Despite just finishing the first season of his four-year contract with the New York Jets, Le'Veon Bell's future with the team isn't guaranteed.On Tuesday, general manager Joe Douglas praised Bell but didn't rule out the possibility of trading the star running back."My personal experience with Le'Veon has been very positive," Douglas said, according to Danny Abriano of SNY. "He's one of our best workers, he's one of our best teammates. He connects and engages with everybody, so I can't say enough positive things about Le'Veon."Like I said before, if teams do call, I'm gonna listen," he added. "How those conversations go, I can't speak to that. That's hypothetical. When teams call, I will listen."Douglas' comments regarding Bell come just one day after head coach Adam Gase declined to speak definitively on the rusher's future."He's under contract for three more years," he said. "I'm not the personnel, I'm not in charge of personnel."Gase reportedly opposed former Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan over the signing of Bell during the offseason.The former Pittsburgh Steeler signed a four-year, $52.5-million contract with the Jets in March, which currently ranks third among running backs with an average annual value of $13.125 million.Through 15 games in 2019, Bell amassed 789 yards and three touchdowns on the ground while averaging 3.2 yards per carry. He also caught 66 passes for 461 yards and a score.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns have mutually parted ways with general manager John Dorsey after two-plus seasons with the team, the club announced Tuesday.The Browns reportedly met with Dorsey on Tuesday to discuss the GM's job after another disappointing campaign."We have a great appreciation for John and all he has done with the Cleveland Browns. He has helped create a foundation that we need to continue to develop and build upon," team co-owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said in a statement. "While John helped greatly improve our team's talent and we are excited about the core players on our roster, we fully recognized that our team did not meet its potential on or off the field and additional changes in leadership give us the best opportunity for success in the future."As the role of the general manager continues to evolve in this league, we felt there were areas that needed to be reassessed. Over the last 48 hours, we've (spoken) with John about his role but could not come to an agreement on a position that would enable him to remain with the organization."In Dorsey's own statement, he praised the team's fans and said they were partly why he decided it was best to part ways with the organization.“When I took this job, the history of this storied franchise and the passion of our fans was an integral part of my decision," he said. "It is that same understanding and desire to see these fans enjoy the success they are so deserving of that helped me conclude, along with Jimmy and Dee, that it was best to part ways as they embark on the search for a new head coach."Cleveland has already fired Freddie Kitchens, who had a subpar season in his first year as head coach and oversaw a tumultuous campaign that featured its fair share of drama off the field and a lack of discipline on it.After being named GM in December 2017, Dorsey took an aggressive approach to talent acquisition. His notable moves included the signing of running back Kareem Hunt, trades for wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry, and the drafting of quarterback Baker Mayfield first overall.Cleveland was hailed as a potential Super Bowl contender prior to the beginning of the 2019 season. The club even began selling Dorsey's signature white sweater as his popularity with the fan base skyrocketed.However, the big moves didn't lead to the expected results, as the Browns slumped to a 6-10 record in 2019.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent wide receiver Antonio Brown worked out with the New Orleans Saints last Friday, as whispers surrounding his potential NFL return gathered steam.But after the Saints announced last weekend that they didn't intend to sign him, Brown accused the team of working him out as a "publicity stunt" during an Instagram Live video Monday night."I really am at peace. I just don't like the lack of respect in the world," Brown said in the video, according to ESPN's Mike Triplett. "Everyone has deadlines. But I guess the NFL don't have a deadline for me. So I appreciate (Saints coach) Sean Payton and them guys for supporting me to bring me out to work out. But I think it was a publicity stunt for them. Sean Payton knows the film that's being left behind."But it is what it is. ... I'm not gonna make excuses. I'm just gonna keep competing to be the difference, 'cause I know I'm the difference."Monday's workout was Brown's first visit with a team since he was released by the New England Patriots in September.The 31-year-old was one of six receivers to work out with the Saints, and team sources described the activities to Triplett as "due diligence" and a way to update their "ready list" in case a need arises at the receiver position.New Orleans ended up signing former Baltimore Ravens wideout Tim White to its practice squad."Obviously there's a little bit more attention drawn to (Brown) because of his career," Saints head coach Sean Payton said after the workout. "But right now, it was more or less us having a chance to get to know these guys and seeing what kind of shape they're all in."Brown's future remains unclear as the NFL continues investigating the player under its personal conduct policy for allegations of sexual assault and misconduct.Early on Monday, the former Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders receiver took aim at former teammates Derek Carr and JuJu Smith-Schuster on Twitter.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich was one of several assistants fired Tuesday by the Chicago Bears, the team announced Tuesday.Offensive line coach Harry Hiestand, tight ends coach Kevin Gilbride, and assistant special teams coach Brock Olivo were also relieved of their duties.Helfrich spent two seasons on the staff of head coach Matt Nagy, who called offensive plays both years. The former Oregon bench boss is a disciple of Chip Kelly.The Bears struggled on offense in 2019, finishing the season ranked 29th in both points and yards per game.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants general manager David Gettleman said Tuesday that his disdain for analytics is a thing of the past."I know this is going to sound crazy, but I met with a big analytics guy," Gettleman told reporters, including Kimberley A. Martin of Yahoo Sports. "I'm gonna learn from my mistakes.""We've hired four computer folks - software - and we're completely redoing our back end of our college and pro scouting systems," the 68-year-old added, per SNY.Under Gettleman, the Giants have been one of the more resistant franchises to advanced data, preferring to rely on traditional scouting methods to evaluate players. Despite widespread criticism of his performance, the Giants elected to bring Gettleman back for a third year.To begin 2020, Gettleman will be tasked with finding a head coach to replace Pat Shurmur. He shut down theories that he'll be an undesirable boss for potential candidates."I don't understand the notion that I'm tough to work with," he said. "I think it would be from people that don't know me. Obviously, as we move forward in the coaching search - it's the dating game, and there will be that opportunity for them to look me in the eye and say, 'Hey Dave, what up?' So I don't understand that, I really don't."New York is 9-23 in two campaigns under Gettleman, though part of his first season was disrupted by treatments for lymphoma. His signature moves include trading Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns, drafting Daniel Jones sixth overall, and acquiring Leonard Williams from the New York Jets.Williams, a pending free agent, cost the Giants two draft picks, but Gettleman maintains that getting the defensive lineman early was worth the price."He wants to be here," Gettleman said. He added, "We feel - and he's proven - he's disruptive in there. He improved our rushing defense with him in there, and he buzzes around the quarterback, we just gotta get him to finish now. But bottom line is we felt it was worth the deal. The juice was worth the squeeze."Previously, Gettleman posted a 51-28-1 record as the Carolina Panthers' general manager from 2013-17, building the team that challenged for Super Bowl 50.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Bears will keep Mitchell Trubisky as their starting quarterback in 2020, general manager Ryan Pace said Tuesday, according to Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com.Pace didn't commit to exercising the fifth-year option on Trubisky's rookie contract, saying it's too early in the offseason to address that looming decision. The Bears must make a call on the option by May 5.Trubisky regressed in his third NFL campaign, throwing 17 touchdown passes against 10 interceptions while averaging a career-low 6.1 yards per pass attempt. His passer rating of 83.0 ranked 28th among 32 qualifying quarterbacks. Pace acknowledged the former No. 2 overall pick must play with greater consistency next season.Trubisky's status in Chicago has been the subject of speculation for weeks. Frustrated Bears fans have implored the franchise to target a veteran starter to replace - or at least challenge - Trubisky in 2020.Head coach Matt Nagy said "decision-making" will be his top priority for Trubisky this offseason, but added that he wants the 25-year-old "to be a master at understanding coverages."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Rhule is taking NFL interviews - just not with the Cleveland Browns.The coveted Baylor head coach, who's said he'll only consider jumping to the pros for a situation that is "next to perfect," declined a chance to meet with the Browns, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.Rhule is expected to interview with the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants, and he is reportedly the early favorite for the latter franchise's position.The 44-year-old spearheaded a sensational turnaround at Baylor, taking the previously disgraced program from 1-11 in 2017 to 11-2 and the Sugar Bowl in 2019.Cleveland is seeking a replacement for Freddie Kitchens, who was fired after one season. The Browns haven't had a head coach make it through three full seasons since Romeo Crennel served from 2006-08, and his stint preceded Jimmy Haslam's ownership of the franchise.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will bring back head coach Doug Marrone and general manager Dave Caldwell in 2020, owner Shad Khan announced Tuesday.Marrone and Caldwell were widely expected to be relieved of their duties following a 10-loss season that dropped the Jaguars to 11-21 since their run to the AFC title game in 2017. Marrone himself acknowledged at the end of the season that he was concerned about his job status."The 2019 season was unacceptable and I've made my dissatisfaction clear," Khan said. "While many unusual circumstances influenced our season, none can fully explain or defend our second-half collapse with first place in the division within reach on Week 9. At the same time, there were positive developments and contributions that should not be overlooked."Marrone is coming off his third full season as Jaguars head coach and owns a record of 21-27 over that time. Caldwell has served as general manager since 2013, posting just one winning season."We came out of our AFC Championship Game season of 2017 by making a four-year commitment to the collective leadership of our football operations," Khan said. "Only two seasons have passed and one change from that leadership team (Tom Coughlin) has already been made. I want to see what we produce under a new organizational structure in 2020. Goals have been established. Accountability will be paramount."The Jaguars head into the offseason with roster deficiencies, salary cap issues, and a quarterback controversy, as Marrone benched high-priced acquisition Nick Foles down the stretch for rookie Gardner Minshew. Foles is on the books for over $22 million in 2020 and carries a dead cap hit of nearly $34 million, according to Spotrac.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baylor's Matt Rhule is the early favorite to become the New York Giants' next head coach, SNY's Ralph Vacchiano reports.Rhule is generating interest from multiple teams for the second straight year. He turned down the New York Jets last offseason after being denied the ability to hire his own staff.Rhule, who was an assistant offensive line coach for the Giants in 2012, is believed to share mutual interest with his former employers. Despite wanting sufficient control over any NFL club, the 44-year-old reportedly isn't wary about working with general manager David Gettleman, who New York committed to retaining.Outside of Rhule, the Giants are expected to use the weekend to interview former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.The Giants have also requested permission to interview Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale, who would attempt to bring LSU's Joe Brady with him as his offensive coordinator, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The Giants fired Pat Shurmur as head coach Monday after going 9-23 under his watch over the last two seasons. The G-Men have made the playoffs just once since they won the Super Bowl to conclude the 2011 campaign.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL contained plenty of wild, wacky, and wonderful stuff in 2019. Here's a look back at the top 10 stories from the past year:10. Kyler picks football over baseball It appeared all but certain Kyler Murray was destined for a baseball career after being drafted by the Oakland Athletics with the ninth overall pick in the 2018 MLB amateur draft.Even when the diminutive quarterback was allowed to return to Oklahoma for one more season of football, no one envisioned Murray would produce the kind of season that would establish himself as the clear No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyMoreover, in an unprecedented move, the Cardinals believed the Heisman winner's talent couldn't be passed on despite Arizona using the 10th overall pick on Josh Rosen a season prior.Even 15 years ago, it was unthinkable that a 5-foot-10 quarterback would be drafted in the first three rounds, let alone going No. 1. But on a trail blazed by the likes of Drew Brees and Russell Wilson, Murray continued to destroy the conventional notion of what a quarterback has to look like.9. Marshawn Lynch returns to SeahawksJust when it seemed like 2019 was out of stories, Lynch burst back onto the scene last week to save the Seattle Seahawks, after their entire backfield was decimated by injury.At 33 years old, the running back isn't the unstoppable force he once was. But first and foremost, football is about entertainment. And no one brings more fun to the game than Beast Mode.Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY SportsLynch's return went from pipe dream to reality so quickly that he was able to suit up for the Seahawks' final game of the regular season. He even added another classic press conference to his collection, wishing the media a "merry new year" before walking off after only 12 seconds.While the veteran struggled in Sunday's close defeat to the 49ers, finishing the game with 34 yards on 12 carries, Lynch ignited the crowd with a leaping fourth-quarter touchdown.8. Ramsey forces way out of JacksonvilleA divorce between Jalen Ramsey and the Jacksonville Jaguars had been brewing for a while. Since his breakout 2017 campaign, Ramsey had drawn the ire of now-former senior executive Tom Coughlin several times for his perceived lack of maturity.As the 2019 season approached, Ramsey made it clear he wanted a contract extension. The Jaguars made it clear he wasn't getting one. As a result, Ramsey vowed not to give Jacksonville a discount whenever negotiations did start, adding he would ask for an "ungodly" amount of money. To hammer home his point, the Pro Bowl cornerback reported to training camp in the back of an armored bank truck.Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyIt didn't take long to see where this was headed. Two games into the regular season, Ramsey officially requested a trade. Initially, the Jaguars refused to comply, so the former fifth overall pick began sitting out practices and games, using a variety of questionable excuses to justify his absences. One month after the request - which Ramsey accused the Jaguars of leaking to the media - Jacksonville relented, shipping him to the Los Angeles Rams for a pair of first-round picks. Two months after that, Coughlin was relieved of his duties.7. Pass interference controversyNobody ever accused NFL referees of being too good at their jobs, but the officials hit rock bottom in the defining moment of the NFC Championship Game. With less than two minutes remaining in a tied affair, Nickell Robey-Coleman of the Rams mauled New Orleans Saints receiver TommyLee Lewis on third down, right in front of an official.A pass interference penalty would have allowed the Saints to run the clock down and kick a chip-shot field goal to clinch a spot in Super Bowl LIII. Somehow, though, Bill Vinovich and his crew missed the entire thing. The gaffe helped the Rams extend the contest to overtime, where they won it.Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / GettyUproar from the Saints, owner Gayle Benson, and fans across the country overwhelmed the NFL for weeks after the game. In the offseason, owners voted to let coaches challenge pass interference, straying from their steadfast desire not to make judgment calls reviewable.What sounded like a reasonable solution only resulted in more frustration. Rather than correcting the wrong calls of his subordinates, senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron denied one challenge after another early in the ensuing season, prompting more outrage. And that's where we stand heading into 2020.6. Steelers-Browns TNF brawlThe fallout from one of the wildest on-field scenes in recent memory included an indefinite suspension for Myles Garrett, a total of 33 players disciplined, and $732,000 in fines dolled out to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns, which jumped to an eye-popping $2 million when factoring in lost salaries.In the final moments of Cleveland's victory over its bitter rivals on Thursday Night Football, all hell broke loose after Garrett clashed with Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph. The two tangled on the ground before the star defensive end ripped off Rudolph's helmet and crashed it down onto the quarterback's head.

Veteran NFL coach Chan Gailey is coming out of retirement to become the Miami Dolphins' offensive coordinator, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport.Gailey most recently held the same role for the New York Jets, retiring after engineering the league's 26th-ranked offense in 2016. The 67-year-old was head coach of the Buffalo Bills from 2010-12 and Dallas Cowboys from 1998-99.The Dolphins lured Gailey out of retirement after firing first-year coordinator Chad O'Shea, who accompanied head coach Brian Flores to Miami from the New England Patriots.Miami ranked 27th in offense in 2019 and averaged a league-low 72.3 rushing yards per game. The Dolphins are widely expected to select a quarterback with one of their three first-round picks in the 2020 NFL Draft.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears the Dallas Cowboys won't be making a decision about head coach Jason Garrett's future until Tuesday.Garrett, whose contract expires following the 2019 season, is scheduled for a second meeting with owner Jerry Jones and executive vice president Stephen Jones on Tuesday, EPSN's Todd Archer reports.The 53-year-old isn't expected to be retained, but an initial meeting on Monday didn't lead to a decision, and the team's public relations staff sent all media home.The Cowboys battled inconsistencies en route to an 8-8 finish in 2019. Over nine seasons with Garrett as the team's head coach, Dallas has earned just three playoff appearances.The club has been linked to a number of high-profile coaching candidates, including Lincoln Riley and Urban Meyer. However, they don't currently appear interested in a move to the NFL.Copyright © 2019 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.Black Monday in the NFL means two things: coaches getting fired and bettors speculating about their replacement.The guessing games have already begun for the Browns, Giants, and Panthers after moving on from Freddie Kitchens, Pat Shurmur, and Ron Rivera, respectively. The Redskins also need to fill a vacancy, though they're expected to hire Rivera as early as Tuesday.Here are the odds for what coach will take over at each of those three spots that remain in question:Cleveland BrownsWe start with the Browns, who have arguably the most attractive roster and least attractive infrastructure of the three openings.Cleveland entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations and expectations, but the team stumbled to a 6-10 record, which might sell short how bad the Browns were at times.COACHODDSKevin Stefanski11-4Josh McDaniels3-1Greg Roman6-1Mike McCarthy6-1Urban Meyer7-1Dan Campbell8-1Marvin Lewis10-1David Shaw12-1Eric Bienemy12-1Lincoln Riley12-1Matt Rhule12-1Jim Caldwell14-1Kevin Stefanski (11-4)Stefanski should be the betting front-runner for this job after nearly getting it a year ago. He'll likely be the hire this time, too.His work with talented skill-position players in Minnesota should make him an attractive option in Cleveland, where Stefanski's effectiveness using play-action could revitalize Baker Mayfield.Josh McDaniels (3-1)The Browns have requested permission to interview McDaniels and Roman, but the former is the better bet after interviewing for this job in 2014. The Ohio native was "enthusiastically interested" in the job last year, according to The Canton Repository's Steve Doerschuk, and Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot says McDaniels is the Browns' first choice.McDaniels has already been a head coach once, and he unceremoniously left another team at the altar. Would he be willing to clean up the mess in Cleveland?Mike McCarthy (6-1)McCarthy is expected to interview for this job, and he's the betting favorite at some shops to get the gig. His experience makes him intriguing after Kitchens became a first-year flameout, and his familiarity with many members of the Browns' front office - including general manager John Dorsey - means there could be a legitimate connection here. This might be the dark-horse bet to make.New York GiantsThe Giants possess the pieces to be interesting, with Daniel Jones as their potential franchise quarterback, and an elite playmaker in Saquon Barkley. New York also plays in a very winnable division if it can find the right head coach to follow Shurmur's uninspiring tenure.COACHODDSMatt Rhule2-1Josh McDaniels5-1Dan Campbell7-1Robert Salah7-1Kevin Stefanski15-2Don Martindale9-1Urban Meyer10-1Greg Roman12-1Mike McCarthy12-1Brian Daboll14-1Jay Gruden14-1Jim Harbaugh16-1Jason Garrett20-1Lincoln Riley20-1Matt Rhule (2-1)Rhule logged his only NFL experience in 2012 as a Giants assistant when current general manager Dave Gettleman was on the same staff. There's mutual interest in a reunion, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, which obviously gives him strong value even at short odds.Everything points to the Baylor coach signing the dotted line in New York.Josh McDaniels (5-1)If Rhule doesn't take the job, the other major contender is McDaniels, who's a "prime candidate," according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Working with Daniel Jones could be attractive for McDaniels, who hasn't been able to find his usual success with the Patriots' offense this year.Jason Garrett (20-1)Laugh all you want - and you probably should - but only a few weeks ago Garrett was rumored to be eyeing the Giants' job.Hiring him would be hard to rationalize for New York, but getting 20-1 odds is too rich to ignore on a pairing reported to be "real and legitimate," according to Rapoport.Carolina PanthersWith second-year owner David Tepper making his organizational goals clear in recent weeks, this hire could go a long way toward shaping the Panthers' trajectory.Tepper has expressed a desire to hire a progressive and analytically minded coach, which makes it a bit easier to project the path of this search.COACHODDSMike McCarthy5-2Josh McDaniels4-1Greg Roman6-1Matt Rhule6-1Kevin Stefanski7-1Perry Fewell7-1Brian Daboll8-1Jay Gruden9-1Marvin Lewis9-1Mike LaFleur9-1Jim Harbaugh16-1Mike McCarthy (5-2)Just as McCarthy's familiarity with the Browns' brass makes him a possible dark horse in Cleveland, his Pittsburgh connection to Tepper has fueled speculation about filling this vacancy for weeks. Maybe there's fire here to go with the smoke, as McCarthy has already met twice with the Panthers and that link is gaining steam.Still, the odds feel too short compared to another candidate on the list...Josh McDaniels (4-1)Carolina has long coveted McDaniels, who's the quintessential fit for Tepper's desired coaching profile. He's hailed as an offensive genius and has been innovative while guiding New England's attack for years.The mutual flirtation between McDaniels and the Browns is the biggest impediment to this hire, but if the 43-year-old covets the infrastructure and talent in Carolina, he'll likely take the job.Greg Roman (6-1)If McCarthy proves too "old school" for Tepper, and McDaniels and Rhule are taken, Roman deserves serious consideration.Baltimore's offensive coordinator has been instrumental in turning Lamar Jackson into the league's MVP favorite. Combine that with how Roman used former Niners QB Colin Kaepernick, and he could possess the blueprint for reigniting Cam Newton, who has experienced success running the pistol offense.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 © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns will interview Buffalo Bills assistant Brian Daboll for their head coaching vacancy, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Daboll has spent the last two seasons as Buffalo's offensive coordinator. Despite earning an AFC wild-card berth, the Bills' scoring unit ranked 26th in the NFL this season.The experienced assistant was hired in 2018 after one season at Alabama as the school's co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He played a major role in quarterback Josh Allen's development in his second campaign.Cleveland fired Freddie Kitchens after one season and is reportedly vetting a number of candidates to replace him, including Daboll, Mike McCarthy, Josh McDaniels, and Robert Saleh.The Browns will be unable to meet with Daboll until after the Bills play the Houston Texans on Saturday, per ESPN's Chris Mortensen.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ohio State star running back J.K. Dobbins announced Monday his decision to forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the 2020 NFL Draft.Dobbins was one of the nation's top offensive players in 2019, finishing sixth in Heisman voting and second in total rushing yards."Coming to Ohio from Texas has been nothing short of a dream," he said in a statement. "I've built relationships that will last me a lifetime at this great university. I've created bonds with my brothers on the teams for the past three years that will never be broken."The heartbeat of Ohio State's offense, Dobbins totaled 2,250 yards and 23 touchdowns in 14 games this season. The Buckeyes were eliminated in the College Football Playoff semifinals by Clemson on Saturday.The talented rusher burst onto the scene with a strong freshman campaign in 2017. He took a step back in his second collegiate season, but an incredible 2019 likely boosted his draft stock.Dobbins is expected to be one of the first running backs selected in April.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Mychal Kendricks suffered a torn ACL in Week 17, head coach Pete Carroll announced on Monday.Kendricks underwent an MRI to confirm the injury, which will sideline him for the rest of this season.He was knocked out of Seattle's regular-season finale, adding to the club's laundry list of injuries in recent weeks.Kendricks started 14 games this year alongside Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright, posting 71 tackles, three sacks, and one interception.The 29-year-old veteran will be a free agent at the end of this season, but he's scheduled to appear in court during February for sentencing related to his insider trading guilty plea.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants have scheduled an interview with Dallas Cowboys assistant coach Kris Richard for their head coaching vacancy, a source told ESPN's Josina Anderson. The Giants are set to meet with Richard on Thursday.Richard was Dallas' passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach the past two seasons and received interest as a head coaching candidate last year from multiple teams.Though he isn't the Cowboys' official defensive coordinator, he's received most of the credit for running the team's defense alongside Rod Marinelli.Before joining Dallas, Richard was the Seattle Seahawks' defensive coordinator for three seasons.The Giants have also reportedly expressed interest in Eric Bieniemy, Josh McDaniels, and Baylor head coach Matt Rhule after firing Pat Shurmur on Monday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins announced Monday the firing of offensive coordinator Chad O'Shea after one season.O'Shea's scoring unit ranked 27th in 2019, averaging 310 yards per game despite a late-season surge.Prior to Miami hiring him, the 47-year-old spent 10 seasons with the New England Patriots as their wide receivers coach. O'Shea joined the Dolphins' coaching staff after Brian Flores was named head coach earlier this year.Miami also moved on from safeties coach Tony Oden and offensive line coach Dave Deguglielmo following a 5-11 season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent receiver Antonio Brown took aim at a couple of NFL players in a pair of tweets posted on Monday.First, Brown appeared to suggest that former Oakland Raiders teammate Derek Carr isn't likely to remain with the team next season - the franchise's first in its new home of Las Vegas:

Bruce Arians is confident the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could build on their late-season success in 2020 without quarterback Jameis Winston, who's a pending free agent."If we can win with this one, we can definitely win with another one, too," the head coach said Monday, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.Winston continued his polarizing play in 2019, becoming the first player in NFL history to throw 30-plus touchdowns and 30-plus interceptions in the same season. He was the only quarterback to throw for 5,000 yards this year, but his turnovers repeatedly doomed the Buccaneers."Yeah, it's frustrating," Arians said. "To see the growth was great, but to see the regression in some areas was very frustrating.''Tampa went 7-9 in Arians' first year at the helm, winning five of its final eight games. The Buccaneers had a chance to finish the season at 8-8, but Winston threw a pick-6 in overtime of their regular-season finale.Arians came out of retirement in January to take over the Buccaneers and was confident at the time that he and his staff could cure Winston of his turnover issues.Tampa hasn't made the playoffs since the 2007 season and hasn't won a playoff game since Super Bowl XXXVII.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns will interview former Green Bay Packers bench boss Mike McCarthy for their head coaching vacancy, a source told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.The Browns scheduled an interview with McCarthy last year for their head coaching role. However, the interview never happened, as the team instead decided to promote interim offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens to the job. He was dismissed at the end of a 6-10 season.McCarthy has already interviewed with the Carolina Panthers. He spent the 2019 campaign self-scouting and preparing to re-enter the NFL. The 56-year-old owns a 125-77-2 career record and a championship ring from Super Bowl XLV.The Browns have reportedly identified New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, and Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman as other candidates for their position.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the first time in his lengthy career, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning was a backup for the majority of an NFL season this year. The 38-year-old didn't particularly enjoy the experience and says he's unlikely to come back in the same role."I doubt it. I doubt it," Manning replied Monday when asked about returning to the Giants as a backup in 2020. "Backing up's not real fun."The pivot also told reporters that "everything's an option" regarding his future, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk.Manning started the first two games of the 2019 season before being replaced under center by first-round rookie Daniel Jones. Eli made two more starts for New York down the stretch, as he filled in for Jones during Weeks 14 and 15.In his four appearances this year, Manning completed 61.9% of his passing attempts for 1,042 yards and six touchdowns against five interceptions. Jones produced an identical completion percentage while racking up 3,027 yards and 24 touchdowns with 12 interceptions.The Giants finished their 2019 campaign at 4-12 before parting ways with head coach Pat Shurmur on Monday after two seasons in charge.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pro Bowl wide receiver Jarvis Landry wasted no time diagnosing what the Cleveland Browns need in 2020."Leadership. Just leadership," he told reporters Monday, according to NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala.The Browns entered 2019 with Super Bowl aspirations following a busy offseason that included the arrivals of Odell Beckham Jr., Olivier Vernon, and Sheldon Richardson, among others.Despite all the hype, the Browns' season never really got off the ground. They were blown out by the Tennessee Titans in Week 1, failed to surpass the .500 mark at any point, suffered from drama off the field and a lack of discipline on it, and finished the year with a 6-10 record. Rookie head coach Freddie Kitchens was dismissed hours after Cleveland's regular-season finale."There are always times in seasons when things happen," Landry said, according to Keith Britton of 92.3 The Fan. "In crucial points in the game, being able to hold your composure, being able to talk to each other, treat everybody with respect. I just think at times, there was a lack thereof."While he complimented Kitchens' work ethic, Landry suggested the Browns "relied too much on plays, not players," under his watch, according to Camryn Justice of News 5 Cleveland. Kitchens drew criticism throughout the season for not getting the ball into the hands of his top playmakers enough.Landry opined that Kitchens' replacement should be "someone who demands respect, someone who respects his players, and someone who respects opponents." The 27-year-old added he believes the Browns would benefit from bringing in a head coach with previous experience, reports NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano.Landry notched 83 receptions for 1,174 yards, a career high, and six touchdowns in 2019. He'll spend the upcoming days figuring out whether a hip injury he played through will require surgery, which would sideline him for six-to-eight months, according to Britton.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles will be without Pro Bowl guard Brandon Brooks for the entirety of the playoffs due to a shoulder injury, head coach Doug Pederson announced Monday, per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.Running back Miles Sanders should be good to go for Philadelphia's wild-card game against the Seattle Seahawks despite an ankle injury suffered in Week 17, Pederson added.Meanwhile, the team is hoping that tight end Zach Ertz (ribs/kidney) and right tackle Lane Johnson (ankle) will have a shot to suit up. Both players missed Sunday's victory over the New York Giants and will be worked back into practice this week.The injury-ravaged Eagles have also lost defensive end Daeshon Hall to a torn ACL, which he suffered on the final play against the Giants, according to Les Bowen of The Philadelphia Inquirer.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers and the New York Giants have both asked the Kansas City Chiefs for permission to interview offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy for their vacant head coaching positions, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Bieniemy interviewed for several jobs last year and figured to be a candidate for openings in this coaching cycle. The 50-year-old has served on head coach Andy Reid's staff in Kansas City since 2013 and moved into the offensive coordinator role in 2018.The Chiefs finished the 2019 regular season ranked fifth in scoring offense and sixth in yards. Last year, they topped the league in points per game and yards per game.Teams have become increasingly fond of Reid's assistants in recent years. His two most recent offensive coordinators before Bieniemy - Doug Pederson and Matt Nagy - now occupy head coaching jobs with the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears, respectively. John Harbaugh and Sean McDermott are among the other former Reid assistants who are entrenched in such positions across the league.The Panthers, who fired longtime bench boss Ron Rivera earlier this month, have already interviewed former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy for their opening. They reportedly plan to meet with Baylor head coach Matt Rhule and interim head coach Perry Fewell, and the search could still expand to include more names.The Giants, who fired coach Pat Shurmur on Monday, have also reportedly asked for permission to interview New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Additionally, Rhule is considered a strong candidate for the team's head coaching job.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Josh McDaniels is a hot head coaching candidate again.The Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, and New York Giants have requested permission to interview the New England Patriots' offensive coordinator for their respective head coaching vacancies, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.The Browns fired Freddie Kitchens on Sunday after finishing 6-10 in his first year as head coach, while the Giants dismissed Pat Shurmur on Monday after going 9-23 over his two seasons with the team. Carolina parted ways with longtime head coach Ron Rivera earlier in December amid a 5-7 start.Cleveland is believed to view McDaniels as its first choice, sources told cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot. The Giants consider both McDaniels and Baylor head coach Matt Rhule to be priority candidates for their vacancy, Schefter reports.Carolina has reportedly requested permission to interview Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.McDaniels has previous head coaching experience, posting an 11-17 record with the Denver Broncos from 2009-10, but his most significant NFL accomplishments have come as the Patriots' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.The 43-year-old has won six Super Bowls with the AFC East club. In McDaniels' 11 seasons as offensive coordinator, the Patriots have finished top 10 in offensive yardage eight times and were the league's top offense in 2007, 2012, and 2017.McDaniels joined the Patriots as an assistant in 2001 and served as their offensive coordinator from 2006 until he left to coach the Broncos. He was the offensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams during the 2011 season before rejoining New England's coaching staff in 2012.He nearly became the Indianapolis Colts' head coach ahead of the 2018 season, but he withdrew and declared his decision to stay with the Patriots the same day the Colts announced his hiring.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard was arrested for domestic battery Sunday night following an incident involving his fiancee, a source told ESPN's Cameron Wolfe.Howard allegedly grabbed the woman's arms during an argument and pushed her into a mirrored glass wall, causing her to fall, according to Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post."We are aware of the situation and currently gathering information," the Dolphins said in a statement obtained by NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. "We will have no further comment at this time."Howard played in five games for Miami this season before landing on injured reserve with a knee injury. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2018 after a seven-interception campaign.The 26-year-old signed a five-year, $76.5-million contract extension with the Dolphins in May to become the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL teams could be fighting over Baylor head coach Matt Rhule in the coming days.Rhule is a sought-after head coaching candidate and has interest from the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The Dallas Cowboys, who are expected to part ways with Jason Garrett, will likely join the pursuit of the 44-year-old, added Rapoport.The Giants fired Pat Shurmur on Monday, while the Panthers parted ways with Ron Rivera at the beginning of December.Rhule has been with the Bears for three seasons. He's drawing NFL attention after turning a 1-11 Baylor team into an 11-2 squad that's now entering its first Sugar Bowl in 62 years. He's contracted with the Bears through the 2027 season, so interested pro teams would presumably have to pay a hefty buyout in order to secure his services.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants fired head coach Pat Shurmur on Monday after two seasons in charge, the team announced.The Giants went 5-11 under Shurmur in 2018 and then 4-12 in 2019. New York will now begin its third head coaching search in the last five years.New York also announced that general manager Dave Gettleman, who was hired alongside Shurmur, will be retained."Dave Gettleman is our general manager in 2020 and hopefully for many years after that," co-owner John Mara said in a statement.Shurmur is the second straight Giants head coach to be fired after two seasons in charge. Ben McAdoo, who took over for longtime bench boss Tom Coughlin, was let go after posting a 13-15 record across 2016 and '17."The last two seasons have been a continuation of what has been a very difficult and disappointing period for our franchise," Giants co-owner Steve Tisch said. "It is never easy to part with someone the caliber of Pat. But (co-owner) John (Mara) and I came to the conclusion that we need a new voice in the coach’s office and made the decision to bring in new leadership."We understand how frustrated our fans are. They expect more from us and we expect more from ourselves. Our focus now is on developing and improving our football team so that our fans can enjoy the winning team they expect and deserve."Under Shurmur, New York's offense experienced modest improvement. After ranking 31st in 2017, the unit finished 16th in points last year and then 18th in 2019.But the team was held back by one of the league's worst defenses. The Giants ranked 30th in scoring defense this year and were routinely exploited in the passing game.The next head coach will inherit a young core that includes star running back Saquon Barkley, quarterback Daniel Jones, and tight end Evan Engram.Baylor head coach Matt Rhule and Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett are among those who've been connected with New York's vacancy.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Redskins fired team president Bruce Allen after 10 years in charge of the club's football operations, the Redskins announced Monday.The team is expected to move quickly in reshaping its front office, with former Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera in line to join Washington in the same position as early as Monday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Allen held various positions with the franchise since coming aboard in 2010, including executive vice president, general manager, and president.He was informed Monday that he's no longer a part of the organization, putting to rest rumors that he might remain with the team in a role outside of football operations."Like our passionate fan base, I recognize we have not lived up to the high standards set by great Redskins teams, coaches, and players who have come before us," team owner Dan Snyder said in a statement about Allen."As we re-evaluate our team leadership, culture and process for winning football games, I am excited for the opportunities that lie ahead to renew our singular focus and purpose of bringing championship football back to Washington D.C."Rivera is scheduled to interview in Washington on Monday, although NFL Network's Ian Rapoport described the meeting as "more of a coronation." The 57-year-old Rivera has been rumored as a strong candidate for several coaching roles around the league since being fired by the Panthers in early December.Washington went 0-5 under former head coach Jay Gruden this season and then 3-7 with interim bench boss Bill Callahan. Overall, the NFC East club finished 3-13, its worst record since 2013.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines the significance of those events moving forward.Wentz leads band of misfits Carson Wentz deserves a round of applause for pushing the Eagles into the playoffs. After Miles Sanders injured his ankle, Philadelphia trotted out Boston Scott, Dallas Goedert, Josh Perkins, Deontay Burnett, and Greg Ward on offense against the Giants.Scott stepped up big time in the win, but Wentz carried a group of no-names to the NFC East title. The 2016 No. 2 pick amazingly became the first player in NFL history with 4,000-plus passing yards in a season without a 500-yard wide receiver, setting numerous Eagles records in the process.Fielding the most injury-riddled supporting cast in the league, Wentz saved his best football for when it mattered most. The Eagles were on the brink of elimination a month ago, and the 27-year-old led them to four straight wins to end the season, playing incredibly during fourth quarters.Philadelphia is now streaking into the playoffs despite its 9-7 record, and no team will want to play Wentz. If Doug Pederson's squad gets healthier in time for next week (Zach Ertz, Lane Johnson, and Nelson Agholor all sat out on Sunday), the Seahawks could be in trouble.Browns made the right moveThe Browns' eighth head coach of the last decade will be on the sideline when they take the field in 2020. It had to be this way.Freddie Kitchens was always in over his head in the role, and he was rightfully fired shortly after the Browns concluded their 6-10 season - a 12th straight losing campaign for the pitiful franchise.Hired because he helped lead the team on a 5-2 run after being elevated to interim offensive coordinator following Hue Jackson’s firing in 2018, it’s now apparent that whatever spark Kitchens ignited in Cleveland’s offense wasn't enough to burn down the shroud of failure enveloping the franchise.Any coach would look appealing next to Jackson, and the Browns were so unfamiliar with success that the tiny taste of it Kitchens provided made owner Jimmy Haslam and GM John Dorsey overlook the coach's lack of bona fides. He had never been more than a position coach before stumbling into the interim OC gig.For the Browns to stop being a laughingstock, they must shed the mindset of a loser and evaluate the paths forward available to them with true objectivity.The next question is whether Dorsey, who oversaw the Kitchens hire, is the right man for that task.Seahawks-49ers Round 3 is a mustAbbie Parr / Getty Images Sport / GettyJust like their matchup earlier this season, Sunday night's clash between the Seahawks and 49ers was incredible. What amounted to the NFC West title game came right down to the wire, with San Francisco stopping Seattle on the goal line to secure the division and the No. 1 seed in the conference.Pitting the 49ers, far and away the NFC's most complete team, against a Seahawks squad that almost always finds a way to get the job done is just about as entertaining as football gets.With the season series even at one, NFL fans deserve a rubber match. And we just may get it.Seattle travels to play the Eagles on Wild Card Weekend. If the Seahawks advance, and the Saints emerge victorious in their matchup with the Vikings, Seattle would head to San Francisco for the divisional round.Good luck predicting the result of that one.Marshawn bringing juiceThe Seahawks bringing Marshawn Lynch out of retirement for another playoff run could be one of the best stories in an already wild NFL season. On Sunday night, we got a glimpse of how Lynch can still impact Seattle.No, he's not in his prime anymore, and anyone who hates fun was quick to point out as much this week, questioning whether a 33-year-old running back coming off the couch will do anything to help a team in January.But as we saw during a few key runs against the 49ers, Lynch has more than enough juice left to bolster a Seahawks backfield that injuries have decimated, especially in short-yardage situations. And with his fresh legs and physical running style going up against players who are five months into the grind of an NFL season, maybe Lynch's skill set even plays well in the playoffs.Either way, one of the NFL's most likable personalities returning in such an unexpected fashion is going to make January that much more exciting. Let's hope the Seahawks don't mess things up on the goal line this time around.Patriots limp into wild-card roundIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe last time the Patriots had to play on wild-card weekend, Tom Brady was coming off a torn ACL, Julian Edelman was a complete unknown as a seventh-round rookie, and Stephon Gilmore was starting as a true freshman at South Carolina.It was more than a generation ago in NFL time (six different men have coached the Browns since Eric Mangini in 2009!), making the Patriots' run of nine straight playoff byes one of the most impressive of the many records set during the Brady-Belichick era.That run ended with a shocking loss to the Dolphins on Sunday. A week after New England imposed its will on the Bills to spark a thousand "the Patriots are rounding into form at the perfect time" takes, Ryan Fitzpatrick directed a last-minute touchdown drive on the road to knock the Patriots out of the AFC's No. 2 seed in favor of the Chiefs.The Patriots lost their last wild-card weekend game when Ray Rice's Ravens raced to a 24–0 first-quarter lead and sent the Foxboro crowd home early. It was perhaps the worst loss Brady and Belichick have endured.The Patriots face a long road ahead in their quest to book another date with the top-seeded Ravens this January.... And they aren't aloneWe haven't seen this many teams stumble to end the regular season in quite some time. Five of the eight squads playing in the wild-card round are coming off losses, and the others didn't exactly pull off convincing wins.In addition to New England, the Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills, and Minnesota Vikings lost their Week 17 matchups. Granted, the latter three all rested starters, but the Bills and Vikings were also coming off tough losses in Week 16.Even the Green Bay Packers, who locked up the NFC's No. 2 seed, barely beat the lowly Detroit Lions.The postseason is often about getting hot at the right time, and only a select few teams are peaking right now. That could lead to a few surprises next weekend.Saints screwed Bridgewater out of bonusIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyTeddy Bridgewater needed one touchdown pass Sunday to reach 10 on the season and trigger a $250,000 bonus. As the Saints raced to a 35-3 halftime lead over the hapless Panthers, it seemed certain Drew Brees' backup would get the chance to hit that mark.Instead, the Saints inexplicably played Brees and other starters deep into the second half of a game when the outcome wasn't in doubt, and they're lucky to escape without any injuries.Bridgewater wasn't so lucky. He finally got on the field in the fourth quarter for mop-up duty, but the veteran attempted only one pass. It didn't go for a touchdown, and Saints owner Gayle Benson is $250,000 richer now.Bridgewater will be a free agent this spring, and the Saints would surely like to keep him around. The feeling might not be mutual after Sunday.Dolphins unload bag of tricksFacing his former employer Bill Belichick with nothing on the line except pride, Dolphins head coach Brian Flores dialed up trick play after trick play to great effect.It was a refreshing, college bowl-like approach to the game from Miami. Why keep these plays in your back pocket? There's a long offseason ahead to draw up a new batch of tricks. Cap the 2019 season with a bang.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles are heading to the playoffs thanks to a group of players off the practice squad.Boston Scott ran for three touchdowns in the second half and the injury-ravaged Eagles beat the New York Giants 34-17 on Sunday to win the NFC East title.Philadelphia hosts either San Francisco (12-3) or Seattle (11-4) in a wild-card game next weekend. The 49ers and Seahawks battle for the NFC West title Sunday night with the loser getting the No. 5 seed and a trip to Philly.Already missing three starting wide receivers for the fourth straight game, the Eagles also began the game without Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz and right tackle Lane Johnson.Then they lost running back Miles Sanders and three-time Pro Bowl right guard Brandon Brooks in the first half.But Wentz guided the Eagles (9-7) to their fourth straight win and second division title in three seasons.Wentz threw for 289 yards, including a 24-yard TD pass to Josh Perkins, who was promoted from the practice squad on Nov. 30.Scott had TD runs of 7, 2 and 2 yards. He came off the practice squad earlier in the season. Scott had 54 yards rushing and 84 receiving.While the Eagles head to the playoffs for the third straight year seeking their second Super Bowl title, the Giants (4-12) face more uncertainty. Coach Pat Shurmur's job status is a question after going 9-23 in two seasons.Scott turned a screen pass into a 39-yard gain, spinning and twisting his way to the 2 to set up his last touchdown that made it 34-17.The Giants stayed close into the fourth quarter. Saquon Barkley's 68-yard TD run tied it at 17-17 in the third quarter.But Deontay Burnett, another player off the practice squad, made a sliding 41-yard catch to set up Jake Elliott's 50-yard field goal that gave the Eagles a 20-17 lead in the fourth.After Fletcher Cox scooped up Daniel Jones' fumble and ran it to the 2, Scott ran it in for a 27-17 lead.Scott's first TD run gave Philadelphia a 17-10 lead. The Eagles started that drive at their 38 after Cre'Von LeBlanc batted down a pass on fourth down.Jones tossed a 20-yard touchdown pass to Golden Tate to tie it at 10-10 on the opening drive of the third quarter.Scott made a one-handed, over-the-shoulder grab on a screen pass and turned it into a 29-year gain earlier on Philadelphia's first TD drive. Wentz kept it going with a successful sneak on fourth-and-1 from the Giants 26 one play before his TD toss to Perkins.FRANCHISE QBWentz set a single-season franchise record with 4,039 yards passing despite not having one wide receiver reach 500 yards. Alshon Jeffery had 490, Nelson Agholor had 363 and DeSean Jackson had 159.THE ROOKSanders became the first Eagles player since Don Johnson in 1953 to lead all rookies in scrimmage yards, finishing with 1,327. He surpassed Oakland's Josh Jacobs before getting injured.INJURIESEagles: Sanders injured his ankle. Brooks was carted off the field after suffering a shoulder injury on the first extra point. CB Avonte Maddox left with an undisclosed injury. CBs Ronald Darby and Jalen Mills already were out of the lineup.Giants: RB Eli Penny left with a back injury in the first half.UP NEXTEagles: Host a playoff game.Giants: Season over.---More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFLCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 12 playoff teams for the NFL's 100th season are officially set after an exciting Week 17 when the Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles grabbed the final spots.AFCSeedTeamDivisionRecord1RavensNorth14-22ChiefsWest12-43PatriotsEast12-44TexansSouth10-65BillsEast10-66TitansSouth9-7Wild Card WeekendMatchupDateTime (ET)NetworkBills at TexansSaturday4:35 p.m.ESPN/ABCTitans at PatriotsSaturday8:15 p.m.CBSFollowing a wild final day of action, the AFC side of the playoff bracket has been settled.The Miami Dolphins stunned the New England Patriots, allowing the Kansas City Chiefs to leapfrog the Pats for the second seed and a first-round bye.The Patriots' loss and a Chiefs win snapped New England's historic streak of nine straight byes. Tom Brady and Co. have never won a Super Bowl without bypassing the wild-card round.The Titans beat the Houston Texans' backups to edge out the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders for the final wild-card spot.NFCSeedTeamsDivisionRecord149ersWest13-32PackersNorth13-33SaintsSouth13-34EaglesEast9-75SeahawksWest11-56VikingsNorth10-6Wild Card WeekendMatchupDateTime (ET)NetworkVikings at SaintsSunday1:05 p.m.FOXSeahawks at EaglesSunday4:40 p.m.NBCThe 49ers secured the NFC West title and the conference's top seed with a thrilling win over the Seahawks on Sunday night. That result bumped the Packers down to the No. 2 seed, and the Saints to the third spot.With the loss, Seattle takes the No. 5 seed and will go on the road in the wild-card round to play the Eagles, who won the NFC East with a victory over the Giants on Sunday.The Vikings, who have long been locked into the No. 6 seed, travel to face the Saints.Divisional RoundMatchupDateTime (ET)NetworkTBD at 49ersSaturday Jan. 114:35 p.m.NBCTBD at RavensSaturday Jan. 118:15 p.mCBSMatchupDateTime (ET)NetworkTBD at ChiefsSunday Jan. 123:05 p.m.CBSTBD at PackersSunday Jan. 126:40 p.mFOXCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In an era of high-powered passing offenses, the Baltimore Ravens have made history running the ball.With another 223 rushing yards in Sunday's win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens broke the NFL's single-season record for team rushing yards. They finished with 3,296 yards this season.The previous record, which the New England Patriots set in 1978, was 3,165 yards.Lamar Jackson and Mark Ingram have been the key rushing pieces in a phenomenal season for Baltimore's offense, with the former posting 1,206 rushing yards to break Michael Vick's single-season quarterback rushing record, and the latter topping 1,000 yards for the third time in his career.The Ravens' rushing dominance continued even as those two star playmakers rested during Sunday's regular-season finale, with Gus Edwards recording a career-high 130 yards, backup quarterback Robert Griffin III adding 50 yards of his own, and rookie Justice Hill tallying another 39 yards.Baltimore's offense has been the driving force behind the club's ascent into the NFL's elite, leading the way to a 14-2 record and the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the 20 teams outside of the playoffs, the road to the 2020 NFL Draft starts now.The Cincinnati Bengals secured the No. 1 overall pick last week and are now officially on the clock.The Bengals are widely expected to take LSU quarterback and Heisman winner Joe Burrow as their new franchise player, though generational pass-rusher prospect Chase Young could make the AFC North team's decision a difficult one.The Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, New York Giants, and Miami Dolphins round out the top five.The order is determined by record, with strength of schedule the tiebreaker.PickTeam1Cincinnati Bengals (2-14)2Washington Redskins (3-13)3Detroit Lions (3-12-1)4New York Giants (4-12)5Miami Dolphins (5-11)6Los Angeles Chargers (5-11)7Carolina Panthers (5-11)8Arizona Cardinals (5-10-1)9Jacksonville Jaguars (6-10)10Cleveland Browns (6-10)11New York Jets (7-9)12Oakland Raiders (7-9)13Indianapolis Colts (7-9)14Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)15Denver Broncos (7-9)16Atlanta Falcons (7-9)17Dallas Cowboys (8-8)18Miami Dolphins (via 8-8 Steelers)19Oakland Raiders (via 8-8 Bears)20Jacksonville Jaguars (via 9-7 Rams)Picks 21-32 will be determined by playoff results.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns have announced the firing of head coach Freddie Kitchens after one season.Cleveland wrapped up yet another disappointing campaign on Sunday, losing to the Cincinnati Bengals and dropping to 6-10. The Browns haven't finished with a winning record since 2007."I would like to thank Freddie for his dedication and efforts this past season," general manager John Dorsey said in a statement. "We are disappointed in our results and feel a change is necessary. Freddie is a good man and good football coach. We wish he and his family nothing but success."Though reports recently surfaced that he would be retained in 2020, Kitchens appeared to lose the locker room as the season progressed. Tight end David Njoku publicly expressed uncertainty over whether he'd return to the team if the head coach stayed.Star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. seemed to have clashed with Kitchens as well. Throughout the season, Beckham reportedly encouraged opposing teams to acquire him.On the field, Cleveland failed to meet lofty expectations after adding several talented players in the offseason. Following his promotion from offensive coordinator in January, Kitchens' offense ranked 21st."Our focus is on hiring an exceptional leader for this football team and we will take a comprehensive approach to this process," co-owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said. "We are excited about the core players we have to build around and develop and we look forward to bringing in a strong head coach that will put this group of players in the best position to succeed."The Browns' next hire will be the team's 13th head coach since 2000.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Redskins are meeting with Ron Rivera on Monday for their vacant head coaching position, his agents told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Rivera, the former Carolina Panthers head coach, has emerged as a top candidate for the job, Rapoport adds.The Redskins fired Jay Gruden after an 0-5 start to the year, giving the franchise ample time to determine its next coaching target.Rivera spent nine years in Carolina, accumulating a 76-63-1 record that included a trip to Super Bowl 50 in 2015.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

HOUSTON (AP) Derrick Henry and the Tennessee Titans ran their way into the playoffs, beating a Houston Texans team that rested several starters and setting up an intriguing first-round matchup with New England.Henry rushed for a season-high 211 yards and three touchdowns in the Titans' 35-14 victory on Sunday. The Texans beat the Titans two weeks ago to take control of the AFC South and locked up the division last week, allowing Houston to sit quarterback Deshaun Watson and other key players.Tennessee got its first win at Houston since Jan. 1, 2012. The Titans, who will visit the Patriots next weekend, are in the postseason for the second time in three seasons and the first under coach Mike Vrabel, who played for New England for eight seasons.Ryan Tannehill threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns for Tennessee and will make his playoff debut in his eighth NFL season. Rookie receiver A.J. Brown had 124 yards receiving and a touchdown.Watson was active on Sunday, but coach Bill O'Brien started AJ McCarron instead. Watson was listed as questionable with a back injury this week but said he was OK. Receiver DeAndre Hopkins was also active, but did not play and several starters, including receiver Kenny Stills, left tackle Laremy Tunsil and nose tackle D.J. Reader, were inactive.McCarron threw for 225 yards with an interception and ran for a touchdown.Houston was already locked into the AFC's fourth seed and will host Buffalo next week.Tennessee was up by seven at halftime and extended the lead when Henry scored on a 3-yard run with 10:06 left in the third quarter. Henry returned after sitting out last week with a hamstring injury.Houston then used almost nine minutes on a 16-play drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by McCarron. He evaded the rush and dived into the end zone for the score that cut the lead to 21-14.Tennessee made it 28-14 when Henry scored on a 1-yard run early in the fourth quarter. That touchdown was set up when Brown grabbed a nifty 47-yard reception between two defenders just before falling out of bounds.The Titans padded the lead when Henry rumbled 53 yards for a touchdown with 2:54 left. He finished the season with a career-high 1,540 yards rushing, which leads the NFL, and 16 touchdowns - tied with Green Bay's Aaron Jones for the league lead.Henry became the third player in franchise history to run for 15 or more touchdowns in a season, joining Earl Campbell (19 in 1979) and LenDale White (15 in 2008).The Texans scored a touchdown on their opening drive for the first time all season when Duke Johnson's 1-yard run made it 7-0. The Titans tied it when Tannehill threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to Brown on their next drive.Tennessee took a 14-7 lead when MyCole Pruitt capped a 16-play, 90-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.INJURIESTexans CB Johnathan Joseph injured a hamstring in the first half and didn't return.UP NEXTTitans: Tennessee plays at New England next weekend.Texans: Houston will host Buffalo next weekend.---More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFLCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs now own the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs after their 31-21 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday and the New England Patriots' loss to the Miami Dolphins.The Dolphins secured the 27-24 upset victory on a late Ryan Fitzpatrick touchdown pass.The Chiefs own the tiebreaker over the Patriots on the strength of their head-to-head win in Week 14 and have earned a bye in the first week of the postseason.The Patriots will play on Wild Card Weekend for the first time since 2009.Here's how the AFC bracket looks:SeedTeamDivisionRecord1Ravens (z)North13-22Chiefs (z)West12-43Patriots (y)East12-44Texans (y)South10-55Bills (x)East10-66Titans (x)South9-7The Baltimore Ravens and Chiefs will get a week off. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans host the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round, and the Patriots welcome the Tennessee Titans.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles will be attempting to secure a playoff spot without their star rookie.Running back Miles Sanders was ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the New York Giants with an ankle injury. Without Sanders, Boston Scott will lead the team's backfield.Sanders entered Week 17 with 766 rushing yards, 510 receiving yards, and six total touchdowns.Philadelphia's offense also suffered a second significant loss. Pro Bowl guard Brandon Brooks was carted off the field with a shoulder injury and won't return.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

DETROIT (AP) Mason Crosby kicked a 33-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the Green Bay Packers to a 23-20 win over the Detroit Lions to earn a first-round bye.The Packers (13-3) fell behind by two touchdowns in the second quarter. They didn't lead until Crosby made his second game-winning kick against Detroit this season.The Lions (3-12-1) closed with nine straight losses for their longest losing streak in a season since going 0-16 in 2008.Green Bay won despite Aaron Rodgers struggling to make accurate throws for much of the afternoon. Rodgers was 27 of 55 for 323 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He made a short pass under pressure to Aaron Jones, who turned the clutch throw into a 31-yard reception to set up Crosby's kick.Jones ran for 100 yards on 25 carries and had 43 yards receiving. Davante Adams had seven receptions for 93 yards and a score.David Blough was 12 of 29 for 122 yards - and a 19-yard touchdown reception - filling in again for Matthew Stafford, who had a season-ending back injury.Despite playing only for pride, the Lions looked as if they were more motivated to win early in the game.And with nothing to lose, they scored on a trick play midway through the first quarter. Blough handed off to receiver Danny Amendola, who threw back across the field to the rookie quarterback for a TD.Kerryon Johnson converted a fourth down with a 1-yard TD run late in the first half, giving Detroit a 14-0 that stunned everyone not on their sideline.Crosby and Matt Prater made field goals over the last 20 seconds of the first half, leaving the Lions with a 17-3 lead.Rodgers started to make more accurate passes in the second half such as 20-yard TD pass to Adams and a 28-yard pass to Allen Lazard with 5:19 left for another score that helped the Packers pull into a 20-all tie.MOMENT FOR MARVINThere was a long moment of silence before the game for receiver Marvin Jones' 6-month old son, who recently died. Jones, who was on the sideline with his family during the national anthem, went on injured reserve earlier this month.INJURIESPackers: RB Jamaal Williams (shoulder) and FB Dan Vitale (knee) were inactive. C Corey Linsley (back), RT Bryan Bulaga (concussion) and LB B.J. Goodson (neck) were hurt during the game.Lions: WR Kenny Golladay didn't return after being evaluated for a concussion following a 42-yard catch in the second quarter. LB Devon Kennard and TE Isaac Nauta each left the game with hamstring injuries. LT Rick Wagner (knee) was inactive.UP NEXTPackers: playing in the postseason for the first time since 2016, Green Bay will have at least a bye.Lions: The franchise decided earlier this month general manager Bob Quinn and coach Matt Patricia will get another season to lead the team, answering what was the biggest question for the offseason.---More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFLCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jameis Winston of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is the first quarterback in NFL history to have 30 touchdown passes and 30 interceptions in the same season.Winston earned the dubious distinction after throwing another two picks in Sunday's season finale against the Atlanta Falcons. Ricardo Allen intercepted Winston in the second quarter and Deion Jones nabbed a walk-off pick-6 in overtime.

Christian McCaffrey joined an exclusive group during the Carolina Panthers' final game of the 2019 season.The star running back became the third player in NFL history to reach 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same campaign, joining Roger Craig and Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk.

Tom Brady jumped fellow all-time great Peyton Manning for second on the all-time passing touchdown list during Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins.New England Patriots linebacker Elandon Roberts was the unlikely recipient of Brady's 540th touchdowns pass, breaking a tackle on a 38-yard catch-and-run to even up the contest at 17-17.

Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Tyron Smith is inactive for a must-win clash against the Washington Redskins in Week 17 due to a back injury.Smith missed three days of practice this week. The 29-year-old was also sidelined for two games in early October due to an ankle ailment.Since being drafted ninth overall in 2011, Smith has emerged as one of the NFL's premier blockers. He is a two-time All-Pro and has been selected to seven straight Pro Bowls.The USC product is a major piece of the Cowboys' offensive line, which has allowed a league-best 20 sacks through 15 games this year.Dallas must defeat the Redskins and will need the Philadelphia Eagles to lose to the New York Giants in order to qualify for the postseason.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans are expected to rest several starters in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Tennessee Titans, including quarterback Deshaun Watson, who will serve as AJ McCarron's backup, according to Dianna Russini of ESPN.Officially, Watson is active for Week 17. Offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, wide receiver Kenny Stills, and cornerback Bradley Roby are among the notable inactives.Houston clinched the AFC South last Saturday but can't attain a first-round bye. The Texans enter Week 17 as the fourth seed and can move up one spot with a win and a Kansas City loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.McCarron last started in 2015 as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals. Watson, meanwhile, will likely end his third regular season with 3,852 yards and 26 passing touchdowns against 12 interceptions.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Americans watched a lot of football during the 2010s.Nielsen data from the past 10 years shows that NFL games accounted for one-third of the 199 most-watched prime-time television programs of the decade, with Super Bowls XLIV through LIII claiming the top 10 spots, according to Rick Porter of The Hollywood Reporter.Super Bowl XLIX, which saw the New England Patriots defeat the Seattle Seahawks, led the way with 114.44 million viewers. That was followed by Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014 (112.19 million), 2016's Super Bowl 50 (111.86 million), 2012's Super Bowl XLVI (111.35 million), 2017's Super Bowl LI (111.32 million), 2011's Super Bowl XLV (111.04 million), 2013's Super Bowl XLVII (108.69 million), 2010's Super Bowl XLIV (106.48 million), 2018's Super Bowl LIII (103.47 million), and 2019's Super Bowl LIII (98.48).Several NFL conference championships, divisional-round playoff games, and regular-season matchups also made the list.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pat Shurmur's time with the New York Giants appears likely to end in the very near future.While no final decision has been made on the head coach's future, New York is expected to move on from Shurmur after just two seasons, sources told Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.However, the Giants' co-owners are "split" on Shurmur ahead of the team's season finale, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Steve Tisch is apparently ready to move on, but John Mara isn't "quite there yet."The Giants sit at 4-11 entering Sunday's Week 17 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. They've won two straight games (against the Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins) following a nine-game losing streak.Overall, Shurmur has gone 9-22 with New York since taking over last season.If fired, Shurmur would be second consecutive Giants head coach to be let go after two campaigns at the helm. Ben McAdoo was fired after going 11-5 in 2016 and then 3-13 in 2017.Prior to McAdoo, Tom Coughlin held the position for 12 seasons.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Everything there is to know about Roger Goodell’s tenure as NFL commissioner during the last decade can be summed up in two words: cold pizza.It’s from an anecdote published in The Wall Street Journal, and it involves a late-night meeting at NFL headquarters in September 2014, right around the time Goodell was getting drop-kicked from every angle for his botched handling of the Ray Rice situation.The Rice case was maybe five dozen NFL scandals ago, but let’s quickly unpack it for the purposes of making a point: Rice was caught on video dragging the body of his then-girlfriend and current wife, Janay, from the elevator of a casino. Goodell - whose reign by then had been marked by his willingness, perhaps eagerness, to levy heavy-handed discipline against NFL players - suspended Rice for two games. TMZ then published a second video that showed Rice in fact punched her in the elevator. Goodell was thus caught flat-footed: Why didn’t he know about the existence of the second video? Or, worse yet, had he known and issued such a lenient penalty anyway?Goodell and the league were in full damage-control mode. As the Journal reported, he had assembled his staff at HQ on that late night to figure out what to do. Pizza was ordered. But it sat there. "No slice was taken until Mr. Goodell ate," per the Journal. "He never did, and the slices turned cold in the box."Goodness, that’s perfect. That cold pizza represents Goodell’s desire to show the world he’s in control, on behalf of all that is good and righteous and noble - even if the result is another ham-fisted public relations fiasco, of which the NFL has endured too many to count this decade. And yet: fan interest in the league remains sky high, with annual revenues up to an estimated $16 billion - nearly double what they were toward the start of the decade. That cold pizza, it turns out, also represents how ephemeral many of the NFL’s numerous publicity crises have proved to be. Cold pizza can always be thrown away.Outwardly, Goodell might look like he spent the decade stepping on rakes. But behind the scenes, he succeeded at the one thing that matters most to the people who pay him upwards of $40 million per year to serve as their human shield: he’s helping the owners make gobs and gobs of money.__________The game itself is what sustains things. The NFL long ago surpassed baseball as America’s most popular sport, but the fervor of that fandom is a genuine phenomenon: "Game of Thrones" might have been the most-watched television series in 2018 in the 18-49 demographic, but Nos. 2, 3, and 4 on that list were NFL-related programming. The 50 most-watched sporting events of 2018 - an Olympic year - included 40 NFL telecasts. And of the top 100 most-watched shows of 2018, a whopping 64 belonged to the NFL.That gargantuan cultural reach accounts for the league’s ability to print money, but it has also created a kind of hubris, as embodied by Goodell and his approach to many of the league’s off-field concerns. In his 2018 book, "Big Game: The NFL in Dangerous Times," which provides a Rome-before-the-fall look at the league’s inner workings, Mark Leibovich put it this way:

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank announced Friday that head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff will be retained for the 2020 season."Over the last two seasons our results on the field have not met our standard or the expectations of our fans," Blank said in a statement. "I understand our fans' disappointment and frustration because I've felt every bit of it as well. That said, our focus must be on giving our franchise the best opportunity to win next year and beyond. I have long believed that continuity in leadership is very important across all our businesses and the football team is no different in that regard."After weighing several factors, including our team's statistical turnaround and our players' focus and effort the second half of the season, I feel the decision to retain Thomas and Dan, with (CEO) Rich (McKay) providing close day-to-day oversight of the football operation, will provide the timeliest route for the Atlanta Falcons to return to contention in 2020 and beyond."Quinn was thought to be on the hot seat as the Falcons struggled out of the gate, posting a 1-7 record prior to their Week 9 bye. Since then, Atlanta has won five of seven, including three straight.The defensive-minded coach brought immediate success after he was hired in 2015, as Atlanta earned a Super Bowl berth during the 2016 campaign. Quinn's last two years, however, have been less fruitful. The 49-year-old has accumulated a 13-18 record since the end of the 2017 season.Dimitroff, meanwhile, was brought on board in 2008 and has arguably led the Falcons to their most consistent level of success in franchise history. Atlanta has accrued three division titles and six playoff appearances during his tenure.Blank also named Raheem Morris the team's defensive coordinator for the 2020 season. Morris was promoted to lead the defense midway through the year and helped a struggling unit improve significantly.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.