The trio of Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, and Philip Rivers will forever be connected as the top quarterbacks drafted in the lauded 2004 class.But while the 2019 season was the last for Manning and Rivers with the franchises that selected them 15 years prior, the Pittsburgh Steelers are confident that Roethlisberger has a lot left in the tank despite missing most of the last campaign due to injury."We don't think Ben is near there yet," said general manager Kevin Colbert on Thursday, according to Dale Lolley of DKPittsburghSports.com. "We don't think he's at the end of the road."The New York Giants drafted Daniel Jones as Manning's heir apparent last year, and after losing his starting job to the first-round rookie, Manning retired in January. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Chargers announced on Monday that Rivers will leave as a free agent after one of the worst years of his career.The Steelers, however, have yet to give any signs they're planning for life after Roethlisberger, who is signed through 2021.In December, the veteran signal-caller pushed back against rumors that his playing future was uncertain because of the season-ending elbow injury. He vowed to come back "stronger and better than ever" in a tweet.Colbert echoed Roethlisberger's message, saying that the 37-year-old's rehabilitation has gone according to plan.'We're hopeful he can make a complete recovery," said Colbert, per Bob Labriola of the Steelers' official website. "So far, he's on course for that."In 2018, Roethlisberger led the league with 5,129 passing yards and had a career-high 34 touchdown passes.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Longtime NFL safety Eric Weddle hung up his cleats last week after spending his first nine seasons with the San Diego Chargers, three with the Baltimore Ravens, and then the 2019 campaign with the Los Angeles Rams.When asked if he's given any thought to retiring as a member of a certain organization, the two-time All-Pro said he feels a particular kinship with Baltimore."Oh definitely. As of right now, I would retire as a Raven before those other two teams," Weddle told Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic.Weddle cited his acrimonious breakup with the Chargers in 2015 as part of the reason for choosing the Ravens. The Chargers placed their longtime free safety on injured reserve before the last game of that 2015 campaign, just hours after Weddle was fined $10,000 for staying on the field to watch his daughter perform during a halftime show."Until there's new management with the Chargers, I'm not going to set foot in that place," Weddle added. "That's been said. It's unfortunate how it happened, but I'm a guy who is very loyal and once you burn that bridge and do the things that they did, that's just not going to happen. There's no need to push that button quickly, but I'm a Raven."I loved my time with the Rams. I was all in, but those three years in Baltimore were as fun and enjoyable as I've ever had in my career."Weddle was named to the Pro Bowl in each of the three seasons he spent with the Ravens.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's no need to run through Tom Brady's resume; he's been the most accomplished quarterback for the greatest dynasty the NFL has ever seen. But after 20 years with the New England Patriots, Brady is on the brink of becoming a free agent for the first time in his career. It's safe to say his fate is going to be the dominant story of the offseason.A number of factors have brought Brady and the Pats to this point. Where the two sides go from here is anyone's guess. Let's run through a list of questions to get everyone up to speed on where things stand - and where they might go from here. You may begin.Do you really think Brady and the Patriots will get a divorce?Not really? But also, maybe? The situation really does seem to be that knotty, at least right now.Why?Brady will be 43 in August, for one thing. And for as much as he's seemed to defy life's aging process, he sure as hell won't do that forever. Yes, Brady was reduced to throwing to Julian Edelman and a group of lobstermen from Kittery by the end of last season. Yes, New England has the league's oldest roster, and legendary offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia has retired again. But Brady's also not playing at an elite level anymore. The Pats won 12 games in 2019, but they also got bounced on Wild Card Weekend for the first time in 10 years.Is that what might lead to a separation?Not exactly. This situation has been brewing for a few years. Brady has said on multiple occasions that he intends to play until he's 45, if not longer. And his competitiveness is legendary. Bill Belichick, in his role as head coach, understands Brady's value to the Pats in the here and now. But in Belichick's other role as general manager, he knows he has to weigh Brady's current value against sustaining a stable future for the franchise, in part by preparing for the day Brady's performance falls off a cliff. Belichick has famously avoided sentimentality when making personnel decisions; it's long been his preference to move on from a player a year too early than a year too late. Brady presents a genuine test of the limits of that philosophy.The Brady-Belichick partnership may be near an end. Boston Globe / Getty ImagesAh. So how is all this playing out?As Tom E. Curran reported for NBC Sports Boston, Brady has wanted a multi-year contract since before the start of the 2017 season, but the Pats have preferred to proceed on a year-to-year basis. It also became screamingly obvious last year how talent-deficient New England was at tight end and wide receiver, though the team did take fliers on Antonio Brown and Josh Gordon that didn't pan out. At the same time, Curran suggested that a deal similar to the two-year, $50-million pact Drew Brees received from the Saints in March 2018 might have been enough to keep Brady happy.I'm confused. Wasn't the contract Brady signed last summer a two-year extension worth $70 million?It was initially reported that way, but those figures were a mirage. Try to stay with me because it gets a little complicated. The Pats agreed to give Brady a raise from $15 million to $23 million in 2019 - still far below the top of the market. His cap number, because of a previous restructure, was going to be $27 million, but the new pact reduced that figure to $21.5 million. The deal extended Brady through 2021, but that part is an accounting gimmick: The 2020 and 2021 seasons are set to void on March 18, the last day of the current 2019 league year. Those 2020 and 2021 seasons will still exist strictly for cap purposes, however: $20.25 million of what Brady received last year was a signing bonus, which allowed New England to spread the cap hit ($6.75 million per year) through 2021. That money eventually must be accounted for, so if he were to sign elsewhere this offseason, a $13.5 million dead-money charge would hit the Patriots' cap in 2020. Got all that?I think so. Is Brady really driving that hard a bargain?Seems that way, at least for the moment. Remember, last summer he succeeded in getting the team to agree not to use the franchise or transition tag on him once the deal voids in March. So Brady clearly foresaw an opportunity for leverage this offseason, in part because New England does not appear to have an obvious successor for him.Wasn't Jimmy Garoppolo supposed to be that guy?He was! The Patriots selected Garoppolo in the 2014 second round with every intention of grooming him to take over - Brady was about to turn 37, after all. Garoppolo didn't get to play much, but he kind of proved himself capable when he won a pair of starts to open the 2016 season while Brady was suspended. But Brady came back and just ... kept ... winning, which complicated the team's succession plan. With Garoppolo's rookie deal set to expire after 2017 - which meant he, too, was in line for a big payday - the Pats decided to deal him to the 49ers. Though that wasn't what Belichick wanted to do.Wait. What?Oh, yeah. You missed that one? A few months after the trade, ESPN's Seth Wickersham reported that it was Kraft who made the decision to deal Garoppolo over Belichick's objections. Get a load of this:

According to Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn, quarterback Matthew Stafford is not on the trade block.Quinn emphatically denied a report that his team is in talks to move its starting signal-caller, texting, "100% false!!" to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press on Thursday morning.Earlier in the day, a report from WDIV-TV in Detroit, which cited sources close to the Lions, said trade discussions involving Stafford had been underway for a couple of weeks.Beyond Quinn's strong response, there are factors that could deter a Stafford trade this offseason.First, the Lions restructured the quarterback's contract in December, converting a March roster bonus into a signing bonus. The move saved Detroit $9 million in 2020 cap space but also pushed Stafford's dead-money figure to $32 million, per Spotrac. His cap hit will be $21.3 million if he plays in Detroit.Second, Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia were put on notice by Lions ownership in December. The duo was retained after a disappointing 3-12-1 campaign, but owner Martha Firestone Ford said she expects the Lions to be a playoff contender in 2020.Additionally, the 32-year-old Stafford was playing some of the best football of his career before missing the second half of the 2019 season due to a back injury. Stafford led the Lions to a 3-4-1 record while throwing for 2,499 yards, 19 touchdowns, and five interceptions.While some have speculated that Detroit could use the No. 3 overall pick to draft a quarterback such as Tua Tagovailoa, the NFC North club might struggle to compete in 2020 with a rookie under center and a cap constrained by Stafford's dead money.But as the Lions attempted to throw cold water on Thursday's rumors, the quarterback's wife, Kelly, fanned the flames with an Instagram story.Screenshots of a story that evaluated potential landing spots for the pivot were posted to Kelly's Instagram account, though they appeared to go online prior to the publication of WDIV-TV's report.

Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick is writing a memoir to be released later in 2020, and he's expected to share details of his time outside of football since 2017 in the currently untitled project."I've had a lot of questions surrounding what got me to the point of protesting," Kaepernick said to USA Today's Jarrett Bell. "Why did I do it? Why did I do it at that moment? Why wasn't it earlier in my career? A lot of questions surrounding what led me to that point."Which led me to wanting to share that story and give insight. So I think there's a lot of interest around it, but time will tell when the book comes out."Kaepernick hasn't played in the NFL since the 2016 season.The league arranged a private workout for him in November that 24-plus teams were expected to attend. However, due to a dispute over a liability waiver, the quarterback moved the workout to a local high school.Though nothing came of the ordeal, Kaepernick still trains five days per week in anticipation of an opportunity to rejoin the league."My desire to play football is still there," he said. " ... I'm ready to go, I'm ready for a phone call, tryout, workout at any point in time. I'm still waiting on the owners and their partners to stop running from this situation. So I hope I get a call this offseason. I'll be looking forward to it."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After Mel Tucker abruptly left Colorado to become head coach at Michigan State, the Buffaloes appear to be eyeing an NFL replacement.Colorado has reached out to Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy regarding its head coaching vacancy and there is preliminary mutual interest between the two parties, a source told 9 News' Mike Klis.Bieniemy played his college football for the Buffaloes and was the team's OC from 2011-12 before being hired by Kansas City.Former Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio retired on Feb. 4, potentially leading to a number of changes in the college football landscape. Tucker was announced as Dantonio's replacement Wednesday, leaving Colorado scrambling to find a replacement.Athletic director Rick George named Darrin Chiaverini interim head coach while the school begins an official search.It remains to be seen whether Bieniemy would leave the NFL for the collegiate level. He's one of the league's top assistants - calling plays for the Super Bowl champion Chiefs - and was considered for a number of head coaching vacancies over the last two offseasons.The Buffaloes finished 5-7 in 2019 - Tucker's first and only season at the helm.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston underwent LASIK surgery Wednesday to correct his nearsighted vision."He didn't want to count out any options that he had that could possibly help him with the game he loves so much," Winston's publicist, Denise White, told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "This is the game he loves and he wants to be the best at it and if there are any options that can improve his game, he is willing to do it."Winston opted for the procedure after throwing a league-high 30 interceptions in 2019. He also led the NFL with 5,019 passing yards and ranked second with 33 touchdown passes.Winston is scheduled to become a free agent at the beginning of March. His vision issues have been known for some time, and Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians said at the end of the season that his signal-caller "can't read the scoreboard, but he can see the guys in front of him."Interceptions have plagued the former No. 1 pick throughout his career.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cincinnati Bengals will work with Andy Dalton to find a trade for the veteran quarterback, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.Out of respect for Dalton, the Bengals apparently hope to move him to a situation he's comfortable with and will update him on market developments.Dalton has spent all nine seasons of his career in Cincinnati, but he'll become expendable if the Bengals draft a quarterback first overall, as expected.The 32-year-old started 13 games in 2019, throwing for 3,494 yards with 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He was briefly benched in favor of rookie Ryan Finley, who struggled over three starts.Dalton is signed through 2020 with a non-guaranteed base salary of $17.5 million.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL Players Association is considering the proposed new collective bargaining agreement, which includes a 17-game season, according to Mark Maske of The Washington Post.The players' association hasn't yet voted on the proposal, and few have spoken publicly on the matter.However, Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill lent his support Wednesday to the idea of an expanded schedule."I think our fans would like more," Bidwill said on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, according to team writer Darren Urban.He added: "We have surveyed our fans. The health and safety data plays out that we can do 17 games and it's not going to impact the safety and the health of the players. I am really proud of the work the league is doing in terms of the health and safety. A lot of big strides have been made. ... We'll see where the players land."A new CBA would first need to be approved by two-thirds of the NFLPA player reps. It would then go to a vote by all NFL players, from which a majority in favor is required to ratify the agreement.The current CBA expires after the 2020 seasonCopyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Colorado wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. won't require surgery after being diagnosed with an inflammation of the pubic bone, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The 21-year-old still hopes to participate in the scouting combine - which begins Feb. 27 - and then work out at his pro day on March 11.Shenault is a projected first-round pick. In theScore's most recent mock draft, the Buffalo Bills selected him 22nd overall.It was reportedly feared the wideout had suffered another core injury, an issue he struggled through during his final year with the Buffaloes.But his agent, Damarius Bilbo, told Schefter that Shenault will be ready to showcase his talent to NFL teams after recovering from the minor ailment with a little rest.Shenault caught 142 passes for 1,775 yards and 10 touchdowns in his final two collegiate seasons.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Antonio Brown continues to reach out to those he disparaged during his year out of the NFL.The free-agent wide receiver addressed former Pittsburgh Steelers teammate Ben Roethlisberger in an Instagram post Wednesday, apologizing for his behavior and writing, "I never realized how good I had it."

The Jacksonville Jaguars hired former New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo as their quarterbacks coach, the team announced.McAdoo was fired in 2017 after two years leading the Giants, and he's been out of football for the last two campaigns.Jacksonville interviewed the 42-year-old for its offensive coordinator position in January before hiring Jay Gruden.McAdoo's tenure in New York was mired with controversy, most notably following his decision to bench Eli Manning for Geno Smith late in 2017 before re-inserting Manning into the lineup a week later.He'll coach quarterbacks for the second time in his career after spending the 2012 and 2013 seasons tutoring Aaron Rodgers while with the Green Bay Packers.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL has reinstated Cleveland Browns pass-rusher Myles Garrett following an indefinite suspension, the team announced Wednesday.Garrett was suspended for the rest of the 2019 season after ripping off Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph's helmet and hitting him in the head with it near the end of a Week 11 contest.The 24-year-old was required to meet with commissioner Roger Goodell prior to a reinstatement decision, and that meeting took place on Monday. Garrett can now rejoin his team and participate in offseason workouts, which begin in April."We welcome Myles back to our organization with open arms," Browns general manager Andrew Berry said in a team statement. "We know he is grateful to be reinstated, eager to put the past behind him and continue to evolve and grow as a leader. We look forward to having his strong positive presence back as a teammate, player and person in our community."The Browns went 2-4 following the incident and missed the playoffs. Prior to Week 11, Garrett was enjoying a 10-sack season and was a leading candidate for the Defensive Player of the Year Award.His punishment now amounts to a six-game suspension and a $45,263 fine. The Browns and Steelers were each also fined $250,000 for the melee.Pittsburgh center Maurkice Pouncey was given a three-game suspension, Cleveland defensive end Larry Ogunjobi drew a one-game ban, and Rudolph earned only a fine.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants are expected to pursue Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Demarcus Robinson in free agency, Matt Lombardo of NJ.com reports, citing a source close to the situation.Robinson is coming off a Super Bowl-winning campaign with the Chiefs in which he put up career highs of 32 catches, 449 yards, and four touchdowns.The four-year pro is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March.The Philadelphia Eagles are also rumored to be interested in the 24-year-old's services, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.Robinson was Kansas City's fourth-leading receiver during the 2019 season, with his high-water mark being a 172-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Oakland Raiders in Week 2. He had a quiet postseason, catching just three balls for 35 yards.He would be a welcome addition for both the Giants' and Eagles' thin receiving corps. New York features Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate at the position, while Corey Coleman, Russell Shepard, and Cody Latimer are set to hit free agency. Meanwhile, Philadelphia felt the sting of a shallow pass-catching group when DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery missed much of the 2019 season due to injuries. Third option Nelson Agholor is also scheduled to become a free agent.While Robinson could leave in free agency, Kansas City's third-leading wideout, Sammy Watkins, is a candidate to be released this offseason, as he's set to count for $21 million against the cap in 2020. Losing both Watkins and Robinson would be a blow to the team's pass-catching corps.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Chargers have a question mark at quarterback heading into the 2020 offseason, but they believe their answer could already be on the roster."It's too early to eliminate any options but we do like our internal options right now," general manager Tom Telesco told "The Petros and Money Show" on AM 570 LA Sports on Tuesday.The Chargers announced Monday that Philip Rivers will enter free agency after 16 years with the club. The 38-year-old started all 224 of the franchise's games dating back to 2006. Aside from Rivers, Tyrod Taylor and Easton Stick are the only quarterbacks on Los Angeles' roster."Tyrod Taylor is a player that's won in this league ... and we think he has a style that can fit what we can do," Telesco said. "We have some high hopes for Easton Stick. Easton is still a young quarterback that has a little ways to go. But we have a lot of confidence in Tyrod Taylor."Taylor, a nine-season veteran, signed a two-year contract with the Chargers in 2019. He's 24-21-1 in 46 career NFL starts, the last of which came with the Cleveland Browns in 2018. The 30-year-old made the Pro Bowl in 2015 as a member of the Buffalo Bills.The Chargers selected Stick in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft after he enjoyed a strong career at North Dakota State. The 24-year-old didn't attempt a pass during his rookie season.Though Telesco voiced faith in the team's rostered options, he didn't rule out the possibility of acquiring a new signal-caller."I don't think there's a best way or only way to do it ... I like our internal options and we will also look at external options," he said. "If there was just one way to win a Super Bowl everybody would do it. That's the goal here."Obviously having a young quarterback on a rookie contract will help you salary-cap wise with other positions. The flip side is that it's going to be a young quarterback and most likely be an unproven quarterback."The Chargers have posted a 53-59 regular-season record since naming Telesco general manager in 2013. They've made two playoff appearances in that span.The AFC West club holds the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper suggested Tuesday that Cam Newton's health will determine whether the franchise moves forward with him at quarterback."Listen, I'm not a doctor," Tepper said, according to Steve Reed of The Associated Press. "I said it a million times: Is he healthy? He's not a doctor. So there is a lot of different things that can happen. Tell me that and then we can talk."Injuries have derailed Newton's last two seasons, as he was limited to just two games in 2019 due to a foot issue. He underwent surgery Dec. 11 after a failed rehabilitation that spanned multiple months."The overwhelming No. 1 thing is to see how healthy he is, and how we can figure out when he is healthy or not," Tepper added. "Everything comes from that."Newton, who'll turn 31 in May, has one season left on his contract. The Panthers could save $19 million against the salary cap by trading or releasing him. However, Tepper said Carolina hasn't fielded any trade inquiries for Newton.Before Super Bowl LIV, Newton said he "absolutely" expects to return to the Panthers in 2020 and left a meeting with Tepper and new head coach Matt Rhule feeling "inspired."Newton, drafted first overall in 2011, was named league MVP in 2015.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philip Rivers will give it two more years.After parting ways with the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday, the 38-year-old quarterback put a hard cap on how much longer he plans on playing in the NFL."I can say for certain that if I'm playing, it's a two-year maximum," Rivers said to Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times on Monday."Whoever the suitors are, I think that would be their hope as well. Because you never know how it goes. Shoot, if we stink it up after one year, I'm probably done. If we play really good, they'll probably want to go again."Rivers knows the fluctuating nature of the NFL well. In 2018, he threw 32 touchdown passes against 12 picks and had the 12-4 Chargers two wins away from a trip to the Super Bowl. Last season, he tossed 23 touchdowns passes and 20 interceptions and Los Angeles finished the year 5-11.Rivers moved his wife and nine children to Florida ahead of free agency, which begins on March 18. He said that where he lands next doesn't depend entirely on the team's chances of winning the Lombardi Trophy."Certainly you want a chance to win a championship, but it's not just about that. If you told me right now, 'You're going to play for two years, and you're going to be good. But y'all will not win a Super Bowl. Will you still play?' Heck yeah, I'll still play," Rivers said."So it's not like it's a Super Bowl or nothing. But if it's a team where it's going to be tough sledding and they're two years away from even having a chance, and they led the league in most sacks given up or something, then it's, 'I don't think so, guys.'"Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here, theScore examines every NFC roster to determine one player from each team who should be a cap casualty or traded for performance-related reasons this offseason. The list doesn't include pending free agents.AFC I NFCArizona Cardinals - Patrick PetersonPeterson insists he'd prefer to finish his career in Arizona, but the Cardinals may be thinking long term. General manager Steve Keim and head coach Kliff Kingsbury could look to acquire draft capital for the veteran and save $12.5 million against the cap in the process. Peterson, who turns 30 this summer, can still play at a high level, but that likely won't last long. Trading the eight-time Pro Bowler to a contender this offseason is in Arizona's best interest.Atlanta Falcons - Devonta FreemanIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyDan Quinn and the Falcons must revitalize their running game if they hope to compete in the NFC South. That begins by finding an upgrade over Freeman, who averaged 3.8 yards per attempt last season while scoring just two rushing touchdowns. The 27-year-old's game appears to have taken a step back after battling numerous injuries over the last two years, and it won't be difficult for Atlanta to find a cheaper replacement in 2020.Carolina Panthers - Dontari PoeThe Panthers signed Poe to a three-year, $27-million contract in 2018, leaving the monstrous defender as a potential cap casualty. Carolina is bringing in a new staff, led by Matt Rhule and defensive coordinator Phil Snow, and it's unclear whether the former first-round pick fits Rhule and Snow's scheme. Poe is set to count for over $13 million against the cap this campaign, and his play no longer warrants such a high salary. The Panthers would save $9.8 million by cutting him.Chicago Bears - Prince AmukamaraIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyChicago must find a way to create cap space in order to improve its roster. Amukamara is likely to be one of those sacrifices. The soon-to-be 31-year-old isn't a liability by any means, but the Bears would save $9 million should they choose to release him. Chicago has younger, cheaper options in the secondary and should prioritize upgrading its scoring attack to compete in a tough NFC North.Dallas Cowboys - Tyrone CrawfordOnce among the Cowboys' most consistent defenders, Crawford could be searching for a new home in 2020. The veteran defensive tackle played in just four games last year, landing on injured reserve in October with a hip injury. Add in the fact that Dallas can save $8 million by cutting him, and Crawford appears unlikely to play out the final year of his current contract. The Cowboys have younger options at the position, anyway.Detroit Lions - Jarrad DavisScott Taetsch / Getty Images Sport / GettyDetroit's first-round pick in 2017, Davis has yet to meet expectations despite being given plenty of opportunities to do so. Most of the Lions' highest-paid players are key veterans in starting spots, so the young linebacker may be a piece on the move. After a rocky start in the NFL, a trade to a more stable franchise could be just what the doctor ordered for Davis to revitalize his career. Detroit drafted his replacement last year in Jahlani Tavai, so Davis' days as a starter with the team are numbered either way.Green Bay Packers - Jimmy GrahamGraham hinted at retirement following Green Bay's playoff elimination, but he's a no-brainer cap casualty should he continue his career. The tight end's level of play has declined at a rapid rate in recent years, and he's scheduled to count for $11.67 million against the cap in 2020. With potential savings of $8 million, Graham's tenure with the Packers will likely end with 93 catches, 1,083 yards, and five touchdowns over two seasons.Los Angeles Rams - Clay MatthewsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyWith little cap room to breathe for the upcoming campaign, the Rams and general manager Les Snead must get creative with their roster. The first step could be signing Jalen Ramsey to a new deal, and the next would be releasing expensive veterans. Matthews is owed $5.75 million should he make it to Week 1, so he'll be a name to monitor this offseason. The veteran pass-rusher isn't what he once was, as he notched just one sack over his final seven games in 2019.Minnesota Vikings - Xavier RhodesMinnesota currently sits over the cap limit ahead of free agency, putting a number of veterans in danger of being released. Cutting Linval Joseph would save the team $10.55 million, but the bigger name here is Rhodes. A first-team All-Pro selection just two seasons ago, the cornerback's play has declined drastically since. Opposing quarterbacks earned a 127.8 passer rating a season ago when targeting Rhodes, and the defender allowed four touchdowns in coverage while struggling to get his hands on pass attempts. The Vikings have a plethora of young options at the position and would collect $8.1 million if they let Rhodes go. This move is as close to a lock as possible.New Orleans Saints - Kiko AlonsoJonathan Bachman / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Saints currently own the sixth-least cap space in the league, so a handful of veterans could be on their way out of New Orleans in 2020. The recently acquired Janoris Jenkins is one option, but it's more difficult to see Alonso making it on the roster next season. Acquired days before the 2019 campaign, the linebacker wasn't an every-down player on the Saints' defense, and he's battled injuries and inconsistencies in recent years. New Orleans would save $7.85 million by cutting Alonso, who tore his ACL in the team's wild-card loss.New York Giants - Alec OgletreeNate Solder is an equally likely cut candidate, but the Giants would inherit $13 million in dead money if they release their starting left tackle. Ogletree is New York's third-highest paid player, which nowhere near matches his level of play. The former first-round linebacker has struggled in coverage of late while missing too many tackles. By cutting Ogletree, the Giants would save $8.25 million. The team's decision on which players to cut this offseason could ultimately impact which prospect it targets No. 4 overall in the 2020 draft.Philadelphia Eagles - Sidney JonesElsa / Getty Images Sport / GettyPhiladelphia fields a number of young options in its secondary, and general manager Howie Roseman could opt to trade one that hasn't lived up to expectations - there are many - to acquire other assets. Jones is the most likely to yield a return, as he was a highly regarded draft prospect who dealt with a torn Achilles early in his career. A handful of teams may be interested in the cornerback as a reclamation project, and his on-field performance with the Eagles certainly didn't warrant significant playing time.San Francisco 49ers - Jerick McKinnonIt's fascinating to think McKinnon, who's San Francisco's highest-paid running back, might be the 49ers' fourth- or fifth-most effective player at the position. The former Minnesota Viking signed a four-year, $30-million contract with San Francisco in 2018 and has yet to suit up for a regular-season game with the club. Following a serious knee injury that included multiple setbacks, it's fair to wonder if McKinnon will ever return to full strength. With a potential $4.5 million in cap savings and many mouths to feed in the 49ers' backfield, McKinnon's tenure in San Francisco will likely end before it had a chance to start.Seattle Seahawks - Justin BrittAbbie Parr / Getty Images Sport / GettyBritt, the Seahawks' starting center, tore his ACL in October and may not be fully healthy ahead of the 2020 season opener. The veteran lineman is owed $11.67 million if he sticks on the roster and his production has declined since signing an extension in 2017. Seattle should draft younger options or spend the money saved on a free-agent replacement.Tampa Bay Buccaneers - O.J. HowardHoward should be one of the top trade candidates when the new league year begins. After a promising first two NFL seasons, Howard surprisingly took a step back under head coach Bruce Arians and often appeared disinterested. Without a major role in the Bucs' offense, plenty of teams would certainly explore a trade for the 25-year-old. If Arians isn't going to use Howard, he might as well try to acquire something in exchange for the tight end.Washington Redskins - Josh NormanIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyNorman's release is coming, it's just a matter of when. Despite his relationship with new head coach Ron Rivera, Washington would save $12.5 million against the cap by cutting the veteran. Norman was once among the league's premier cover corners, but he was benched at times in 2019 and recently turned 32. The Redskins are getting younger, and the feisty defender won't factor into their long-term plans.Contract stats courtesy: SpotracCopyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys are ramping up negotiations with quarterback Dak Prescott as the window to agree on an extension closes.Dallas will push to sign Prescott to a long-term deal before the March 10 franchise tag deadline, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.Talks have reportedly stalled in recent weeks as the two parties are unable to agree on the signal-caller's value. The Cowboys will likely use the tag on Prescott to stop him from hitting free agency if a contract can't be agreed upon.However, with wide receiver Amari Cooper and cornerback Byron Jones also impending free agents, Dallas could use the tag elsewhere by extending Prescott.The 26-year-old put together the best season of his career in 2019, throwing for 4,902 yards and 30 touchdowns. His previous season highs were 3,885 yards and 23 scores in 2018 and 2016, respectively.Prescott has emerged as one of the league's top young quarterbacks, and the Cowboys have made it clear their top priority is re-signing him."We want to get this done," Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones said last Thursday, according to Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "Things are fixing to heat up. We want to put every foot forward and try to grind this out and get a deal done."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philip Rivers has been synonymous with the Chargers for the past 16 years, regardless of which city in California the AFC West club has called home.The strong connection between the veteran quarterback and the franchise made Chargers general manager Tom Telesco's decision to allow Rivers to hit the open market a difficult one to navigate.Telesco said Monday that his top priority while cutting ties with Rivers was to make sure the end of their relationship was as painless as possible."Once we saw the way this was heading, it was in the forefront of my mind,” Telesco said, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB. "I mean, he's an icon for the organization and he's done so much here. I wanted to make sure everything was done as respectfully and classy as possible."By announcing the team's intention not to re-sign Rivers more than a month before free agency, the GM gifted the signal-caller time to evaluate his options.The 38-year-old is the Chargers' all-time leader in wins, passing yards, and touchdown passes.Telesco admitted it's impossible to remove emotions when dealing with a player who's been so integral to the team's structure, but he said those sentiments can't get in the way of making the most logical long-term move."It's really hard, because he’s the starting quarterback, which is the most important position on the field, and he's been here for 16 years, and he's played at a high, high level for a long, long time," Telesco said. "You're talking about a legend as a player here, a legend as a teammate, he's a legend as a parent, I mean, he's done so much for this organization. And it's natural when players go on the field and play with the passion he does, every game, every practice, that there are emotions involved from a front-office standpoint, too."You also have to look: What’s best for the whole organization, what’s best for the football team both in 2020 and beyond that? But no, it's hard. You spend a lot of time with these players. And obviously the players that are here a long time, you get attached to them."Rivers has said he intends to keep playing, and he'll join an unusually stacked free-agent group of quarterbacks that could also include Tom Brady, Ryan Tannehill, Drew Brees, Teddy Bridgewater, and Jameis Winston.The Chargers, meanwhile, will likely be in the market for a new quarterback in either the draft, where they hold the sixth overall pick, or in free agency. Los Angeles currently has former Buffalo Bills starter Tyrod Taylor and former fifth-round pick Easton Stick on its roster.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here, theScore examines every AFC roster to determine one player from each team who should be a cap casualty or traded for performance-related reasons this offseason. The list doesn't include pending free agents.AFC I NFCBaltimore Ravens - Tony JeffersonJefferson's season came to a premature end when he injured his ACL in October, and the veteran safety hinted in an Instagram post last week that he has no desire to take a pay cut to stay in Baltimore. With Jefferson owning the fifth-largest cap hit on the team ($11.66 million), and third-year pro Chuck Clark playing well as his replacement, Baltimore should cut ties.Buffalo Bills - Star LotuleleiThe Bills' cap situation is among the best in the league, with only two players carrying a 2020 cap hit of $10 million or more. Lotulelei is one of them, and his play hasn't lived up to expectations since signing a big deal as a free agent two years ago. However, Buffalo would only save $2.3 million by releasing the defensive tackle while also creating another hole on its roster. The AFC East club should put Lotulelei on the trade block and see if it can recoup some assets for the 30-year-old.Cincinnati Bengals - Andy DaltonJason O. Watson / Getty Images Sport / GettyBarring something completely unforeseen, the Bengals will select Heisman winner Joe Burrow with the No. 1 overall pick. That means the end of the Dalton era. While it's possible Cincinnati wants to keep the veteran around as a backup, it's far more likely the team uses his below-market contract to garner trade interest. Dalton's cap hit in 2020 - the final year of his deal - is just $17.7 million. The Bengals could use the assets they get for him to help surround Burrow with more talent in his rookie year.Cleveland Browns - Olivier VernonAside from Myles Garrett, Vernon is Cleveland's most consistent defensive player. However, he'll be close to 30 years old by the time the 2020 season starts. The pass-rusher's $15.5-million cap hit is the highest on the team, and while his play in 2019 was better than his 3.5 sacks suggest, Cleveland can find a better way to spend that money - improving Baker Mayfield's protection should be an option.Denver Broncos - Joe FlaccoDustin Bradford / Getty Images Sport / GettyAfter signing Flacco last offseason, the Broncos only got eight games out of the veteran before benching him. With Drew Lock establishing himself as Denver's starter for 2020 with a handful of strong performances to end the season, the former Super Bowl MVP is all but certain to be shown the door. Flacco carries a $23.65-million cap hit in 2020, and the Broncos can save $10.05 million by releasing him.Houston Texans - Vernon HargreavesThe Texans are currently projected to have the ninth-most cap space in the league in 2020. However, the $56.54-million figure is somewhat of a mirage. Deshaun Watson needs a big-money extension, as does Laremy Tunsil. Further, D.J. Reader, Bradley Roby, and Carlos Hyde are all set to hit free agency. Hargreaves played well in six games after being claimed on waivers, but Houston can clear his entire $9.95-million salary by cutting him, which could then be used to re-sign its more important players.Indianapolis Colts - Pierre DesirIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe Colts are so flush with cap space (around $86 million, second-most in the league) that they don't need to make any hard decisions with their roster. But that doesn't mean Indy should be happy with Desir's $6.85-million cap hit after the cornerback was a massive liability for much of the season. All of that money can be saved by releasing him. It could then be used to chase free-agent cornerback Byron Jones, who would be reunited with former Dallas Cowboys assistant and now Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.Jacksonville Jaguars - Marcell DareusTrying to find a way out of Nick Foles' contract will likely be too complicated and costly for Jacksonville, so moving on from Dareus is the best move to gain significant cap space. The Jaguars are currently $1.45 million over the 2020 cap. The defensive tackle's $22.5-million hit is the highest on the team, but $20 million of that can be saved by cutting him. It's a no-brainer for the Jaguars, who need to find a way to pay Yannick Ngakoue without sacrificing Calais Campbell.Kansas City Chiefs - Sammy WatkinsSam Greenwood / Getty Images Sport / GettyWatkins stepped up in a major way during the Chiefs' run to Super Bowl glory, catching 14 passes for 288 yards and one touchdown in three playoff games. Yet, Kansas City shouldn't forget how mediocre his production has been over the past two regular seasons despite playing with one of the league's best quarterbacks. Throw in the fact Watkins carries a position-leading $21-million cap hit, and the reigning champion's decision should be an easy one.Las Vegas Raiders - Derek CarrCarr is coming off a solid season in which he set career highs in yards, completion percentage, passer rating, and yards per attempt. But it's felt like the quarterback has been on borrowed time ever since Jon Gruden arrived. With the Raiders reportedly intent on pursuing Tom Brady if he hits free agency, Carr could be on the move as the team looks to make a splash in its first year in Sin City. The 28-year-old carries a manageable $21.5-million cap hit, so it's easy to see Las Vegas trading him to a team looking for an affordable stopgap.Los Angeles Chargers - Thomas DavisIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyDuring his time with the Carolina Panthers, Davis was one of the most dominant coverage linebackers in the league, even after making an unprecedented recovery from three ACL injuries. But Father Time caught up to the 36-year-old in a big way in 2019. The Chargers should be looking to get younger at the position, and releasing Davis would save $5.25 million.Miami Dolphins - Josh RosenFew players have endured a more difficult start to their career than Rosen. The No. 10 pick in 2018 was shipped to the Dolphins by the Arizona Cardinals after producing a poor rookie season as part of one of the league's least talented offenses. Rosen was then significantly outplayed by Ryan Fitzpatrick in Miami. He could be pushed further down the depth chart with the veteran returning for 2020 and the Dolphins likely to draft a quarterback in the first round. Rosen deserves a real shot at success, and Miami should try and get something in return for him now before his value drops any further.New England Patriots - Mohamed SanuMitchell Leff / Getty Images Sport / GettyDesperate to reenergize their passing game after the failed Antonio Brown experiment, the Patriots sent a second-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons for Sanu a week before the trade deadline. But the veteran averaged just 25.9 yards per game in the regular season and was a non-factor in the wild-card defeat. Sanu isn't expensive at $6.5 million, and New England isn't exactly drowning in receiving talent, but cutting him would incur no dead money while also giving the Patriots more freedom to bring in younger options.New York Jets - Trumaine JohnsonJohnson has been one of the bigger free-agent busts in recent memory. If the cornerback is cut, the Jets will carry $12 million of his $15-million cap hit in dead money. It speaks to how disappointing Johnson has been that the team will almost certainly take the bullet to move on. The 30-year-old - who inked a five-year, $72.5-million contract in 2018 - played in just 17 out of 32 games due to injury and was benched in prime time early last season.Pittsburgh Steelers - Mark BarronJustin Berl / Getty Images Sport / GettyLast offseason, Barron was brought in to help shore up the Steelers' pass defense, specifically in the short and intermediate areas where the unit had been routinely attacked. But instead of elevating the linebacker corps, Barron became its biggest liability, allowing a passer rating of 102.6 on 76 targets, per PFF. Pittsburgh can save $5.25 million in cap space by releasing the 30-year-old.Tennessee Titans - Delanie WalkerWalker has been one of the Titans' best players since joining the team in 2013, racking up at least 800 yards in each of his first four years in Tennessee. But injuries have limited the tight end to just eight games over the past two seasons. Jonnu Smith flashed intriguing potential in relief of Walker, and the Titans can save $6.42 million by moving on from the veteran.Contract stats courtesy: SpotracCopyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill is a restricted free agent looking to eventually find a permanent role under center."I definitely view myself as a franchise quarterback," Hill said in an interview with Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press. "I think as you look at the other questions, is it New Orleans? Is it somewhere else? As you go into free agency, this is the time that you start to find out how people view you. We haven't gotten into free agency long enough to really know how these guys view me and we'll just handle it as it comes."Hill's desire to play quarterback may lead to his departure from New Orleans after three strong seasons with the NFC South organization."I have loved every second of my time (in New Orleans). So do I want to leave? The fact of the matter is no, I don't," he said. "But as you look at free agency, you have to find the right opportunity for you. You have to find the situation to take care of your family. I want to play quarterback in this league, and if New Orleans don't view me that way, well then I have to leave. That's really where we're at."An undrafted player out of BYU, Hill was claimed by the Saints in 2017. He attempted 13 passes during his time in New Orleans and completed 3 of 6 attempts for 55 yards last season.The 29-year-old became known for his versatility, posting 234 yards receiving with six touchdowns in 2019 while rushing for 156 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. Overall, he played in five different offensive positions last year, according to ESPN's Field Yates.PositionSnap countTight end75Slot receiver64Outside receiver37Quarterback36Running back20Hill was also a force on special teams, playing 285 snaps while blocking a punt in 2019.All three of the team's quarterbacks are pending free agents this offseason. Along with Hill, Drew Brees and Teddy Bridgewater are looking for new contracts ahead of the 2020 campaign.In 2019, Brees started 11 games for New Orleans; Bridgewater amassed five starts while filling in for the injured signal-caller.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the first time in his NFL career, Philip Rivers is set to join a team other than the Los Angeles Chargers.The Chargers announced Monday that Rivers will enter free agency after 16 memorable seasons with the franchise.Here are five potential landing spots for the veteran quarterback:Tampa Bay BuccaneersA pairing with Bruce Arians was rumored long before Los Angeles announced Rivers' entrance into the free-agent pool. The 38-year-old recently moved his family to Florida and appears likely to prioritize being close to home as his career winds down.Rivers' fit with Arians is an obvious one. The Buccaneers are set to target a quarterback in 2020 after Jameis Winston's inconsistencies reached new heights last season. Tampa Bay fields a solid, ascendant roster, so its head coach could believe the team is a veteran signal-caller away from truly competing in the NFC South.Rivers ranked third league-wide with 20 interceptions in 2019, but he's cerebral and aggressive enough to fit Arians' scheme. And the team's top receivers - Chris Godwin and Mike Evans - are reminiscent of Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floyd, the Chargers' lengthy wideouts from 2008-2011.Arians resurrected Carson Palmer's career with the Arizona Cardinals and could look to do the same with Rivers. It's a match made in heaven, one in which both parties can ride into the sunset together.Indianapolis ColtsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyIf Rivers is looking to compete for a Lombardi Trophy, then Indianapolis is an ideal landing spot.It felt like the Chargers could never consistently protect their quarterback during his 16-year tenure, but the Colts wouldn't have that problem. Led by Quenton Nelson and Ryan Kelly, Indy's offensive line would give the eight-time Pro Bowler more time in the pocket than he's ever experienced.The former fourth overall pick also has some key connections to the Colts' staff. A few of the most productive years of his career came when Frank Reich was the Chargers' offensive coordinator, and Nick Sirianni, Reich's current offensive coordinator, was Rivers' quarterbacks coach from 2015-16.Rivers isn't Andrew Luck, but he certainly represents a significant upgrade over Jacoby Brissett. Despite finishing third in the AFC South a season ago, Indianapolis is set to compete, and it may not have the opportunity to draft a quarterback early in April's draft.Tennessee TitansThe Titans are fresh off a trip to the AFC Championship Game and Tennesse is geographically close to Rivers' new home, so don't rush to rule out this pairing.Ryan Tannehill is scheduled to hit free agency alongside Rivers. Following last season's resurgence, he may command a lucrative contract from a contender and price himself out of Tennessee. If the Titans are unable to re-sign Tannehill, Rivers is the perfect fallback option. The veteran doesn't have to lead Arthur Smith's offense and could likely limit his mistakes as a result. The unit already features strong blockers and star running back Derrick Henry - if retained - as potential supporting cast members.Tennessee isn't usually considered an ideal destination for prized free agents, but the Titans' recent playoff run could change things. A roster featuring a handful of young receivers and tight ends is also a strong selling point.Carolina PanthersSean Gardner / Getty Images Sport / GettyWith the draft's top passing prospects potentially out of reach at No. 7, new Panthers head coach Matt Rhule appears destined to field a "bridge" quarterback in his first season at the helm. Rhule recently backed Cam Newton despite the former MVP's foot injury, but there's no telling what the final decision will be.Newton is the superior player when healthy, but will he ever return to form? Swapping the two would allow Rhule to open his NFL tenure with an experienced signal-caller until a younger option is ready. Rivers, though older than Newton, is the safer option; he hasn't missed a start in 15 years. Newton is also entering the final year of his contract.The Panthers would mark a homecoming of sorts for Rivers, who was a star at North Carolina State before entering the NFL. Christian McCaffrey and D.J. Moore aren't bad bargaining chips either.Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville is an outside-the-box destination for Rivers, as a few dominoes would have to fall correctly for the two sides to reach an agreement.Nick Foles is the first piece of that puzzle. The former Super Bowl MVP signed a lucrative contract with the Jaguars last year, but his first season in Jacksonville was marred by injuries and poor play. Entering a make-or-break campaign, head coach Doug Marrone and general manager David Caldwell could view the potential free-agent quarterback carousel as an opportunity to upgrade at the game's most important position.In this scenario, the Jaguars trade Foles in a salary dump (perhaps to the Colts) and Rivers gets to stay close to his family in Florida. He profiles as a strong fit in new offensive coordinator Jay Gruden's scheme, so Jacksonville is a possibility worth monitoring.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philip Rivers' days as a Charger are done.The Los Angeles Chargers announced on Monday that the veteran quarterback will enter free agency after 16 years with the club."After stepping back a bit from last season, we reconnected with Philip and his representatives to look at how 2019 played out, assess our future goals, evaluate the current state of the roster and see if there was a path forward that made sense for both parties," general manager Tom Telesco said in a release. "As we talked through various scenarios, it became apparent that it would be best for Philip and the Chargers to turn the page on what has truly been a remarkable run."We agreed that making this decision well before free agency would allow everyone to put themselves in the best position for success in 2020."Rivers ranks sixth all-time in touchdown passes and is the owner of more than 30 Chargers franchise records."I am very grateful to the Spanos family and the Chargers organization for the last 16 years," Rivers said. "... I never took for granted the opportunity to lead this team out on to the field for 235 games. We had a lot of great moments, beginning in San Diego and then finishing in L.A. I wish my teammates and coaches nothing but the best moving forward."On Monday, Rivers said he can "definitely" still play, though the signal-caller isn't looking for a long-term deal."I can say for certain that if I'm playing, it's a two-year maximum," Rivers said, according to Sam Farmer of Los Angeles Times. "Whoever the suitors are, I think that would be their hope as well. Because you never know how it goes. Shoot, if we stink it up after one year, I’m probably done. If we play really good, they'll probably want to go again."Rivers had a resurgent year in 2018, leading the Chargers to a 12-4 record and a wild-card playoff victory before a loss to the New England Patriots in the divisional round. However, the 38-year-old threw 20 interceptions in 2019 - the second-highest total of his career - and the Chargers finished 5-11.Speculation the two sides could be parting ways gained steam in January when Rivers announced he was moving his family from the San Diego area to the East Coast. He's also said that he plans to continue his football career."I'm not sure what the future holds, but my family and I look forward to seeing what God has planned for us next," Rivers said in the team release.In 16 years, the pivot was unable to lead the Chargers to a championship. The closest they came was a trip to the AFC title game in 2007, Rivers' fourth season and second year as a starter. The Chargers lost 21-12 to the then-undefeated Patriots.Rivers had been a Charger since he was selected fourth overall by the New York Giants in the 2004 draft and immediately traded to San Diego for Eli Manning."There's only one Philip Rivers, and we've been fortunate to call him our QB1 for the better part of two decades," team owner Dean Spanos said. "We cannot thank Philip enough for giving it his all on every single down and for the memories he created that will last a lifetime."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Redskins cornerback Quinton Dunbar has requested the team either trade or release him, according to John Keim of ESPN.Dunbar reportedly spoke with a member of the Redskins' administration Monday night. The 27-year-old had previously been in talks with the team regarding an extension, but he hasn't had contact with Washington since the hiring of head coach Ron Rivera, Keim notes.The Florida product has one season left on the three-year, $10.5-million extension he signed with the Redskins in 2018. Washington would accrue $1 million in dead money if the team cuts or trades him this offseason, according to Over The Cap.Dunbar was the second-highest-graded cornerback in the NFL last season, according to Pro Football Focus. He led the Redskins in interceptions (four) and passes defensed (eight) despite missing five games with a hamstring injury, finishing the 2019 campaign on injured reserve.Since joining Washington as an undrafted free agent in 2015, Dunbar leads the NFC East club with nine interceptions.The Redskins went 3-13 in 2019 while allowing 238.9 passing yards per game, good for 18th in the NFL.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.Philip Rivers' run with the Chargers is over.Rivers - who made eight Pro Bowls in 16 years with the only franchise he's ever known - and the Chargers have mutually agreed to part ways. Even before Monday's news, oddsmakers were dealing odds on the team's next signal-caller and where Rivers might end up next season.Here are the odds for each situation, with a few early values to consider ahead of free agency in March:Chargers' Week 1 starterQUARTERBACKODDSTyrod Taylor3-2Justin Herbert5-1Tua Tagovailoa6-1Tom Brady6-1Teddy Bridgewater6-1Marcus Mariota12-1Jameis Winston12-1Jordan Love16-1Andy Dalton18-1Jake Fromm18-1Ryan Tannehill25-1Dak Prescott25-1Colin Kaepernick100-1Eli Manning500-1Tyrod Taylor (3-2)Taylor is the runaway favorite for a reason: He's the Chargers' current backup and has started 46 career games. In his three years as Buffalo's full-time starter, he posted an above-average QBR during each season - including top-10 numbers in 2015 and 2016.The 30-year-old quarterback would also be an easy Week 1 starter if Los Angeles decided to draft an heir apparent, meaning bettors could cash even if Taylor is a band-aid solution. Despite short odds, this could be a bet worth making.Justin Herbert (5-1)It's easy to make the case for this pick - Herbert is generating a lot of buzz in mock drafts as the Chargers' choice at No. 6. His football IQ and strong frame resemble Rivers and could be a solid long-term fit in L.A.Here's why it's a bad bet: laying 5-1 odds on who the Chargers will take in the draft is risky enough. A quarterback as raw as Herbert is 50-50 to start Week 1 even if he is L.A.'s pick, especially with Taylor as a ready-made starter, so there's simply no value here or with the other rookies on the board.Marcus Mariota (12-1)If you're swinging for value, this is the bet to make. Mariota is one of the best available talents on the market but was miscast in Tennessee as a deep-ball thrower to complement the team's run game. In Los Angeles, he could fire away on quick routes - where he's among the league's best - to the Chargers' array of top receivers.PFF predicted Mariota to the Chargers earlier this week, so this isn't a blind dart throw at 12-1. There's real value here.Philip Rivers' next teamTEAMODDSTampa Bay Buccaneers2-1Indianapolis Colts3-1Carolina Panthers4-1Las Vegas Raiders4-1Miami Dolphins11-2New Orleans Saints20-1Tennessee Titans20-1New England Patriots33-1Dallas Cowboys33-1Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1)In late January, with rumors swirling about Rivers' future, the quarterback moved his family to Florida. Naturally, speculation ensued about whether Rivers - who was notoriously unwilling to move his family from San Diego to L.A. - was setting up shop near his next team.CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora later reported that there was "a lot of buzz" surrounding the Bucs as a landing spot for Rivers, which he reiterated after Monday's news. Bruce Arians' offense would certainly suit the veteran, who's had some of his best years in pass-happy systems.Indianapolis Colts (3-1)This was Rivers' predicted landing spot at PFF and among executives polled by ESPN, so there's definitely smoke. Head coach Frank Reich was an assistant with the then-San Diego Chargers from 2013-15, while offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni spent 2013-17 with the franchise, too.Indy's ceiling is capped with Jacoby Brissett as the team's quarterback. The Colts' stellar offensive line could help revitalize Rivers, who saw the seventh-most dropbacks under pressure (225) and recorded the 27th-best passer rating in that spot (71.7).New England Patriots (33-1)This isn't as crazy as it sounds. If New England doesn't want to pay $30 million for an aging quarterback, why not pay half of that for comparable production? Last year, Rivers finished with a similar QBR (48.6) as Tom Brady (53.7), and he could allow coach Bill Belichick to prove himself post-Brady without restructuring the offense. At 33-1, it's at least worth considering.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.

Former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa recently underwent his three-month CT scan and it revealed that his fractured hip has healed and his range of motion is good, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.Tagovailoa's tests went "as positive as possible" but it'll likely be another month before he's cleared for football activities, Rapoport added.The quarterback is a coveted draft prospect and was expected to be one of the first players selected before he dislocated and fractured his hip in a game on Nov. 16.He underwent surgery two days later and said on Jan. 30 that he was on pace to make a full recovery.Tagovailoa will likely undergo medical tests for NFL teams at the scouting combine, which begins Feb. 24. The junior passer was one of the 17 quarterbacks invited to the showcase.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Veteran safety Eric Weddle announced his retirement from the NFL last week despite the fact he knows he can still play at a high level.The six-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro was invited to the Pro Bowl as recently as the 2018 season. But this past campaign, his 13th in the league and first with the Los Angeles Rams, was a grind for the 35-year-old."It was a long season last year," Weddle said to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. "To have the mental fortitude to get through every week, and be at my best, it took a lot out of me. There were times after wins, after losses, where I was by myself at my apartment, and it was tough."Weddle injured his knee in Week 1 but managed to suit up for all 16 games. By the end of the year, he had pieces of cartilage surrounding his knee.He also missed his family, which was just a two-and-a-half-hour drive away in San Diego, but the commute wasn't always stress-free."I thought, 'What's one more year?' I know I can still play, and play at a high level, even with the knee," Weddle said. "But thinking about going through a whole season, going through the pain, honestly, it made me sick to my stomach."And I realized if my heart's not in it, my mind's not in it, then it's time to go. I always follow my gut and that's what I'm feeling right now."Weddle retires with 1,178 total tackles, 29 interceptions, and 9.5 sacks. He spent nine years with the San Diego Chargers, three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, and one campaign with the Rams.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matthew Cherry, who played for several NFL teams from 2004 to 2007, won the Oscar for best animated short for "Hair Love" on Sunday.Cherry's movie tells the story of an African-American father learning to do his daughter's hair. The former wide receiver directed, wrote, and produced "Hair Love" alongside Karen Rupert Toliver.In his acceptance speech, Cherry said he was motivated to make the movie "because we wanted to see more representation in animation" and "to normalize black hair."

The Washington Redskins are expected to hire Jennifer King as an assistant coach, making her the NFL's first black, female full-time coach, reports Rhiannon Walker of The Athletic.King will work on the offensive side of the ball, Walker adds.She'll join assistant defensive line coach Lori Locust and assistant strength and conditioning coach Maral Javadifar of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as well as offensive assistant Katie Sowers of the San Francisco 49ers as the league's full-time female coaches.Former New York Jets coaching intern Collette Smith was the first black female coach in any capacity.King isn't new to Redskins head coach Ron Rivera, as she served as a coaching intern with the Carolina Panthers under his leadership in 2017.She played football in the semi-professional Women's Football Alliance. The Reidsville, North Carolina, native won two titles playing quarterback, wide receiver, and safety for the Carolina Phoenix before collecting another title with the New York Sharks.King also worked as an assistant wide receivers coach for the Arizona Hotshots in the Alliance of American Football.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers' indoor practice facility will be turned into a prom venue for local students whose school was destroyed by a tornado last month.On Friday, students at North Central High School in Camden, South Carolina, were surprised by the news that the Panthers will host their prom on March 30."Students were torn out of their school the second half of their senior year," Renee Mitchell, the school's prom committee advisor, told Alex Andrejev of the Charlotte Observer. "They were upset about not graduating at their high school and I think this has given them a boost."

Subscribe to XFL breaking news push notifications in the XFL News section.Suffering from football withdrawal or post-Super Bowl depression? Well, you're in luck.Less than a week after the end of the NFL's 100th season comes the return of the XFL. The Vince McMahon-backed football league kicks off Saturday, and its eight teams feature some players you're sure to recognize.Here are 10 names that stand out:Cardale Jones, QB, DC DefendersJones is perhaps the biggest name on any XFL roster. A former fourth-round NFL draft pick, the quarterback won the 2014 national championship with the Ohio State Buckeyes and will once again don red and white with the DC Defenders.

Subscribe to XFL breaking news push notifications in the XFL News section.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — "It's a blessing just to be here, you know?"Darius Victor could have been talking about the opportunity he has to still be playing professional football. After he went undrafted and his chances in the NFL and CFL didn't pan out, Victor is ready to roll as a running back with the New York Guardians of the XFL, which relaunches this weekend.But Victor was talking about life in general. He's been through more than most, from a fire that destroyed his family's apartment to the shooting death of his older brother to having lived the first five years of his life in a refugee camp in West Africa.So when the 25-year-old says he's grateful to be standing on the turf after a recent practice at MetLife Stadium, where the Guardians will host the Tampa Bay Vipers on Sunday, it's not idle chatter."You never know when your last down is," Victor told me. He was talking about football at that point, but he was indirectly offering a metaphor.__________To observe Victor, who is listed at 5-foot-6, 226 pounds, is to marvel at how big and small someone can look simultaneously. When he momentarily stood next to Guardians defensive end Bunmi Rotimi Jr. (6-foot-3, 265 pounds) between reps at practice, he appeared to be about half as tall as Rotimi. But he was just as wide.Watching Victor puts one in mind of Maurice Jones-Drew - a small but powerful wrecking ball of a back who relishes making contact. Rob Ambrose, head coach at Towson University, once said he sometimes had to remove Victor from short-yardage drills because he kept hurting his teammates with his hard-charging running style.That physicality was on display when Victor ran over a Vipers defensive back during a joint practice a few weeks ago, in a clip that's since bounced around the internet:

Johnny Manziel doesn't appear to be a fan of the XFL.The quarterback's name has frequently been attached to the start-up league, but Manziel seemed to take a shot at its outlook Friday on Twitter.

San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh doesn't intend to leave the Bay Area.Michigan State requested an interview with Saleh for its head coaching vacancy, but the DC said he has unfinished business with the 49ers, reports NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Saleh helped San Francisco become a defensive force in 2019, as the team ranked eighth and second in points and yards allowed per game, respectively. The 13-3 Niners finished atop the NFC and reached their first Super Bowl since 2012.The 41-year-old was a finalist for the Cleveland Browns' head coaching job, which ultimately went to former Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski.Mark Dantonio stepped down as Michigan State head coach Tuesday, ending his 13-season tenure at the school. Cincinnati bench boss Luke Fickell was initially considered the front-runner to replace Dantonio, according to David Jesse of the Detroit Free Press.The Spartans sport a cumulative 27-24 record over their last four seasons.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL has invited 337 college prospects to participate in this year's scouting combine.Seventeen quarterbacks were given invites, including projected first-round picks Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, and Justin Herbert. The full list of invitees can be seen here.Among the schools with the most invited players are LSU with 16, Michigan and Ohio State with 11 each, and Alabama and Georgia with 10 apiece.The 2020 NFL Scouting Combine will be held from Feb. 24 to March 1 in Indianapolis.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former San Francisco 49ers defensive backs coach and passing-game coordinator Joe Woods is the Cleveland Browns' new defensive coordinator, the team announced Friday.He joins the staff of new head coach Kevin Stefanski, who was hired to replace Freddie Kitchens.Woods had to wait until Wednesday to formally interview with the Browns due to San Francisco's run to Super Bowl LIV.The 49-year-old spent eight seasons as defensive backs coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 2006-13. Stefanski also joined the Vikings in 2006 and moved up the team's coaching ranks, eventually becoming Minnesota's full-time offensive coordinator in 2019.Woods also has experience as a coordinator, having led the Denver Broncos' defense from 2017-18 under Vance Joseph.Cleveland's offense will be run by former Cincinnati Bengals quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Todd Gurley's future with the Los Angeles Rams is up in the air.The Rams plan to meet with their star running back this offseason before making a decision on how to proceed with him going forward, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Gurley finished 2019 with career lows in rushing attempts (223) and yards (857), and his long-term availability is in question, as the running back's dealt with a fair share of injuries.Gurley signed a four-year, $57.5-million contract with Los Angeles prior to the 2018 campaign. He was sidelined for the final two games of the 2018 regular season with a knee injury. The power back returned in the playoffs but was held to just 11 touches in his team's Super Bowl LIII defeat.In March 2019, it was reported that Gurley had arthritis in his left knee.The 25-year-old is currently the second-highest-paid running back in the league, earning over $14 million per season. If the Rams release Gurley this offseason, he would count as $25.65 million in dead money, according to Over The Cap.Gurley led the league in touches and total yards from 2015 to 2018, amassing a league-leading 40 scrimmage touchdowns from 2017-18.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

President Donald Trump is expecting a visit from the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in the very near future."By the way, your Super Bowl champions are coming, I think next week or soon, very soon," Trump said Thursday. "Every one of 'em wanna be here. And the coach loves us. The coach is great. Andy Reid."Every one of 'em wanna be here."Several Chiefs have expressed interest in visiting the White House, including head coach Andy Reid and receiver Tyreek Hill.Trump has canceled events for, or disinvited, other championship teams - including the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles and 2017 NBA champion Golden State Warriors - for not showing enough interest in visiting the White House while he's the sitting president.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.A week after sending football fans into a tizzy with a cryptic tweet, it looks like Tom Brady might re-sign with the Patriots after all.In January, we went in detail about Brady's future, and the signs since then have pointed the Patriots' way. There was the Super Bowl commercial in which Brady said he's "not going anywhere." There was also the report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport that said the Patriots are willing to pay "in excess of $30 million per year" to keep Brady with the only franchise he's ever known.At this point, oddsmakers clearly doubt that Brady will move on: They've priced the Patriots as 1-4 favorites to keep the quarterback and at 5-2 to lose him.If he does leave, though, where might he go? And which teams are gaining steam in the betting market? Here are the odds for Brady's next landing spot (if not the Patriots) along with analysis of five notable clubs.TeamOddsLas Vegas Raiders3-1Los Angeles Chargers4-1Tampa Bay Buccaneers7-1Dallas Cowboys9-1Indianapolis Colts9-1Carolina Panthers10-1Tennessee Titans10-1Miami Dolphins14-1Chicago Bears16-1Cleveland Browns16-1New Orleans Saints16-1Denver Broncos18-1Washington Redskins22-1Minnesota Vikings25-1New York Jets25-1Arizona Cardinals28-1Cincinnati Bengals28-1Jacksonville Jaguars28-1Detroit Lions33-1Los Angeles Rams33-1New York Giants33-1Philadelphia Eagles33-1Pittsburgh Steelers33-1San Francisco 49ers50-1Atlanta Falcons66-1Buffalo Bills66-1Houston Texans66-1Green Bay Packers100-1Baltimore Ravens500-1Kansas City Chiefs500-1Seattle Seahawks500-1Las Vegas Raiders (3-1)Earlier this week, ESPN's Adam Schefter indicated the Raiders are prepared to chase Brady this offseason, even with 28-year-old Derek Carr and his $7.9 million in dead cap still on their books. Stylistically, it could be a strong fit. Head coach Jon Gruden has emphasized short passing in his Raiders stint, and Brady is among the best ever at quick reads on short routes.But while Brady could fit well in Las Vegas, it may not be among his desired options. In Rapoport's report, he suggested that Brady's chief concern is surrounding himself with weapons - the likes of which don't exist on the current Raiders roster. Don't lay the short price here.Los Angeles Chargers (4-1)When Brady's next-team odds were released in January, we immediately hopped on the Chargers bandwagon at 7-1. The franchise is located somewhat near Brady's hometown, it needs a quarterback, and it's desperate to sell tickets for its new stadium.That's all still true, especially amid rumors that Philip Rivers will move on this summer. But the current price is too short to lay in a crowded field, even if the Chargers are still probably the most likely choice outside of New England.Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-1)We mentioned the Bucs as a value at 9-1 back in early January thanks to their stellar receiving corps and unstable QB situation. Sure enough, Tampa Bay is now 7-1 behind only Las Vegas and Los Angeles to sign Brady this summer. It's still a value in our eyes.The Jameis Winston experiment is looking more and more like a thing of the past (he's 1-2 to lose his starting gig in 2020), and there may not be a more appealing situation for Brady to walk into from a roster and geography standpoint. Keep your eye on this one.Carolina Panthers (10-1)The Panthers opened as the second favorites (6-1) a month ago, and nothing since then has justified the adjustment to 10-1. New coach Matt Rhule has been coy about Cam Newton's future with the team, and owner David Tepper set the tone for immediate results by firing Ron Rivera in December. Nobody knows winning like Brady.The future Hall of Fame quarterback would be hard-pressed to find a better situation, too. DJ Moore and Curtis Samuel are crisp route-runners and therefore perfect fits for Brady, while Christian McCaffrey is a supercharged version of the pass-catching backs whom Brady has always loved. Is this likely? Probably not. But it's sure intriguing, especially at a longer price.Tennessee Titans (10-1)The Titans weren't on the board in January, but they should have been. Tennessee is essentially creating a "New England South" with its coaching staff, roster construction, and franchise culture. Who better to steer that ship than Mr. Patriot himself?The biggest obstacle here is Ryan Tannehill, who did enough this past season to merit an investment from the Titans. That alone makes this potential destination hard to recommend at a shorter price than say, 20-1. If there's any smoke about Tannehill walking, though, take these odds without hesitation.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.

Longtime safety Eric Weddle is stepping away from football.The five-time All-Pro announced his retirement on Thursday after 13 seasons in the NFL.Weddle, 35, was a second-round selection of the San Diego Chargers in 2007 and spent nine years with the AFC West team.He then played for the Baltimore Ravens from 2016 to 2018 before signing a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Rams last season.The six-time Pro Bowler, who led the NFL in interceptions in 2011, amassed 1,179 combined tackles, 29 interceptions, and 98 passes defended in 201 career games.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars fans are not happy with the news that the team will host two games in London next season.A group called the Bold City Brigade, consisting of Jaguars fans, launched the Duval Coalition to express their opposition to the team playing a second game across the pond."When Jacksonville was awarded the 30th NFL franchise in 1993 it was a direct result of a passionate community rallying around a common cause," a statement on the group's website reads. "With the announcement of the Jaguars moving two home games to London it has become clear that the voice of that community is no longer being heard or perhaps being ignored."As of Thursday afternoon, more than 17,000 fans and 690 local businesses have signed up on the website.Bold City Brigade president John Caputo told Emily Bloch of the Florida Times-Union he hopes to meet with the Jaguars, and it appears the team is open to the idea."We know how passionate this fan base is and we're all striving for the same thing: to keep the Jaguars strong in Jacksonville," Jaguars president Mark Lamping said. "We look forward to having productive dialogue with the group, which as I understand it consists of season-ticket members and local business owners. It's important for us to listen to our fans."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Television cameras caught San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch signaling from his luxury box for the team to call a timeout near the end of the first half of Super Bowl LIV.San Francisco was about to receive the football on a punt from the Kansas City Chiefs, but head coach Kyle Shanahan opted not to use one of his three timeouts. The moment - and Shanahan's decision - went viral.

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan held their end-of-season press conference Thursday and discussed the way their campaign ended at Super Bowl LIV.The pair remains supportive of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who was just 3-for-11 for 36 yards and an interception during his final four drives in the 31-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs."The same as it was the day before the Super Bowl. There's no (difference)," Shanahan said when asked how he feels about Garoppolo. "He was on his way, close to Super Bowl MVP."And we all know we all didn't make those plays at the end. But we made those plays all year, our whole team, and that's one of the reasons we were there. And whenever you don't make those plays at the end of a game like that, first and foremost the quarterback's going to get attacked and then usually the play-caller. We understand that's how it goes."Shanahan shut down any talk of moving on from the six-year pro, noting it was Garoppolo's first full season as a starter and that he still has fewer starts at quarterback than Cleveland Browns sophomore Baker Mayfield."I think Jimmy's one of the main reasons we got to the Super Bowl ... I think he had a hell of a first year, truly playing the position, especially coming off an ACL, where you have to fight through that a ton as a quarterback," Shanahan said.He added: "I can't tell you how much I loved coaching the guy as a player and as a person this year."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The domestic violence case against Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard has been dismissed, according to Amber Wilson of 790 The Ticket.Howard was reportedly arrested for domestic battery on Dec. 29 following an incident involving his fiancee. The 26-year-old allegedly grabbed the woman's arms during an argument and pushed her into a mirrored glass wall.The woman and her attorney told prosecutors this week she did not wish to move forward with the prosecution, according to Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post. Prosecutors said they were unable to proceed without her testimony, Schad reports.Howard played in just five games for the Dolphins in 2019 before being placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. Since entering the NFL in 2016, the second-round pick out of Baylor has appeared in 40 contests, amassing 12 interceptions and 35 passes defensed.Earning just over $15 million per season, the one-time Pro Bowler is currently the highest-paid cornerback in the league, according to Spotrac.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Antonio Brown apology tour continues.Since he posted bond following his arrest for felony burglary with battery, Brown has been trying to make amends, and the unemployed receiver appeared on a Pittsburgh-area radio station Thursday morning to discuss his messy divorce with the Steelers after the 2018 season."I apologize to those guys for the distractions, the unwanted attention I probably caused those guys, to the fans and organization," Brown said on 93.7 The Fan's "Fan Morning Show," according to Adam Bittner of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette."You know, these guys gave me an opportunity when I was 21 years old, and I'm forever grateful for those guys. To not only have the opportunity to play with those guys but be in so many amazing moments, and we've been through so much. So I'm forever grateful and indebted to the organization. Mr. Rooney. Mike Tomlin. Kevin Colbert. Ben Roethlisberger. You know I started my career with those guys. A lot of beautiful moments. A lot of amazing things. So it's not all bad."In recalling the events that led to his benching for the 2018 season finale, Brown said he'd bottled his emotions for years and it was "just time to move on. ... People don't know the truth of what the emotions and what players really go through."Brown also addressed the January incident at his home during which he livestreamed himself cursing at Florida police and the mother of his children."There are a lot of things people judge me on off reacting a certain way. But people don't know why I react, the certain way that what I've been through," Brown said."You never know what a person's been through to react the way they react. ... I'm not saying no one's out to get me," he continued. "The police were at my house to help me with someone trying to take something from me. It took one hour. I'm not making an excuse. I could have reacted in a positive way. But you understand when people try to be negative and take stuff from you."The four-time All-Pro has said he hopes to return to the NFL in the 2020 season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

These articles aren't intended to be rankings or tiers for drafting. The goal is to review what we learned during the 2019 fantasy campaign and offer a glimpse of what's to come next season.You can view our complete tight end rankings here.2019 Fantasy reviews

Kansas City Chiefs running back Damien Williams could've easily been MVP of Super Bowl LIV after racking up 133 total yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns in the 31-20 win.While Williams might've lost out to Patrick Mahomes, he displayed award-worthy sportsmanship after the game, chasing down San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert and praising the fellow undrafted player for his postseason performance.NFL Films captured the exchange, which included Williams asking to swap jerseys with Mostert - a surprising move considering it likely would be the most important memorabilia of the Chiefs running back's career.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Days after winning their first Super Bowl in 50 years, the Kansas City Chiefs opened with the highest win total (11.5) for the 2020 NFL season. However, the second-highest total doesn't belong to the runner-up San Francisco 49ers.That honor goes to the Baltimore Ravens (11), who won an NFL-best 14 games in 2019 before a shocking loss in the divisional round. The Niners are tied with the New England Patriots for the third-highest total at 10.5, with the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles both slated for 10 wins.As for the other side, the Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, and Washington Redskins are all tied at 5.5 wins, a full victory behind the group of teams above them on the list. All three squads finished below that mark in 2019, even with Miami's surprising finish to the year.The value on these early odds isn't at the top or bottom but rather in the glut of teams that could spring in either direction from the middle. Here is a full list of win totals for the 2020 season, with three early candidates to go over or under their projected mark.TEAMWIN TOTALKansas City Chiefs11.5Baltimore Ravens11New England Patriots10.5San Francisco 49ers10.5New Orleans Saints10Philadelphia Eagles10Green Bay Packers9.5Minnesota Vikings9.5Dallas Cowboys9Pittsburgh Steelers9Seattle Seahawks9Buffalo Bills8.5Houston Texans8.5Los Angeles Rams8.5Tennessee Titans8.5Atlanta Falcons8Chicago Bears8Cleveland Browns8Denver Broncos8Indianapolis Colts7.5Los Angeles Chargers7.5Tampa Bay Buccaneers7.5Las Vegas Raiders7Arizona Cardinals6.5Carolina Panthers6.5Detroit Lions6.5Jacksonville Jaguars6.5New York Giants6.5New York Jets6.5Cincinnati Bengals5.5Miami Dolphins5.5Washington Redskins5.5OverTennessee Titans (8.5)The Titans won nine games in each of head coach Mike Vrabel's first two campaigns and went 7-3 last year in the regular season with starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who led his squad to the AFC Championship Game by beating two of the top-four teams on this list. So why is this number so low?Tannehill and late-season king Derrick Henry are both free agents, and defensive coordinator Dean Pees retired. Expect the two players to return, though, and while Pees is renowned in coaching circles, Tennessee's offense carried the load last year. There's enough on this roster to endorse a strong play on the over.Los Angeles Chargers (7.5)One of the best ways to find positive regression candidates is to look at a team's record in close games, which tends to be fluid from year to year. The Chargers finished 2-9 in games decided by one possession in 2019, their worst mark since going 1-8 in 2016.Philip Rivers is likely gone, but Los Angeles is loaded with young or prime-age talent on both sides of the ball to complement a new quarterback. The Chargers are as short as 25-1 at some shops to win the title, which suggests this win total is a bit deflated from expectation. Expect a bounce-back effort just two years removed from a 12-win campaign.Carolina Panthers (6.5)The Panthers were the second-worst team by DVOA last year thanks to brutal production on both sides of the ball, but the offense deserved more of the blame. The defense allowed the fifth-most points per drive, though it was dealt the third-worst starting field position of any unit. That's on the offense.No team should be that bad with Christian McCaffrey, DJ Moore, and Curtis Samuel at its disposal. New head coach Matt Rhule will inject some life into a high-upside group that likely won't rely on backup quarterbacks for an entire season. Bet on improved coaching and QB play to redirect a talent-rich roster.UnderGreen Bay Packers (9.5)Just as close games can be a barometer for positive regression, they can sniff out the fraudulent teams, too. And the Packers certainly qualify as the latter after finishing with an NFL-best 7-1 record in one-score contests in 2019.Green Bay was the second-worst 13-3 team in DVOA history, which dates back to 1985, and that was with one of the easiest schedules in the league. A first-place finish in the NFC North last year means a tougher slate this season, which should knock the Packers back to reality.Atlanta Falcons (8)We keep wanting to believe the Falcons will turn things around. Time after time, they disappoint. Atlanta has failed to top eight wins in five of the last seven seasons, and back-to-back seven-win campaigns reveal how limited this team is under head coach Dan Quinn.The Falcons' tenuous cap situation means the team likely won't have enough money to fill the holes in a defense that was a serious liability for most of 2019. Atlanta ended the year on a high note, but too many of those wins came in favorable circumstances to provide proof the team is carrying any momentum into next season.Chicago Bears (8)Last year's defense was stout as always and the offensive skill position talent is promising. The Bears' issue is Mitchell Trubisky, who will likely start the majority of games if only for financial reasons. So, what change is coming that will suddenly reinvigorate this team?A lousy offensive line doesn't help matters and Trubisky isn't the guy to create with pressure in his face. That likely means another losing season in the Midway.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.

While the Kansas City Chiefs were enjoying their Super Bowl parade, the San Francisco 49ers were cleaning out their lockers.The 49ers held their exit interviews Wednesday, days removed from coughing up a 10-point lead late in Super Bowl LIV.Asked about his 3-for-11 performance in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo reflected on the past before refocusing on the future."Yeah, it is what it is if you just look at the stats like that. ... As an offense, as a team, we've been in that situation multiple times and we've answered the bell. It's tough when that one time you didn't," the 28-year-old said, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. "That's what people will remember. It's the world we live in."You've just got to own up to it and be a man about it. Like I said before, it will fuel us in the offseason. It will fuel me, especially, in this offseason just to come back better."Perhaps Garoppolo's most crucial pass attempt of the night was a deep throw to Emmanuel Sanders with 1:40 left in the game. On third down with his team trailing by four, Garoppolo overthrew. The Chiefs went on to score a game-sealing touchdown on their next drive."Obviously, some throws I wish I had back. Some throws I (wish I) made different," Garoppolo said. "The one to E, just missed him. Putting a little too much on it. You've got to be a man. You've got to own up to those things. Some things I wish I had back."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.