The New England Patriots have agreed to terms with quarterback Brian Hoyer, who will embark on his third stint with the team, reports Jim McBride of the Boston Globe."(If) someone offered him $5 million or $6 million to be a backup, Brian still would've wanted to be back in New England." Hoyer's agent, Joe Linta, told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "They gave him a chance to compete for the starting job, and that's all he asked for."The Patriots also reportedly struck a deal with former New York Jets linebacker Brandon Copeland, who started 13 games over the last two years.Hoyer was released Saturday by the Indianapolis Colts, who officially signed Philip Rivers, which relegated Jacoby Brissett to the backup role. In four appearances last season, Hoyer threw for 372 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions while completing 53.8% of his passes.The 34-year-old will rejoin a quarterbacks room in New England that for the first time in his career won't include Tom Brady. Instead, he'll be surrounded by Jarrett Stidham (a fourth-round pick in 2019) and veteran backup Cody Kessler. New England could look to acquire an established starter or draft a signal-caller in April to compete for the starting job.Hoyer began his career with the Patriots, making the team in 2009 as an undrafted rookie. He returned in 2017 and stuck on the roster until the 2019 preseason when he was released.The Michigan State product has appeared in games for seven different teams over his career. He owns a career passer rating of 82.5.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL is planning to move the 2020 draft out of Las Vegas and into a studio in light of the coronavirus pandemic, Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times reports.A blueprint for the draft hasn't been finalized, but the league has reportedly decided against trying to keep it in Las Vegas as a scaled-down event. The NFL would look to feature live cut-ins from team headquarters as they make picks on the broadcast.The NFL had events lined up across the Las Vegas Strip throughout draft week but was forced to cancel them because of the spread of COVID-19. The league had also arranged for boats to carry players across the Bellagio Hotel fountain to the draft stage upon being selected, but that won't happen either.The NFL isn't planning to postpone the draft, which is scheduled to begin April 23. In-person visits between prospects and teams have been shut down because of the virus outbreak.In a memo obtained by the newspaper, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell implored league employees to think outside the box as they redesign one of its marquee events."Planning for the draft is a good example of how we need to think differently, embrace technology, and collaborate," he wrote. "We will also use the draft to help support fans and those people impacted in our communities. While there have been changes to the way we work and some of our plans, we have an unwavering commitment to upholding the NFL's legacy of unifying and lifting the spirit of America, and bringing out the best in our fans and in our communities around the world. You'll hear more from us in the days and weeks ahead about how we intend to demonstrate that commitment well beyond our fields. And I hope you'll share your ideas on how we can do that."The Las Vegas draft was particularly anticipated given the Raiders' relocation from Oakland as of this coming season.The 2021 NFL Draft has already been assigned to Cleveland.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots bought a full-page ad for Tom Brady in the Sunday edition of the Tampa Bay Times, thanking him for his 20-year run with the club.Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency, taking him to the second team of his storied career.

Tom Brady's "blowup" with Bill Belichick in late 2017 over the quarterback's contract helped precipitate his eventual exit from the New England Patriots, a source told Seth Wickersham of ESPN.The alleged exchange occurred months after the Patriots erased a 25-point deficit in Super Bowl LI to defeat the Atlanta Falcons in overtime for their fifth championship.Brady, who had informed the Patriots he wanted to play into his mid-40s, reportedly sought an extension that would allow him to finish his career in New England. After experiencing resistance from the club, he met with his head coach to gain clarity on the situation, and that's when the argument reportedly occurred.Following that meeting, Brady reportedly visited with Patriots owner Robert Kraft, which is when he felt mixed signals.The future Hall of Famer received a modified contract from the Patriots in August 2018 that included more incentive opportunities. He led the team to another Super Bowl title in the ensuing season, but the veteran didn't hit on the bonuses.In August 2019, Brady reworked his deal into a three-year pact that automatically voided after the first season. He became a free agent for the first time in March 2020 and signed a two-year agreement with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.There was known tension between Brady and Belichick over the last two decades. Their most heavily reported disagreement revolved around the presence of Alex Guerrero, Brady's trainer and the co-creator of the "TB12" brand.Brady and Belichick formed the winningest quarterback-coach tandem in NFL history.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Redskins are making disgruntled cornerback Quinton Dunbar available for trade, sources told Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.Dunbar reportedly requested a trade or release in February when contract talks stalled after Ron Rivera became the team's new head coach. He had been discussing an extension with the previous regime in Washington.Dunbar started 11 games last season, recording a career-high four interceptions and standing out in a Washington secondary that otherwise struggled.The 27-year-old is due to receive a base salary of $3.25 million in 2020, the last year of his contract.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Darius Slay will change his jersey number from No. 23 to No. 24 when his journey with the Philadelphia Eagles begins this year. And the cornerback has one chief reason for adopting the new number.

When the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers chapter of his career ended, quarterback Philip Rivers hoped the next stage would take place with the Indianapolis Colts.Being familiar with Colts head coach Frank Reich and offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni was part of what drew him to Indianapolis. Both served on the Chargers' coaching staff before joining the Colts."For the most part, it'll be almost the same system," Rivers said to the media, including Kevin Bowen of 1070 The Fan, after the Colts made the signing official on Saturday.Rivers signed a one-year deal with Indianapolis. At 38 years old, the 17-year pro said he's taking things on a year-to-year basis. But he hasn't ruled out playing beyond 2020."If I feel good, I'll keep going," Rivers said, according Zak Keefer of The Athletic."You won't see me in the Tom Brady range," he added, referring to the 42-year-old quarterback.Rivers said this offseason was the first time he's talked to his family about the possibility of retiring. His completion percentage dropped slightly last season from his 2018 campaign when he led the Chargers into the playoffs. Rivers also threw 23 touchdown passes against 20 interceptions after tossing for 32 TDs and 12 picks the previous season."But we settled on I still love to play. I still know I can play at a high level. Did it in spurts last year. Just didn't do it consistently enough," he said, according to ESPN's Mike Wells.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Most football observers were shocked to learn that, when NFL free agency opened, the Las Vegas Raiders were not among the teams in the running for legendary quarterback Tom Brady.The battle came down to two teams: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Chargers.Las Vegas was thought to be a logical landing spot and it turns out the Raiders were in fact "sniffing around Brady" as recently as late this week, Vic Tafur of The Athletic reports, citing league sources.The Raiders never submitted a formal offer, but they did make their ballpark numbers known to Brady, who was asking for roughly $30 million per season.The Raiders weren't willing to go as high as the $25 million per year guaranteed Brady received from the Buccaneers, believing his play over the past two seasons - which included a Super Bowl victory in 2018 - didn't warrant such a contract, Tafur reports.The Raiders also never got the impression Brady considered them a serious finalist, according to Tafur. If they had, they would have begun shopping quarterback Derek Carr for a potential trade.Instead, Las Vegas will move forward with Carr and Marcus Mariota, whom the team reportedly agreed to terms with this week.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.Free agency has stolen the spotlight so far in the NFL offseason, but the draft is (hopefully) just over a month away. That means another month of recovery for Tua Tagovailoa, who's draft stock has been steadily rising since his gruesome injury four months ago.The former Alabama quarterback's recovery has been all positive since then, vaulting him back into top-five consideration after a brief concern he might fall outside the top 10.Here are the latest odds for his draft position, along with a few potential value props to target:Tua Tagovailoa draft position oddsPICKODDS2nd+3753rd+2004th+8005th+2006th+800Other+800So far, all signs point to Tagovailoa going at No. 5 to the Dolphins, who have been linked to the quarterback since before the 2019 season.If he's still on the board, it's hard to imagine Miami letting him slip past No. 5. During their draft preparation a week ago, the Dolphins' first call was to Tagovailoa, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported, and he'd be a perfect fit to rehab behind current starter Ryan Fitzpatrick.In our mock draft earlier this month, Tagovailoa went fifth to Miami. That didn't account for trades, which could be the biggest hurdle ahead for laying money on him going fifth overall. The Dolphins' interest in the 22-year-old is the worst-kept secret of draft season, but could the Lions at No. 3 or Giants at No. 4 force Miami to trade up, knowing they'll get one of the top-tier prospects at No. 5 anyway?Instead, if you're willing to lay a shorter price, cut out the drama and bet on Miami directly:TEAMODDSMiami Dolphins-140Washington Redskins+225Los Angeles Chargers+300Detroit Lions+1500Las Vegas Raiders+1500Cincinnati Bengals+1600Indianapolis Colts+5000Tampa Bay Buccaneers+5000The safe choice here is to bet the Dolphins outright. They're the clear favorites to draft Tagovailoa, even if the team isn't in complete control of the draft board.If you're feeling a bit riskier, though, betting the fifth pick at 2-1 odds is perfectly fine value. That's the spot where Miami will likely pick, and there are enough talented defensive and O-line prospects to satisfy the teams ahead of the 'Fins.The only other choice worth considering among these props is "other" at 8-1, which encompasses Tagovailoa's possible meteoric rise to No. 1 and a potential drop if his medicals reveal red flags. Neither is likely, but at long odds, it's worth a shot.Other Tua propsIf you've got a general sense for where Tagovailoa might go but don't feel confident about the exact pick or team, there are a couple of worthwhile prop bets to hit.The first is the over/under on his draft spot, which is currently set at a generous 2.5:DRAFT POSITIONODDSOver 2.5-300Under 2.5+220Even if you don't like laying short odds, this offers pretty solid value on the over. The Redskins have flirted with quarterback options this offseason, but reports conflict regarding whether that includes tangible interest in drafting a signal-caller at No. 2 a year after using a first-round pick on Dwayne Haskins Jr.If Washington is eyeing a new QB, it's hard to see the organization taking a flier on a quarterback with injury risks after dealing with injuries at the position in recent years. There's just too much risk for the 'Skins to gamble on Tagovailoa's health, especially with the coronavirus outbreak hindering teams' ability to meet with prospects and conduct physicals.Assuming former LSU star Joe Burrow is the first pick, that leaves Tagovailoa, Oregon's Justin Herbert, and Utah State's Jordan Love battling it out to be the next passer selected. You can bet on that, too:Which QB will be taken...2nd?3rd?Tua Tagovailoa-400+650Justin Herbert+285-400Jordan Love+1100+400Field+1800+3300Jacob EasonN/A+3300Tagovailoa will likely be the second quarterback taken, but don't count out Herbert as the No. 2 QB in this year's class. The Chargers have widely been tabbed as Herbert's next team since the season ended, and some mock drafts are projecting a trade up to No. 4, allowing the club to secure its franchise QB.Instead of betting Herbert to go second among quarterbacks (+285), sprinkle some money on Tagovailoa being selected third (+650), which would likely be the byproduct of a trade-up scenario with Herbert going to Los Angeles. Love is garnering some late buzz, but it's not enough to merit betting him as a top-five pick, which is what it'd likely take to go ahead of Tagovailoa.C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The first week of NFL free agency featured several blockbuster trades and lucrative signings across the league.Here are the five most improved teams thus far:Arizona CardinalsTim Warner / Getty Images Sport / GettyNotable offseason moves: Traded for WR DeAndre Hopkins, transition tagged RB Kenyan Drake, signed DT Jordan Phillips, signed LB Devon Kennard, signed LB De'Vondre Campbell, re-signed OT D.J. HumphriesFleecing the Houston Texans for Hopkins was Arizona's top move and one that positively impacts its upcoming campaign the most. Kyler Murray showed his dynamic ability as a rookie, and now he could break out in a big way when paired with his new top target. Hopkins is arguably the NFL's best receiver, and his presence makes Kliff Kingsbury's offense even more dangerous.General manager Steve Keim dealt David Johnson as part of the Hopkins trade, keeping his top option at running back in the process. Drake was slapped with the transition tag, and he should now remain in the desert this season. The Alabama product was the far superior runner and receiver in 2020 after being acquired from the Miami Dolphins, posting 814 yards from scrimmage over only eight games last season with the Cardinals.Meanwhile, Johnson's play has been sharply declining over the last two years. He's averaged 3.7 yards per carry since 2018 while battling various injuries, and the 28-year-old doesn't appear to possess the explosiveness that led to early-career success.The Cardinals also addressed defensive needs with a few under-the-radar signings. Phillips is coming off a career-high 9.5 sacks, and he should provide enough pass-rushing prowess to upgrade a weak position. Kennard and Campbell are solid additions, too. The former notched seven sacks in each of the last two seasons and fits nicely opposite Chandler Jones, while the latter will likely slot in as a starter next to Jordan Hicks.If their offseason moves to date are any indication, the Cardinals are gunning for the NFC West crown in 2020.Buffalo BillsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyNotable offseason moves: Traded for WR Stefon Diggs, signed CB Josh Norman, re-signed G Quinton Spain, signed DE Mario Addison, signed DL Quinton Jefferson, signed LB A.J. Klein, signed DT Vernon ButlerThe Bills see an opening atop the AFC East for the first time since 2008 following Tom Brady's departure from the division, and they're taking full advantage.Adding Diggs makes an already fun offense even more electric. Though Buffalo parted with its 2020 first-round pick, it's hard to envision a rookie receiver outplaying the former Minnesota Vikings star. Diggs rounds out an impressive wideout group for Josh Allen that can attack and dominate at every level of the field. With several high-quality options to work with, Allen could take a significant third-year leap as a passer.Buffalo also brought in a few underrated defensive free agents. Norman never lived up to expectations with the Washington Redskins, but Sean McDermott's wisdom could lead to a rebound season while the veteran covers the opponent's No. 2 wideouts. Addison is a big-time addition too after notching nine-plus sacks in each of his last four campaigns.The Bills are in win-now mode and should be applauded for quickly improving their roster while Allen remains on his rookie contract. The jury is still out on whether the young quarterback can lead Buffalo to its first Lombardi Trophy, but the supporting cast is assembled now to try.Indianapolis ColtsManuel Velasquez / Getty Images Sport / GettyNotable offseason moves: Signed QB Philip Rivers, traded for DT DeForest Buckner, re-signed OT Anthony CastonzoGeneral manager Chris Ballard is taking a quality over quantity approach to free agency while making just three moves, but there's little doubt his roster has improved drastically.Indianapolis' biggest boost comes at the most important position. After rumors tied Rivers to the Colts for weeks, the two sides agreed to a one-year pact. The 38-year-old certainly wasn't at his best in 2019 while tossing 23 touchdowns to 20 interceptions, but he's still an upgrade over Jacoby Brissett.Brissett is a fine passer, but his conservative nature doesn't mesh well with Frank Reich's offense. Rivers is a much better fit because of his aggression and quick decision-making. The veteran will also benefit from a much better offensive line than any he played behind with the Chargers.Though it's fair to argue that giving up the 13th overall pick and signing Buckner to a megadeal is a heavy price, adding him will immediately result in headaches for opposing blockers. The 2016 first-round pick possesses the athleticism and burst Indianapolis covets in a three-technique interior pass-rusher. With 19.5 sacks and 26 tackles for a loss over his last two seasons, Buckner is the All-Pro talent who could push Reich's squad to an AFC South title.The rest of the division is currently in shambles, too, making it easier to like the Colts' moves even more.Las Vegas RaidersIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyNotable offseason moves: Signed LB Cory Littleton, signed CB Eli Apple, signed QB Marcus Mariota, signed LB Nick Kwiatkoski, signed DE Carl Nassib, signed DT Maliek Collins, signed TE Jason WittenKudos to Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock. The duo targeted a select few positions so far this offseason and went right to work.The Raiders were desperate to add two starting-caliber linebackers to their defense, and they signed a couple of top-tier free agents. Littleton thrives in space and can match up with many of the league's top tight ends and running backs in coverage, while Kwiatkoski will become a much-needed talent at the MIKE spot with stout run-defense skills.Vegas also added two rotational pieces along its defensive line in Nassib - who's registered 12.5 sacks over the last two years - and Collins. Meanwhile, Apple will compete for a starting cornerback spot opposite sophomore Trayvon Mullen. The 2016 first-round pick improved in coverage after being traded to the New Orleans Saints, and he's still just 24.Finally, the Raiders opted to bring in competition for Derek Carr instead of targeting Tom Brady. The six-time Super Bowl champion appears to be declining, so letting Carr and Mariota battle it out may be the better move. Gruden remains confident in Carr's ability to lead his offense, so hopefully the 28-year-old takes a step forward. If not, Mariota could become this year's Ryan Tannehill.New York GiantsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyNotable offseason moves: Signed LB Blake Martinez, signed CB James Bradberry, franchise tagged DL Leonard Williams, re-signed LB David Mayo, signed OT Cameron Fleming, signed QB Colt McCoyThe Giants again resided near the NFL's basement in 2019, finishing with a 4-12 record. Dave Gettleman brought in a new head coach in Joe Judge, and the general manager is doing his best to improve the team's roster early in free agency.New York features an ascending Daniel Jones at quarterback and a handful of weapons around him, so the team mostly prioritized upgrading defensively. The Giants ranked 28th in pass defense and 13th against the run last season. Gettleman addressed those issues with Bradberry and Martinez. The former will provide stable play opposite 2019 first-rounder Deandre Baker, while the latter ranked second league-wide with 155 tackles in 2019.The G-Men were also able to retain Williams and Mayo, two defenders who upgraded the team's defense after being inserted into the starting lineup. Fleming and McCoy, meanwhile, add depth at key offensive positions.Contract values aside, New York has greatly improved its roster in free agency. If Jones makes a sophomore leap, the Giants could be a sneaky playoff contender in 2020.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints are signing wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders to a two-year contract, according to ESPN's Josina Anderson."Still got to take a physical but it's a done deal," Sanders wrote in a text message to Anderson.Sanders will get a $16-million contract worth up to $19 million, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.The two-time Pro Bowler spoke with the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers but preferred the Saints, Schefter adds.New Orleans was expected to add new wideouts this offseason to address an area of need.Michael Thomas, the 2019 Offensive Player of the Year, was the only Saints wide receiver to top 450 receiving yards last season, while Ted Ginn Jr. ranked second among the team's wideouts with only 30 receptions. With Ginn currently a free agent, Tre'Quan Smith was expected to line up as New Orleans' No. 2 wide receiver in 2020.Sanders was an important asset for the San Francisco 49ers after they acquired him in a midseason trade with the Denver Broncos. The 33-year-old amassed 36 receptions for 502 yards and three touchdowns in 10 regular-season games with the 49ers.Overall, he finished 2019 with 869 yards and five touchdowns - both his best marks since 2016 - on 66 catches. He added another five catches for 71 yards in three playoff games during San Francisco's run to Super Bowl LIV.New Orleans will be Sanders' fourth NFL stop in 11 career seasons. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2010-13.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers officially signed Tom Brady on Friday, and they're already reaping the benefits of adding the six-time Super Bowl champion to their roster.Brady was the top-selling player across all sports on Fanatics on Friday while the Buccaneers were the top-selling NFL team, a spokesperson for the online retailer said, according to Tom Barrabi of FOX Business.The quarterback's day-over-day jersey sales were up 900% on Fanatics, while more Bucs gear was sold by the retailer on Friday than in the past two weeks combined, per The Athletic's Alicia Jessop.However, Buccanneers fans still don't know which number Brady will wear in 2020. Tampa Bay wide receiver Chris Godwin has worn the signal-caller's No. 12 since being drafted by the franchise in 2017."We haven't talked about it," Godwin said. "We talked briefly, but hadn't mentioned that at all. Obviously, if he doesn't want it or isn't making a big deal about it, I'm definitely going to keep it. But we'll see how that goes."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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Free-agent wide receiver Antonio Brown is still trying to find another NFL job, though he has a clear preference when it comes to his ideal situation."At this point right now, I'm just looking for opportunities," Brown said on "The Mike Calta Show" when asked where he'd like to go. "Any opportunity to get on the field and do what I love, I'm grateful for it, but preferably with Tom (Brady)."While it was recently reported that suitors for Brady were under the impression he'd like Brown to join him, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - who officially inked the pivot on Friday - are apparently unlikely to sign the former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver.In the meantime, Brown recently contacted Brady. "I congratulated him, wished him well," the wideout said. "He's one of those guys that have befriended me, one of my close friends around the NFL."Brown also praised current Bucs head coach Bruce Arians, who was Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator from 2007-11. After a limited role as a rookie in 2010, Brown amassed 69 receptions for 1,108 yards (16.1 yards per catch) and two touchdowns in 2011."Bruce Arians is not only a great head coach, but he is a great offensive genius," Brown said.Since leaving Pittsburgh, Brown has been involved in several off-field incidents. Additionally, his status is being reviewed by the NFL following separate allegations of sexual assault and sexual misconduct that were brought forth last season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Melvin Gordon is staying in the AFC West, as the Denver Broncos are signing the running back to a two-year, $16-million contract with $13.5 million guaranteed, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Gordon reportedly received a stronger offer from another team, but the opportunity to play against his former club, the Los Angeles Chargers, twice a year appeals to him, Rapoport adds.The tailback held out for the first three weeks of the 2019 campaign amid a contract dispute. He reportedly intended to sit the year and then leave Los Angeles as a free agent before deciding to rejoin his teammates in late September.The 26-year-old had hoped to surpass $10 million per season on his new contract, but his demands weren't well received on the open market.Gordon's landing spot is an interesting one, as he joins Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman in a crowded Denver backfield. While Lindsay proved to be a dynamic weapon as an undrafted free agent, Freeman has largely disappointed thus far after being a third-round pick in 2018.The former first-round pick is coming off a disappointing season in which he ran for 612 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 3.8 yards per carry and losing two fumbles. The two-time Pro Bowler averaged 5.1 yards per carry in 2018.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are finalizing a trade for Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Chris Wormley and putting together a rare intradivision deal, a source told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.Pittsburgh reportedly will send a 2021 fifth-round pick in exchange for Wormley and a 2021 seventh-round pick.The 2017 third-round pick was made expendable following the additions of Calais Campbell and Michael Brockers.In 32 appearances (13 starts) over the last two seasons, Wormley racked up 54 tackles and 2.5 sacks.Wormley will help replace defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, who left for the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to a two-year, $12-million deal with former Indianapolis Colts tight end Eric Ebron, reports NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Ebron endured an injury-plagued 2019 campaign, but he's one season removed from making the Pro Bowl. He led all tight ends with 13 touchdown catches in 2018 while recording a career-high 750 receiving yards.The Steelers struggled to get production from their tight ends last year, as Vance McDonald, Nick Vannett, and Zach Gentry all fell short of 300 yards.Ebron finished 2019 on injured reserve after electing to undergo ankle surgery. At the time, his decision to shut himself down seemed to surprise the Colts.The 26-year-old is entering his seventh NFL season. The Detroit Lions drafted him 10th overall in 2014 after his standout career at North Carolina.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints have re-signed guard Andrus Peat to a five-year contract, the team announced Friday.The deal is worth $57.5 million and contains $33 million guaranteed, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Peat tested free agency after playing out the fifth year of his rookie contract. He appeared at left tackle, left guard, and right tackle during his debut campaign, but has since settled at guard. He made the Pro Bowl in 2018 and 2019 despite missing three games and six games, respectively.Though his resume is impressive, Peat has drawn criticism at times throughout his career for inconsistent play.The Saints selected him 13th overall out of Stanford in 2015.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's safe to say that Robert Kraft would have preferred to retain Tom Brady as opposed to losing him in free agency.After the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made their signing of Brady official Friday, the New England Patriots owner compared losing his legendary quarterback to an in-law disrupting a marriage."Think about loving your wife, and for whatever reason, there's something - her father or mother - that makes life impossible for you, and you have to move on but you don't want to," Kraft told NFL Network's Michael Giardi.Kraft failed to clarify what - or who - played the role of the in-law during the veteran passer's departure.The owner and Brady have always had a close relationship. While Kraft expressed disappointment in Brady's decision earlier this week, he ultimately wanted his friend and former player to be happy.Brady leaves New England after 20 seasons with arguably the most impressive quarterback resume in NFL history.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are getting new uniforms in 2020, and Chris Godwin isn't sure if his will come with a new number.The Pro Bowl wide receiver spent his first three seasons wearing No. 12, the same number Tom Brady donned for two decades with the New England Patriots. Brady, who started the "TB12" brand, signed his contract with the Buccaneers on Friday."My phone is blowing up over the last 24 hours on Twitter, Instagram, like phone calls, text messages," Godwin told Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. "People just asking me the same question. I think it will be very interesting whatever happens."We haven't talked about it. We talked briefly, but hadn't mentioned that at all. Obviously, if he doesn't want it or isn't making a big deal about it, I'm definitely going to keep it. But we'll see how that goes."Such situations are not uncommon in professional sports, especially in the NFL, with each position group limited to a specific range of numbers. Players often buy their preferred number from a new teammate with cash, a gift, or a charitable donation."I think just out of respect for what he's done, what he's accomplished, just kind of for the career he's built for himself, you've got to kind of lean into that respect, you know?" said Godwin. "We'll see. We'll see how it goes."Godwin also wore No. 12 while at Penn State. Brady wore No. 10 at Michigan.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Todd Gurley didn't last long on the open market.The former Los Angeles Rams running back, who was released Thursday, is signing a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons, a source told ESPN's Jordan Schultz.The Falcons will pay Gurley $6 million, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, and he's still owed $7.5 million from the Rams. With a $2.5 million offset on his old contract, he'll earn a total of $11 million in 2020.Los Angeles parted ways with Gurley before $10.5 million in salary and bonuses for the 2020 season were set to become guaranteed. The Rams shopped him on the trade market, but they couldn't find a taker.The three-time Pro Bowler inked a four-year, $60-million extension with the Rams in July 2018 after leading the NFL in touchdowns. The deal made him the league's highest-paid tailback.However, an arthritic knee began to derail Gurley down the stretch of the 2018 campaign. Despite the team insisting he was healthy, Gurley split carries with C.J. Anderson during the Rams' run to Super Bowl LIII.The 25-year-old joins a Falcons squad that needs to boost its rushing attack. Atlanta released longtime starter Devonta Freeman prior to the new league year.Gurley's production took a slight step back in 2019. He averaged 3.8 yards per carry while rushing for 857 yards, but the former Georgia standout also scored 14 total touchdowns. The 2015 first-round pick has found the end zone 54 times over his last three seasons.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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. Rookies will be added following the NFL draft in April.Half PPR

Tom Brady is officially a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.The former New England Patriots quarterback announced the signing on Instagram Friday:

The Dallas Cowboys have agreed to terms with free-agent safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, his agency announced.The deal is worth $4 million for one season, according to Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.Clinton-Dix is coming off a one-year stint with the Chicago Bears, where he posted 78 tackles, five pass breakups, and two interceptions over 16 starts. He'll be reunited in Dallas with Mike McCarthy, who was his head coach with the Green Bay Packers from 2014-18.Clinton-Dix figures to slot into the Cowboys' starting lineup at the strong safety spot previously occupied by Jeff Heath, who agreed to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders.The Cowboys have sought improved safety play for years, and reportedly tried to acquire Jamal Adams from the New York Jets at the 2019 trade deadline in what would have been a blockbuster deal.Clinton-Dix represents the second notable acquisition Dallas has made since the opening of free agency, as the club previously agreed to a deal with defensive tackle Gerald McCoy.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Darius Slay revealed his disdain for Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia on Thursday after being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles."We disagreed on a lot of things," the cornerback told "The Mitch Albom Show" on 760 WJR."He told me I wasn't elite," Slay said. "He told me I had no business working out with Richard Sherman and (Aqib) Talib because I wasn't elite. Those were the guys that were elite category and I was just good."Slay added: "I didn't get the thought - sitting here, telling me not to go work with somebody, I'm not elite. If I ain't elite in your eyes, at least I'm trying to go compete with guys and work with guys, pick their brains, and become elite."The veteran had angled for a trade before being sent to the Eagles, who agreed to give him a three-year, $50-million contract extension upon his arrival.The Pro Bowl defender was once thought to be a cornerstone for the Lions, but he apparently knew early in Patricia's tenure that the two couldn't coexist for long."Our first year was rough," Slay said. "Second year was no problem, but our first year, it really destroyed our whole, kind of like (relationship)."By the time Detroit traded safety Quandre Diggs - one of his best friends on the team - in October 2019, Slay knew his relationship with Patricia was unsalvageable."At that time, I didn't care really," Slay said of the period following the Diggs trade. "Shoot, I ain't have that much for respect for Matty P as a person. It was hard for me to play for him. That's all that was."Patricia was hired by the Lions before the 2018 season and has gone 9-22-1 since taking the job. His first season was filled with whispers that he was struggling to get veterans to buy into his program.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In a surprise move, two-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl running back Todd Gurley was released by the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday.The 25-year-old is just two years removed from being named the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year and one season removed from helping lead the Rams to the Super Bowl.So, despite his well-documented knee troubles, there should be a market for the touchdown machine in free agency. Here are five potential landing spots for Gurley.Tampa Bay BuccaneersAssuming their reported signing of legendary quarterback Tom Brady goes down without a hitch, the Buccaneers are an obvious candidate to pursue Gurley.Brady has said he'd like to continue playing until he's 45, which gives Tampa Bay two seasons to try and reach the Super Bowl.Despite featuring the No. 1 passing offense in the NFL last year, the Bucs had just the 24th-ranked rushing attack, which averaged less than 100 yards per outing. Starter Peyton Barber is currently testing free agency and 2018 second-round pick Ronald Jones has only shown flashes in his first two seasons.Gurley is a proven commodity. And with the Bucs expected to lean heavily on pass-catchers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and O.J. Howard in 2020, Gurley wouldn't have to carry the same load he did during his time with the Rams.Additionally, Jones has been benched on multiple occasions for missing assignments in pass protection. Gurley is a quality pass-protector, which will be needed on a Buccaneers team with a porous offensive line.Buffalo BillsAnother franchise that's going for it in 2020 is the one situated in Western New York.After finishing 10-6, earning a wild-card spot, and almost punching a ticket to the divisional round, the Bills have been busy this offseason, adding the likes of Vernon Butler, Quinton Jefferson, and Mario Addison in free agency while trading for star wideout Stefon Diggs.At running back, Buffalo allowed veteran Frank Gore to hit the free-agent market and is currently left with Devin Singletary, who was brought along slowly during his rookie season. If the Bills are hoping to take advantage of an AFC landscape that no longer includes Brady, Gurley represents an immediate, obvious upgrade at running back.Buffalo has a solid O-line, and the offense would undoubtedly benefit from taking some of the workload away from still-developing quarterback Josh Allen.Atlanta FalconsSigning with Atlanta would be a homecoming of sorts for Gurley, who played at the University of Georgia, where he scored 42 touchdowns in three seasons.The Falcons also have a hole at running back after releasing Devonta Freeman on Monday.However, the franchise appears to be retooling, as veterans Vic Beasley and Desmond Trufant were both cut ahead of free agency. After shedding salary, the Falcons may not be interested in signing Gurley to an expensive contract when they can address his position through the draft.But if Gurley values signing somewhere he's celebrated, perhaps he'll take less money to join Matt Ryan and Julio Jones in Atlanta.Miami DolphinsMiami and Atlanta are among Gurley's desired landing spots, according to ESPN's Josina Anderson, and those two teams showed the most interest in trading for Gurley before his release, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Dolphins inked fellow rusher Jordan Howard to a two-year, $10-million contract on Tuesday, but at that point, the list of available running backs was topped by Melvin Gordon.Miami entered free agency flush with cap space, so the club is still in a position to pair Howard with Gurley in a formidable committee - one that's likely necessary given that both players come with their share of injury concerns.Plus, Miami is expected to target a running back in the draft even after signing Howard. Inking Gurley while he's more affordable and using the draft capital on another position is also an enticing option.Kansas City ChiefsWhat would make the defending Super Bowl champions even more deadly? Signing Gurley.Fresh off winning the Lombardi Trophy, the Chiefs don't have many areas of need, but their running back depth chart could stand to improve.Sure, Damien Williams submitted an MVP-type performance in the Super Bowl with 133 yards and two touchdowns, but Gurley would bring a new dynamic to an already explosive offense.The Chiefs are entering 2020 with targets on their backs, and they should look for ways to upgrade their roster before embarking on their title defense.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The early rush of blockbuster signings and trades is over. Exhale. Now it's time to assess the biggest risers and fallers in NFL free agency so far.Winner: BuccaneersTampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady. Let that sink in.A free agent for the first time in his career, leaving a Patriots team with which he won six Super Bowls and 17 division titles, Brady really chose an organization that hasn't been to the playoffs since 2007 and hasn't won a playoff game since its 2002 Super Bowl season. The Bucs pulling this off was nothing short of incredible.Any short-sighted move comes with its detractors - football is the ultimate team-building exercise, and there will always be fans who hate the idea of adding a player they deem to be past his prime. But if you're not one of the lucky teams with a franchise quarterback already in place, this is a move you make 100 times out of 100.Tampa Bay all of a sudden finds itself walking into a two-year championship window after countless years as a basement dweller. Brady isn't what he once was, but don't let a weird season in New England fool you into thinking he can no longer be a difference-maker en route to a title. The soon-to-be 43-year-old is just two seasons removed from adding another ring to his obscene collection of hardware.Dead set on winning yet another title before he goes out - and doing so independent of Belichick - Brady choosing the Bucs was the ultimate vote of confidence for what Tampa is building. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin provide him with one of the league's premier receiver tandems, a stark contrast to what he had to work with last season. Bruce Arians might be the perfect offensive mastermind to make it all come together in short order. And Todd Bowles' work on the other side of the ball saw the Bucs quietly finish last season with the NFL's sixth-ranked defense.Add in the LeBron-like effect of Brady's presence on the Bucs, with a "high number of players" reportedly expressing interest in joining him (Todd Gurley, anyone?), and it's not difficult to imagine how quickly things could go in the other direction for Tampa Bay just one season after having the first quarterback to ever throw 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions.The Bucs just became the NFL's most exciting team. See you in prime time.Loser: Bill O'BrienTom Pennington / Getty Images Sport / GettyIn the last seven months, Bill O'Brien traded away DeAndre Hopkins and Jadeveon Clowney. He should have two extra first-round picks to show for it, but instead, he has none.If any other general manager in football traded a perennial All-Pro like Hopkins for a Day 2 draft pick and David Johnson, a running back so ravaged by injuries he looks like he's running in a snowsuit, an immediate firing would be on the table.But O'Brien won't be held accountable for getting fleeced. He's his own boss and holds more power than any coach or GM in pro football. Heck, he might give himself a raise.Friction between O'Brien and Hopkins reportedly precipitated the trade, including the allegation that the coach compared the player to deceased murderer Aaron Hernandez during a heated meeting (Hopkins has since downplayed this anecdote). Hopkins also reportedly planned to hold out to force a new contract.Even if we grant that O'Brien was correct to move on from Hopkins, his apparent neglect to shop the wideout around the league to ensure the best possible return is inexcusable. The Vikings got a first-round pick and more from the Bills for Stefon Diggs - a talented receiver, but not one who produces in the same elite tier as Hopkins.It seems like O'Brien saw an available veteran RB and couldn't resist pulling the trigger. Somehow, this is the third time in less than a year O'Brien has traded for a veteran tailback. Last season, he traded a third-round pick for Duke Johnson and an offensive lineman for Carlos Hyde.The Texans made the playoffs with a Johnson-Hyde backfield, but they couldn't keep up with the Chiefs' high-scoring offense. Does anyone believe they have a better chance of doing so in 2020 with David Johnson instead of DeAndre Hopkins?Winner: Football fansWith the world's sports on pause amid the coronavirus pandemic, the NFL figured out how to conduct free agency with minimal interpersonal contact and grabbed almost every available headline because of it.In the days leading up to start of the new league year, rumors swirled that the NFL would push back the opening of its offseason player market. Instead, the league held firm to its schedule while slightly altering its usual procedures, allowing players to take physicals where they reside before deals become official rather than traveling to be evaluated by various teams' doctors.The most entertaining free-agency period in years ensued, offering a welcome distraction from the frightening virus updates dominating every other facet of the news.The sports world will eventually return to normal and games will eventually resume being played. But it might be a while, and the rush of excitement the NFL provided via blockbuster trades and signings will sustain fans for now.Loser: Dolphins and LionsIf the Patriots' dynasty is truly over, the Dolphins and Lions are blind to it. Each team, coached by a former defensive disciple of Bill Belichick, aggressively targeted former Patriots in free agency in an apparent attempt to borrow Foxborough's blueprint for winning - something that's been tried countless times over the years with no notable successes.Brian Flores' Dolphins committed to pay linebacker Kyle Van Noy $51 million over four years before also adding Elandon Roberts to their linebacking corps and center Ted Karras to the offense. All three are the sort of unexceptional but highly versatile players who have excelled in New England over the last two decades but regularly failed to make an impact elsewhere.The Dolphins also made ex-Cowboy Byron Jones the highest-paid cornerback in history with a five-year, $82.5-million deal. The ultra-athletic but not exactly ultra-productive Jones, who has two interceptions in his five pro seasons, will pair with former highest-paid cornerback Xavien Howard in a secondary that will disappoint if it's anything less than the NFL's best.The Dolphins spent like they believe they're ready to contend, but a quick look at Miami's offensive personnel suggests that's far from the case.In Detroit, Matt Patricia's Lions followed a 2019 free-agency period in which they gave former Patriots pass-rusher Trey Flowers a five-year deal worth $90 million by adding another pair of former Pats front-seven defenders in linebacker Jamie Collins and defensive tackle Danny Shelton.Both Collins and Shelton have previously played outside of New England and neither was close to effective in other colors.Winner: Kyler MurrayTodd Olszewski / Getty Images Sport / GettyAlready a popular choice to make a Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson-like sophomore leap into MVP contention, Kyler Murray now gets to throw to DeAndre Hopkins.Unquestionably one of the NFL's best wideouts, Hopkins has averaged 105 catches for 1,372 yards and 10 touchdowns over his last three seasons. Those are Larry-Fitzgerald-in-his-prime numbers, and now he'll play alongside Fitzgerald as his heir apparent. Hopkins' impact on Murray's development will be enormous, and he'll be worth every penny of the new contract the Cardinals are sure to give him.Arizona didn't win many games in Murray's rookie season, but the former first overall pick flashed enormous potential en route to winning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. And he got better as the season wore on, even with a supporting cast that notably lacked reliable receivers beyond a fading Fitzgerald.We still haven't seen Kliff Kingsbury's Air Raid offense fully unleashed on the NFL because the Cardinals lacked the personnel to attack defenses out of four-wide sets. The addition of Hopkins is an enormous development in that regard.Losers: Jadeveon Clowney and Melvin GordonHousehold names among football fans, Jadeveon Clowney and Melvin Gordon are likely grappling with the unpleasant reality that fame doesn’t always translate to free-agent dollars.Both of them remain unsigned as the initial wave of big-money deals transitions to a slow stream of bargain-basement signings, and there's little reported interest in either player.Clowney seems to have set his asking price much too high at a reported $20 million per year, especially considering he's coming off a three-sack season. Returning to Seattle on a one-year "prove it again" deal at a discount might be his best option.Gordon likely regrets not taking the $10 million per season the Chargers reportedly offered him before the 2019 campaign kicked off. Gordon's holdout accomplished nothing beyond helping to showcase Austin Ekeler and get the former backup paid.It's a buyer's market for running backs with a glut of capable veterans, including Devonta Freeman and Lamar Miller, still seeking work. It's not unthinkable that Gordon will opt to swallow his pride and re-sign with the Chargers at far less than he believes he's worth.Winners: Offensive linemenIt pays to be an offensive lineman in today's NFL - literally.With starting-caliber talent so scarce across the league, teams looking to fill a need up front can't afford to miss out when an opportunity, however uninspiring, may present itself. That desperation is why we see so many out-of-whack free-agent contracts at this position group.Ereck Flowers, one of the more infamous first-round left tackle busts in recent memory, finally showed some promise last year after making the move to guard. He wasn't spectacular by any means, but apparently it was enough for the Miami Dolphins to give him a three-year, $30-million contract, matching the deal Bryan Bulaga got from the Chargers. An annual average of $10 million now puts Flowers in a tie as the NFL's fifth-highest-paid left guard.Halapoulivaati Vaitai was a valuable swing tackle with the Eagles, stepping in on either end of the line as needed, but he still only started four games over the last two years. No matter - the Lions are so confident he'll thrive as a full-time right tackle that they're giving him $45 million over five years, making him the NFL's seventh-highest-paid player at the position.The free-agent market will always drive prices up, but this is the kind of reckless spending that teams so often come to regret. Offensive linemen around the league must be loving what they see, though.Losers: Free-agent wideoutsSteven Ryan / Getty Images Sport / GettyAmari Cooper got his megadeal, but that was always going to happen. The rare elite receiver to hit the market at the age of 25, it would have been a surprise if he didn't get his $20 million per year. No other receiver has been scooped up yet, and it's not difficult to see why.It certainly isn't for a lack of talent; Robby Anderson and Emmanuel Sanders, among others, can be extremely valuable pieces for a high-level passing offense. And eventually, they will be signed. But it won't be for the kind of money they might have been able to land if they were free agents in another year.With a historically talented rookie class of receivers on the way, teams probably just aren't all that eager to give Anderson a long-term deal averaging anywhere close to the $15 million he was rumored to be seeking. And it's tough to blame them.Anderson and Sanders might end up having to settle for shorter and/or significantly cheaper deals than they were angling for. They'll be steals for their respective teams as a result, but it's an unfortunate development for two talented players deserving of paydays.Winner: ChargersNo Brady? No problem.Nice as it would have been to roll into their new stadium with the greatest quarterback of all time under center, and devastating as it probably was to finish second in the race for his services, the Chargers still find themselves in tremendous shape after a sneaky-good start to the offseason.The offensive line was upgraded with the trade for Trai Turner and the signing of Bryan Bulaga, while adding Chris Harris Jr. and Linval Joseph bolstered what was already a strong defense. Questions remain at quarterback and left tackle, but the path to answering them is clear - and exciting.A lack of needs elsewhere on the roster should give Los Angeles the freedom and encouragement to send the Redskins whatever draft picks necessary to get the No. 2 overall selection and take Tua Tagovailoa. While they're at it, the Chargers might as well see what they'd have to throw in to make All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams a part of the deal. If the cost for Williams is prohibitive, Jason Peters is out there as an interesting short-term fix at that spot.Either way, not getting Brady could actually be a blessing in disguise for the Chargers. Spending money in other ways further strengthens an already stacked roster and theoretically allows them to go all-in on addressing the quarterback spot in the draft, which is the more prudent long-term play, anyway. The Chargers can create a wide Super Bowl window for themselves if they play this right.Loser: Bears Remember when Ryan Pace won Executive of the Year? Feels like a long time ago, doesn't it?Faced with a make-or-break offseason, with the short- and long-term future of the Bears hanging in the balance, Pace has responded by making one puzzling move after another.The No. 1 priority heading in, of course, was to address the quarterback position - Mitchell Trubisky is not the answer. In the rare year where the NFL seemed destined to have quarterback supply exceed demand, with at least one longtime starter apparently fated to be the odd man out, there was no shortage of options for the Bears. And they settled on a trade for Nick Foles.Foles is fine. But there were so many more inspiring solutions than a flash-in-the-pan journeyman who was forced out of Jacksonville by a sixth-round rookie. If the Bears decided that a salary at Foles' level was manageable under the cap, why not pay up for Teddy Bridgewater or Jameis Winston? How about Andy Dalton or Cam Newton? The latter comes with injury risk, but at least there's still MVP-level upside. And if the idea was to provide competition for Trubisky, which may realistically be all that Foles does, Marcus Mariota could have been signed for cheap. Of all these options, trading a fourth-round pick for Foles might have been the worst.Compounding the confusion, Chicago gave Robert Quinn a five-year, $70-million contract - presumably based off the one good year that followed four not-so-great seasons - and added Jimmy Graham on a two-year, $16-million deal that wasn't warranted by anything other than name recognition.The Bears might have the foundation of talent to overcome all of these potential blunders and remain a playoff contender, but that didn't need to be the conversation we're having. The ceiling should be so much higher - and it could have been, with the right approach to the offseason. It's getting increasingly difficult to believe in the direction of this organization.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady stunned the sports world when he opted to leave the New England Patriots after 20 seasons and six Super Bowl titles to reportedly head south and join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.However, the 42-year-old's decision to seek greener pastures toward the end of his Hall of Fame career is far from unprecedented. Over the years, many superstars across North American sports have left the places they became synonymous with to join unexpected teams.Results varied among these players, but in most cases, the late-career switch provided a weird image of a former star in an unbefitting uniform during a forgettable final chapter of an otherwise celebrated legacy.The outcome of Brady's trip to Tampa remains to be seen, and if anyone can buck the trend, it's probably Tom Terrific. However, in light of the GOAT's southern sojourn, let's remind ourselves of some previous instances when a player's last stop was more strange than successful.NFLJoe Montana - Kansas City ChiefsJEFF HAYNES / AFP / GettyWho better to begin this list than Brady's childhood idol? After four Super Bowl titles and two MVPs as the face of the San Francisco 49ers' dynasty, a 37-year-old Montana joined the Chiefs in 1993. Because he's Joe Montana, he still made the playoffs both seasons and even reached the AFC Championship Game in his first year, but that No. 19 just didn't carry the same sort of magic.Jerry Rice - Seattle SeahawksSteve Grayson / Getty Images Sport / GettySpeaking of 49ers legends, who could forget those 11 games when Rice donned Seahawks colors to close out the all-time greatest career for a wide receiver? The answer: everyone. The 42-year-old Rice was dealt to Seattle six games into the 2004 season after three productive but forgettable years with the Oakland Raiders. His stint in the Pacific Northwest resulted in just 25 receptions for 362 yards and three scores. Perhaps mercifully, Rice never suited up in a real game for the Broncos the following season after signing a one-year deal with Denver.Emmitt Smith - Arizona CardinalsMike Moore / Getty Images Sport / GettyAfter setting the all-time rushing record in his final season with the Dallas Cowboys, Smith, then 34, signed a two-year deal with Arizona. He started just five games amid an injury-riddled first campaign with the Cardinals then nearly hit the 1,000-yard mark for the 12th time in his second year before calling time on a Hall of Fame career that certainly could have lived on without his trip to the desert.Ed Reed - Houston Texans/New York JetsEvan Habeeb / ReutersReed refused to retire after winning Super Bowl XLVII with the Ravens as a 34-year-old and signed a three-year contract with the Texans. After quickly losing his starting role, Reed was released and subsequently signed by the Jets to close out his playing days, which could have ended on a better note had he walked away after hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.NBAMichael Jordan - Washington WizardsGarrett Ellwood / National Basketball Association / GettyOn top of their shared membership in the Six Ring Club, respective GOATs Brady and MJ now share something else in common: late-career destination changes. The sports world was used to Jordan retiring by the turn of the century, but the thought of him returning to basketball in anything other than Chicago Bulls colors was lunacy until he joined the Wizards in 2001. His Airness still got buckets until the bitter end and had a grand farewell tour in his second year with Washington. Still, that dark blue and brown looked as weird on him as a baseball uniform did.Allen Iverson - Memphis GrizzliesRocky Widner / National Basketball Association / GettyIverson signed a one-year deal with the Grizzlies during free agency in 2009, but he played a grand total of three games before leaving the team for what was described as "personal reasons." Clearly Memphis wasn't the Answer.He did find his way back to the 76ers for a final cup of coffee in the Association later that season, but it was short-lived as well.Patrick Ewing - Orlando MagicTONY RANZE / AFP / GettyAfter 15 remarkable campaigns with the New York Knicks, Ewing was shipped to Seattle for a season and then joined Orlando a year later for the final stage of his Hall of Fame career. At 39-years-old, Ewing started only four of 65 games played for the Magic, averaging six points.Hakeem Olajuwon - Toronto RaptorsKent Horner / National Basketball Association / GettyThe Dream won everything there is to win over a dominant 17-year stretch with the Houston Rockets but was dealt to the Raptors in 2001 in a move that's largely been forgotten by everyone south of the Canadian border. Olajuwon was hardly a factor as Toronto qualified for the playoffs for a third consecutive year. He retired after one season.NHLMartin Brodeur - St. Louis BluesJasen Vinlove / USA TodayFew players in NHL history are as synonymous with a team as Brodeur is with the New Jersey Devils, but the all-time wins leader opted to call it quits as a member of the Blues in 2015. Brodeur won three Stanley Cups, four Vezina Trophies, and 688 games with the Devils compared to just seven games with St. Louis.Mike Modano - Detroit Red WingsAside from the most controversial goal in NHL history, Modano's No. 9 jersey flapping as he flew down the wing is arguably the longest-lasting image of the most successful era in Dallas Stars history. His No. 90 in Detroit did not produce the same profound effect, as Modano played just 40 contests and posted 11 points with the Red Wings before head coach Mike Babcock prevented him from playing in his 1,500th game.Bobby Orr - Chicago BlackhawksFocus On Sport / Focus on Sport / GettyOrr was the Tom Brady of the Boston area in the early 1970s. The swift-skating blue-liner won two Stanley Cups, eight consecutive Norris Trophies, three MVPs, and two Conn Smythes during his Bruins tenure to cement his status as one of the greatest players to have ever lived. In 1976, chronic knee issues and complications with his agent forced Orr to hit free agency and ultimately sign in Chicago. He appeared in just 26 games over two seasons in the Windy City due to injuries before retiring.Mats Sundin - Vancouver CanucksBill Smith / National Hockey League / GettyIn his 13th year with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Sundin, who holds franchise records in goals and points, refused to be traded at the deadline with free agency pending and the team seeking a rebuild. The captain's decision created plenty of angst among Leafs fans, and frustrations grew tenfold when Sundin sat out to start the 2008-09 season before signing with Vancouver that December. Sundin played 41 games with the Canucks plus a brief playoff run, and, as fate would have it, the lasting memory of his time on the West Coast was a shootout winner in his return to Toronto.MLBSammy Sosa - Texas RangersIcon Sports Wire / Icon Sportswire / GettyAfter 13 memorable years in Chicago with the Cubs, Sosa joined the Orioles for a season, left the game entirely for a year, then found a new landing spot with the Rangers in 2007. His stop in Texas was more productive than Baltimore, and he did join the 600 home run club in the Lone Star State, but it was a lackluster finish to a polarizing career.Randy Johnson - San Francisco GiantsMediaNews Group/Bay Area News via Getty Images / MediaNews Group / GettyEven at 45 years of age, Johnson couldn't get enough of striking out batters with his devastating slider, so he joined the Giants in 2009 for one last hurrah. The Bay Area wasn't too kind to the Big Unit, who crafted a 4.88 era in 96 innings before stepping off the mound for good.Mike Piazza - Oakland AthleticsStephen Dunn / Getty Images Sport / GettyPiazza served as the heart and soul of the New York Mets before the end of his career brought him out west to San Diego and Oakland. The Hall of Fame catcher appeared in just 83 games for the Athletics in 2007, and while A's colors look nice on anyone, Piazza belonged in orange and blue.Wade Boggs - Tampa Bay Devil RaysRobert Rogers / Major League Baseball / GettyBoggs hit the first home run in Rays history and notched his 3,000th hit while a member of the organization. Still, does anyone really associate the legendary third baseman with Tampa Bay when reflecting on his Hall of Fame career?Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton tested positive for the coronavirus, he revealed to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Payton said he received his test results Thursday. He began to feel unwell Sunday, one day after attending horse races at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas.The 56-year-old is the first person associated with the NFL who's been known to test positive for the coronavirus. Payton said he's been fatigued but doesn't have a cough or a fever, which are the most common symptoms of COVID-19.

The Los Angeles Rams released former All-Pro running back Todd Gurley, the team announced Thursday.The Rams parted ways with Gurley before $10.5 million in salary and bonuses for the 2020 season were set to become guaranteed. They shopped him on the trade market but couldn't find a taker.It appears the news caught Gurley by surprise.

The Los Angeles Rams are making wide receiver Brandin Cooks available for trade, a source told Jeff Howe of The Athletic.L.A. is looking to shed salary and restock its draft picks, Howe adds.The Rams were also reportedly shopping star running back Todd Gurley but released him Thursday after failing to find a trade partner.Cooks is under contract through the 2023 season with a cap hit of $16.8 million in 2020.The wideout caught 42 passes for 583 yards and two touchdowns last season. He missed two games with his fourth concussion since 2018, leading to fears he might need to retire.Cooks joined the Rams in a 2018 trade that included a first-round pick going the other way.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are reportedly the belle of the ball thanks to the blockbuster signing of Tom Brady.A "high number of players" are contacting the Bucs wanting to join the former New England Patriots quarterback in his new home, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are unlikely to sign free-agent wide receiver Antonio Brown, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Brown was linked to the Buccaneers after Tom Brady, who he was teammates with on the New England Patriots, reportedly agreed in principal to a deal with Tampa. Teams pursuing Brady reportedly believed the quarterback wanted to bring Brown with him wherever he signed.Brown, a Florida resident, appeared to develop a strong relationship with Brady in the short time they shared a locker room. The 31-year-old wideout has tweeted occasionally about wanting to play with Brady again since being released by the Patriots.Brown's been involved in several off-field incidents since the Pittsburgh Steelers granted his trade request one year ago. His status is still being reviewed by the NFL following separate allegations of sexual assault and sexual misconduct that were brought forth last season.Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians worked with Brown for two seasons when he was the Steelers' offensive coordinator. Last offseason, Arians suggested Brown had turned into a "diva."Brown had 1,297 yards and a league-high 15 touchdowns through the air in 2018 when he played for the Steelers. His hypothetical addition to the Bucs would give Tampa a three-headed monster at wide receiver consisting of Brown, Mike Evans, and Chris Godwin.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL is cautioning teams against announcing transactions that aren't yet official, warning that draft picks could be forfeited as punishment, according to a notice NFL Network's Tom Pelissero obtained.The league is concerned about teams using premature announcements to convince other clubs a player is off the market. The NFL management council will determine whether a team attempted to gain a competitive advantage and then levy the discipline.The policy applies specifically to 2020 because the coronavirus pandemic is preventing most players from getting physicals, which officially completes acquisitions.The league informed clubs Thursday that teams can announce transactions under two conditions, as Jacksonville Jaguars public relations director Tad Dickman laid out:

The Denver Broncos are releasing quarterback Joe Flacco with a failed physical designation, the team announced Thursday.Denver was expected to move on from Flacco, who finished the 2019 campaign on injured reserve with neck issues. General manager John Elway acknowledged after the season that Drew Lock, a second-round pick in 2019, would go into 2020 as the starter.Flacco spent one season in Denver after being traded from the Baltimore Ravens. He threw for 1,822 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions over eight contests.The former Super Bowl MVP was due a base salary of $20.25 million for the upcoming campaign.Flacco, 35, spent 11 seasons in Baltimore prior to his brief stint in Denver.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.For the first time in 19 seasons, Tom Brady won't be the starting quarterback in New England, and the favorite to replace the future Hall of Famer is... Jarrett Stidham?The second-year quarterback out of Auburn played well during the 2019 preseason, completing 67.8% of his pass attempts for 731 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. However, Stidham has attempted just four regular-season passes, and he may now be asked to replace arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history.Bill Belichick starting the season with Stidham under center isn't out of the question. Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels believe in their system, and the Patriots have gone 14-6 with Matt Cassel, Jimmy Garoppolo, or Jacoby Brissett at quarterback when Brady was either injured or suspended.While Stidham is the favorite to open the 2020 season as the Patriots' starting quarterback, there are some other intriguing names on the list, with 2015 MVP Cam Newton leading the way.Odds to be Patriots' Week 1 starting quarterbackPlayerOddsJarrett Stidham+150Cam Newton+200Andy Dalton+600Jameis Winston+600Jacoby Brissett+700Derek Carr+1400Cody Kessler+3300Jimmy Garoppolo+3300Joe Flacco+3300Eli Manning+10000Cam Newton +200Newton is the biggest name on the list, but there are a couple of factors working against him.Due to the coronavirus outbreak, team doctors aren't allowed to examine players in person. A third-party doctor must do the examination, with the results sent to the team. Newton is coming off shoulder and foot surgeries over the last two years, so teams may shy away until they're cleared to examine him personally.While Newton is a dynamic player, he's completed only 59.6% of his career pass attempts. The Patriots' offense requires quarterbacks to make reads at the line of scrimmage and deliver the ball quickly. That's not Newton's strength, making him overvalued at +200.Andy Dalton/Jameis Winston +600The two top options on the board are Dalton and Winston at +600.Dalton is the best bet. The Bengals are reportedly looking to trade the veteran, and he's a good fit on paper for the Patriots. The most likely scenario is Belichick bringing in someone to compete with Stidham for the starting job and also be a dependable backup, and Dalton fits the bill. He led the Bengals to four 10-plus win seasons and has completed 62% of his career throws. Stidham is the clear favorite right now to succeed Brady, but Dalton at +600 is worth a look, as he checks all the boxes to play in the Patriots' system.Winston, meanwhile, is a quarterback without a home after Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Los Angeles Chargers announced they will move forward with Tyrod Taylor. The 2015 No. 1 pick remains an intriguing talent, but turnovers are an obvious issue. Winston threw an NFL-high 30 interceptions last season, and he's logged 88 picks in 72 career games.Eli Manning +10000How about the guy who beat Belichick twice in the Super Bowl replacing Brady?While it makes for a good story, don't expect the recently retired Manning to land in New England. He isn't interested in being a backup, and it's hard to see the borderline Hall of Famer beating out Stidham at this point in his career. Pass on Manning's long odds, and instead, put a little pizza money on Derek Carr at 14-1.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.

Now that the NFL's free-agent spree is in full swing, it's time to reconsider the new collective bargaining agreement the NFL Players Association narrowly approved earlier this week, which will stretch through the 2030 season. Here are a few points to ponder …1. Disability paymentsLet's lead with this, because it's not getting talked about much: This agreement screws disabled former players by cutting their benefits. You read that correctly. A league that likes to talk about player health and safety at the same time it insists on adding an extra regular-season game and two postseason games for the gargantuan revenue it generates is offsetting certain payments to former players with qualified disabilities.I recommend reading this story by Alex Raskin in the Daily Mail, which explains things in greater detail. The gist of it is that ex-players who currently receive total and permanent disability through the league and Social Security will have that Social Security benefit offset. What this means is that the amount of that Social Security benefit will be deducted from the disability payment a player receives from the league. And once a player on disability starts collecting his pensions at age 55, that pension will be offset against the disability payment. This means payments to ex-players and families currently faced with debilitating physical and mental conditions will be reduced by up to tens of thousands of dollars annually. Yes, there are incremental gains for pensions for current and former players in this CBA, at a time when pensions are vanishing across the private sector. But as the Twitter account for the NFLPA Former Players acknowledged over the weekend, "Unfortunately, they made all of our other increases contingent on this change." Something to keep in mind every time you read something about 10 years of NFL labor peace.2. The divided voteThe close final tally - 1,109 for, 959 against - reflects a division in the ranks that was apparent when the NFLPA's executive committee actually voted against the deal in late February. The addition of a 17th game (perhaps as early as 2021) and two playoff games (which will happen this year) drove everything. The players did win modest concessions on a number of items: revenue share (though it will still be less than 50%), minimum salaries, benefits, pensions (including those for older players, along with the retroactive inclusion of those with at least three credited seasons), work rules, roster/practice squad spots (which means more jobs), marijuana testing (no more suspensions!), and disciplinary procedures. But was it enough, with another year to go before the 2011 deal was set to expire? A substantial portion of the membership didn't think so, with Panthers left tackle and former NFLPA executive committee member Russell Okung filing a National Labor Relations Board complaint against the union over its handling of the process. Also, roughly 500 eligible players didn't vote at all.3. The status quo, part IThis CBA barely touches any of the player-control mechanisms from the previous deal: franchise/transition tags; restricted free agency; four years of cost control for drafted rookies, with no chance to bargain toward a second contract for at least three years; etc. The one major change is that fifth-year options for first-round picks (starting with those selected in 2018) will become fully guaranteed upon execution, rather than only guaranteed for injury until March of the fifth year.Ethan Miller / Getty Images4. Three significant wins for the playersIt does appear that revenue from legalized gambling conducted in stadiums, no matter the sport, will count toward the "all revenue" formula that determines the players' share. In addition, as ESPN's Dan Graziano pointed out, any money used for stadium credits (i.e., what owners take off the top to assist with stadium construction and renovation projects) cannot reduce the players' share below the agreed-upon figure of 48%, 48.5%, or 48.8% - the levels to which it can rise according to possible increases in national television revenues. Also, per Graziano, the players are entitled to 70% of any revenue above projections at the new stadium in Los Angeles - the first time the players are slated to receive a defined share of new stadium revenues.These are all substantial victories for the players, considering the 11-year length of the deal has no opt-outs or opportunities to revisit where things stand economically in the interim.5. The status quo, part IIOne of the hallmarks of the previous CBA is that players at the top made a lot of money. The salary cap, which is tied to revenues, has jumped an average of nearly 9% per year since 2013. That rise in the cap ought to continue, if not grow even more, once gambling and streaming are added to a pie that already includes national television, far and away the league's biggest source of revenue. This week's flurry of trades and big-money deals as free agency opened showed there's no slowing down the spending spree for top-tier players - which is a good thing!The flip side of this cap growth appears to be an immediate benefit: Minimum salaries will increase by 20% this year, and by roughly 100% over the life of the deal. But it's not totally clear if those increases will keep pace with anticipated growth in the salary cap. The CBA summary that NFLPA leadership provided to agents at the combine indicated something about increases in the rookie allocation pool that could apply to minimums, but it's not clear what leeway teams might have in doling that money out.Why this matters: One drawback of the previous CBA that became apparent as the years wore on was the divide between the haves and have-nots. Middle-class veterans were often left out as teams stocked up on younger, cheaper players to complement the smaller minority that was making big money. Graziano did note that this CBA has a new "veteran salary benefit" that will function a bit like the NBA's mid-level exception by allowing a team to retain as many as two of its veterans with at least four years of service time by excluding as much as $1.25 million from each player's salary from the cap in a given year. Still, an estimated 60% of the league's players work for the minimum. Will teams continue to find loopholes in the CBA's language to squeeze a significant subset of mid-tier veterans?6. Tracking sensorsThe use of player-tracking data is a big item, and while it might seem counterintuitive that this information can't be used in contract negotiations, that stipulation in fact guards players against unforeseen consequences. The players control most of the data, and the CBA's prohibitions against sharing it with other teams can prevent the misuse of detailed personal information such as sleeping disorders, as The Athletic's Daniel Kaplan pointed out.Boston Herald / MediaNews Group / Getty Images7. DisciplineCommissioner Roger Goodell will no longer be the arbiter of discipline cases, though he'll still be the appeals officer. Goodell's heavy-handed use of his authority resulted in one PR crisis after another for the league in the last decade. In the end, however, few players were affected by Goodell's authoritarian approach. But a significant element of the league's justice system will remain unchanged: As attorney Daniel Wallach noticed, "credible evidence" remains the guiding principle for determining a player's guilt under the personal conduct policy, rather than a "preponderance of evidence" threshold. This is the standard that the league often fell back on when Goodell wielded his power in ways that frequently seemed arbitrary and nonsensical (and which often led to drawn-out court challenges). How will it all go now?8. Possible legal loopholes?In a public response to perceptions of the CBA, Saints punter and team player rep Thomas Morstead said that improvements to working conditions and workers' compensation should cut down on injuries and should not be seen as a way to prevent players from suing teams. But attorney Brad Sohn, who's represented numerous players who have sued the league over the years on matters related to health and safety, countered: "The only practical consequence of the new language is to make lawsuits harder. Which it does. Big time." Sohn told the New York Daily News this CBA adds numerous pages that could limit the league's liability with regard to possible future lawsuits on matters that might have been causes to sue in the past.9. The coronavirus impactThe fear of a potential economic downturn fueled the urgency to get a deal done now, some 18 months ahead of when a work stoppage might have affected any actual games. An early agreement had always been a priority for the owners, who quickly ratified their side of things and pressed their case publicly by seeding doubts about the U.S. presidential election's potential impact on TV ratings and the possibility of a recession. Then the public health fallout from the coronavirus kicked in.The players' vote was "definitely failing" until the stock market tanked and most other sports postponed or canceled in-season events because of the coronavirus, a source told Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio. Suddenly, the need to lock in something became important. There's no telling whether the players might have been able to leverage a better deal 12 months from now, even after all their efforts to marshal the collective will to withstand a possible work stoppage. As NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith stated in an open letter shortly after the players' window to vote closed late Saturday night, "Owners have historically utilized every economic downturn as an opportunity to leverage their position against us, except with this CBA."History indeed shows that the NFLPA's membership has long had trouble remaining united for the sake of the greater good, largely because of how big it is and how diffuse its bargaining priorities can be in a sport in which most players have such a small window for potential earning power. In the end, the risk of holding out for more outweighed the reality of locking in some small gains - with a major concession on those disability payments, along with more substantial fines for individual player holdouts - regardless of what's about to befall the world economy. And, again, roughly 20% of eligible players didn't bother to vote.Dom Cosentino is a senior features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Suspended wide receiver Josh Gordon intends to play this upcoming season, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Gordon received the sixth ban of his career in December due to violations of the league's policies on performance-enhancing drugs and substance abuse.The 28-year-old split 2019 between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, catching 27 passes for 426 yards and one touchdown.Despite the new rules on marijuana that were recently passed as part of the new collective bargaining agreement, the wideout will be subject to the previous rules for reinstatement, added Fowler.If Gordon's indefinite suspension is lifted, he would become an unrestricted free agent for the first time.The receiver hinted that he's interested in a reunion with the Seahawks in a tweet Monday:

Free-agent cornerback Chris Harris Jr. will sign with the Los Angeles Chargers after a nine-year stint with the Denver Broncos, he told ESPN's Josina Anderson.Harris landed a two-year deal worth $20 million, a source told James Palmer of NFL Network.The four-time Pro Bowler received interest from the New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, and Las Vegas Raiders before picking the Chargers, sources told Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News.Harris was considered unlikely to return to Denver once the team agreed to acquire fellow cornerback A.J. Bouye from the Jacksonville Jaguars at the beginning of March. The 30-year-old Harris previously revealed that he rejected a three-year, $36-million extension from the Broncos before the 2019 trade deadline.

The Philadelphia Eagles are acquiring cornerback Darius Slay from the Detroit Lions in exchange for a third-round pick and a fifth-round pick in 2020, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.Philadelphia will also give the star corner a new three-year contract extension worth $50 million with $30 million guaranteed, Schefter adds. With that deal averaging $16.67 million annually, the 29-year-old will become the NFL's highest-paid player at his position, according to Over the Cap.For Slay, the trade finalizes a long-awaited exit from Detroit. He tweeted Wednesday evening about his desire to move out of the Motor City after it was reported the Lions agreed to a deal with free-agent corner Desmond Trufant.Despite enduring a down year by his standards in 2019, "Big Play Slay" has been a constant presence in the Lions' defensive backfield. He's played in 13-plus games in six consecutive seasons, has recorded 19 career interceptions, and earned a Pro Bowl selection in three straight campaigns.The Eagles, meanwhile, finally add a veteran presence while hoping to improve their pass defense. The team had been linked to a handful of high-profile defenders this offseason before acquiring Slay, including Byron Jones and Chris Harris.Injuries decimated Philadelphia's secondary in 2019, and the unit performed poorly when healthy. Starting corner Ronald Darby is a free agent and safety Malcolm Jenkins signed with the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday after the Eagles declined his 2020 option.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles are working on the framework of a three-year extension as part of a potential trade that would see them land cornerback Darius Slay from the Detroit Lions, ESPN's Josina Anderson reports, citing a source.Slay tweeted earlier Wednesday evening his desire for a move out of the Motor City after it was reported the Lions agreed to a deal with free-agent corner Desmond Trufant.Slay has one year and $10 million left on his contract with Detroit and has been the subject of rampant trade rumors. He turned 29 years old in January.As for the Eagles, their secondary was decimated by injuries during the 2019 season. Starting corner Ronald Darby is a free agent and safety Malcolm Jenkins signed with the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday after having his 2020 option declined by Philadelphia."Big Play Slay" has been a constant presence in the Lions' defensive backfield. He's played in at least 13 games in each of the last six seasons and owns 19 career interceptions.The Eagles ranked 19th in pass defense in 2019 and 22nd in interceptions with 11.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Detroit Lions defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson is heading to the Los Angeles Rams on a two-year, $17-million contract, his agency told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.Robinson should fill the defensive line spot next to Aaron Donald that was vacated by Michael Brockers, who took a three-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens in free agency.Robinson is coming off a four-year stint with the Lions, who drafted him in the second round out of Alabama. Like Brockers, he's more proficient at stopping the run than rushing the passer.In 13 outings last season, Robinson posted 40 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He also broke up three passes.The Rams have experienced dramatic turnover on defense this offseason, losing a slew of starters in Brockers, Dante Fowler, Cory Littleton, and Eric Weddle.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The initial wave of NFL free agency is over, but there's no lack of talent still available across the board. Here's a look at the best players who've yet to agree to terms.Quarterback

Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay has been the subject of trade rumors for months, and it's apparently starting to get to him.After it was reported Wednesday night that the Lions are signing former Atlanta Falcons corner Desmond Trufant to a two-year deal, Slay shared his hopes about what could come next.

The Detroit Lions are signing cornerback Desmond Trufant to a two-year, $21-million contract with $14 million guaranteed, according to ESPN's Jordan Schultz.Trufant was released by Atlanta on Monday after leading the team's secondary for seven seasons. Detroit now plans to sign the 29-year-old while continuing to shop its own top cover corner, Darius Slay, as ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Slay has been the subject of trade rumors since the beginning of the 2019 season.Trufant played in nine games in 2019 while recording a career-high four interceptions before suffering a season-ending broken forearm in Week 14.The Lions also traded for New England Patriots safety Duron Harmon on Wednesday.Detroit has been busy in free agency, also adding linebacker Jamie Collins, defensive tackle Danny Shelton, offensive tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai, and backup quarterback Chase Daniel.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With his market cooler than expected, Jadeveon Clowney is considering a short-term contract that would allow him to re-enter free agency in a year or two, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports.The edge defender has been looking for a deal that pays him $20 million per year, sources told Dianna Russini of ESPN. Despite hitting the market as one of the top available players, the three-time Pro Bowler has struggled to find suitors willing to meet his asking price.Clowney, who played for the Seattle Seahawks in 2019, hasn't been strongly linked to any potential buyers. A report before free agency suggested he was interested in playing for the New York Giants, but the NFC East club has already spent a fair share of money on James Bradberry, Blake Martinez, and Kyler Fackrell.The Seahawks are believed to be interested in re-signing Clowney and many people around the league expect him to wind up back there, according to Fowler.The 27-year-old Clowney is coming off a three-sack campaign, though he was more proficient at generating pressure on quarterbacks and served as a strong defender against the run.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

WWE is entering uncharted territory with its upcoming livestream of WrestleMania 36.The big event is now a historic two-night presentation on WWE Network with former New England Patriots star Rob Gronkowski hosting on both April 4 and April 5, the organization confirmed Wednesday.

The New England Patriots traded safety Duron Harmon to the Detroit Lions, pending a physical, the Lions announced.The deal involves a flip of late-round draft picks, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Harmon spent seven seasons in New England, where his knack for intercepting fourth-quarter passes earned him the nickname "The Closer." He played behind Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung on the depth chart but was on the field for over 600 snaps in five consecutive seasons.The 29-year-old carries a $5.5-million cap hit for 2020 and is scheduled to become a free agent in 2021.The deal will bring yet another player once coached by Matt Patricia in New England to Detroit. Patricia and the Lions have aggressively pursued former Patriots since his hiring as head coach in 2018.Earlier Wednesday, the Lions reportedly agreed to terms with former Patriots defensive tackle Danny Shelton. Detroit also reportedly hammered out a deal with ex-Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins at the beginning of the legal tampering period.The acquisitions of former Patriots such as Trey Flowers, Justin Coleman, and Danny Amendola headlined the Lions' 2018 offseason.Patricia is entering his third season as Detroit's head coach after serving as an assistant in New England from 2004-2017. He tried to trade for Rob Gronkowski after joining the Lions, but the legendary tight end nixed the move.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent defensive end Bruce Irvin is heading back to the Seattle Seahawks.A first-round pick of the club in 2012, Irvin spent the first four years of his career in Seattle, winning a Super Bowl in 2013. He was released after the 2015 season and spent time with the Raiders before joining the Atlanta Falcons in 2018 and Carolina Panthers in 2019.

The Los Angeles Rams re-signed starting left tackle Andrew Whitworth to a three-year contract, according to his agency, SportsTrust Advisors.