Nearly nine months after undergoing Lisfranc surgery, Baltimore Ravens first-round rookie Marquise Brown is ramping up his offseason activities in preparation for Week 1.Though Brown has appeared in four straight practices, including recent joint sessions with the Philadelphia Eagles, the first-year wide receiver must still reach significant milestones before being fully integrated into Baltimore's offense."He basically practiced for the first time in a more aggressive setting, so I saw a guy that was practicing for the first time," head coach John Harbaugh told reporters. "He just needs to get accustomed to it. It's all new for him - the speed of it, the thinking, the lining up, running the right route. He's got a ways to go with all of that."I'm confident he'll get there, and we'll know what to do to use him, how to use him early in the season. But it's just great work for him."Offensive coordinator Greg Roman said Sunday that "Hollywood" must work on his chemistry with quarterback Lamar Jackson, as the two failed to consistently connect in the wideout's limited practice time, according to Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Sun.The No. 25 overall pick in April's draft doesn't appear to be at risk of missing the Ravens' season opener against the Miami Dolphins.Brown injured his foot in December's Big 12 championship game. He's yet to suit up in the preseason.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jimmy Garoppolo's first game action since tearing his ACL last September was forgettable.The San Francisco 49ers quarterback led three drives but only completed 1 of 6 passes for 0 yards and a 0.0 passer rating in Monday's preseason test against the Denver Broncos. His first throw of the night was batted down and his second was intercepted."Obviously a little frustrated but it's the NFL," Garoppolo said afterward, according to Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area."Unfortunately, we don't get to play the whole game right now so I only get so many plays. You wish you could be out there for more so we could bounce back. But it is what it is. It's preseason right now, so we just have to take it in stride."Despite the ugly performance, head coach Kyle Shanahan saw some positives."It was good for him because it's a big hurdle to get out there for the first time, but we haven't seen any issues with the knee," Shanahan said. "We aren't too concerned about his injury. It's about him playing and getting reps with our team."Garoppolo is entering his third year with the Niners, but he's started just eight games for the franchise to date.He'll get his next opportunity in the third week of the preseason - typically the dress rehearsal for the regular season - when San Francisco visits the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL is back, and we're here to examine the good and the bad from the second week of preseason action.WinnersDwayne HaskinsWashington Redskins rookie quarterback Haskins needed a bounce-back performance after throwing two interceptions in his preseason debut, and he did just that Thursday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Haskins still made some mistakes - he lost a fumble and was sacked three times - but he showcased his deep ball, poise, and football IQ on this 55-yard touchdown.

Jimmy Garoppolo failed to register a single passing yard over three drives on Monday during his return from an ACL tear suffered 11 months ago.The San Francisco 49ers quarterback completed only one pass over six attempts, and one of his five misfires resulted in an interception for the Denver Broncos.

Oakland Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown filed a second grievance against the NFL in another effort to wear the Schutt AiR Advantage helmet, a source told Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.This time, Brown is reportedly contending he didn't have the same one-year grace period other players had with their outdated helmets because the Schutt AiR Advantage was only banned this year.Brown's preferred model is banned because it was manufactured more than 10 years ago. The wideout has since found newer versions of the model, but none have passed mandatory safety tests. The NFL's helmet laws are set forth by the National Operating Committee for Standards and Athletic Equipment.Brown has been in and out of training camp, determined to play with the helmet he's worn throughout his career.On Sunday, Raiders general manager Mike Mayock said the team had exhausted all avenues related to the helmet. He added that Brown needed to decide whether he would be "all-in or all-out" with the Silver and Black.The receiver's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, voiced an opposing view Monday morning, saying Brown hadn't yet exhausted all of his options.Brown was present at the Raiders' walk-through Monday, and is expected to be with the team again Tuesday.Brown, a seven-time Pro Bowler, was traded to Oakland from the Pittsburgh Steelers in March for two draft picks.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots activated wide receiver Julian Edelman from the non-football injury list after he passed a physical on Monday, a source told ESPN's Field Yates.Edelman was sidelined for the first half of August while recovering from a thumb injury suffered prior to training camp.The veteran led all Patriots pass-catchers with 850 receiving yards a season ago, even while playing only 12 games. He missed four contests after failing a drug test.The 33-year-old capped his 2018 campaign with a Super Bowl LIII MVP award. He signed a two-year, $18-million extension with New England in May.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2019 Fantasy Football Draft Kit 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, Jake Ciely of The Athletic joins Boone to discuss how to approach wide receivers in this year's fantasy drafts, including which WRs will help lead you to a title.

There are at least two people who didn't find Jerry Jones' joke about Ezekiel Elliott funny on Saturday night.With Elliott holding out in hopes of a new contract from the Dallas Cowboys, rookie rusher Tony Pollard has played well in his absence. And when asked if Pollard was his "best negotiator with Zeke," the Dallas Cowboys owner replied, "Zeke who?"

The Carolina Panthers are finally ready to deploy Cam Newton.The franchise quarterback will see game action for the first time this preseason in Thursday's contest against the New England Patriots, head coach Ron Rivera said, according to Max Henson of Panthers.com.Newton has been brought along slowly since undergoing offseason shoulder surgery. He was placed on a pitch count early in camp and missed the first two weeks of preseason games as a precaution.Rivera also announced that fellow stars Christian McCaffrey, Luke Kuechly, and Greg Olsen will make their preseason debuts against New England.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Antonio Brown was present at the Oakland Raiders facility Monday and attended the team meeting, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.After Brown missed Sunday's practice, general manager Mike Mayock publicly stated that the Raiders needed to know whether the star receiver is "all-in or all-out" as he deals with his ongoing helmet issue.Brown was absent for the majority of camp because he wanted to continue wearing his old helmet, which is no longer approved by the league. Brown's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said the search for a suitable helmet in the receiver's preferred model - the Schutt Air Advantage - was still ongoing Sunday night.The seven-time Pro Bowler reportedly located a 2014 edition of the helmet, but it failed a test required by the NFL, so he can't wear it.Head coach Jon Gruden said Brown participated in the team's Saturday walkthrough and was nearing full participation in practice.Brown is also dealing with frostbitten feet after undergoing cryotherapy without the proper footwear.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In May, we highlighted Kyler Murray, Marquise Brown, Justice Hill, and Diontae Johnson as a few worthy bets for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Brown has battled injuries, but the other three players' stock has only risen since the draft.Here are updated odds for the award, with a few more candidates to consider before the start of the NFL season.PLAYERPOSITIONODDSKyler MurrayQB7-4 (+175)Josh JacobsRB10-1Dwayne HaskinsQB12-1Miles SandersRB12-1David MontgomeryRB16-1N'Keal HarryWR18-1Darrell HendersonRB20-1T.J. HockensonTE20-1Daniel JonesQB20-1Marquise BrownWR20-1Noah FantTE22-1Parris CampbellWR25-1Mecole HardmanWR28-1J.J. Arcega-WhitesideWR30-1Devin SingletaryRB30-1Damien HarrisRB33-1DK MetcalfWR33-1Andy IsabellaWR36-1A.J. BrownWR40-1Drew LockQB40-1Hakeem ButlerWR50-1Deebo SamuelWR50-1Diontae JohnsonWR50-1Will GrierQB60-1Hunter RenfrowWR66-1Jace SternbergerTE66-1Terry McLaurinWR100-1Drew SampleWR100-1Irv Smith Jr.TE100-1Andre DillardOT250-1Josh Jacobs, RB, Raiders (10-1)Maybe "Hard Knocks" hype for the Raiders will drive this price into the ground, but for now, the Oakland rookie's odds are simply too cheap to ignore as a potential bell-cow back.Jon Gruden has historically committed to the run game, and Jacobs' competition is uninspiring. That could mean gaudy numbers for the Alabama product, who averaged 6.3 yards with 14 touchdowns on just 140 touches in 2018.Three of the last four offensive winners have been running backs, including Saquon Barkley, who beat out Baker Mayfield's savior season in 2018. Jacobs might not be Barkley, but Murray will be hard-pressed to match Mayfield's rookie year, too. If anyone can usurp Murray, it's Jacobs.Darrell Henderson, RB, Rams (20-1)Call it a hype train if you want, but it's hard to deny Henderson's elite upside and opportunity in this Rams offense. Todd Gurley's health is a legitimate concern, and L.A. invested high draft capital in Henderson - who will see plenty of work even if Gurley plays, too.The Memphis dynamo looked comfortable in the passing game in Saturday's preseason affair and has the natural burst and decisiveness to excel as a rusher in Sean McVay's offense.If Gurley were to miss time, Henderson's a versatile, dynamic back in one of the best offenses in football. You wouldn't want that at 20-1?Terry McLaurin, WR, Redskins (100-1)At long-shot odds, why not take a chance on the speedy Redskins receiver? The third-rounder has impressed in his first offseason in Washington with his burst and route-running, including this nasty route that turned heads (including the defender's) in practice:

While there is still lots of work to be done in NFL collective bargaining agreement talks, it appears the players and owners are making headway in some areas.Both sides are open to expanding the playoff field from 12 teams to 14 while cutting the preseason down to three games, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport reported.Players continue to oppose adding regular-season games, but expanding the playoff field would help offset revenue lost by reducing the number of preseason games, according to Pelissero and Rapoport.Playoff expansion has reportedly yet to be formally proposed in bargaining. Negotiations are expected to continue Monday and it remains unlikely that a deal will be reached before the start of the 2019 season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears the Oakland Raiders and Antonio Brown's camp have differing opinions when it comes to the state of the wide receiver's helmet dispute.Brown's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, responded Sunday night to Raiders general manager Mike Mayock's statement that the team has "exhausted all avenues of relief" for Brown's equipment-related grievance."I'm not sure that we agree that we've exhausted all the options, as Mike Mayock said, but there's no doubt it's still an ongoing process," Rosenhaus said on 7 Sports Xtra.

Seattle Seahawks rookie wideout DK Metcalf will undergo knee surgery, head coach Pete Carroll told reporters after Sunday's preseason contest, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Carroll also expressed optimism that the 64th overall pick in the 2019 draft will recover quickly and be ready to play Week 1.Metcalf reportedly suffered the injury late last week. He didn't suit up Sunday versus the Minnesota Vikings.Carroll said Metcalf underwent an MRI, which gave the team a clear look at the injury, although the coach didn't provide additional details about the nature of the ailment.The explosive Metcalf wowed at the scouting combine, posting top-five scores among receiver prospects in the 40-yard dash, bench press, vertical jump, and broad jump - scores that were considerably more impressive considering his 6-foot-3, 228-pounds frame.However, a poor score in the three-cone drill prompted some concerns about his lateral agility, which may have contributed to his slide to the second round of the draft.Following the retirement of receiver Doug Baldwin earlier this year, Metcalf was penciled in as a likely starter for the Seahawks opposite Tyler Lockett.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets will wait until the regular season to unveil prized free-agent signing Le'Veon Bell.Head coach Adam Gase announced Sunday that Bell won't play in the Jets' remaining two preseason games, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini.Gase previously stated his hesitation to overwork Bell, who sat out the 2018 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a contract dispute.Although the star running back was on a pitch count during training camp, Bell said last month he's "up for 500" carries to help New York reach the Super Bowl.The Jets signed Bell to a four-year, $52.5-million deal in March. They open the 2019 campaign at home against the rival Buffalo Bills Sept. 8.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Though Antonio Brown was expected to rejoin his teammates this week, Oakland Raiders general manager Mike Mayock told reporters Sunday that the wide receiver was not at practice due to his ongoing helmet issue.

The Philadelphia Eagles added some veteran experience Saturday by signing Josh McCown, who is the oldest player on the roster at 40 years old.McCown's age is a big reason why Eagles head coach Doug Pederson is fond of him."He's 40. He's close to my age," Pederson, 51, said with a laugh when asked what he liked most about the quarterback, according to Martin Frank of the Delaware News Journal.McCown came out of retirement to sign a one-year deal with the Eagles and reportedly plans to resume his broadcasting job with ESPN after this season. If he ends up throwing a pass for the Eagles in a regular-season game, he'll become the oldest player in team history to do so.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears the Washington Redskins are leaning to Case Keenum as the team's Week 1 starting quarterback, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.Keenum is expected to get the opening-game nod against the Philadelphia Eagles over rookie first-round pick Dwayne Haskins.Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said Sunday that Colt McCoy - who many thought could compete for the job - may not return until "two or three weeks" into the season as he recovers from the leg injury that ended his 2018 campaign, Schefter adds.Keenum has started each of Washington's first two preseason games, completing 7-of-16 passes for 112 yards and one touchdown in limited action.Haskins, meanwhile, has shown flashes of what made him the No. 15 overall pick in April.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The security guard who Ezekiel Elliott shoved at a Las Vegas music festival in May asked for $500,000 from the Dallas Cowboys running back, according to police documents obtained by TMZ Sports.Elliott's attorneys reportedly said they received a list of demands from the security guard, 19-year-old Kyle Johnson, and his father, Kelly.The list also included signed jerseys from Elliott, Dak Prescott, and Amari Cooper, a public apology from the All-Pro back, and tickets to Cowboys games.Per the report, they also asked for a meet-and-greet with Jerry Jones and his son Stephen, a joint press conference with Elliott, and $25,000 for Kyle's junior college football team.In an affidavit, Elliott said he apologized to Johnson after the incident, and the two even took a photo together at Kyle's request.Johnson initially opted not to press charges, but changed his mind shortly after the NFL decided Elliott didn't violate the league's personal conduct policy,However, prosecutors reportedly recently opted not to move forward with the case after reviewing all of the available evidence.The star back continues to hold out to force a new contract from the Cowboys.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former NFL running back Cedric Benson died Saturday in a motorcycle crash, his lawyer confirmed to The Associated Press.He was 36 years old.Benson was on a motorcycle with an unnamed woman when they were hit by a minivan, according to KVUE's Jeff Bell. Emergency services responded to the accident around 10:20 p.m. and said one of the vehicles was on fire when they arrived.Both Benson and the woman, also in her 30s, were pronounced dead at the scene. Two others apparently suffered non-life-threatening injuries.Police said they believed "speed and poor visibility were the biggest factors in the crash."Benson was selected by the Chicago Bears with the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft following a standout career at Texas.The running back struggled to cement his place during three seasons in Chicago but revitalized his career over a four-year stretch (2008-11) with the Cincinnati Bengals that included three 1,000-yard seasons.Benson signed with the Green Bay Packers in 2012 but suffered a foot injury after five games and never suited up in the league again. He racked up 6,017 rushing yards and 32 total touchdowns during his NFL career.At Texas, he was a four-year starter and won the Doak Walker Award as the country's top running back in 2004.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Bears have waived Elliott Fry, leaving Eddy Pineiro as the only remaining kicker on the roster, the team announced Sunday.Chicago could still bring in more competition at kicker but head coach Matt Nagy said "for right now, we feel good where (Pineiro's) at," according to team writer Larry Mayer.Fry and Pineiro were involved in an offseason-long search for a new kicker following the release of Cody Parkey. Chicago had eight kickers during rookie minicamp in July and eventually whittled down the group for training camp.In the Bears' first exhibition game, Fry hit a 43-yard kick, but he missed his lone attempt against the New York Giants on Friday. Meanwhile, Pineiro has gone 3-for-4 on field goals in the preseason.The Bears attempted to acquire former Baltimore Ravens kicker Kaare Vedvik prior to his trade to the Minnesota Vikings but were outbid by their NFC North rivals, a source told Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2019 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Every game night during the preseason, theScore gets you caught up on the most important fantasy performances from around the league.Chiefs' backfield battleJustin K. Aller / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Chiefs’ lead back is an endless source of fantasy production, which is why managers are willing to take Damien Williams as a top-30 pick in drafts this year.So it was nice to see him get the start for Kansas City, playing the entire first series on Saturday. Though he was held out of the box score, it’s still great news for his status atop the depth chart and his overall health. If Williams’ hamstring injury was a concern, he wouldn’t have suited up.It was a tough night for Carlos Hyde truthers, who have had to deal with several writers - both local and national - suggesting the 28-year-old might be left off the 53-man roster. That prediction may have inched closer to becoming a reality after Hyde fumbled against Pittsburgh.Not only has Williams returned as the starter, but rookie Darwin Thompson continues to generate buzz and has outplayed Hyde through two exhibition contests. After racking up 51 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown last week, Thompson added another 30 rushing yards to his preseason resume Saturday.One could even argue fourth-stringer Darrel Williams offers more juice than Hyde in this offense.Damien Williams is a risky but worthwhile gamble at the Round 2-3 turn and Thompson is quickly becoming one of the highest-ceiling late-round running backs in fantasy drafts.Come September, Hyde might be looking for his fifth new team in the last two seasons.Pollard vs. HendersonDarryl Oumi / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe former college teammates at Memphis took the field as opponents on Saturday, and if there’s an immediate takeaway from the game, it’s that their ADPs shouldn’t be six rounds apart.Darrell Henderson was the recipient of a shocking amount of fantasy hype as managers were unsure of Todd Gurley’s health. Recent reports about Gurley lean more on the positive side, but his workload is still expected to be scaled back, allowing Henderson and perhaps Malcolm Brown to take on a portion of the touches.Henderson didn’t have a lot of room to run up the middle against the Cowboys amassing just 16 yards on six carries, however, he was able to do some damage as a pass-catcher with six receptions for 38 yards. His highlight of the night came on a wheel route that gained 26 yards in the opening quarter.Meanwhile, on the other sideline, Tony Pollard wasn’t doing Ezekiel Elliott any favors as he sliced through the Rams’ defense for 42 yards and a score on five carries, adding another nine yards through the air. Pollard looked like he'd be able to handle lead back duties if called upon, especially on his 14-yard touchdown run. If Zeke’s holdout extends into the regular season, that scenario might play out. Either way, it's going to be hard for the Cowboys to keep Pollard off the field this year, even if he's just a change-of-pace back behind Elliott.Henderson's eighth-round ADP makes sense, but Pollard should be going off the board a round or two later, not in the 14th. This performance might help correct his perceived value.Instant impressions

Antonio Brown is nearing a return to the practice field, as Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden said the wide receiver participated in the team's Saturday walkthrough."He took all the reps today in our walkthrough," Gruden told reporters, according to ESPN's Paul Gutierrez. "He showed great retention and we'll see what happens here with this afternoon; we're going to have a walkthrough today as well. We have a lot of guys that can't practice so we'll pick it up tomorrow."Asked if Brown was close to being a full participant in practice, Gruden said, "I think so, yeah."Brown is dealing with frostbitten feet from a cryotherapy chamber mishap. He's yet to practice since the incident. The 31-year-old didn't suit up for Oakland's second preseason game but did run drills during pregame workouts.The seven-time Pro Bowler is also in the midst of an ongoing fight to wear a helmet that's no longer approved by the NFL. His camp is currently searching for a Schutt Air Advantage model manufactured within the past 10 years.Brown found a 2014 edition of his preferred model, but it failed a test required by the NFL and can't be used, a source told ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio.Despite Brown's prolonged absence, Raiders quarterback Derek Carr was quick to point out how fast the star wideout has familiarized himself with the team's playbook."The man's recall is unbelievable," Carr said. "He came in and no mental errors, and in this offense, that's not easy to do. Especially whenever you have a day off ... you've got to stay on coach Gruden's offense all the time. You can tell Antonio's been studying because he came out and didn't miss a beat."He was a part of everything we did today."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When the Dallas Cowboys return to Texas from their tropical trip, Ezekiel Elliott will apparently be waiting for them.The star running back was spotted on a flight from Mexico, where he'd been working out at his agent's home in Cabo San Lucas amid his holdout for a new contract.But Elliott ending his training south of the border doesn't mean talks for a new deal have advanced, a source told Mike Fisher of Maven Sports.

Josh McCown has paused his retirement and broadcasting career to join the Philadelphia Eagles for his 17th NFL season, according to PhiladelphiaEagles.com's Dave Spadaro.The 40-year-old journeyman pivot signed a one-year deal worth up to $5.4 million, including $2 million fully guaranteed, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.McCown, who hung up his cleats in June, apparently plans to resume his TV job with ESPN after this season.The Eagles have recently lost backup quarterbacks Nate Sudfeld and Cody Kessler to injury. Sudfeld suffered a wrist injury last week and Kessler sustained a concussion this week.Philadelphia still expects Sudfeld, who was retained by the team with a second-round tender in March, to return this season, according to Schefter.The Eagles will be McCown's 11th NFL team across 18 professional seasons, which includes a one-year stint in the United Football League.

Josh Gordon is back in the NFL, but it appears the wide receiver still has work to do to secure his place with the New England Patriots.Patriots head coach Bill Belichick released a brief statement on Gordon's conditional reinstatement Saturday, highlighting the fact the team hasn't been involved in the receiver's case since the NFL suspended him indifferently in December for once again violating its substance abuse policy."For the past eight months, Josh's situation has been entirely a league matter," said Belichick. "When Josh returns to our program, we will evaluate the entire situation and do what we feel is best for Josh and the team."Gordon is eligible to rejoin New England on Sunday, though it's unclear if he'll be ready to suit up for any preseason action.The former Pro Bowler reportedly failed multiple tests for "more than marijuana" despite the Patriots putting him under surveillance last season in an attempt to prevent a violation.Gordon's third indefinite suspension of his career cost him the final two games of the regular season and New England's entire Super Bowl run. Easily the Patriots' most talented wideout, he racked up 720 yards and three touchdowns over 11 games in 2018.Though the 28-year-old would bolster New England's chances of retaining the Lombardi Trophy, it appears Belichick is taking a cautious approach to his return.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers star safety Derwin James will undergo foot surgery after suffering a stress fracture in his fifth metatarsal and is expected to miss about three months, sources told Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.James, who is likely headed for injured reserve, could still potentially return later in the season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Should the 2018 first-team All-Pro sit for the entirety of his projected recovery timetable, a natural return date could be after the Chargers' bye in Week 12; L.A. plays the Denver Broncos on Dec. 1 following its break.James, 23, made the Pro Bowl and finished second in Defensive Rookie of Year voting after a standout first season in the NFL. His injury is a huge blow to the Chargers, who enter the season among the favorites to win the AFC.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants' decision to pick Daniel Jones sixth overall was by far the 2019 draft's most widely derided pick, but the early returns from the rookie quarterback have been positive.Jones put in his second straight solid preseason performance Friday against the Chicago Bears. The former Duke standout threw for 161 yards and another picture-perfect touchdown, and while two fumbles marred his performance, it was another encouraging day.While some around the league have been caught off guard by Jones' play, the Giants aren't among them."People outside of our building seem surprised. We're not," head coach Pat Shurmur said after Friday's game, according to Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith. "That's why we picked him. And I think he's making good progress as he goes along here. He's checking off all the boxes. When it's his time to play he will be ready. I'm pleased with the progress he's making."Shurmur added that he was happy with how his young pivot responded to his turnovers."It's just part of the growing. But he didn't panic," Shurmur said. "He dropped the ball a couple times. He didn't call his parents, he just went back to work."Despite the rookie appearing much further along in his development than most expected, Shurmur echoed Giants co-owner John Mara's message that Eli Manning remains locked into the starting job."John owns the team. We're on the same page. ... You heard it from the owner," Shurmur said, according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan.Manning made sure his rookie compatriot wouldn't continue to get all the buzz by going a perfect 4-for-4 - including an 8-yard touchdown - on his lone drive against the Bears' second-team defense.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers brought Bruce Arians out of retirement to become their new head coach, the NFC South team also apparently secured the future of its other key leader.Days after hiring Arians, the Bucs signed general manager Jason Licht to a new five-year contract, which includes a club option for 2023, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.Licht's new deal reportedly mirrors Arians' contract, essentially locking the two men together.Arians apparently stipulated that in addition to keeping Jameis Winston and hiring a host of his former coaches, Tampa Bay needed to retain Licht as GM in order to land him.Licht served with Arians in Arizona in 2013 as the Cardinals' vice president of player personnel.The Bucs GM has just one winning season in five years in Tampa Bay, going 27-53 with Lovie Smith - who he inherited - and Dirk Koetter as his head coaches. The team has yet to make the playoffs under Licht's guidance."We have great confidence in Jason," Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer said last March. "Obviously, the record is the record. And there's still a story to be told."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2019 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Every game night during the preseason, theScore gets you caught up on the most important fantasy performances from around the league.The good, the bad, and the uglyIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyLet's start with some quality quarterback play from a pair of late-round fantasy targets in Lamar Jackson and Sam Darnold. After strong finishes to their respective 2018 campaigns, the sophomores have each excelled in their first two preseason outings.Jackson completed 6-of-10 passes for 58 yards while adding 14 more on the ground. His best play of the night is one that won't end up on his final stat line, though, due to an illegal blindside block. Jackson stepped up in the pocket and took off running, sidestepping one defender and hurdling another as he covered 18 yards on his way to the end zone. His rushing numbers alone will help him challenge for low-end QB1 status, and if he can continue his development as a passer then he'll be a true difference-maker in fantasy. Not bad for a player you can currently draft in the 12th round.Darnold doesn't have the dual-threat skills to lift his fantasy floor but seems very comfortable in the Jets' new system. Through two games, the 22-year-old has completed 75 percent of his attempts for 114 yards and a touchdown, and has deployed a no-huddle offense at times. He opened this week's game with an eight-play, 66-yard touchdown drive behind an offensive line consisting of four backups. Other young quarterbacks are getting more hype, but Darnold has just as good of a chance at a Year 2 breakout and he's going undrafted in fantasy.On the opposite sideline from Darnold, veteran Matt Ryan had a much more trying evening in his first preseason action of 2019. The Jets' pass rush was getting to Ryan at will, leading to three sacks and a ton of pressure - which, for some reason, lasted into the second quarter before Dan Quinn mercifully removed his starting passer. Ryan connected on 10-of-14 throws for 118 yards, but the overhaul of the Falcons' offensive line is not yet anywhere close to a finished product. Atlanta's pass-catchers didn't do their quarterback any favors, either, with several drops in the game, including two straight in the end zone. Better days are coming for Ryan, who remains the QB8 in my rankings.Of the fantasy-relevant quarterbacks playing Thursday night, no one had a worse outing than Kyler Murray and the Cardinals' first-team offense did. The first overall pick, who had a solid showing a week ago, wasn't able to manufacture much over the course of four series against the Raiders. Murray completed just 3-of-8 passes for a lowly 12 yards and rushed once for four yards. That resulted in three punts and a safety, with the latter coming when Murray had no choice but to accept his fate as Raiders defenders swarmed him at the goal line.We can't overreact to positive preseason performances, and, in the same vein, we need to be level-headed about Murray's display here. There were always going to be growing pains with a rookie quarterback, an unproven head coach, and one of the weaker offensive lines in the league. Hopefully, the claim that this is a "vanilla" version of Kliff Kingsbury's offense turns out to be true and we begin to see Murray put it all together in the coming weeks. His ceiling is still a top-10 fantasy option, and a night like this is sure to bring down his ADP a bit.Rookie runners rollingChristian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Raiders torched the Cardinals on both sides of the field Thursday, and it all started when first-round back Josh Jacobs ran the ball on four of the team's opening five plays. He was decisive and determined, picking up 21 yards in the process. Jon Gruden isn't hiding his hand. Ever since the team selected Jacobs, Oakland has made it clear that it plans to unleash him as a workhorse back. Of this year's rookie runners, he has the clearest path to significant volume, which is why I have him ranked above Miles Sanders and David Montgomery.Sanders also took the field on Thursday and was more effective than his three-carry, three-yard effort in last week's debut. The Eagles' second-rounder racked up 31 yards on five carries, outperforming his main competition, Jordan Howard, who rushed four times for 15 yards. More importantly, Sanders flashed the playmaking skills that have caused beat writers in Philly to gush over him. There's little doubt that Sanders will be the most valuable member of the Eagles' backfield, but Howard and Darren Sproles aren't going away and could cap the rookie's fantasy ceiling. He's still one of the best discounts on the board with his sixth-round ADP.Justice Hill was the fourth running back in the game for the Ravens, but if the coaching staff is watching the same tape that the rest of us are then we should see him climb the depth chart soon. After Mark Ingram called it a night, Kenneth Dixon, Gus Edwards, and Hill all got some work with the first-team offense, though the latter stayed in the game into the second half. The rookie totaled 49 yards on 10 rushes, highlighted by one of the best 1-yard touchdown runs you'll see. That gives Hill 22 touches for 98 yards and a score this preseason, making me feel confident in my pre-draft evaluation, in which I described him as a player with immense heart, who has a willingness to battle on every play and a shifty running style that makes him dangerous in the open field. Hill's an excellent fantasy option in the later rounds as the soon-to-be change-of-pace back behind Ingram.Instant Impressions

The Los Angeles Chargers and Melvin Gordon haven't made progress in contract talks, and the running back is prepared to sit out regular-season games, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN.Gordon previously threatened to take his holdout into the regular season if the Chargers didn't extend or trade him. Los Angeles hasn't given the running back and his agent permission to seek out trade partners in an effort to facilitate a deal.The two-time Pro Bowler already rejected an offer from the Chargers that would have netted him an annual average salary of $10 million. He's believed to be seeking about $13 million per year."I know Melvin knows I'm pulling for him," quarterback Philip Rivers told reporters Thursday, according to ESPN's Eric D. Williams. "And in saying that, that means you want what's best for him. You want him to feel great. You want him to be at peace with how it all ends, and hopefully it's right here."Gordon, 26, is entering the fifth and final season of his rookie contract. He averaged a career-high 5.1 yards per carry a season ago, and notched 885 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground over 12 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen suffered an ankle injury at practice this week but is expected to be ready for the team's season opener, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The injury could reportedly keep Allen out of commission for the rest of the preseason.Allen led the Chargers in receiving last season with 1,196 yards and six touchdowns. He was the third-leading receiver in the NFL two seasons ago, when he posted 1,393 yards and six scores.The Chargers will host the Indianapolis Colts in their season opener Sept. 8.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Indianapolis Colts have "guarded optimism" that ailing quarterback Andrew Luck will be ready for the beginning of the regular season, sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.Luck has dealt with a lingering calf issue for several months, and the Colts revealed this week that he's now experiencing pain in his ankle, too.The 29-year-old pivot hasn't participated in any full practices since the beginning of training camp and isn't expected to take a snap in the preseason.Colts head coach Frank Reich said he wants to have a starting quarterback installed for the season opener by the end of the team's third preseason game.If Luck is unavailable for the opener, the Colts will start Jacoby Brissett versus the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 8.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was scratched from Thursday's preseason game versus the Baltimore Ravens because of back tightness.The move is precautionary, according to Mike Spofford of the team's official site.Rodgers was expected to play about a quarter of the game, along with most of the Packers' other offensive starters. His exhibition debut would've provided a glimpse of how the two-time MVP might function in first-year head coach Matt LaFleur's offense.DeShone Kizer is second on the Packers' quarterback depth chart behind Rodgers.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Only two defensive players have ever been named NFL MVP, and it hasn't happened at all since 1986, making the Defensive Player of the Year award the de facto MVP for the "other" side of the ball.For two straight years, Aaron Donald has been that MVP as a dominant interior lineman for the Los Angeles Rams. He still has short odds to make it three straight, but oddsmakers don't have Donald as the 2019 front-runner.Instead, it's Khalil Mack's award to lose. The Chicago Bears edge rusher and 2016 award-winner enters the year as the betting favorite after wreaking havoc as a late addition to the team in 2018. He's now got a full offseason with the Bears under his belt, and even if Donald puts up better numbers than he did in 2017 or 2018 (good luck!), voter fatigue will likely give Mack the advantage.The DPOY is a media award, and media members generally don't follow defense as closely, so big names with flashy stats are safe bets. Still, you can find some diamonds in the rough by using last year's advanced numbers to project this year's counting stats.Here are the favorites to win the award, followed by our favorite bets outside of Mack and Donald:PLAYERPOSITIONODDSKhalil MackLB5-2Aaron DonaldDL3-1J.J. WattDL10-1Von MillerLB12-1Joey BosaDL22-1Myles GarrettDL22-1Jalen RamseyCB22-1Demarcus LawrenceDL25-1Chris JonesDL28-1Chandler JonesDL33-1Darius LeonardLB33-1Leighton Vander EschLB33-1Luke KuechlyLB33-1Danielle HunterDL33-1Derwin JamesS33-1Kevin ByardS33-1Chris Jones, DL, Chiefs (28-1)In recent years, DPOY has become the "best pass-rusher award." The last five winners each recorded at least 11 sacks, and two of them (Donald in 2018, J.J Watt in 2015) led the league. If any long shot can manage that, it's Jones.Kansas City's young edge rusher finished third behind Donald and Watt with 15.5 sacks in 2018, including at least one in an NFL-record 11 straight games. His "pass-rushing productivity" - a Pro Football Focus stat that measures pressures per snap - was the second-highest of anybody with at least 10 sacks.A summer contract dispute should only fuel Jones' defensive aggressiveness in the final year of his deal. At 28-1, he's a bargain among elite pass-rushers.Darius Leonard, LB, Colts (33-1)The last non-pass-rusher to win the award was linebacker Luke Kuechly in 2013, and Leonard has serious potential as a stat-stuffing ILB in 2019.As a rookie, the Colts' second-rounder led the league in tackles (163) en route to first-team All-Pro and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. He tacked on seven sacks, four forced fumbles, and two interceptions, and he helped turn Indianapolis' shoddy defense from 2017 into a strength in 2018.It was arguably a more impressive line than Kuechly's in 2013 but lacked the same level of team success. If the Colts make the expected leap and Leonard puts up similar numbers, that should vault him into DPOY consideration.Derwin James, S, Chargers (33-1)It's been nearly a decade since a defensive back received this award; Troy Polamalu won it for his 2010 season after Charles Woodson (2009) and Bob Sanders (2007) earned the distinction. James obviously isn't in that tier yet, but he was a first-team All-Pro in 2018 and became the first Chargers rookie to record 100 tackles in a season.James' versatility and run-stopping ability fueled L.A.'s creative defensive game plan against the Ravens in last year's playoff win. It also created the blueprint for James' DPOY case as a do-it-all safety with elite coverage skills and a nose for stuffing the run.In 2019, he could emerge as the leader of possibly the best defense in the NFL. He's got the talent to cash a 33-1 flier.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The XFL has found its first recruit.The new football league announced Thursday that it signed former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Landry Jones."We're excited to welcome Landry to the XFL as our first player and first quarterback," said XFL commissioner and CEO Oliver Luck. "He's an accomplished athlete with outstanding college credentials and pro experience, and his heart and desire to play football epitomizes the type of individual we want in the XFL."The revived XFL is set to return in 2020 under the guidance of WWE chairman Vince McMahon, who launched the first version of the league in 2001.Jones will join seven other quarterbacks who will be selected before the league's inaugural player draft in October by the head coaches of the eight teams.The XFL plans to put franchises in Dallas, St. Louis, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Tampa, and Washington D.C.St. Louis is the only city without an NFL franchise following the Rams' move to L.A.Jones, an ex-Oklahoma standout, spent six seasons in the NFL. He acted as Ben Roethlisberger's backup for five years in Pittsburgh - starting five games from 2015-17 - before brief stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Oakland Raiders.The 30-year-old also recently worked out for the Detroit Lions, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network."I'm looking forward to joining the XFL and playing the game I love," Jones said. "I can't wait to suit up."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Whenever Father Time does eventually take down Tom Brady, don't expect to see the star quarterback go from the field to the sideline.When asked Thursday about potentially following in ex-New England Patriots teammate and current Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel's footsteps, Brady slammed the door shut on the possibility."Oh hell no, I'm never coaching," Brady said, according to Nick Gross of NBC Sports Boston. "Playing is enough for me."While Brady says he has no desire to move to the sidelines, his teammates apparently aren't safe from the six-time Super Bowl winner's ire - even on social media.After Patriots rookie defensive end Chase Winovich shared a Shakespeare quote to Instagram on Wednesday, his quarterback quickly pointed the third-round pick back to the only literature that matters.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the start of the NFL season just over three weeks away, Thomas Casale, Alex Kolodziej, and C Jackson Cowart go over their favorite bets for who will lead the league in receiving yards. Included are best bets, value plays, and players to avoid.Odds to lead NFL in receiving yardsPlayerOddsJulio Jones15-2 (+750)Michael Thomas8-1Odell Beckham Jr.8-1DeAndre Hopkins9-1Davante Adams10-1JuJu Smith-Schuster10-1Antonio Brown12-1Mike Evans12-1Tyreek Hill12-1T.Y. Hilton14-1Keenan Allen18-1Adam Thielen18-1Amari Cooper28-1Stefon Diggs30-1Brandin Cooks30-1Kenny Golladay30-1Travis Kelce40-1Tyler Lockett40-1Tyler Boyd40-1Robert Woods50-1George Kittle50-1Zach Ertz50-1Sammy Watkins50-1Julian Edelman66-1DeSean Jackson66-1Calvin Ridley66-1Robby Anderson66-1Chris Godwin75-1Courtland Sutton75-1D.J. Moore75-1Demaryius Thomas75-1Who's the best bet to lead the NFL in receiving yards?TC: Give me DeAndre Hopkins. I took Deshaun Watson at 20-1 as my value play to lead the NFL in passing yards too. The Texans' defense finished 28th against the pass last year and it could be even worse in 2019. So, expect Watson, Hopkins, and Co. to be in a lot of shootouts. If Will Fuller can finally stay healthy, it will actually help Hopkins because opposing defenses need to respect Fuller's speed and won't be able to focus so much attention on Nuk. Hopkins finished second in this category last season with a career-high 1,572 receiving yards. Expect similar production this year, putting him in position to cash at 9-1.AK: I like Jameis Winston to lead the league in passing, so give me Mike Evans at 12-1 to pace the NFL in receiving yards. While Fuller should help Hopkins in Houston, DeSean Jackson being out of the mix will do wonders for Evans in Tampa Bay. Bruce Arians-coached teams in Arizona were second in the league in air yards, and Evans is a sneaky-good vertical threat despite being a mammoth 6-foot-5. He put up a quiet 1,524 yards last season and is in an ideal spot to go bananas again.CJC: Hopkins and Evans are two of my favorite picks, but I just can't pass up Julio Jones. He's already said he might "mess around" and go for 3,000 yards, but we only need half that for a chance to cash this bet. Jones won the 2018 receiving crown with 1,677 yards after finishing second, second, first, and third in the previous four seasons. The pass-happy Falcons lost Tevin Coleman in free agency and drafted two first-round linemen to protect Matt Ryan. They also replaced maligned offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian with pass-crazed Dirk Koetter. Jones should be the runaway favorite, and he's a steal at 15-2.Who is the top value play?TC: Tyler Boyd at 40-1 is appealing. Some still consider Boyd a No. 2 receiver, but he proved otherwise last year. With A.J. Green sidelined for seven games, Boyd racked up 76 receptions and 1,026 yards on the season. Now, Green is hurt again and is expected to miss multiple regular-season contests following ankle surgery. That means Boyd is in line to see plenty of targets as new head coach Zac Taylor finds more ways to utilize his versatile receiver. Boyd recorded more than 70 yards receiving seven times last year, and with the Bengals expected to be one of the NFL's worst teams, the offense will likely be playing from behind a lot in 2019. Boyd is worth a flier at 40-1.AK: There are so many receivers who are undersold in this spot - Fuller at 125-1 being one - although I want to be realistic here. I know this is going to sound bonkers, but George Kittle at 50-1 is disrespectful, and yes, I know he's a tight end. But he’s essentially a wide receiver, and I believe his odds are too long. The 49ers still don't have a true threat outside of Kittle, who bagged 1,377 yards last season ... with Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard under center. Now that Jimmy Garoppolo is back, give me Kittle at 50-1. Tight ends are people too!CJC: Could this be the year for Stefon Diggs (30-1)? Diggs finished last year with 102 receptions (11th) and 1,021 yards (20th) despite sharing the field with Adam Thielen, and he was quarterback Kirk Cousins' preferred target in the final eight games of the year. Among receivers that finished in the top 40 in yards, Diggs' 6.9 yards per target ranked dead last. His previous career average was 8.5, so that leaves plenty of room for growth should Diggs see a similar target volume, which seems doable in his second year with Cousins. I actually don't mind Thielen at 18-1 either, but Diggs at 30-1 is too much value to pass up.Which player should bettors avoid?TC: How bad is Raiders quarterback Derek Carr? Ask Amari Cooper. From 2016 until he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys last season, Cooper recorded 39 yards or fewer 17 times in 36 games. He finished with 10 yards or less eight times. Good luck, Antonio Brown, as it's going to be a long year in Oakland with Carr checking down to his running backs. Don't even consider betting Brown at 12-1.AK: I know my colleague Jackson loves the Vikings this year but I'm hopping off the Adam Thielen train because 18-1 is an absolute travesty - maybe the fade of our lifetime. The Vikings saw a huge shift in philosophy when they swapped out OC John DeFillipo for Kevin Stefanski, ranking sixth in run percentage under the latter. There's some upside with the Vikings' offense this season, but I think Dalvin Cook is the guy to explode, not Thielen. It's a terrible number here.CJC: Thomas' pick of Brown is the winner. Jon Gruden's conservative approach turned Carr into a glorified checkdown artist - he tied for last in the NFL with 6.7 intended air yards per attempt - which is a brutal fit with AB's ability to extend plays downfield and shred zone defenses like he did in Pittsburgh. Fade Brown to the moon.I'm also down on Tyreek Hill at 12-1. Off-the-field issues aside, Hill is a major regression candidate after netting 1,479 yards in Patrick Mahomes' supernova first season as a starter. If Mahomes' yardage dips below 5,000 - it has to, right? - Hill is the main loser, with a healthier Sammy Watkins already cutting into his target share.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals COO Ron Minegar was arrested Saturday on suspicion of driving while under the influence.Police body cam footage of the arrest, which NBC 12 obtained, shows Minegar telling arresting officers he had consumed "three or four" drinks, then denying that by stating he only drank two.Minegar refused a breathalyzer test and said he couldn't walk in a straight line. He was later cited and released.In a statement, the Cardinals called Minegar's actions "inexcusable.""He made the decision to drive after drinking alcohol and is fortunate that he was pulled over before injuring anyone or himself. According to MADD, drunk driving results in almost 11,000 deaths per year and is the number one cause of fatalities on roadways. We fully recognize the seriousness of these actions and they will have serious consequences."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

What was expected to be a three-way battle for the Washington Redskins' quarterback job is turning into a two-horse race.Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said Wednesday that veteran pivot Colt McCoy is not healthy enough to play in the team's Week 2 preseason game as he continues to recover from a broken leg suffered in December, as relayed by ESPN's John Keim.As a result, Case Keenum will start Thursday's contest against the Cincinnati Bengals and rookie Dwayne Haskins will serve as his backup."First and foremost, we've got to get that leg healthy, where he's confident on it where he can step into some throws and really push off that leg," Gruden said of McCoy. "Right now, you can see it's just been a little bit of an issue for him. I don't think he's very far away, but I think it's best at this time to hold him out and let him get some treatment."When McCoy is healthy enough to return, he'll be eased back into the fray with team drills.Meanwhile, veteran running back Adrian Peterson said earlier this week that he'd give the starting job to McCoy based on experience in the Redskins' offense, according to Kareem Copeland of the Washington Post. However, it appears the 10-year pro isn't ready to be included in the competition.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Need help with your fantasy draft? Tune in to our Fantasy Football Draft Show on Instagram Live today at 1 p.m. EST.Join theScore's Justin Boone and Dane Belbeck as they answer your questions while breaking down every position.You can also get ready for your season with theScore's 2019 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFLPA issued a "work stoppage guide" to its players in preparation for a possible strike or lockout after the 2020 season.These guidelines offer numerous tips for how players should save their money, including but not limited to:

Warning: Video contains disturbing imagesOn the three-year anniversary of his first protest during the national anthem, Colin Kaepernick posted a powerful video on Twitter and shared that he continues to fight against oppression in the United States.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageWarren Sapp took exception to Gerald McCoy's frustration over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers giving away his old number.Following his release and eventual signing with the Carolina Panthers, McCoy said the Bucs displayed a lack of respect by quickly giving his No. 93 jersey to newcomer Ndamukong Suh. Sapp, who won Super Bowl XXXVII with the Bucs, was critical of the former Tampa Bay defender's comments, claiming McCoy's resume isn't on par with past legends."The way I look at it, the thing that kind of threw me sideways was Gerald talking about now that this organization doesn't have a right (to give away his jersey), or it's business that they moved on," Sapp told PewterReport's "Pewter Nation Podcast." "You know ... they moved on. And then he wanted to say that Sapp, (Derrick) Brooks, Lee Roy (Selmon), (John) Lynch, Ronde (Barber), nobody wore their numbers. Last time I checked, those were Hall of Famers and champions. We didn't go to one playoff game with (McCoy) and not one damn divisional title, so, I think he owes some of those hundred million dollars back ... in that sense."If you're going to put it up against the badasses that run this bitch before you, you better put up some chips in this game because that's the way it is ... No Defensive Player of the Year, I mean that's what Brooks ... did and that's what Lee Roy Selmon is. Lynch got his name in two damn Ring of Honors. What am I missing here, Gerald? You're talking about something silly. Come on, man -stop. If you're mad, you're mad, but don't put it on the organization that the organization did it."Sapp, a Hall of Famer himself, added the Buccaneers had every right to give away McCoy's jersey after he left."Hey listen, we brought championships and divisional titles, and that's why that wall (on the Bucs' Ring of Honor) is marked up with our markings," Sapp said. "That's why nobody wears 55, 99, 47, 20, and 63 ... 40, the A-Train. Come on, man - fool - that's what that is. He's a nice guy - nice guys finish last. And that's why his jersey's getting worn (by Suh)."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Star tight end Travis Kelce has high expectations for the Kansas City Chiefs' offense in 2019, believing the speed of its top receivers will lead the team to success."(We can do) anything we want to do,'' Kelce said, according to ESPN's Adam Teicher. "You name it. We've got 4.2, 4.3, maybe 4.1. I don't know what Tyreek (Hill) runs now. Who knows? We've got guys that can absolutely fly all over the field. Speed kills in this game. If you've got it, you're in the advantage."We're taking it up a level (from) years past. You can just tell from the coaches' excitement to their attention to detail to how guys are reacting to their coaching. This team is going to be awesome. We're going to have a lot of fun on the offensive side of the ball.''The Kansas City quartet of Hill, Sammy Watkins, Demarcus Robinson, and rookie Mecole Hardman features dynamic speed that will likely result in matchup nightmares for opposing defenses."I can't, honestly," quarterback Patrick Mahomes said when asked if he could imagine a faster receiving corps. "We've got guys that can roll, guys that really stretch the field. It really makes my job a lot easier. We're able to stretch the field vertically and horizontally. You can either take the deep pass and throw it like that or throw it out in the flat and these guys can all take it 70 yards to the house."Adding Mecole and having Sammy back healthy this year is even going to help more. Defenses have to really pick and choose which matchups they want to take ... We look at the matchups and trust that the receivers are going to win."The Chiefs owned the league's third-ranked passing attack and No. 1 overall offense last season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On Tuesday, the NFL formed a social justice partnership with Roc Nation, an agency founded by rap mogul Jay-Z.Colin Kaepernick didn't appear to be part of the discussions and now reps from both sides are sparring over the timeline and extent to which he was briefed on the arrangement.Jay-Z claims he spoke with Kaepernick, but the former quarterback's lawyer denied that the meeting occurred before the partnership had been formed, according to TMZ Sports.A source from Roc Nation later clarified to TMZ it was made clear to Kaepernick that the partnership was set to be announced to the public, though it was a case of giving him a heads up rather than asking for approval.Jay-Z and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell spoke to about 30 media members at a meeting at Roc Nation's New York offices on Wednesday. The two were asked about what their working relationship means for the national anthem protests."I think that we forget that Colin's whole thing was to bring attention to social injustice, so in that case, this is a success - this is the next thing," Jay-Z said. "There are two parts of protest: the protest, and then there's a company or individual saying, 'I hear you, what do we do next?' For me, it's about actionable items, what are we gonna do about it?"Goodell said Kaepernick, who has been out of the league since opting out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers following the 2016 season, is free to sign with "any team."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo endured one of his worst-ever practices Wednesday, at one point committing five consecutive interceptions."He threw it to the wrong team five plays in a row," head coach Kyle Shanahan told Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. "I was a defensive coach today, so I was pumped. But, no, the defense did great today and obviously, he struggled."Garoppolo, who's been a full go at training camp following his recovery from a torn ACL, was competing against the Niners' defensive starters.Pick countDefenderINTsTarvarius Moore2Jaquiski Tartt1Richard Sherman1Ahkello Witherspoon1"You want so badly to make it up the next play, but the next play you've still got to make the right decisions and take what the defense gives you," Shanahan said of the five-pick stretch. "Sometimes it's hard to make the right decisions when you're fired up and competitive and usually when you make a bad play it makes your mind go a little bit sideways."So that's why it is sometimes a good situation to put guys in. When that does happen, sometimes you try to protect them a little bit in the game, but in practice, it's the exact opposite. When there's an issue, you kind of poke at it a little bit more to see how guys react."Ironically, Garoppolo finished practice with a touchdown pass. He ended the session 12 of 25 overall.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2019 Fantasy Football Draft Kit 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, Mike Tagliere of Fantasy Pros joins Boone to discuss how to approach running backs in this year's fantasy drafts, including which RBs will help lead you to a title.

If you're still reeling from last week's ugly start to the NFL preseason, good news: the starters are trickling in.We went 2-1 with our picks last week, including a Bills underdog win against the Colts' backups and an ugly under affair between Dallas and San Francisco. Week 2 means more play from the real pros, but there's still value in fading teams with unfavorable backups.New England Patriots (PK) at Tennessee Titans, total 40The week's biggest movement was by far on this game, which opened at Patriots -3 before bettors jumped on the Titans. A field goal may have been rich between two teams that both looked sharp in Week 1, but the Pats are too good a value to ignore as a pick 'em.New England is better than Tennessee at full strength - i.e. in the first quarter - so that alone give visitors the edge. Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill has struggled in joint practices versus the Patriots this week, which doesn't mean a whole lot other than that his reputation as an overqualified backup probably isn't worth betting on.Conversely, the Pats' second unit blew the doors off Detroit last week with a two-touchdown performance from breakout rookie Jakobi Meyers. Meyers is too unproven to earn starter's treatment in Week 2, so expect to see him and the rest of the Patriots' young offensive weapons play deep into Saturday's affair.Pick: Patriots PKSan Francisco 49ers at Denver Broncos (-3)The 49ers might as well pack it in for the rest of the preseason after the bloodbath that was last week's win over Dallas. At least seven players are recovering from injuries sustained in Saturday's victory, including two requiring surgery and one that could be a season-ender (tackle Shon Coleman).San Francisco's injury woes mean it'll have to dig even deeper down the depth chart as this game wears on. It could also scare head coach Kyle Shanahan out of risking any of his starters for more than a few series.This is much less about the Broncos - who will ride an improved performance from Drew Lock into Monday - and more about betting on risk prevention from the Niners.Pick: Broncos -3Dallas Cowboys (-2) at Los Angeles Rams (in Honolulu), total 41Preseason football in Hawaii? What sounds like a dream for NFL backups should also be a treat for under bettors, who have already bet the total down from 42.5 thanks to lackadaisical play from both teams.For a second straight year, the Rams are punting on the preseason and will likely rest all notable starters for the duration of Saturday's game. The Cowboys, meanwhile, have been punting on the preseason since Jason Garrett took over as head coach.The result should be an ugly slog, similar to what we saw from each of these teams when they combined for 12 points in their respective losses a week ago. Follow the money and bet the under here.Pick: Under 41Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Season-long player prop bets in the NFL market are cut from the same cloth as standard win totals: Instead of taking a stance game by game, you can wager on a full season's worth of production. There are soft numbers out there to capitalize on, especially if you're higher or lower on certain players.Here are five player props I'm dialing in on for the 2019 NFL season.Marcus Mariota Over 3,025.5 passing yards Mariota has not lived up to the hype. He's also been plagued by instability. Both things can be true.About to play for his fifth offensive coordinator in as many seasons, the Titans quarterback has experienced a steady drop-off since his best campaign in 2016. He threw for more interceptions than touchdowns the following year, and in 2018, he recorded a whopping 11 passing touchdowns.It's the same song and dance every season, but this time, the pieces should be there to prevent Mariota from flunking out. Corey Davis and Taywan Taylor are a year older, A.J. Brown should make an immediate impact (if his hamstring injury isn't significant), and the offensive line is a top-five unit by Pro Football Focus' standards.There's some concern that Mariota could end up in a backup role behind Ryan Tannehill, but I have a tough time believing the franchise will pull the plug. If Mariota stays even relatively healthy, this one's a banger.Ben Roethlisberger Under 4,459.5 passing yardsWhile I believe the Steelers are still a playoff-caliber AFC team, Roethlisberger desperately needs someone to step up. Based on the system and passing tendencies in Pittsburgh, there will be plenty of yards to go around - I'm just skeptical the skill corps can combine to surpass this number. JuJu Smith-Schuster is being thrust into the No. 1 role, James Washington and rookie Diontae Johnson will have more responsibility, and Donte Moncrief is a good-but-not-great receiver. The Steelers should have no trouble surpassing .500 as a team, but I'm unsure how Roethlisberger gets past this total.Joe Mixon Over 1,199.5 rushing yardsMixon was the AFC North's leading rusher last season with 1,168 yards and should take another step forward. Despite rushing with at least eight defenders in the box 16 percent of the time in 2018, he averaged 4.9 yards per carry. There's a common perception that the Bengals' passing game will blossom with head coach Zac Taylor coming over from Sean McVay's system, but the Rams were in the top 10 for rushing-play percentage a year ago. Given how often Cincinnati's receiving corps is banged-up, Mixon should get plenty of opportunities to build on his 2018 breakout.Sam Darnold Over 23.5 passing touchdownsDespite some growing pains as a rookie, Darnold threw 17 touchdown passes in 13 games last season. If he makes any sort of improvement, he should have no problem going over the number.Truthfully, the Jets' skill corps still needs some more polish - after Le'Veon Bell and Robby Anderson, Darnold's supporting cast is bleak. This might not be the year for a Darnold breakout. However, his production doesn't need to climb massively for him to hit this total, especially if he gets a full season under center.Nick Foles Over 12.5 interceptions Don't be surprised if Foles' fortunes turn in his first season with the Jaguars. Although he threw only four interceptions over a small sample size in 2018 with Philadelphia, he recorded seven interceptable passes and nine danger plays, according to PlayerProfiler.com. The year prior, he only registered a pair of picks despite five interceptable passes and 12 danger plays.That's probably because Philadelphia's skill corps bailed him out - Foles had a supporting cast efficiency rating of plus-1.75 last season with the Eagles. Meanwhile, Jacksonville's offense was minus-11.46 in the same category. With the drastic drop-off in the talent surrounding him, Foles' numbers might not look too pretty in 2019.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 @AlexKoIodziej.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.