Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.No fantasy manager's draft plan should rigidly classify any player as a "must-have," but it's wise to enter yours with a shortlist of names you hope to add to your team. Below are seven players who will be key to winning a fantasy title this season.You shouldn't expect to get them all - that's probably impossible - but if you build your draft around selecting at least a few of the players on this list, you'll greatly increase your odds of achieving fantasy glory this season.Average draft position data courtesy of Fanball, since best-ball ADP tends to be ahead of the curve at this point in the year. It's based on 12-team leagues with PPR scoring.More in this series

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is open to a proposed Rooney Rule revision that uses draft picks to encourage minority hires, though not necessarily to the extreme that has been discussed."We're making some adjustments because we're acknowledging right now that the system is broken, that minorities are not getting enough opportunity, and we're trying to just figure out how to stimulate that," he told John Calipari on "Coffee With Cal.""I agree it's debatable about the value placed on the incentivized plan, but I just generally like discussion."At a recent conference call, NFL owners tabled a proposal that would have rewarded teams with better or new draft picks for hiring or developing minority coaches or lead executives. Owners approved an amendment that will require teams to interview at least two external minority candidates for head coaching jobs, one minority candidate for coordinator jobs, and one external minority candidate for general manager or comparable jobs.Previously, the Rooney Rule only mandated teams to interview one minority candidate before hiring a head coach or general manager."We've always taken it from the approach of punitive if you don't interview minority candidates or things of that nature," Tomlin said. "I just like the different approach in terms of spinning it 180 and talking about maybe incentivizing those that develop the talent and those that hire the talent."Tomlin is one of four minority head coaches in the NFL. Only two general managers or top front-office executives qualify as minorities.The Rooney Rule was implemented in 2003, named in honor of former Steelers owner and diversity committee chairman Dan Rooney.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's not often a bright, young defender finds himself on the trade block, but the New York Jets appear to be exploring a deal for its star safety.Jets general manager Joe Douglas previously stated he doesn't intend on moving Adams in 2020, but rumors have surfaced that the team has been pursuing a deal since last October.Latest reports indicate New York would require a first- and third-round pick in a potential trade, while the franchise acquiring Adams would still have to ink him to an extension worth $15 million or more annually, surpassing Eddie Jackson as the NFL's highest-paid player at the position.With this in mind, here's a look at five possible fits for the All-Pro defender should he be dealt.Dallas CowboysThe Cowboys have been linked to Adams for what feels like forever and it's easy to see why. Jerry Jones is drawn to flashy players and his squad could stand to add more playmakers to its secondary after losing Byron Jones in free agency.Adams grew up in nearby Lewisville, Texas. Dallas made a push to acquire him at the 2019 trade deadline but couldn't consummate a deal. While their interest in trading for the 24-year-old has reportedly faded, the Cowboys could see him as the final piece of the puzzle as they hunt for their first Lombardi Trophy in 26 years. Improving the defense has been a priority in 2020 with the team adding Gerald McCoy, Dontari Poe, and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.The final factor surrounding the former first-round pick's potential fit in Dallas pertains to its salary cap situation. Already strapped for cash, the Cowboys still have a long-term contract with quarterback Dak Prescott to finalize. We don't know how the club would afford extending Adams, but you never know with Jones and Co.Baltimore RavensThe reigning AFC North champions were reportedly among the teams targeting Adams prior to last year's trade deadline. With a nearly unstoppable offense and a talented secondary, adding an All-Pro safety would give the Ravens an embarrassment of riches.On paper, Adams profiles as a perfect complement to Earl Thomas. The ball-hawking defensive back, who signed with Baltimore in 2019 after nine incredible seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, thrives in the deep middle of the field and making plays on the ball. Meanwhile, the current Jet can be utilized closer to the line of scrimmage. He's a plus run defender and can successfully match up against running backs and tight ends in coverage.The Ravens have enough cap space to make a long-term extension with Adams work and shouldn't mind parting with a first-round pick as they're set to compete for a Super Bowl for the foreseeable future. Picturing him next to Thomas would be a nightmare for opposing offenses.Seattle SeahawksNever shy to make an aggressive move, Pete Carroll and John Schneider could see Adams as a perennial All-Pro in the back end of Seattle's defense and well worth the Jets' asking price.Seattle knows where its strengths are on defense heading into the 2020 campaign. Lacking a star pass-rusher, the team has focused on improving its coverage unit on the second and third level. The additions of Jordyn Brooks, Quinton Dunbar (should he avoid suspension), and Quandre Diggs (at last year's trade deadline) rounds out a stout secondary, and the addition of Adams would take the unit to the next level. It may not be the Legion of Boom, but what is?Furthermore, starting strong safety Bradley McDougald is scheduled to hit free agency next offseason. Adding the All-Pro defender would not only upgrade the position long term, but would represent the closest Kam Chancellor replica the Seahawks have had since he retired.Cleveland BrownsArmed with a plethora of cap space over the next few years, Cleveland could be a sneaky AFC contender for Adams' services. New head coach Kevin Stefanski is still looking to upgrade both sides of the ball in an effort to finally end an 18-year playoff drought.The Browns underwent a complete overhaul at safety this offseason. Out are Damarious Randall, Eric Murray, and Juston Burris, while Andrew Sendejo, Karl Joseph, and rookie Grant Delpit entered. While the group should improve in 2020, it certainly doesn't come without question marks.New general manager Andrew Berry may have his qualms with surrendering valuable draft capital for a non-premium position, but an improved defense could relieve pressure on an inconsistent scoring unit led by Baker Mayfield. It's nearly make-or-break time for the franchise.Tampa Bay BuccaneersThe Bucs are all-in with Bruce Arians and Tom Brady, so why not continue the win-now trend and acquire an elite defender?Tampa Bay's offense is set to thrive with new personnel in tow, so an improved stop unit - already among the league's most talented - would help Brady chase ring No. 7. Justin Evans and rookie Antoine Winfield Jr. are likely to see a handful of key snaps in 2020 but are better suited in space at the back end of the defense. Adams would round out a young, ascending group of cornerbacks and upgrade an elite run defense unit from a year ago.Jason Licht's squad currently appears strapped against the salary cap but has enough flexibility to make a potential deal work. Converting a few core players' base salaries into bonuses would instantly solve this issue. With Super Bowl aspirations, the Buccaneers are perhaps the most fascinating potential landing spot for Adams.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Some teams are worth more than others - it's just the nature of sports. Using Forbes' list of the most valuable sports franchise in 2019, we've compiled some interesting facts about the top 10. Can you match the fact with the franchise? Find out in our quiz below.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While viewers at home were watching Tom Brady and, at times, Peyton Manning struggle during "The Match: Champions for Charity" on Sunday, Justin Thomas was witnessing their pain firsthand.The world's No. 4-ranked golfer, who impressed as an on-course reporter during the event, was stunned to see how nervous two of pro sports' most successful athletes looked on a golf course."It was so funny to me - I think it was, honestly, underrated - the fact that how nervous Tom and Peyton were," Thomas said on the "No Laying Up" podcast. "They've competed at the biggest stages, in front of so many people, yet you get them out of their comfort zone and how uncomfortable they were to start that round. It was crazy to me."Of the two quarterbacks, Manning fared better in the showdown he won alongside Tiger Woods. But both Manning and Brady started their rounds by hooking their opening tee shots into the left trees.Manning quickly settled in, while Brady continued to look lost. The new Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB fought a two-way miss off the tee, even though he never hit driver, and he had a brief battle with the chipping yips."They've competed at the highest level, they've won Super Bowls, they've done things that nobody could dream of doing," Thomas continued. "But you get them on a golf course knowing that millions of people are watching, they are not going to be comfortable."He added, "When I go play with Tom and we go out and play No. 1 at Medalist, he takes a driver out and he hits it all day, and today, he didn't even use a driver. It's crazy, man. But honestly, it speaks to the things that golf can put in your head. These are two of the greatest athletes of all time, let alone in their sport, yet they were not comfortable at all."Despite his issues, Brady did provide the highlight of the day with a hole-out birdie from over 100 yards. He and Manning then exchanged stellar approach shots into the par-3 16th, both of which were much closer than Tiger's.Thomas, who admitted to being nervous himself during his first taste of broadcasting, applauded the quarterbacks' turnaround."The shots they hit on the back nine after being under pressure and nervous on the front nine, let alone in alternate shot, was unbelievable."Woods and Manning defeated Phil Mickelson and Brady 1-up in a match that raised $20 million for COVID-19 relief efforts.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The contract squabble between the Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott became a thing last week, thanks in large part to a report about the quarterback's gargantuan demand that was quickly shot down by all the scoop hounds.So what's the holdup on a new deal between the two sides? Mostly, it's about contract length, which is important for several reasons.Let's begin by going over the basics. Prescott is not currently under contract, though he is still tethered to the Cowboys. They placed the exclusive franchise tag on him, which would pay out $31.4 million fully guaranteed. That would also be his 2020 cap charge if he were to sign his tender and play on the tag. Prescott has not signed his tender, and he and Dallas have until July 15 to come to terms on a long-term deal.After that deadline, the two sides are prohibited from bargaining toward a long-term pact until after the season. At the same time, Prescott is free to stay away from training camp without incurring any sort of fine or punishment. Should he choose that route, he wouldn't begin losing any money until Week 1.Next, let's talk Prescott's ability. He's a proven starter who's led Dallas to the playoffs twice in four seasons. He's also won a playoff game. Last year, Prescott led the league in Football Outsiders' Defense-Adjusted Yards Above Replacement (DYAR) metric and finished fourth in Total QBR. For those who think running back Ezekiel Elliott is more important to the Cowboys' offense, ESPN's John Parolin has noted that Prescott has a higher career QBR when Elliott is off the field (71.3) than on (70.3). Parolin also discovered that Prescott's career QBR of 33.6 when pressured is significantly higher than the league average (21.2) and that Prescott ranks seventh among QBs with at least 200 pass plays under pressure. This indicates Prescott isn't just the beneficiary of a good offensive line. Jonathan Daniel / Getty ImagesThere's more. According to PFF, Prescott's 2019 passer rating on deep throws of more than 20 air yards (110.2) ranked seventh, and his adjusted completion percentage on deep throws, which factors in drops, was 52.6, which ranked second. Then there's this:

The NFL's temporary rule allowing pass interference calls to be reviewed will expire after a one-year trial, and the league wasn't thrilled with the results."We failed. I'm first in line," NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent told NBC Sports' Peter King. "I shared that (with league officials). I failed, as the leader of that department. I failed. We cannot allow that to happen again. What did we learn from that? We've got to do our due diligence. You can't rush and just shove something in there without knowing all the consequences. And we found that out last year, live and in action, publicly."We didn't do (our due diligence) last year, and we failed, and we failed miserably."The ability to review pass interference was implemented for the 2019 season following the controversial NFC title game between the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints in which officials missed a clear penalty on then-Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman.The replay rule was met with displeasure due to multiple controversies last year, and clubs are against keeping it in place for the upcoming campaign.Owners will vote on a number of proposed rule changes on Thursday, including the addition of a full-time "sky judge" to every officiating crew. Vincent noted the challenges of implementing the alteration while insisting the league should be cautious due to its recent issues."We cannot fail this year," he said. "We saw, a year ago, when (the pass interference rule) played out, starting with myself, what we put in place last year ... Those outcomes were not good for professional football ... The last thing people should be talking about is the way the game is officiated. They (officials) should be faceless objects, managing and facilitating game flow."The concept of the eighth man in the booth has some merit," Vincent added. "But we just don't have the pipeline (of officials) today. Can we get there? Yes. But today, it could be a challenge."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning held off a streaking team of Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady to win "The Match: Champions for Charity" on a wildly entertaining Sunday at the Medalist Golf Club.The sequel to "Tiger vs. Phil" had it all: Fantastic shots and equally poor ones, hilarious moments, horrible weather, and $20 million raised for COVID-19 relief efforts.To summarize: The Match II delivered.Manning and Brady looked nervous from the start, providing amateurs at home a rare opportunity to relate to the NFL legends. Their struggles added excitement to a showdown ultimately decided on the 18th hole.The match didn't appear poised to go the distance early on, though. Woods and Manning held a commanding 3-up lead after six holes and carried it into the back nine. But once Brady settled in, he and Mickelson began to claw their way back.It was a hole-out birdie from the middle of the fairway that spurred Brady's awakening on the par-5 seventh. The remarkable shot came shortly after Charles Barkley gave Brady a hard time for his poor play while serving as an analyst for the broadcast.But Woods wasn't going to let Mickelson get the better of him again after the latter won their first showdown in Las Vegas in 2018. Looking healthy after a two-month layoff, Tiger methodically picked apart his home course. Woods didn't miss a single fairway as he carried Manning, who was losing steam down the stretch, to victory. It was Tiger's brilliant lag putt on 18 that secured the 1-up win.“We fought hard," Mickelson said, according to Golf Channel's Will Gray. "I was a little nervous, a little tight on the front nine. My man kept us in there, and the back nine he really shined. We made a run and came really close."Brady, who took a beating on Twitter for his ugly start, congratulated the winning side afterward.

Tom Brady may be a legend on the football field, but he was a mere mortal on the golf course Sunday.Playing with Phil Mickelson against Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning in The Match II, Brady found the trees on his early tee shots.

Tom Brady may be a legend on the football field, but he was a mere mortal on the golf course Sunday.Playing with Phil Mickelson against Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning in The Match II, Brady found the trees on his early tee shots.

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.Drew Brees is ready to take on the winner of The Match II.The New Orleans Saints quarterback wished Peyton Manning and Tom Brady good luck in an Instagram post on Sunday before The Match II. He also called the event a semifinal while challenging the winning team to face him and Sergio Garcia next.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.We've already dipped our toes into the NFL win total matchups market this offseason, covering some of the teams you should buy or sell. Today, we're going to take a different slant and evaluate some of the top, exotic head-to-head matchups being offered, including a pair of in-state franchises, a tilt between Tom Brady's current and former teams, and a couple of offseason trade partners.Oddsmakers have paired two teams here and made a line. In this case, we're dealing with wins, so if you take a team -1.5, it needs to win at least two more games than its opponent. If there are only moneylines available, a wager on a team at -150 means you'd be risking $150 to win $100. In that case, the team would simply need to finish with a better record than its matchup partner.Here are the top head-to-heads, as well as the best bet for each.New York Jets (-115) vs. New York Giants (-105)Both of these squads may be mostly irrelevant when it comes to the larger NFL picture, but you can never ignore the Big Apple.The Jets had 6.4 expected wins last year and a -5.2 average scoring differential per game, and they posted a -6.3% weighted DVOA, which emphasizes play later in the season. Meanwhile, the Giants had 4.1 expected wins, a -6.9 average scoring differential, and a porous -17.2% weighted DVOA.With both teams looking to improve and enter the playoff picture once again, my money's on the Jets to take the bigger leap in 2020.Pick: Jets -115Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-163) vs. New England Patriots (+130)I wouldn't get too accustomed to betting on the Buccaneers.With the move from 55-1 to 10-1 in the title odds, Tampa Bay is going to be the public favorite on a weekly basis and will need to overcome some larger-than-normal spreads. I can't get on board with that, or the idea of buying the Bucs as a Super Bowl contender. Despite landing arguably the greatest quarterback of all time, Tampa Bay still has plenty of holes on the roster and may get exposed by the top teams.But in the case of just needing outright wins, I actually don't mind investing in this spot.Over a 16-game regular season, I'd much rather bet a team with an upward trajectory over one that might not care about competing.Pick: Buccaneers -163Houston Texans (-143) vs. Arizona Cardinals (+110)It's only a matter of time until the Texans are hit with a reality check as long as general manager/head coach Bill O'Brien continues to make questionable moves. We saw the cracks begin to show last season in what was a strange, somewhat disappointing 10-win campaign.Only the Green Bay Packers had a bigger negative discrepancy between actual wins and expected ones. Houston had just 7.8 expected victories thanks to eight wins by one score and a negative point differential overall.The Texans then traded away a top-three wide receiver - and quarterback Deshaun Watson's biggest weapon - in DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals, who shipped away declining running back David Johnson in exchange. These two teams are undoubtedly headed in opposite directions.Though the Cardinals will have to claw their way out of the basement of the NFC West, I'll take the plus-money play on the team I feel has a higher ceiling.Pick: Cardinals +110Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers tight end Hunter Henry won't complain about playing under the franchise tag, but he wants to ink a long-term contract before the 2020 season begins."I think it's fine (playing under the tag)," Henry told SiriusXM NFL Radio on Saturday. "Obviously, I think I would like to get something done just for security and long term and just with the team and the franchise. It's another year of playing football, man, that's how I look at it."The Chargers and Henry have been negotiating, but there hasn't been any recent progress."There were (talks) a while back, but we haven't really done much since," he said. "Hopefully we can get something going this summer, and get it going that way."Henry signed the franchise tag worth $10.6 million in April. The deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign a long-term contract extension is July 15.The 25-year-old's expectations for Los Angeles in 2020 are high, and he thinks the arrival of quarterback Justin Herbert will help the club immediately, even if the first-round rookie is veteran Tyrod Taylor's backup to start the season."I know there will probably be an open competition and that'll be good for everybody in that room," Henry said. "It'll push each one of those guys."Coming off a torn ACL in 2018, Henry set career highs with 55 receptions for 652 yards over 12 games last season. He also amassed five touchdown catches.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After "The Last Dance" reminded fans of the greatness of Scottie Pippen existing in the shadow of Michael Jordan, theScore's feature writers decided to examine some of the most compelling second bananas in other sports. Previous entries in the series came from college football, MLB, and NHL.Earl Morrall was a kind of football everyman. But that pithy description doesn't come close to doing him justice. He basically packed multiple careers into his 21 seasons with six different teams. He was the best backup quarterback in NFL history, his path constantly pocked with both failure and success.Morrall died in 2014 at 79. He's most famous for his stints with the Baltimore Colts and Miami Dolphins, for whom he zigged as a backup and zagged as a starter - with decidedly different outcomes under markedly different circumstances. He reached the Super Bowl with the Colts and Dolphins four times, winning three. But he did all that by playing four distinct roles as a stand-in for future Hall of Famers Johnny Unitas and Bob Griese - after he'd reached the age of 34. He also did all that after he spent a dozen seasons as the textbook definition of a journeyman.The list of QBs to begin a season as a backup before taking over to win the Super Bowl is longer than one might think. It includes Jim Plunkett, Doug Williams, Jeff Hostetler, Kurt Warner, Trent Dilfer, Tom Brady, and Nick Foles. It's a footnote now, but even Roger Staubauch and Terry Bradshaw first won Super Bowls in seasons they began on the bench. But compared to all the others, Morrall's career was supremely unique.Dolphins coach Don Shula, left, with quarterbacks Bob Griese and Earl Morrall in 1972. Ross Lewis / Getty ImagesBefore his golden years with the Colts and Dolphins, Morrall clocked in with the San Francisco 49ers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions, and New York Giants. He always seemed to be good enough - but only to a point. All told, Morrall made 102 starts out of 255 regular-season games played; he posted a .632 winning percentage in those starts. He also won four of the five playoff games he started.Yet that barely begins to tell the story. Morrall lost a Super Bowl as a starter, won one as a replacement, and served as a backup in two others, one of which involved a season in which he went 10-0 for the only NFL team to ever go undefeated, only to wind up back on the bench anyway. To this day, Earl Morrall's career stands as a testament to the value NFL teams continue to place on the quarterback as a position."He was always in the right place at the right time to come in and relieve (other) guys," Morrall's son Matthew told me. "But as far as starting as a long-term player, he was not ever given that opportunity. Everywhere he went, he played with a Hall of Fame quarterback."Indeed, Morrall teamed with a Hall of Famer at five of his six NFL stops. He had pedigree, but his NFL journey up to the age of 34 always seemed to be jagged by circumstance. Let's quickly run through it.49ers: After winning the Rose Bowl at Michigan State, Morrall was selected No. 2 overall in the 1956 draft by the Niners. He largely played behind Y.A. Tittle for a year before the Niners took John Brodie with the No. 3 pick a year later.Steelers: After passing on Morrall with the top pick in 1956, the Steelers attempted to chase that mistake by trading for him. Pittsburgh did this even though it also took future Hall of Famer Len Dawson with the No. 5 overall pick in 1957, and even though it also had future AFL star (and eventual politico) Jack Kemp on the roster. None of this appeared to be rooted in any grand plan to backstop the QB position with depth - the Steelers just didn't know what the hell they were doing. They also drafted Unitas in 1955, only to cut him before he played a down. Pittsburgh is now considered a blue blood NFL franchise, but before the 1970s, its general operating principle was to consistently pie itself in the face.Morrall running with the ball for Detroit against the Rams in 1958. The Enthusiast Network / Getty ImagesLions: Morrall made the Pro Bowl as the Steelers' starter in 1957, but he was traded to the Lions two games into the 1958 season because Pittsburgh head coach Buddy Parker wanted to reunite with Bobby Layne, whom Parker coached in Detroit. Morrall spent seven seasons with the Lions, where he was often part of a rotation that variously included Tobin Rote, Jim Ninowski, and Milt Plum. Even then, the Lions had a way of being the Lions: At one point before a game, head coach George Wilson couldn't bring himself to choose a starter, so he flipped a coin. Morrall lost. In 1965, the Lions traded Morrall to the Giants, where he replaced the recently retired Tittle.Giants: Morrall went 7-7 in his first season with the Giants, a year after they went 2-10-2. He then struggled in 1966 before a broken wrist ended his season. To jump-start things, the Giants traded for future Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton, which relegated Morrall back to the bench, where it looked like he'd remain. "At 34 years of age and with a 30-33-2 career record, Morrall appeared finished," Football Perspective's Chase Stuart once wrote. "But with Morrall, things were never as they appeared."__________In August 1968, with Unitas battling some elbow troubles, Colts head coach Don Shula traded for Morrall. Shula, who died on May 4 and is still the winningest coach in NFL history, knew Morrall. His three seasons as a Lions defensive coach from 1960-62 overlapped with Morrall's tenure. The two men were only four years apart in age, and Shula felt Morrall could be a stable backup. The move proved to be prescient after Unitas felt a pop in his elbow during the Colts' final preseason game.Finally getting his chance with a championship-caliber team, Morrall threw for 2,909 yards and 26 touchdowns - big numbers for the NFL in 1968 - and was named league MVP. It remains one of the greatest age-34 seasons for a QB in pro football history. The Colts finished 13-1 and avenged their only loss with a 34-0 destruction of the Cleveland Browns in the NFL Championship Game. They entered Super Bowl III against the New York Jets as 18-point favorites.Joe Namath, the brash Jets QB, publicly and famously guaranteed a victory over the Colts. But he also dissed Morrall more than once, first by insisting just after the AFL title game that Raiders QB Daryle Lamonica - whom the Jets had just beaten - was better than Morrall. Then, when asked about those remarks by Dave Anderson of The New York Times just before the Jets flew to Miami for the Super Bowl, Namath suggested his own backup, Babe Parilli, was better, too.Morrall, right, and Johnny Unitas in 1968. Bettmann Archives / Getty ImagesThere was a broader significance to Super Bowl III that mirrored the culture at large. The crew-cutted Morrall and Unitas represented the NFL's old guard and the quiet rectitude the league liked to project, while the sideburned Namath - who made no effort to disguise his taste for booze, women, and colorful talk - stood for the wide-open, freewheeling AFL. The two leagues were slated to soon merge, but the AFL was still trying to prove it belonged. Super Bowl III would settle the matter once and for all.Morrall famously struggled in Super Bowl III, completing just 6 of 17 passes and throwing three interceptions before being benched for Unitas in the second half. On one of Morrall's picks, he never saw a wide open Jimmy Orr streaking up the left sideline toward the end zone, frantically waving his arms. Baltimore's 16-7 loss remains one of the biggest upsets in league history, and it hastened Shula's eventual departure for Miami after the 1969 season. But Shula wouldn't forget about Morrall - and Morrall wouldn't forget about Namath.A few years later, when Morrall was with the Dolphins, he let down his guard, though he would later claim he didn't know he was talking to a sportswriter. According to Mark Kriegel's 2004 book, "Namath: A Biography," in a moment of what Kriegel described as "uncharacteristic candor," this is what Morrall had to say about Namath:

Tom Brady welcomed Eli Manning to Twitter with an amusing reference to the pair of Super Bowls he lost to the retired New York Giants quarterback.

The New York Jets would want a first-round pick and a third-rounder in a trade involving Pro Bowl safety Jamal Adams, according to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports.New York reportedly still intends to ink Adams to an extension, but stalled negotiations have seemed to irk the 24-year-old star.Adams came up in trade rumors at the October deadline last season, much to his dismay. He openly questioned why New York would entertain moving him, comparing his stature in the organization to that of Aaron Donald with the Los Angeles Rams and Tom Brady with the New England Patriots.Adams is looking to surpass Eddie Jackson as the NFL's highest-paid safety, meaning an extension would likely come in at $15 million or more annually.The Jets previously exercised the fifth-year option on Adams' rookie contract, tying him to the club through the 2021 campaign.Adams has 273 tackles, 12 sacks, six forced fumbles, and two interceptions in three seasons with the Jets. He skipped New York's voluntary virtual program in April in an effort to accelerate contract talks.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.Mock drafts

Former Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman is prepared to sit out the 2020 season if he doesn't receive a satisfactory free-agent offer, according to NFL Network's Michael Silver.

The Seattle Seahawks signed free-agent running back Carlos Hyde to a one-year contract, sources told Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Hyde can earn up to $4 million, added Rapoport.The ex-Houston Texans veteran is coming off the first 1,000-yard campaign of his career. He also rushed for six touchdowns in 2019.The Seahawks were reportedly eyeing former Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman, but the two parties couldn't agree to a deal.While Chris Carson is locked in as Seattle's starter, the NFC West club needed more experienced depth with Rashaad Penny seemingly likely to start the season on the physically unable to perform list.Hyde was a second-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2014. He racked up 2,729 yards and 21 touchdowns in four seasons with the 49ers before splitting the 2018 campaign between the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys currently have no interest in trading for New York Jets safety Jamal Adams, reports Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News.While the Jets aren't looking to move their two-time Pro Bowler, Adams is open to a trade, according to Watkins.Adams has apparently grown frustrated with the Jets over the state of contract talks. He's believed to be seeking an extension that would make him the NFL's highest-paid safety and wants a deal in place before the new season begins.Dallas has long been linked to Adams, who grew up in nearby Lewisville, Texas. The Cowboys made a push to acquire him at the 2019 trade deadline but couldn't consummate a deal. Adams became irked after learning the Jets had entertained the idea of trading him.The Cowboys signed veteran Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to a one-year contract in free agency but have spent years searching for a playmaker to build around in the secondary.In three seasons with the Jets, Adams has 273 tackles, 12 sacks, six forced fumbles, and two interceptions. The 24-year-old is tied to the club through the 2021 campaign.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If the NFL signs off on a reported proposal that would give teams the option of a fourth-and-15 offensive play as an alternative to an onside kick, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid knows his team would have a big advantage due to the presence of rocket-armed quarterback Patrick Mahomes."We've got a guy that can do fourth-and-15s," Reid said Friday, according to ESPN's Adam Teicher. "He'd give us an opportunity to do that."Support for the proposal, which was put forward by the Philadelphia Eagles, is apparently growing ahead of a May 28 owners' vote on all 2020 rule changes.Teams would be permitted to try a fourth-and-15 play from their own 25-yard line a maximum of twice a game. The option to try an onside kick would remain.While Reid knows Mahomes is capable of spectacular downfield plays, the 62-year-old isn't yet sold on the idea, arguing that it could reduce the importance of special teams."To keep the integrity of the game, you like that part of it," Reid said. "Being an old guy, I'd probably stick with the integrity of the game as it sits right now, but I can also see where the other part can be exciting, too."After it was reported Thursday that the proposal was gaining momentum, Mahomes reacted to the potential new wrinkle on Twitter:

The New York Jets and quarterback Joe Flacco have agreed to a one-year contract, his agency announced Friday.Flacco will earn $1.5 million with a chance to make an additional $3 million in incentives, reports ESPN's Adam Schefter. He projects to be Sam Darnold's primary backup.Flacco is coming off of a one-year stint with the Denver Broncos, for whom he started eight games. The 35-year-old threw for 1,822 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions before suffering a neck injury that landed him on injured reserve. The Broncos went 2-6 in his starts.Due to a neck procedure he underwent in April, Flacco isn't expected to be cleared until some time around the start of the regular season.Flacco spent the first 11 years of his career with the Baltimore Ravens and was the MVP of Super Bowl XLVII.Cam Newton is now the only active quarterback on the free-agent market that opened the 2019 season as a starter, according to ESPN's Field Yates.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 Pittsburgh Steelers withheld 50% of individual game tickets when they went on sale Friday in anticipation of a reduced seating capacity due to COVID-19."We are being proactive with these limited amount of tickets as we are preparing for possible social distancing scenarios at Heinz Field this year," Steelers director of communications Burt Lauten tweeted.Despite the pandemic, the NFL plans to begin its regular season on time at the beginning of September. While the league hopes to have fans in the stadium, the need for physical distancing could limit the number of spectators allowed in.The Steelers have sold out every home game since 1972.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

"The Match: Champions for Charity" is a golf event set to raise over $10 million for COVID-19 relief. It will feature Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Peyton Manning, and Tom Brady. Here is everything you need to know about the two-on-two competition.How to watch on Sunday, May 24USAChannelTime (ET)TNT / TBS / truTV / HLN3-8 p.m.Preshow coverage begins at 2 p.m. ET. Cable subscribers can stream the event through the TNT mobile app.CanadaChannelTime (ET)Headline News (HLN) / CNN International3-8 p.m.PlayersTiger Woods Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyAge: 44

Given Tom Brady's ever-growing tally of Super Bowl wins, the debate between whether he or Peyton Manning is a better quarterback doesn't hold as much steam as it used to.However, a new debate between the legendary athletes exists ahead of their appearance in Sunday's The Match II: Champions for Charity: Who is the better golfer?Let's take a look at their respective golf resumes before Manning teams up with Tiger Woods to take on Brady and Phil Mickelson at the Medalist Golf Club in Florida this weekend to raise money for COVID-19 relief.Peyton ManningHandicap: 6.4

The Dallas Cowboys appear to be continuously working toward locking up quarterback Dak Prescott long term.Dallas' latest offer would make Prescott the NFL's second-highest-paid quarterback in terms of average annual value, a source told ESPN's Todd Archer.Seattle Seahawks signal-caller Russell Wilson currently tops the position with an average of $35 million per season, while Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger isn't far behind at $34 million.The Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Prescott this offseason, which means he can't negotiate with another team. If a long-term extension isn't agreed upon by July 15, he'll earn $33 million on the one-year tender.Prescott reportedly turned down a new deal worth $33 million annually with $105 million guaranteed in March, and the two sides appear to be standing firm amid ongoing negotiations.The 26-year-old set career highs with 4,902 passing yards and 30 touchdowns in 2019, though Dallas missed the playoffs for the second time in its last three campaigns.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.Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield's 2019 season was a roller-coaster ride filled with seemingly endless highs and lows. Mayfield threw for 3,827 yards and 22 touchdowns, but he also tossed 21 interceptions - second-most in the NFL.Will Mayfield be more consistent this season under new head coach Kevin Stefanski? We break down his 2020 player props to find out.Passing yardsOver Under3905.5 (-110)3905.5 (-110)Mayfield has yet to reach this total during his two NFL seasons, throwing for 3,725 and 3,827 yards, respectively. There is reason, though, to believe he'll see an uptick in passing yards this year. Mayfield is surrounded by one of the league's most talented skill-position groups, which features receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry, along with newly signed tight end Austin Hooper.The argument against Mayfield is Stefanski's recent history; during his lone season as a full-time offensive coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings, quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for only 3,603 yards and the team ranked sixth in rushing offense and fourth in rushing attempts with 476. Stefanski will never adopt the Air Raid, but Mayfield should be more efficient even if his attempts go down.Mayfield finished just under this total in his first two years, and the quarterback should actually benefit from the Browns' offense being more balanced under Stefanski. Look for Mayfield to record the first 4,000-yard passing season of his career.Pick: OverPassing touchdowns Over Under23.5 (-120)23.5 (-105)The over on Mayfield's passing touchdowns is one of the best prop bets of the NFL season. He threw 27 touchdown passes as a rookie before slipping a bit in 2019. However, Cleveland's red-zone play-calling was atrocious under former head coach Freddie Kitchens.Cousins finished last season with 26 touchdown passes, but, more importantly, he ranked tied for fifth with 16 red-zone touchdowns on just 51 attempts. Stefanski likes to use play-action in the red zone, which helped Cousins finish with a 58.5 completion percentage in the red zone. Mayfield threw 15 red-zone touchdowns last year but his completion percentage was just 40 - the worst of any full-time starter - thanks largely to predictable play-calling.This total is a little low due to Mayfield's numbers last year. However, he easily went over 23.5 in 2018, and you should expect him to do so again this season.Pick: OverMost regular-season passing yardsPlayerOddsPatrick Mahomes+500Dak Prescott+650Matt Ryan+800Philip Rivers+850Tom Brady+950Jared Goff+1000Matthew Stafford+1200Ben Roethlisberger+1300Drew Brees+1300Russell Wilson+1800Aaron Rodgers+1900Baker Mayfield+1900Carson Wentz+1900Jimmy Garoppolo+2200Deshaun Watson+2200Kyler Murray+2500Odds for players +2500 and shorterMayfield has some value at +1900, but you should still avoid him here. While he should improve on last year's total, he'd need to throw for roughly 1,000 more yards just to be in contention. The passing yards leader has topped 5,000 in each of the last two seasons, which is simply not realistic in a balanced Stefanksi-coached offense. With the presence of running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, Mayfield's ceiling is around 4,500 yards, making it unlikely he leads the league in this category.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.

NFL team owners are set to vote May 28 on proposed rule changes for the 2020 campaign, and they will also discuss potential alterations regarding off-field matters.Owners will vote on a proposal that would increase the number of players - from two to three - teams can designate for a return off injured reserve and make players who are placed on IR prior to final cutdowns eligible to be activated, MMQB's Albert Breer reports.Under the new rule, teams would no longer need to carry players onto their 53-man rosters to make them eligible to return from injured reserve, Breer adds. That would ensure there are no longer situations in which veterans are cut before Week 1 so players can be placed on IR.Teams will also vote to ratify a five-year extension of their video game licensing agreement with EA Sports, according to Breer. The deal would run through 2026 and include the creation of game titles until Madden NFL 27.A number of proposed rule changes will be voted on next week, including the addition of a fourth-and-15 offensive play from the kicking team's 25-yard line as an alternative to onside kicks. The alteration, suggested by the Philadelphia Eagles, is reportedly gaining league-wide support.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.It's impossible not to let emotions affect your fantasy decisions. If a player let you down last year, you'll likely pass on drafting him this season. But that's not always a wise choice. Here are seven players coming off of disappointing campaigns who we expect to rebound in 2020.Average draft position data courtesy of Fanball, since best-ball ADP tends to be ahead of the curve at this point in the year. It's based on 12-team leagues with PPR scoring.More in this series

Jason Licht is optimistic about his Tampa Bay Buccaneers heading into the upcoming campaign despite not qualifying for the postseason since 2007.Appearing on "SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt" Thursday night, the Bucs general manager said he believes the pairing of Tom Brady and head coach Bruce Arians gives his team an extra sense of urgency to compete for a Super Bowl."I don't have a lot of concerns on that right now," Licht said, according to ESPN's Jenna Laine. "We have a head coach that, to be quite frank, isn't gonna be here for the next 15, 20 years coaching the Buccaneers. So I think it was actually a perfect marriage: You've got two guys that have got something to prove; they want to win, they want to win now; they've got the same mindset."Both Brady and Arians are in the latter stages of their NFL careers but will give Tampa Bay its best chance at success for the first time in recent years. The 67-year-old head coach briefly retired after the 2017 season before returning to coach the Bucs, and was an integral part of landing the first-time free agent."Getting Tom here, quite frankly, started with hiring Bruce last year," Licht said. "I don't know if we would be in this situation right now without Bruce Arians as our head coach. And they're kind of living parallel lives right now; they've got something to prove, and they want to do it now."Though Brady is known for his dominant personality and strong leadership, Licht noted that the legendary quarterback's modesty and willingness to learn is winning over his teammates during the early stages of the offseason."He didn't want to come in here and be the almighty," he said. "He just wants to make sure that his teammates respect him. And he's got something to prove."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.New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft's Super Bowl LI championship ring sold for $1.025 million in an auction for the "All In Challenge," the team announced Thursday.The proceeds will go directly to Feeding America, Meals On Wheels, World Central Kitchen, and No Kid Hungry.

Contracts negotiations between the New York Jets and Jamal Adams have stalled, and the safety's representatives believe the team is dragging its feet, sources told ESPN's Rich Cimini.Adams is reportedly seeking a big-money extension before the start of the season, but the Jets prefer to wait, which has led to increased tension between the two parties. Adams is not currently participating in the club's voluntary virtual offseason program.The possibility of a trade came up during talks Wednesday, but New York has no desire to move its star defensive back despite receiving interest from more than half of the teams in the league, a source told Cimini.The Jets and Adams have reportedly yet to begin discussing the financial terms of a new deal.After picking up the fifth-year option in the two-time Pro Bowler's rookie deal, the Jets have him under team control through the 2021 season.Adams, who was a first-team All-Pro selection in 2019, is believed to be seeking an extension that'll make him the NFL's highest-paid safety. Eddie Jackson currently owns that distinction with a $14.6-million annual salary.The Jets reportedly entertained trade offers for Adams during last year's deadline. The Dallas Cowboys were apparently the front-runners but ultimately balked at New York's asking price.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.Count Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald among those who believe the NFL shouldn't play games in empty stadiums due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Donald, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, said Thursday that having no fans would detract from the atmosphere of live football."You need fans to play a game," Donald said, according to ESPN's Lindsey Thiry. "I don't see how you could play a game without no fans, I feel like that takes out the excitement and the fun out of the game ..."I feel like the fans is what pick you up. The fans is what makes the game exciting. The fans will give you that extra juice when you're tired and fatigued, when you make that big play and you hear 80,000 fans going crazy. That just pumps you up."The NFL has said it's planning for the 2020 season to be played in front of fans, but the league has reportedly created contingency plans that include closed-door games.California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced this week that he hopes to allow sports events to begin in the first week of June, though without fans in attendance and with "modifications and very prescriptive conditions."The Rams and Los Angeles Chargers are slated to move into their new home, SoFi Stadium, for the upcoming campaign. The $5-billion stadium has a seating capacity of 70,240, but that can be expanded with 30,000 additional seats for larger events. The stadium's construction has been allowed to continue, but five workers have tested positive for the coronavirus.When the Rams christen their new stadium in a prime-time season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, Donald hopes fans will be there."You practice, and practice is practice. And then you prepare to play a game and be on a big stage and play in front of a crowd," Donald said. "Just no excitement (without fans). It wouldn't be fun to me. I don't think it would be fun to play a football game without fans."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL owners are set to vote on potential rule changes for the 2020 campaign on May 28, and one proposal appears to be gaining steam.Support is growing for a change proposed by the Philadelphia Eagles that would permit a fourth-and-15 offensive play from the kicking team's 25-yard line as an alternative to onside kicks, NFL.com's Judy Battista reports.If the alteration is passed, teams would be allowed to attempt such a play no more than twice per game, Battista adds.Teams would still have the option to attempt a traditional onside kick instead.Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes weighed in on the potential change via Twitter.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.On Wednesday, we reviewed the odds for NFL wins leaders in the 2020 regular season and offered our best plays. Today, we'll change course and dive into which teams offer the best value to top the league in losses.Here's how the field stacks up.Odds to lead the NFL in regular-season lossesTeam OddsJaguars+290Panthers+600Redskins+650Bengals+700Lions+1200Dolphins+1200Giants+1200Jets+1200Cardinals+2500Raiders+2500Falcons+3000Texans+3000Broncos+3000Bears+4000Chargers+4000Browns+4000Rams+4000Titans+5000Bills+6000Vikings+6000Patriots+6000Packers+7500Colts+7500Steelers+8500Cowboys+10000Saints+10000Eagles+1000049ers+10000Seahawks+10000Buccaneers+10000Ravens+20000Chiefs+20000The favoriteIt's the Jaguars and everyone else. They've been flat-out disrespected in the betting markets, owning the lowest win total in the league (5). As bad as Jacksonville projects to be, I'd rather not take a price that's shorter than 3-1 in this category. After all, it's a lot easier to be awful than it is to be elite. Jacksonville's going to struggle, but we might be surprised at how much company it has in the NFL's basement.Here's which other teams offer value.Panthers (+600)The Panthers could have finished with the most losses last year had they not stolen so many games. Carolina went 5-11 but was still one of the league's luckiest teams - Pythagorean wins called for just 3.9 victories, which is more than only the Dolphins (3.1).The NFC South is going to be a nightmare for the Panthers' defense. A unit that nearly finished last in scoring defense last season has to play Matt Ryan, Drew Brees, and Tom Brady six times this fall. Good luck.Carolina also draws the AFC West in a schedule that's among the five toughest in the NFL.Raiders (+2500)The Raiders are one of those 'tweeners. After trudging to a 4-12 record in head coach Jon Gruden's first year back in 2018, the club responded with seven wins last season. Las Vegas is a sleeper in some bettors' eyes, but I'm not buying it.The Raiders had an average scoring margin of -6.6 in 2019, which was worse than the Cardinals, Lions, Jets, and Jaguars. They were only better than the Dolphins in DVOA defense, which isn't ideal when you factor in just how improved the AFC West will be offensively.Las Vegas also has six games in the AFC's toughest division and four contests against the pass-happy NFC South. Overall, the Raiders have the league's sixth-toughest schedule, according to their opponents' combined 2020 win totals.Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady and his new production company are working with ESPN to produce a nine-part documentary scheduled to air in 2021.The first trailer for "Man in the Arena" was released Thursday. The documentary will focus on Brady's unprecedented career, which has seen him win six Super Bowls over two decades with the New England Patriots. Brady signed a two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during free agency in March."I'm excited to have my company 199 Productions be in business with ESPN and Disney along with our Religion of Sports partners to launch this new series that gives an inside look into the championship moments I've been blessed to experience," Brady said in a statement obtained by Deadline's Mike Fleming Jr. "Through the series, we're defining the key moments and challenges that were seemingly insurmountable, but through hard work and perseverance, became career-defining triumphs, in both victory and defeat. This compelling and powerful show will entertain, inspire, and have you on the edge of your seat. We can't wait to share it with the world."The announcement comes days after ESPN aired the final part of its Michael Jordan documentary "The Last Dance," which received exceptional ratings and reviews.Brady has shown interest in the production industry over the latter stages of his career, producing the "Tom vs Time" web documentary in 2018. He's also teaming with LeBron James to produce a short-form documentary series titled "Greatness Code," which premieres July 10 on Apple TV+.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aldon Smith is intent on getting his life back on track after being conditionally reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday.The pass-rusher signed with the Dallas Cowboys last month in hopes of returning to the league after a four-year absence and expressed his excitement over his second chance."I think the overall emotion is I'm grateful, I'm really grateful," Smith told TMZ Sports, according to ESPN. "I came a long way. To have the opportunity to get back, do something that I love, something that I enjoy. To have that opportunity again means a lot. I was able to beat some big obstacles in my life."I just want my story to spread and help out others," he continued. "For people who may have felt differently about me and for those who always believed in me to say, 'Wow, this is great,' because I believe everybody goes through things in their life and, no matter what they do for a profession, it affects them in a manner that can either be their downfall or it can be something they look at and learn from. I want people to see my story and see it and be like, 'Hey man, he can do it; he's done it.' I want to be a source of inspiration."Smith quickly established himself as a premier pass-rusher once he entered the league in 2011, racking up 42 sacks over his first three seasons.However, the pass-rusher's career was derailed by off-field issues, including four arrests for driving under the influence. He is reportedly now sober following his most recent arrest in June 2019.Despite an extended period of time away from football, the 30-year-old is confident he can return to form in 2020."I don't have the mileage on my body," Smith said. "I still feel great when I go to the gym. I still feel young and fresh. So, if anything, I'm looking forward to what I'm going to be able to do out there."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent wide receiver Josh Gordon is preparing to petition the NFL for reinstatement and hopes to be cleared by training camp, a source told Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.Gordon finished the 2019 season on the suspended list after violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs and substances of abuse. He's been suspended five times for substance abuse over his career.Gordon was waived by the New England Patriots last season before the Seattle Seahawks subsequently claimed him. He totaled 27 receptions for 426 yards and one touchdown.The 29-year-old began his career with the Cleveland Browns and led the NFL in receiving in 2013 with 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns despite missing two games.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While the NFL announced enhancements to the Rooney Rule on Tuesday, a plan was also proposed to incentivize minority hirings of coaches and general managers with improved draft picks.Former Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis voiced his displeasure with the proposal, which was reportedly tabled and met with a mixed response at a virtual owners meeting."It was offensive, definitely offensive," Lewis told Mike Preston of The Baltimore Sun. "It was like having Jim Crow laws."Draft picks are like gold," he added. "That doesn't make a lot of sense to me. As a head coach, no one wants to be hired or put in that position."Under the new Rooney Rule, clubs will now be required to interview at least two external minority candidates for head coaching jobs, one minority candidate for any coordinator vacancies, and one external minority candidate for senior football operations or general manager positions.Despite his gripes, Lewis considers it a positive that the NFL - which currently employs four minority head coaches and two minority general managers - realized there was a problem."We had come a long way as far as assistant coaches, but we never made any inroads in management," he said. "This will be a plus requiring more than one minority to be interviewed because it will cause them to take a deeper dive. This will allow more minorities more opportunities."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins received trade inquiries for quarterback Josh Rosen earlier in the offseason, but the team is "in no hurry" to trade the former first-rounder, according to NFL Network's Michael Giardi.Rosen, who was selected 10th overall in 2018 by the Arizona Cardinals before being acquired by the Dolphins for a second-round pick a year later, is seemingly the odd man out in Miami after the team selected Tua Tagovailoa No. 5 overall during the 2020 draft.Meanwhile, Ryan Fitzpatrick is coming off of a solid season as the AFC East club's starter. He is all but certain to be the backup if Tagovailoa earns the top job. Fifth-year pro Jake Rudock is also on the Dolphins' roster.Rosen started three games for Miami in 2019 but was quickly supplanted by Fitzpatrick after the sophomore completed just 53.2% of his passes and threw one touchdown against five interceptions.In 2018, Rosen started 13 games (and appeared in one more) for the Cardinals to similarly disappointing results. The quarterback finished with 2,278 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, and a 55.2% completion percentage.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady are teaming up on a new series about some of the world's greatest athletes.Apple announced Wednesday that James' Uninterrupted and Brady's Religion of Sports are coproducing the short-form documentary series "Greatness Code," premiering July 10 on Apple TV+. The series is directed by Gotham Chopra, who previously worked with Brady on Facebook Watch's "Tom vs. Time."The first season will consist of seven mini-episodes that each examine "a pivotal moment that defined an athlete's career." James and Brady will both be featured along with U.S. women's national soccer team co-captain Alex Morgan, eight-time Olympic gold medalist sprinter Usain Bolt, Olympic gold medalist snowboarder Shaun White, five-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer Katie Ledecky, and 11-time world champion surfer Kelly Slater.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski isn't worried about getting back into football shape after sitting out the 2019 season.Gronkowski, who trimmed down during his retirement, said Wednesday that he's "basically four more protein shakes away" from hitting 260 pounds."Yeah, baby, yeah. You know it," Gronkowski told CBS Sports' Chris Hassel. "My lowest I got to was 240, and it felt good, you know. I’ve been above 260 pounds basically my whole entire life since high school."Gronkowski added: "So it felt good just to drop that weight, ease up my joints, let my body free. I felt like that weight was loaded weight, too. So it felt good to get rid of it."

Free-agent running back Devonta Freeman is reportedly generating some interest.Amid their uncertain backfield situation, the Seattle Seahawks made an offer to Freeman, according to Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio.Seattle reportedly offered a one-year deal worth up to $4 million, according to NFL.com's Michael Silver, but Freeman is asking for more, according to Caplan. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Jets are also interested in Freeman, Silver adds.Veteran free-agent running back Carlos Hyde, who was reportedly targeted by the Eagles, has also had conversations with the Seahawks, according to Silver.Seattle lost running backs Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny to injuries ahead of the 2019 postseason. Carson suffered a fractured hip in Week 16, while Penny tore his ACL in Week 14. The Seahawks signed veteran Marshawn Lynch for the remainder of the playoffs.Freeman, 28, enjoyed back-to-back Pro Bowl campaigns in 2015 and 2016 when he amassed at least 1,500 scrimmage yards and 13 touchdowns in consecutive seasons. However, he hasn't been able to match that production recently; he missed 16 games and posted just six scores across the last two seasons.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores' decision to fire offensive coordinator Chad O'Shea after the 2019 season was reportedly supported by multiple players who believed the OC had installed a playbook that was too complicated for a young roster.After the regular season, Flores concluded he needed a more experienced and game-tested coordinator who would run an offense that would be easier for the players to learn, according to the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson, Adam H. Beasley, and Armando Salguero.Before joining the Dolphins - who feature one of the youngest rosters in the NFL - O'Shea spent 10 seasons coaching New England Patriots receivers in an offense led by veteran quarterback Tom Brady. O'Shea reportedly tried to install especially complex aspects of New England's offense when he arrived in Miami.An anonymous Dolphins player said that offense was too complicated for a young team and that instruction during film study had been a "disaster." O'Shea would then reportedly go to Flores and say that players weren't learning the playbook.O'Shea, a first-year offensive coordinator in 2019, was fired one day after Miami's Week 17 contest.The Dolphins brought in Chan Gailey to replace O'Shea. Gailey, 68, first occupied an NFL offensive coordinator role with the Denver Broncos in 1989. He's worked in that capacity with four different teams since, and his latest job was in 2016 with the New York Jets.Gailey was also a head coach in the NFL for multiple seasons. He led the Dallas Cowboys from 1998-99 and Buffalo Bills from 2010-12.The Dolphins are now set to begin a new era with first-round rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Fellow quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, 37, is Miami's only offensive player over 30 years old this offseason.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, Dr. Edwin Porras of Fantasy Points joins Boone to discuss injury analysis and recovery timelines for several notable stars.

Ben Roethlisberger didn't hold back during a workout with teammates Saturday, according to Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ryan Switzer.The quarterback's been slowly ramping up his rehab from an elbow injury that ended his 2019 season. The veteran has been throwing for three months but apparently impressed in a 90-minute session with receivers Switzer and JuJu Smith-Schuster and running back James Conner.Switzer said Roethlisberger's fastball is as good as ever."You know, like, when the ball cuts through the air and you can hear that 'pfft-pfft-pfft' sound?” Switzer told The Athletic's Mark Kaboly. "That's what JuJu said it sounded like. I didn’t hear it but, man, I have been trying to catch with no gloves for a couple of months to build up these calluses, but ask my hands how they feel catching his throws."Roethlisberger announced his return with a 38-second hype video Sunday that included footage of the two-time Super Bowl winner nailing a throw to Smith-Schuster.

Commissioner Roger Goodell has conditionally reinstated Dallas Cowboys pass-rusher Aldon Smith, a source told ESPN's Ed Werder.Smith, who hasn't played in the NFL since 2015, is now cleared to take part in the Cowboys' virtual offseason program.In April, Dallas signed the 30-year-old to a one-year deal worth $2 million in base salary and another $2 million in sack-based incentives.Smith was a first-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2011. He quickly established himself as one of the league's best young pass-rushers, racking up 42 sacks over his first three seasons, including 19.5 as a sophomore.However, Smith's career was derailed by off-field issues, including four arrests for driving under the influence. He is reportedly now sober following his most recent arrest in June 2019.Smith was released by the 49ers in August 2015 after he was arrested on hit-and-run, DUI, and vandalism charges. He played in nine games for the then-Oakland Raiders during the 2015 campaign before being indefinitely suspended.The Cowboys are in need of help alongside DeMarcus Lawrence after losing Robert Quinn, their 2019 sack leader, in free agency.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 defense wins championships, where does offense get you? Maybe the most wins in football. And if you're looking to bank on who'll pace the NFL in victories, it could be the launching point to finding your candidates.The Ravens, coming off a 14-2 campaign in 2019, were the top-ranked scoring offense during the regular season. It came after a year in which the Rams (No. 2-ranked offense) and Saints (No. 3) split the regular-season consolation prize. The 2015 Panthers and their league-leading 31.9 points per game propelled them to an NFL-best 15-1, while the 2013 Broncos - who split with the Seahawks at 13-3 - paced the league at 36.4 points per contest.Apparently the name of the game in this market is to score points. Keep that in mind as we unveil the odds to bag the most wins during the 2020 NFL regular season.Odds to win the most regular-season games in 2020Team OddsRavens+425Chiefs+42549ers+800Saints+1000Buccaneers+1000Cowboys+1400Eagles+1400Seahawks+1400Steelers+2000Packers+2500Colts+2500Patriots+2500Bills+3000Vikings+3000Rams+4000Titans+4000Bears+4000Browns+5000Chargers+5000Texans+6000Cardinals+7500Falcons+7500Broncos+7500Raiders+7500Lions+10000Dolphins+10000Giants+10000Jets+10000Panthers+15000Redskins+15000Bengals+15000Jaguars+20000Best betsRavens (+425)Baltimore went from a middle-of-the-pack offense in 2018 to the league's best in 2019. Not only did the Ravens pace the NFL in points per game, there was nothing fluky about it. Football Outsiders ranked Baltimore No. 1 in DVOA offense, which profiles how efficient a team is on a per-play basis against the league average. Baltimore clocked in with a DVOA of 27.7%, which was 3.5% better than the next-best offense. Needless to say the Lamar Jackson naysayers haven't spoken much since.The Ravens' schedule should place the team back to somewhere in the neighborhood of 13 or 14 wins. In using combined opponents' win totals from this year as opposed to the combined winning percentage of last season's opponents, Baltimore faces the third-easiest schedule in the entire league.Cowboys (+1400)No team left more wins on the table in 2019 than the Cowboys. They went 8-8 yet performed like an 11.2-win team; their 3.2 difference between actual and expected wins was the most in football.Dallas somehow finished .500 despite posting the fifth-best average point differential per game (+7.1). It was partly due to posting a 1-6 record in one-score games, but last year's win-loss clip certainly doesn't reflect the true talent.After a year in which they finished No. 3 in offensive DVOA, the Cowboys have no reason to take a step back in 2020. They're young and explosive in the skill corps, two-dimensional, and are led by an extremely sharp mind with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.No matter how you slice it, the Cowboys have the path to get it done. Using last year's combined opponents' win percentage, Dallas has the third-easiest schedule; if you go by 2020 win totals, its still the 10th-easiest.Browns (+5000)Any team priced at 60-1 or better is likely a wallet-burner, while some teams such as Seattle, Green Bay, Pittsburgh, and Chicago are severely overpriced. If you're looking for a flier, you have to first look at ceilings.Cleveland, in my opinion, has the highest among the long shots.The Browns made moves last offseason to expedite the rebuild. Although Cleveland had plenty of name value on the roster, it finished with just a 6-10 record and third-place finish in the AFC North. But if everything does come together, the Browns have the talent to mow through the regular-season schedule. Considering they get the fifth-easiest path based off combined 2020 opponent win totals, here's to hoping.Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

An unnamed NFL player and a second man filed a lawsuit against United Airlines on Wednesday, alleging flight attendants didn't properly respond to his reporting of sexual assault during a Feb. 10 flight from Los Angeles to New Jersey, TMZ Sports reports.The player - identified as John Doe 1 - says a woman "sexually harassed, assaulted, abused, and violated" him while on the plane, according to the lawsuit obtained by TMZ.He says he and his friend - John Doe 2 - took their seats when the woman took hers beside the window and immediately began harassing him over a mask he was wearing.According to the lawsuit, the unnamed player told her the mask was a safety precaution for the growing COVID-19 pandemic. She then demanded to move seats, elbowing John Doe 1 before "groping and massaging his knees and thighs" and "intensifying" her sexual advances.John Doe 2 says the flight attendants did nothing after he reported the incident, and the United Airlines employees merely gave the woman a verbal warning after he pleaded with them to take action.Both men say they observed the woman taking pills and believed her to be under the influence.Later, the NFL player said the woman grabbed his penis and ripped off his mask, causing him to run toward flight attendants. The friend says he was then sexually assaulted.The men were given $150 vouchers for their troubles but are now seeking damages for negligence, infliction of emotional distress, and more, according to TMZ. Their attorney would not confirm identities.United declined to comment on the incident.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.Washington Redskins rookie wide receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden said he tested for COVID-19 prior to the draft but has been fully cleared after self-quarantining."During my pre-draft training, I tested positive for COVID-19 on March 24," Gandy-Golden said in a statement obtained by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. "My symptoms thankfully were mild, but I self-quarantined for two weeks and followed all guidelines from health experts. I was fully cleared April 7. I feel 100% now and can't wait to get on the field for the Redskins."The Redskins selected the 22-year-old in the fourth round out of Liberty.Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL's chief medical officer, said Tuesday that the league expects to encounter more positive cases in the near future.The NFL allowed teams to begin reopening facilities Tuesday if given the go-ahead by their respective state governments. But the return of players and coaches to those facilities will be determined by testing, test availability, and reliability.NFLPA medical director Thom Mayer recently said NFL engineers are testing protective facemasks on helmets for the 2020 season.New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton tested positive for the coronavirus in March, while Los Angeles Rams center Brian Allen became the first active NFL player to test positive in April. Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller was also infected later that month.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.