Terrell Suggs will strongly consider holding out if any team besides the Baltimore Ravens claims him off waivers from the Arizona Cardinals, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Suggs spent the first 16 years of his career in Baltimore, serving as one of the greatest players in Ravens history. The pass-rusher made seven Pro Bowls, captured one Defensive Player of the Year award, and won Super Bowl XLVII with Baltimore.Suggs was waived Friday after contributing 5.5 sacks and four forced fumbles to the Cardinals across 13 games. He signed a one-year deal with Arizona in the offseason, and whoever claims him will be on the hook for just over $350,000 for the rest of the season.Baltimore has the lowest waiver priority because it has the best record in the NFL, meaning 30 other teams will have to pass on claiming Suggs for the Ravens to acquire him. The 37-year-old can be claimed on waivers at 4 p.m. ET Monday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints expect to have tight end Jared Cook available for Monday night's game against the Indianapolis Colts, head coach Sean Payton said on Saturday.Cook sustained a concussion while taking a huge hit on a touchdown catch in Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers.The veteran pass-catcher exited the game with two receptions for 64 yards and two scores. He's become a reliable target in the Saints' passing attack of late.The Saints have clinched the NFC South and currently sit third in the conference with a 10-3 record.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles will have to survive another week without receiver Nelson Agholor and running back Jordan Howard, as the offensive weapons were ruled out for Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins.Defensive end Derek Barnett will also miss the divisional contest.Agholor didn't practice all week due to a knee injury and will miss his second consecutive contest. Howard again drew limited practice reps but has yet to be cleared for contact on his ailing shoulder. He'll miss his fourth straight game.Barnett is out for a second consecutive game with an ankle ailment.The Eagles enter the week at 6-7 and clinging to their playoff hopes. They're currently tied for the lead in the NFC East, but the Dallas Cowboys own the head-to-head tiebreaker.Philadelphia struggled mightily without Agholor and Howard in last week's 23-17 overtime win over the two-win New York Giants. With Agholor sidelined, Greg Ward, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, and Alshon Jeffery were the only receivers dressed for the game, and Jeffery left early with a foot injury.Ward and Arcega-Whiteside saw just six receptions between them for 63 yards.Miles Sanders and Boston Scott shared duties on the ground in Howard's stead. Scott drew 10 carries for 59 yards and a score while Sanders took 15 rushes for 45 yards.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When the NFL flexed this game to Sunday night two weeks ago, some found the move laughable. It's hard to find fault in it now, with the Steelers within one game of the Bills for the fifth seed in the AFC playoff picture.The last time Pittsburgh lost to Buffalo was in 1999, winning six straight in the series since then. Yet the Steelers are narrow home favorites, and bettors aren't so sure they deserve to be.Here's everything you need to know about the matchup from a betting perspective:(Trends are from Sports Database unless noted otherwise.)Line movementPittsburgh opened as a short 2-point home favorite and remained there for much of the week. But a steady stream of money on Buffalo pushed the line to Steelers -1.5 as of Saturday afternoon, and it could even shorten given the overwhelming amount of Bills support in the market.The total is also moving to a record low. Bettors have driven Sunday's number from 37 to 36, which is tied for the lowest total since 2012.Betting trendsAre the Steelers for real? Since his team got off to a 1-4 start, Mike Tomlin has led this injury-plagued group to seven wins in their last eight games.It might not be as impressive as it sounds, though. All but one of those wins were within one possession, and seven of Pittsburgh's last eight opponents currently have a losing record. The lone outlier was a Rams team coming off the fateful London bye.The Bills haven't run through a murderer's row, either, but they've gone 4-1-1 against the spread in their last six with blowout wins in all four ATS victories. Buffalo is also 5-0-1 ATS on the road this year and 9-2-1 ATS on the road in Josh Allen starts since he took over in 2018.One of the most profitable trends in recent years is also in play here, with solid logic to back it. Since 2017, road 'dogs of less than two points are 24-5 ATS and straight up, including 4-2 ATS/SU this season. Assuming a typical 2.5/3-point home bump for the Steelers, the market is essentially signaling that the Bills are a full point better on a neutral field.The trends also lean under, which is perhaps the most interesting bet in this game given the paltry total. Both teams are a stellar 10-3 to the under, tied for the best record in the league, and each is riding multi-game under streaks - five straight for Pittsburgh, three for Buffalo.Low totals have also been a solid under bet this year - totals below 41 are an intriguing 21-7 (75%) this season, including a perfect 9-0 in games involving these two teams. Only eight games have seen a total of 37 or below since 2013, with a 6-2 record to the under.The X-factorThere's a reason bettors are leaning under here: both offenses rank below average in points and yards for but rank in the top six in points and yards against. And each team's defensive strength profiles nicely against the opposing offense.Allen has been impressive when given time this year, but his passer ranking under pressure (54.2) ranks 30th among 34 players with at least 200 dropbacks. The Steelers boast the nastiest pass rush in the league and should have their way with a Bills offensive line that was exposed last week against Baltimore's mediocre pass-rushers.Devlin "Duck" Hodges will also have trouble with a Buffalo secondary that deserves to be mentioned in the same class as New England's and San Francisco's. JuJu Smith-Schuster is back on the sidelines this week, and breakout wideout Diontae Johnson will have trouble finding space against standout corner Tre'Davious White, who ranks second in passer rating allowed among cornerbacks with at least 500 coverage snaps, per PFF.PickAt first glance, Sunday's total looks like the kind you'd have to be crazy to bet under. But do you really want to bank on a 20-17 or 23-14 final score with the way these defenses are playing? The under has been a profitable play in spots like these all year and in years past, and it looks playable here, too.The side is a little trickier - both teams are riding high despite feasting on mediocre competition, so it's more about which side you think is for real. In a game that could be decided by a lucky break on offense, follow the money on the Bills; Buffalo's defense is on par with Pittsburgh's but has a significant skill position advantage and an edge at QB.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.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The NFL season is entering Week 14 with some big matchups on the slate. Where is the sharp money going? Which lines are moving the most? We're tracking the games drawing the most interest from bettors.We talked to Bet.Works' chief risk officer and theScore Bet's head trader Jay Rood to see how sharps and public bettors are playing the Week 14 schedule.All lines courtesy of theScore Bet.Los Angeles Rams (-1.5, 49) at Dallas CowboysThe biggest movement of the week is in Dallas, where the Cowboys opened as 1.5-point favorites but have been steadily faded all week. As of Saturday, the Rams are the ones priced at -1.5, with the money still streaming on ahead of kickoff."It's the biggest lopsided game of the schedule so far," Rood said. "It's almost exclusively Rams at this point."Entering the weekend, Los Angeles was drawing a 15-2 advantage in tickets and a whopping 25-1 edge in money on straight bets, with a 10-1 money advantage in parlay activity. Rood says his book steadily took bigger bets at +1, pick 'em, and -1, and the parlay activity suggests it won't end anytime soon."It appears that it's mostly just a go-against on the Cowboys," Rood said. "This is pretty much a pure public play. No real sharp play at all. And it's all over, as well."Those two are related: the Rams' offense finally showed up last week against Seattle, so bettors are expecting a repeat performance on Sunday, betting the total from 48 to 49. Expect to see the Cowboys' moneyline odds creep up closer to kickoff in an effort to offset the massive L.A. liability.Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers (-1.5, 36)Another strong side this week is Buffalo, which is garnering 10 times as much money heading into this weekend's pivotal road clash with Pittsburgh.The Bills are only seeing a 3-1 advantage in bet slips, suggesting some big-money activity on the short road underdogs. They're also sweeping the moneyline bets at +110 and +105, and strong parlay activity for Buffalo means the public will likely continue backing the 'dogs into Sunday.Bettors love the under, too, on what's shaping up to be the lowest total in the last seven seasons. The game clearly profiles as an under: both teams rank below average in points and yards for but sit in the top six in points and yards against.Yet it's a risky proposition to go under on Sunday's total, which opened at 37 but has been bet down to 36. That ties this year's Bills-Broncos game for the lowest total since 2012."It's hard to go a lot lower," Rood said. "It's scary to go a lot lower (as a bettor). All it takes is a turnover inside the red zone, one or two unaccounted turnovers, and it puts you right on the cusp."Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans (-3, 51)It isn't among the most-bet games, somewhat surprisingly, but Sunday's AFC South duel between the Texans and Titans might be the most significant game on the slate. And bettors aren't taking much of a side.The Titans saw a slight 3-2 lean in money and tickets entering the weekend, influenced by a couple of bigger bets on the home favorite. Parlay activity has been nearly dead even, with a slight lean to the Texans, setting up Sunday's affair for a classic split between near-equal teams.Given the early action, it's unlikely either team will draw enough late money to concern books. If either team does see some late attention from bettors, Rood expects it to be the Titans, who are 6-1 against the spread since installing Ryan Tannehill as the starter."I don't see this moving off of -3," Rood said. "You're probably gonna see the public side with the team that seems to have the hot hand right now, and that's Tennessee."Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs (-10, 45.5)One of the more surprising results from early betting returns is the public's love affair with the Broncos, who are pulling 20 times as much money on side action entering the weekend.Much of that came on a sizable non-sharp bet at the opening number of +10.5, pushing it down to +10. Bettors still liked Denver at +10 but were more split at +9.5, prompting an adjustment back to +10 late Friday."Realistically, it looks like the opinion of a couple of guys," Rood said of the big money gap. "Maybe everyone's excited about Drew Lock, to see if he can produce an upset against Kansas City."Lock impressed in his first career start, leading an outright road upset of Houston for the Broncos' fifth ATS win in their last six games. The Chiefs have been equally impressive amid a three-game winning streak, and parlay activity toward Kansas City suggests there's still money to be seen on the home favorite."I'm sure we're going to end up needing the Broncos when it's all said and done," Rood said.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 4-9 Jacksonville Jaguars are mired in a five-game losing skid, and while their playoff hopes faded long ago, there's still much to play for."I think when you get to these situations, it's not rocket science. Everybody's fighting to maintain, to try to stay in the league," head coach Doug Marrone said Wednesday, according to NFL.com's Nick Shook."Whether it's players by doing a good job being able to perform so they can keep a job, or whether it be coaches doing a good job with their position group, or whether it be me trying to win football games."Marrone is considered to be on the chopping block after going 9-20 since 2018. He signed a two-year contract extension in February 2018 that would keep him in Jacksonville through the 2021 season, but the Jaguars have struggled mightily since their AFC conference title game appearance in 2017.The Jaguars have lost each of their past five contests by at least 17 points. They have three games left to right the ship."I think that's something that we've all talked about. And that's why I think when you look at it, and I think it's easy from an outside perspective to say, 'What do they have to play for, what do they have to do?' We're all fighting for our jobs," Marrone said.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.There are only three slates left to hit big on player props as the NFL season winds down. Now that we're starting to heat up, here's what's on tap for this weekend.Kyler Murray under 226.5 passing yardsMurray's legs help him improvise when he's pressured, but it's drastically affected his passing numbers. He's averaging 190.1 passing yards per game against teams that rank inside the top 10 in adjusted sack rate; against everyone else, he averages 274.1. The Browns sit No. 9 in that category, so I'll fade Murray yet again as the rookie quarterback's stats taper off down the stretch.Zach Ertz over 5.5 catchesErtz is seemingly on an island as Philadelphia's skill corps continues to be ravaged by injuries. We saw a depleted group take another hit last week when Alshon Jeffery exited versus the Giants. He's since been shut down for the season with a foot injury. It's bad news for the offense as a whole but good news for Ertz's stock. He's seen north of 12 targets per game without Jeffery on the field and should see similar volume against the Redskins, who have allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete 73% of their passes to tight ends.Eli Manning over 1.5 touchdown passesManning actually looked decent Monday. After registering 203 yards and a pair of passing touchdowns in the rain against the Eagles, the veteran quarterback has a chance to make a splash in front of the home crowd Sunday. He'll see the Dolphins' defense, which has allowed multiple touchdowns in 11 of its 13 games this season.Jarvis Landry over 73.5 receiving yardsIt took Landry a while to get going, but he's officially on a heater. After surpassing 75 receiving yards just once over his first seven games, he's done so in four of the last five. While everyone's quick to play a tight end against the Cardinals, don't disregard their issues containing receivers in the slot, where Landry takes more than half his snaps.Kenny Golladay longest reception over 25.5 yardsGolladay's quietly morphed into a deep threat as the season's progressed. He's had a catch go for 34 yards or longer in six of his last seven and appears to be a go-to option for third-string quarterback David Blough, who's connected with Golladay 10 times over the last two games. The receiver will likely see a larger target share with Marvin Jones on the shelf and should be good for at least one big play against the Bucs' defense, which ranks No. 17 in explosive pass rate allowed.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 @AJKoIodziej.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageNew York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold and head coach Adam Gase both appeared frustrated during an animated conversation on the sidelines after a failed fourth-down conversion against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football.The discussion occurred after an incomplete pass on fourth-and-1 late in the fourth quarter in the Jets' 42-21 defeat to the Ravens.

Before the New England Patriots traded up in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft to select Rob Gronkowski, Bill Belichick and Co. had a unique experience with the Arizona prospect."He came up on his pre-draft visit, had a bad visit. We put him in a room, came back, (and) he was asleep on the floor. Didn't make a very good impression," Belichick said Friday during the league's All-Time Team announcement.Still, New England decided to draft Gronkowski."There wasn't much to go on. We traded up for him and we just kind of bet that he would come through, and he certainly did big time," Belichick said.Gronkowski played nine seasons in New England, amassing 521 receptions, 7,861 yards, and 79 touchdowns in 115 regular-season games. He's the only tight end ever to post 1,000-plus career receiving yards in the postseason.Gronk retired in March 2019 as a three-time Super Bowl champion and four-time All-Pro.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is out for the team's Week 15 matchup against the Carolina Panthers, according to Seahawks reporter John Boyle.The Seahawks initially listed Clowney as questionable Friday but later downgraded him as he battles the flu and a core muscle injury.The 26-year-old missed Seattle's Week 12 bout against the Philadelphia Eagles due to a hip issue. In two games since making his return, Clowney has yet to record a sack.Although Clowney hasn't put up stellar numbers with the Seahawks, he leads the team in sacks (3) and forced fumbles (4) this year. The NFC West club has amassed 23 sacks through 13 games, which stands as the third-worst mark in the NFL.Clowney was selected first overall in 2014 by the Houston Texans. He recorded 29 sacks and was selected to three Pro Bowls in five seasons with the Texans before being traded to Seattle in August.The 10-3 Seahawks had their five-game winning streak snapped by the Los Angeles Rams in Week 14 and sit in second place in their division behind the San Francisco 49ers.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins signed wide receiver DeVante Parker to a four-year contract extension, the team announced Friday.The new deal is reportedly worth $40 million, including $21.5 million in guarantees with an $8-million signing bonus, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport."It's always been my desire to keep DeVante as a member of the Dolphins family," Parker's agent said, per Rapoport.Parker recorded a video about his decision to stay in Miami until the 2023 season:

Oakland Raiders running back Josh Jacobs intends to suit up for Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars after missing last week with a fractured right shoulder, according to ESPN's Paul Gutierrez.Jacobs added that he won't need to undergo offseason surgery for the injury, which he's been battling since Week 7."But after the season, I'll probably have to sit like for a month-and-a-half, doing nothing, just letting it heal," said the rookie.The 21-year-old was listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity throughout the week.Jacobs, one of Oakland's three first-round picks, is among the favorites to take home the Offensive Rookie of the Year award after racking up 1,061 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals waived linebacker Terrell Suggs on Friday, head coach Kliff Kingsbury announced, per ESPN's Josh Weinfuss.Kingsbury said the decision was mutual, as it will provide Arizona with a chance to put younger players on the field and will give the veteran pass-rusher an opportunity to join a new team.If another club claims Suggs on Monday, it will owe him $353,000 for the final two weeks of the regular season, according to ESPN's Field Yates.The Cardinals signed Suggs, who spent 16 years with the Baltimore Ravens, as a free agent last offseason, but his playing time decreased throughout the campaign.Suggs - whose contract will be up at the end of 2019 - produced 5.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and 37 tackles for the Cardinals.The seven-time Pro Bowler racked up 18 sacks across his last two years with Baltimore. He could be an intriguing late-season addition for a team looking to boost its pass rush.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

From Lamar Jackson to Derrick Henry to every last second of that bonkers 49ers-Saints game the other day, this NFL season has been quite the thrill ride. Now, with only three weeks to go until the playoffs, we have a potential controversy involving the Patriots, who stand accused of illegally recording video of an opponent's sideline.It's the kind of story that's bound to make a lot of people lose their minds. Which is why I love it. It's like Christmas came early.If you haven't been laser-focused on every detail of this burgeoning drama, you're probably wondering what year it is (hint: it's not 2007), and you probably have questions about where this thing is headed. So grab your tin-foil hat and your performative outrage, and let's get to 'em.Hold on. The Patriots did what now?Yeah, so, the gist of it is that a Patriots employee recorded video of the Bengals' sideline from the press box during Sunday's Bengals-Browns game in Cleveland. A Bengals employee noticed this, security got involved, and the NFL was informed. That Bengals employee even provided the league with an eight-minute video as evidence. This is probably where I should mention that the Patriots play the Bengals in Cincinnati this Sunday.Wait, so the Patriots were that brazen about it?Yep. The Athletic even reported that the camera person was wearing a Boston Bruins hat as he went about his work. Which only adds an additional layer of hilarity to the entire affair. The only thing missing was an EXTRA LAHGE DAHK ROAST from Dunkin' to complete the scene.Did they ... not think they'd get caught?Well, that's what's weird about it. The Patriots claim the person with the camera was part of a production crew that was taping a longer video feature. That feature was to be part of a series - called "Do Your Job" - that takes behind-the-scenes looks at various departments within the Patriots organization. In this case, they were shadowing a pro personnel scout."The sole purpose of the filming was to provide an illustration of an advance scout at work on the road," the Pats said in a statement. "There was no intention of using the footage for any other purpose."The production crew was granted a credential to be in the press box, though the Patriots acknowledged they failed to inform the Bengals and the NFL about why they were there. The Patriots acknowledged having "unknowingly violated a league rule by filming the field and sideline," while also saying the film crew is "independent of the football operation." Head coach Bill Belichick has likewise denied any involvement.So, an innocent mistake?An innocent mistake.Was no one involved aware of, like, Spygate? I mean, the Patriots were literally caught doing this a dozen years ago and got punished for it.It's all a little too on the nose, isn't it? Especially when you consider what ESPN reported in a 2015 deep-dive into the original Spygate controversy:

Before he became one of college football's top punters, Dane Roy sold ice cream for a living.It was one of a few jobs Roy held in his past life. For four years, he worked as a typesetter for a horse racing sheet that was inserted in Australian newspapers. Before that, he worked in bars and tried his hand at calling local footy games for a radio station. But the job as an ice cream salesman was his last one before coming to America, and it offered free ice cream. So, naturally, that's where this story begins.Peters Ice Cream delivered to vendors around Australia daily, and Roy was a cog in the outbound sales team, calling customers to schedule deliveries and determine how much ice cream they needed. The job had its perks - see: free ice cream - but as Roy entered his late 20s, he wanted more than empty calories. After growing up in Bunyip, Victoria, a small town 50 miles southeast of Melbourne, Roy entered the workforce immediately after graduating high school in 2006. It took him eight years to realize he likely needed more education if he wanted to advance his career - and his wages.Serendipitously around this time, a friend tagged Roy in a Facebook post advertising a longest kick competition. The finalists would kick at the Australian Football League grand final - Australian rules football's equivalent of the Super Bowl - in October 2015. Roy, who was playing footy for a local team, decided to give it a shot. He made the cut to 28, then 14. Eventually, he moved past the semifinal and into the grand final.There, in front of a crowd of 98,632 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Roy booted a ball 73 meters - 79 yards - from his foot to touch down. Part of the prize: Free lessons with Prokick Australia, a burgeoning program training Aussie rules football players to punt in American football with the goal to earn a college football scholarship in the U.S.Believing he was too old, Roy initially had no intention of playing college football. But after training with Prokick and taking a trip to the U.S. - where he met Raiders Hall of Fame punter Ray Guy - he realized the opportunity he needed was staring him in the face.At the age of 27, Roy enrolled as a freshman at the University of Houston in 2016."Everything kind of lined up," Roy, now a 30-year-old senior, said. "It's like, 'Hey, you want to go to university, you want more money in your life, this is your opportunity.'"Houston's Dane Roy. Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesThe opportunity hasn't only been for him. Roy is one of 33 Australian punters who started for FBS programs this fall - a pipeline that continues to grow because of the success Aussies have had in American football. Five of the last six winners of the Ray Guy Award, given to college football's best punter, were Australian. Two more players from the Prokick program - Roy and Kentucky's Max Duffy - are finalists for this year's award, which is will be handed out Thursday as part of the College Football Awards show.The Australian punter pipeline is booming, thanks in large part to Prokick, which recruits prospects, trains them, and connects them with a college and coach that best fits them. For college coaches, it takes some of the uncertainty out of recruiting. For the players, college football provides a new lease on life.Every player's story is different. In Australia, they were paper mill workers, carpenters, and wine cellar hands. Some played in the AFL professionally before injuries derailed their careers. Now, some even pursue U.S. college football directly out of high school; Kirk Christodoulou, the punter for Pittsburgh, started training with Prokick as a 16-year-old.Each one said they're here not just to pursue the NFL, but to come home with a college degree."This has changed my life a lot," Roy said. "I always wondered what it would be like to live in America, but I never thought I would do it. Now that I've done it, I'm so glad."––––––––––Until the last decade, it was rare for Australians to play American football at a high level. In the 1990s, Darren Bennett, a former professional AFL player, successfully tried out for the San Diego Chargers. He made two Pro Bowls and was named to the NFL's All-Decade team, but his success didn't immediately lead to any sort of Aussie explosion in the sport.A decade later, another former professional AFLer, Nathan Chapman, traveled to the U.S. at 29 to give the NFL a shot. He punted for the Green Bay Packers in the 2004 preseason, and spent time with the Chicago Bears, but never played a regular-season game. He did, however, develop an idea upon returning home to Australia.Three years later, Prokick Australia began. The company, based in Melbourne and operated by Chapman and John Smith, another former kicker, aimed to give Australians a better opportunity at American football by sending them through college rather than the direct-to-pros approach."Everything I'd seen told me we had the talent in Australia to produce NFL-calibre punters on a regular basis. We just needed a program to make it happen," Chapman wrote last year in AthletesVoice, an Australian website.If a player is interested in training at Prokick, they contact Chapman or Smith to schedule an initial tryout. That tryout helps the coaches determine if a player has the leg strength and coordination, combined with the finer specifics of punting, that could result in a college scholarship.Nathan Chapman, head punting coach and owner of Prokick Australia. Kelly Defina / Getty ImagesFrom there, the training can be grueling. Haydon Whitehead, the 24-year-old punter at Indiana, said he had kicking-specific sessions three-to-four times per week and conditioning sessions two-to-three times a week at Prokick before coming to the states in 2017. The goal, Whitehead said, was to get players to a level where they could compete not only on the field, but in the weight room at a college football program. Prokick's program aims to give players a taste of the time commitment it takes to play college football so that they aren't overwhelmed when they arrive."They won't take anyone they don't think is good enough to come here," said Trent Schneider, a junior at South Florida. "I like their honesty. They won't waste your time. So with that, immediately from that, you can trust them. Everything they say, if they're trying to coach you, you don't even question it, you just know, 'I need to do that.'"Schneider, 29, stopped playing sports after high school and did an apprenticeship as a carpenter in Sydney. After three-and-a-half years, he started his own carpentry business."We would do everything from decks to full houses and stuff like that," Schneider said. "It's a little different than college."He started kicking a ball again around 23 or 24 years old - though it's not something you forget how to do in Australia. After posting a video on Facebook, Schneider said a friend in Melbourne contacted him and encouraged him to reach out to Chapman.Like Roy, Schneider wasn't sure if he was too old for it all - the training, the college experience - but he also knew his body wouldn't like doing carpentry and construction at age 50. Schneider traveled the nine hours from Sydney to Melbourne every four-to-six weeks for weekend training sessions with Chapman and Smith while also working with a coach in Sydney.

Pittsburgh Steelers wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster has been ruled out of Sunday night's crucial Week 15 matchup with the Buffalo Bills due to a nagging knee injury.Earlier this week, it was reported that Pittsburgh's top passing weapon was eyeing a return from a three-week absence after practicing for the first time since suffering the injury in Week 11.Smith-Schuster was a full participant in Wednesday's practice but was downgraded to limited on Thursday before missing Friday's session."It wasn't a setback. It was more pushing myself too hard. I have to slow myself down. I am so competitive just to get out there," he said to Teresa Varley of Steelers.com.Pittsburgh has been victorious in all three contests without Smith-Schuster, but the third-year pro's presence would boost a passing attack that ranks second last in the NFL."It's tough (not being out there)," Smith-Schuster added. "I have never been in a situation where I have been out like this. It's new to me. It can be frustrating sometimes, but at the same time, it's part of life. I am going to take it day-by-day, try to get back, try to get back healthy and try and increase my role being out there."In 10 appearances this year, JuJu has recorded just 38 receptions for 524 yards and three touchdowns.Meanwhile, lead running back James Conner is questionable for Sunday's contest with a shoulder injury.The 9-4 Bills and the 8-5 Steelers currently occupy the two wild-card spots in the AFC. Buffalo can clinch a playoff berth with a victory, while Pittsburgh can take a big step toward doing the same with a win on Sunday Night Football.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Major League Baseball announced Wednesday that it won't punish players for marijuana use beginning in 2020, and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones believes the NFL may soon change its policy on the drug as well.Jones, who has been a prominent figure in ongoing negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, would not go into detail about current labor talks. However, he did hint at a revision of the league's policy on marijuana, which is currently a banned substance."I think the world is sensitive to the issue regarding marijuana," Jones said Friday on 105.3 The Fan. "It's also an issue contemporarily where we're excited about being in step with the social and legal scene as it goes forward. And so, we not only have the interest of competitiveness in mind when it comes to any type of substance, we have the issue of the law, and we have the issue of the society focus on it."All of that calls and does receive attention when you're discussing this area with players, and I think that you should expect and will expect an adjustment of the contemporary way or the present way that marijuana is being thought about."Marijuana is currently legal in 11 states, though Texas is not one of them.MLB's new drug policy no longer considers marijuana a drug of abuse and will treat marijuana-related conduct the same way it does alcohol-related conduct.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Eli Manning will get the chance to bring his professional win-loss record back to .500, as he'll start for the New York Giants against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, the team announced.Meanwhile, rookie quarterback Daniel Jones was ruled out for the second consecutive week with a sprained ankle.Manning made his first appearance since Week 2 in Monday night's 23-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He staked the Giants to a 17-3 halftime lead but finished just 15-for-30 passing with 203 yards and two touchdowns.The loss dropped Manning's career NFL record to 116-117.Giants head coach Pat Shurmur also left the door open for Manning to potentially play out the string this season.

Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill admitted he misled medical staff during the team's Week 13 loss to the Miami Dolphins, telling them he'd hurt his shoulder when he'd actually suffered a concussion."I just basically lied to them," Grugier-Hill said Thursday, according to Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia."I thought it would just go away. Just didn't really say anything about it. It got to the point where I really couldn't lie to them anymore."The injury happened on the first play from scrimmage, yet Grugier-Hill played more than 50 snaps during the remainder of the contest, according to Zangaro.Four days later, he was placed in concussion protocol and missed the team's Week 14 contest against the New York Giants.Grugier-Hill was asked Thursday if he regretted his decision."No," he said. "I mean, I wish we would have at least got a win."The admission got back to Eagles head coach Doug Pederson, who denounced his player's actions on Friday."Very disappointing to me as a head coach. ... One guy who made a bad decision, a bad choice," Pederson said, according to Reuben Frank of NBC Sports Philadelphia. "Had he gotten hit again in that game, who knows what could have happened."Pederson added that it was "a little bit of a selfish act."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.Every week during the NFL season, theScore's betting writers release their best bets. Each writer has been given an imaginary $1,000 bankroll to manage throughout the campaign. If you decide to follow any of the picks, please gamble responsibly.Odds are courtesy of theScore Bet.Thomas Casale ($1,133)Season record: 10-8-2, +133New England Patriots (-9.5) at Cincinnati Bengals I'm not a big fan of laying close to 10 points on the road in December. However, the Patriots need to get right and are playing the perfect opponent in the Bengals to accomplish that goal. New England typically hammers weak opponents, going 21-5 against the spread (ATS) in its last 26 contests versus a team with a losing record.Look for Tom Brady to have one of his best outings of the season versus a Cincy pass defense that’s allowed 8.4 yards per attempt, the third-worst mark in the NFL. The Patriots are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following two consecutive losses, and they've covered five straight laying at least eight points on the road. The Pats will get back on track with a convincing road win.Pick: Patriots -9.5 ($100)C Jackson Cowart ($1,036)Season record: 16-13-3, +$36Houston Texans at Tennessee TitansTotal: 50I loved the Titans over last week against the Raiders' hapless defense, and it nearly cashed by halftime. I'm on it again this week against a Texans team with an equally inept secondary and an offense capable of trading blows with Tennessee.The Titans went over in all seven of Ryan Tannehill's starts and scored at least 31 points in four straight, while the team's once-stout defense has shown cracks as of late. Houston has enough explosive weapons to take advantage in what should be a fireworks show. Over, over, over.Pick: Over 50 ($100)Alex Kolodziej ($930)Season record: 11-9, -$70Houston Texans at Tennessee TitansTotal: 50Many bettors have faded the Titans over the last few weeks, but to no avail. It’s only a matter of time until Tennessee falls off its peak, but until then, you're safe to continue jumping ship on its defense. For as great as Tannehill's been since taking over for Marcus Mariota, he's overshadowed plenty of flaws. Tennessee's secondary, for example, is quietly worse in pass DVOA than the Jets, Buccaneers, Redskins, Eagles, and Packers. It's severely overmatched against the Texans' offense this weekend.Pick: Texans team total over 23.5 ($50)Alex Moretto ($880)Season record: 14-15-1, -$120Minnesota Vikings (-2.5) at Los Angeles ChargersSharp money has moved this line to -2.5 after opening at -3, with the public heavily backing the Vikings. Having monitored the line all week, I feel even more confident in this play now, siding with sharp money against the public. The Chargers' pass rush will make life miserable for Kirk Cousins, who struggles when the pocket isn't clean, while Philip Rivers should have plenty of success against the Vikings' struggling secondary, which might just get caught looking ahead to next week's massive showdown with the Packers.Picks: Chargers +2.5 ($50), Chargers ML +130 ($50)Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans (-3)Recency bias is really affecting this line after the Texans laid an egg against the Broncos last week, while the Titans have been scorching hot on both sides of the ball. It was just a brutal spot for Houston, which was caught looking ahead to this AFC South showdown while coming off a massive win over the Patriots. The Titans have been the beneficiaries of a soft schedule and now find themselves in a prove-it game against an angry Houston team in a prime bounce-back spot.Tennessee's surging offense has masked the struggling defense. Look for it to be exploited by Deshaun Watson, who will make more plays than Ryan Tannehill, as the Texans take a stranglehold on the division.Picks: Texans +3 ($50), Texans ML +140 ($50)Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants waived cornerback Janoris Jenkins on Friday, the team announced.Jenkins had drawn the ire of head coach Pat Shurmur for tweeting an insulting remark to a fan while sitting out of Wednesday's practice with an ankle injury.On Thursday, the cornerback defended his actions, saying the use of "retard" in the tweet was "slang" that is "just part of my culture," according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan.Jenkins is apparently happy to be out of New York.

Lamar Jackson set a new single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback Thursday in the first quarter against the New York Jets, surpassing Michael Vick's 1,039 yards in 2006.The Baltimore Ravens' signal-caller entered Thursday Night Football 23 yards shy of the mark.Here's the record-breaking run:

Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry didn't practice for the second consecutive day on Thursday as he battles a hamstring injury. But the 25-year-old said he'll play in his club's Week 15 divisional clash against the Houston Texans."I'll be ready to go," Henry said, according to Titans Online's Jim Wyatt. "When Sunday comes, I'll be ready to go."The running back leads the NFL in rushing touchdowns this season. He's posted 1,243 yards and a league-leading 13 touchdowns on the ground through 13 games. Since Week 10, Henry leads all runners in rushing yards (599) and touchdowns (7).The former second-round pick prepared for Sunday's pivotal tilt despite not practicing this week."As long as I am in the meetings and watching film and get a little bit of work, I think I'll be fine," he said. "It's football, you are going to have injuries ... you have to play through them, and you have to be tough."The 8-5 Titans possess the same record as Houston, but the Texans hold the AFC South lead by virtue of their superior record within the division.However, Tennesse - currently on a four-game winning streak - will have its chance to alter the standings, as the club will face Houston in two of its last three regular-season contests.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his sixth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. Follow the links below to see his updated rankings for Week 15.The final rankings will be released Sunday morning.Half PPR

Odell Beckham Jr.'s future with the Cleveland Browns was thrown into doubt last week by reports that the star receiver isn't convinced he belongs with the AFC North Club.However, Beckham's teammate and best friend, Jarvis Landry, doesn't believe his fellow wideout wants out of Cleveland."It's not even about trying to go somewhere else, for him," Landry, who played with Beckham at LSU, said Thursday, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra. "He's been a leader. He's a guy that comes to work every day. He's a guy that's played through injuries. All of the things you want out of a player."Inside this organization he has a voice, he has a responsibility to himself to all of us to go out there and compete each and every Sunday. And he does that. So he doesn't want to leave and he's not trying to leave."One report stated Beckham told opponents in October that their team should acquire him. The Browns faced the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and New England Patriots that month.Beckham has been playing through a sports hernia that will reportedly require offseason surgery. After Sunday's win against the Cincinnati Bengals, Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield made waves when he said the team's medical staff mishandled the receiver's injury.While Beckham denied being unhappy with the Browns, a source told Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson that the Pro Bowler is "lost" in Cleveland following the trade from the New York Giants, which had "stunned him."The 27-year-old is in the midst of his worst season as a pro. He has 59 catches for 844 yards and two touchdowns through 13 contests and hasn't recorded a 100-yard game since Week 6.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.One of the more wide-open NFL seasons in recent memory has fittingly produced a wide-open field for the AP Coach of the Year award. But past winners can help us narrow the board a bit.Every winner since 1991 has finished with at least 10 wins, save for Colts interim head coach Bruce Arians in 2012 (9-3 in 12 games). Six of the last nine winners have won at least 12 games, and Arians' 2012 season was on that pace. This year's winner will almost assuredly hail from a top playoff contender.He's also likely to come from a vastly improved club. Of the last 15 winners, 12 coached a team coming off a losing season the year before. The outliers? Bill Belichick (2007, 2010), who lost zero and two games in those respective seasons, and Arians (2014), who led the Cardinals to the playoffs for the first time in five years despite playing second- and third-string quarterbacks.Here are the odds to win AP Coach of the Year, with five interesting names highlighted below:COACHTEAMODDSKyle ShanahanSan Francisco 49ers2-1Sean McDermottBuffalo Bills4-1John HarbaughBaltimore Ravens19-4 (+475)Mike TomlinPittsburgh Steelers5-1Matt LaFleurGreen Bay Packers10-1Pete CarrollSeattle Seahawks10-1Andy ReidKansas City Chiefs14-1Sean PaytonNew Orleans Saints14-1Bill BelichickNew England Patriots20-1Matt NagyChicago Bears33-1Kyle Shanahan (2-1)Shanahan opened as a 10-1 favorite this summer and would follow the trend of recent winners: the 49ers won four games last season and have already won 11 this year with three games left. He also fits the prevailing narrative as an offensive innovator and rising star a la 2017 winner Sean McVay and 2018 winner Matt Nagy.If San Francisco finishes with the NFL's best record, it'll be hard to deny him the award. However, the Niners' loss to the Ravens could be a factor if it's Shanahan versus Harbaugh for the hardware.John Harbaugh (19-4)Baltimore won the division last year and hasn't had a losing season since 2015, so the restoration angle that most coaches bank on doesn't apply here. Yet the highs the Ravens have reached this year rival those of some of the best teams in NFL history, which should count for something.Offensive coordinator Greg Roman gets much of the credit for Lamar Jackson's MVP-caliber ascension, but Harbaugh deserves praise for trusting his dynamic quarterback this offseason and building a roster around him. If Shanahan's team falters down the stretch, Harbaugh is an easy choice.Mike Tomlin (5-1)It feels as if Tomlin is the media's choice for the award. He's helped guide an injury-riddled offense with a former practice squad quarterback to the brink of the playoffs and has extended his streak of consecutive seasons without a losing record to 13. That alone is enough to look hard at his 5-1 price.That streak conflicts with the turnaround narrative, and Tomlin's team might not be good enough when compared to recent winners. Still, there's an obvious precedent: Arians won in 2014 by leading the 11-5 Cardinals to the playoffs despite significant QB attrition. The Steelers (8-5) might need a similar record to give Tomlin a chance, which would require wins over the Bills, Jets, and Ravens to end the year.Matt LaFleur (10-1)Six of the last 13 winners have been first-year head coaches, including the last two. Can LaFleur continue that trend? His Packers have registered 10 wins after a tumultuous 6-9-1 campaign in 2018, and they've got an outside chance at the NFC's top seed.LaFleur might need the top spot to build his case, as his team has folded in key moments and has actually been more impressive on defense than on offense, which is where LaFleur's influence is greatest. The possibility of a 13-3 finish makes his 10-1 odds intriguing but likely not enough to bet.Sean Payton (14-1)We're really giving Payton this good of a price after the Saints survived the Teddy Bridgewater era with an undefeated record? Payton's ability to construct one of the league's best offenses through adversity - from building a competent offense around Bridgewater to his creative usage of Taysom Hill - made him an early front-runner and should place him firmly in the running for his second Coach of the Year award.The Saints' loss to San Francisco dealt a massive blow to Payton's case over Shanahan, but New Orleans has three very winnable games to end the year, starting with a prime-time spot Monday. There's too much value here to ignore.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.

Former Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis and nine other ex-NFLers have been charged with defrauding a league health care program for retired players of nearly $4 million, according to court documents obtained by The Washington Post's Adam Kilgore and Rick Maese.The former players allegedly submitted false health care claims seeking to be reimbursed for "expensive medical equipment" - such as hyperbaric oxygen chambers and cryotherapy machines - that was never purchased.On Thursday morning, the Justice Department announced the charges against Portis, Carlos Rogers, Robert McCune, John Eubanks, Tamarick Vanover, Ceandris Brown, James Butler, Frederick Bennett, Correll Buckhalter, and Etric Pruitt.The defendants recruited others by offering "kickbacks" and bribes that ranged up to $10,000 to submit false claims using the information of those recruited, according to the indictments.

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, Prophet Hus and Professor Chris of SleeperWire join Boone to discuss the biggest fantasy questions heading into Week 15:

David Johnson has discussed his diminished role, which he's "obviously not" happy about, with the Arizona Cardinals' coaching staff."Any NFL player, any competitor, if you're not on the field, you're obviously going to be upset about it," he told Kyle Odegard of AZCardinals.com.Johnson hasn't been featured in the backfield since the Cardinals acquired Kenyan Drake before the trade deadline. The 27-year-old took only three carries against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 14 and hasn't received more than five hand-offs in any of his last four games.Johnson signed a three-year, $39-million contract in September 2018 but has yet to live up to the contract. The Cardinals have struggled to fit him into Kliff Kingsbury's spread offense, even though Johnson was once revered as one of the best pass-catching running backs in the NFL.His increased time on the bench has prompted speculation that Arizona may release him in the offseason. The Cardinals would absorb a sizable cap hit if they cut him."I'm really just trying to finish this season off week by week," Johnson said when asked about his future in the desert. "I'm really just trying to, like I've been saying, get back on that playing field."The Northern Iowa product is averaging 3.8 yards per carry in 2019. He hasn't averaged four yards or more since his breakout campaign in 2016 when he rushed for over 1,200 yards and posted over 800 yards receiving."I have a chip on my shoulder," he said. "Everyone's been knocking me down. I'm going to do everything I can to prove I've still got it."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Roger Goodell acknowledged Wednesday the NFL will consider Spygate while investigating the New England Patriots for a new videotaping controversy."Of course, that's a factor," the commissioner told reporters, according to Boston 25 News' Chad Amaral. "But I think the key things are the new information that we have. That information we, obviously, already had. I think the issue is, what information do we have from this incident?"A three-person Patriots crew was spotted filming the Bengals' sideline Sunday during Cincinnati's game against the Cleveland Browns from the press box, which violated league rules. The NFL apparently confiscated the video, which reportedly contained eight minutes of sideline footage, and is investigating the matter.In 2007, the Patriots were stripped of a first-round pick and fined $250,000 for illegally recording opponents' signals. Head coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000 for his role in the scandal, which was said to have begun in 2000.Goodell was widely criticized after Spygate for his vague answers on what the league uncovered in its investigation and for disposing of the videotapes after announcing the discipline."We're going to be thorough and we're going to get all the facts and we'll go from there," Goodell said Wednesday when asked for a possible timeline on the new probe.The Patriots claimed responsibility Monday for the infraction. They said the video crew was obtaining footage for its popular "Do Your Job" documentary series. Patriots employees received stadium credentials from the Browns before the game.Belichick has been adamant that the video production crew operates independently of the football operations department.The Patriots and Bengals will face each other in Week 15.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans will miss the remaining three games of the season due to a hamstring injury, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.Evans suffered the injury during a 61-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter of Tampa Bay's 38-35 victory against the Indianapolis Colts.Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians said postgame Sunday that he would have been "shocked" if Evans played again this season.Evans made history this season by joining Randy Moss as the only other wideout to start their career with six straight 1,000-yard seasons.Tampa Bay has been eliminated from the playoff race despite winning three straight games to pull its record to 6-7.Breakout star Chris Godwin will be Jameis Winston's top target for the team's remaining games, which will come against the Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, and Atlanta Falcons. Godwin has racked up 81 catches for 1,212 and nine touchdowns.Breshad Perriman should start alongside Godwin, while Scotty Miller is likely to see an expanded role.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While the New York Giants were practicing Wednesday, injured cornerback Janoris Jenkins was taking on his critics.Jenkins - who's sidelined with an ankle injury - fired off an insulting remark to a fan on Twitter who criticized him for lauding his personal stats amid New York's nine-game losing streak.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen is expected to return Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers barring a setback in practice, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Thielen missed the last four games with a hamstring injury.The star wideout suffered the injury in Week 8. He tried to play the following game but exited early in the contest.Thielen's return would provide a significant boost to Minnesota as it fights for the top spot in the NFC North. The Vikings (9-4) sit one game back of the Green Bay Packers for the division lead.The 29-year-old has amassed 27 receptions for 391 yards and six touchdowns across eight games this season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

At this point, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston plans to play through the hairline fracture in the thumb of his throwing hand on Sunday against the Detroit Lions."He's day-to-day right now," coach Bruce Arians said Wednesday, according to ESPN's Jenna Laine. "He's got a little bit of a brace on it right now, and we'll see how it goes during the week."Winston briefly left Tampa Bay's Week 14 win over the Indianapolis Colts in the third quarter but was able to return, throwing another two touchdowns and finishing with a career-high 456 passing yards. He suffered the injury when his hand hit the helmet of a Colts defender just before halftime.The 25-year-old - who's in a contract year - saw a specialist Monday and was given the all-clear to continue playing."It's getting better every day," Winston said. "I'm just taking it day by day. I'm gonna be ready to go as soon as I can."Winston leads the NFL in interceptions this season with 23, but he's also second in both passing yards (4,115) and touchdowns (26).Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oakland Raiders running back Josh Jacobs is expected to return to the lineup Sunday versus the Jacksonville Jaguars after missing last week with a shoulder injury, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Jacobs was forced to watch his team lose by a score of 42-21 to the Tennessee Titans in Week 14 but his recent MRI revealed positive news.The rookie first-rounder previously revealed he's been playing with a broken shoulder plate since late October, though last week's tilt was the first he's missed this year.Jacobs' return provides a significant boost to Oakland's offense. The young tailback leads all rookies in rushing yards and touchdowns. His 1,061 yards on the ground rank sixth league-wide.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman may be interested in working with an NFL team in the future, but it won't be for the club with which he spent his entire playing career.The FOX sportscaster said he can't envision working with Jerry Jones and believes the owner is primarily to blame for Dallas' recent struggles."I doubt it. I mean, I think that's a real long shot," Aikman said on 1310 The Ticket when asked about his chances of working in the Cowboys' front office. "I believe that it's unlikely that Jerry will ever bring somebody in that can help this football team in that regard just because he's been real stubborn and steadfast, in that he's the one in charge."I think in a lot of ways until that changes, this team's going to have some problems. Would he ever ask me to come be a part of it? I think that'd be a real leap of faith. I don't envision that happening, and I don't envision it happening at any point, quite honestly, no matter who's in charge out there."The Cowboys sit atop the NFC East standings, though a recent three-game losing streak has dropped their record to 6-7.Aikman, who won three Super Bowls with the franchise, has often been critical of Jones and how he runs the team. Dallas has won just four playoff games since its last title in 1995."Ultimately, we all understand that the owner, whether it's here in Dallas or any other franchise, the owner ultimately makes the decisions," Aikman said. "Ultimately, he's the one who signs off. You can always say, 'Well, as the owner I can do this, I can do that.' There's no question that that's true, but I think there has to be one voice and one person that the players answer to."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

All the drama surrounding Antonio Brown this year led to a lot of Google searches.The free-agent wide receiver experienced the largest spike in searches of any person both in the United States and globally in 2019, according to Google's annual Year in Search roundup.Brown beat out Brazilian soccer star Neymar, YouTuber James Charles, actor Jussie Smollett, and actor/comedian Kevin Hart for the top spot. He also led the athlete category, finishing ahead of Neymar, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper, former Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz, and United States Women's National Team soccer star Alex Morgan.Topics searched in relation to Brown include text messaging, flatulence, frostbite, Mike Mayock, and allegation, according to Google.Brown made an Instagram post Friday to apologize for his "inexcusable" behavior and said he's looking forward to "competing and helping a team reach their goals."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors.1. Baltimore Ravens (11-2)Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 1A number of Baltimore's offensive stars are locked into this season's Pro Bowl, so let's show the defense some love. Matthew Judon leads the Ravens with 8.5 sacks and 53 total pressures, and he's the heartbeat of the NFL's sixth-ranked defensive unit.2. San Francisco 49ers (11-2)Previous rank: 3Nick Bosa and Richard Sherman get the headlines on defense, but linebacker Fred Warner is the linchpin. He leads the team in tackles, he's recorded three sacks and three forced fumbles, and he's been solid in coverage.3. New Orleans Saints (10-3)Previous rank: 4Marcus Davenport could have been listed here, but the former first-rounder was recently lost for the season. Instead, safety Marcus Williams deserves a shout-out for his outstanding play. Williams is a stout run defender, but his abilities in coverage truly round out New Orleans' defense. Quarterbacks have posted a measly 44.9 passer rating when targeting him this season.4. Seattle Seahawks (10-3)Previous rank: 2Safety Quandre Diggs deserves Pro Bowl consideration based on his play with the Seahawks alone. In four games since a midseason trade from Detroit, Diggs has been a playmaker, recording a forced fumble and three interceptions, including a pick-6.5. Kansas City Chiefs (9-4)David Eulitt / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 5There's no dethroning Justin Tucker as the AFC's Pro Bowl kicker, but Harrison Butker is at least making it interesting. The AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November leads the conference in made field goals.6. Green Bay Packers (10-3)Previous rank: 8While most eyes are on Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay's offense, Za'Darius Smith is putting up stellar numbers on defense. The free-agent signee has recorded 10 sacks in 13 games while pressuring the quarterback at a higher rate than any other player at his position.7. New England Patriots (10-3)Previous rank: 7With the best year of his career, Kyle Van Noy has picked up the slack left behind by free-agent departee Trey Flowers. The 28-year-old has been a frequent visitor to opponents' backfields, and is one of the Patriots' most physical and reliable tacklers.8. Minnesota Vikings (9-4)Previous rank: 9Rejoice, Skol Nation! Minnesota's kicking woes may finally be in the rearview mirror, as Dan Bailey is proving to be a welcomed acquisition. Bailey has only missed two field goals on the year and is perfect from 50-plus.9. Buffalo Bills (9-4)Previous rank: 10Snubbed in his first two years, Tre'Davious White is making another Pro Bowl bid in 2019. He ranks third in the league in both interceptions (4) and pass breakups (15), anchoring a strong secondary in Buffalo.10. Houston Texans (8-5)Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 6D.J. Reader has more than earned his place in Orlando, but it's easy for interior defensive linemen to get overlooked, especially those lacking draft pedigree. The Texans' 347-pounder is a monster against the run and has made a big leap as a pass-rusher.11. Tennessee Titans (8-5)Previous rank: 11Ben Jones has never made a Pro Bowl, but he's been one of the better centers in the AFC this season. He's allowed just three sacks and six hurries all year, helping Ryan Tannehill's re-emergence and save Tennessee's season.12. Los Angeles Rams (8-5)Previous rank: 13Safety Taylor Rapp started slow in his rookie season, but he's come on of late. He's recorded 20 defensive stops since Week 8, according to PFF, and has thrived in coverage. His signature play was a pick-6 versus the Cardinals in Week 13.13. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5)Previous rank: 12Prior to 2019, Javon Hargrave was known solely for his prowess in run defense. This season, Pittsburgh's nose tackle has excelled as an interior rusher. Hargrave's 43 total pressures rank seventh at his position despite playing significantly less snaps than the six players ahead of him.14. Chicago Bears (7-6)Previous rank: 16Seven-year veteran Cordarrelle Patterson has developed into something of an ace on special teams. The speedster is averaging 30 yards per kick return and has a 102-yard touchdown on the board.15. Cleveland Browns (6-7)Kirk Irwin / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 18Often overlooked and perennially underrated, Joe Schobert is well-deserving of his second Pro Bowl berth. The linebacker is always around the ball, thriving in run defense and in coverage while stuffing the stat sheet each week.16. Dallas Cowboys (6-7)Previous rank: 14On an offensive line stacked with accomplished veterans, La'el Collins has stood out in 2019. The right tackle has turned in his best campaign after inking a five-year, $50-million extension in early September.17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7)Previous rank: 21It's hard to make the Pro Bowl when you play mostly at nose tackle, a position more about creating stats for others than producing them for yourself. But Vita Vea deserves to be in the conversation after consistently wrecking offensive lines in his sophomore season.18. Oakland Raiders (6-7)Previous rank: 17Josh Jacobs will likely be the Raiders' Pro Bowl representative, but tight end Darren Waller should join him for the showcase. He trails only Travis Kelce in receiving yards and ranks third at the position in receptions.19. Indianapolis Colts (6-7)Previous rank: 15Indy's stellar slot cornerback Kenny Moore rarely gets his due as one of the best at his position. A key piece of the Colts' up-and-coming defense, Moore is an excellent run defender and is effective at the blitz, recording three sacks.20. Philadelphia Eagles (6-7)Mitchell Leff / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 19Brandon Graham remains one of the best players in the league to never make a Pro Bowl. The 31-year-old edge rusher has 7.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss, while his run defense has been equally valuable to the Eagles.21. Denver Broncos (5-8)Previous rank: 23The Broncos' brightest star of the season is undoubtedly receiver Courtland Sutton. He's gaining traction on the national scale with his weekly highlight-reel grabs.22. Los Angeles Chargers (5-8)Previous rank: 22Where would the Chargers be without Austin Ekeler this season? The backup running back leads the team with 11 touchdowns and has nearly eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving on the year.23. Carolina Panthers (5-8)Previous rank: 20Left tackle Taylor Moton isn't a household name, but he should be getting more love as a potential Pro Bowl alternate after his solid performances protecting the blindside of the inexperienced Kyle Allen.24. Atlanta Falcons (4-9)Previous rank: 28Despite heavy investment in the offseason, Atlanta's offensive line has remained one of the league's worst units. But Matt Ryan might not have survived the season if not for the efforts of left tackle Jake Matthews, who is by far the best pass-protector the Falcons have.25. New York Jets (5-8)Emilee Chinn / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 27Jordan Jenkins has seven sacks in 11 appearances. A few more in the final three weeks should raise his profile around the league and lead to a nice payday in free agency.26. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9)Previous rank: 242018 first-rounder Taven Bryan has made significant strides in his second season but is often overshadowed by the bigger names on Jacksonville's defensive line. While he only has one sack, Bryan's 19 pressures paint a more accurate picture of his sophomore leap.27. Arizona Cardinals (3-9-1)Previous rank: 25His play isn't generating national attention in the desert, but Chandler Jones is chasing the league lead in sacks. He's currently second to only Shaq Barrett with 14 on the year.28. Miami Dolphins (3-10)Previous rank: 26Did you know DeVante Parker is on pace for his first career 1,000-yard season? Once written off as a draft bust, the former first-round pick is finally living up to the hype.29. Washington Redskins (3-10)Previous rank: 29No punter is averaging more yards than Tress Way, who also ranks second in average net yards. Thanks to Washington's putrid offense, Way gets plenty of action every week.30. Detroit Lions (3-9-1)NurPhoto / NurPhoto / GettyPrevious rank: 30Detroit's season went down the drain following Matthew Stafford's back injury, but Frank Ragnow has blocked well for whoever is under center. The 2018 first-rounder is among the league's most efficient pass-protecting centers and is an elite run-blocker.31. New York Giants (2-11)Previous rank: 31The Browns miss Kevin Zeitler, who's provided the Giants with a massive upgrade at right guard after acquiring him for Olivier Vernon.32. Cincinnati Bengals (1-12)Previous rank: 32It's been a season to forget in Cincinnati, but Carlos Dunlap hasn't let poor results hinder his campaign. Dunlap is on quite a role lately, recording 4.5 sacks over his last four outings. He's one of the lone bright spots on the 31st-ranked unit.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants squandered a 14-point halftime lead Monday in their overtime defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles, dropping the club to 2-11 this season.Running back Saquon Barkley believes the loss, New York's ninth consecutive defeat, was indicative of who the Giants are."We're a team that finds a way to lose a lot of games," Barkley said, according to Darryl Slater of NJ.com. "That's what we are as of right now, yes. That's our team. We're just an inconsistent football team. We find ways to lose games."On Monday, the Giants didn't turn the ball over in a contest for the first time this season but allowed a season-high 27 first downs while converting just 11.New York holds a turnover differential of minus-13, the second-worst mark in the NFL, and the team has failed to top 18 points in four of its past five tilts.However, Barkley still believes the Giants can reverse course "very soon.""We're one of the best organizations in the world," he said. "The way that we operate, we have a winning culture inside. We're just not doing it on Sundays. It makes no sense to me - at all actually."But I believe that it's going to turn around, and when it does, it's going to be an amazing story. For that to happen, we've got to find a way to win a game."Barkley took the NFL by storm as a rookie in 2018, leading the league with 2,028 scrimmage yards, in addition to 15 touchdowns. But his numbers have declined this year, as he's amassed 902 total yards and three scores through 10 games.The Giants will try to snap their losing streak Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets running back Le'Veon Bell made himself clear when asked how he felt about going bowling Saturday hours after being ruled out with the flu for his team's Week 14 bout against the Miami Dolphins."I don't feel bad about what I did. I didn't break any rules," Bell said Tuesday, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.The star tailback said doctors told him to get out of the house and not just sit at home.Bell also explained he lost eight pounds last week but still tried to convince his coaching staff to play him against the Dolphins. The Jets sent the three-time Pro Bowler home Friday to ensure other players wouldn't contract the bug.Head coach Adam Gase said Bell won't be disciplined for the incident but added that he would've preferred if his lead rusher had stayed home, according to Mehta.This week, the Jets have considered Bell a full participant in practice on both Monday and Tuesday and expect him to be available for their Thursday night matchup against the Baltimore Ravens."The doctors said that he's feeling better than what he was and he's closer to being 100% than what he was three days ago," Gase said, according to Jets reporter Ethan Greenberg. "The fact that he’s being let back in the building is a positive, so everything should be lined up to where he'll play Thursday."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL told team officials Tuesday that it's projecting its salary cap for 2020 to be between $196.8 million and $201.2 million, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.That means the league's salary cap - currently set at $188.2 million - could see an increase of over $10 million for the seventh consecutive season. The final cap number is set in late February or early March.Total projected player costs, including benefits, will surpass $7.7 billion in 2020, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The league's current labor deal is set to expire following the 2020 season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson practiced on a limited basis for the second straight day Tuesday due to a quad injury, the team announced.However, the MVP front-runner insists he'll play in the Ravens' matchup against the New York Jets on Thursday."I'll be out there Thursday night," Jackson said, according to The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec.The 22-year-old revealed that he suffered the injury on a low hit in the third quarter during the Ravens' Week 14 win against the Buffalo Bills.Jackson said he noticed that his last two opponents were hitting him low, but added that there's nothing he can do about it."We're playing football. It's an aggressive game. They're trying to make a tackle and I'm trying to make them miss," he said.The Ravens, who've already clinched a playoff spot, will look to claim their second consecutive division title Thursday. Baltimore currently holds the AFC's top seed with a record of 11-2.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his sixth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. Follow the links below to see his early rankings for Week 15.Updated rankings (including Standard and PPR) will be released Thursday, with the final version coming down Sunday morning.Half PPR

New Orleans Saints defensive end Marcus Davenport suffered a significant foot injury and is expected to undergo season-ending surgery, sources told Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Davenport suffered the injury in the Saints' 48-46 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.The 23-year-old was selected 14th overall in the 2018 draft and has stood out in his second pro year after a subpar rookie campaign.Through 13 games, Davenport has the second-most sacks on the team (six).The 10-3 Saints have already clinched the NFC South, though they lost the NFC No. 2 seed with the most recent defeat. New Orleans will try to retake home-field advantage on Monday against the Indianapolis Colts.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Lions placed wide receiver Marvin Jones on injured reserve Tuesday, the team announced.The 29-year-old suffered the reported ankle injury late in the fourth quarter of his club's 20-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 14. He sill managed to play in every offensive snap but was carted to the locker room after the game.Jones, who finished last season on IR, leads the Lions with 62 receptions through 13 games this year. The star wideout has also posted 779 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.Detroit will likely continue to rely on Kenny Golladay for the remainder of its campaign. The third-year wideout has 53 catches for 1,008 yards and 10 touchdowns this year.The 3-9-1 Lions have already been eliminated from the playoff hunt, marking the third straight year the team has missed the postseason. They face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 15.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery will miss the remainder of the season with a foot injury, a source told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.Jeffery reportedly felt something pop in his foot against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football. He suffered the non-contact injury at the beginning of a route early in the second quarter and underwent an MRI on Tuesday. The team is still trying to determine what exactly is wrong with Jeffery's foot, according to Garafolo.The 29-year-old recently missed back-to-back contests in Weeks 11 and 12 but made his return the following week, amassing nine catches for 137 yards and one touchdown against the Miami Dolphins.He didn't catch a pass before being sidelined against the Giants.Despite missing three games this season, Jeffery has been Philadelphia's most productive wide receiver in 2019. He leads all Eagles wideouts in receptions (43), yards (490), and touchdowns (4).Philadelphia snapped its three-game losing streak Monday, keeping its playoff hopes alive. The 6-7 Eagles will face the Washington Redskins on Sunday before a pivotal clash against the Dallas Cowboys.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears linebacker Khalil Mack embraced the giving spirit this holiday season by covering layaway tabs at a Walmart in his hometown.The store in Fort Pierce, Florida, announced Friday on Facebook that Mack paid off all active layaway accounts through his Khalil Mack Foundation."His foundation came to us and said he wanted to be a secret Santa," store manager Mathias Libardi told Lamaur Stancil of TCPalm.com.A Walmart spokesperson said Mack paid off 300-to-350 accounts - a total of around $80,000, according to Jeremy Mikula of the Chicago Tribune.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL is inclined to believe the New England Patriots' explanation for a recording of the Cincinnati Bengals' sideline during Sunday's game, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The Patriots said their three-man video crew "unknowingly" violated league rules by filming the field and sideline from a press box while capturing footage for a team video series called "Do Your Job."The argument that supports the Patriots is that play calls come in through a headset, while most signals being made on the sidelines are for substitution packages."That doesn't necessarily mean the Patriots are off the hook," Rapoport added."They did admit that they did not alert the Bengals, they didn't alert the NFL. Clearly there was, at the least, a miscommunication here which would lead me to believe - based on the people I've spoken with - that if they got penalized, it'd be something along the lines of a fine."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.Week 15 of the NFL season opens Thursday when the New York Jets travel to take on the Baltimore Ravens. Here's everything you need to know about the AFC tilt from a betting perspective.Line movementAfter getting through the tough stretch of their schedule - with games against the New England Patriots, Houston Texans, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and Buffalo Bills - the Ravens get somewhat of a break against the Jets. Baltimore opened as a 14-point favorite and there's already been money coming in, pushing the Ravens up to -14.5 and -15 in the market. That's right on par with how the Ravens have fared this season, as they're No. 1 in the league in average scoring margin per game (+14.9).Despite the Jets cashing their last three unders and Baltimore going under in consecutive games, the total opened on a key number of 44 but was pushed up a full point to 45.Betting breakdown and trendsNo team can be considered a "good" matchup for the Ravens' offense, but the Jets have been able to slow down the run this season. New York is No. 2 in the league in rush defense DVOA, trailing only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in that department.However, the Ravens aren't just a run-first team behind quarterback Lamar Jackson. Baltimore's success on the ground opens up huge chunk plays in the passing game. The Ravens are No. 2 in pass offense DVOA and inside the top half of the league in explosive pass rate. If Baltimore has any issues establishing the run, airing the ball out against the No. 21 pass defense might not be such a bad idea.In terms of betting trends, these two teams are polar opposites. The Jets are just 7-16-1 against the spread in their last 24 games while Baltimore is on a 6-1 run despite being so popular in the market. The under has cashed five of the last six times Baltimore lays points at home, while New York is 4-1 to the under following an outright win (the Jets beat the Miami Dolphins at home in Week 14).X-factorThis feels like a "Hollywood" Brown game. The rookie wide receiver got off to a blazing start but has since mostly disappointed. He's recorded more than 50 receiving yards just once during the last nine games and has a grand total of minus-1 yards in the last two combined. He's had some tough matchups over the team's recent gauntlet of opponents, but this one sets up nicely for the vertical threat.PickJets' team total under 15.5For all the issues New York had earlier in the season, there have been some bright spots of late. But how much of that is due to an easy schedule? In their last seven games, the Jets haven't played a defense that ranks better than No. 19 in DVOA. Now, they face a Baltimore unit that's firing on all cylinders, allowing just 13.7 points per game during the last seven despite facing four offenses in the top 10 in DVOA.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 @AJKoIodziej.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL will conduct a top-down examination of its officiating at the conclusion of the regular season, NFL.com's Judy Battista and Ian Rapoport are reporting.From missed calls, to pass interference and early whistles, officiating has dominated headlines all season.The offseason changes to the pass interference rule resulted in more confusion early in the season when coaches had little success challenging offensive and defensive pass interference calls.This past Sunday's marquee game between the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs was marred by missed calls.The Patriots forced a fumble from Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and appeared set to run it back towards the end zone, but the referees whistled the play dead and ruled the receiver down by contact. New England had to challenge the play to get possession of the ball but lost the opportunity for a scoop-and-score.Later in the game, Patriots receiver N'Keal Harry tightroped the sideline to score a touchdown late in the contest, but sideline officials ruled him out at the 3-yard line.New England was unable to overturn the ruling after spending their challenges on other calls.Head of officiating Al Riveron has come under criticism by players as the season has progressed. In Week 11, Houston Texans wideout Deandre Hopkins said the NFL needs "someone new in New York deciding calls" when he failed to draw a defensive pass interference call despite being mauled on a attempt in the end zone.A number of other games have been decided by missed calls. Officials called two hands-to-the-face penalties against Detroit Lions defensive lineman Trey Flowers in Week 6 though replays showed his hands were on his opponent's shoulder pads. The two calls extended drives and allowed the Green Bay Packers to mount a last-minute comeback.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.