The Kansas City Chiefs will use the franchise tag on defensive tackle Chris Jones, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The window for teams to assign the franchise or transition tags opened Thursday and will end March 12. The window was pushed back two days due to collective bargaining agreement talks between owners and players.The franchise tender would keep Jones from becoming an unrestricted free agent while offering him a non-negotiable one-year contract worth the average of the top five player salaries at his position. The defensive tackle franchise tag is projected to be worth $15.5 million in 2020, though the NFL has yet to announce exact values.Jones has developed into a star since being selected by Kansas City in the second round of the 2016 draft. He posted nine sacks over 13 games during 2019 and had 15.5 sacks in a full season's worth of contests the year prior. The 25-year-old was dominant at times in the Chiefs' Super Bowl LIV victory despite playing with an injured calf.The Chiefs reportedly hope to sign Jones to a long-term extension. They now have until 4 p.m. on July 15 to get a deal done without fear of a rival team swooping in and signing the Pro Bowler off the open market.However, Kansas City is short on cap space entering the offseason and could be forced to part ways with certain veterans to make room for Jones and other moves. There has been plenty of chatter at the NFL combine in Indianapolis that the Chiefs could look to trade away players in an effort to clear salary off their 2020 books, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chase Young is one of the few challengers to Joe Burrow's status as the presumptive No. 1 pick in the 2020 draft, and the former Ohio State pass-rusher believes his talent is unmatched in this year's class."I definitely think I'm the best player in the draft," Young said Thursday at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, according to Nick Shook of NFL.com. "I think I showed it on my tape. Every game, I think I showed it. I definitely think I put my best foot forward this year, I grinded hard. Two of my biggest things are hard work and dedication and I'm going to bring those two to the NFL with me."With the Cincinnati Bengals widely expected to take the Heisman-winning Burrow at the top of the draft, Young has been penciled in as the Washington Redskins' pick at No. 2.Dwayne Haskins, Young's former Buckeyes teammate, was the Redskins' first-round pick last year, and the quarterback is hoping for a reunion."Me and Dwayne, we talk all the time," Young said, according to Matthew Paras of The Washington Times. "I've known Dwayne since high school. He definitely loves the organization. Obviously he wants me to come play with him. But I just think we'll see how this whole thing turns out."Redskins head coach Ron Rivera said Wednesday that "everything is an option" with the second overall pick, including Burrow and fellow quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who will both meet with the NFC East team at the combine.But after he set an Ohio State record with 16.5 sacks in his final season, it could be hard for the Redskins to pass on Young.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dear NFL players,The leadership of your union, the NFL Players Association, has moved to send a proposed collective bargaining agreement to you and your fellow members, with a vote expected in the next few weeks. A simple majority is all it takes to ratify the agreement. The new deal would run through the 2029 season and add a 17th regular-season game, in exchange for some modest concessions from the owners.But before you vote, ask yourself this question: What's the hurry? The current agreement doesn't expire until March of next year. Yeah, I know: Your union's executive committee spent 10 months bargaining, television executives and internet streaming services are waving blank checks at the league, and some of that Serious Money will also flow in your direction. But notice who's been really eager to get this thing done and then consider why this is so.On a moment's notice last week, all 32 owners flew to New York City to approve the agreement on their end. The rationale for their urgency has been explained through the press in recent weeks: Locking in a deal now would provide labor peace that can be sold to the TV networks, which are thirsty for the NFL because the NFL is a ratings monster. At the root of all this is the 17th game, which is an extra week of programming.Also, despite a recent dip, the stock market has remained strong over the long haul. But there's a presidential election looming, which means ratings might slip this fall, and who knows what might happen to the markets if the occupant of the White House changes. The owners basically want to get this deal done while the getting is good, because any of the above factors could negatively affect the league's primary source of revenue.This is nonsense, though. There is nothing - absolutely nothing - to suggest the public's ravenous interest in watching the NFL is going to wane any time soon. I mean, 28 of the 50 most-viewed primetime shows last year in the age 18-49 demographic were NFL games. Also, the NFL has been immensely popular for decades, which ought to offset the idea that some Democratic bogeyman is going to make the league less popular after the election - a forecast that likely reflects the owners' political preferences more than any solid economic indicators.Mike Ehrmann / Getty ImagesAnd it's not like the networks have the guarantee of something like a "Cheers" reboot in the hopper as a ratings replacement. The networks need the NFL more than the NFL needs them, and the owners know this. They want you to think you need to rush to do this deal, or else.Which brings us to the length and the revenue split of this proposed CBA. At 10 years, the deal would give the owners exactly what they want: long-term cost certainty, even with the players' share of total revenues climbing from 47% to 48.5% in exchange for adding that extra game, which the players have long stated they'd be against because of the health and safety risks.Gambling and streaming services will factor into the revenue pie in the decade ahead. So why agree to a pact that doesn't include an opt-out that would allow you to reassess things in a few years? Why lock in your take for an entire decade instead of insisting on a gradual increase that eventually reaches 50% toward the end of the 10 years? The previous CBA, signed in 2006, had an opt-out clause. And the owners exercised it as soon as they could before locking out the players during the 2011 negotiations."The problem with a long-term deal is things change," Villanova University law professor Andrew Brandt said this week on his podcast, "The Business of Sports." Brandt, an ex-Green Bay Packers executive and former player agent, has been on both sides of the table. He cut right to the chase when he said, "The NFL is being very strategic with this deal." Heed those words.I'm sure there were items the NFL made non-negotiable. But you have to consider who you're up against. The league's owners have long made a sport of dividing and conquering you. Your predecessors went on strike multiple times in the 1970s and 1980s, going so far as to sacrifice game checks in 1982 and 1987. The owners' response in 1987 was to field literal replacements to break your ranks.Lyn Alweis / Denver Post / Getty ImagesYours was the last of the four major North American sports leagues to adopt free agency - but only after your union briefly dissolved itself so individual players could seek relief from the courts. You also play in the only such league without guaranteed contracts, and even if that's more the result of individual bargaining custom than anything specifically brokered by the union, it's still a fact. As is your risk for injury compared to those other sports.Free agency began in 1994, and none of management's fear-mongering about how it would ruin the game proved to be true. The exact opposite has happened, in fact. Yet the owners have never stopped prioritizing their profits and their ability to exert control over you, from (among other things) the way they manipulated the data on brain trauma to Roger Goodell's weaponization of his total disciplinary authority to that short-lived national anthem policy they cooked up without consulting any of you.The anthem policy died before it could be implemented because your union filed a grievance, but it's hard to believe it didn't serve a strategic purpose - that the league's sudden about-face and show of magnanimity wasn't just another bargaining chip for the long game. And here we are.What appears to be one of the best features of this deal is actually a window into the way the owners can subtly divide your union. Minimum salaries for rookies will increase by $100,000 this year, and by $90,000 for other minimum-salary players, with another bump in 2021 followed by slower growth in the years to follow. For all the talk about the NFL being a league of millionaires, roughly 60% of you play for the minimum. For rookies in 2020, under the current CBA, that amounts to $510,000. An extra $100,000 would represent a boost of nearly 20%, which is one hell of an incentive for someone with limited earning power in a league in which the average career spans approximately five seasons.I know you don't want to hear this, but football will likely be done with you when you're still in your 20s. Nate Jackson has written eloquently about his time as a player on the league's fringes. Pay attention to him:

Two NFL players gave the public a glimpse at what a discussion over the proposed CBA might be like when they got into a back and forth on Twitter.Baltimore Ravens backup quarterback Robert Griffin III engaged in a lively debate with Washington Redskins player representative and long snapper Nick Sundberg.Griffin supported the public stances of Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson to vote against the proposal. Sundberg explained why he voted yes.

The Washington Redskins are keeping all of their options open with the second overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft."Everything is possible, everything is an option," head coach Ron Rivera told reporters at the NFL combine Wednesday, according to Redskins.com's Zach Selby. "We're gonna decide as a group and then we'll go forward from there."Rivera suggested that the Redskins' decision depends on what the Cincinnati Bengals do with the first overall selection."Once that pick goes on, then we'll go from there," he said. "(Vice president Kyle Smith and I) have talked a couple of times already about what situations could potentially be, but the truth is we have to see what happens in front of us."The Bengals are expected to select quarterback Joe Burrow with the top pick in April.It's widely believed Washington will select pass-rusher Chase Young second overall. However, Rivera said he's meeting with Burrow and fellow signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa.In last year's draft, the Redskins picked quarterback Dwayne Haskins with the 15th overall selection. Haskins struggled as a rookie, completing 58.6% of his passes for seven touchdowns while throwing seven interceptions through nine appearances.Rivera, who was hired by Washington following the end of the 2019 regular season, has praised Haskins, but he said Wednesday the signal-caller has to earn the starting job for 2020."He's got to grow into it, and nothing will be given," Rivera said. "He's not anointed, that's for sure."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former NFL quarterback Trevone Boykin was sentenced to three years in prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to charges stemming from a 2018 incident, The Associated Press reports.Boykin and prosecutors negotiated the sentence in return for his guilty plea to aggravated assault and witness tampering. He'll be eligible for parole in less than a year.The former Seattle Seahawks QB was arrested in Texas in March 2018 after his girlfriend, Shabrika Bailey, said he broke her jaw in two places.Boykin, a former star at TCU, signed with the Seahawks in 2016. After releasing him in 2017, the team signed him to a futures contract in 2018 before cutting him again after his arrest.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers spoke about the current collective bargaining agreement negotiations between NFL owners and the NFLPA on Wednesday.The 15-year veteran was selected by his teammates to be the NFLPA player representative for the Packers. He explained he voted against a proposed CBA the two sides spent four hours discussing Tuesday night.The NFLPA board voted early Wednesday morning to send the proposed CBA back to its membership for a vote.

Everson Griffen opted out of the final three years of his contract, but that doesn't mean his time with the Minnesota Vikings is done.Though the pass-rusher can now enter the free-agent market, the Vikings believe Griffen will return to Minnesota."Everson's a terrific person for us. I think our situation is the right one for him and we expect him to be back," head coach Mike Zimmer said, according to NFL.com's Nick Shook.Griffen was set to count for $12.9 million against the cap next season before he declined his option. The Vikings now have a league-low $1.4 million worth of cap space for 2020, according to Over the Cap.It will require some financial gymnastics to get Griffen - who has put up 57 sacks since 2014 - back under contract, but Zimmer believes the Vikings will find a way."I think he wants to be back, so, you know, those kinds of things usually work its way out," he said.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With Philip Rivers set to hit free agency for the first time, the Indianapolis Colts appear to be his most likely destination, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.Rapoport said many of the team personnel he's spoken with this week at the NFL combine believe Rivers will ultimately sign with the Colts.Additionally, the Las Vegas Raiders shouldn't be ruled out as a potential landing spot for the veteran passer, Rapoport added. The Raiders are also reportedly interest in signing Tom Brady.The 38-year-old Rivers threw 20 interceptions last season - tied for the second-highest mark of his career - and his 23 touchdown passes were the fewest he's tossed since 2007.However, Rivers would be playing behind one of the top offensive lines of his career if he joins Indianapolis.It remains to be seen whether the Colts are interested in a short-term fix under center or if they'll look to the draft instead. Frank Reich's squad currently owns the 13th overall pick and is expected to do its due diligence on the top group of quarterbacks.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On-field drills at the NFL Scouting Combine will begin Thursday. It's arguably the most important scouting portion ahead of the draft, as a number of prospects will see their stocks rise or plummet in an instant.With that in mind, here are 10 players to watch in Indianapolis as they attempt to wow NFL decision-makers.Henry Ruggs III, WR, AlabamaHave your popcorn ready when Ruggs takes the field at Lucas Oil Stadium.The talented wideout is an absolute burner and will surely wow every onlooker this week. He's the top candidate to break John Ross' 40-yard dash record of 4.22 seconds and will still run a sub-4.3 time even if he doesn't.

Kliff Kingsbury's first season with the Arizona Cardinals could certainly be viewed as a success, but the head coach didn't kick off his tenure with much confidence.With his team down 17-3 at halftime during its Week 1 contest against the Detroit Lions, Kingsbury believed his job was on the line during his first game in charge."I'm not exaggerating, I was thinking, 'I can't believe I just bought that house. I'm gonna be here two games and they're gonna fire me,'" he said during a Tuesday appearance on "The Ryen Russillo Podcast." "Cause it was as bad as I'd ever seen. I mean, we couldn't get a yard, we couldn't complete a pass ... That was about the highest anxiety I've ever had on the sidelines. Truly anything we tried to do was a complete disaster."He added: "That was a rough 30 minutes and I just kept thinking about poor (general manager) Steve (Keim) up there in the press box with the owner, probably just wanted to jump off the balcony. But luckily it worked out."Arizona and Detroit ended up tying the contest 27-27. Behind a fresh offense, Kingsbury led a 3-13 Cardinals team that selected first overall at the 2019 NFL Draft to a 5-10-1 record this past season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ron Rivera categorized the relationship between Trent Williams and the Washington Redskins a "work in progress" on Wednesday as he attempts to mend fences with the left tackle, according to Kevin Patra of NFL.com.Rivera, who took over as head coach in January, has been working to restore the partnership after it turned sour last season. Williams held out for most of the 2019 campaign, upset over a medical issue he felt the franchise handled insufficiently. He reported to the team in November and spent the rest of the year on the non-football injury list.The Redskins, whose front office was manned by Bruce Allen, refused to trade Williams last season. Allen was dismissed at the end of the year.Washington has reportedly been optimistic about the chances of Williams returning to the team in 2020. The 31-year-old has one season left on his contract.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants released linebackers Alec Ogletree and Kareem Martin on Wednesday, the team announced.The moves open up $13.05 million in salary cap space, according to Over The Cap.Both veterans spent two seasons with the Giants.Ogletree contributed 173 tackles, two sacks, and six interceptions during his tenure. The 28-year-old was acquired from the Los Angeles Rams via trade. He had two years left on his contract.Martin appeared in just five games during 2019 due to injury. He posted 49 tackles and 1.5 sacks across 16 contests in 2018. The North Carolina product had been signed through 2020.The two releases leave New York with a dead cap hit of $4.67 million.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFLPA Board of Player Representatives voted to send the proposed collective bargaining agreement to membership for a full vote, NFLPA assistant executive director of external affairs George Atallah announced early Wednesday morning.Players across the NFL will now have an opportunity to vote, with a majority required to approve and ratify the new CBA.NFL owners and NFLPA representatives met for four hours Tuesday, with the two sides further discussing details of a new CBA proposed and approved by team owners last week.The proposal approved by owners contains some significant changes including a 17-game regular season, an expanded playoff format featuring two extra teams, and a modification to the NFL's policy on marijuana testing and punishment. In the proposed CBA, players would receive a 48% revenue share, which could increase as media rights are renegotiated, reports ESPN's Adam Schefter.Additionally, owners agreed to remove the $250,000 cap they pitched for the 17th game check to players, according to ESPN.Of the 32 player representatives, 17 voted in favor of the proposal. One representative abstained. The group passed the deal despite a 7-4 vote from the NFLPA executive committee to reject it, a source told ESPN's Brooke Pryor. The executive committee voted 6-5 against the owners' first proposal.The NFL and NFLPA are hoping to have a deal in place before the 2020 league year begins on March 18. The existing CBA runs through the upcoming campaign.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Soon-to-be free agent Austin Hooper suggested on social media Tuesday that his time with the Atlanta Falcons is over.The Pro Bowl tight end posted a caption-less image on Instagram then responded to fans' questions about his future with comments such as, "It's a business, man, no hard feels," and "told me to hit the road lol not up to me."

Bruce Arians revealed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' plan for determining their 2020 starting quarterback while speaking Tuesday at the scouting combine.In an interview with NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano, the Bucs head coach initially said: "We have a plan, we're just not telling anybody." Then, he was pressed further by Siciliano.

New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas appeared to confirm Le'Veon Bell's long-term future with the team.At the close of the 2019 season, Douglas said he would listen to any calls from rival teams interested in acquiring the running back. On Tuesday, Douglas expressed excitement about Bell's future in New York."There hasn't been talk as far as him going anywhere," Douglas said Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. "We're excited about Le'Veon. Le'Veon's been a great teammate. I can't tell you how great he's been."In Bell's first year as a Jet and first since sitting out the 2018 season due to a contract dispute with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he put up career-low numbers in carries (245), yards (789), and rushing touchdowns (3) in 15 games."I wouldn't say his play declined. His numbers probably aren't where he would want them to be," Douglas said in defense of his rusher. "I think we need to do a better job of opening holes for him. We need to put him in a good position to be as productive as he was in Pittsburgh."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

To Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant was a superhero.The New England Patriots quarterback shared a reflective statement about Bryant on Tuesday, praising the Los Angeles Lakers legend's values on and off the court."The world we live in is teaching EVERYONE to fear, to worry, to shame, or to give up," Brady wrote in a five-paragraph message posted to Twitter. "And that's the opposite of what Kobe stood for. That's what made Kobe a real superhero. He spoke about mentality with such conviction, about the idea that if you truly believed in something you could achieve it. ... He pushed others to find that same confidence. He was the real-life superhero our world needs."The six-time Super Bowl champion said he's been "deeply affected" by the deaths of Bryant, Bryant's daughter Gianna, and the seven other people killed in a Jan. 26 helicopter crash."I've witnessed the well-deserved outpouring of love and support for the families that had so much left to give, and it's helped me reflect and gain perspective," Brady wrote. "I know that love, peace, and joy will always endure."Brady praised Bryant for his ability to motivate others."Kobe didn't care whether you were a man or woman, boy or girl, black or white, rich or poor, ordinary or extraordinary, he wanted to help you become the best you could be," Brady wrote. "His mere presence had an effect on everybody he was around."Brady concluded: "If there is anything I have learned and been inspired by through this tragic event, it is this, SEIZE THE DAY. That's what Kobe always did, and that's what he wanted for us too."Kobe and Gianna Bryant's memorial service took place Monday at Staples Center in Los Angeles.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains derogatory and coarse languageESPN Cleveland radio reporter Tony Grossi has been suspended indefinitely for calling Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield a "fucking midget," the station announced Tuesday."The term Tony used is a derogatory slur to describe little people. Good Karma Brands will not tolerate derogatory language that demeans others or groups of people," the statement said.Grossi made the comment while the mics were still hot during a discussion about the quarterbacks the Browns missed out on in the draft over the last four years, such as Deshaun Watson and Carson Wentz.

Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert believes quarterback Ben Roethlisberger could benefit from missing most of the 2019 season following an elbow injury and subsequent surgery."The thing that's exciting about it is we might have a better Ben Roethlisberger coming out of this surgery," Colbert said Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor. "He sat for a year, didn't have wear and tear on his body for a year. Sure, he had a significant surgery, but we're optimistic he might be better."Roethlisberger resumed throwing last week after undergoing surgery in September. He'll turn 38 years old in March, but the Steelers appear committed to him as their starter for the foreseeable future.The quarterback isn't expected to be cleared for another two-to-three months, a timetable that gives him a chance of being ready for the start of the offseason program in late April.Though Colbert acknowledged the two-time Super Bowl winner could deal with "rust" when he returns, the GM said his team is hopeful Roethlisberger's surgery was a positive long-term move."Physically, he should be better. The arm, who knows? His arm might be stronger coming out of this surgery," said Colbert. "Again, you never know the extent of an injury when it happens. When it happens, it happens. But how long was it bothering him without him even knowing it? So right now, we know where it is and we are optimistic that he might be better."In 2018, Roethlisberger led the league with 5,129 yards and had a career-high 34 touchdown passes.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Vikings don't expect to see wide receiver Stefon Diggs wearing different colors in 2020 despite his dissatisfaction with the team's passing game last year."There is no reason to anticipate Stefon Diggs is not going to be a member of the Minnesota Vikings," general manager Rick Spielman said Tuesday, according to Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune.Trade chatter surrounding Diggs became stronger last season after the pass-catcher confirmed he was frustrated in October. The 26-year-old didn't openly request a trade but admitted "there's truth to all rumors" when asked about a report that his teammates weren't sure whether he wanted to remain in Minnesota.The wideout deleted all Vikings pictures from his Instagram account earlier in February.Diggs, who's due to make $10.9 million in salary this season, signed a five-year, $72-million contract extension with the Vikings in July 2018. Trading him would create a $9-million dead-money cap hit while clearing $5.5 million in cap space.A fifth-round pick in 2015, Diggs led the Vikings in receptions (63), receiving yards (1,130), and touchdowns (six) in 2019. He's topped 1,000 receiving yards in each of the past two campaigns.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Las Vegas Raiders general manager Mike Mayock praised Derek Carr's 2019 season Tuesday, though he stopped short of committing to the quarterback for 2020 and beyond."The guy completed 70% of his passes, he had almost a 3-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, I think we're No. 11 in the league in total yards, we were seventh in third-down conversions," Mayock told reporters, including The Athletic's Vic Tafur, at the NFL Scouting Combine. "We did a lot of really good things on offense last year; the disconnect was we didn't score a lot of points. You're 11 in yards and 24 in points - there's an issue."It's defense, it's special teams, it's not scoring in the red zone, and it's not scoring in goal-to-go. To me, those are the issues. Derek Carr played at a high level. I'm very happy with Derek Carr. What I've told everybody I've been in touch with since the day I took this job is we're gonna evaluate every position every year. And if we can get better, we will."The Raiders have been rumored as potential suitors for Tom Brady, who is scheduled to hit free agency after 20 seasons with the New England Patriots. Mayock also faced questions about Carr's future last year when the Raiders owned three first-round draft picks and a boatload of salary-cap space.Carr, who will turn 29 in March, has led the Raiders to the playoffs just once in six seasons. He threw for 4,054 yards with 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions this past campaign, registering a career-high 7.9 yards per pass attempt. It was one of his strongest seasons since he suffered a broken leg in 2016, the year he helped the Raiders earn a postseason berth.Carr is signed through 2022 but can be released this offseason for a dead cap hit of $7.9 million, according to OverTheCap.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tua Tagovailoa will soon be ready to showcase his talents to NFL teams.The former Alabama quarterback told reporters at the combine Tuesday that he expects to be fully cleared from his hip injury March 9 and will throw during an individual pro day April 9, according to ESPN's Cameron Wolfe.It's uncertain whether Tagovailoa will be ready to participate in Alabama's pro day set for March 24 or if he'll wait until his own workout to throw for teams as he continues to recover from a dislocated hip and posterior wall fracture.Tagovailoa isn't participating in drills at the combine but did undergo a medical evaluation Monday. He said he was the last person to leave the hospital after a near 10-hour stay.

Projected No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow defused speculation Tuesday that he doesn't want to land with the Cincinnati Bengals."I'm not gonna not play," the LSU quarterback told reporters at the scouting combine, according to CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones. "I'm a ballplayer. Whoever picks me, I'm gonna go show up."Burrow was peppered with questions about his desire to play for the Bengals after former No. 1 pick Steve Bartkowski suggested the 23-year-old should "pull an Eli Manning" and force his way to another team. Leading up to the combine, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner had refrained from saying outright that he wants to play for the Bengals."I don't know what's gonna happen, they might not pick me, they might fall in love with someone else," Burrow added Tuesday, via Albert Breer of The MMQB. "You guys kinda took that narrative and ran with it, but there's never been anything like that from my end."Burrow has yet to meet with the Bengals, but agreed with a reporter's assessment that it would be exciting to play in Southwest Ohio, near where he grew up."Yeah, absolutely," he said. "It's two hours, 15 minutes from my house. I could go home for dinner if I wanted to. Not a lot of pro athletes could get to do that."Burrow won't throw or work out at the combine, but he intends to do so at LSU's pro day.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers and Cam Newton appear to be sticking together, at least for now.The Panthers are moving forward with the presumption that Newton will be their starting quarterback in 2020, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, who also said, "A lot can still happen in the coming months."New Panthers head coach Matt Rhule and his staff have reportedly been encouraged by Newton's commitment to rehabbing his foot injury and ensuring he returns to "top form." Rapoport added Tuesday that Newton won't be game-ready for several months, which complicates any potential trade.The quarterback missed 14 contests last season with the Lisfranc injury to his left foot, the first significant absence of his career. Newton battled a shoulder ailment in 2018 but only sat out two games.Panthers owner David Tepper, who took over the team in 2018, fired longtime head coach Ron Rivera in December. With Newton entering the final year of his contract, there's been speculation that the NFC South team could be heading for a major rebuild.While it appears Carolina is on track to have Newton back for 2020, it remains to be seen whether the team will grant the veteran an extension or let him play out his contract year.Tepper previously said that Newton's rehab would determine Carolina's status at quarterback in 2020. The Panthers reportedly believe the 30-year-old is likely to pass his physical and will be cleared for some football activity in March.Before his injury-filled 2019, Newton enjoyed one of his best statistical seasons in 2018, setting a career high in completion percentage (67.9%) and producing his second-best passer rating (94.2), trailing only his MVP-winning season in 2015.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Greg Olsen had free-agent options, but in the end, he settled upon signing with the Seattle Seahawks."It was just too good of an opportunity to pass up," Olsen said Monday to Seahawks.com.Released by the Panthers at the end of January after nine seasons in Carolina, the 34-year-old tight end had interest from the Seahawks, Buffalo Bills, and Washington Redskins. But his battles against Seattle led him to the Emerald City."Their track record of success, consistency of winning. I've played in this city many times, and just the fan base, the excitement, that stadium is one of the more unique venues in all of sports," Olsen said. "And obviously coach (Pete) Carroll, playing with somebody like (quarterback) Russell (Wilson), it just checks so many boxes I was looking for, and I'm confident I can just come in and do my part and help try to put (us) over the edge."Olsen was officially unveiled as the newest Seahawk on Monday and he hopes to again challenge for a championship in Seattle."It's huge. As I've said, they checked so many boxes," he said. "At this point in my career, what I'm looking for is things I've always valued in my career: consistency, doing things the right way, everybody being all in. This entire organization has really represented that for the last decade."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2020 NFL Scouting Combine is underway, and the quarterback measurements Monday was the first noteworthy news from the event.No signal-caller needed to answer questions about their size in the same way Kyler Murray did last year, but there were several interesting tidbits from the top players in the class:PlayerHeightWeight (lbs)Hand Joe Burrow6-3 4/8"2219"Tua Tagovailoa6-021710"Justin Herbert6-6 2/8"23610"Jordan Love6-3 6/8"22410 4/8"Jacob Eason6-5 7/8"2319 4/8"Jalen Hurts6-12229 6/8"Jake Fromm6-1 7/8"2198 7/8"Anthony Gordon6-2 3/8"2059 6/8"As the presumptive No. 1 overall pick, Joe Burrow will be picked apart for the next few months before the Cincinnati Bengals decide whether to make him their next franchise player.While Burrow's stature won't be a concern after solid numbers, his relatively small nine-inch hands will draw some attention. The measurement is taken from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the pinkie, and nine inches is generally considered the minimum threshold for NFL passers.Hand size is far from a perfect predictor of success at the NFL level (for example, Patrick Mahomes' hands are 9 1/4 inches), but it's considered a factor in a quarterback's ability to secure the football and play in poor weather.For those looking to poke holes in the Heisman winner's near-perfect game, his hand size will be held up as a minor red flag, though he's taking it all in stride.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and Anchor.In this episode, Kyle Yates of FantasyPros joins Boone to preview the 2020 NFL Combine.

The NFL's competition committee isn't thrilled with the results of the experimental rule to make pass interference reviewable.During the 2019 season, calls were largely left up to the officiating office in New York to handle, resulting in just 24 of 101 reviews being reversed.Implemented to bring clarity, the new rule instead further frustrated coaches and fans alike."Overall, the results were not great," committee member and Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy said Monday, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert. "And I think it really is putting the New York office in a very difficult position ... But it's still pretty early, we're looking at different options."The committee has yet to decide on whether to continue on with the rule or to squash it after one season."You have to decide from a cost-benefit analysis standpoint: Is this worth it? Are we getting enough bang for our buck as far as the game goes?" committee chairman and Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay said. "And that's one that the clubs have to answer."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Time is ticking for the Dallas Cowboys and Dak Prescott to agree on a new contract, but the two parties apparently haven't talked for a significant amount of time.Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said Monday that his team hasn't met or negotiated with the impending unrestricted free agent since September, according to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News.Jones added that Dallas won't agree to an extension with either Prescott or fellow free agent Amari Cooper until the collective bargaining agreement rules are determined for the 2020 season.The NFL approved terms for a new CBA last week, but the players' association has yet to sign off on the deal.If a new agreement isn't put into place for 2020, teams will be allowed to use both the franchise and transition tags instead of only one.While Jones admitted the Cowboys are facing cap "challenges" because of the upcoming paydays for Prescott and Cooper, he said there is "absolutely not" a time when his team will look to move on from the pivot."Dak's our quarterback. He's our quarterback for the future," Jones said. "We have nothing but the greatest respect for him."Prescott produced the best season of his career in 2019, throwing for 4,902 yards and 30 touchdowns.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageThe NFL "quietly" reinstated Vontaze Burfict in January after suspending him for the majority of the 2019 season, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.Burfict was banned for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle in Week 4, the latest in a long line of illegal plays by the then-Oakland Raiders linebacker.The former Cincinnati Bengals standout is set to become an unrestricted free agent and is "serious" about changing his playing style in order to make a comeback, according to his agent, Peter Schaffer.

Former Ohio State pass-rusher Chase Young plans to skip workout drills at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The consensus top defensive prospect in the class will reportedly take part in interviews and medicals at the event, which started Sunday and ends March 2.Young will also participate in position drills at the Ohio State pro day March 25, reports ESPN's Adam Schefter.The 6-foot-5, 265-pound defensive end was expected to be among the most impressive athletes at the combine but the consensus top-three pick may want to mitigate risk ahead of the draft.Young broke the Buckeyes' single-season sack record in 2019 with 16.5 during his junior year. theScore's latest mock draft has the Washington Redskins selecting the pass-rusher with the No. 2 pick.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jacksonville Jaguars aren't expected to pick up the 2020 option on defensive tackle Marcell Dareus' contract ahead of Tuesday's deadline, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.The move will free up $20 million in cap space for the Jaguars and allow the veteran to hit the open market.Jacksonville previously had the worst cap situation in the league, going over the 2020 cap by $3.42 million, according to Spotrac.Dareus was traded to the Jaguars from the Buffalo Bills in 2017. He played in 30 games for the AFC South club, racking up 45 total tackles and 2.5 sacks.He was limited to six games in 2019 due to a core muscle injury.The 29-year-old will join a stacked class of impending free-agent defensive tackles that also includes Chris Jones, Arik Armstead, D.J. Reader, Javon Hargrave, and Leonard Williams.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Indianapolis Colts will enter the offseason with plenty of options at quarterback.The Colts could continue on with Jacoby Brissett, who has one year remaining on his contract, they could use the No. 13 overall pick in April's draft on a new quarterback, or they could go out and find a new passer in free agency."All options are open and on the table," team owner Jim Irsay said Sunday, according to NFL.com's Adam Maya."I've never quite been in a year where this was so unusual," he continued. "(General manager) Chris (Ballard) and (head coach) Frank (Reich) and I have really talked about this and, man, we're really open-minded."The Colts finished 7-9 in 2019 after Andrew Luck's abrupt retirement during the preseason. Brissett took over under center and started a full season for only the second time in his four-year career.Irsay expressed faith in Brissett and said he needs more "time to develop."Multiple scenarios present themselves for Indianapolis, including any of Tom Brady, Philip Rivers, or the top-rated quarterbacks in this year's draft suiting up for the Colts in 2020."There's a lot of ways this thing could turn. But right now, Jacoby is the starter," Irsay said.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL player leadership continues to be divided over the notion of a 17-game regular season ahead of an upcoming vote on a proposed new collective bargaining agreement, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Players were split into three categories when discussing the proposal, according to Fowler. There were those who will never want 17 games, those who will accept the terms of the deal with tweaks, and those who approve of the proposal in its current form.Representatives held a conference call on Friday and were initially set to vote on the deal, but getting the two-thirds majority in support of it wasn't certain, according to Fowler.The players' union postponed voting as a result and will meet with league officials Tuesday at the NFL combine in Indianapolis. The union could vote as early as Wednesday, but it hopes to continue negotiating with team owners.However, the owners reportedly aren't interested in renegotiating their offer.The NFL Players Association executive committee voted 6-5 against the proposed CBA on Friday. The offer now goes to the 32-man board of player representatives, which is responsible for the final vote.Two-thirds of the representatives must approve the new terms, while the full membership can pass the deal with a simple majority.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After undergoing elbow surgery last September, Ben Roethlisberger appears to be inching toward returning to the field.The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, who suited up for just two games in 2019, was optimistic about his recovery after visiting the doctor on Friday."It was a good report," Roethlisberger said, according to 93.7 The Fan's Ron Cook. "I got to bypass the tennis ball throwing for a month and go right to the football. (It's) still going to be about two-and-a-half-to-three months until I get total clearance from doc but we are doing good!"Big Ben recently resumed throwing, and he could be healthy in time for offseason activities."It felt amazing to throw," he said. "It was hard to hold the smile in. (I'll have) two more throwing sessions while I'm out here in California and then (I'm) headed back to (Pittsburgh)."Roethlisberger set career highs in passing yards and touchdowns in 2018. Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges split starts under center last season in the veteran's absence.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL and NFL Players Association agreed to push back the window for franchise and transition tags to be applied by two days, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport.Teams will be able to start assigning tenders on Feb. 27 instead of Feb. 25 and have until March 12 to use them rather than March 10.Clubs may use both tags this offseason because of a clause in the final year of the existing collective bargaining agreement. Teams will be allowed only one tag if the NFL and NFLPA agree to a new CBA.Players are expected to vote to approve or reject a new CBA on Tuesday or Wednesday. Owners have already voted in favor of it.The Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans would be among the teams in position to use both tags if a new CBA doesn't get done in time.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Green Bay Packers have agreed to a three-year contract with longtime kicker Mason Crosby, his agent announced via Twitter.The deal is worth $12.9 million, including $6 million in the first season, a source told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.Crosby, 35, is coming off his most efficient season, as he went 22-for-24 on field goals in 2019.The Colorado product has spent his entire 13-year career with the Packers, serving as one of the most consistent kickers in the league, with the exception of a shaky stretch in 2018.Crosby was on track to enter free agency, where he would've been one of the top available kickers along with Greg Zuerlein from the Los Angeles Rams.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets announced the signing of free-agent receiver Josh Doctson on Saturday.The former first-round pick of the Washington Redskins in 2016 was cut by the team in September and spent part of the 2019 season with the Minnesota Vikings, though he played in only one game and didn't record a catch.The former TCU star has yet to put it together in the pros. He recorded career highs of 44 catches and 532 yards in 2018. His best touchdown total came in 2017 when he found the end zone six times.Current Jets wideouts Robby Anderson and Demaryius Thomas are set to hit free agency in March.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wide receiver Danny Amendola is re-signing with the Detroit Lions on a one-year deal, according to FoxSports.com's Peter Schrager.Amendola, who was set to become a free agent this offseason, amassed 62 receptions for 678 yards and one touchdown in his first campaign with the Lions in 2019.The 34-year-old has now posted at least 55 catches and 500 receiving yards in each of the past three seasons. He played under a one-year, $4.5-million contract last year.An undrafted player in 2008, Amendola made his regular-season debut for the then-St. Louis Rams in 2009. He then played in two Super Bowls during his time with the New England Patriots from 2013 to 2017, and the veteran spent a year with the Miami Dolphins in 2018 before arriving in Detroit.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens have signed Don "Wink" Martindale to a new three-year contract that will make him the highest-paid defensive coordinator in the NFL, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.Terms of the contract were not disclosed.Martindale led the NFL's fourth-ranked defense, with the Ravens allowing 300.6 yards per game in 2019. The club ranked sixth against the pass, fifth against the run, and third in points allowed per game (17.6).Martindale joined Baltimore in 2018, and the team finished the year ranked first in total defense.The Ravens' coaching staff also features 2019 Coach of the Year John Harbaugh and Greg Roman, the Assistant Coach of the Year this past campaign and the team's offensive coordinator.While Martindale appears tied to the Ravens for the foreseeable future, Roman is rumored to be the University of Colorado's target in its search for a new head coach, according to Rivals.com.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Johnny Manziel has done an about-face on the XFL.Two weeks after tweeting he had no interest in "playing for another league that's going to fold on you midway through the season," Manziel reached out to the commissioner of the XFL for a job opportunity.Twitter/@HefferBrew Manziel's account has since been deactivated.The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner has bounced around football leagues since last appearing in the NFL in 2015. He joined the CFL in 2018, splitting time between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes before he was released by the league and joined the startup AAF.The AAF folded last spring after eight weeks.The XFL debuted two weeks ago and drew an average of 3.3-million viewers across its four games. Those ratings dropped in Week 2 to an average of 2.06 million.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Lions will entertain offers for the No. 3 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, though they've yet to receive inquiries."Open to any trades," general manager Bob Quinn told Tori Petry of DetroitLions.com. "... The higher you are up in the draft, really the sooner the conversations begin. I have not had any trade conversations with anybody as of yet. Those usually tend to start in the combine in the hallway that we kind of roll through and we'll see how that goes."Set at quarterback with Matthew Stafford, the Lions are in position to trade down from No. 3, where a quarterback-needy team could look to move up. Quinn has repeatedly said that Detroit isn't planning to move on from Stafford in favor of a rookie like Justin Herbert or Tua Tagovailoa, who are expected to come off the board after projected No. 1 pick Joe Burrow.Quinn offered no hints about what position he's targeting in the first round, but plenty of mock drafts have the Lions selecting cornerback Jeff Okudah out of Ohio State.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL Players Association executive committee voted 6-5 against the proposed new collective bargaining agreement Friday, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.The new CBA, which was approved by owners Thursday, will now go to the 32-man board of representatives, which is responsible for the final vote.NFLPA president Eric Winston leads the executive committee, which also features offensive tackle Russell Okung and cornerback Richard Sherman as vice presidents.The NFLPA was scheduled to hold a conference call with the player representatives on Friday afternoon. However, the board of representatives didn't vote on the principal terms of the proposed new CBA during the meeting, the NFLPA said in a statement.The NFLPA executive committee will meet with the NFL management council executive committee next Tuesday at the scouting combine in Indianapolis, ESPN's Dan Graziano reports. The board of representatives will then vote that night or Wednesday morning, Graziano adds.Two-thirds of player representatives must approve the CBA terms, while the full membership needs to approve it by a simple majority to seal the deal.The CBA proposal reportedly includes an expanded playoff field (with seven teams from each conference) and would eventually add a 17th game to the regular season, among other changes.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alshon Jeffery's days in Philadelphia may be numbered.The Eagles are looking to move Jeffery, who would welcome a change of scenery, according to The Athletic's Connor Hughes.Jeffery's agent took to Twitter to refute the report's sentiments minutes after it came out.

The Chicago Bears have released veteran corner Prince Amukamara and receiver Taylor Gabriel.The moves save Chicago $13.5 million in cap space, according to Spotrac.Amukamara spent the past three seasons with the Bears while Gabriel has been with the team for the last two years.Amukamara, 30, started 15 of 16 games in 2019, recording 53 total tackles and 10 passes defensed. Gabriel, 29, played in nine games, posting 29 catches for 353 yards and four touchdowns.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Redskins believe there's a strong chance that offensive tackle Trent Williams will return to the team for the 2020 season, sources told the Washington Post's Les Carpenter and Mark Maske.Head coach Ron Rivera remains highly focused on getting Williams back on the field, Carpenter and Maske report.The Redskins were reportedly trying to shop Williams after the conclusion of the 2019 season, but the new bench boss is said to have re-opened communications with the blocker.Williams became one of the NFL's most reliable offensive tackles after being drafted fourth overall in 2010. The Oklahoma product has played in 120 games and made seven Pro Bowl appearances in nine seasons.However, the 31-year-old's relationship with the Redskins grew strained due to the player's dissatisfaction with the medical staff. He had a cancerous growth removed from his head in April, one that was first noticed in 2013 but not considered serious at the time.Williams didn't report to Washington's offseason activities last year and held out for the first eight weeks of the campaign. Upon his return following the trade deadline, he failed a physical after experiencing discomfort with his helmet due to post-surgery soreness on his scalp.He finished the season on the non-football injury list and said in November that he didn't think the situation could be fixed.Williams has one year left on his current contract and will earn a base salary of $12.5 million.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL Scouting Combine is moving to prime time this year, and with a bigger spotlight comes more bells and whistles.The league announced Friday that 16 new drills will be added to next week's workouts and 10 older drills have been removed.Among the added drills is an end zone fade for the quarterbacks, a popular play in today's NFL. Quarterbacks will also now be throwing a timed choice route called a smoke route in which the receiver adjusts based on the coverage.Defensive linemen will run a "figure eight" drill using two hula hoops.

The collective bargaining agreement proposed and approved by NFL owners on Thursday drew a hard response from the league's players.If approved, the players would receive 47% of all revenue in 2020, improvements to working conditions, and a maximum $250,000 Week 17 check if the schedule is expanded to 17 games.Among those unsatisfied with the offer were Houston Texans star J.J. Watt and NFLPA executive committee member Richard Sherman.

A few weeks ago, the Washington Post published a detailed takedown of Dr. Bennet Omalu, the forensic pathologist and neuropathologist widely credited with discovering chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and the inspiration for the protagonist played by Will Smith in the 2015 film "Concussion."The Post's story alleges that Omalu "built a career off distorted science" and that he "routinely exaggerates his accomplishments and dramatically overstates the known risks of CTE and contact sports, fueling misconceptions about the disease." It was based on "interviews with more than 50 experts in neurodegenerative disease and brain injuries, and a review of more than 100 papers from peer-reviewed medical journals," and it made a persuasive case.But the story's conclusion that Omalu garbled statistics and used his status as an authority on CTE to behave less like a scientist than an anti-football activist shouldn't obscure the impact of his initial work, which has undoubtedly been beneficial from a public health standpoint.Pete Marovich / Getty ImagesThere is no doubt a kind of sensationalism has attached itself to CTE - for reasons that have nothing to do with Omalu. To take one example: A major study severely overstated the disease's prevalence - even when the underlying research was far more measured and nuanced - which led to lots of misguided framing by at least one major media outlet.The result has been a single-minded focus on CTE that has been grist for advocates and denialists alike, even as the slow pace of CTE science is really just beginning. But this attention to CTE's existence - and to the reality of the potential impact of degenerative brain disorders and other injuries in former football players more generally - has on the whole done more good than harm. Though additional longitudinal studies are underway - and will take years to complete - there is a greater awareness of the possible risks.As Philadelphia-based neurologist Scott Mintzer noted: