Deion Sanders has been working out with free-agent wide receiver Antonio Brown, and the Hall of Fame cornerback has high hopes regarding Brown's future."I love him to life and I can't wait to witness this comeback story called A, B, & see," Sanders wrote Sunday in an Instagram post. "I know what I know and I pray you all get to see what I know to be true about Antonio Brown."

The NFL's Players Coalition is calling on law enforcement to be more accountable following the recent deaths of George Floyd and other African-Americans."To the many, many good law enforcement officers, we need you now more than ever," the group wrote Saturday in a statement. "We need you to implement real, structural change to law enforcement accountability in this country."We need you to be more courageous and neither be silent nor complicit in the misconduct of your peers. We need leaders who are willing to hold themselves accountable to a higher standard of integrity befitting of a public servant."Floyd died Monday in Minneapolis after a police officer held his knee against the man's neck for nearly nine minutes. Four days later, after public outrage and protests, the officer - who is a white man - was arrested. Riots have broken out across the country in support of Floyd."Officer Derek Chauvin's personnel file is riddled with complaints - 18 of them, in fact," the statement says. "If the right people had been watching, listening, and acting, George Floyd might still be breathing today."In the document, the Players Coalition also asks the Supreme Court to eliminate qualified immunity."That doctrine, created by you, protects police officers who have engaged in extremely violent, egregious misconduct from civil suits," the group noted. "You are considering over a dozen cases right now, and you can change this doctrine. Right now, you are enabling a culture where officers know there will be no consequences for bad behavior."Anquan Boldin, Malcolm Jenkins, and Byron White founded the Players Coalition in 2017. The group works to change social inequality and bring awareness to the issue.The entire statement can be viewed here.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former NFL spokesperson and ex-White House press secretary Joe Lockhart called for the Minnesota Vikings to end Colin Kaepernick's time outside the league in a Saturday column for CNN."The situation in Minnesota right now offers a unique opportunity to deal with the symbols of racial injustice," wrote Lockhart. "As a small but important step, the owners of the Minnesota Vikings, Zygi and Mark Wilf, can send a strong message by offering Colin Kaepernick a contract to play with the Vikings. Bring him into camp, treat him like any of the other players given a chance to play the game they love."In the piece, Lockhart - who was the league's primary spokesperson during the anthem controversy in 2016-17 - argued that it was the decision of teams not to sign Kaepernick over fears it would hurt them financially, despite apparent encouragement from commissioner Roger Goodell and the league office."Kaepernick was not blocked because the league wanted to punish him for setting off the protests," wrote Lockhart.However, after watching riots in Minnesota and across America protesting racial inequality and police brutality following the death of George Floyd, Lockhart now believes teams and the league failed the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback."Though Kaepernick didn't get his job back, I thought we had all done a righteous job, considering," wrote Lockhart. "I was wrong. I think the teams were wrong for not signing him. Watching what's going on in Minnesota, I understand how badly wrong we were."Floyd died Monday after a white Minnesota police officer, Derek Chauvin, pinned him down by kneeling on his neck for over eight minutes during an arrest. Chauvin was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter Friday after three nights of protests in the city.The Vikings have an entrenched starting quarterback in Kirk Cousins. But their primary backup, Sean Mannion, has appeared in 13 games in five seasons and has thrown 74 career passes.Meanwhile, Kaepernick led the 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2012 and owns the 24th-highest career passer rating in NFL history.The NFL responded to Lockhart's column in a statement to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio."Colin is a free agent," league spokesman Brian McCarthy said. "Clubs may sign him if they choose to do so."Kaepernick kick-started protests in the NFL against police brutality and racial injustice in 2016 by at first sitting and then kneeling during the U.S. national anthem. The quarterback opted out of his contract with the 49ers in March 2017 after the club told him he would be released.Kaepernick has been out of the league ever since.But protests during the anthem still dominated the 2017 season even without Kaepernick in the NFL, with all 32 teams coming together to protest after President Donald Trump called for kneeling players to be fired in September 2017.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers ushered in a new era this offseason by replacing former MVP quarterback Cam Newton with free agent Teddy Bridgewater and hiring ex-Baylor head coach Matt Rhule.The start of Rhule and Bridgewater's relationship has been stymied by restrictions imposed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. However, after meeting several times before, the head coach already knows he has a rare character in his new starter."The best players in the world bring out the best in their teammates and I can tell you, since free agency started, the amount of the guys that want to come and play with Teddy has nothing to do with me or anybody else," Rhule said, according to NFL.com's Jelani Scott. "They want to be a part of what he's doing 'cause he brings out the best in people."While at Louisville in 2013, Bridgewater dropped 348 yards and two touchdowns on Temple during Rhule's first year in charge.The ex-Minnesota Vikings standout spent the last two years as Drew Brees' backup with the New Orleans Saints. When Brees went down for five games last season, the 27-year-old kept New Orleans in the hunt for a bye after winning all of his starts.Bridgewater threw nine touchdowns against two interceptions and completed 67.9% of his passes. His strong performance was rewarded by the Panthers, who signed him to a three-year, $63-million deal.While many are predicting a rebuilding season for Carolina in 2020 after losing franchise stalwarts Newton, Ron Rivera, and Luke Kuechly, Rhule is confident Bridgewater - who was often called a game-manager with the Vikings - can elevate the talent around him."I believe so wholeheartedly in who he is as a quarterback. I believe in his abilities, I believe in his arm strength, I believe in his accuracy, I believe in his decision-making but, beyond that, I know he's going to make everyone else that much better."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former MVP quarterback Cam Newton is expected to take his time before signing with a new team amid a weakening market for his services, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Newton reportedly could hold off until NFL teams resume normal offseason activities. Workouts have been conducted virtually up until now due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but clubs around the league have begun reopening.The 31-year-old could benefit from this as his health could then be evaluated by potential suitors. He missed 14 games in 2019 with a foot injury and struggled with a shoulder ailment throughout 2018 before being shut down for the final two games of the season.Newton reportedly passed a physical on March 23, with his shoulder and foot both "checking out well," per ESPN's Adam Schefter.It was reported near the start of May that Newton was open to a backup role, but Fowler's sources around the league aren't certain the former Carolina Panthers star would take a No. 2 job.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

At first, sports returned in dribs and drabs: UFC, NASCAR, Germany's Bundesliga. Soon, the plan goes, they'll be back en masse. Disrupted and displaced by the coronavirus, the NBA and NHL want to stage their playoffs through the summer at centralized sites. Shortened MLB and MLS seasons could follow, with the NFL and college football campaigns possibly beginning on schedule after that. The Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and the National Women's Soccer League have already set June restart dates. There's money to salvage, fans to entertain, a gloss of normalcy to project.That crowds won't attend games for a while is a given, but much is left to finalize before more of these comeback proposals become reality. What specific health and safety regulations will leagues enact? In which hub cities will the NHL set up shop? Can MLB's players and owners even hope to solve their compensation dispute?Beyond logistics, though, a deeper dilemma shadows the whole exercise. Is it ethical for team sports to resume during a pandemic?The implications of this question are myriad and serious. To return in the COVID-19 era, leagues need an abundance of tests and the willingness to keep playing through positive cases. Players and many other, older people will bear these health risks so that the show can go on. Viewers watching at home must square this knowledge with their desire to consume and enjoy the spectacle.To explore these issues and more, theScore solicited the perspectives of four expert ethicists:

George Kittle's agent isn't looking exclusively at the league's highest-paid tight ends while discussing a long-term deal with the San Francisco 49ers."I don't care about the tight end market," Jack Bechta told NFL Network's Michael Silver. "I'm being paid to do a George Kittle deal."Kittle has eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in each of the past two seasons, making him a candidate for the title of best tight end in the NFL. In addition to his receiving numbers, which rival those of the Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce, Kittle is one of the top blockers at his position.San Francisco entered the offseason looking to lock up its superstar before he begins the final year of his rookie contract. But the two sides have made no progress in extension talks since February, according to Silver.Austin Hooper reset the market for tight ends when he secured a four-year contract worth $10.5 million annually from the Cleveland Browns in March. Hunter Henry of the Los Angeles Chargers later surpassed that number by signing his franchise tag for $10.61 million.Kittle, 26, is scheduled to earn $2.13 million in 2020, according to Over The Cap.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite losing DeAndre Hopkins to a widely criticized trade, Deshaun Watson is optimistic about the direction of the Houston Texans' passing game."We're excited about the veteran weapons, the new weapons that we have," Watson said Friday, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. "Over the past couple of years, we haven't had too much veteran depth, especially in the receiving room."For us to get a couple of guys to come in and be able to help us produce and play a lot of football, not just to elevate their game but our game as a whole organization, as a whole offense, and as a quarterback, I'm very excited about it. I'm looking forward to it."After dealing away an All-Pro in Hopkins at the beginning of free agency, the Texans signed Randall Cobb and acquired Brandin Cooks from the Los Angeles Rams. The AFC South champions retained Will Fuller, Kenny Stills, and Keke Coutee from last year's receiving core.The Texans will also have a first-time play-caller in 2020, as offensive coordinator Tim Kelly is taking those responsibilities from head coach Bill O'Brien."Tim is going to kill it," Watson said. "He's going to do great. We're already on a great start. We built a great relationship starting last year, being together each and every day. I'm looking forward to it, and we've been doing well."Houston is expected to spend the next several weeks working on a long-term extension for Watson, who is under control for two more seasons.The 24-year-old continued his ascension into the top tier of quarterbacks last season, throwing for 3,852 yards with 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, adding seven more scores on the ground.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores questioned Friday why many who criticized NFL players for kneeling during the U.S. national anthem to protest social injustice have been less vocal about police killings of black civilians including George Floyd.Floyd died Monday in Minneapolis after Derek Chauvin, a white officer, held his knee on Floyd's neck for over eight minutes. Chauvin was arrested Friday and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter after several days of public outrage and riots.Flores, one of four minority head coaches in the NFL, addressed racial injustice in a statement issued through the Dolphins:

For every title-winning team and dynasty, the sports world seems to offer up equally terrible franchises. Call it a balancing act. But amid the losses, unwanted records, and overall futility, there are plenty of interesting facts to be found. How much do you know about some of the truly awful teams throughout sports history? Find out by taking the quiz below.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Chris Jones have not discussed a long-term deal since he received the franchise tag, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.The two sides have until July 15 to strike an agreement. Otherwise, Jones will be limited to playing on the one-year tender in 2020.When they tagged their star defender, the Chiefs reportedly had plans to work out a multi-year contract with him. However, Kansas City is short on cap space and needs to budget for a massive extension for quarterback Patrick Mahomes.Jones, who'll turn 26 in July, notched nine sacks in 13 games last year. He had 15.5 sacks in a breakout 2018 campaign.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers pass-rusher Dee Ford underwent a "pretty extensive cleanup" surgery on his left knee a couple of weeks after his team's Super Bowl loss, he said Friday."We were spot-on with the injury as far as diagnosing it in training camp," Ford said, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner. "I had a severe case of tendinitis. ... With my position, that's a blown tire. I feel great right now. I'm able to actually explode off of this knee."Thinking back on it, I can't believe I played a whole season on it, and we knew at the end of the day what we had to do. It had to be surgical, but I didn't want to miss the season. We had too much going on. I didn't want to miss that. It's in the bag now, though, I'm confident in that."Ford added that he's unsure of a timetable for return due to the chronic nature of the knee issue.The 29-year-old was in and out of the lineup in his first season with the 49ers due to quadriceps and hamstring ailments, as well as the aforementioned knee injury. He racked up 6.5 sacks in 11 games but was only able to play over 50% of defensive snaps in one contest, per Pro Football Reference.The 49ers traded a second-round pick to the Chiefs last March for Ford, who was immediately rewarded with a five-year, $85-million deal.San Francisco's dominant defensive line has already lost DeForest Buckner, who was traded to the Indianapolis Colts this offseason.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow called for support for the black community Friday following the death of an African-American man while in the custody of Minnesota police.The death has sparked riots in the city and across the United States.A video showed a white officer pinning George Floyd to the ground by kneeling on his neck. The officer, Derek Chauvin, ignored Floyd's pleas that he couldn't breathe. Floyd later died Monday in the hospital.

Jadeveon Clowney entered the offseason as one of the NFL's top unrestricted free agents. As a disruptive presence at a prime position, the edge rusher figured to land somewhere soon after the league year began in March - and for big money. Yet it's now past Memorial Day, and Clowney remains unsigned, his prospects uncertain.So what happened? There are multiple factors to consider.The first is Clowney's injury history. He missed 21 games across six campaigns with the Texans and Seahawks, and he underwent surgery in January to fix a core muscle injury related to a sports hernia that nagged him last season. It's his sixth surgery in seven years, and while he's reportedly healthy, Clowney recently admitted pandemic-related restrictions have prevented teams from completing medical evaluations."I know what's going on in the world, with the coronavirus and everything," he told FOX 26's Mark Berman. "It's a slow process until teams really can see me and see what I got and can give me physicals and everything. So I'm in no rush, I'm just waiting on the right opportunity."Clowney is just 27, so he's far from being over the hill. But there are also questions about his production relative to his contract demands.As far back as the start of free agency in mid-March, at least one report suggested Clowney wanted as much as $20 million per year, which would place his contract's annual value squarely among the top five at his position. The Seahawks, who acquired Clowney late last summer from the Texans, reportedly offered $13 million to $15 million - less than the $15.97 million he earned last season on the franchise tag. The problem for Clowney is that the market he hoped for never materialized. Ralph Freso / Getty ImagesAfter it was unable to come to terms with Clowney, Seattle extended defensive tackle Jarran Reed's contract, which now carries a $9.35-million cap hit. The Seahawks also added defensive end Benson Mayowa, who recorded seven sacks last season for the Raiders, then brought back 32-year-old outside linebacker Bruce Irvin, who played his first four seasons in Seattle. Reed then switched his jersey number back to No. 90 after having sold it to Clowney last season.Seahawks general manager John Schneider said in April that he's still open to bringing Clowney back, but it's now obvious he'd offer far less to make that happen, which makes that outcome seem unlikely.It's worth remembering that it was the Texans who put the franchise tag on Clowney in 2019, only to deal him after the mid-July deadline to complete a long-term contract had passed - a move that forced Houston into paying nearly half of Clowney's tagged salary to complete the trade with Seattle. It's also worth remembering that when Texans head coach Bill O'Brien wears his other hat as Texans general manager, he might as well strap on a dunce cap.Another key provision of the trade was that the Seahawks would be forbidden from tagging Clowney again this year. It's not hard to see why Clowney wanted this, even if a second tag would have paid him $19.16 million in 2020: He's entering his seventh NFL season, yet this is the first time he's had the chance to bargain for his worth due to the rookie wage scale, fifth-year team option for first-round picks, and tag.The tag has long been the bane of the NFL's best players, but it's not hard to notice teams are using it to stifle the top of the pass-rusher market. Pro Football Talk's list of this offseason's top 100 free agents included eight pass-rushers in the top 28, including Clowney. Arik Armstead re-upped with the 49ers and Dante Fowler left the Rams for the Falcons. The other five - the Chiefs' Chris Jones, the Bucs' Shaquil Barrett, the Jaguars' Yannick Ngakoue, the Ravens' Matthew Judon, and the Steelers' Bud Dupree - all got tagged. All but Jones, who plays on the interior, are considered edge rushers. Alika Jenner / Getty ImagesClowney is often thought of as a premier player owing to his can't-miss status as a former No. 1 pick and the fact that he's made his fair share of highlight-reel plays. But his production hasn't always matched the hype. He recorded just three sacks last season and has never had more than 9.5 sacks in a campaign. And while pressures are a better indicator of a pass-rusher's impact than sacks, Clowney hasn't ranked among the best of the best in that regard, either.It's true that Clowney ranked seventh in ESPN's pass rush win rate last season. But PRWR only accounts for pass-rushers who free themselves from blockers within 2.5 seconds rather than actual pressures. Clowney has never had more than 64 pressures in a season, which would have ranked 19th in the league among edge rushers last year, according to PFF's Sam Monson. In 2019, Clowney accounted for just 48 pressures, which tied for 32nd, per PFF. And his pass rush productivity rating - factored on a per-snap basis - was only 6.5, which tied for 36th.One caveat to all of this, though:

New Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon believes his five seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers prepared him for the possibility of playing in empty stadiums due to the COVID-19 pandemic."Bro, we didn't have fans anyway," Gordon told "Chat with Cro" on Wednesday. "We didn't have many Chargers fans at the game. I'm just going to be honest. We didn't have many Chargers fans at the game. Much loyalty, love, but we didn't have many. So I'm not missing anything."The Chargers have had the worst average home attendance in the league in every season since they relocated to Los Angeles in 2017. In 2019, their average home attendance was 31,750. Since 2013, the franchise has been one of the two bottom teams in home attendance.A total of 254,007 people went to Chargers games in Los Angeles last season, the worst mark in the NFL by more than 100,000.Gordon, a first-round pick in 2015, became a two-time Pro Bowler during his stint with the Chargers. The 27-year-old hit the open market this offseason and inked a two-year deal with the Broncos.The Wisconsin product recently explained his decision to join an AFC West rival by saying that Denver is "a great system for backs" while Los Angeles' system wasn't built for him.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's football editors nominated candidates for awards across the categories of coaching and front-office hires, free agency, and the draft. YOU voted to decide the 2020 offseason's best moves.And the winners are ...Best front-office and coaching movesBest head coach hirePodiumVoting? Mike McCarthy to Cowboys41.2%? Ron Rivera to Redskins24.7%? Kevin Stefanski to Browns14.0%"America's Team" took home the hardware by hiring the only nominee with a Super Bowl win as a head coach. Stefanski, the Cleveland Browns' eighth head coach since 2010 (and third in the last three seasons), narrowly edged former Baylor boss Matt Rhule for a spot on the podium. The New York Giants' hiring of Joe Judge inspired little confidence, apparently, garnering a scant 6.7% of the thousands of votes cast.Best coordinator hirePodiumVoting? Gary Kubiak promoted to Vikings OC36.3%? Jason Garrett to Giants as OC22.3%? Joe Brady to Panthers as OC22.0%Voters loved the proven commodities in former head coaches Kubiak and Garrett. The former was an integral part of the Minnesota Vikings' scoring unit in 2019, acting as an assistant head coach and offensive advisor. Meanwhile, Brady lands on the podium - despite never holding an offensive coordinator position at any level - after leading LSU's assault on college football last season.Best front-office movePodiumVoting? Ron Rivera gets personnel control for Redskins55.4%? Andrew Berry gets Browns' GM gig38.7%? Bill O'Brien officially gets Texans' GM title5.9%There weren't many major front-office moves in 2020, but it's easy to see why Rivera earned the top spot. Berry has familiarity with the Browns and a year of experience as Howie Roseman's right-hand man with the Philadelphia Eagles, while O'Brien's questionable offseason moves resulted in minimal approval among voters.Best decision to stick with status quoPodiumVoting? Steelers retain Mike Tomlin72.5%? Chargers retain Anthony Lynn17.3%? Lions retain Matt Patricia10.2%Despite failing to qualify for the playoffs in each of the last two campaigns, Tomlin's stability and past success led him to the top spot. Unlike Patricia, Lynn has earned a postseason berth during his tenure, which was certainly a factor in him placing second ahead of the Detroit Lions boss.Best free-agent signings and tradesBest marquee free-agent signingPodiumVoting? Tom Brady to Buccaneers58.5%? Cory Littleton to Raiders11.0%? Philip Rivers to Colts10.5%Perhaps no player will have a greater impact on the 2020 campaign than Brady, who has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers primed for a Super Bowl run. He unsurprisingly took home the gold here with more votes than the other five candidates combined. After Brady, there was a real battle for the podium. Littleton was deemed the best defensive signing, while Rivers narrowly edged out Byron Jones for third place.Best bargain free-agent signingPodiumVoting? Emmanuel Sanders to Saints29.8%? Todd Gurley to Falcons25.2%? Chris Harris to Chargers16.0%Sanders and Gurley were locked in a battle for first place, but the former - whose speed and craftiness were added to Sean Payton's offense - came away victorious. Chris Harris, who will beef up the Los Angeles Chargers' scary secondary, beat out Ha Ha Clinton-Dix signing with the Cowboys by a mere 11 votes to earn bronze.Best re-signingPodiumVoting? Drew Brees to Saints42.6%? Amari Cooper to Cowboys24.7%? Arik Armstead to 49ers10.2%The New Orleans Saints made it two golds in a row with their no-brainer decision to bring back future Hall of Famer Brees. Despite still needing to extend Dak Prescott, the Cowboys earned silver with their move to re-sign Cooper, while Armstead's pass-rush prowess will be useful in 2020 after the San Francisco 49ers traded DeForest Buckner.Best tradePodiumVoting? Cardinals acquire DeAndre Hopkins60.9%? Bills acquire Stefon Diggs18.1%? Buccaneers acquire Rob Gronkowski7.2%The Arizona Cardinals acquiring Hopkins in what was a highway robbery was destined to capture the gold here, but we didn't expect such a landslide. Diggs is an appropriate choice for silver and will surely aid Josh Allen in his third year under center. Tampa Bay's trade for Gronk earned a surprisingly low vote tally, as the future Hall of Famer will round out a scary scoring unit if healthy.Most improved team after free agency and tradesPodiumVoting? Tampa Bay Buccaneers43.3%? Buffalo Bills20.1%? Miami Dolphins13.2%The Bucs didn't make a ton of moves this offseason, but the additions of just Brady and Gronk helped them take home the win. By improving their roster on both sides of the ball, the Buffalo Bills distanced themselves from the rest of the pack to earn second place, with the Miami Dolphins barely edging out the Cardinals for the podium's final spot.Best draft picks and draft-day tradesBest draft pick on offensePodiumVoting? Cowboys pick CeeDee Lamb34.6%? Broncos pick Jerry Jeudy19.8%? Dolphins pick Tua Tagovailoa16.6%The Cowboys ending Lamb's fall at No. 17 overall was the clear choice among voters. Jeudy, who was picked two spots ahead of Lamb, earned silver on our podium. Tagovailoa wasn't the first choice here, just as he wasn't in the draft, but he didn't have to wait long to hear his name called.Best draft pick on defensePodiumVoting? Bills pick A.J. Epenesa28.1%? Ravens pick Patrick Queen27.3%? Giants pick Xavier McKinney19.3%Voters loved the value the Bills found with their selection of edge rusher Epenesa in the mid-second after he was often projected to go in the first. Queen's rare athleticism should instantly transform the Baltimore Ravens' defense, while getting McKinney in the second round was a coup for the Giants.Best Day 3 draft pickPodiumVoting? Colts pick Jacob Eason40.5%? Dolphins pick Curtis Weaver23.5%? Raiders pick Amik Robertson14.1%The Indianapolis Colts finding a potential successor to Philip Rivers in the fourth round made them the runaway winner here. Meanwhile, Weaver and Robertson are two potential impact players who were selected several rounds later than some experts had them pegged.Best trade during the draftPodiumVoting? Vikings trade 3rd-round pick for rest of Saints' picks29.4%? Vikings trade No. 25 pick for 49ers' No. 31 plus 4th- and 5th-rounders22.4%? Patriots trade out of 1st round for Chargers' 2nd- and 3rd-round picks19.4%Voters adored the moves the Vikings made during the draft, which resulted in the team selecting an astonishing 15 players across seven rounds. The Patriots' trade back - something they do seemingly every other year - also garnered some love.Best overall draft classPodiumVoting? Dallas Cowboys32.1%? Baltimore Ravens24.9%? Denver Broncos21.4%With Lamb as the crown jewel, the Cowboys took the gold here. The additions of cornerback Trevon Diggs (51st overall), defensive tackle Neville Gallimore (82nd), and center Tyler Biadasz (146th) after the first round boost this excellent draft class.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens pass-rusher Matthew Judon has signed his franchise tag, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Thursday night.Baltimore placed the tag on the 27-year-old in March. The deadline for teams and tagged players to reach agreements on long-term extensions is July 15.To avoid a potential dispute over Judon's position, the Ravens signed off on a $16.808-million tag that's a midpoint between the defensive end and linebacker designations, according to Pelissero.He enjoyed his best campaign in 2019, recording a career-high 9.5 sacks. The 2016 fifth-round pick has logged 28.5 sacks in four seasons.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

DeAndre Hopkins believes he has no equal when it comes to the top wideouts in the NFL."I know I'm the best," the Arizona Cardinals receiver said Thursday on the "Jalen and Jacoby Show," according to ESPN's Josh Weinfuss.Hopkins compared his stats to those of other elite wideouts in the game, adding that he's produced without the aid of consistent quarterback play."I love (Michael Thomas) ... but he knows if I had Drew Brees my whole career what these numbers would be," Hopkins said. "Julio Jones knows if I had Matt Ryan my whole career ... he knows what these numbers would be."Thomas led the NFL in receiving in 2019 with 1,725 yards and nine touchdowns on 149 receptions.Meanwhile, Jones has eclipsed 1,400 yards in each of his last six campaigns with 2016 NFL MVP Ryan.Hopkins recorded 1,165 yards and seven scores last season, and he's been named an All-Pro three times. In his seven years, he's played with quarterbacks Matt Schaub, Case Keenum, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Mallett, Brian Hoyer, T.J. Yates, Brandon Weeden, Brock Osweiler, and Tom Savage before the Houston Texans drafted Deshaun Watson in 2018.The 27-year-old believes he'll be even more productive now that he's playing with 2019 Offensive Rookie of the Year Kyler Murray."Obviously I've played with a lot of quarterbacks and put up great numbers, being in offenses that necessarily weren't a pass-first offense. So, myself, being a receiver, of course I see my stats going up," he said.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers have agreed to a one-year contract with free-agent cornerback Eli Apple, the team announced Thursday.It appeared Apple was headed to the Las Vegas Raiders early in free agency, but the deal fell through.Apple spent the last season and a half with the New Orleans Saints, starting all 25 games he appeared in. The 2016 10th overall pick began his career with the New York Giants, enduring a rocky tenure on and off the field that lasted two-plus seasons before he was waived.The Panthers add Apple to a secondary that lost James Bradberry in free agency, and the unit faces uncertainty beyond Donte Jackson.In 55 career games, Apple has notched three interceptions and 33 pass breakups. The Ohio State product allowed a passer rating of 107.5 when targeted last year, according to PFF.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.NFL commissioner Roger Goodell outlined in a memo to all 32 teams the next phase of reopening club facilities, which could involve the return of coaches."We expect that next week clubs will be permitted to include members of their coaching staffs among the employees permitted to resume work in the club facility," stated the memo obtained by NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.The league continues to work with state and local officials to determine a date on which coaches will be allowed to return to team facilities, and it appears the players might soon follow."We are also continuing to work with the NFLPA on developing protocols that will allow at least some players to return to your facilities on a limited basis prior to the conclusion of the offseason program," the memo added.Teams will be allowed to reopen ticket offices, retail shops, and other customer-facing facilities beginning June 1.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced in a proclamation Thursday that outdoor professional sporting events in most counties will be allowed to host fans at up to 25% of venue capacity beginning Friday, according to Alex Samuels of The Texas Tribune.Counties excluded from the revised rule include Deaf Smith, El Paso, Moore, Potter, and Randall. Fans will continue to be barred from attending indoor sporting events.Leagues must obtain approval from the Texas Department of State Health Services before opening their doors to spectators. Teams impacted by the proclamation include the Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, and Houston Dash.Previously, Abbott announced professional basketball, baseball, car racing, football, golf, softball, and tennis would have the green light to resume in Texas without fans beginning May 31.Abbott has also been optimistic that the college football season will start as scheduled with at least some fans in attendance, though Thursday's proclamation doesn't affect amateur sports.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL owners shelved the proposed onside kick alternative that would have allowed teams to retain possession with a converted 4th-and-15 play, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.The proposal was believed to be gaining traction ahead of the vote, making its failure to pass somewhat surprising. The league could revisit the idea in the future.Owners approved one new bylaw and three new playing rules Thursday during their virtual meeting, according to the Boston Globe's Ben Volin.The passed bylaw increases the number of players eligible to return from injured reserve from two to three.One of the new playing rules eliminates the game clock loophole - which allowed teams to drain the clock while taking repeated delay of game penalties - that the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans exploited during the regular season and playoffs, respectively, last season.The second new playing rule permanently triggers an automatic replay for all scoring plays and turnovers negated by a foul.The last new playing rule expands defenseless player protections for kickoff and punt returners.Additionally, owners approved an extension of the league's gaming deal with EA Sports, ensuring the "Madden" franchise will run through at least the 2025 season, a source told Albert Breer of MMQB.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.If you're having a tough time projecting the New England Patriots' offense in 2020, I don't blame you.Although the franchise has had a revolving door of players over the last two decades, the one constant throughout the dynasty had always been quarterback Tom Brady. With his departure to the Buccaneers in free agency, we're left scrambling, trying to figure out what we can expect from the new-look offense.Here, we'll dive into the 2020 player prop bets, headlined by a couple of familiar faces.Sony Michel O/U 7.5 rushing touchdownsOver: -105

The Kansas City Chiefs have begun contract negotiations with quarterback Patrick Mahomes in a deal that's expected to be the most lucrative in NFL history, Sam Mellinger of The Kansas City Star reports.Mahomes' rookie contract isn't set to expire until after the 2021 campaign, but Kansas City has prioritized talks with its star passer this offseason.The new deal is expected to be the first in league history to have compensation tied to the salary cap, Mellinger adds. Such an agreement would have specific figures for each year with a commitment that the 24-year-old's pay would always reflect a certain percentage of the team's cap.After taking the reigns of Andy Reid's offense in 2018, Mahomes quickly emerged as the NFL's premier quarterback. He won MVP in his first year as a starter and captured Super Bowl MVP this past season, leading the Chiefs to their first championship in 50 years.The gunslinger insisted he'll remain patient in contract talks and instead wants to make sure his squad can compete for future Super Bowls.Chiefs general manager Brett Veach previously stated an extension for Mahomes is his top priority, but refused to put a timetable on negotiations.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.There are a lot of high-powered offenses in the NFL today and bettors can wager on which one will average the most points for the 2020 regular season. Last year, the Baltimore Ravens led the way with 33.2 points per game, followed by the San Francisco 49ers (29.9), New Orleans Saints (28.6), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (28.6), and Kansas City Chiefs (28.2).Here are the odds to lead the NFL in scoring this season, along with a breakdown of the field.Team OddsKansas City Chiefs+600Baltimore Ravens+700San Francisco 49ers+800Tampa Bay Buccaneers+900New Orleans Saints+1000Dallas Cowboys+1200Seattle Seahawks+1400Philadelphia Eagles+1600Tennessee Titans+2000Green Bay Packers+2000Los Angeles Rams+2200Cleveland Browns+2500Minnesota Vikings+2500New England Patriots+2500Houston Texans+2500Atlanta Falcons+2800Arizona Cardinals+3000Detroit Lions+3300Indianapolis Colts+3300Pittsburgh Steelers+4000Buffalo Bills+5000Denver Broncos+5000Los Angeles Chargers+5000Miami Dolphins+5000Odds listed for teams +5000 and shorterFavoritesThe five highest-scoring teams from 2019 top the oddsboard this season, led by the Chiefs at +600. Kansas City averaged over 28 points on its way to a Super Bowl title, despite star quarterback Patrick Mahomes missing three games with a knee injury. Including the playoffs, the Chiefs scored 30-plus points seven times with Mahomes under center and return all the key pieces to the offense.The Ravens (+700) are interesting because reigning MVP Lamar Jackson and Baltimore's new-look offensive attack took the NFL by storm last season, scoring more than 40 points five times. The question is, now that coaches have had an offseason to study the Ravens' offense, will defenses catch up to it? While a slight regression is likely, Baltimore's offense is loaded and will once again rack up points this season.The 49ers (+800), Buccaneers (+900), and Saints (+1000) round out the top five. Like the Ravens, the 49ers' dominating ground game is built to last and it's hard to envision San Francisco taking a big step back given all its offensive talent.The Buccaneers added Tom Brady, and while the offense will have little trouble scoring points, Tampa Bay is a bit overvalued here. Remember, the Bucs played in a lot of shootouts last season thanks to Jameis Winston's league-leading 30 interceptions. The result was Tampa Bay's defense finishing with the worst average starting field position in the NFL. With an improved defense and soon-to-be 43-year-old quarterback, look elsewhere at +900.Like the Chiefs, New Orleans finished top-five in scoring despite losing its starting quarterback for a portion of the season. Drew Brees missed five games and the Saints still averaged 28.6 points. New Orleans signed Winston this offseason and has Taysom Hill waiting in the wings, making the Saints one of a handful of teams that can lose their starting quarterback and still lead the NFL in scoring.Team with valueThe Los Angeles Rams are the best value on the board at +2200. The Rams averaged 24.6 points last year and could see that number rise in 2020. Los Angeles parted ways with running back Todd Gurley and fields a defense with little depth in one of the NFL's toughest divisions. Sean McVay will rely heavily on Jared Goff and his skilled group of pass-catchers, much like he did at the end of last season when the Rams QB averaged 328.6 yards over the last five games. Expect L.A. to be in plenty of high-scoring shootouts this season.Best betSean Payton took some heat for losing in the first round of the playoffs, but overall, he had one of his best seasons as a coach. The offense averaged just under 29 points - even with Brees missing five games - and the unit could be even better in 2020 with the addition of receiver Emmanuel Sanders. New Orleans hasn't averaged fewer than 27.9 points since 2015. With depth at quarterback and one of the best groups of skill position players in the NFL, the Saints are a good bet to lead the league in scoring. Grab them at +1000.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.

In a three-part series, theScore's football editors nominate candidates for awards across the categories of coaching and front-office hires, free agency, and the draft. But it'll be up to YOU to decide the winners. The results of the user vote will be revealed in a final post on Friday.Next up are the nominations for the NFL draft.Categories

In a three-part series, theScore's football editors nominate candidates for awards across the categories of coaching and front-office hires, free agency, and the draft. But it'll be up to YOU to decide the winners. The results of the user vote will be revealed in a final post on Friday.Next up are the nominations for free agency.Categories

In a three-part series, theScore's football editors nominate candidates for awards across the categories of coaching and front-office hires, free agency, and the draft. But it'll be up to YOU to decide the winners. The results of the user vote will be revealed in a final post on Friday.First up are the nominations for coaching.Categories

Baker Mayfield is taking a different approach in 2020.The Cleveland Browns quarterback made headlines for his boasts and bold comments last year, but he faltered on the field. Mayfield threw 21 interceptions as the much-hyped Browns finished 6-10.He's looking for different results this season."It's just time to work, do our thing, instead of talking about it," the 25-year-old said Wednesday in a video call, according to ESPN's Jake Trotter. "This is the first media thing I've done, just because there's no need to be talking about it. It's just time to go do it."Right now, it's kind of moving in silence, which is fine with me. That's how I used to do it before getting on a bigger stage. ... Get back to the fundamentals to where I can accomplish the goals when the season comes around."Over the course of a disappointing 2019, Mayfield criticized the New York Giants' selection of quarterback Daniel Jones, battled with an ESPN reporter, and engaged in a back-and-forth with former NFL coach Rex Ryan. He admitted in January that "I put my foot in my mouth a lot" last season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, 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, Derek Brown joins Boone to discuss the latest news and unveil their 12 must-have players in 2020 fantasy drafts.

The Cleveland Browns reportedly offered free-agent edge defender Jadeveon Clowney more money than any other team."It's the richest offer on the table and he hasn't taken it," ESPN's Adam Schefter said Wednesday on ESPN Cleveland radio, as ESPN's Jake Trotter transcribed. "So why is that? I don't know."Clowney has been sitting on the open market since March. He was expected to be a hot commodity, but interest in him has been lukewarm.The Browns have been linked to Clowney throughout the offseason, and the club still holds about $37 million of cap space to get a potential deal done. The Tennessee Titans and New York Jets have also been connected to the three-time Pro Bowler who spent last season with the Seattle Seahawks."For whatever reason he hasn't been willing to take it so far," Schefter said of the Browns' offer. "That doesn't mean that it couldn't change, but it hasn't changed just yet."Clowney registered only three sacks in 2019, though he was still proficient at generating quarterback pressures and defending the run. The 27-year-old has spent the offseason in Houston working out and rehabbing from a sports hernia surgery he underwent in February."Whoever I sign with is gonna get the best version of me," he said in early May.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Jones wants to spend his entire career with the Green Bay Packers, but he isn't worried about not getting a long-term extension yet ahead of his contract year."Whether it's my first year or my last year on a deal, I'm going to be just as motivated," the running back told reporters Wednesday, according to Mike Spofford of Packers.com. "It doesn't change just because a contract is on the line for me."I'm going to continue to work and do everything in my power. I trust my agency and the Packers. With that, I would love to be a lifelong Packer."Jones is coming off the first 1,000-plus-yard rushing season of his career, and his 16 touchdowns on the ground tied Derrick Henry for the NFL lead in 2019. The 2017 fifth-round pick is on track to be part of a potentially loaded class of running backs in free agency after the 2020 campaign."I'm really not looking at the market, I'm just focused on myself," Jones said. "I feel like I can play at a really high level and elite level for a very long time, so I'm just going to do what I can and hopefully that leads to me being a Packer for life."Jones shared the backfield with Jamaal Williams over his first three seasons. The Packers selected former Boston College running back AJ Dillon in the second round of the 2020 draft, a potential sign at least one of Williams or Jones could be allowed to hit the open market in 2021.Jones owns a career average of five yards per carry, and he's reached that while racking up 4,502 yards on 260 attempts.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The sports world loves nicknames, and we thought it's time to dip back into that well. While our earlier nicknames quiz focused on the more recent era, this one looks at some legendary nicknames from back in the day. How well do you know these classic monikers? Find out by taking the quiz below.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After another injury-plagued season, J.J. Watt is determined to prove his worth to the Houston Texans rather than pushing for a new contract.The three-time Defensive Player of the Year has two seasons left on the six-year, $100-million contract he signed in 2014."No, I don't think that's necessary," the pass-rusher said Wednesday in regard to demanding a new contract, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. "I'm not going to sit here and demand anything. If I asked for an extension or money right now, I think that would be the wrong move. I'm going out there to make sure these people know that I'm worth it."Watt's deal has no guaranteed money remaining. Moreover, his 2020 and 2021 base salaries of $15.5 million and $17.5 million, respectively, lag behind the NFL's highest-paid defensive players.After playing in just eight games from 2016-17, the 31-year-old regained his dominant form in 2018, racking up 16 sacks and seven forced fumbles.But injuries took down Watt again last season. He missed eight regular-season games with a torn pectoral before returning for the playoffs.With a new deal likely linked to his ability to stay on the field, Watt is focused on keeping Houston at the top of the AFC South."My goal for every season is the same - to do whatever is possible to help the team win. No. 1, that means staying healthy and playing at my peak physical level."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 Buffalo Bills are one of the most intriguing offenses heading into the 2020 season.A year after making the playoffs with the No. 23 scoring offense, the unit should improve by leaps and bounds. Quarterback Josh Allen is entering Year 3, the receiving corps added Stefon Diggs, and the running game's coming off a season in which it ranked seventh in the league in yards per game.Today, we'll dive into a couple of Bills-related player props for the 2020 season. Here are the best looks.Devin Singletary O/U 5.5 total touchdownsOver: -110

Phil Mickelson has big ideas for future editions of The Match.The 49-year-old listed Michael Jordan, Patrick Mahomes, and Steph Curry as potential candidates for future competitions that would also feature Tiger Woods after the success of "The Match: Champions for Charity.""I think you could showcase guys like Steph Curry and Michael Jordan or Tony Romo and Patrick Mahomes, who are all good golfers, elite talents, and have great personalities," Mickelson said, according to the Los Angeles Times' Arash Markazi.Jordan, who recently opened an exclusive golf course in Florida that Mickelson is in the process of joining, is an avid golfer. Curry and Romo are two of the best golfers from other professional sports and have both participated in PGA Tour-sanctioned events. Mahomes made waves by showing off his powerful swing on social media.

After three-plus seasons as part of a running back committee with the Miami Dolphins, Kenyan Drake is primed to enter the 2020 campaign as the Arizona Cardinals' workhorse.Drake, who was dealt to the Cardinals prior to last season's trade deadline, is hoping his hard work off the field translates to success in his first full year in Arizona."I feel like my ceiling is as high as I'll take it," Drake said. "I can't do anything but put the work in right now and take that into whenever the season starts."I have personal goals for myself ... I'm not looking for anything specific, I just want to help this team win as much as possible."The 26-year-old enjoyed the best stretch of his career in the desert. He racked up 643 yards and eight touchdowns in eight games after taking the top role from David Johnson, who was traded to the Houston Texans this offseason.The former third-round pick was scheduled to hit free agency in 2020, but Arizona placed its transition tag on him. While he had hoped for a long-term contract, Drake is also excited to earn a new deal in the future."I feel like anybody who plays this game is obviously looking for stability and a long-term contract," he said. "But we got the deal done to where we are currently, and everything else will take care of itself. All I can do is focus on the things I can control."I'm excited to put the work in now and let everything else handle itself at an appropriate time."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints defensive end Noah Spence sustained a torn ACL while training, ESPN's Mike Triplett reports, citing a source.The Saints canceled their offseason program in April due to the coronavirus pandemic, meaning Spence's reported injury took place while he was training away from the team.As a result, New Orleans has placed the 26-year-old on the reserve/non-football injury list, according to Triplett. The Saints signed linebacker Anthony Chickillo on Tuesday to make up for the loss, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.Spence signed a one-year contract worth $910,000 with the Saints in March.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The millions of viewers who tuned in to The Match II on the weekend were reminded of Peyton Manning's skills on the microphone. The retired quarterback helped draw a record audience to a cable telecast of a golf event.Manning has been pursued for broadcasting roles with multiple networks, most recently by ESPN for its Monday Night Football package, but the future Hall of Famer has yet to jump to the booth. However, he hasn't ruled out a future turn."I haven't said 'no' forever. I've said 'no' to this year," Manning said Tuesday on "The Rich Eisen Show.""It just doesn't feel like the right time. I hate ... having this sort of 'check with me next year'-type deal, but that's really how I've approached this chapter. I believe in taking it a year at a time."The two-time Super Bowl champion said he doesn't have a five- or 10-year plan for his retirement but is instead focusing on keeping himself busy and stimulated.With that, he's not quite ready to analyze and critique football games for a living."Just not in the cards for me right now, but can't really say never forever," Manning added.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.The Miami Dolphins announced Tuesday that Hard Rock Stadium will feature an outdoor drive-in theater inside the stadium with the ability to host events like commencement ceremonies, as well as an open-air theater.

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

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson will host several teammates for informal workouts in south Florida next week, wide receiver Miles Boykin said Tuesday in a video conference call, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley."There are going to be a lot of guys down there," Boykin said. "There's only so much you can do in (virtual) meetings without being able to go out on the field.""Right now, we just have the plan to go down there and be able to run through some plays on offense and just play football a little bit to get back to something that we love doing," the second-year wideout added. "It'll be exciting for us to be together, just work on that chemistry."Jackson has been working out with teammate Marquise Brown in Florida over the past few weeks. The reigning MVP also tossed passes to free-agent wide receiver Antonio Brown in April.The NFL's top offense powered Baltimore to a 14-2 record in 2019. Jackson threw 36 touchdown passes while also becoming the second quarterback to amass 1,000-plus rushing yards in a season. Boykin, meanwhile, caught 13 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie.The Ravens reopened their facilities on Tuesday under the first phase of the NFL's reopening process, which limits the building capacity to 75 employees and doesn't allow players or coaches to return yet.Head coaches could reportedly return to team facilities as early as next week, and if they're cleared to go back, minicamps including players may be scheduled for mid-June.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.NFL head coaches could return to team facilities as early as next week, sources told Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson, and if coaches are cleared to return, minicamps including players reportedly may be scheduled as early as June 15 or as late as June 27.One of Robinson's sources said the crucial obstacle in determining whether minicamps will take place is whether California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs off on full team operations without fans in attendance."If California is open for (team) operations soon, minicamps can still happen in June - probably late June, I'd think - but maybe even mid-June," the league source said.Newsom recently said his state is hoping to allow sports events beginning in the first week of June, though he stressed it remains a target date. He also added that "modifications and very prescriptive conditions" would be required to host events in California.While the gears for a return to work appear to be in motion, NFL Players Association president and Cleveland Browns center JC Tretter said Tuesday that negotiations with union officials have yet to be completed.

Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey isn't considering holding out from training camp in order to force a new extension ahead of a contract year."The Rams know where I stand and that's all that matters at the end of the day," Ramsey said, according to Kevin Patra of NFL.com. "It will get handled. They have been in contact with my agent. They are on the same page. They know what's up. I know what's up. I'm going to let them handle that. I can't worry about that. I can control what I can control."Everybody knew what type of situation it was going to be once they traded for me. It doesn't need to be talked about that much. It will get handled. I will let them handle the business side of it. I will focus on football."Ramsey, who is set to make $13.7 million in 2019 on his fifth-year option, is widely expected to reset the cornerback market with his first NFL extension. Philadelphia Eagles standout Darius Slay currently tops the position at $16.7 million per year, according to Spotrac.The Rams traded two first-round picks to the Jacksonville Jaguars for Ramsey midway through last season. The star corner should have significant leverage in negotiations due to that enormous investment.Ramsey was angling for a big-money deal prior to the 2019 campaign, going as far as turning up to the Jaguars' training camp in a Brinks truck.He was named to his third straight Pro Bowl in 2019 after racking up one interception, five pass defenses, and 50 total tackles in 12 appearances (11 starts).Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Linebacker Shaquil Barrett believes that going from Jameis Winston to Tom Brady at quarterback inevitably takes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a championship level."I think Jameis would have made a big jump, but I think with Brady, it just makes us an automatic contender for a Super Bowl," Barrett told ESPN's "Get Up!" on Tuesday. "With Jameis, I think we would have been a playoff contender. It would have been still a battle, for sure, and it's still going to be a battle now, but having Tom, I think we're going to be over the edge, and everything on paper looks perfect. We just gotta put the work in."During Winston's five-year stint with the team, he posted a 28-42 record and the Buccaneers didn't make the playoffs. Tampa Bay, which has now missed the postseason for 12 straight campaigns, let the former first overall pick leave in free agency this offseason.The Bucs' last playoff victory dates back to the 2002 season when the franchise won its first Super Bowl.Meanwhile, excluding his injury-shortened 2008 season, Brady missed the postseason just once (2002) during his legendary tenure with the New England Patriots. The future Hall of Famer led the Patriots to consecutive Super Bowls from 2016-18. He's appeared in and won more championship games than any other quarterback in NFL history.After signing Brady, the Buccaneers also acquired tight end Rob Gronkowski from New England.Barrett, who won Super Bowl 50 with the Denver Broncos, made his first career Pro Bowl in 2019 after leading the league with 19.5 sacks.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Two days after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said professional sports teams in his state can begin opening up training camps, his New Jersey counterpart is following suit."Teams in New Jersey may return to training and even competition - if their leagues choose to move in that direction," Gov. Phil Murphy announced Tuesday. "We have been in constant discussions with teams about necessary protocols to protect the health and safety of players, coaches, and personnel."Murphy's decision would impact the NFL's New York Giants and Jets and MLS' Red Bulls, all of whom are based in New Jersey. It may affect the NHL's Devils, as well, but they're unlikely to be included in the league's 24-team playoff plan.The NHL's Philadelphia Flyers and NBA's 76ers have practice facilities in New Jersey.The vast majority of sports leagues in North America suspended play in March amid the coronavirus pandemic. The NFL's 2020 season isn't scheduled to begin until September, although organized team activities typically begin in May.Last month, the NFL and NFLPA agreed to hold a virtual offseason program with the reported stipulation that no on-field work can take place until all 32 club facilities can be reopened.Cuomo said Sunday that New York-based teams can open camps while adhering to the appropriate health protocols.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady's upcoming ESPN nine-part documentary series "The Man In The Arena" is already drawing comparisons to Michael Jordan's "The Last Dance," but director Gotham Chopra says the two will be very different.Chopra maintains the Brady docuseries will offer a different perspective since the quarterback hasn't had nearly as long as Jordan to reflect on his career."It's not Tom Brady's 'Last Dance,'" Chopra told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. "It's not that. That may or may not exist 20 years from now, I don't know. There's this sort of immediacy to this. ... The premise (of 'The Last Dance') was telling stories about the seasons, whereas (Brady's), it does feel a little bit more real time. Tom continues to be an active player. So the idea is, 'OK, let's talk about these nine seasons, this incredible body of work across 20 years, and how it's still sort of affecting him.'"Chopra, who previously worked with Brady on the Facebook Watch series "Tom vs. Time," also confirmed the documentary will touch on the New England Patriots' Spygate and Deflategate scandals."Yeah, we will (address that)," Chopra said. "I just know from knowing Tom all these years now, Tom's constantly, like a lot of elite athletes, figuring out ways to motivate himself and go at it again. Does he really need to at this point of his career? No. But he still loves it, he's still finding ways to motivate himself and those things definitely have a big impact. I've never found with Tom where he says, 'Dude, I'm not talking about that.' He's very candid and willing to speak about stuff."The documentary is scheduled to air on ESPN in 2021.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.As a number of sports worldwide begin planning their return amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Stephen Ross is confident the virus won't cancel the upcoming NFL campaign.Appearing on CNBC on Tuesday morning, the Miami Dolphins owner reassured fans there "definitely will be a football season this year" before saying the "real question is will there be fans in the stadium," according to ESPN's Cameron Wolfe.Ross added his team is currently planning to host fans at Hard Rock Stadium but a decision has yet to be finalized.Earlier this month, Miami became the first squad to reveal strategies regarding its plans to host fans during the pandemic, which included mock-ups of new stadium entrance points that would help the team comply with social distance guidelines.Teams were given the green light to reopen their facilities beginning May 19 if they're permitted to do so in their respective states. The league is working with the NFLPA on protocols that will allow for a certain number of players to return to facilities as early as June.Despite the pandemic, the NFL plans to begin its regular season on time. While the league hopes to have fans in attendance, the need for physical distancing could limit the number of spectators allowed in stadiums.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman believes there's no question the franchise will resolve its contract situation with Dak Prescott.The two sides have failed to reach a deal on a long-term contract and Prescott has yet to sign the exclusive franchise tag the Cowboys placed on him in March."They will pay him, he's going to make a lot of money, and I think he's going to be the quarterback for the Cowboys for a long, long time, and continue to have a great career," Aikman said to Mike Fisher of CowboyMaven.Though the stalled negotiations have been a topic of conversation since the close of the 2019 season, Aikman said there's no reason to worry about Prescott's future with the star on his helmet."I've been surprised that there has been so much discussion about his contract," Aikman said. "It's not like he's not going to be playing for the Cowboys in 2020. Whether he is franchised or he has a deal, he's going to be here playing, and eventually, a deal gets done."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A former teammate of Cam Newton's believes the Carolina Panthers did Newton wrong by releasing him so late in free agency. He also believes it was just the last in a long line of bad moves the franchise made with its star quarterback.Retired fullback Mike Tolbert was one several Panthers alumni asked about Newton's release, but he was perhaps the most vocal in defending his old quarterback."They've been doing him wrong timing-wise for the past two or three years, if you ask me," Tolbert told Joseph Person of The Athletic."It goes back to his shoulder surgery. Everyone knew his shoulder was messed up in the middle of the year two years ago. But they wait until offseason gets ready to start to have shoulder surgery. Makes no sense. Timing's off."Newton underwent surgery on his throwing shoulder for a partially torn rotator cuff in March 2017. He dealt with an injury to the same shoulder while Panthers endured a six-game losing streak in 2018, but he didn't undergo another procedure until January 2019.Tolbert said it was more of the same after Newton suffered an injury in a 2019 preseason game against the New England Patriots."As soon as he got hurt ... they were saying, 'Oh, he's got a high ankle sprain.' I looked at it on film carefully. It's not a high ankle sprain, you could tell that 10 minutes after the play," Tolbert said. "You knew it's a mid-foot sprain, Lisfranc, something like that. But you wait 'til December for him to beg you to have surgery. He shouldn't have been out there Week 1 and 2. He shouldn't have been out there probably 'til Week 4 or 5, at minimum."Instead, Newton struggled through two losses in the first two weeks of the season before the Panthers shut him down for the year.Carolina released Newton on March 24 after nine years with the team. The 31-year-old remains a free agent.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.