregory indefinitely in February 2019 for violating its substance abuse policy and the terms of a previous conditional reinstatement. That was the fourth suspension the 27-year-old had received since entering the league in 2015.Gregory was suspended twice in 2016 and drew a year-long ban the following season. He was reinstated in 2018 and played in 14 games, recording career highs with six sacks and two forced fumbles.A former second-round pick, Gregory has played in just 28 regular-season games throughout his career while missing 52 contests - 46 due to suspensions.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr grew up idolizing Kobe Bryant and plans to honor the late Los Angeles Lakers icon this season by sporting a sleeve on his left arm during games."This is a personal thing. I don't care what anybody else thinks about it - this is for me," Carr said Tuesday on a Zoom call with reporters, according to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN. "What would be a cool way to honor Kobe Bryant? He always wore an arm sleeve on his (right) arm - I can't wear one on my right (passing) arm, so I was like, 'You know what, I'll wear one on my left arm.' It's really just to honor Kobe."

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was removed from the reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday, the team announced.The Lions said Stafford was forced to sit out "as a result of a false-positive test." The club added that the quarterback's next three tests were all negative and that Stafford "does not have COVID-19 and never has had COVID-19."

The Miami Dolphins' wide receiver corps took another hit Wednesday.Albert Wilson announced he's joining teammate Allen Hurns and opting out of the 2020 season.

The San Francisco 49ers are expected to sign former first-round defensive end Dion Jordan after a visit Tuesday, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Originally drafted No. 3 overall by the Miami Dolphins in 2013, Jordan spent the 2019 season with the then-Oakland Raiders, racking up two sacks.The pass-rusher spent the prior two years with the Seattle Seahawks. Jordan was suspended for all of 2015 due to a violation of the performance-enhancing substance policy and also sat out the following season before being released by Miami in 2017.The 49ers have formed a dominant defensive line that contains other first-round talents Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, Dee Ford, and Javon Kinlaw. Jordan will likely fight it out in training camp for a backup role.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Now that the NFL and NFLPA have finally inked a revised collective bargaining agreement in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, pro football at last looks like a go - at least for now. But even with these financial and health and safety protocols in place, there will likely be a lot of complications in practice. Let's take a closer look at the agreement and what some of it means.Opt-out concessions from both sidesPlayers officially have until 4 p.m. ET on Thursday to choose whether to opt out. The league and the union previously agreed to give players seven days to decide once the amended CBA was signed. This possibility of a much-shorter window followed a report from Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio that indicated teams were concerned about bad-faith opt-outs, both from players who might get cut and from those who might use the threat of an opt-out as leverage to get themselves a new contract.This brought a stern rebuke from Patriots safety Devin McCourty, who characterized any effort from the NFL to shorten the opt-out period as "an absolute joke." The league's commitment to player safety has long been unironically performative, as has management's ability to exploit the CBA's fine print as much as possible. That it would now attempt to make a power play out of players' risk calculation during a pandemic was perfectly on-brand. But in the end, the players again flexed their collective muscle to wring out a few additional concessions:

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr isn't happy about the way he and his teammates have been analyzed throughout the offseason.Carr believes the Raiders' losing record in 2019 overshadowed players' true talent, influencing analysis such as the NFL Top 100 and Madden NFL player ratings. Now he wants to change that script."I'm going to be completely honest with you: I'm tired of being disrespected," Carr said Tuesday, according to NFL.com's Grant Gordon. He continued: "What I'm tired of (is) the hype machine that sometimes the NFL can be."I played way better last year than I did in 2016, yet all we do is talk about that. Well, we won 12 games, so, oh yeah, everyone's excited. I'm done with all that stuff."Carr led the Raiders to the playoffs in 2016 after posting a 12-3 regular-season record. He completed 63.8% of his pass attempts for 3,937 yards and 28 touchdowns against six interceptions that season.Since then, he said, he and his teammates have been routinely overlooked."As soon as we go and win 12 games, (tight end) Darren Waller's gonna be top 10 on the (Top 100) NFL list, as he should've been this year; you can't tell me there's 95 better players than Darren Waller," Carr said.He added: "How's (center) Rodney Hudson not on there? How's Trent Brown, the best right tackle in all of football, not on that list? It's this hype machine. As soon as we start winning, everyone's Madden ratings go up. Shocker."Waller was voted No. 99 on the NFL Top 100 this offseason. The 27-year-old finished second among all tight ends in both catches (90) and receiving yards (1,145) in 2019.Carr, meanwhile, set career highs in completion percentage (70.4%) and passing yards (4,054) last season while also tossing 21 touchdowns against eight interceptions. The Raiders, however, finished the season 7-9.The 29-year-old said he didn't contemplate opting out of the coming season because he still has plenty to prove to himself and the organization."There was no question I was going to play this year," he said.The Raiders have posted a combined record of 17-31 since their last winning campaign four years ago.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys didn't need a new starting-caliber wide receiver this offseason, but they left the 2020 NFL Draft with perhaps the class' best wideout in CeeDee Lamb.With Lamb in the fold, star wide receiver Amari Cooper now expects the Cowboys' receiving corps to accomplish a rare feat in 2020."I think it was a great pickup," Cooper said of Lamb, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. "You have to draft the best player on the board. Everybody understands that. He's a great receiver."I think with me and (wide receiver) Michael Gallup going for 1,000 yards last year, the expectation is to have three 1,000-yard receivers this year."Only five teams in NFL history have had three wideouts post 1,000 receiving yards or more in the same season.TeamYearPlayersCardinals2008Larry Fitzgerald/Anquan Boldin/Steve BreastonColts2004Reggie Wayne/Marvin Harrison/Brandon StokleyFalcons1995Eric Metcalf/Bert Emanuel/Terance MathisWashington1989Gary Clark/Art Monk/Ricky SandersChargers1980John Jefferson/Kellen Winslow/Charlie JoinerCooper led the Cowboys with 1,189 receiving yards last season, while Gallup ranked second after amassing 1,107 yards. Randall Cobb, who racked up 828 yards, finished third in receiving for Dallas. Cobb signed a free-agent contract with the Houston Texans this offseason.Dallas selected Lamb 17th overall in April after he posted an outstanding career at Oklahoma. The former Sooners standout recorded 173 catches for 3,292 yards and 32 touchdowns over three college seasons.Cooper, meanwhile, signed a five-year, $100-million deal with the Cowboys in March after earning his second straight Pro Bowl nod. The 26-year-old, who joined the team in 2018 in a trade from the then-Oakland Raiders, turned down a more lucrative offer from the Washington Football Team in order to remain with Dallas."I just liked everything about being a Dallas Cowboy," Cooper said, according to Archer. He added: "I've been privileged to play on different teams, so I understand the culture isn't the same in every city. Every team isn't the same ... having the opportunity to be on a team I really love, I wouldn't trade that for a little bit more money."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.No fantasy manager's draft plan should rigidly classify any player as a "must-have," but it's wise to enter yours with a shortlist of names you hope to add to your team. Below are seven players who will be key to winning a fantasy title this season.You shouldn't expect to get them all - that's probably impossible - but if you build your draft around selecting at least a few of the players on this list, you'll greatly increase your odds of achieving fantasy glory this season.Average draft position data courtesy of Fanball, since best-ball ADP tends to be ahead of the curve at this point in the year. It's based on 12-team leagues with PPR scoring.More in this series

The Jacksonville Jaguars activated quarterback Gardner Minshew from the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday.It's a quick exit from the new reserve list for Minshew, who was added to it Sunday. Minshew was just the second starting quarterback to go on reserve/COVID-19 after Matthew Stafford.Minshew said he didn't test positive for COVID-19, and quarantining apparently hasn't affected the quarterback's signature sense of humor."(The virus) took one look at me and ran the other way," the sophomore passer joked, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.Minshew did stress that "we have a responsibility to each other and each other's families to be safe," per Eugene Frenette of 930 The Game.The quarterback was living with two teammates - receiver Michael Walker and safety Andrew Wingard - who were both also placed on the new reserve list. Minshew said Walker tested positive, so that required him to quarantine.Players placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list either tested positive for the coronavirus or were in close contact with an infected person. Teams aren't required to specify why a player was placed on it.Minshew's swift return is a boost for the Jaguars as they begin camp. It's the 2019 sixth-round pick's first offseason as the team's unquestioned starter following the trade of Nick Foles to the Chicago Bears.Minshew threw 21 touchdowns against six interceptions and 3,271 yards in 14 appearances (12 starts) as a rookie, finishing the campaign with a passer rating of 91.2.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos star linebacker Von Miller revealed Tuesday that he seriously contemplated opting out of the 2020 season, according to ESPN's Jeff Legwold.Miller was the second active NFL player to contract COVID-19 in April. The seven-time Pro Bowler also suffers from asthma, which requires him to use an inhaler to train and play."I thought about it. ... I thought about all of my family, I took serious consideration and the things that could possibly happen," Miller said. "It's not a 100 percent bubble like basketball, so there are always going to be holes, but I felt like the job the Broncos were doing to keep us safe was enough for me not to opt out."Notable players such as Damien Williams, C.J. Mosley, and Nate Solder have opted out. Broncos right tackle Ja'Wuan James and defensive tackle Kyle Peko also elected not to play this season.But with Thursday's opt-out deadline fast approaching, no players of Miller's stature have decided to sit out.While the pass-rusher is ready to play, he knows just how impactful the coronavirus can be, even for top-tier athletes."I did (have trouble), it was hard for me to get my wind back, probably for two or three weeks after the virus,'' Miller said. "During the virus, I lost a lot of weight - everybody is not the same, but for me, I lost my taste and smell, I couldn't really, like, eat, and when you can't taste or smell you kind of lose your appetite. ... It was tough, no doubt about it."The 31-year-old is entering his 10th season in the NFL. He will be looking to rebound after producing his worst sack (eight) and tackle (46) totals since an injury-shortened 2013 campaign.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera "can envision" Alex Smith forcing his way into the competition for the starting quarterback job if the veteran's recovery from a career-threatening leg injury continues to progress, according to ESPN's John Keim.While Rivera made it clear he is happy with sophomore Dwayne Haskins, who is the favorite to start for the NFC East club, he has been impressed with Smith's work in practice."He's looked good, he really has," Rivera said. "It's been exciting to watch his progression. He's looked very fluid. It's a tribute to who he is, a tribute to his trainers and his doctors to get to where he is today."Smith suffered a broken fibula and tibia in November 2018, and there were fears that his leg would need to be amputated. He underwent 17 surgeries to give himself a chance of resuming his NFL career.While the 36-year-old received clearance from his surgical team to return to football activities, he began training camp on the physically unable to perform list.Washington needs to grant the quarterback further clearance to ramp up his work, and Rivera cautioned that Smith still needs to prove he's capable of doing everything he'd be required to do in live-game action."He'll be part of the conversation most definitely. ... We'll see how he is this week," Rivera said. "It's a matter of: Can he do the movements he needs to do? Can he protect himself when on the field?"He's going to have to hand the ball off, drop back in the pocket, and throw the ball. He's going to have to escape. We have to make sure he can do those things and protect himself as he plays."In addition to Haskins and Smith, Washington's quarterback competition would likely include former Carolina Panthers signal-caller Kyle Allen, who was acquired from Rivera's old club this offseason.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ben Roethlisberger is coming close to the end of a long road to recovery following season-ending elbow surgery last September, and the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback revealed the gruesome extent of his injury Tuesday.Roethlisberger told reporters he tore three of the five elbow flexor tendons "off the bone" in Week 2."There's no real name for it," Roethlisberger said of the surgery in his first comments to the media since the injury, according to Ed Bouchette of The Athletic. "It's not Tommy John or anything like that."The veteran quarterback thinks he'll be making history when he returns to an NFL field in September."As far as I'm aware, it’s happened to everyday people on the street, if you will," he said. "From what I've been told, it's never happened to a quarterback to this magnitude. I believe there was at least another quarterback who had one, maybe two torn off, but not three. That’s just what I’ve been told."Roethlisberger looked comfortable throwing Monday as he continues to ramp up his activity at the early portion of training camp.

Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman announced Tuesday he is opting out of the 2020 college football season and declaring for the 2021 NFL Draft.

With the 2020 campaign fast approaching, theScore's Mike Alessandrini evaluates the NFL's eight divisions and ranks them from easiest to win to hardest.8. AFC EastFor the first time in what feels like forever, the New England Patriots' stranglehold on the AFC East is loosening. Bill Belichick's squad utterly dominated its rivals over the last decade, as evidenced by 10 straight division titles (bringing the grand total to 11).2010-2019Recordvs. DivisionPatriots125-3548-12Bills71-8924-36Dolphins70-9025-35Jets68-9223-37Despite the newfound competitiveness of the division, we'd still consider it the league's weakest. The Buffalo Bills - armed with the AFC East's most complete roster - will be widely viewed as favorites. Josh Allen may need a third-year leap to take the crown, but Buffalo is very strong at key spots including pass defense and offensive line, as well as receiver after adding Stefon Diggs.Meanwhile, the Patriots appear destined to decline with the loss of Tom Brady and key starters opting out of the season, and though the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins feature budding rosters, they still figure to finish the upcoming campaign with losing records. There simply aren't many legitimate contenders here.7. AFC South Jack Thomas / Getty Images Sport / GettyIf we were ranking the NFL's most competitive divisions, the AFC South would be near the top. Each team (OK, maybe not the Jacksonville Jaguars) will enter the season with the belief it can finish first.However, a division devoid of elite clubs isn't as difficult to win. The Houston Texans will vie for their third straight first-place finish, but the losses of DeAndre Hopkins, D.J. Reader, and Johnathan Joseph may be too great to overcome. The Tennessee Titans are coming off a run to the AFC Championship Game, but can they count on Ryan Tannehill to replicate his 2019 form?The Indianapolis Colts represent the South's biggest wild card. If Frank Reich's defense improves and Philip Rivers rebounds from a career-worst campaign, the sky's the limit. If not, it's an underwhelming group.6. NFC EastOften ridiculed for its franchises' disastrous campaigns and lack of competitiveness, the NFC East looks stronger on paper than it did a year ago. With talented rosters, the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys project to be two of the conference's premier teams in 2020 and should battle all season.The division usually falls off a cliff after Philly and Dallas, but the other two clubs could be vastly improved relative to their combined 29-67 record since 2017. Washington fields a young core led by Dwayne Haskins, Chase Young, and Terry McLaurin, while the New York Giants are a true sleeper squad if Daniel Jones can take a second-year leap. He'll certainly receive help from plenty of weapons.Perhaps the most interesting factor to monitor pertains to NFC East coaching staffs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Only the Eagles didn't hire a new head coach, though Ron Rivera and Mike McCarthy are seasoned vets. Continuity will be key in a shortened offseason.5. NFC North Hannah Foslien / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe fight for the NFC North title is among the most exciting storylines to monitor this season. Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers should remain favorites, but the team's offseason featured a number of head-scratching moves.This leaves the door open for the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, or Detroit Lions - we just aren't sure any of them are equipped to usurp Green Bay. Chicago's defense figures to once again rank among the league's elite, but it's difficult to be confident in either Nick Foles or Mitchell Trubisky leading the offense. The Lions could compete if their key pieces stay healthy, though it'll be difficult to compensate for a burnable secondary and lacking pass rush.Minnesota once again fields a balanced lineup and should have little trouble competing for a playoff spot if its crop of young cornerbacks steps up. It'll likely be a bloodbath for the division crown, but this feels like an average group overall.4. AFC NorthThe AFC North is on the rise for many reasons. Fresh off clinching the conference's No. 1 seed, the Baltimore Ravens will be a top-tier franchise as long as Lamar Jackson is around, and they added Calais Campbell, Derek Wolfe, and rookie Patrick Queen to an already scary defense.Expect the Cincinnati Bengals to improve after finishing with the NFL's worst record a year ago. Rookie Joe Burrow leads an offense with key players returning from injury, while Cincinnati's stop unit added a handful of potential impact starters this offseason. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns start fresh yet again via new head coach Kevin Stefanski. Cleveland failed to live up to expectations in 2019, but its talented roster shouldn't be overlooked.The Pittsburgh Steelers give the North its second Super Bowl contender. Mike Tomlin's squad somehow went 8-8 last year without Ben Roethlisberger and features arguably the league's top defense. Even if Big Ben doesn't fully return to form, this division could realistically produce three playoff teams.3. AFC West Dylan Buell / Getty Images Sport / GettyAny division featuring the Kansas City Chiefs is bound to rank among the toughest. But there's quite a bit of uncertainty in the AFC West beyond the reigning champions.The Los Angeles Chargers, a popular preseason pick to reach Super Bowl LIV before ultimately disappointing, improved at a number of key positions and feature arguably the NFL's premier pass defense. However, L.A.'s quarterback room likely won't frighten opponents. We're not confident in veteran Tyrod Taylor or rookie Justin Herbert to lead the Chargers on a postseason run.Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos are two organizations trending upward. The Silver and Black patched a number of holes on defense this offseason, while sophomore Drew Lock leads a reloaded Denver offense. Both squads have question marks, and their campaigns could go in either direction depending on how those are answered.Kansas City remains the overwhelming favorite to win the division, but its rivals could be in the hunt for a playoff spot with ascendant rosters. Either way, the AFC West will feature plenty of fireworks.2. NFC WestGet ready for an entertaining four-way showdown. If any division has a shot to field four playoff teams in the expanded format, it's the NFC West - headlined by defending conference champions the San Francisco 49ers, who swept all but one of their division matchups last year. Despite returning most starters, they'll face a taller task this season.After finishing last in 2019, the Arizona Cardinals will be a dangerous opponent with DeAndre Hopkins in tow and a rising star at quarterback. Kyler Murray and Kliff Kingsbury could take the league by storm in their second campaign together.The Los Angeles Rams are never out of contention with Sean McVay in charge, though the losses of Cory Littleton, Dante Fowler, and Brandin Cooks - not to mention Todd Gurley's release - will likely prove impactful. Finally, the Seattle Seahawks have their eyes on the Lombardi Trophy. They've got one of the NFL's brightest stars in Russell Wilson and they recently acquired safety Jamal Adams. If Seattle improves its play in the trenches, there won't be many better clubs out there.All four squads have a shot at the NFC West title. That can't be said for any other division and lands the group near the top of our list.1. NFC South Sean Gardner / Getty Images Sport / GettyArmed with two - possibly three - Super Bowl contenders, the NFC South reigns supreme.No team in the conference is garnering as much championship buzz as the New Orleans Saints, who fell short in each of their last three seasons. Coming off back-to-back 13-win campaigns, New Orleans can be just as lethal in 2020 thanks to a balanced roster and quality coaching staff.The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who haven't qualified for the postseason since 2007, are right behind the Saints. Tom Brady enters the fold as the NFL's biggest X-factor, leading a dynamic offense with former Patriots pal Rob Gronkowski and an elite group of receivers. The Bucs finished 7-9 in 2019 despite Jameis Winston turning the ball over a whopping 33 times, so imagine what Bruce Arians can accomplish with Brady and an ascendant defense.Don't overlook the Atlanta Falcons, either. Dan Quinn's squad finished last season on a four-game winning streak and should once again deploy a strong passing attack. If Atlanta's stop unit plays the way it did in the second half of the year, no division can surpass the NFC South's top three.The Carolina Panthers are rebuilding under new head coach Matt Rhule and figure to be the only weak spot in the group, but there's enough firepower elsewhere to make every matchup must-watch football. Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL determined that players must opt out of the coming season by Thursday at 4 p.m. ET, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The league and NFLPA recently agreed to revised terms for the collective bargaining agreement in order to stage the 2020 season amid the coronavirus pandemic. Players were supposed to have a full week after the two sides finalized an agreement to decide whether they'll play in 2020.The NFL and players' association signed the revised CBA on Monday night, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.The league appeared keen to push the deadline forward, perhaps due to concerns that the opt-out option is not being used in good faith.Some teams are worried that players who believe they will soon be cut are choosing to opt out in order to earn the six-figure stipend set by the league, a source told Florio.Certain agents are also using potential opt-outs as leverage to secure new contracts for their clients, Florio reports.Players considered to be at high risk of complications from COVID-19 are expected to receive $350,000 and an accrued NFL season if they opt out for 2020. Players who decide to sit out but aren't considered high risk will get $150,000.Several NFLers have already opted out of the upcoming campaign. Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif was the first to announce his decision on July 24, while New York Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley and New England Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower are among the high-profile players who will also sit out the 2020 season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll told reporters Monday that general manager John Schneider has been following Antonio Brown's situation and that the club is "very open" to the possibility of bringing Josh Gordon back once the NFL reinstates him."John is competing at every turn," Carroll said about the Seahawks' interest in Brown, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN. "There's never been a process, unless we just missed it, that we weren't involved with to understand what the chances were of helping our club. He's all over it. He understands what's going on right now, as much as you can. It's a very complex situation. We just need to see where it fits somewhere down the road."The league recently suspended Brown for violating its personal conduct policy. The free-agent wideout is eligible to participate in training camp, and his ban will end after eight games regardless of whether he's on a roster when the season kicks off.Brown can still receive another suspension as the NFL continues to investigate the rape lawsuit brought forth by the player's former personal trainer in September 2019.The 32-year-old worked out with Russell Wilson at the Seahawks quarterback's San Francisco home in July.Gordon, meanwhile, was suspended indefinitely in December for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances and substances of abuse. He signed with the Seahawks midway through last season, and despite appearing in just five games, his positive contributions left the door open for a possible return."It's not in our hands," Carroll said about a reunion with Gordon. "Josh did a really good job with us last year. He fit in really well. He was part of this team by the way we opened and embraced his coming to us but also by the way he adapted. So we are very open to that thought, and we'll see what happens."Gordon, who applied for reinstatement in June, is interested in a reunion with the Seahawks, sources told Henderson.The 29-year-old recorded seven catches for 139 yards in five appearances with Seattle.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. doesn't think the 2020 NFL season should go ahead amid the COVID-19 pandemic.Beckham said team owners are only focused on the league's finances and don't see players as "human.""Obviously with everything that's going on, it doesn't make sense why we're trying to do this," Beckham told The Wall Street Journal's Lane Florsheim. "I can understand basketball was already in the playoffs. Five-on-five basketball in an arena is going to be more intense than regular-season games. Hooping is different than playing an 11-on-11 contact sport where there's 80 people in a locker room. We're not ready for football season."So why are we trying to push forward? It's obviously for their money. And that bothers me because there's always been this - and I hate saying it like that - but the owners' (attitude is), 'Oh we own you guys,' and just kind of that unfairness going on that they don't see us as human. I just feel like the season shouldn't happen and I'm prepared for it to not happen and I wouldn't mind not having it."Beckham doesn't plan to opt out of the season, sources told Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com.Cabot added that Beckham's interview with the WSJ took place two weeks ago, and the receiver "has developed more of a comfort level for playing" after being inside Cleveland's facility and experiencing the health protocols.The NFL and the NFLPA recently signed off on changes to the collective bargaining agreement, allowing the campaign to go ahead.But players publically criticized the league's approach to the pandemic in a coordinated social media campaign prior to the deal's completion, saying they wanted to play, but not without acceptable health and safety standards. Marquee players such as Russell Wilson, Patrick Mahomes, and J.J. Watt joined the effort.While the two parties managed to come to terms, the deal was finalized just as training camps were scheduled to begin.Though players are able to opt out of the season, the NFL is expected to push the deadline forward to as early as Thursday or Friday, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano.Beckham is coming off a disappointing first campaign with the Browns. Cleveland was widely viewed as a challenger for the AFC North title last season, but it finished in third place with a 6-10 record.The receiver went past the 1,000-yard mark for the fifth time, but he produced career lows with 64.7 yards per game and four touchdown catches (minimum 10 games).Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Francisco 49ers and tight end Jordan Reed agreed to an incentive-based, one-year contract, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Reed suffered the latest in a long line of concussions last year and failed to appear in a game for the Washington Football Team. After the veteran was released this offseason, there was speculation he could retire.

The Raiders' first season in Las Vegas will be played without fans.The AFC West club informed season-ticket holders Monday that fans won't be permitted at home games this season due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk."There is nothing more important to the Raider organization than the health and safety of our players, coaches, staff, stadium workers, and fans," the team said in the statement. "After intensive consultation with healthcare officials and state and community leaders, we have made the difficult decision to play the Las Vegas Raiders 2020 inaugural season at Allegiant Stadium without fans in attendance."This decision also ensures fairness to you, our PSL holders, given the challenges and potential inequities associated with determining who can and cannot attend specific games if the stadium were to operate at a reduced capacity," the statement continued. "While the current situation is not how any of us envisioned celebrating the opening of Allegiant Stadium, when circumstances permit we look forward to sharing an unparalleled game-day experience in the magnificent stadium you helped build."Allegiant Stadium cost $1.8 billion, and its capacity is 65,000 people.The pandemic has severely hampered the NFL's efforts to highlight the Raiders' debut in Sin City.The 2020 NFL Draft was scheduled to be held in Las Vegas, but the league was forced to cancel all public events and conduct the draft virtually.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints are renting four floors of the Loews Hotel in downtown New Orleans as an optional residence for their players and staff during training camp, according to ESPN's Mike Triplett.Saints head coach Sean Payton described the environment as a "sequester," not a bubble.Payton estimated 150 of the team's 180 employees could opt to stay at the site, including players, coaches, executives, and other personnel."The message from the league is, 'The show must go on,'" Payton explained. "If so, we've got to do everything we can to be sure that happens."Team owner Gayle Benson is paying for the rental.No Saints players have tested positive for COVID-19 since last week, and the team is expected to begin strength and conditioning work Monday.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints-Tampa Bay Buccaneers rivalry is heating up.After adding Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski to an already talented roster this offseason, the Bucs are widely regarded as the biggest challengers to the reigning NFC South champions.Cameron Jordan acknowledged the threat of Tampa Bay during a Monday appearance on NFL Network's "Good Morning Football," but the Saints pass-rusher couldn't resist taking a few shots at his division rival."But I do know we have to step up our game, we've got to elevate," said a smiling Jordan, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra. "They've got the second-greatest quarterback of all time, right behind Drew Brees, and now we've got a head-to-head two times a year."We've got our work cut out for us and then they have an addition, you bring in Rob Gronkowski and LeSean McCoy, you already had two 1,000-yard receivers in (Chris) Godwin and Mike Evans. This is a team that's fighting for second place."New Orleans went 13-3 to comfortably win the NFC South for a third straight season in 2019. Meanwhile, the Bucs and Atlanta Falcons tied for second place with 7-9 records.Tampa Bay has finished above .500 just twice since 2010. During that time, Brady won three Super Bowls and two MVP awards with the New England Patriots.Both Brees and Brady are on the wrong side of 40, meaning the Saints and Bucs are in win-now mode.One club will quickly take the first step toward becoming the NFC South front-runner, as the Saints and Bucs clash in Week 1.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.theScore's Justin Boone was the winner of FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019, marking the seventh time he's placed in the top 10.Follow the links below to see his updated 2020 rankings.Half PPR

Lamar Jackson became the second player to ever unanimously win the MVP award in his sophomore year in the NFL. He also led the league in passing touchdowns and broke Michael Vick's single-season rushing record.But there's one glaring hole in the Baltimore Ravens quarterback's impressive resume: an 0-2 playoff record. Avenging those immediate postseason exits has apparently been on Jackson's mind this offseason."I think about it a lot, to be honest with you," Jackson told Peter King of NBC Sports. "That's where I wanna be. That's when everything gets ... crucial. It's tough. I remember (former NFL running back) LeGarrette Blount DM'd me on Instagram. He was like, 'You know, playoffs is different from regular season.' I'm like, 'Nah.' But it is, because it's win or go home. And I'm tired of going home. I just can't wait to get back in that same spot and perform at a whole 'nother level."Jackson and the Ravens suffered a stunning double-digit loss to the Tennessee Titans in the divisional round last season after earning the No. 1 seed with an NFL-best 14-2 record. The year prior, the AFC North club was bounced by the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round.The 23-year-old's postseason stats pale in comparison to his regular-season performances.In his two playoff starts, Jackson threw three touchdowns against three interceptions, completed just 51.1% of his passes, and was sacked 11 times. He racked up 77 rushing yards but failed to find the end zone on the ground and lost two fumbles."I just want to get back to that situation so I can perform different," Jackson said. "Just put it on my shoulders and go from there. I gotta fight to get back to that situation. It's gonna be a different result this time."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent tight end Delanie Walker is receiving interest from the New England Patriots, among other teams, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.The Tennessee Titans released Walker this offseason. The 35-year-old missed 15 games in 2018 and nine in 2019 due to injuries. He spent seven years in Tennessee.The veteran was one of the NFL's most productive tight ends from 2014 to 2017, racking up 296 catches for 3,585 yards and 20 touchdowns.Matt LaCosse recently decided to opt out, leaving the Patriots with third-year pro Ryan Izzo, and rookies Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene atop their tight end depth chart.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The XFL is staying in the family.Actor and former WWE star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and two partners bought the XFL for around $15 million, they announced Monday, hours before the revamped football league was set to be sold via auction.Johnson teamed up with private investment firm RedBird Capital Partners and Dany Garcia to purchase the XFL, which declared bankruptcy in April after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the league to shut down the first season of its second iteration.The XFL was formerly owned by WWE chairman Vince McMahon.It appears Johnson will take an active role in bringing the XFL back."The acquisition of the XFL with my talented partners, Dany Garcia and Gerry Cardinale, is an investment for me that’s rooted deeply in two things - my passion for the game and my desire to always take care of the fans,” Johnson said, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN. "With pride and gratitude for all I’ve built with my own two hands, I plan to apply these callouses to the XFL, and look forward to creating something special for the players, fans, and everyone involved for the love of football."The eight-team league, which had a broadcast deal with FOX, brought in 3 million viewers in its first week while also creating a strong social media following. During its fifth and final week, however, the XFL had around half that viewership.The original XFL was founded in 2001 but lasted just one season.Johnson, the star of the "Fast and Furious" movie franchise and HBO's football drama series "Ballers," is one of Hollywood's highest-paid actors. He has a net worth of around $320 million.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots safety Devin McCourty isn't happy with the NFL's handling of the opt-out deadline for the 2020 season.The longtime Patriots captain ripped into the league on Sunday for reportedly attempting to move up the deadline for opt-outs prior to the upcoming campaign."I think it is an absolute joke that the NFL is changing the opt-out period, mainly because they don't want to continue to see guys opt out. I'm sure they're shocked about how many guys have opted out," McCourty said, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. "I think it's terrible. I think it's B.S. that the league has changed that date."Players were supposed to get a week from when the NFL and the NFLPA signed the collective bargaining agreement amendment to make their decision. However, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported recently the league is expected to push up the deadline to as early as Wednesday."Monday will be our first day in the building, so to try to act like guys are trying to make a decision about something other than virtual meetings is a joke," McCourty said. "When players understand how much power we have, we've seen things change for us; primarily even with this deal, with the COVID-19 and trying to get everything back, we saw some of that strength. Hopefully, we'll see how everything turns out come Wednesday, if it ends up being the deadline."I support guys no matter what they decide, but I'm still out here having fun and figuring things out. So, we'll see how we go."McCourty, who read a five-page statement and took no questions, didn't confirm if he's playing this season.New England has experienced by far the most opt-outs, with eight players - including linebacker Dont'a Hightower and safety Patrick Chung - deciding not to suit up in 2020 over COVID-19 concerns.Across the league, other big-name players have also opted out.Kansas City Chiefs guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif was the first, and his teammate, running back Damien Williams, followed shortly after. New York Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley and New York Giants left tackle Nate Solder are also sitting out, among others.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson has tested positive for COVID-19, the team announced Sunday.Pederson informed his players Sunday after a second positive test confirmed his diagnosis, according to ESPN's Tim McManus.The 52-year-old is asymptomatic and feeling fine. He's believed to have contracted the coronavirus outside of the team's training facility.Philadelphia also reportedly sent home a staff member who was in close contact with Pederson.Pederson is the second known NFL head coach to test positive. Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints contracted the coronavirus in March and has since recovered.The Eagles have gone 38-26 in Pederson's four seasons at the helm, winning Super Bowl LII in 2017.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jacksonville Jaguars placed quarterback Gardner Minshew on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the team announced Sunday.Minshew was one of five Jaguars given the designation, along with running back Ryquell Armstead, tight end Charles Jones, wide receiver Michael Walker, and safety Andrew Wingard.The 24-year-old is the second starting signal-caller to hit the reserve list, as the Detroit Lions added Matthew Stafford on Saturday.A 2019 sixth-round pick, Minshew took over the Jaguars' starting role last year following Nick Foles' early-season injury. He finished his rookie campaign with a 6-6 record while completing just over 60% of his pass attempts for 3,271 yards and 21 touchdowns against six interceptions.The Washington State product is now set to be Jacksonville's Day 1 starter after the club traded Foles to the Chicago Bears this offseason.Jacksonville also removed three names from their reserve/COVID-19 list Sunday, including second-year offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor.The new reserve list is for any player who either tests positive for COVID-19 or is quarantining after coming in close contact with an infected person. Players who had contact with an infected individual may return to camp after three negative tests over a four-day span.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur says he's "lucky" to work with quarterback Aaron Rodgers and doesn't expect his good fortune to end in the foreseeable future."Right now, Aaron is our QB, and I see him here for a really long time. How long that is nobody knows," LaFleur said Sunday, according to Mike Clemens of SiriusXM NFL Radio. "Nothing is guaranteed in the NFL. But I feel so lucky to be able to work with him on a daily basis and I don't see that changing for a really long time."Ahead of Rodgers' age-37 campaign, the Packers traded up in the first round of the 2020 draft to select quarterback Jordan Love at No. 26. The future Hall of Famer was surprised by Green Bay's decision and recently said he expects to finish his career elsewhere.LaFleur was hired in January 2019 to replace Mike McCarthy, and the 40-year-old led Green Bay to the NFC Championship Game after posting a 13-3 record during the regular season.Rodgers wasn't able to replicate his past success in his first year with the offensive-minded LaFleur, however, as the eight-time Pro Bowler completed 62% of his pass attempts for 4,002 yards and 26 touchdowns. After leading the NFL with 40 touchdown passes in 2016, Rodgers has now failed to throw 30 TDs in each of his last three seasons.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley has decided to opt out of the 2020 season due to family health concerns, sources told Rich Cimini of ESPN.Mosley, 28, became one of the NFL's highest-paid inside linebackers when he inked a five-year, $85-million contract with the Jets in free agency in March 2019.But the four-time Pro Bowler suffered a groin injury in Week 1 and was sidelined through 14 games last season. In two appearances, Mosley racked up nine tackles, one pick-6, and two pass breakups.Mosley's absence would deal a second major blow to the Jets' defense after the team dealt safety Jamal Adams to the Seattle Seahawks in a blockbuster trade last week.The Alabama product would also be the second Jets player to forgo the coming campaign after offensive lineman Leo Koloamatangi informed New York last week he will sit out.Selected 17th overall in the 2014 NFL Draft, Mosley spent his first five pro campaigns with the Baltimore Ravens.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL players who are still undecided on whether they'll play during the COVID-19 pandemic might be running out of time to mull over their choice.The league is expected to move up the deadline for players to opt out of the coming season to Tuesday or Wednesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.Players were expected to have a full week to decide after the league and NFLPA finalize revisions to the collective bargaining agreement. As of Saturday afternoon, that step still wasn't completed.Players deemed to be at high risk of complications from COVID-19 are expected to receive $350,000 and an accrued NFL season if they opt out of playing. Those who aren't high risk but decide to opt out will get $150,000.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tight end David Njoku has changed his mind after requesting a trade from the Cleveland Browns a month ago.Njoku has had good meetings with the Browns recently, and he's decided "to give the team his full commitment right now and go from there," his agent Drew Rosenhaus said Saturday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The 2017 first-round pick also tweed Saturday that he's "all in" with Cleveland.

The Detroit Lions have placed quarterback Matthew Stafford on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

A lucrative contract extension is just a matter of time for Deshaun Watson, but the Houston Texans quarterback isn't thinking about anything beyond the football field ahead of his fourth NFL campaign."Football is the main focus," Watson said Saturday of his contract negotiations with the team, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. "My agent is taking care of that. My main focus is being the quarterback and being the leader of this team. My main focus is staying healthy and making sure my team is ready to play."He added: "I love the organization. I love the (owners). I love the city. I love the fan base. I'm a Houston Texan. I'm locked in on being a Texan."Houston is currently discussing an extension with Watson's representatives, but a deal isn't imminent, sources told Wilson. The parties reportedly engaged in preliminary talks in April, days before the Texans picked up the fifth-year option on Watson's rookie deal.Watson, 24, reportedly prefers a shorter-term extension.Head coach and general manager Bill O'Brien stressed that the team is determined to give Watson a new contract."We're working hard," O'Brien said Friday. "We feel so strongly about him in this offense, in this organization. We want him here for a long time. We'd love to have Deshaun here."Selected 12th overall by the Texans in 2017, Watson owns a 24-13 regular-season career record and has led Houston to the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.The two-time Pro Bowler has averaged 4,091 passing yards and 30 touchdowns against 12 interceptions per 16 games played in his career. He's also rushed for 14 touchdowns since entering the league.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees says his controversial comments about kneeling during the U.S. national anthem marked a missed opportunity to show support for efforts to advance social and racial justice."To think for a second that New Orleans or the state of Louisiana or the Black community would think that I was not standing with them for social justice, that completely broke my heart. It was crushing. Never ever would I feel that way," Brees said Saturday in a statement, according to ESPN's Mike Triplett."Now, I recognize that I missed an opportunity that day. I had an opportunity to talk about and emphasize the social injustices that exist for our Black community and our need as a country to support them and to advocate for systemic change."And my lack of awareness in that moment hurt a lot of people."Brees said in June he "will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America" after being asked about the possibility of players kneeling during the anthem during the 2020 NFL season.The quarterback's comments drew strong criticism across the NFL, and he later apologized for his "insensitive" remarks. Several of his teammates publicly accepted his apologies, and Brees said he's since had positive conversations with players regarding his comments."I will always support and advocate for the Black and brown communities in the fight for social justice - always," Brees said. He added: "I'm the same person now that I've always been. I'm someone who cares deeply for people in my community, New Orleans, the state of Louisiana, people everywhere."I'm someone who will always address the inequities and the disparities that exist. I'm someone who has great empathy for those who are hurting, struggling, or victims of injustice. And I'm someone who feels a great sense of responsibility to serve and to lead and to bring true equality to everyone."Brees said in 2016 he agreed with Colin Kaepernick's message in protesting police brutality and racial injustice by kneeling during the anthem, but not with a method he considered disrespectful to the U.S. flag.The 41-year-old still plans to stand for the anthem during the upcoming season, but he respects the choice of anyone who decides to protest."I acknowledge and respect anyone who chooses to kneel or any other form of peaceful protest to bring attention to the social injustices and systemic racism that so many have endured and continue to endure in our country," Brees said.The NFL is planing multiple social justice initiatives in 2020, including playing the Black national anthem before Week 1 games and stenciling anti-racism messages on end-zone borders for all home openers.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.