Terrell Owens didn't take kindly to former teammate Donovan McNabb blaming his antics for the downfall of the Philadelphia Eagles team that made it to Super Bowl XXXIX.In an episode of "Untold Stories" with Bleacher Report's Master Tesfatsion, the former quarterback said he believes Owens' contract dispute with the Eagles the following season was a "major distraction" for the rest of the team and "broke us up."Owens took to Twitter on Wednesday night to call out McNabb, saying he "can't wait" to tell his story.

The Hollywood Police Department has issued an arrest warrant for free-agent wide receiver Antonio Brown for felony burglary with battery, according to ESPN's Cameron Wolfe.The warrant stems from an incident that took place outside the 31-year-old's home Tuesday involving a moving truck and workers. An altercation arose when Brown refused to pay employees, and it escalated when he threw a rock at a moving truck driver, according to TMZ. Brown's trainer, Glen Holt, was arrested Tuesday for felony burglary with battery.Police issued the warrant after unsuccessfully trying to contact Brown for questioning, according to Wolfe. Brown remained in his home Wednesday.Brown only appeared in one game in 2019 due to various off-field issues. In September, a sexual assault lawsuit was filed against him by his former trainer, while another woman later also accused him of sexual misconduct. Last week, Brown verbally berated officers who were responding to an incident between him and the mother of his children. The Hollywood Police Department's athletic league severed ties with the wideout following the incident and returned a financial donation he'd gifted them.Brown made seven Pro Bowls as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers and led the NFL in receiving yards twice.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Raiders' move to Nevada is official.Team owner Mark Davis and Gov. Steve Sisolak announced Wednesday the franchise's relocation from Oakland to Las Vegas.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and Anchor.In this episode, theScore's betting writer Alex Kolodziej joins Boone to discuss Super Bowl props and predictions for the big game.

Eli Manning is set to announce his retirement from the NFL on Friday, and his former longtime head coach had many heartfelt parting words for the New York Giants quarterback."It was an honor and privilege to coach Eli, and to go through the wonderful and magnificent moments that he and his teammates provided for all of us in the world championship 2007-08 and 2011-12 seasons," Tom Coughlin said, via the Giants website. "The New York Giants, flagship franchise of the National Football League, have four world championships. You have four trophies sitting there. You have (Phil) Simms, you have (Jeff) Hostetler, and you have Eli for two."Eli Manning not only is the quarterback on those great teams, but he is the MVP of the Super Bowls. He's an incredible big-game performer. You talk about a guy that's great to coach, focused every day, took tremendous pride in preparing, practice, had a great sense of humor, was a cynic in the locker room. But the guys loved him and they loved him for it, and they played for him. The guys that had the opportunity to play with him know what it's like to be with a guy with as much talent, as much grit, as much determination."Coughlin coached Manning for 12 seasons, capturing two Lombardi Trophies and two NFC East titles.The veteran started 210 consecutive regular-season games for the Giants during his illustrious career, the third-longest streak by a quarterback in league history."I can't tell you what that means to a coach, to be able to prepare every week knowing your starter is going to be there," Coughlin said. "It's almost impossible today to be able to do that. Some teams are fortunate ... You get a guy nicked, you get him hurt. I remember once he was hurt with a shoulder. He didn't practice all week. We didn't know if he'd be alright. He started and played the whole game and played well. It meant a great deal to us to be able to prepare knowing he was going to be on the field and be the starting quarterback for all of those games."As Manning's 16-year career ends, Coughlin expressed just how important Manning's presence was to the storied franchise."Here goes the retirement of a great, great football Giant," he said. "I and my coaching staff and our teams from 2004 right through 2015, for me at least, my part, hold Eli in the highest respect and congratulate him and his family, and his mom and dad, for all of the wonderful, wonderful experiences he's had, and the happiness and pride that he has brought to the entire Giants family, the fanfare, the fans, the family and everyone that's taken so much pride from his performances and for what he's meant. He's always been there to make the call, to stand up and represent the Giants in the best possible way."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning announced his retirement Wednesday after 16 seasons.Manning walks away from the NFL ranked seventh all time in passing yards (57,023) and passing touchdowns (366) and 10th all time in game-winning drives (37). He won two Super Bowls with the Giants (XLII and XLVI) and was named MVP of both games."For 16 seasons, Eli Manning defined what it is to be a New York Giant both on and off the field," Giants president and CEO John Mara said in a news release. "Eli is our only two-time Super Bowl MVP and one of the very best players in our franchise's history. He represented our franchise as a consummate professional with dignity and accountability. It meant something to Eli to be the Giants quarterback, and it meant even more to us. We are beyond grateful for his contributions to our organization and look forward to celebrating his induction into the Giants Ring of Honor in the near future."Manning, who turned 39 on Jan. 3., spent most of the 2019 season on the bench after losing the starting job to rookie Daniel Jones. He said at the end of the year that he had no interest in playing a backup role in the future.The first overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft out of Ole Miss, Manning never missed a game due to injury. He made four Pro Bowls and was named Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2016."We are proud to have called Eli Manning our quarterback for so many years," said Giants chairman and executive vice president Steve Tisch. "Eli was driven to always do what was best for the team. Eli leaves a timeless legacy with two Super Bowl titles on the field and his philanthropic work off the field, which has inspired and impacted so many people. We are sincerely thankful for everything Eli has given our team and community. He will always be a Giant among Giants."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dalvin Cook and the Minnesota Vikings appear to have a mutual interest in reaching a long-term deal.With the Vikings reportedly expected to discuss an extension with Cook's agent this offseason, the standout running back seemingly made his desire to remain with the team beyond next season known Wednesday."I love the organization. They took a chance on me in bringing me in," Cook told Nick Shook of NFL.com. "If a person believes in me, I'll give them my all. I try to do everything, give them my all, and I'm just happy that I'm at the Vikings. It's a great organization. I think everything we've got going on is for the future."Cook will enter the final year of his rookie contract in 2020. He's scheduled to earn $1.33 million in base salary.The Vikings drafted the Florida State product with their second-round pick in the 2017 draft. Although Cook missed 17 games over his first two NFL seasons due to various injuries, he enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2019, rushing for 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns."It was a good season," he said. "Obviously, it wasn't the ending that we wanted, but I think it's a lot we could get accomplished, and that playoff game (Minnesota's wild-card win over the New Orleans Saints) is a game we can remember and piggyback off of it."The 10-6 Vikings clinched a playoff spot this season as the sixth seed in the NFC. They made it to the divisional round before falling to the San Francisco 49ers.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If Drew Brees wants to keep playing football, the New Orleans Saints want him to be their quarterback.General manager Mickey Loomis said Wednesday that the Saints' approach to Brees' future is "no different than it's been the last few years" despite the veteran being out of contract in March, per ESPN's Mike Triplett."It's easy to take him for granted, yet I don't take him for granted," Loomis added.The NFL's all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns will become a free agent when his contract automatically voids March 18.The 41-year-old showed little sign of decline in 2019. Brees missed five games due to a thumb injury, but he still racked up 27 passing touchdowns and led the league in completion percentage (74.3) for the third consecutive season."Look, if any of us are surprised at what he does, then we're just not very smart," Loomis said.New Orleans has the sixth-lowest amount of available cap space entering the offseason, per Over The Cap. This will make it a challenge for Loomis to pay Brees top dollar while also extending young building blocks like cornerback Marshon Lattimore and running back Alvin Kamara.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Lamar Jackson is the overwhelming MVP favorite after enjoying a breakout campaign, but the Baltimore Ravens quarterback still believes he has plenty of work ahead of him."Everything," Jackson said when asked what he must work on to improve as a passer, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "I'm not the best, I'm not the greatest. I'm going into my third year, and I'm trying to get somewhere. I'm trying to get to the Super Bowl. So I gotta work on everything."Jackson proved to be an unstoppable force in his second NFL campaign. He broke Michael Vick's single-season rushing record for a quarterback with 1,206, adding 3,127 passing yards and 43 total touchdowns.Baltimore earned the AFC's No. 1 seed, but John Harbaugh's squad fell to the Tennessee Titans in the divisional round. Despite Jackson's individual success, he couldn't help but express disappointment that the Ravens won't be playing in Super Bowl LIV."It's going to be a tough one," he said. "We played against both teams; we beat one, lost to one. I don't know. KC's got guys over there - but 49ers do too, so I don't know. Whoever wins, it's not us in this; so I don't really care who's gonna win it."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Rodgers' 2019 campaign won't go down as his best, but Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur continues to rank his quarterback among the NFL's elite."I think he's still one of the most talented players out there," LaFleur said Wednesday at his season-ending press conference, according to NFL.com's Grant Gordon."I know the numbers weren't what you guys say were up to the standard or whatever," LaFleur continued. "But I do think there was some really good play in there and I'm excited about moving forward into the future, really getting another offseason with him. ... Too many times, especially with that position, quarterback gets too much credit when it's going really, really good, and too much blame when it's not going as well. It's the nature of the position."Before falling to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, Rodgers completed 62% of his passes for 4,002 yards, 26 touchdowns, and four interceptions in the 2019 regular season. The touchdown mark tied for eighth in the NFL, but the completion percentage and the passing yardage were the lowest numbers Rodgers has posted in a full campaign since 2015.Still, LaFleur believes the 36-year-old pivot has the ability to lead Green Bay for seasons to come."I think it totally depends on how long his body holds up," LaFleur said. "He seemed energized all season long. His mind is sharp as they come. You know, it's just his body holding up and I think he does an excellent job. He's a true professional, he knows his body and he does a great job taking care of his body."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Iconic Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has bought a minority stake in the Phoenix Suns."I have a special place in my heart for the Phoenix Suns and (the WNBA's) Mercury, and I have a great deal of respect for (team owner) Robert (Sarver)," Fitzgerald said in a statement, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Adam Schefter. "He has become a dear friend and trusted confidante. He is a big part of why I am making this commitment."Fitzgerald is the second NFL player to purchase a share of an NBA franchise. Green Bay Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers officially became part of the Milwaukee Bucks' ownership group after buying a minority stake in the team in 2018.Fitzgerald won't take up an active role with the NBA outfit until his NFL career is over, sources told Wojnarowski and Schefter. The 36-year-old signed a new one-year contract with the Cardinals earlier in January, confirming him for a 17th season.

The Jacksonville Jaguars hired former Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden as their offensive coordinator, the team announced Wednesday.Gruden called plays throughout his tenure with the Redskins and prior to that when he served as the Cincinnati Bengals' offensive coordinator. He is a disciple of the West Coast offense.Gruden led the Redskins from 2014 until his firing five games into the 2019 season. He amassed a 35-49-1 record as the head coach in Washington.The Jaguars began searching for a new offensive coordinator after firing John DeFilippo at the end of his first season. Head coach Doug Marrone is embarking on a pivotal fourth campaign in charge, as owner Shad Khan elected to stick with him despite a disappointing 6-10 record in 2019.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore picks a major move each team can make this offseason to increase its chance of playing in Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla.NFC I AFCArizona CardinalsFix the secondaryThe Cardinals made significant offensive strides in Kliff Kingsbury's first campaign as head coach, so prioritizing the defensive side of the ball may help them turn the corner in the NFC West. Arizona ranked 31st in pass defense this season despite fielding productive veteran Patrick Peterson and impressive rookie Byron Murphy. Targeting free agents such as Byron Jones or safety Anthony Harris would improve Kingsbury's chances of making a giant second-year leap.Atlanta FalconsMove on from OC Dirk KoetterThe Falcons decided to keep Koetter after a subpar first year back in Atlanta. Head coach Dan Quinn needs to reverse that decision. The offense should be among the league's best considering its talent, but in 2019, Matt Ryan was sacked a career-high 48 times and the running game ranked 26th in yards per carry. Atlanta's most realistic path back to the Super Bowl is recapturing some of its offensive magic from the 2016 campaign.Carolina PanthersWesley Hitt / Getty Images Sport / GettyTake the Titans' pathWe mean this literally and schematically. The Panthers and Titans are fairly similar teams: they rely on a running back to lead the offense, feature a handful of young pass-catchers, and field a defense predicated on pressure. Carolina and new head coach Matt Rhule can sign Ryan Tannehill and add free agents on defense, executing Tennesee's plan that led them to the AFC Championship Game. Tannehill proved he can succeed with enough surrounding talent.Chicago BearsDon't rule out Plan B at quarterbackThe logical path for the Bears would have been to see how free agency and the draft played out before naming Mitchell Trubisky their 2020 starter, but after investing so much in the young quarterback, it's understandable Chicago wants to give him every chance to succeed. But it'd be wise to have a Plan B, as Tennessee showed this season.Dallas CowboysRe-sign Amari CooperThe Cowboys aren't letting Dak Prescott get anywhere near the open market. However, the future of the quarterback's favorite target is far less certain. Despite being hampered by myriad injuries in 2019, Cooper had a career season. With new head coach Mike McCarthy likely to expand the passing attack even further, it's imperative Dallas re-signs the star wideout if its to end the 23-year Super Bowl drought.Detroit LionsSign Yannick NgakoueDetroit threw a ton of money at Trey Flowers last offseason, but Ngakoue would provide the team a defensive weapon it desperately needs. The Lions ranked 29th league-wide with just 28 total sacks this season and its stop unit suffered as a result. Assuming Matthew Stafford's back is at full strength for 2020, spending more money on a top-tier pass-rusher could help Detroit immediately compete in a tough NFC North.Green Bay PackersDylan Buell / Getty Images Sport / GettyFind another playmaker on offenseGreen Bay's need for a playmaker was evident during its playoff run. Davante Adams needs help. Allen Lazard and Geronimo Allison are fine receivers, but they hardly strike fear in opposing defenses. The Packers have similar issues at tight end, where Jimmy Graham failed to make an impact in two years and recently hinted at retirement. Either way, a second playmaker for Aaron Rodgers could be the difference between winning Super Bowl LV and another playoff exit.Los Angeles RamsRe-establish offensive line dominanceSean McVay earned a spot in last year's Super Bowl thanks in large part to his team dominating the trenches. Behind a strong offensive line, the Rams were able to execute an effective rushing attack and kept Jared Goff clean enough to have a career campaign. 2019 was a different story. As L.A. struggled to block, McVay's offense took a major step back. The Rams will look to upgrade the unit, but must get creative with their assets in order to do so. Trading a player like Brandin Cooks for an offensive lineman or a pick that could be used to draft one is a potential option.Minnesota VikingsInvest heavily in the offensive lineThe Vikings' offensive line was mauled by the 49ers' pass rush for the entirety of the divisional round game. After ranking 23rd in ESPN's pass block win rate metric in the regular season, Minnesota gave Kirk Cousins his worst protection of the year and left the quarterback with no margin for error. If the Vikings are to take the next step, they need to find better pass-blockers.New Orleans SaintsRe-sign Drew BreesBrees and New Orleans hugely disappointed in the playoffs, but the quarterback is still the team's best bet at getting to Super Bowl LV. The 41-year-old is clearly the top 2020 option for the Saints, who are built to win right now. He finished third in ESPN's QBR metric during the regular season and is still a superior player to the team's other logical option, Teddy Bridgewater.New York GiantsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyTrade back in NFL draftDave Gettleman is in a perfect spot to add talent in April's draft as the Giants hold the fourth overall selection. New York is a number of pieces away from competing for a championship, and a trade back with a team in need of a quarterback could have short-term benefits. The Giants could potentially finish with multiple first-round picks and address a number of needs across its roster. The more impact players surrounding Daniel Jones the better.Philadelphia EaglesRemake receiving corpsPhiladelphia's struggles at receiver were well-documented in 2019. Top targets Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson battled injuries, while Nelson Agholor and rookie J.J. Arcega-Whiteside made more mistakes than big plays. Even if the first two return (it'll be difficult to get out of Jeffery's contract), additional weapons for Carson Wentz must be added. The 2020 draft class features a plethora of field-stretching wideouts, so this feels like a good place to start. The Eagles likely won't compete for a Lombardi Trophy without upgrades at the position.San Francisco 49ersRetain Emmanuel SandersThe 49ers' passing attack was opened up by the acquisition of Sanders, who caught 36 passes for 502 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games. San Francisco should prioritize retaining the soon-to-be free agent, though the NFC champions should keep an eye on the availability of fellow free agents Amari Cooper and A.J. Green. The 49ers should break the bank if either are available.Seattle SeahawksGo all-in on passing attackIn the regular season, Russell Wilson had the same number of pass attempts as Mitchell Trubisky and 10 fewer than Andy Dalton, who was benched for three games. Too often, Seattle's commitment to its running game holds back its MVP-caliber quarterback. Only when the Seahawks fall behind do they truly let Wilson cook. The 10 wins in close games show how dangerous the passing attack can be when fully unleashed.Tampa Bay BuccaneersSign Philip RiversJayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images Sport / GettyRivers wasn't at his best in 2019, but a pairing with Bruce Arians could be just what the doctor ordered for a late-career turnaround. The Bucs finished 7-9 despite the fact Jameis Winston threw 30 interceptions. Rivers tossed 20 himself, but the savvy veteran won't repeat mistakes the way Winston did. The 38-year-old also displays enough aggression as a passer to fit Arians' offense and could be just the leader this talented roster needs.Washington RedskinsEmbrace youth movementWashington has the opportunity to execute a quick rebuild if it embraces its talented youngsters. Josh Norman, Ryan Kerrigan, Adrian Peterson, and Jordan Reed can be released with few cap ramifications, and the Redskins can prioritize adding prospects and players entering their prime with the money saved. Featuring youth at all skill positions, an ascending 2019 first-round quarterback, and Chase Young set to be added to an already talented defense, Ron Rivera's squad isn't far from competing.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite salary cap issues and holes throughout the roster, the Jacksonville Jaguars are optimistic they'll be able to re-sign pending free agent Yannick Ngakoue."It's a deal that we feel like could take a little bit of time but should be done hopefully relatively easily," general manager David Caldwell told John Oehser of Jaguars.com.Ngakoue is on track to hit the open market in March on the heels of his fourth straight season with at least eight sacks. The 24-year-old is expected to command a sizable new contract, and will be one of the top pass-rushers available.Ngakoue tried unsuccessfully to secure a long-term extension last offseason, holding out through the early portion of training camp before joining the team. He appeared to respond to Caldwell's comments with a cryptic tweet:

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross wants his team to select Heisman Trophy and national championship-winning quarterback Joe Burrow with its first-round draft pick, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.The Dolphins entered the 2019 season as the favorite to secure the first overall pick in the 2020 draft, but the team won more games than expected, finishing the campaign with a record of 5-11. As a result, the Dolphins own the fifth overall pick and are at the mercy of the four teams ahead of them.The Cincinnati Bengals own the first selection in the draft and reportedly have no intention of trading the pick.The Dolphins will likely have to trade a number of assets, including first-round picks, in order to have a shot at selecting Burrow. Miami owns the fifth, 18th, and 26th overall picks in the draft.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Police are investigating Antonio Brown as a suspect for a possible battery after an incident that took place Tuesday at his home in Hollywood, Florida, according to ESPN.The incident involved a moving truck and workers, a police spokesperson told ESPN. Brown's trainer, Glen Holt, has been arrested for felony burglary and battery, according to Cameron Wolfe of ESPN. Police unsuccessfully attempted to contact Brown, and the investigation remains ongoing, adds Wolfe.Brown has had several run-ins with authorities in recent months. Last week, he verbally berated officers who were responding to an incident between him and the mother of his children. The Hollywood Police Department's athletic league then severed ties with Brown and returned a financial donation he'd gifted.In September, a sexual assault lawsuit was filed against Brown by his former trainer. Another woman also accused him of sexual misconduct.Brown's longtime agent, Drew Rosenhaus, conditionally terminated their partnership last week until the free-agent wide receiver agrees to seek counsel.Brown, a seven-time Pro Bowl wideout, appeared in one game in 2019 because of off-field issues. The 31-year-old is a free agent.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants are expected to add former Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens to their coaching staff under Joe Judge, sources told Matt Zenitz of AL.com.It's unclear what role the longtime offensive position coach will receive, but the coordinator job has already been filled by former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett.Kitchens is coming off a one-year stint as head coach of the Browns, where he posted a 6-10 record in a campaign filled with drama on and off the field. The 45-year-old has experience coaching quarterbacks, tight ends, and running backs at the NFL level.The Giants are also set to hire New England Patriots defensive line coach and former Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema to their staff in an unknown role, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the 2019 season over for the Dallas Cowboys, the attention of the front office turns to solidifying a deal for franchise quarterback Dak Prescott.The four-year pro just played out the final year of his entry-level contract."It's been urgent for us. We certainly want to get that done. That's our No. 1 priority as we go into the offseason - to get his contract, find some resolution to it and get it done," Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones said, per Cowboys staff writer David Helman.The two sides began discussing a second contract before the 2019 season commenced. It was reported in August that Prescott was offered a contract worth $30-million annually, but rejected it in hopes of landing one in the $40-million range.Currently, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson leads the way with an annual average salary of $35 million followed by Pittsburgh Steelers pivot Ben Roethlisberger at $34 million. Green Bay Packers passer Aaron Rodgers and Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff round out the top-tier group at $33.5 million.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.All the comical prop bets will headline Super Bowl Sunday: Over or under 40.5 grams of carbs in Jennifer Lopez's pre-show meal? Will Joe Buck talk about the Astros scandal? WHAT COLOR GATORADE IS IN THE DAMN COOLER? You can wager on just about anything.The first touchdown scorer of the game is a more traditional bet, and Circa Sports went the extra mile, releasing 90 - yes, 90 - players with odds for next Sunday.Although there's nothing really predictive about who will be the first to cross the goal line, we're going to give it a whirl. Here's a rundown of skill players featuring those with less than 100-1 odds.PlayerTeamOddsRB Raheem MostertSF11-2RB Damien WilliamsKC11-2TE Travis KelceKC9-1TE George KittleSF9-1WR Tyreek HillKC10-1WR Deebo SamuelSF11-1WR Sammy WatkinsKC16-1WR Emmanuel SandersSF17-1RB Tevin ColemanSF20-1QB Patrick MahomesKC20-1WR Kendrick BourneSF20-1RB Matt BreidaSF22-1WR Mecole HardmanKC22-1WR Demarcus RobinsonKC22-1RB Darwin ThompsonKC35-1FB Kyle JuszczykSF35-1QB Jimmy GaroppoloSF45-1TE Blake BellKC50-1FB Anthony ShermanKC60-1TE Ross DwelleySF60-1WR Richie JamesSF75-1Let's throw some darts!FadeRaheem Mostert (9-2)Mostert went off last weekend. After fellow running back Tevin Coleman went down with a dislocated shoulder, Mostert rushed 29 times for 220 yards and four touchdowns.If you're looking for a way to cap the first touchdown scorer, lean toward who's getting the ball around the goal line, right? Well, Mostert only received nine red-zone carries during the regular season, then he benefited from Coleman's absence last weekend. Look elsewhere.Patrick Mahomes (20-1)I took Aaron Rodgers over 13.5 rushing yards last week against the 49ers, and I finished with more yards. I'm now convinced there's an invisible force field at the line of scrimmage prohibiting quarterbacks from getting past the Niners. Or maybe San Francisco's defense is just that good. I wouldn't rule out either of those possibilities.Mahomes made an impact with his legs last weekend against the Titans, slicing up Tennessee for 53 yards and a touchdown. Perhaps it's recency bias, but this price feels way off. San Francisco's defense allowed quarterbacks to score only three regular-season rushing touchdowns, and Mahomes has notched just three in 18 games this campaign. I'd pass.Best betsTevin Coleman (22-1)The coaching staff sounds optimistic about Coleman playing, which makes this bet automatic.He was given 26 rushing attempts inside the 20-yard line - 10 more than the next-leading 49er - and was third on the team in red-zone targets during the regular season. I simply think there's too much value here.Travis Kelce (9-1)Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman don't know how to score on a play that doesn't resemble "Da Bomb" from "NFL Blitz 2000." Then there's Sammy Watkins, who was given a whopping six red-zone targets during the regular season, and I don't like Mahomes at his price.By process of elimination with the Chiefs, we're left with Kelce, who tops the team in red-zone targets and faces a defense that's allowed seven receptions per game to tight ends over its last four contests.Plus, he's probably thought of a sweet touchdown celebration. That has to count for something.Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Las Vegas is pulling out all the stops for the NFL's first draft in Sin City.The red carpet and the red carpet stage will be located on the water in front of the Bellagio fountains, the league confirmed Tuesday, while the main stage will be located next to Caesars Forum and Linq High Roller.Players attending the 2020 draft will be transported to the red-carpet stage by boat, according to Arash Markazi of the L.A. Times.

Kwon Alexander is looking to trademark "Hot Boyzz," the nickname for the San Francisco 49ers' linebacker corps.Alexander recently submitted trademark applications for "Hot Boyzz" and "Hot Boyzz University," according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.More people will wager on the Super Bowl than any other sporting event in the United States this year. One bet that draws the most attention is who wins Most Valuable Player. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes opened as the clear favorite but there are some other interesting options on the board that offer more value to bettors.Here are the odds for who'll be named Super Bowl LIV MVP:PlayerPositionTeamOddPatrick MahomesQBChiefsEVENJimmy GaroppoloQB49ers7-2Raheem MostertRB49ers8-1Damien WilliamsRBChiefs12-1Tyreek HillWRChiefs16-1Travis KelceTEChiefs16-1George KittleTE49ers16-1Nick BosaDE49ers20-1Deebo SamuelWR49ers30-1Sammy WatkinsWRChiefs40-1Emmanuel SandersWR49ers50-1Tevin ColemanRB49ers50-1Mecole HardmanWRChiefs50-1Richard ShermanCB49ers80-1Fred WarnerLB49ers80-1Chris JonesDTChiefs80-1Tyrann MathieuSChiefs80-1Kendrick BourneWR49ers100-1DeMarcus RobinsonWRChiefs100-1Robbie GouldK49ers100-1Harrison ButkerKChiefs100-1Frank ClarkDEChiefs100-1Darwin ThompsonRBChiefs200-1Kyle JuszczykFB49ers200-1FieldAnyAny14-1The key to increasing your odds in winning a bet like Super Bowl MVP is to first eliminate the players that have no chance of cashing. Neither kicker is going to win MVP, especially on two of the NFL's top-five scoring offenses. Sorry, Robbie Gould and Harrison Butker, but you're both out. A fullback also has no chance, so, see ya, Kyle Juszczyk.Ten defensive players have won Super Bowl MVP, and while a pass rusher like Nick Bosa isn't a bad bet at 20-1, we can cross off interior defensive linemen. Only one defensive tackle has won Super Bowl MVP - Randy White back in 1978 - and even then he had to share the award with teammate Harvey Martin. Apologies to Chris Jones, but he's eliminated. And backup running backs? No thanks. Cross off Darwin Thompson and Tevin Coleman.Now that we've narrowed down the field, it's time to look at which team will win the Super Bowl. If the Chiefs raise the Vince Lombardi Trophy, Mahomes will very likely be named MVP. Julian Edelman won the award last year in a low-scoring game due to Tom Brady's below-average performance. However, the odds are slim that the Chiefs come out victorious despite a subpar game from Mahomes.The better value is on the 49ers' side. As we saw in the NFC Championship Game, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo doesn't need to put up big numbers for San Francisco's offense to be successful. The 49ers beat Green Bay 37-20 despite Garoppolo completing just six passes for 77 yards. This gives players like Bosa, Raheem Mostert (8-1), and Deebo Samuel (30-1) value in a game where the spread is basically even.However, the best bet to win Super Bowl MVP is ...George Kittle (16-1)Kittle has been quiet so far in the playoffs. He's been dealing with a sore ankle, and with the 49ers gashing the Packers' defense on the ground for close to 300 yards, his stellar blocking took center stage last week. Given Kittle's talent and the matchup, though, he's loaded with value at 16-1.The Chiefs have struggled to defend the tight end position this season, allowing an average of 6.1 receptions and 60.9 yards per game. Those numbers put Kansas City in the bottom 10 when it comes to defending the position, which is even more alarming considering the Chiefs didn't face many quality tight ends this year. The best tight end Kansas City saw this season was Oakland's Darren Waller, who ripped the Chiefs' defense for 13 catches and 163 yards in two games. Waller is a good player, but he's not Kittle.The other thing to watch for in this game is how Kansas City will try to defend Kittle without safety Juan Thornhill. The Chiefs didn't miss Thornhill in their playoff wins over Houston and Tennessee after losing him to a knee injury in Week 17, but his absence will be felt as they try to defend the NFL's most athletic tight end.Kittle saw at least eight targets in half of his games this season, and Garoppolo will need to complete more than six passes to keep up with the Chiefs' offense. No tight end has ever won Super Bowl MVP, but Kittle has the talent, matchup, and projected volume to end that streak. He's worth a long look at 16-1.Thomas Casale is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. He's been following the sports betting industry for almost 30 years. A devoted fan of the wishbone offense, Thomas bets on all sports but specializes in college football, NFL, and college basketball. Find him on Twitter @TheTomCasale.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. underwent surgery to repair a core muscle injury on Tuesday, the team announced.A full recovery is expected, according to the Browns, though no timetable for the recovery has been provided.Baker Mayfield made headlines in December when he was critical of the Browns' training staff for mishandling the sports hernia Beckham had been playing through all season.The star wideout suffered the injury during training camp in August. He didn't miss a start, but Beckham posted one of the least productive campaigns of his career, catching 74 passes for 1,035 yards and four touchdowns.Mayfield said Beckham wasn't "able to run as well as he should be able to." The quarterback added that he thought Beckham should have undergone the surgery and missed the first few games rather than "playing through pain."Despite a disappointing first season in Cleveland, Beckham committed to staying with the AFC North club in 2020."I'm not going anywhere. I'll be here," he said. "We'll figure this thing out. It's just too special to leave."The 27-year-old's future was called into question after it was reported he encouraged opposing players and coaches in October to pry him loose from the Browns.Beckham's offseason has also gotten off to a controversial start.The New Orleans Police Department issued an arrest warrant for the receiver after he appeared to give a security officer in LSU's locker room a butt slap while the team celebrated winning the national title. The warrant was later rescinded when the lieutenant decided not to press charges.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ticket prices are skyrocketing for Super Bowl LIV.Since the matchup was set between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, tickets have sold for an average cost of $6,785 on SeatGeek, according to Zach Braziller of the New York Post. The average resale price is $6,232 and the cheapest ticket is around $5,500."In general, it's record-breaking demand," SeatGeek communications manager Chris Leyden told Braziller. "It seems like the market is about 20 percent hotter than we anticipated."On Vivid Seats, the average cost of tickets sold is $5,471, with the cheapest ticket hovering at $4,342. Company spokesperson Stephen Spiewak said the Chiefs' Super Bowl drought is "driving intense demand."The Chiefs last won the Super Bowl in 1970, while the 49ers' most recent championship was in 1995.Super Bowl LIV takes place Feb. 2 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals executive Duke Tobin wouldn't confirm reports Monday that the team has already decided not to trade the first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft."I don't know that any decision has been made for what we're going to do in April," said Tobin, who serves as director of player personnel, according to Bengals reporter Geoff Hobson. "We're early in the process. We certainly haven't had any meetings to determine that at this point. Those will be meetings we'll have as we go through the process."Tobin's comments come on the heels of an ESPN report that claimed the franchise has no intention of dealing its top pick. The Bengals are widely expected to target LSU quarterback Joe Burrow with the No. 1 pick, assuming they keep it."He had a wonderful year, a year very few people have had," Tobin said of Burrow, who led LSU to a national championship. "And their team had the same success. The way the coaches put the group together, the schematics that they had, the culture that they built all came together and the players were extremely well-coached and with that comes success. When you start winning close games, you build camaraderie as a group and when you watched them you could really see it building and they became a complete team."Cincinnati drafted quarterback Carson Palmer out of USC the last time it owned the No. 1 selection.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 running back rankings here.2019 Fantasy reviews

San Francisco 49ers running back Tevin Coleman has a "good chance" of playing in Super Bowl LIV after dislocating his shoulder in the NFC Championship Game, head coach Kyle Shanahan said, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle.The Niners are still awaiting results from Coleman's MRI, which should provide clarity on his potential availability for Feb. 2.Coleman went down with a shoulder injury Sunday during the first half of San Francisco's victory over the Green Bay Packers. He was ruled out for the remainder of the game shortly thereafter.Coleman, Raheem Mostert, and Matt Breida all played significant roles at running back for San Francisco this season.The 49ers will take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the season finale at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.For the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, the 2021 season is a distant afterthought. However, the 30 other teams have already begun preparations ahead of what promises to be a busy offseason.Oddsmakers have just released their initial Super Bowl odds for the 2021 season, which are evidently being dictated by the impending quarterback circus set to develop over the next couple of months.Team OddsKansas City Chiefs7-1Baltimore Ravens8-1San Francisco 49ers8-1New Orleans Saints10-1New England Patriots12-1Pittsburgh Steelers12-1Dallas Cowboys16-1Philadelphia Eagles20-1Green Bay Packers20-1Seattle Seahawks20-1Los Angeles Rams30-1Chicago Bears30-1Cleveland Browns30-1Los Angeles Chargers30-1Indianapolis Colts30-1Houston Texans30-1Tennessee Titans30-1Minnesota Vikings30-1Buffalo Bills40-1Atlanta Falcons40-1Las Vegas Raiders40-1Denver Broncos60-1New York Jets60-1Tampa Bay Buccaneers60-1Arizona Cardinals80-1New York Giants80-1Jacksonville Jaguars80-1Detroit Lions80-1Carolina Panthers100-1Cincinnati Bengals100-1Miami Dolphins100-1Washington Redskins100-1New England Patriots (12-1)Tom Brady's free-agency decision will be the biggest factor in this quarterback carousel. He'll likely be the first domino to fall before the rest of the landscape can settle.Brady is currently a -300 favorite to return to New England, but these odds reflect a degree of uncertainty surrounding his future. Should the Patriots reach an agreement with the 42-year-old, the odds would likely shorten to the 10-1 range.Pittsburgh Steelers (12-1)This line is a clear indication that oddsmakers believe Ben Roethlisberger will return to the Steelers in full health next season. Pittsburgh overachieved in 2019, narrowly missing the playoffs with a combination of Mason Rudolph and Delvin Hodges at quarterback. Roethlisberger was limited to just one-and-a-half games as a result of an elbow injury.Chicago Bears (30-1)General manager Ryan Pace committed to Mitchell Trubisky as his starting quarterback in 2020. Trubisky's underwhelming performance this past season and the Bears' devotion to giving him another year at the helm have left them among a middling pack of 30-1 candidates. Pursuing a free agent such as Cam Newton would take a significant financial commitment but would certainly improve the outlook ahead of the 2020 campaign.Los Angeles Chargers (30-1)With Philip Rivers' tenure as quarterback likely over, much longer odds than 30-1 were expected for the Chargers. There's a method to the madness, though, as Los Angeles is considered the favorite to land Brady should he decide to move on from New England. Opening L.A. at 30-1 limits the amount of liability that books will leave themselves exposed to should Brady sign, as opposed to taking large wagers at 60-1 and then having to shorten them in half following a potential deal with Brady.Carolina Panthers (100-1)Oddsmakers clearly don't think Brady will sign in Carolina, but the Panthers are building quite a case with their offseason hires. Matt Rhule has been brought in from Baylor to serve as head coach, while Joe Brady - the mastermind behind Joe Burrow's record-breaking season - was appointed as the new offensive coordinator. There's terrific value here at 100-1, as odds would likely settle around 30-1 should the future Hall of Famer put pen to paper.Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Dean Pees announced his retirement from football Monday.Pees spent two seasons in Tennessee and saw the Titans finish with the NFL's third-best defensive unit in 2018. This year, the AFC finalists allowed 20.7 points and 359.5 yards per game, which ranked 12th and 21st in the league, respectively.The 70-year-old is one of eight defensive coordinators in NFL history to coach in a Super Bowl with two different teams.Pees has worked as a defensive coordinator for 10 seasons and has been coaching in some capacity for 47 years. He's spent time with a number of NFL teams, including the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens.The Dunkirk, Ohio, native served as Kent State head coach from 1998 to 2003, posting a 17-51 record.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs pivot Patrick Mahomes is the NFL's top-selling player of the 2019 season, the NFLPA announced Monday.Mahomes gear led all sales of officially licensed NFL player-focused merchandise from March 1 to Nov. 30. Merchandise for New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who finished each of the past two seasons atop the retail list, ranked second.Mahomes, the 2018 NFL MVP, has led the Chiefs to Super Bowl LIV in just his second year as their starting quarterback.Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson - the favorite to win the 2019 MVP award - finished 12th on the list. San Francisco 49ers passer Jimmy Garoppolo - Mahomes' counterpart in the Super Bowl - ranks 15th.Here are the top 15 players in product sales:

Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers know which uniforms they will be wearing as they chase the Lombardi Trophy on Feb. 2 in Miami.The 49ers will wear their traditional road uniform of a white jersey and gold pants, the team confirmed to NFL.com's Kevin Patra on Monday. The Chiefs, the designated home team, will wear red jerseys.The 49ers were expected to lobby to wear their all-white 1994 throwbacks, even though that's currently not allowed, according to The Athletic's David Lombardi. San Francisco successfully applied for an exception to wear them in Week 17.The home team designation rotates between conferences. Last year, the NFC's Los Angeles Rams elected to wear their blue-and-yellow gear, so the New England Patriots played in white.San Francisco has played in six Super Bowls and the 49ers won the previous two in which they wore white tops and gold pants. The Chiefs have appeared in the Super Bowl twice before and wore red in their lone victory.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Head coach Mike Vrabel's decision to start Ryan Tannehill at quarterback over a struggling Marcus Mariota ahead of Week 7 was one of the turnaround moments for the Tennessee Titans during their incredible 2019 campaign.But despite the recent subpar performances that leave Mariota's future uncertain, the signal-caller still believes he'll succeed as an NFL starter again."I have no doubts at all, no doubts at all," he said, according to team writer Jim Wyatt. "I'm just hopeful and ready for whatever that next opportunity is."Mariota is scheduled to become a free agent on March 18. Over six starts in 2019, he completed a career-low 59.1% of his pass attempts for 1,176 yards and seven touchdowns while throwing two interceptions. The Titans were 2-4 with Mariota under center.Overall, the 26-year-old has started 61 games for Tennessee (29-32 career record), posting 13,207 passing yards and 76 touchdowns against 44 interceptions since being drafted second overall in 2015 out of Oregon.The former Heisman Trophy winner led the AFC South club to two postseason games in 2017."The organization took a chance on me, and I felt like I gave them everything I've got," Mariota said. "Obviously, we're not sure what is going to happen. But I know when it is all said and done, I gave this organization everything I could."Tannehill, who was acquired from the Miami Dolphins in March and led the Titans to the AFC Championship Game, is also set to become a free agent this offseason.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the weekend's action and examines the significance of those events moving forward.Mahomes starting a dynastyWhen was the last time, as an objective football fan, you could confidently say so early in a quarterback's career that you were witnessing one of the all-time greats? That certainly wasn't the case with Drew Brees, Tom Brady, or Peyton Manning - all sure-fire Hall of Famers from the modern era. Patrick Mahomes is just different.He's got a long way to go in terms of the resume, of course - nobody is saying he's on the level of the aforementioned names in that regard. But you're just not watching the same game if you can't see he's already one of the best signal-callers this game has ever seen. And it's fair to wonder, as the Patriots' dynasty comes to an end, whether Mahomes is in the process of leading the Chiefs into their own decade-plus run of dominance.Tennessee was a popular upset pick in this week's AFC title game due to a power running game and a Mike Vrabel defense that had just stunned an explosive Ravens offense in the divisional round. And hey, any given Sunday, right? But any such prediction willfully overlooked just how Mahomes tips the scales like no other.Not only did the superstar make his share of big plays in the passing game - a weekly tradition to this point in his young career - but he even had answers for several key situations where the Titans managed to hold up well in coverage. A number of back-breaking scrambles gave him 54 yards on the ground - the second straight week he's led the Chiefs in rushing yards - putting him alongside Russell Wilson, Steve McNair, and Otto Graham as the only quarterbacks in NFL history with 50-plus in consecutive playoff games.The Titans, much like the rest of the league, could only do so much to contain the league's premier player. And their offense, built upon the foundation of that strong running game, just couldn't keep up once the game really got going. Had Tennessee won, we'd be talking about a Cinderella story they'd better complete - because who knows when everything will fall right to give them another opportunity like this? For the Chiefs, win or lose, it feels like this is the first of many Super Bowl appearances over the next 10-15 years.The Mahomes show has only just begun.Mostert the X-factor in MiamiThearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / GettyA Super Bowl between the Chiefs and 49ers will be billed as the ultimate clash between offense and defense, and understandably so. But that's just one of many major storylines looking ahead to Feb. 2, with Raheem Mostert and the 49ers' running game the one you should keep a particularly close eye on.Kyle Shanahan's offense, much like that of his father, is friendly as can be to running backs. So while it was somewhat bizarre to see money spent on both Jerick McKinnon and Tevin Coleman in the last two offseasons, it couldn't be more fitting that a seemingly anonymous player making less than fullback Kyle Juszczyk is emerging as the biggest star of the group.Raheem Mostert's ridiculous game against the Packers can probably be considered his coming out party for the national audience, but this was a long time coming. An ideal fit for Shanahan's run scheme - demonstrating an impressive combination of vision, shiftiness, and explosiveness - all Mostert needed was an opportunity to be the unquestioned lead guy. He got just that when Coleman went down in the first half, and he went on to rack up 220 rushing yards and four touchdowns.Patrick Mahomes is going to make things happen against any defense, so the 49ers can't go into the big game expecting their defense to carry them to a victory. The offense will need to do its part, too, and whether the ground game capitalizes on its juicy matchup could very well end up being the difference in the end.Packers have work to doIt was only a matter of time before the Packers' warts derailed their championship hopes. All year, the Packers lacked a dynamic passing attack and a stout run defense. A light schedule allowed the NFC North champions to skate past those issues more often than not, but against an elite team like San Francisco, they were exploited.With Richard Sherman shadowing Davante Adams at times in the NFC title game, Aaron Rodgers needed his other receivers to step up. None did. The Packers became a run-first team in 2019 - not by choice, but out of necessity. Green Bay hasn't drafted a wide receiver within the first three rounds since 2015 - that pick was Ty Montgomery, who was eventually converted into a running back - and its lack of perimeter talent came back to haunt them.Defensively, the Packers were gashed in the running game more than they were in Week 12 when the 49ers blew them out the first time. They gave up 37 points, yet San Francisco only threw the ball 8 times. Green Bay, which ranked 23rd against the run in the regular season, looked confused and overwhelmed by the pre-snap motion that helped create blocks and lanes for San Francisco. The Packers surrendered 220 yards and four touchdowns to Raheem Mostert and simply couldn't contain the run even when they knew it was coming.The Packers undoubtedly made progress in their first year under head coach Matt LaFleur, but two glaring holes and ugly performances against the best of the NFC show there's plenty more work to do in Green Bay.Midnight strikes for CinderellaTom Pennington / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe NFL's latest feel-good story came to Kansas City as winners of three straight must-win road games dating back to Week 17. However, overcoming the NFL's most explosive offense in the unwelcoming confines of Arrowhead proved too much.Tennessee raced to a first-half lead but wasn't able to follow the formula of recent weeks and kill the game with Derrick Henry chewing yardage and clock. Patrick Mahomes and Co. erased that lead before halftime with ease, as they did a week ago against the Texans, and Henry produced a pathetic -1 yard from scrimmage with the Titans in comeback mode in the second half. The NFL's leading rusher's 69 total rushing yards were his fewest since Week 9. Even worse: Henry sat on the bench as the Titans desperately drove late, ceding his spot to backup Dion Lewis' superior receiving ability.And therein lies the big question the Titans must answer this offseason. Can they continue to build their offense with the primary goal of running the ball when all the evidence suggests passing is far more conducive to winning? Are they willing to make Henry the highest-paid running back in football when they're unwilling to let him play all-important passing snaps?The Titans' old-school model got them within a game of the Super Bowl, and that's certainly worth celebrating, but if they're to take another step in 2020 it will almost certainly have to come via improvement in the passing game.Playoff bye is paramountFor the seventh straight season, the Super Bowl will feature two teams that sat out Wild Card Weekend.From the arrival of the NFL's current divisional alignment and playoff format in 2002 to the late 2010s, a string of low-seeded teams made deep playoff runs, with the 2005 Steelers, 2007 Giants, and 2010 Packers all winning the Lombardi as wild cards.Lately, only teams earning playoff byes have sniffed the big game. Maybe it's too soon to call parity dead - the sixth-seeded Titans beat up on the top-seeded Ravens only a week ago, after all - but it's apparent there's no bigger advantage in football than the chance to rest, heal, and plan for a week while your peers fight for their playoff lives.There's been talk in recent seasons of the NFL adding a third wild-card team in each conference, forcing the No. 2 seeds to give up their bye. Perhaps we should tap the brakes on that idea, lest we waste everyone's time with an expanded playoff that sends only No. 1 seeds to the Super Bowl.'Big Red' finally back in the big gameIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyRegardless of which team you root for, it's hard not to feel good for Andy Reid. With "Big Red" at the helm, the Chiefs reached their first Super Bowl in 50 years. Reid now has his second chance at capturing the elusive Lombardi Trophy.The 61-year-old has amazingly taken his team to the postseason in 15 of 21 seasons as a head coach. Reid's 28 playoff games place him fourth all time, and his 14 wins rank sixth. Behind one of the premier offensive minds of his generation, whether it's with the Chiefs or Philadelphia Eagles, Reid's teams have been consistently in contention.For years Reid came incredibly close to winning it all, but his team never got over the hump. Prior to Sunday's win over the Titans, he sported a 1-5 record in conference championship games. Despite the increased pressure to succeed, the veteran boss made a statement and further cemented what's been an illustrious career.After countless heartbreaks, Reid is going back to the Super Bowl for the first time in 15 seasons. No one is more deserving.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The confetti of the San Francisco 49ers' NFC championship victory celebration hadn't finished falling before retired NFL corner Darrelle Revis starting slinging Twitter arrows at Niners corner Richard Sherman.Two of the best defensive backs of this era, they have often been compared to one another.On Sunday night, Revis took issue with Sherman's penchant for locking down the left side of the field and not traveling with the opponent's best receiver, prompting a heated back-and-forth between the two.

The San Francisco 49ers advanced to Super Bowl LIV despite a quiet day from their starting quarterback.The Niners dominated the Green Bay Packers 37-20 in the NFC Championship Game on the strength of their run game and a stout defense. On offense, they ran the ball 42 times against just eight pass attempts from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo."You've got to talk to (head coach) Kyle (Shanahan) or something, man," Garoppolo said with a laugh when asked about his limited pass attempts."We were running the hell out of the ball tonight. It made my life very easy back there. I think I only had like eight pass attempts, so, it was a fun night."It was the second straight playoff game in which Garoppolo took a backseat to the ground game. He completed 11 of 19 passes for 131 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in San Francisco's divisional-round win against the Minnesota Vikings, following it up with just 77 passing yards against the Packers.The 49ers passer had an injury scare near the end of the first quarter when he took a hit to the left knee from Kenny Clark. Garoppolo wears a brace on that knee after he tore his left ACL during the 2018 season, and it likely protected him from a possible injury."Scary moment but the brace held up again. Knock on wood," he said.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans have named Anthony Weaver their new defensive coordinator, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Weaver will replace longtime assistant Romeo Crennel, whose contract is up soon and he wasn't expected to return as the Texans' DC. Crennel could retire or become a senior assistant, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport reported.Weaver, 39, has been Houston's defensive line coach since 2016. He previously worked with the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, and Cleveland Browns in the same capacity.Crennel's tenure in Houston started in 2014, and he spent time as the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach. Crennel is a five-time Super Bowl champion as an assistant, winning two rings with the New York Giants (1986, 1990), and three with the New England Patriots (2001, 2003, 2004).The 72-year-old has also logged NFL head coaching experience. He was the Cleveland Browns' sideline boss from 2005 to 2008 before moving on to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he worked as both the team's defensive coordinator (2010-11) and head coach (2011-12). The Lynchburg, Virginia native has posted a 28-55 career head coaching record.The 10-6 Texans allowed 24.1 points and 388.3 yards per game in 2019, which ranked 19th and 28th in the league, respectively.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Rodgers' quest for a second Super Bowl was ended by the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, but the star quarterback is still confident the current iteration of the Green Bay Packers can make a title run."The window is open for us, and that's the exciting thing," Rodgers said after Green Bay's 37-20 loss in the NFC Championship Game, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "I think we're gonna be on the right side of one of these real soon."Rodgers finished the game with 326 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also fumbled three times, losing one.Sunday's loss marked Rodgers' third defeat in four career NFC Championship Game appearances. He'll be 37 years old the next time the playoffs roll around.Even though time is ticking for the two-time MVP, he was positive when reflecting on his first campaign with rookie head Matt LaFleur."This (season) is special because it became fun again," Rodgers said.While Rodgers missed out on reaching the big game, he made Packers history by moving past Brett Favre for the most playoff touchdowns (40) in franchise history.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.Super Bowl LIV is set.Two of the NFL's top offenses will match up when the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs meet Feb. 2. The 49ers finished the regular season ranked No. 4 in total offense, while the Chiefs were No. 9. Both teams averaged just under 30 points per game this season, so it should be an entertaining contest in what is the single biggest betting day of the year for sportsbooks.Opening odds and early movementThis matchup looks even on paper and oddsmakers agree, opening the Chiefs as a 1.5-point favorite with the total at 52.5. Expect public money to come in heavy on Kansas City and the over, which is a given considering casual bettors take the over without fail in the Super Bowl.It'll be interesting to see where the sharp bettors come in on this game. Last year, the Los Angeles Rams opened at -1 over the New England Patriots. Sharps jumped on the Pats right away, moving New England to -1.5. As of late Sunday night, sharp bettors had yet to come in heavy on either the Chiefs or 49ers.Is it Andy Reid's year? Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is making his second Super Bowl appearance after losing to the Patriots in overtime 37-31 in last year's AFC Championship Game. Reid took the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl during the 2004 season but fell to the Patriots 24-21.While Reid coached some good Eagles teams that fell short of winning a championship, this is probably his most talented squad, thanks in large part to quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The reigning MVP has been sensational in the playoffs, throwing for 625 yards, eight touchdowns, and no interceptions while completing 65.7% of his passes.The Chiefs fell behind early in their two playoff wins over the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans. However, they still managed to cover both games as 10- and 7.5-point favorites, respectively. Kansas City is currently the team casual bettors like wagering on the most and the club has rewarded its backers, covering 12 of 18 games this season, including a 7-0-1 run against the spread (ATS) heading into the Super Bowl.The 49ers present matchup problemsThe 49ers will make their sixth Super Bowl appearance after dismantling the Green Bay Packers 37-20 in the NFC Championship Game. While more casual bettors will no doubt be on the Chiefs, San Francisco poses some matchup problems. Kansas City's defense was able to hold Derrick Henry to just 69 yards in the AFC Championship Game but, overall, the Chiefs struggled to stop the run this season, surrendering 4.9 yards per carry and 128 rushing yards per game. That's not great news when playing the 49ers' No. 2-ranked rushing attack, which rolled up 285 yards Sunday.Another thing to watch for in this game is San Francisco's top-ranked pass defense, which allowed just 169 yards through the air per game this season. No defense is going to completely stop Mahomes, but the 49ers have the pass rush and talent in the secondary to make things difficult for the Chiefs quarterback.Like Kansas City, San Francisco has been profitable ATS this season, going 11-6-1 overall. The 49ers find themselves as an underdog for just the sixth time this season. San Francisco covered its previous five games as a 'dog, winning four of them outright.Early lean Over 52.5The game looks pretty even across the board but my early lean is to the over at 52.5. You'll hear the over is a big public play but that's the case in every Super Bowl. In a big event like this, the public and sharp money aren't as important because so many people are betting on the game. While I do believe San Francisco's defense can give Mahomes some problems, there's simply too much offensive firepower on the field in this matchup. Mahomes will get his points and the 49ers' run game should dominate. The total will almost certainly go up, but I'd consider taking the over at anything 55 or lower.Thomas Casale is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. He's been following the sports betting industry for almost 30 years. A devoted fan of the wishbone offense, Thomas bets on all sports but specializes in college football, NFL, and college basketball. Find him on Twitter @TheTomCasale.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dez Bryant is determined to get back on the field in 2020 and wouldn't mind doing so with the Dallas Cowboys."I'm where I need to be (physically) right now," the free-agent wide receiver told Mike Fisher of CowboysSI.com. "I'm more serious than ever."Bryant sat out the 2019 campaign while rehabbing from a torn Achilles, which he sustained at his first practice with the New Orleans Saints last season. The 31-year-old spent the first eight years of his career with the Cowboys and holds the franchise record for career touchdown receptions with 73.

Super Bowl LIV

San Francisco 49ers running back Tevin Coleman was carted off the field during Sunday's NFC Championship Game after suffering a shoulder injury.Coleman was ruled out for the remainder of the 49ers' 37-20 win against the Green Bay Packers prior to the start of the second half.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) With his best imitation of a tightrope walker, Patrick Mahomes high-wired the Kansas City Chiefs into their first Super Bowl in a half-century.Oh sure, Mahomes did his usual superb job passing, but it was his 27-yard tap dance down the left sideline late in the first half that gave the Chiefs their first lead. From there, they outran the run-oriented Titans and star back Derrick Henry for a 35-24 victory Sunday in the AFC championship.At last, for the first time since 1970 and the third time overall, the Chiefs (14-4) are Super Bowl bound.In two weeks in Miami, they will play the winner of the NFC title game between Green Bay and San Francisco.''I mean, it's amazing. It really is,'' Mahomes said. ''To be here, to be a part of Chiefs Kingdom and to be able to do it here at Arrowhead, these people deserve it. And, we're not done yet.''Adding to the joy of the achievement, coach Andy Reid and owner Clark Hunt accepted the Lamar Hunt Trophy - named after his father - emblematic of the AFC title. It was handed over to them by Chiefs Hall of Famer Bobby Bell, with Mahomes and safety Tyrann Mathieu jumping for joy on the makeshift stage.Next up: chasing the Vince Lombardi Trophy.''Chiefs Kingdom, we are going to the Super Bowl,'' Hunt said.''It's awesome,'' Reid said, asking the crowd to chant ''How about those Chiefs?''The Chiefs lost in the very first Super Bowl, 35-10 to the Green Bay Packers. But they charged back three years later to beat Minnesota 23-7 behind Len Dawson, Otis Taylor and animated coach Hank Stram famously urging his team to ''keep matriculating the ball down the field, boys!''As they had done in their past three ''elimination'' games, the sixth-seeded Titans (11-8) got started quickly. The difference at Arrowhead as opposed to Houston, New England and Baltimore was that the Chiefs had Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins and Damien Williams on offense, and a vastly upgraded defense from when they lost in last year's AFC title game. Henry was held to 7 yards rushing in the second half.''They were doubling all these guys,'' Mahomes said of his spectacular TD run on which he barely stayed in bounds. ''I just ran it and got some good blocking at the end and found a way to get in the end zone.''A week after they overcame a 24-0 deficit against Houston, the Chiefs had to rally again.Down 10-0 and 17-7, Kansas City didn't flinch, building a 35-17 lead while controlling the clock with a strong ground game. Naturally, Mahomes complemented that with sharp passing, spreading the ball on short and deep throws. The dagger came with a 60-yard completion to Watkins for the Chiefs' 28th straight point midway in the final period.Mahomes thrust both arms in the air as the crowd sang ''I Want To Dance With Somebody.''That somebody will be either the 49ers or Packers in two weeks. They were deciding the NFC crown later Sunday in California.After taking a 3-0 lead on Greg Joseph's first field goal - with Tennessee's penchant for scoring in the red zone, he hadn't been called upon in his previous four games with the team - the Titans got a huge break. Bashaud Breeland appeared to make a diving interception, but replay review showed the ball hitting the ground.Helped by consecutive offside penalties and a a fourth-down pass to Adam Humphries for his first career playoff reception, the Titans converted on, what else, Henry's 4-yard run.Then the Chiefs got rolling, scoring on three successive series. Hill took it in on a shovel pass, later beat top Titans cornerback Logan Ryan for a 20-yard reception, and Mahomes finished the half with his brilliant jaunt down the left sideline with half the Tennessee defense seemingly expecting him to step out of bounds.That gave the Chiefs a 21-17 lead. It went to 28-17 on Williams' 3-yard run to cap a seven-minute drive. Then Watkins toasted Logan for the clinching long pass.Henry was held to 69 yards on 19 carries after rushing for 588 yards in the past three games as an unstoppable force.''That's what we were able to do coming in,'' Titans coach Mike Vrabel said of his team's running game entering the AFC title game.''We weren't (able to do that against KC). I felt we competed all the way there until the end. We got a stop, the offense gets the ball back and they fought. You don't prepare these types of speeches to talk to the team about at the end of the season or to talk to you guys (reporters) about the end of the season. That's where we're at.''The Chiefs easily outrushed the Titans on Sunday. Mahomes had 53 of those yards and also was 23 for 35 for 294 yards passing.REID'S RETURNReid goes back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2004 season, when his Eagles lost to New England. That gap is second longest to Dick Vermeil's hiatusTRICKERYLast week, Henry threw a jump pass for a touchdown against Baltimore. On Sunday, Dennis Kelly emulated his coach, Mike Vrabel. He sneaked free for Ryan Tannehill's lob, falling back awkwardly but holding on for Tennessee's second TD. The backup tackle is the only offensive lineman since 2000 with two TDs receiving in a season. He also had one against Jacksonville.Vrabel caught 12 touchdown passes as a linebacker, including one in the Super Bowl when his Patriots beat Reid's Eagles.FOURTH DOWNSDisplaying the gambling nature of both coaches, fourth-down conversions were key on early scoring drives. Humphries, who missed the last six games with an ankle problem, caught a 3-yarder on fourth-and-2 at the KC 29. Two plays later, Henry scored.On the Chiefs' ensuing possession, they went on fourth-and-2 from the Titans 28. Travis Kelce's 4-yard reception continued a march to Hill's first TD.UP NEXTTitans: Figuring out if they ran out of gas or were beaten by a more talented team as they head into the offseason.Chiefs: The Tomahawk Chop will be heard at Hard Rock Stadium in the Super Bowl.---More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFLCopyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady is less than two months away from potentially hitting the open market for the first time in his career, and the New England Patriots quarterback is keeping all options on the table when it comes to his playing future."I'm open-minded about the process," Brady said Sunday on Westwood One radio when asked about the possibility of suiting up for a new team. "At the same time, I love playing football and I want to continue to play and do a great job. I'm looking forward to what's ahead. Whatever the future may bring, I'll embrace it with open arms."After years of taking team-friendly deals with the Patriots, Brady reportedly won't consider agreeing to another hometown discount.New England can't use the franchise tag on the veteran signal-caller because of a clause in his extension signed in August, so Brady will be free to talk to other teams when the free-agency negotiations window opens March 11.The six-time Super Bowl winner attended UFC 246 in Las Vegas on Saturday. He was spotted speaking to Raiders owner Mark Davis, which sent rumors swirling on social media.

San Francisco 49ers defensive backs coach and passing-game coordinator Joe Woods is on track to become the Cleveland Browns' new defensive coordinator, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The deal will be made official when the 49ers' season ends, provided the sides can agree to contract terms at the appropriate time, Schefter reports.Steve Wilks coordinated Cleveland's defensive unit in 2019, his first season in that role. New head coach Kevin Stefanski has informed Wilks he won't be retained as a member of the Browns' staff, according to Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot.The 6-10 Browns allowed an average of 24.6 points and 361.6 yards per game this season, good for 20th and 22nd in the NFL, respectively.Woods joined San Francisco in 2019 after four seasons with the Denver Broncos, including two as Denver's defensive coordinator from 2017-18. The 49-year-old also spent eight seasons as the defensive backs coach of the Minnesota Vikings, during which time he worked with Stefanski.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones is active for his team's AFC Championship Game against the Tennessee Titans.

The first overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft belongs to the Cincinnati Bengals and it's likely remaining that way, as the AFC North club has no intention of trading away the top selection, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Cincinnati finished the regular season 2-14, acquiring the No. 1 selection for the first time since 2003.The quarterback position is considered the Bengals' top priority, and LSU's Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow is the favorite to go first overall.Bengals quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt praised Burrow early this week, admitting the pivot "checks off a lot of boxes" as a prospect.Cincinnati relied on Andy Dalton and Ryan Finley under center throughout the 2019 campaign. Dalton has been their Week 1 starter since 2011.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Soon-to-be free agent Philip Rivers has permanently moved his family from San Diego to Florida, the Los Angeles Chargers quarterback told ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter."What this means football-wise is to be determined but it was time for us to move back closer to home," Rivers said in a text message.Rivers and his family kept their residence in San Diego despite the Chargers' move to L.A. ahead of the 2017 season.The 38-year-old just completed the final season on his contract with the Chargers. He's scheduled to hit free agency for the first time in his 16-year career in March.Rivers, a father of nine, previously said he plans to play in 2020, whether it's with the Chargers or not.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will interview former Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden for their offensive coordinator vacancy, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports.Jacksonville and previous offensive coordinator John DeFilippo mutually parted ways after just one season. The Jaguars are also reportedly scheduling an interview with former New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo.Gruden was fired after an 0-5 start to his sixth season at the Redskins' helm. He previously spent three campaigns as the Cincinnati Bengals' offensive coordinator.The Jaguars ranked 20th in total offense in 2019 and 26th in points scored, averaging 18.8 points per game.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL might not have liked Eric Fisher smashing two beers together like "Stone Cold" Steve Austin to celebrate a touchdown, but Budweiser appreciates the extra publicity from the Kansas City Chiefs left tackle.After the league handed Fisher a $14,037 fine on Saturday for his actions during last week's AFC title game, Budweiser responded by offering to make a donation to the charity of his choice for the same amount:

Isaiah Simmons is going pro.The Clemson linebacker announced Saturday that he's entering the 2020 NFL Draft, and the 21-year-old is widely expected to be a first-round pick.