Get ready for your season with theScore's 2020 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Mock drafts

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The Ravens took the league by storm in 2019. With MVP Lamar Jackson leading the way, Baltimore flew past its preseason win total (8.5) en route to a 14-victory season and the AFC's No. 1 seed in the playoffs.Of course, that all came crashing down with a stunning divisional-round loss to the Titans. But over bettors were still well compensated after the Ravens' regular-season success.Now, with most of last year's roster intact, Baltimore enters 2020 tied for the league's highest preseason win total (11.5) and is among the favorites to win the Super Bowl. Can the Ravens carry their regular-season momentum into 2020? Or is regression inevitable?Here are their win-total odds and the case for each side:How many games will the Ravens win in 2020?OddsOver 11.5EvenUnder 11.5-120Case for the overThe 2019 Ravens were one of the more dominant groups we've seen in decades, so it's not hard to make the case for betting their over in 2020. Football Outsiders ranked the Ravens as the seventh-best team ever by DVOA (since 1985), with the No. 1 offense and No. 4 defense last season.The Ravens return 20 of 22 starters from a club that won three games by five-plus touchdowns - the most of any team since at least 1989 - and finished with an average point differential of 13.7 per game, the highest since the 2007 Patriots. That includes a nearly 18-point average margin of victory in 12 straight wins to end the season.After such an impressive year, what did they do in the offseason? Baltimore traded for All-Pro Calais Campbell, and the front office drafted linebacker Patrick Queen in the first round to fill arguably the only holes on an already stout defense. Offensively, the Ravens added Ohio State star J.K. Dobbins to a backfield that amassed the most yards (3,296) in NFL history.Physicality alone is probably worth roughly eight wins because teams aren't prepared for it, and Jackson is worth a few more after his dazzling display in 2019. If the Ravens are even remotely as good as they were last campaign, the over is the easy bet.Case for the underBut what if they aren't as good as last year?Since 2006, 60 teams have won 12-plus games, but only 19 repeated that the following season, according to PFF. It's hard to steamroll the league two straight years, even for the NFL's best teams.Higher expectations play a role. The Ravens stunned the NFL last year with their physical, run-heavy offensive approach built around misdirection and an arsenal of capable ball carriers, Jackson included. But in their playoff loss, the Titans forced Baltimore's offense to play horizontally while disrupting Jackson up the middle, potentially laying out the blueprint for teams to do the same next year.Expect the competition to stiffen, too. While traditional strength of schedule metrics project the Ravens to get the league's easiest schedule, that's based on 2019 records, many of which don't hold much weight. Of the team's 16 opponents in 2020, 11 have received a higher win total than their 2019 record. That includes six games against the seriously improved AFC North.There's also the chance Jackson gets injured, and his running style puts him at a higher risk than most quarterbacks. Even a few missed games would jeopardize the over, as the margin of error for teams with high win totals is razor-thin.Baltimore's offense is built around Jackson's skill set. Could the Ravens survive if he logs an extended spell on the sideline?Which should you bet?All the above concerns are legitimate, and guard Marshal Yanda also retired after being a staple of Baltimore's rushing offense for years. Nonetheless, even if teams have figured out the Ravens, the club is just too talented to stop altogether.An injury to Jackson would change things, but you can't bet expecting the unexpected. Instead, lean into the Ravens' immense upside and elite coaching, as Baltimore should reach 12 or 13 wins while riding one of the NFL's best rosters.Odds source: theScore BetC Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

First off, let's not get carried away, OK? The Cleveland Browns have yet to accomplish a damn thing, and any suggestion they're back or on the rise or, well, good will have to wait until they actually achieve something tangible on a football field. Until further notice, they remain a franchise that can be counted on to eventually fall down a well. Still, though: The Browns have engaged in contract talks with defensive end Myles Garrett, and - no joke - that's something that qualifies as a genuine milestone.For two decades, the Browns have been a model of instability. They've had a real gift for cycling through general managers, head coaches, and quarterbacks - and losing games. Cleveland won fewer games than any other team during the 2010s, when it also had more draft capital than anyone else. That's exactly why even the possibility of an extension for Garrett, the No. 1 overall selection in 2017, is a sign of progress: No Browns first-round pick has signed a second contract with the team since cornerback Joe Haden, and Joe Haden was drafted way back in 2010. It should further be noted that the Browns eventually released Haden in 2017, and that Haden's since emerged as a solid veteran presence for the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team that Browns fans might actually hate more than they hate themselves.The Browns aren't the only team to go a long time without signing a first-rounder to a new contract. The Seattle Seahawks haven't given an extension to a first-round pick since safety Earl Thomas, who was also selected in 2010. And the Raiders haven't done it since safety Michael Huff, whom they took in 2006. But the Seahawks and Raiders found better value with their drafts through the years than the Browns, who've just plain sucked at picking players for the last decade relative to the kind of draft assets they've accumulated.Benjamin Ellinger recently determined the draft efficiency for every NFL team dating back to 2010 for Football Outsiders. He did this first by gauging draft capital by value, then by using Pro Football Reference's Approximate Value metric to determine the return generated by each pick, then by weighing that capital against those returns.The Seahawks frequently trade back to accumulate draft assets. But from 2010-19, they nonetheless ranked No. 1 in terms of the quality of their picks relative to where they were drafting and how many selections they had. In 2011 and 2012, in fact, the Seahawks had two of the three best draft classes of the entire decade - the foundation on which they built a perennial winner that's won a Super Bowl, reached another, and missed the playoffs just once since 2012. The Browns, by contrast, came in at No. 31, behind every team except the Jets, who last reached the playoffs in 2010.Interestingly, the Browns ranked third in terms of overall draft return in the last 10 years, and tied for first in the last five years. This, however, is a function of the enormous draft capital the Browns accumulated throughout the 2010s, and in the last five years in particular, when they dropped the pretense and embarked on a deliberate strategy of losing games to pile up even more picks. Which explains a little about why they haven't had a first-round pick get to a second contract in the last decade.Now, because first-round picks are slotted into four-year contracts with a team option for a fifth year, the 2015 draft class is the most recent to be completely beyond the point of a rookie deal's reach. The 2016 class is about to enter its option year, and only a handful of 2016 first-rounders have already signed extensions, including Jared Goff, Carson Wentz, and Ezekiel Elliott. Christian McCaffrey is the only member of the 2017 draft class to get a new deal so far, though the Kansas City Chiefs reportedly want to get one done with Patrick Mahomes, and Jamal Adams is making a stink to try to get the Jets to pay up or trade him to a contender.So what happened to the Browns in the years between when they selected Haden and Garrett? Using Ellinger's data set, I determined that from 2011-16, Cleveland ranked dead last in terms of return vs. capital on their draft picks. The Browns had eight first-round selections across those five years. All were busts. Phil Taylor made it to his option year before being cut at the end of training camp. But Brandon Weeden, Justin Gilbert, and Johnny Manziel didn't even make it that far. Trent Richardson was somehow traded for a first-round pick. Barkevious Mingo and Cameron Erving were dealt separately for a fifth-rounder each, and Danny Shelton and a fifth-rounder were exchanged for a third-rounder. Meanwhile, the Raiders - the only team to go longer without doing a second deal for one of its first-rounders - got multiple first-round picks when they traded Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper in separate swaps.Garrett was suspended for the final six games of the 2019 season for striking Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph with a helmet during an in-game brawl last November. Garrett said he reacted after Rudolph directed a racial slur at him, though Rudolph and the Steelers denied this. The Browns see a future for Garrett because of his ability to rush the passer, and by working to sign him now, with two years of control plus the possibility of the franchise tag still at their disposal, they seem to want to get ahead of a pass-rusher market that's expected to climb substantially in the years ahead. A deal that averages more than $20 million a season likely isn't out of the question.The Browns view Garrett as the sort of foundational piece they've been unable to land in the first round for years, despite lots of trying - and he's not the only one. Baker Mayfield, Denzel Ward, and David Njoku also fit that description, as do a handful of others who might plausibly constitute a veteran nucleus: Nick Chubb, Larry Ogunjobi, Rashard Higgins, and Joel Bitonio.The Browns made some moves in free agency to protect Mayfield (left tackle Jack Conklin) and to give him an additional weapon (tight end Austin Hooper). They also used this year's first-round pick on right tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. out of Alabama. Cleveland currently has more salary-cap space than any other team, in large part because it has more cap resources tied to cheap rookie contracts than anyone else. The Browns seem to be set up fairly well, but they've also been here before.Still: Signing Garrett at least represents the progress of having used some of their substantial draft treasure to get good players. But now comes the hard part. They supposedly solved football last year, only to revert to form by finishing 6-10 and firing head coach Freddie Kitchens and GM John Dorsey. The Browns seem to be getting closer, but they're also just as far away as they've always been. They still have to win.Dom Cosentino is a senior features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets head coach Adam Gase doesn't want disgruntled safety Jamal Adams going anywhere.Adams has requested a trade from the Jets due to a contract dispute with the team and - reportedly - his "deteriorating relationship" with Gase. However, Gase said his desire is to keep Adams with the team."We have to get to a place where we can get him back in the right spot and ready to go," Gase told reporters Friday, including Brian Costello of the New York Post.As for his relationship with Adams, Gase denied having any issues with the player."My relationship with Jamal has been good since the time that we've gotten here," Gase said, according to NFL Network's Kim Jones. "To me, we've always gotten along well."When asked whether he'd like to see Adams back for the upcoming campaign, Gase, according to Costello, added: "Yes, I want Jamal on our team."Gase said the 24-year-old hasn't been part of the Jets' virtual offseason, but he declined to make further comments regarding Adams' trade request or the possibility of a long-term deal."Anything that's gonna deal with communication with Jamal will stay between us," he said, per Jones. "That's how we're operating in-house and keeping our locker room tight."Gase posted a 7-9 record in his first year with the Jets last season, which was their fourth consecutive losing campaign.Adams enjoyed his first All-Pro season in 2019. The two-time Pro Bowler amassed 75 tackles, 6,5 sacks, two touchdowns, one interception, and two forced fumbles.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers edge rusher Jason Pierre-Paul will be sidelined three-to-four weeks after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.The timeline means Pierre-Paul should be available for at least most of training camp, which is scheduled to open in late July. He opted for the procedure to address some discomfort.Pierre-Paul is coming off a 2019 campaign in which he recorded 8.5 sacks in 10 games. He notched 12.5 sacks in a full season the year prior.After a pair of productive seasons, Pierre-Paul re-signed with the Buccaneers in free agency on a two-year deal worth $27 million. The 31-year-old spent the first nine years of his career with the New York Giants.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore is counting down the 100 best fictional characters in sports movie history, with a new post every weekday until July 3.100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard says he was racially profiled and kicked out of a Chipotle in South Carolina on Thursday.The Pro Bowler shared his story on Instagram.

New York Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams spoke openly about Jamal Adams' trade request Thursday and publicly supported the disgruntled safety."You never, ever mess with a guy's contract, but I've got his back on those types of things," Williams said, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini. "He has to get all that stuff settled, so now, boom! Get back into our setting and now we're ready to roll. He knows that."Entering the fourth year of his rookie contract, Adams wanted to be paid like the All-Pro defensive back he is. He says he was promised a contract offer in the new year but nothing materialized.Adams was the leader of the Jets' defense and the team's best defensive player."I think the world of him," Williams said. "I've had a chance to coach a lot of really good players, some already in the Hall of Fame, many others who are going to go in the Hall of Fame. He's going to have a legitimate chance, staying healthy, to be one of those guys that we're all talking about."Williams remains optimistic that Adams and the team can come to a resolution and keep the safety in Gotham Green."I want him to feel good about everything that's going on. He knows when he gets inside the door and inside the white lines, there's a chemistry that's outstanding," the veteran coordinator said. "I've been through this before with other players. You can't get too emotional. I can't. I've got to stay levelheaded with that and just know that I can't wait to get a chance to coach him again."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.Running back is the most volatile fantasy position from year to year. Injuries and ineffectiveness can turn early round picks into instant regrets; stars can emerge from the deepest spots on your roster.Let's take a look at the ball carriers who are currently undervalued.Who will exceed expectations?

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2020 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Accurately identifying which players will improve from year to year remains one of the most important skills in fantasy football.We've looked at the quarterbacks and running backs who are being undervalued. Now, let's turn our attention outside the hash marks to determine which receivers will outperform their ADPs.Who will exceed expectations?

The NFL plans to start training camps on time despite the coronavirus pandemic.Commissioner Roger Goodell said teams should get ready to host games at their stadiums and to engage with fans both at stadiums and via media partners, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.For most teams, July 28 is the start date for training camp. NFL executive president Jeff Pash said teams have been advised that those camps will open on the normal schedule, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.For now, players have been advised by the NFLPA to cancel any private workouts scheduled in order to get into accordance with social distancing. However, some, including Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, have continued working out with a group of teammates despite the number of coronavirus cases spiking in areas like Florida."The NFLPA and the NFL are in the same exact place, which is we want whatever makes the safest possible environment for all of our constituents, whether they be players, coaches, trainers, medical staff, anyone in that team environment," said NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert."We're going to work very hard to educate everyone about the steps that we feel collectively are going to be most effective in reducing risk for everyone."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL will conduct anti-racism training with all 32 teams in July, executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said Thursday, according to The Athletic's Lindsay Jones.The announcement was made amid the recent rise in racial tensions across the country that has led to numerous public protests.Publicly, the league has stepped up its effort to combat discrimination since players began speaking out against the death of George Floyd, police brutality, and system racism.In addition to supporting the Black Lives Matter campaign, the NFL recently committed $250 million over a 10-year period to organizations that fight systemic racism. The NFL also expanded its diversity rules for hiring head coaches and top football executives, and has designed initiatives aimed to foster connections between minorities and owners or other top decision-makers.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colin Kaepernick appears closer to an NFL return than ever.NFL Network's Mike Silver reported Thursday that Kaepernick is drawing "legitimate interest" from multiple teams, according to Sporting News' Tadd Haislop.Silver added that one head coach told him he is "absolutely interested" in signing the free-agent quarterback. However, it would be difficult to bring Kaepernick in due to difficulties scheduling a workout during the COVID-19 pandemic, Silver notes.Kaepernick last played in the NFL in 2016, the year he began kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality in the United States. Support for him has grown in recent weeks amid nationwide protests against the injustices he attempted to spotlight.For the first time since the signal-caller became a free agent, teams have publicly expressed their willingness to sign him. Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn and Seattle Seahawks bench boss Pete Carroll both indicated other clubs were in contact with them regarding Kaepernick, while new Detroit Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp said she wouldn't stop her organization from adding him.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has acknowledged the league was wrong not to listen to player protests during the 2016 season, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James still wants to see an apology issued to Colin Kaepernick.James put pressure on the NFL to apologize to the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback during an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek's Jason Kelly on Thursday."As far as the NFL, I'm not in those locker rooms, I'm not with those guys. But I do understand that an apology - I have not heard a true, official apology to Colin Kaepernick on what he was going through and what he was trying to tell the NFL and tell the world about why he was kneeling when he was doing that as a San Francisco 49er," James said. "So, I just see that to still be wrong, and now they are listening some, but I still think we have not heard that official apology to a man who basically sacrificed everything for the better of this world."James isn't alone in that belief, as a recent survey by the Harris Poll found that 61% of Americans think Kaepernick deserves an apology from Goodell.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The upcoming Hall of Fame Game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys, which was to serve as the 2020 preseason opener on Aug. 6, is canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the NFL announced Thursday.It also rescheduled the Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony to Aug. 7, 2021. Next year's class will be inducted the following day.Pittsburgh and Dallas have agreed to participate in the 2021 Hall of Fame Game instead.Both clubs were preparing to begin training camp earlier than other teams due to the contest but are now likely to report alongside the rest of the league.The cancellation of the annual festivities in Canton, Ohio, marks the first event the NFL has called off amid the pandemic. The 2020 draft was done virtually and held as scheduled despite the circumstances.Troy Polamalu, Jimmy Johnson, Bill Cowher, Edgerrin James, and Isaac Bruce were among this year's Pro Football Hall of Fame modern-era class.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One of the NFL's most vocal players has spoken up regarding the league's return to football amid a global pandemic.New Orleans Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins expressed concern about participating in the 2020 campaign if the NFL is unable to mitigate the risks of COVID-19, noting that the league has to deal with more personnel than the NBA."(Players) end up being kind of on this trust system, the honor system, where we just have to hope that guys are social distancing and things like that," Jenkins told CNN's John Berman. "And that puts all of us at risk - not only us as players and who's in the building, but when you go home to your families. I have parents that I don't want to get sick."And I think until we get to the point where we have protocols in place, and until we get to the place as a country where we feel safe (playing), we have to understand that football is a nonessential business, and so we don't need to do it. So, the risk has to be, really, eliminated before we - before I - would feel comfortable with going back."A number of players have expressed concerns over playing during a pandemic, though the league is working on player-safety strategies.Jenkins joined CNN as a national affairs commentator earlier in June amid the ongoing racial and social justice issues throughout the U.S.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore is counting down the 100 best fictional characters in sports movie history, with a new post every weekday until July 3.100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51

theScore is counting down the 100 best fictional characters in sports movie history, with a new post every weekday until July 3.100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51

theScore's Mike Alessandrini is assembling all-decade lineups and ranking all 32 teams based on those rosters. Contributions from 2010 to 2019 were taken into account, with player selections based on peak production, longevity, and overall impact. Those who spent only one season with a club didn't qualify.Our series continues with a look at the AFC North.AFC (June 22-25)

theScore's Mike Alessandrini is assembling all-decade lineups and ranking all 32 teams based on those rosters. Contributions from 2010 to 2019 were taken into account, with player selections based on peak production, longevity, and overall impact. Those who spent only one season with a club did not qualify.Our series continues with the AFC South squads.

Pass-rusher Shaq Barrett has yet to decide whether he will sign the franchise tag offered to him by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers."It's still up in the air right now, about 50-50," Barrett said Wednesday on NFL Total Access, according to NFL.com's Grant Gordon. "We'll find out a little more information on Friday."The 27-year-old had a career year in 2019 after leading the league in sacks with 19.5. In his previous five seasons, he had 14 total.The Bucs placed their non-exclusive tag on Barrett, one that would pay him $15.8 million for the 2020 season. The two sides have until July 15 to agree to a multi-year contract. If a deal isn't reached by then, Barrett will play the year on the tag and won't be able to agree to an extension until after the season.Only five players have yet to sign their franchise tags: Cincinnati Bengals receiver A.J. Green, Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons, Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones, and Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and Anchor.In this episode, Boone discusses the latest news items and answers listeners' mailbag questions on a variety of topics.

The NFL plans to cover front-row seats inside stadiums to aid social distancing efforts, but will allow teams to sell camera-visible advertisements on tarps, reports Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal.The league intends to keep the first six-to-eight rows - including on-field suites - off limits to reduce the likelihood of a coronavirus spread.The proposal was delivered to team presidents Tuesday, and will be shared with owners Thursday.Advertisement revenue would help mitigate the losses the NFL could record in 2020 without the ability to fill stadiums with fans. A previous report suggested the league will let individual teams determine venue capacity in accordance with local health regulations.Under the proposal, teams would only be allowed to sell to endorsers that don't conflict with league sponsors.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is one of the biggest names in the NFL to contract the coronavirus.Elliott was among a group of Cowboys and Houston Texans players to test positive for the virus in mid-June.Speaking on a Twitch stream Wednesday, Zeke shared how hard the virus hit him.

The Washington Redskins are removing the name of anti-integration founder George Preston Marshall from their Ring of Fame, a source told ESPN's John Keim.A statue of Marshall was already removed from RFK Stadium by Events DC.Marshall founded the Redskins in 1932 but was the last NFL owner to integrate. Washington is also taking him off the Redskins' history wall that sits outside the locker room of their practice facility at Redskins Park, according to Keim.Marshall owned the Redskins, who initially played in Boston, until his death in 1969. The owner of two NFL championships, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963 as a contributor.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Mike Alessandrini is assembling all-decade lineups and ranking all 32 teams based on those rosters. Contributions from 2010 to 2019 were taken into account, with player selections based on peak production, longevity, and overall impact. Those who spent only one season with a club did not qualify.Our all-decade selections kick off with the AFC East.AFC (June 22-25)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger recently shared details about personal battles he's had off the field.Speaking during a virtual Christian conference on Father's Day, Roethlisberger admitted to struggling with addiction."It's not always easy. People don't realize all the time that us athletes, we're human. We sin like everybody else," Roethlisberger said, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor. "I am no different. We make mistakes. We get addicted to things. We sin. We're human. I think sometimes we get put on this pedestal where we can't make mistakes. I've fallen as short as anybody. I've been addicted to alcohol. I've been addicted to pornography, which makes me then not the best husband, not the best father, not the best Christian I can be."Roethlisberger said he's trying to be a better Christian and that he was baptized three years ago, though he was also baptized as a child."Now more than ever, it's cool to be a Christian, especially professional athletes," he said. "One of the things I want to tell guys and tell people out there, I can be a really good athlete and a Christian. It's not one or the other. I can do both."Roethlisberger won Super Bowls with the Steelers in 2005 and 2008. He was suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. He was accused of sexually assaulting a college student that March. He was also accused of sexual assault in July 2009.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Upon taking over as controlling owner Tuesday, Sheila Ford Hamp said she won't stop the Detroit Lions from signing Colin Kaepernick."If our coaches and our general manager all think it's a good idea to bring him in, I would completely support that," she told reporters.Kaepernick last played in the NFL in 2016, the year he began kneeling during the national anthem to protest systemic racism and police brutality. Support for him has grown recently amid nationwide protests against the injustices he attempted to bring to light.Ford Hamp said she wouldn't kneel during the national anthem, but doesn't have an issue with players who do. Her mother and previous controlling owner, Martha Firestone Ford, asked players not to kneel during the national anthem in 2018."First of all, I think the understanding is completely different now," Ford Hamp said. "I think most people really understand what the kneeling was all about. I know that the commissioner has said and I completely agree that we support our players' right to peaceful protest, we support the First Amendment. I think this has really, finally, finally, thank goodness, gotten national attention that this is a serious problem and we as an organization plan to listen to our players and support them any way we can."Despite her willingness to approve the transaction, the Lions could still be a long shot to sign Kaepernick. Detroit has an established starter in Matthew Stafford, and signed Chase Daniel to a three-year, $13.05-million contract in free agency to back him up.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oh, what could have been for the Washington Redskins.After missing the entire 2011 campaign following neck surgery, Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts parted ways and the legendary quarterback became a free agent.Manning signed with the Denver Broncos and went on to capture his second Super Bowl, but an oral history of the team's pursuit suggested he actually preferred to sign with Washington."I went over to (then-Redskins head coach) Mike Shanahan's house and visited with Mike and Kyle Shanahan, and we sat in their den and watched film," Manning told The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala and Lindsay Jones. "Kyle went over their offense. I was really impressed with Kyle."Manning apparently chose Denver thanks in large part to the Redskins trading up prior to the 2012 NFL Draft to land lauded quarterback prospect Robert Griffin III. Broncos general manager John Elway believed the deal ultimately put his club in the driver's seat for Manning's services."I think Peyton was disappointed," Mike Shanahan said regarding the trade. "Kyle and I were kind of surprised that he still wanted to meet with us. I can remember talking with Elway one time not too long ago, a few years ago. He said, 'Mike, do you realize that Peyton, I think, was going to go to your place? I think he really wanted to go to your place more than our place.' I said, 'Really? I didn't know that.' And that came from John. I knew we were fairly close."Manning's signing was among the savviest moves in recent NFL history, as he rebounded from surgery and helped set multiple offensive records during his Broncos tenure.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Lions announced Tuesday that Martha Firestone Ford is stepping down as the team's principal owner and chairman and allowing her daughter, Sheila Ford Hamp, to take on the roles.Ford took over as owner when her husband William Clay Ford died in 2014, with Hamp acting as vice-chairman."My mother has inspired all of us since taking on leadership of the Lions over six years ago," Hamp said in a statement. "She has been a tireless leader to our family, our team, and our community. Her smart decisions have given me a solid foundation to take the team forward."On behalf of the family and the team, I want to thank her for her countless contributions. I look forward to leading the Lions to excellence on and off the field."Hamp also serves on the NFL's Super Bowl and major events committee.As Ford steps aside, she leaves behind a playoffs-or-bust mandate for head coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn following a disappointing 2019 campaign.Over the last six seasons, Detroit accumulated a 45-50-1 record and two playoff appearances in 2014 and 2016.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL won't dictate attendance capacity limits for the 2020 season and has told teams to instead follow their local health COVID-19 guidelines on social distancing rules, according to The Athletic's Daniel Kaplan."Attendance will be a state-by-state, county-by-county thing," one NFL source told Kaplan. "It will not be a one-size-fits-all."The source added: "I wish they would push back the start of the year to October to give us more time to learn from these other leagues."The NFL has said it is planning to play in front of fans and start the season on time despite the coronavirus pandemic, though it has reportedly created contingency plans that include closed-door games.It's been estimated that the NFL could lose $3 billion if the entire regular season and playoffs are played without fans, added Kaplan.The league will reportedly receive recommendations from its stadium reopening task force by next week or early July.If the NFL decides to proceed with no leaguewide mandate on attendance limits, the question of how it impacts competitive balance will likely need to be answered.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks have had internal discussions about possibly signing wide receiver Antonio Brown, according to Michael Silver of NFL Network.There is a sense the Seahawks will eventually add to their receiving core, perhaps by re-signing Josh Gordon, who is awaiting reinstatement from the NFL suspension list and will be an unrestricted free agent, reports NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.Brown has been linked to the Seahawks and Ravens before. Russell Wilson was rumored to be clamoring for Seattle to sign Brown last year, while Baltimore drafted his cousin, Marquise Brown, in the first round of the 2019 draft.Amid a host of off-field issues, Brown played in only one game last year, catching four passes for 56 yards and a touchdown as a member of the New England Patriots.The 31-year-old is still waiting for the NFL to complete its investigation of a sexual assault allegation brought forth in September by his former personal trainer. Based on the league's findings, Brown could face a lengthy suspension before he's eligible to play again.From 2010-18, Brown was one of the best receivers in the league. He surpassed 1,400 yards receiving four times in five years between 2013 and 2017, and he led the NFL in touchdown catches with 15 in 2018.Brown recently pleaded no contest to a battery charge that stemmed from a January altercation with a moving truck driver and received two years probation as part of the arrangement.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hall of Fame debates are a staple of sports arguments - whether a player's amassed the credentials to be honored among the very best in their sport is prime fodder for discussion over a beer. We're spotlighting a collection of players who we believe either deserve the distinction but haven't yet been inducted into their sports' Halls of Fame, or don't quite measure up but had a great impact on their franchise or sport.Forget anything he did on the field. The case for Joe Jacoby's enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame can be found right here, in this starring role in one of the greatest local commercials to ever appear on television:And, yes … in all seriousness, Jacoby's exploits on the field were compelling enough to make him Hall-worthy. He was a charter member of The Hogs, the famed offensive line that powered Washington to three Super Bowl championships and four Super Bowl appearances in 10 seasons. His career spanned the entirety of the franchise's glory years, and he played left tackle for most of his 13 NFL seasons. Jacoby was the only one of the Hogs to play in all of Washington's playoff games during that era.Still, his eligibility for induction as a modern-era candidate expired in 2018, and he was snubbed again this year when the Pro Football Hall made 15 additional selections for its Centennial Class, which honored the NFL's 100th anniversary."There was a push for him, but there was never a groundswell," one longtime Hall voter told me. This voter, who supported Jacoby's enshrinement when Jacoby was still eligible under the modern-era rules, spoke on the condition of anonymity because Hall voters are forbidden from publicly discussing the conversations that surround their decision-making process. "There was a feeling of 'good, not great.'"Jacoby in 1985. Focus On Sport / Getty ImagesJacoby was a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro. Part of what has hurt his candidacy is the fact that he moved to other positions in the last five of his 13 seasons: right tackle mostly, though he also played left guard for much of 1992. Not to mention the recent glut of eligible offensive line candidates, a logjam that began to break with Kevin Mawae's induction last year, and the selection of Steve Hutchinson and Jimbo Covert this year. Covert's induction leaves Jacoby as the one offensive tackle from the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 1980s all-decade team still waiting.One other factor that worked against Jacoby, per the Hall voter, was his frequent matchups against Lawrence Taylor of the New York Giants, whom Bill Belichick considers the best pass-rusher of all time. Taylor was indeed dominant at times against Washington, but a closer examination reveals this dynamic wasn't always as simple as it seemed.The Hogs - a nickname borne from an offhanded remark once made by Washington offensive line coach Joe Bugel - were a true phenomenon back in the day. Washington was a run-heavy team, and head coach Joe Gibbs had cooked up a "counter trey" run scheme that took advantage of the mobility of Jacoby and left guard Russ Grimm by getting them to pull to the right as lead blockers after the ball carrier would initially fake to his left.A more detailed explanation can be found here, but this is what it looked like when drawn up: Student of the GameAnd this is what it looked like in action. Jacoby is No. 66 in white: Your browser does not support the video tag. YouTubeJacoby was an unlikely star. He was undrafted out of Louisville in 1981, and his 6-foot-7, 305-pound body was unusual for offensive linemen of his era. He told The Sporting News he was discovered because Washington had been scouting a game he had played during his senior year against Pitt; two other Hogs from Pitt - Mark May and Grimm - were selected by Washington during the first three rounds of the 1981 draft. Because of Jacoby's mammoth size, Gibbs initially thought he played on the defensive line."He was just a bulldozer as a run blocker," Charley Casserly once told ESPN. Now an NFL Network analyst, Casserly was the scout who discovered Jacoby before later becoming Washington's general manager. "He could knock people off the ball. He could power block. It's rare when a left tackle could power block."Washington won its first title at the end of the 1982 season, capped off when running back John Riggins famously dashed 43 yards for a touchdown on a fourth-down run behind a block from Jacoby. And in the NFC Championship Game against the Dallas Cowboys, Washington salted the game away by running Riggins nine straight times using the same play. "We were telling them where it was coming," Jacoby once said on "The Hog Sty Podcast."Jacoby celebrates a touchdown pass by Mark Rypien in Washington's Super Bowl XXVI win over Buffalo. Rob Brown / Getty ImagesJacoby's time with Washington spanned 1981-93, which was also the entirety of Taylor's career with the Giants. Taylor had 19 sacks in 21 games against Washington, including the 1986 NFC title game, but he wasn't always matched up against Jacoby. A YouTube compilation of Taylor's dominance from a November 1983 game appears to shows that Jacoby was rarely tasked with blocking Taylor directly.In Super Bowl XVII, Riggins rushed for 166 yards on 38 attempts. In Super Bowl XXI, Timmy Smith, who had an otherwise undistinguished career, rushed for 204 yards - a record that still stands. Washington's 1991 Super Bowl champion team allowed just nine sacks and was the most efficient team in league history. Washington won its titles with three different QBs.Grimm, Riggins, wideout Art Monk, and cornerback Darrell Green are the only 1980s-era Washington players in the Hall of Fame, which seems bizarre. Then again, Hall selections tend to be murky popularity contests, and inductees like Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Lynn Swann have benefited from team successes in a way Jacoby has not. What Joe Jacoby accomplished on the field was unique and extraordinary. That ought to be enough.Dom Cosentino is a senior features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin revealed Tuesday that two players from his team tested positive for COVID-19 sometime in the spring, according to Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site.Tomlin added that neither player was in the team facility, and both have since returned to work.Von Miller, Sean Payton, and Ezekiel Elliott are among the big-name NFLers who have tested positive for the coronavirus.Elliott is among several Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans players that reportedly contracted the COVID-19 virus. At least two Tampa Bay Buccaneers players reportedly also tested positive.The United States is experiencing a spike in COVID-19 cases. More than half of all U.S. states reported a rise in new coronavirus cases Monday, according to the Guardian.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.Aaron Rodgers had a successful first season under new head coach Matt LaFleur. The future Hall of Famer threw for over 4,000 yards and led the Green Bay Packers to the NFC Championship Game. However, the team opted to select Rodgers' eventual replacement, Jordan Love, in the first round of the NFL draft instead of addressing more pressing offseason needs on offense.Will age and the lack of offensive playmakers finally catch up to Rodgers? We break down his 2020 player props to find out.Passing yards Over Under3899.5 (-112)3899.5 (-112)If you think this total is a bit low, you're probably right. Rodgers threw for 4,002 yards last season and has gone under this total only once in the 10 seasons where he's played at least 15 games. Assuming Rodgers plays all 16 contests this year, he would need to average 243.7 yards per game to hit the over. That's more than doable for a guy who has averaged 259.4 yards per contest throughout his career.A lot was made about the Packers not bringing in help for Rodgers this offseason, and while that's a legitimate concern, he's proven over his career that he doesn't need a star supporting cast to put up big numbers. Green Bay is a Davante Adams injury away from Devin Funchess being its No. 1 receiver, but Rodgers - who once made Jeff Janis look like a superstar in a playoff game - can turn lemons into lemonade as well as any quarterback.One negative here is the Packers ran the football more in 2019, and that trend will likely continue this season behind the trio of Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, and rookie AJ Dillon. But even with an improved ground game, it's not like LaFleur abandoned the pass entirely. Rodgers still threw the ball 569 times, which averages out to a hefty 35.5 attempts per game.There are some player props out there where the numbers seem a little soft. This is one of them. The Packers will always be a pass-first team with Rodgers, so look for him to record his ninth 4,000-plus-yard season and cash the over.Pick: OverPassing touchdowns OverUnder25.5 (-112)25.5 (-112)While Rodgers' passing yards total is a little soft, this number is right on the money. The signal-caller used to soar over this total, but he's finished with 25 and 26 touchdown passes over the last two seasons, respectively. That's a steep decline from his career-best 40 touchdowns in 2016.One reason for Rodgers' touchdown drop-off is his red-zone production. Throughout much of his career, Rodgers ranked near the top in red-zone attempts and touchdowns. That's changed the last two seasons, where he's averaged 69.5 attempts and 16 touchdowns in the red zone. From 2014-2016, Rodgers averaged 97.3 passes and 25 scores inside the 20-yard line.Jones tied for the NFL lead with 16 rushing touchdowns last season. He and Williams combined for 61 red-zone rushes, which was two more than the NFL leader in that category, Ezekiel Elliott (59). Now, with the 245-pound Dillon also in the mix, you can expect the Packers to again rely less on Rodgers' arm near the goal line than the team did earlier in his career.This number is sharp, so pass on Rodgers' touchdown total in favor of more enticing player props.Pick: PassMost passing yardsPlayerOddsPatrick Mahomes+500Matt Ryan+700Dak Prescott+800Drew Brees+1000Russell Wilson+1000Tom Brady+1000Aaron Rodgers+1200Philip Rivers+1200Carson Wentz+1800Jared Goff+1800Kyler Murray+1800Deshaun Watson+2000Jameis Winston+2000Baker Mayfield+2500Kirk Cousins+2500Lamar Jackson+2500Matthew Stafford+2500Odds - courtesy of theScore Bet - listed for players +2500 and shorterWhile I like Rodgers to go over his modest passing yards total, he's way overvalued here. The league's passing yards leader has topped 5,000 in each of the last two seasons and three of the last four. Rodgers has only eclipsed 4,500 yards once in his career, back in 2011 (4,643).If you want to stump your friends in sports trivia, ask them which one of these quarterbacks has never led the NFL in passing yards: Steve Beuerlein, Daunte Culpepper, Matt Schaub, or Rodgers. The 36-year-old Rodgers has never accomplished the feat - which is a weird stat given his Hall of Fame career - and that won't change this season.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.

Tom Brady and several of his Tampa Bay Buccaneers teammates continued their group workouts Tuesday despite recommendations from the NFL Players Association to cease such sessions, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.Rob Gronkowski, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Ryan Jensen, Jamel Dean, and Blaine Gabbert were among at least a dozen players present for the unofficial practice at Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa.Over the weekend, the NFLPA asked players to stop working out together until training camp given the recent rise of coronavirus cases nationwide. Florida, which became one of the first states to loosen social distancing restrictions, has turned into a hotbed for the virus. Last week, two players and one coach from the Buccaneers tested positive for COVID-19.The Buccaneers worked out for approximately two hours Tuesday, beginning at 7 a.m. Brady has organized a number of group sessions as he looks to build chemistry on and off the field with his new squad.The 42-year-old Brady signed a two-year, $50-million contract with the Buccaneers in free agency after a decorated 20-year run with the New England Patriots.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Running back Kareem Hunt is thankful to still be a member of the Cleveland Browns after his traffic stop in January.Hunt was stopped for speeding and officers found a small amount of marijuana in his possession. He became emotional and admitted to the officer that he would fail an NFL drug test if one were administered."So yes, I am lucky to have another opportunity to play football. You never know," Hunt said on a Zoom call with reporters on Monday, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com."Honestly, I'm just blessed to play the game, so I always feel lucky to play football," he added. "I know any second it can be gone."The incident came after the NFL suspended Hunt in 2018 and the Kansas City Chiefs released him when video emerged of the now 24-year-old kicking and pushing a woman.The Browns said Hunt needed to straighten up following the traffic stop in January."I have to do better. I shouldn't have done it," he said. "I'd say that was out of character. I learned from it. I've been working to become a better person each and every day. Definitely not looking for anything like that to happen again."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott officially signed the franchise tag placed on him in March, according to David Helman of DallasCowboys.com.The tag is worth $31.4 million for the 2020 season and gives the two sides until July 15 to negotiate a long-term deal, reports NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The Cowboys have failed to come to terms on a multi-year extension with their starting quarterback since talks began prior to the 2019 season.Prescott reportedly turned down a deal that would have paid him $33 million per season and, in May, Dallas reportedly offered to make Prescott the second-highest-paid quarterback by average annual value. That deal would have been worth between $34 million and $35 million per season.Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks is currently the league's highest-paid quarterback by annual average, earning $35 million per season on a four-year, $140-million contract. The Pittsburgh Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger ranks second at $34 million per year, and Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers sits third, making $33.5 million annually.Prescott is entering his fifth year as the Cowboys' starting quarterback. He's gone 40-24 in four seasons and has led Dallas to the playoffs on two occasions.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.The Las Vegas Raiders' offense deserves some serious credit.Entering the 2019 season, quarterback Derek Carr was leading a cast featuring two rookies (running back Josh Jacobs and receiver Hunter Renfrow), a new No. 1 wideout (Tyrell Williams), and a tight end whom the Raiders had recently signed off the practice squad (Darren Waller).The result was the league's No. 9 offense in DVOA - better than the Vikings, Patriots, Texans, Falcons, and others. Jacobs exploded on to the scene and finished second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting, while Waller enjoyed a true breakout season.Las Vegas' offense will have to be just as good, if not better, in 2020 for the club to stay above water in a competitive AFC West.Here, we'll dive into the top player prop currently available and offer a warning heading into the new season.Josh Jacobs - Over/Under 1,575.5 scrimmage yardsOver: -115

Police in Aberdeen, South Dakota, arrested a suspect who is accused of sucker-punching Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert at a restaurant.Kyle Douglas Hadala, 29, was charged with simple assault.In a statement obtained by ESPN's Tim McManus, the police department said it responded to call at 1:07 a.m. Sunday morning in reference to an assault. Officers discovered an adult male had been punched in the face, and the victim was taken to hospital for treatment before being released.Since being drafted by the Eagles in the second round in 2018, Goedert has notched 91 catches for 941 yards and nine touchdowns while playing behind Zach Ertz.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joe Burrow's first NFL offseason certainly hasn't been ordinary.However, Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said Burrow has still met every expectation during his team's virtual offseason."He's been great," Taylor told MMQB's Albert Breer. "As advertised is the best way to put it. You can tell he spends a lot of time on his own being prepared with questions and he's doing a great job taking ownership, which is important for a quarterback to do, and he's doing everything he can to own this offense. (I've) been really impressed with him, but not surprised."Taylor was forced to use unique strategies in an attempt to have Burrow lead Cincinnati's offense in virtual meetings. The head coach said he muted his computer when calling the first-year passer and relayed the play to Burrow, who then had to call it for his teammates."If you have Philip Rivers, I don't know that you'd have to do that," Taylor said. "But for the guys, our center had never heard Joe Burrow call a cadence before. He needed to hear his voice, and I needed to hear it, so you could make the corrections that he can work on all summer. We were able to get a lot accomplished that way. I feel really good coming out of it that we used every second they allotted us and got a lot of work done."Taylor also confirmed Burrow will "absolutely" take the first snap at Bengals training camp once the league confirms the date.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore is counting down the 100 best fictional characters in sports movie history, with a new post every weekday until July 3.100-91 | 90-81 | 80-71 | 70-61 | 60-51

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott intends to sign his $31.4-million franchise tag by Monday, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The two sides will still be able to negotiate a long-term deal until July 15.By inking the tender, Prescott will be contractually obligated to report to training camp on time and participate in all mandatory team activities.Dallas assigned Prescott the exclusive-rights franchise tag before free agency, which prevented any other team from negotiating with him. Most tags are of the non-exclusive variety, which allows other clubs to sign the player to an offer sheet but requires them to give up premium draft picks if the offer isn't matched.Prescott and the Cowboys have spent over a year trying to work out a long-term agreement. Despite starting 64 games through four seasons and leading Dallas to the playoffs twice, Prescott earned just $2.72 million in his rookie contract.The value of his tag for 2020 would rank seventh among quarterbacks in terms of average annual salary, in between Carson Wentz of the Philadelphia Eagles ($32 million) and Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons ($30 million).Prescott ranked second in passing yards (4,902), fourth in touchdown passes (30), and 10th in passer rating (99.7) last season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre believes Colin Kaepernick merits an opportunity to play in the NFL again."I think from a football sense, I can't imagine him being that far out of shape or that far out of touch with football that he doesn't deserve a shot," he told TMZ Sports.Kaepernick has attracted renewed attention in the NFL following the beginning of nationwide protests for racial justice in May. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has said he encourages teams to sign Kaepernick, who hasn't played since 2016 but has remained in the public eye while bringing awareness to social injustice."I thought he was a dynamic player when he was playing in his prime," Favre said. "He's still young and hasn't been hit in several years, so there's no reason to think that he's lost that much of a step."The legendary Green Bay Packers signal-caller also said Kaepernick's willingness to postpone his NFL career for a greater cause reminds him of the late Pat Tillman, who left the league in 2002 to enlist in the U.S. Army."It's not easy for a guy his age - black or white, Hispanic, whatever - to stop something that you've always dreamed of doing, and put it on hold, maybe forever, for something that you believe in," Favre said. "I can only think of - right off the top of my head - Pat Tillman is another guy that did something similar. And we regard him as a hero. So, I'd assume that hero status will be stamped with Kaepernick as well."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.One of the best ways to find value in the NFL is betting into uncertainty before the market can react, and few situations generate more uncertainty than a team replacing its head coach.Five teams - the Browns, Cowboys, Giants, Panthers, and Redskins - enter 2020 with a new leader on the sidelines, which could prove especially challenging given the restrictions this summer from the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, expectations are high in the betting market, with all five clubs expected to increase their win total from 2019:COACHTEAM2019 RECORD2020 WIN TOTALMatt RhuleCarolina Panthers5-115.5Kevin StefanskiCleveland Browns6-108.5Mike McCarthyDallas Cowboys8-89.5Joe JudgeNew York Giants4-126Ron RiveraWashington Redskins3-135Odds from theScore BetIs it fair to expect a new head coach to right the ship so quickly? We tracked and analyzed data from Sports Database for every head coaching hire of the 2010s to find the answer. In short: Bettors can anticipate results with new head coaches, but they'll need to pick their spots to make it worthwhile.A quick turnaroundFrom 2010 to 2019, 67 teams entered the season with new names at the head coaching position. Those clubs improved their record by an average of 1.5 wins, with 41 of them finishing with a better record than the year before (those teams' records jumped by nearly four victories each). As a whole, clubs improved their winning percentage from 34% to 43.6% under a new staff.The results are even more impressive against the spread. Of those 67 coaches, 46 improved their teams' ATS record, including 17 of the last 21 hires. And since 2016, only nine of 21 new head coaches have finished the year with a losing ATS record.Still, it's worth noting that while most new coaches were better bets ATS than their predecessors, they weren't necessarily good ones. Teams with a new coach have gone 516-521-35 ATS (49.8%), with 32 of the 67 new hires finishing above .500 against the number.If you're betting on a postseason run under a new staff, the numbers are also stacked against it. Since 2010, only 17 teams (25.4%) made the playoffs in their first year with a new coach, and nearly half of them won at least six games the year prior. The first stat is unsettling for the Cowboys' (-210) and Browns' (+135) playoff odds; the latter casts doubt on the chances of the other three squads.How will 2020 coaches do?The above stats are encouraging for those expecting a reasonable bump under a new regime, though it's worth assessing which situations tend to breed success in the betting market.Of the 11 coaches who improved their team's win total by six or more wins, nine of them were first-time head coaches in the NFL. That's encouraging for newcomers such as Joe Judge, Matt Rhule, and Kevin Stefanski, who all take the reins for the first time on the NFL stage.Judge and Rhule have strong precedent to hit their win totals, too. Of the 21 teams to win between four-to-five games before hiring a new head coach - as the Giants and Panthers did in 2019 - 16 of them won at least six contests the following year. That'd be good enough for Judge and Rhule to cash their win totals in their pro coaching debuts.Ron Rivera might have the easiest task of all, one he's plenty familiar with. Since 2010, 13 teams finished with at least 13 losses before canning their coach. Ten of those teams won at least five games the following year - including the 2011 Panthers, who went from 2-14 to 6-10 in Rivera's first year as a head coach.Mike McCarthy walks into the best situation of any new coach, but he's got the toughest ask from a betting perspective. Since 2010, only 10 coaches have taken over a team coming off an eight-win season or better. Five of those coaches finished with a losing record, and only two improved their team's win total - which doesn't bode well for the Cowboys' over (-130) at 9.5 wins.In total, though, don't hesitate to put your money behind new coaches, even if you're scared off by their teams' poor efforts the year before. Just know when and where to strike.C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert was hospitalized Friday night after being sucker punched at a restaurant but is uninjured, a source told Mike Kaye of NJ.com.The altercation reportedly took place in South Dakota, where Goedert grew up and went to college. He was taken to hospital for an evaluation as a precaution.A second-round pick of the Eagles in 2018, Goedert posted 91 receptions for 941 yards and nine touchdowns over his first two seasons while playing behind Zach Ertz.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Given the recent spread of the coronavirus, the NFL Players Association has requested players to stop working out together until training camp."Please be advised that it is our consensus medical opinion that in light of the increase in COVID-19 cases in certain states that no players should be engaged in practicing together in private workouts," NFLPA medical director Dr. Thom Mayer wrote to players. "Our goal is to have all players and your families as healthy as possible in the coming months."We are working on the best mitigation procedures at team facilities for both training camps and the upcoming season, and believe that it is in the best interest of all players that we advise against any voluntary joint practices before training camp commences."Within the last week, at least one player from the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Denver Broncos, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and San Francisco 49ers has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott was the most prominent player to test positive in the recent wave.It's commonplace for teammates to work out together in the offseason. Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray had scheduled four days of workouts with 20 of his teammates, which were set to begin Sunday in Dallas, according to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

At least two Tampa Bay Buccaneers players have tested positive for COVID-19, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Earlier in the week, one Buccaneers coach tested positive while two others were placed in quarantine."We can confirm that there have been individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 at the AdventHealth Training Center. We immediately activated our COVID-19 Response Plan and vacated the affected areas, which will remain closed until extensive sanitization is completed," the Buccaneers said in a statement. "The individuals who may have been exposed have already been notified and are following the established protocols which include a 14-day quarantine period."Our team headquarters remain open for our Phase 1 employees and all essential operations are continuing in preparation for the 2020 season. The names of those impacted, as well as any additional information related to these incidents, will not be released due to privacy concerns."The coronavirus has been spreading to sports teams across the country in recent days, but especially in Florida, where social restrictions were loosened earlier than they were in other states.Florida recorded over 4,000 new cases on Friday, topping the previous single-day high for the state, according to Jay Croft and Madeline Holcombe of CNN.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here, theScore uses relevant factors such as roster composition, expected salary-cap situation, and potential changes in coaching and management to project five teams that could embark on a rebuild after the 2020 season.New Orleans SaintsWith a championship in reach, the Saints are going all-in for a fourth consecutive season. But after this one, the picture could get bleak. It took weeks for Drew Brees to commit to playing the coming campaign, and there's a good chance that the 41-year-old will ride off into the sunset once it's over. The future Hall of Famer has already lined up a post-playing career, signing a deal with NBC Sports to become a broadcaster. The Saints have no obvious heir apparent in the building. Chris Graythen / Getty Images Sport / GettyMoreover, New Orleans is on track to be more than $30 million over the salary cap in 2021 unless the budget goes up. But the cap could decrease with COVID-19 threatening to keep stadiums nowhere near maximum capacity, thus sinking league revenues. Meanwhile, several Saints stars, including Alvin Kamara, Marshon Lattimore, and Ryan Ramczyk, will need or want extensions before next season, putting the club in a bind that could force it to blow up the roster and start over.Jacksonville JaguarsThe Jaguars already possess a young roster, and they're set up for another major injection of youth in 2021. Thanks to the Jalen Ramsey trade, Jacksonville holds two first-round picks in the next draft. Its own pick could yield a top-five selection if it plays to national expectations this season. The Jaguars also project to have the second-most cap space next offseason, putting them in position to splurge in free agency like they did in 2017 when they netted building blocks in Calais Campbell and A.J. Bouye. Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyIf the Jaguars endure another poor season, it won't be David Caldwell or Doug Marrone picking the players to spend money or draft picks on. The general manager and head coach are already on the hot seat and won't survive the type of season they seem likely to have. The next regime will have to fill a roster short on established players and determine whether it can build around young quarterback Gardner Minshew.Detroit LionsThe Lions have disappointed under Matt Patricia, who almost certainly won't be granted a fourth season if this one doesn't go well. The same could apply to Bob Quinn, who's built one playoff team since becoming general manager in 2016. With new leadership comes new systems and usually a roster overhaul. Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / GettyEven if new decision-makers keep Matthew Stafford beyond 2020, there would probably be significant change around him. The Lions' defense is littered with underachieving draft picks and unheralded veterans, while the offense lacks long-term depth at every position and will need a new left tackle if Taylor Decker doesn't get an extension. Couple the lack of game-changers on both sides of the ball with the philosophical reset that a new GM and/or head coach would bring, and it looks like Detroit could be headed for another painful rebuild.New York JetsIf Sam Darnold can't overcome his turnover problems in Year 3, it could be time for the Jets to start over - again. Jamal Adams has already reportedly requested a trade, Le'Veon Bell and Jamison Crowder have no guaranteed money on their hefty deals after 2020, and C.J. Mosley will become movable with only $8 million guaranteed left, so there is a path for the Jets to clean house and start afresh. Adam Glanzman / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Jets expected to contend for the playoffs in their first season under Adam Gase but flopped. In fact, Gase was responsible for the NFL's worst-ranked offense in 2019 despite being touted as an offensive wizard. He survived a tumultuous debut in New York but can't afford a repeat performance.Los Angeles RamsNearsighted transactions in 2018 helped the Rams reach a Super Bowl but mortgaged a chunk of their future. In 2019, general manager Les Snead kept his foot on the pedal despite signs that his team didn't have the juice to contend, and now Los Angeles is beginning to pay for it. The trade-happy Rams haven't drafted in the first round since taking Jared Goff first overall in 2016 and employ a thinning, expensive core as a result. They don't have a top-32 selection in 2021 either, as they dealt two first-rounders to Jacksonville for Ramsey. Lachlan Cunningham / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhile Goff has developed, he hasn't proved worthy of his four-year, $134-million contract. With him and Aaron Donald occupying so much cap space, and with the Rams eating Todd Gurley's $60-million extension before it kicked in, the Rams have neither the pieces nor the money to build a balanced team like they had two years ago. Los Angeles is on a downward trajectory, and it should shock nobody if Snead - one of the most creative and aggressive executives in the industry - tries to move Goff's contract or some other major pieces for future assets after the 2020 season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

An eighth team will reportedly be included in Jamal Adams' list of preferred trade destinations.Along with the initial seven clubs Adams would reportedly be willing to play for following a trade, the New York Jets' All-Pro safety said he'd love to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he told ESPN's Ryan Clark, according to Field Yates.Adams likes the idea of reuniting with Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, who coached him with the Jets for two seasons (2017 and 2018).Tampa Bay would join a list of clubs featuring the Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks.The 24-year-old requested a trade from the Jets on Thursday after previously voicing his frustration about not getting a lucrative contract extension. He's entering the fourth year of his rookie deal.New York, which picked up the fifth-year option on Adams' contract in April, reportedly doesn't intend to trade him.Adams, a two-time Pro Bowler, is among the NFL's premier safeties. The 2017 sixth overall pick has averaged 73 tackles, four sacks, three forced turnovers, and nine pass breakups per 16 games played through his first three seasons.The Buccaneers, meanwhile, have been one of the most-discussed teams this offseason after signing quarterback Tom Brady and adding tight end Rob Gronkowski. The team also fortified its secondary, using a second-round pick on safety Antoine Winfield Jr.However, the Bucs could face salary cap issues if they pursue Adams. Tampa Bay holds only $4.87 million in cap space this year, according to Over The Cap.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.