Oakland Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown told team officials that he won't play football again unless he can wear his old helmet, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Brown reportedly filed a grievance against the NFL in an attempt to keep wearing his preferred helmet, a 10-year-old model which is now banned. The wideout had a two-hour conference call with league officials Friday in which he argued for wearing the old model, sources said.

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.Let's preface this by saying - don't overreact to the opening week of the preseason. Not only is it a small sample size, but it's also the first time these players are taking the field for NFL game action in seven or eight months.It's also worth mentioning a lot of starters sit out the first week of exhibition contests, so we should get a more complete picture of where everyone stands over the next couple of outings.That being said, there's still plenty of information to gather from these performances, especially when it comes to rookies.Rookie runners shineBryan M. Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettySeveral first-year running backs with intriguing fantasy outlooks took the field Thursday night and the results were overwhelmingly positive.Any concerns over David Montgomery's skills translating to the pros are well on the way to being put to rest. After a solid training camp, the Bears' third-round pick rushed three times for 16 yards against the Panthers, seven of which came on this touchdown run. He also caught all three of his targets for another 30 yards. More importantly, Montgomery is succeeding the same way he did in college with a patient yet powerful running style that features plenty of broken tackles. His involvement in the passing game is particularly notable since the team expressed interest in having a three-down back. Montgomery's ADP will likely rise into the third round, while Tarik Cohen's stock could be headed in the opposite direction.Miles Sanders' night wasn't nearly as eventful as he carried the ball just three times for three yards, but this wasn't a complete version of the Eagles' starting offense. The fact Sanders only saw a small amount of work before getting the rest of the night off is confirmation of his importance to the team moving forward. An early-season split with Jordan Howard will eventually lean in Sanders' favor as the season progresses.It may only be a matter of time before Devin Singletary emerges as the lead back in Buffalo, as well. Though his stats (12 touches for 48 yards) might not jump out of the box score, he showed shiftiness and versatility with three receptions, and Bills' beat writer Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic suggested the team might want to limit his workload in the preseason to keep him fresh for when the games matter. Rumors that LeSean McCoy might not be with the Bills come Week 1 seem more realistic after tonight. After all, 36-year-old Frank Gore is already the perfect role model/running mate for Singletary, who's ADP is about to bump up a couple of rounds.Justice Hill of the Ravens is another example of why you have to watch preseason games and not just stare at stat lines the next morning. Hill's 10 carries for 33 yards and two catches for 16 yards don't look that impressive. However, highlights like this 14-yard reception on third-and-3, where he made multiple defenders miss, provide more context. Hill should settle in as the Ravens' change-of-pace complement to Mark Ingram, a role that will be fantasy-friendly in Baltimore's run-heavy attack.We'll get our first look at two other top rookie backs - Josh Jacobs and Darrell Henderson - when the Raiders host the Rams on Saturday.Mayfield, Murray in midseason formKirk Irwin / Getty Images Sport / GettyFormer Oklahoma quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray have a chance to be difference-making fantasy assets in 2019 as they attempt to rejuvenate a pair of organizations that have been searching for answers at quarterback for some time.If the one series Mayfield played on Thursday is any indication, the Browns' offense is going to be lethal. Even with Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry on the sidelines, Mayfield orchestrated a seven-play, 89-yard drive to open the game, capped off by a 24-yard touchdown strike to Rishard Higgins. Cleveland's long-awaited franchise quarterback went 5 of 6 for 77 yards and the score.Mayfield was aided by Nick Chubb, who was responsible for a 12-yard run and a 14-yard catch on that same drive. Some people may not have realized it until the Duke Johnson trade occurred, but Chubb is a capable pass-catcher and a soon-to-be superstar. He's a first-round fantasy talent available at a second-round price tag.Mayfield wasn't the only quarterback slinging it on Thursday. Murray looked the part of a poised veteran passer for the Cardinals, despite this being his NFL preseason debut. It was only one series, but he completed 6 of 7 passes for 44 yards and showcased elite accuracy, which sets him apart from other dual-threat quarterbacks. His seventh attempt was completed, only after the receiver had already stepped out of bounds.We even caught a glimpse of some of Kliff Kingsbury's trickery as Murray executed a run-pass option that finished with a pass out wide to Larry Fitzgerald. The play was ultimately a failure, but it's a sign of the fun wrinkles to come in this revamped offense.Mayfield will be a top-five fantasy quarterback and Murray has a chance to crack the top 10 even as a rookie.Instant impressions

Rookie Daniel Jones starred in his preseason debut, but New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur said the performance won't impact his quarterback decision for Week 1 of the regular season."Listen, we're not going to play the what-ifs," Shurmur told reporters Friday, via SNY's Ralph Vacchiano. "I would say this: Nothing has changed. This was the first game. I expect Daniel to play well and go out and improve."The Giants haven't officially named veteran Eli Manning their Week 1 starter, but reports before training camp suggested they would go that route.Manning completed the only pass he threw against the New York Jets on Thursday, before Jones relieved him and hit on all five of his throws for 67 yards and a touchdown to Bennie Fowler through tight coverage.

The calf injury that was once considered minor will keep Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck out of practice for another three days and possibly longer."He's continuing to progress with his strength, which is awesome, but there still is a degree of pain that he's not comfortable with," head coach Frank Reich told reporters Friday, according to Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan.Luck strained his calf in May. At the time, it was described by Reich as "just a little tweak; little strain." However, the Pro Bowl pivot missed all of minicamp because of the injury and hasn't participated in any of the last seven practices at training camp.He went through a similar ordeal two years ago with a shoulder injury that was initially thought to be minor but wound up sidelining him for the entire campaign. Luck then returned last season and led Indianapolis back to the playoffs, winning NFL Comeback Player of the Year in the process."We remain confident and optimistic on Andrew's situation," Reich added when asked about Luck's status for the season opener on Sept. 8. "But again, it's still day-to-day and working through that plan and what's the best plan for him, for the team."The Colts have a scheduled day off Tuesday, which is when Luck is next expected to be re-evaluated.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Antonio Callaway will serve a four-game suspension to begin the regular season for violating the NFL's policy on substance abuse."I take full responsibility for my actions," Callaway said in a statement through the team. "I made a mistake and I own that. I have taken steps to make myself better and I appreciate the Browns standing by me and supporting me during this time. I know there's nothing I can say to regain trust; it will all be about my actions."Callaway was battling Rashard Higgins in training camp for the No. 3 receiver spot behind Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry. The second-year wideout flashed talent throughout his rookie season and finished the campaign with 43 catches for 586 yards and five touchdowns.Callaway, though, was considered a major character risk when the Browns drafted him in the fourth round last year. He was then arrested that summer for driving with a suspended license and possession of marijuana."We're disappointed in Antonio," Browns general manager John Dorsey said Friday."(Head coach) Freddie (Kitchens) and I have had a direct conversation with him about where we stand. He understands our expectations of him. We will continue to support him as long as he remains committed to taking advantage of the resources made available to him by our club and the league to help him become the best version of himself as a person first and foremost."Callaway remains eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games. He'll return to the active roster in Week 5 before the Browns face the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.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, Boone provides some early takeaways from Thursday's 11-game preseason slate and then answers your mailbag questions.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Kenny Stills said he doesn't regret criticizing team owner Stephen Ross for offering to host a fundraiser for President Donald Trump while also running a foundation that pledges to fight for equality."Someone has to have enough courage to let him know he can't play both sides of this," Stills said Thursday after the Dolphins' preseason opener, according to ESPN's Cameron Wolfe."It's something that I can look back on and say I made the right decision. Maybe I shouldn't have done it on social media, but I did. If you're going to associate yourself with bad people, then people are going to know about it. I put it out there for everybody to see it. If you say you're going to be about something, let's be about it."Stills, one of the more active players in the NFL when it comes to social action, tweeted his feelings about the location of the fundraiser Wednesday. He posted a screenshot of Ross' non-profit website, which says it pushes for equality in athletic spaces."The tweet doesn't, like, put me against Mr. Ross," Stills added. "I don't have any hard feelings toward him. There's no, like, beef. It's just like, 'Hey, these two things don't align. And maybe somebody else hasn't told you, but I'm letting you know.' It's important to me that the work that we're doing isn't just lip service. It's real. Everything that I do has been real from the very beginning. And it's going to be that way."Stills said he's received five-to-10 death threats since posting the tweet. He also dealt with death threats while protesting police brutality and racial inequality during the national anthem before games in the past.Ross defended his offer to host the Trump event in wake of the criticism, saying he's known the president for 40 years and doesn't agree with his stance on every issue.Trump verbally attacked players like Stills when they began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 and implored team owners to release players who did so.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageThe NFL's Oakland Raiders are in the final stages of moving their franchise to Las Vegas, and on their way out the door, team owner Mark Davis had some choice words regarding his fellow Coliseum tenant, the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball."Unfortunately, there's a problem there," Davis told Vincent Bonsignore of The Athletic about the A's current deal to stay at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, or in Oakland at all. "As far as the players and everybody, we love the A's. We seriously do. But the front office has been real pricks."They’ve been really fucking around with us up there, taking advantage of the situation."The Raiders' lease at the Coliseum officially expired following the 2018-19 season, prompting the Athletics to begin baseball-friendly renovations on the stadium despite the fact the Silver and Black were without a home. Prior to the 2019 MLB campaign, A's chief operating officer Chris Giles announced new premium seating, lounges, and theater boxes would be added.After an attempt to play their final season in Oakland at Oracle Park - the permanent home of the San Francisco Giants - fell through, the Raiders were forced to sign a one-year lease to remain at the Coliseum.Alameda County is currently finalizing an agreement that would sell their share of the Coliseum to the Athletics, according to Ali Tadayon of The East Bay Times. However, Oakland City Council members have called on the county to reconsider the agreement, and sell to the city instead, which would give Oakland a 100-percent stake in the Coliseum.Another recent proposal has suggested that the Athletics would move to a brand new ballpark built on the Howard Terminal waterfront in the Jack London Square neighborhood, 6 miles north of their current home, in a privately financed stadium."They're totally fucking dysfunctional," Davis added. "It's that fucking bad over there."When asked for comment later on the topic, Davis walked back his criticisms to some degree."I am not sorry for the things I said," the Raiders owner told ESPN's Paul Gutierrez. "But I am sorry for the way I said them."The Raiders will spend one final season as co-tenants with the Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum before moving to Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev. so long as construction is completed prior to 2020 kickoff.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera iced opposing kicker Elliott Fry during Thursday's preseason opener to help the Chicago Bears evaluate their ongoing position battle."You know what is funny, I did that to help the Bears because they are in a kicking contest," Rivera said postgame, according to ESPN's Jeff Dickerson.The 57-year-old spent his entire nine-year playing career with the Bears and later served as their defensive coordinator from 2004-06.Fry made a 43-yard field goal after the unexpected timeout. It was the same distance from which Cody Parkey missed in last season's playoffs, leading to his release.The Bears have spent the offseason working out kickers and simulating high-pressure situations in practice."No, it wasn't planned, but I'm kind of glad he did it," Bears head coach Matt Nagy said.Fry didn't attempt another field goal the rest of the game. Eddy Pineiro went 1-for-2, making from 23 yards away and missing from 48 yards out.Carolina won the game 23-13 at Chicago's Soldier Field.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.Mock Drafts

Wide receiver Keke Coutee was forced to exit the Houston Texans' preseason opener versus the Green Bay Packers due to injury.Houston has yet to announce an official diagnosis, but NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Coutee hurt his ankle and that the injury isn't considered major.Coutee rolled up under a Packers defender while being tackled. He was helped off the field by trainers, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, and later carted to the locker room.

Oakland Raiders guard Gabe Jackson will be out of action for roughly eight weeks after injuring his left MCL in Thursday's practice, sources told Vic Tafur of The Athletic.Jackson rolled up under a teammate during a training camp session and had to be carted off the field.The injury is a major blow to Oakland's offense and pass protection. A third-round pick in 2014, the 28-year-old quickly developed into one of the league's top interior linemen.Denver Kirkland and Jordan Devey are expected to compete for the starting right guard spot in Jackson's absence.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jermaine Kearse sustained a broken leg during Thursday's preseason game against the New England Patriots, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Kearse, who also apparently injured his ankle, was carted off after having an air cast applied to his leg.The eight-year veteran was attempting to hold a block on just the fifth play of the game when a Patriots defender rolled into the back of his left leg.

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, will miss all four exhibition games because of the sprained ankle he suffered Wednesday at practice."We won't see (him) in the preseason and we'll go from there," general manager John Lynch told Matt Maiocco of KNBR-680 on Thursday. " ... We'll get him right and he'll be a great player for a long time in this league."Bosa was one of three notable 49ers to go down in Wednesday's session, joining cornerback Jason Verrett and wide receiver Marquise Goodwin.Lynch described Bosa's injury as "significant," according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN, adding it includes elements of a high-ankle sprain but isn't full-blown.Head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed later Thursday that Verrett also suffered a significant ankle injury and will be on the same timeline as his rookie teammate, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The defensive back will miss the entire preseason with the hope he can return for Week 1.Bosa tore an ACL in high school and missed several games at Ohio State last year because of a core muscle injury.San Francisco is counting on Bosa and offseason acquisition Dee Ford to ignite a defense that ranked 22nd in total sacks and 28th in points per game last season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Robert Quinn was suspended two games for violating the NFL's performing enhancing drug policy, his agent, Sean Kiernan, announced Thursday.Kiernan said Quinn failed a test due to a masking agent called probenecid and claimed it got into the pass-rusher's system through tainted medication that he was taking for seizures.

New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold is determined to keep things competitive between himself and Tom Brady, even if it means not sending a birthday wish to his rival.While shooting a commercial in July, Darnold was asked if he'd be willing to join other NFL players in a video wishing Brady a happy 42nd birthday. His response, according to Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson, was "No.""I'm going to get every competitive edge I can, because he's going to do the same thing," Darnold said this week. "He's the ultimate competitor. He's exactly where I want to be when I’m his age. To chase that, I can't be giving him anything."Darnold felt that by participating in the video, he would've been giving something to the New England Patriots quarterback."For sure," Darnold said. "If I see him after a game, I'll tell him good game and all that stuff. But I don't want to give him anything. Especially to him. No."The Jets and Patriots will meet in Week 3 of the regular season on Sept. 22 and again in Week 7.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs are signing veteran cornerback Mo Claiborne to a one-year contract worth $3 million, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The value of the contract was initially reported by Rapoport to be $1.5 million.Claiborne was previously handed a four-game suspension to begin the season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.Claiborne spent the last two years with the New York Jets. He broke into the league as the sixth overall pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2012.In 15 contests a season ago, Claiborne registered 57 tackles and two interceptions, returning one of the picks for the first defensive touchdown of his career.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien worked directly with the Cleveland Browns to execute the trade for running back Duke Johnson, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, citing sources.The Texans don't have a general manager and reportedly tabbed four members of the front office to split relevant duties.O'Brien, however, was apparently the one on the phone with Browns general manager John Dorsey. The Texans acquired Johnson for a fourth-round pick that will turn into a third-rounder if he is active for 10 games, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.The power structure in Houston has long been a talking point, with nobody outside the organization totally sure of how much influence O'Brien holds in football operations.Houston fired its previous general manager, Brian Gaine, in June after just one season. The Texans then tried to hire Nick Caserio from the New England Patriots, but dropped their pursuit after the Patriots filed tampering charges with the NFL.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Todd Gurley has scored the most touchdowns in the NFL in each of the last two seasons. Can Gurley do it again in 2019? Oddsmakers believe so. He opened as the 13-2 favorite to lead the NFL in touchdowns scored for the third year in a row.Betting on which player will score the most touchdowns can sometimes offer gamblers value. Since quarterbacks aren't eligible, it comes down to running backs, receivers, and tight ends. In 2015, receivers Doug Baldwin, Allen Robinson, and Brandon Marshall tied Devonta Freeman for the league lead with 14 touchdowns. It was the first time since 2008 that a running back didn't sit alone atop the touchdowns scored leaderboard at the end of the season.With running backs dominating the category, it's not surprising the receivers with the shortest odds are the Houston Texans' DeAndre Hopkins and the Green Bay Packers' Davante Adams, both at 28-1. The tight end with the shortest odds is Travis Kelce at 40-1. Don't waste your money on Kelce. Dating back to 1960, no tight end has led the NFL in touchdowns scored.Here are the odds, best bets, and a long shot to lead the NFL in touchdowns scored this season:PlayerPositionOddsTodd GurleyRB13-2Alvin KamaraRB7-1Saquon BarkleyRB7-1Ezekiel ElliottRB10-1Christian McCaffreyRB14-1Melvin GordonRB14-1David JohnsonRB16-1James ConnerRB16-1Le'Veon BellRB16-1Devonta FreemanRB20-1Derrick HenryRB25-1Nick ChubbRB25-1DeAndre HopkinsWR28-1Davante AdamsWR28-1Aaron JonesRB28-1Joe MixonRB28-1Leonard FournetteRB28-1Tyreek HillWR28-1Antonio BrownWR33-1Mike EvansWR33-1Sony MichelRB33-1Chris CarsonRB40-1Dalvin CookRB40-1Damien WilliamsRB40-1Julio JonesWR40-1Odell Beckham Jr.WR40-1Michael ThomasWR40-1Marlon MackRB40-1Phillip LindsayRB40-1Travis KelceTE40-1Best BetsSaquon Barkley, RB Giants (7-1)Barkley scored 15 touchdowns on 352 touches as a rookie. It's hard to fathom, but with question marks at quarterback and little depth behind Barkley, he could see an even bigger workload this season.The only area Barkley needs to improve in to be a serious threat to score the most touchdowns is red-zone production. He ranked third in the NFL last year with 50 red-zone carries but converted just seven of them into scores.Barkley will rank near the top of the NFL again in both total touches and red-zone carries, so he's a great bet at 7-1 to lead the NFL in touchdowns scored.David Johnson, RB Cardinals (14-1)Johnson led the NFL in touchdowns scored two years ago with 20. He was injured in 2017 but had 10 scores last season despite playing on the NFL's worst offense. With Kliff Kingsbury taking over as head coach, Arizona should have the NFL's most improved offense, giving Johnson even more scoring opportunities.One area in particular where the fifth-year rusher was let down by his team's porous offense was in the red zone. Johnson led the league with a whopping 74.4 percent of his team's carries inside the red zone yet only received 29 red-zone carries. Leading the NFL in touchdowns scored is all about opportunity and the opportunities simply weren't there for Johnson last season.Johnson is still the same elite running back he was two years ago. Now with an offensive-minded head coach, Johnson will once again rank near the top of the list in touchdowns scored. At 14-1, he's the best bet on the board.Long shotOdell Beckham Jr., WR Browns (40-1)The best value play to lead the NFL in touchdowns scored is easily OBJ at 40-1. Beckham's odds are the same as Kelce's, a tight end with virtually no chance to win the award.Beckham scored only nine touchdowns over the last two seasons due to injuries and poor quarterback play. He recorded 12, 13, and 10 touchdowns in his first three seasons. He also dominated in the red zone, seeing 69 targets inside the 20 from 2014 to 2016.Now, OBJ gets a big upgrade at quarterback, going from the aging Eli Manning to budding superstar Baker Mayfield. With Beckham healthy and motivated, he's a strong candidate to lead the NFL in receiving scores, putting him in contention to cash the total touchdowns prop at 40-1.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey identified the Tennessee Titans and the soon-to-be Las Vegas Raiders as ideal landing spots if he leaves the Jacksonville Jaguars as a free agent in the future."It'll probably be either here or Vegas," he said on the "Bussin' With The Boys" podcast, which is hosted by Taylor Lewan of the Titans and former Titan Will Compton."I like Vegas - ain't got no state income tax. I mean, here don't either. ... If we was making a move."Ramsey, who also noted in the podcast that Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota was his grandmother's favorite player, is on track to hit the open market after the 2020 season. The 24-year-old was born and raised in Tennessee.The Jaguars have already told their eccentric defender that he won't be offered a contract extension this year. Ramsey responded by declaring that he won't give the Jaguars a home-team discount in future negotiations.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns traded disgruntled running back Duke Johnson to the Houston Texans for an undisclosed draft pick in 2020, the team announced Thursday.The compensation will begin as a fourth-round pick but conditions could escalate it to a third-round selection, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Johnson asked for a trade months ago after the Browns signed Kareem Hunt to join him and Nick Chubb in their backfield. Cleveland insisted throughout the offseason that Johnson would be a major part of its offense, especially with Hunt suspended for the first eight games of the season.In Houston, Johnson figures to slide into the primary backup role behind Lamar Miller. The Texans recently cut 2017 third-round pick D'Onta Foreman, who appeared to be in line for that job.Johnson has been one of the most reliable pass-catching running backs since entering the league as a third-round pick of the Browns out of Miami.Duke Johnson's receiving statsYearRECYDSTDs2015615342201653514020177469332018474293The 25-year-old is entering the first season of a three-year, $15.61-million contract, which he signed as an extension with the Browns in June 2018.Cleveland, meanwhile, is now equipped with 10 picks in the 2020 draft.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins signed defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche, a former first-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals, and placed him on the active/physically unable to perform list, the club announced.Nkemdiche was cut by Arizona after showing up to training camp out of shape. The Ole Miss product was a disappointment in his three seasons with the Cardinals, though he did manage 4.5 sacks last year.The 24-year-old is recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in December.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jalen Ramsey was ruthless when it came to trying to get into his opponents' heads in college.On the latest episode of the "Bussin' With The Boys" podcast with Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan and free-agent linebacker Will Compton, the Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback revealed that when he was at Florida State, he would slide into the DMs of opposing receivers' girlfriends before games."I was grimy. Like, super grimy, I didn't care. I would talk about your girlfriend, whatever," Ramsey said. "Say I was playing a big receiver, at whatever school, I would look up his Instagram, see his girlfriend whatever, boom ... before the game, I would probably slide in her DMs. You know, we get to the game, he probably know about it ... either he know about it or he don't, but, either way, I'm bringing it up in the game. Like, 'Yeah, you know, I slid in, first-name basis, DMs.'"Ramsey added that he ditched that intimidation tactic once he got to the NFL."I'll say when I got to the league, though, I stopped that, because now people got wives and stuff. I ain't talking about nobody's wives," he said. "Somebody get shot over talking about somebody's wives."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Canada apparently isn't pumped about the NFL's impending return.The Oakland Raiders are set to face the Green Bay Packers in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in Week 3 of the preseason, but ticket sales for the Aug. 22 game have been slow.At the current rate, the 33,000-seat home of the Canadian Football League's Blue Bombers will barely exceed a quarter of its capacity for the matchup.

San Francisco 49ers first-round draft pick Nick Bosa sprained his ankle at practice Wednesday, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.The No. 2 overall selection in this year's draft left practice with an ankle injury, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. Bosa later underwent an MRI, which confirmed the sprained ankle diagnosis.Also injured during the session were corner Jason Verrett and receiver Marquise Goodwin. Verrett suffered a minor ankle sprain, according to Rapoport. Goodwin later returned to practice.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Two NFL teams will step up with financial assistance following the shootings in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas on the weekend.The Cincinnati Bengals announced on Wednesday that, along with the NFL Foundation, they will donate $75,000 to the Dayton Oregon District Tragedy Fund to help those impacted by the shooting on Sunday which resulted in the deaths of nine people and left another 27 injured."Dayton is part of our community and we are saddened by the tragic events that took place this weekend," Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn said in a release.The Dallas Cowboys also announced on Wednesday a $50,000 commitment to the El Paso Community Foundation Victims' Fund. Twenty-two people were killed and more than 24 injured in a shooting in El Paso on Saturday."Our hearts and support are with the entire El Paso community and especially with the families of the victims of this very tragic event," Cowboys executive Charlotte Jones Anderson said in a statement.The Houston Texans also stepped up with a $100,000 donation to the El Paso Victims' Fund.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2019 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.No fantasy manager's draft plan should rigidly classify any player as a "must-own," but it's wise to enter yours with a shortlist of names to target. Below are seven players we believe will be key to winning a fantasy title this season.You shouldn't expect to get them all - that's probably impossible - but if you build your draft around selecting at least a few players on this list, you'll greatly increase your odds of achieving fantasy glory this season.Average draft position (ADP) data courtesy of Fantasy Football Calculator and is based on 12-team leagues with PPR scoring.More from this series

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Kenny Stills called out team owner Stephen Ross on Wednesday for reportedly hosting a fundraiser for President Donald Trump's re-election campaign.Ross apparently will host the event at his home in the Hamptons on Friday, according to Michelle Ye Hee Lee of The Washington Post.Stills responded to the article by tweeting out a screenshot of the mission statement of Ross' non-profit, "Ross Initiative in Sports and Equality."

As speculation grows over Antonio Brown's injured feet, the wide receiver's absence from Oakland Raiders training camp appears to be linked to a unique mishap.Brown reportedly suffered a number of blisters on his feet after entering a cryogenic chamber without proper footwear, team sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The incident occurred in France before training camp began, ESPN's Paul Gutierrez added.The information corroborates a report on Tuesday from Chris Simms of Pro Football Talk.Brown remains day-to-day, Rapoport added, and it is unclear when he'll be given the green light to return to practice.The veteran wideout has now missed a significant portion of his first training camp with the Raiders. He began on the non-football injury list with what was first reported to be sore feet.The four-time first-team All-Pro posted a picture on Instagram following a practice last week of his feet covered in blisters, but later deleted the post.Oakland head coach Jon Gruden said he was "disappointed" in Brown's absence early in camp as his team prepares for the 2019 campaign.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns are good, the Pittsburgh Steelers are in transition, and Marvin Lewis is not the coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. What's going on in the AFC North?Arguably no division saw bigger turnover in the offseason than this one, with Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell leaving town and Odell Beckham Jr. joining the mix in Cleveland. The AFC North is one of just two divisions with a plus-money favorite (NFC North), and while bettors are fading the Browns as division winners, they're pounding them as Super Bowl contenders.Here are the best bets, value plays, and picks to avoid in the AFC North for 2019.(Over prices in parentheses)TEAMWIN TOTALAFC NORTH ODDSSUPER BOWL ODDSBrowns9 (Even)7-520-1Steelers9 (-120)7-520-1Ravens8.5 (+120)7-240-1Bengals6 (+110)20-1100-1Odds courtesy of the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBookBest betSteelers under 9 wins (Even)Pittsburgh won nine games last year, then lost the core of what made the team so dangerous the past few seasons. However, bettors are still riding the over on the Steelers' win total and betting them to a tie atop the division at 7-5 odds.Brown and Bell are gone, and even the biggest fans of JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Conner can acknowledge the downgrade for a team that's relied on offensive firepower for years. The defense was average across the board last season, with a near-worst special teams unit. Is there any reason to expect improvement in 2019?Ben Roethlisberger led the league with a career-high 5,129 passing yards last year but owned a virtually identical touchdown and interception rate from his 2017 season, so it's hard to expect growth for the 37-year-old quarterback.Better chemistry is really the only selling point for improvement, and that's not enough to replace two All-Pro offensive talents and fix a leaky defense.Value playRavens to make playoffs (+170)Baltimore won the division last season despite cobbling together a new offense halfway through the year to fit its rookie quarterback. Yet they're 2-1 to miss the playoffs entirely in 2019.This defense has some work to do after losing C.J. Mosley, Za'Darius Smith, Terrell Suggs, Brent Urban, and Eric Weddle this offseason. But Baltimore's dominant run on defense has often relied on savvy play-calling and creative blitz packages up front. Evidently, not much will change for defensive coordinator Wink Martindale thanks to secondary stalwarts Marlon Humphrey, Jimmy Smith, and new addition Earl Thomas on the back end.That's to say nothing of an offense that overwhelmed teams last year with historic rushing numbers and added two-time Pro Bowler Mark Ingram this summer. A full offseason should do wonders for offensive coordinator Greg Roman and second-year quarterback Lamar Jackson in a wide-open AFC North.The Ravens open 2019 with two cupcakes (Miami, Arizona) and end the year against five straight non-playoff teams from 2018. It's a risk, but there's real value here and on Baltimore's lengthy division odds.Bet to avoidAnything on the BrownsLet's be honest here, we have no idea what's going to happen in Cleveland this year. Improvement feels imminent from last season's 7-8-1 record - especially after acquiring arguably the most talented receiver in football - but it's dangerous placing too much stock in a young team.Baker Mayfield may be a future star, but he also ranked 22nd in quarterback rating (55.7) in his 14-game debut and showed his youth with high INTs (14) and a low completion percentage (63.8). The defense, littered with young stars, ranked 27th in Pro Football Focus' team grades in 2018, and Cleveland's special teams unit was 30th.It's also foolish to chase the market, which has already pummeled the Browns' odds into the ground to win the Super Bowl (20-1) and AFC (8-1). If you think Year 2 is the time to bet on Cleveland's storybook season, all the power to you. It's smarter to wait.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.In an effort to save you from the frustration that comes with a disappointing fantasy pick, here are this year's top bust candidates.Average draft position (ADP) data courtesy of Fantasy Football Calculator and is based on 12-team leagues with PPR scoring.More from this series

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2019 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Gambling with your fantasy picks can be stressful, but it can also be exhilarating. If you're willing to take some chances, here are the players who could deliver league-winning performances in 2019 - as long as they don't sink your team first.Average draft position (ADP) data courtesy of Fantasy Football Calculator and is based on 12-team leagues with PPR scoring.More from this series

Ezekiel Elliott's holdout has no end in sight, and he doesn't appear to be engaging in consistent discussions with the Dallas Cowboys.Cowboys executive vice president and COO Stephen Jones revealed the team hasn't frequently discussed a new contract with the disgruntled running back's representatives."Very rarely (are we speaking to Elliott's camp)," Jones said on "The Rich Eisen Show" on Wednesday. "There's this perception out there about negotiations that there's these ongoing talks and they go on hours at a time; that's just not the case. You kind of set the boundaries of where you think (the contract) should be, and certainly, they're all represented by very sharp people, and they're trying to do the best for their client."But at the end of the day this is a distribution dilemma for us," he continued. "The money is gonna go out the door. It's going to be spent across the board with our team. It's just (owner) Jerry (Jones) and I's job to decide how to divide the pie. Everybody wants their share."Elliott reportedly wants to top Todd Gurley's position-leading annual salary of $14.38 million. The tailback reportedly told Dallas he doesn't intend to play in 2019 without a new deal.Despite Elliott's holdout looming over the Cowboys, Jones claims it hasn't been a distraction for the club during training camp."Not at all. It's just not a factor with our coaches and our players," he said. "I know it's certainly something the media likes to have something that they can write about. I know our fans are interested, in terms of when this thing might come to a conclusion, but it's certainly zero focus as far as our players, our coaches, and our organization."Owner Jerry Jones previously expressed confidence that a deal with his star back will be completed, but also stated he doesn't believe there's a deadline for reaching an agreement. Stephen, however, reiterated that the Cowboys still expected Elliott to report to camp."We expect all players that have a contract to show up," Jones said. "Obviously he didn't. There's rules that pertain to these type of things and we certainly have to respect that. Zeke's been a great football player for us. He's a warrior on the field and we've got great respect for him. We just want to get a resolution at some point."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The AFC East may not be all that fun, but it's damn sure consistent.As parity strikes across the league and the balance of power routinely shifts in multiple divisions, the AFC East has long been ruled by the New England Patriots, who've taken home 10 straight divisional crowns and 15 of the last 16. The only thing at stake for the rest of the division is to see who can close the gap with New England. But for now, the defending champs once again reign supreme.Here, we dive into the best bets, value plays, and picks to avoid for the AFC East in 2019.(Over prices in parentheses)TeamWin TotalAFC East Odds Super Bowl OddsPatriots11 (-140)1-56-1Jets7.5 (-125)5-1100-1Bills7 (-125)10-1100-1Dolphins4.5 (-130)60-1500-1Best betDolphins under 4.5 wins (+110)The Dolphins put up arguably the flukiest 7-9 season in 2018. Miami was -114 in overall point differential, won every single game by eight points or fewer, and was an expected 4.5-win team despite playing a middle-of-the-pack schedule. Now the 'Fins break in a new head coach, as well as a quarterback who'll turn 37 in November.Their strength of schedule is again right in the middle, but if we use their opponents' projected 2019 win totals instead of their winning percentages from last season, the Dolphins will face the seventh-toughest slate this season. Miami will get a couple wins it shouldn't - that's just the nature of the NFL. But even with a slim margin for error on such a short number, I don't think the Dolphins have enough talent on their roster to win five games.Best value playPatriots to win the AFC East (1-5)The term "value" often gets misconstrued. I can hear it now: How in the world is a -500 favorite to win the division a value play?Because I don't see a scenario in which three teams with 100-1 or better odds to win the Super Bowl will finish with a better record than the champs.There's been a lot of talk about the Bills and Jets' improvements, but it feels more like Patriots fatigue than a belief that a pair of struggling franchises can hold a candle to New England's experience and coaching.Somehow, the Pats still feel short in this market.Bet to avoidBills over 7 wins (-125)Bettors have been drinking some Bills juice this offseason. We assume every quarterback will take a massive step in Year 2, but Josh Allen's running ability masked some flaws last season, as he completed only 52.8 percent of his passes and registered more picks than touchdowns.Buffalo's defense only has one way to go - down - and the offense attempted to patch up a dismal skill corps with a couple of average receivers. Some expect a huge leap for the Bills, but we might actually see a regression from last year's six-win club.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.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2019 Fantasy Football Draft Kit and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Considering the amount of in-depth NFL coverage available, a true fantasy sleeper can be difficult to find. But in this exercise, we aim to identify players who should be available in the late rounds, yet could still emerge as significant assets.Average draft position (ADP) data courtesy of Fantasy Football Calculator and is based on 12-team leagues with PPR scoring.More from this series

A month after losing part of his left arm in a car accident, former Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Kendrick Norton is offering a glimpse into his life as a new amputee as part of a YouTube series.A video posted Tuesday on Norton and his girlfriend Kira's channel shows the 22-year-old cleaning his amputated arm and discussing how he's been coping in the aftermath of the accident. Norton explains that he's staying strong and tells his supporters not to worry about him "too much."Norton ends the video with an inspirational message to fellow amputees."Don't let nobody determine how you feel about yourself," he says. "That's word to the wise for everybody."Norton underwent six surgeries before being released from the hospital in July. He has since been placed on the Dolphins' reserve/non-football injury list.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The AFC South sent two teams to the playoffs last year in the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans. Going by the numbers, oddsmakers expect it to be the NFL's most competitive division in 2019, but one team is getting a lot of love from bettors.The Colts are one of the most popular teams with futures bettors this summer. Indianapolis' Super Bowl odds have moved from 20-1 to 14-1, while the Colts' win total opened at nine and is up to 10 at most sportsbooks.However, a strong argument can be made for any of the four teams winning the division, presenting bettors with value outside of the favorite.Here are the best bets, value plays, and picks to avoid in the AFC South for 2019.(Over prices listed in parentheses)Team Win Total AFC South Odds Super Bowl OddsColts10 (+130)5-714-1Texans8.5 (+140)4-140-1Jaguars8 (+110)5-150-1Titans8 (+120)6-1100-1(Odds courtesy: Westgate LV SuperBook)Best betJaguars over 8 wins (+110)Nothing went right for the Jaguars in 2018. Thanks to injuries, in-house bickering, and poor quarterback play, Jacksonville went 5-11 one year after the team appeared in the AFC Championship Game.But it's a new season and the Jaguars have a new quarterback in Nick Foles. Whatever you think of Jacksonville giving Foles $88 million, he's a huge upgrade over the departed Blake Bortles. While Jacksonville will always be a physical, run-first offense under Doug Marrone, Foles brings some balance, as his presence will prevent defenses from loading the box to stop Leonard Fournette and Co.The addition of Foles will also benefit the defense. The Jaguars finished fifth in total defense last season but allowed 20-plus points 10 times. Some of that was due to the offense turning the ball over and putting the defense in bad situations. Again, whatever you think of Foles, he's not a turnover machine like Bortles.The Jaguars are a prime candidate to improve their win total from last season. Jacksonville has a talented roster and Marrone is an underrated coach. With one of the league's top defenses and an improved offense, the Jaguars will go over eight wins and compete for a division title.Value playTitans to win Super Bowl (100-1)Betting the futures market comes down to value. For instance, most experienced gamblers bet on multiple teams to win the Super Bowl, not just one. They look for teams that offer the most value, like the Chiefs last year at 30-1.If you want to take a long shot to win the Super Bowl this season, look no further than the Titans. Oddsmakers set Tennessee's win total at eight - the same as Jacksonville and a half-game lower than Houston. The Titans have the longest odds to win the AFC South at a respectable 6-1, just below the Texans (4-1) and Jaguars (5-1). However, when it comes to winning the Super Bowl, oddsmakers made Houston 40-1, Jacksonville 50-1, and Tennessee 100-1. The Titans offer by far the best value on the board and one of the top value plays in the NFL futures market.It shouldn't shock many people if Tennessee does win the Lombardi Trophy coming off back-to-back nine-win seasons in a competitive division. To put it in perspective, the Titans have the same odds to win the Super Bowl as the Buccaneers, Cardinals, and Bengals. Tampa Bay is 12-1 to win the NFC South, however, while Arizona and Cincinnati are both 20-1 to win their respective divisions.And hey, you never know: The Eagles opened 70-1 to win the Super Bowl in 2017 and cashed.Bet to avoidColts to win AFC South (5-7)Again, this bet comes down to value. Even if you love the Colts this year, there's no reason to lay -140 on them to win the division. They're an Andrew Luck injury away from finishing .500 and, based on the odds, the AFC South has three more teams that can realistically win the division and make the playoffs. Why take such a short favorite?If you're high on the Colts, there are smarter ways to invest. Consider taking the Colts at 6-1 to win the AFC, 14-1 to win the Super Bowl, or Andrew Luck at 12-1 to win MVP. The payoffs are much higher and, if the Colts do win the AFC South, those bets all have an opportunity to cash.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Although Jimmy Graham was touted as the final piece of the puzzle for the Green Bay Packers' offense, the star tight end fell far short of expectations in his first season with the team.The former Pro Bowler produced 636 yards and just two touchdowns on 55 catches with Green Bay after signing a three-year, $30-million deal to become the NFL's highest-paid tight end.However, with a new system in place following the arrival of head coach Matt LaFleur, Graham is motivated to prove he's still among the best at his position."When I get those opportunities, I have to show him that I'm the biggest, fastest thing out there. I have to go up and get those grabs for him," Graham said, according to Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal. "I've been focused and I'm ready to get this thing started, obviously. We have four more weeks here, but I'm about as fired up as I've ever been to go and shut a lot of people up."While Graham, 32, had more yards in his debut year in Green Bay than the previous season with the Seattle Seahawks, it was presumed he'd flourish to a greater degree when freed from Seattle's run-first approach.Moreover, despite the Seahawks' struggles to consistently carve out a role for him in their offense, Graham tied for the second-most receiving touchdowns (10) in the league during his final season with the NFC West club.Green Bay failed to utilize Graham in the red zone under former head coach Mike McCarthy, but the veteran pass-catcher is confident LaFleur's offense will give him far more opportunities all over the field."This is an offense where they match up a lot of formations, and the run to the pass. And for me, that's all good," Graham said. "And, they like to use the tight end quite a bit. I think we've got a dynamic group of tight ends and we've got a good mix of veterans and young kids. I'm excited to see what we're going to do this year. I really am."Everybody thinks I'm old and slow now, so, we'll see what happens."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL preseason kicks off Thursday after six months of buzz for the new campaign was capped off by a wild first few weeks of training camp.Here are the most noteworthy stories from training camp so far.Melvin Gordon holdoutNews has emerged of numerous holdouts across the league, but Gordon's aggressiveness could have a lasting impact on other players in his position group regardless of the result. The Los Angeles Chargers running back issued his demands last month and laid out potential consequences if a deal is not reached. It was reported the two sides are $2-to-3 million apart in expected average salary, and with the Chargers apparently firm on their offer, the two-time Pro Bowler has requested a trade.Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers added some fuel to the fire when he said the team was fine without Gordon, as running back is a "deep position" for it. Gordon reacted as one would expect:

Warning: Videos contain coarse languageThe much-anticipated season of "Hard Knocks" featuring the Oakland Raiders debuted Tuesday night.A star-studded cast, headlined by head coach Jon Gruden, made for some viral moments.Antonio Brown has been hampered by a mysterious foot ailment, so he didn't have much camera time. He did, however, make a grand entrance complete with a cheesy joke followed by a full explanation of said joke.

The Denver Broncos plan to get a good look at rookie quarterback Drew Lock in their next preseason game.Following a lackluster debut in the Hall of Fame Game last Thursday - after which head coach Vic Fangio admitted he was "hoping for more" from the second-round pick - Lock will feature prominently in Thursday's contest on the road against the Seattle Seahawks."Joe (Flacco)'s going to start (and) play some. We're going to bring in Kevin (Hogan). He'll play some. Drew will get a good bit of the rest of it, and Brett (Rypien) may or may not play in the game," Fangio said Tuesday, according to Aric DiLalla of DenverBroncos.com.Fangio said Flacco, Hogan, and Lock will play "a little, a little, and a lot," respectively.In his debut against the Atlanta Falcons, Lock went 7-for-11 for 34 yards. Fangio said the youngster still has plenty of learning to do."One thing you've got to remember about him now (is) he hardly has ever been under center in his life," the coach said. "He's hardly ever had to call a play in his life - a formation and checks. Once he gets through that, I think the other stuff will come easier and quicker."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With one game already in the books - a bad beat Atlanta Falcons bettors are still trying to forget - let's take a look at the best bets for the first full slate of NFL preseason action.Starters are still two weeks away from seeing heavy reps, and some won't play at all this week, but there's still plenty of value on the table.Jacksonville Jaguars at Baltimore Ravens (-5), total 32Oddsmakers have caught onto John Harbaugh's stellar preseason record, including 13 straight wins for the Baltimore Ravens head coach. Gamblers have, too, betting Monday's opening line of Ravens -4 up to -5 within a day.Those bettors may need a closer look at Baltimore's quarterback depth chart, which features injured backup Robert Griffin III and third-stringer Trace McSorley, who was drafted in April for his ability to play positions other than quarterback.The Jaguars' QB room isn't stellar, either, but the gap between these squads isn't as large as bettors are perceiving it to be. The Harbaugh effect isn't enough to lay five points in the preseason.Pick: Jaguars +5Indianapolis Colts (-2.5) at Buffalo Bills, total 34.5Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich said Tuesday that Jacoby Brissett - arguably the best backup in the league - will likely play a quarter in Thursday's preseason opener.Gamblers likely saw this coming, betting the Colts from 1.5-point underdogs on Monday to nearly a field-goal favorite by Tuesday night. Consider, though, that most of Indianapolis' starters will remain sidelined for Week 1, while Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott expects to play his starters for a quarter or more.This is a scenario worth playing, especially if Josh Allen gets extended run. Getting points is merely a bonus.Pick: Bills +2.5Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers (-4), total 36The Ezekiel Elliott holdout has cast a cloud over the Dallas Cowboys' offseason.Although Elliott was likely never going to play in this one, his absence means Jason Garrett would be wise to test out his assortment of running backs to find Zeke's replacement, even at the detriment of his team's offensive success.The San Francisco 49ers have a stable of backs, too, who are eager to separate themselves before the regular season. Two determined rushing attacks behind second-string offensive lines screams under for the final game of Week 1.Pick: Under 36Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The AFC West had not one, but two teams ripe for unseating the New England Patriots last season, to no avail. Both the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs got their shots in the playoffs, but each club watched New England emerge triumphant on its way to hoisting another Lombardi Trophy.Kansas City and L.A. should contend once again in a top-heavy division. The Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos have fallen off in recent seasons; who knows how long it'll be before either can shift the balance of power.Here, we dive into the best bets, value plays, and picks to avoid in the AFC West for 2019.(Over prices listed in parentheses)Team Win Total AFC West OddsKansas City Chiefs10.5 (+100)1-2Los Angeles Chargers9.5 (-140)2-1Denver Broncos7 (-110)16-1Oakland Raiders6 (+105)20-1Best betRaiders under 6 wins (-125)Perhaps it's the "Hard Knocks" effect or Oakland's offseason overhaul, but the consensus seems to be on the Raiders improving this season. That's not exactly a high bar to clear after they went 4-12 in 2018.There are new faces that should have Raiders fans excited. Star wide receiver Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams should help the team's aerial attack, Lamarcus Joyner is a solid addition to Oakland's secondary, and Trent Brown, the highest-graded tackle in the playoffs last season, gives the offensive line a boost.However, it still feels like the Raiders are stuck in quicksand. Derek Carr fell off the map after one good season, the defense - which ranked last in points per game allowed with 29.2 in 2018 - can't be trusted, and the team plays the NFL's toughest schedule in 2019.Despite the roster's fresh look and a perceived clean slate under head coach Jon Gruden, going under six wins for Oakland this season is the best bet on the board.Value play Chargers to win the AFC West (2-1)You wouldn't have guessed it, but the Chargers are yet again everyone's sleeper Super Bowl pick.The best part about this wager is that it doesn't account for anything past the regular season! Which means you won't have to lie in the fetal position in the corner of your living room when the Chargers inevitably blow a double-digit lead or get blown out in the postseason.The Chiefs are explosive and have Patrick Mahomes, the face of the NFL, under center. However, the talent on Kansas City and L.A.'s rosters is comparable. What's more, the Chiefs are tied for the fifth-most difficult schedule in the league, while L.A.'s is tied for 16th.Do I enjoy betting on a team that loves to fall as double-digit favorites and finds a way to lose every game decided by three points or fewer? No. But I would recommend taking the Chargers to win the division at anything better than 6-4.Bet to avoidChiefs over 10.5 wins (+100)Mahomes' 2018 season was so ridiculous, it'd be more bizarre if he didn't take a small step back. While the jury is still out on if he's actually human, it's not a hot take to predict regression for him and the Chiefs' offense, even if it's slight.However, the red flags for Kansas City are on the other side of the ball. If Mahomes and the offense aren't clicking, I'm not sure there's a reason to believe the Chiefs' defense can single-handedly win them games.I'm not endorsing a full-fledged play on the under, but I wouldn't assume Kansas City will stay on last season's trajectory.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.

Ezekiel Elliott is reportedly considering following in Le'Veon Bell's footsteps by holding out during the regular season in order to try forcing a new contract from the Dallas Cowboys.On Tuesday, Bell - who sat out the entire 2018 season instead of playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers before hitting free agency and signing with the New York Jets - called for the Cowboys to give his fellow running back a new deal.

Will Ohio State win one more game than the Browns this year? You can bet on it.While certain shops offer win total matchups between two teams in both the NFL and college football markets, some are allowing bettors to cross over. Here are the NFL-college football win total matchups for 2019:MatchupLineUNLV vs. RaidersRaiders -1.5 (-110/-110)Georgia vs. FalconsGeorgia -2 (-105/-115)Oregon vs. SeahawksPK (-110/-110)USC vs. 49ers49ers -0.5 (-125/-105)Penn State vs. SteelersPK (+115/-135)Ohio State vs. BrownsOhio State -0.5 (-125/+105)Michigan vs. BearsMichigan -0.5 (-120/+100)Texas vs. CowboysPK (-110/-110)LSU vs. SaintsSaints -1 (-130/+110)Florida vs. JaguarsFlorida -1 (-105/-115)Notre Dame vs. PackersPK (-125/+105)Alabama vs. PatriotsPK (+100/-120)Best bets to considerMichigan -0.5 vs. BearsMichigan's been seeing some under money come in on its win total, as it's moved from 10.5 victories down to 10 in some places. There's no denying that Michigan's schedule will present some challenges: The Wolverines get Notre Dame, Iowa, Michigan State, and Ohio State at home, and have road contests at Penn State, Wisconsin, and Indiana, the latter of which is a sandwich game between a pair of rivals. Yikes.While Michigan will likely be on the outside looking in for the College Football Playoff, the program can still outpace the Bears' win total. Chicago - who enjoyed a leap from 5-11 in 2017 to 12-4 last season - is the fade here.The Bears registered a mind-boggling 27 interceptions and 36 takeaways overall last season. That's not sustainable, especially with the loss of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Chicago was also one of the healthiest teams last season and was rarely put in a spot where it had to replace key players.Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky's job last season was to not lose games. He had a pretty wide margin for error with his defense holding opponents to 17.6 points per game. But with expected defensive regression looming, I don't think wins are going to come easy for Trubisky and the Bears in 2019.Browns +0.5 vs. Ohio StateThe Browns' bandwagon is officially full after they added more stars to a team that finished strong last season. You typically have to temper expectations when the market drools over a team that hasn't finished .500 or better in the last 11 seasons, but the hype over Cleveland is justified. There are very few holes on a roster projected to take the AFC North.As for Ohio State, I'm pumping the brakes on the Buckeyes after being initially bullish on them in Year 1 under Ryan Day. Though they typically reload on an annual basis, the offense - which is replacing most of its starting production from last season, including at quarterback with Justin Fields - is cause for concern. Ohio State will once again be talented, but if there are two losses on its schedule, Cleveland bettors will be heading to the window.UNLV +1.5 vs. RaidersI'd say there's plenty to like about UNLV, but I'd be lying. The Rebels were lucky to win four games last year and are favored in just four contests this season, although there are a couple of coin flips that could go either way. However, UNLV doesn't have to reach its full ceiling to cover 1.5 wins against a Raiders team that's been a popular bet to finish with the worst record in the NFL.Oakland finished 4-12 in Jon Gruden's first year back at the helm and has the toughest schedule in the NFL this season. Meanwhile, UNLV's star quarterback, Armani Rogers, is healthy after missing a chunk of 2018 due to injuries. He ran the Rebels' offense like a well-oiled machine when he was able to take the field.The Raiders will likely need six wins to cover this number, and I wouldn't bank on them improving from last year.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.

The Buffalo Bills feature a crowded backfield entering the 2019 season, but LeSean McCoy believes he's still the clear-cut No. 1 rusher."I'm the guy. I feel like that. That's what I've been told," McCoy said, according to Chris Brown of the team's website. "That's my every day approach. We're all a team and trying to help each other out to win games, compete against each other, and make each other better. Me and Frank (Gore) have been competing for years. We train in the offseason and we're always trying to beat each other. I'm excited for the challenge."The veteran tailback figures to open the campaign atop Buffalo's depth chart, but the team added competition to a rushing attack that ranked second to last in 2018. Gore and T.J. Yeldon were added via free agency, while third-round pick Devin Singletary is expected to see his fair share of snaps.McCoy also brushed off ongoing trade rumors and said he's using them as motivation."For the last two years, people have been saying that. If that was the case, I'd have been gone," McCoy said. "Two teams were trying to get me, so if I was gone, they would've gotten something for me. It's common sense."I'm challenging myself. I come to camp and this team, I look to be the best player every snap," he continued. "I'm motivated."McCoy rushed for 637 yards last season, the lowest total since his rookie year, while adding four touchdowns on the ground.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's not quite legalized sports betting, but the NFL is flirting with the live betting crowd by offering fans a chance to "Predict the Game" for cash prizes - starting with Thursday's Week 1 preseason game between the Washington Redskins and Cleveland Browns.The Redskins on Tuesday announced a partnership with NBC Sports Washington for four pilot "Predict the Game" telecasts. During Washington's four preseason contests, fans will be able to win up to $1,000 cash, as well as second-chance prizes, each quarter for guessing various game and player-performance outcomes.The telecast brings "the first predictive, free-to-play live game telecast to the NFL," said Redskins senior vice president Scott Shepherd.Viewers will be able to see questions on their televisions and mobile and desktop devices, with participation and correct predictions earning them points toward prizes. The preseason telecasts will feature real-time stats, information, and other interactive graphics in addition to traditional broadcast elements.This isn't the NBC affiliate's first foray into the predictive-gaming field. NBCSW also offered eight "Predict the Game" contests for Washington Wizards games this past NBA season, with contestants predicting scores and player outcomes for monetary rewards.Sports betting has been legalized in Washington, D.C., but bets have yet to be taken in the nation's capital.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL season officially kicks off in a month, but Week 1 lines have been available since June. While most bettors wait until closer to the season to wager on opening matchups, some experienced sharps have already moved the lines on a few games.SuperBook Race & Sports manager Derek Wilkinson told theScore that his sportsbook does see a significant amount of money wagered on Week 1 games from June through late August, but that most of the public money won't come until after the preseason.For now, here's a breakdown of the Week 1 matchups that have seen the biggest line movements since the opening numbers were released.Detroit Lions at Arizona CardinalsOpening Line: Lions -1Current Line: Lions -2.5It's a new era in Arizona, with head coach Kliff Kingsbury and quarterback Kyler Murray expected to breathe life into what was the NFL's worst offense in 2018. While the Cardinals will be more exciting this season, bettors are fading Arizona at home in Week 1. The Lions opened as a 1-point favorite but were quickly bet up to -2.5 because larger wagers from experienced bettors moved the line 1.5 points.According to Sports Insights, 63 percent of the tickets are currently on the road favorite, although oddsmakers note that public money could back the Cardinals closer to kickoff if Murray shines during the preseason. And even with both sharp and public money on Detroit so far, the thinking is this line won't get to -3. So, if you like the Lions, there's no need to jump on them now after missing out on the better opening number. Wait to see if late money shifts the line back toward Arizona.Cincinnati Bengals at Seattle SeahawksOpening Line: Seahawks -8Current Line: Seahawks -9.5This game is interesting because more than 60 percent of the tickets are on the underdog Bengals, yet the line still moved from -8 to -9.5 in Seattle's favor after star Bengals receiver A.J. Green was ruled out with an ankle injury. The reason for the reverse line movement is that while more tickets are on the Bengals overall, the big-money bets are on the Seahawks. For the most part, the public is backing the underdog while the sharps are laying the points with the favorite.Oddsmakers do expect more public money to come in on Seattle once we get to September, but the line likely won't reach 10. If Seattle goes to -10, sharps will buyback on the Bengals and put sportsbooks in a tough spot with heavy liability on both sides. If you plan to bet the Bengals, there's no need to wait. The line has likely reached its ceiling at 9.5.Washington Redskins at Philadelphia EaglesOpening Line: Eagles -7.5Current Line: Eagles -9This game is another example of the line moving toward the favorite despite more bets on the underdog. The Redskins are getting close to 60 percent of the tickets, yet the number has moved 1.5 points toward the Eagles. Just like with the Seahawks, early sharp action is laying the points with the Eagles.Wilkinson added that sharps are down on the Redskins, so it's not surprising to see them lay points early in the year against teams they're expected to struggle with. Despite the big line here, sharps are seeing value with the favorite.While oddsmakers don't anticipate the Seahawks' line rising, the Eagles are a different story. The public is also in love with Philly this year, so expect more bets and money to back the Eagles as opening day nears. If you like the Eagles, take them at -9. If you plan on betting the Redskins, hold out for 9.5 or 10.Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders Opening Line: Broncos +3Current Line: Broncos +1.5The Raiders made a lot of changes this offseason, most notably adding receiver Antonio Brown to help ignite the passing game. So far, bettors aren't buying into Jon Gruden and the new-look roster. Oakland opened as a 3-point home favorite but that line has been cut in half with both the ticket count and money backing Vic Fangio and the Broncos.One factor to remember with this game is the Raiders are currently on HBO's "Hard Knocks." Historically, teams featured on the show capture the public's eye - and money. While that may be the case, oddsmakers don't expect the number to get back to -3. There's simply too much liability on Denver +3 for the line to rise that high again. It's more likely the line closes Raiders -1 or gets to even by kickoff.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady and his wife, Gisele Bundchen, have placed their Massachusetts home on the market for $39.5 million, according to Jeff Darlington of ESPN.The New England Patriots quarterback's next-closest property is nearly three hours from Foxborough in Amenia, N.Y.The couple also owns a home in New York City and is apparently looking at places in Greenwich, Conn., and Alpine, N.J., added Darlington.

Bettors looking for an edge in the NFL preseason needn't look past the sidelines to find one of the biggest factors: Coaches.To some head coaches, preseason football is as meaningless as it is to most fans. To others, it's a worthwhile four- or five-game stretch for simulating regular-season situations - even if the other team isn't putting up a real fight.The betting records for the longest-tenured coaches tend to normalize at around 50 percent against the spread over time, but some coaches' records can provide real insight into their teams' preseason betting values:COACHATS RECORDO/UBill Belichick39-37-6 (51.3%)40-40-2Andy Reid38-39-4 (49.4%)44-36-1Pete Carroll33-16 (67.3%)23-26John Harbaugh30-15 (66.7%)20-24-1Mike Tomlin24-26 (48%)20-30Jon Gruden18-12-3 (60%)15-18Ron Rivera17-14-1 (54.8%)18-14Mike Zimmer14-7 (66.7%)8-12-1Bill O'Brien11-7-1 (61.1%)6-13Jay Gruden11-9 (55%)7-13Jason Garrett11-21-1 (34.4%)14-16-3Bruce Arians10-9-2 (52.6%)11-10Doug Marrone8-8-1 (50%)7-10Doug Pederson7-5 (58.3%)4-8Pat Shurmur6-7 (46.2%)6-6-1Adam Gase5-7 (41.7%)8-3-1Frank Reich4-0 (100%)1-3Sean McVay4-4 (50%)3-4-1Dan Quinn4-12 (25%)5-10-1Matt Nagy3-2 (60%)4-1Kyle Shanahan3-4-1 (42.9%)5-3Anthony Lynn3-5 (37.5%)4-3-1Sean McDermott3-5 (37.5%)3-5Matt Patricia1-3 (25%)3-1Mike Vrabel0-4 (0%)2-2Vic Fangio0-0 (0%)0-0Brian Flores0-0 (0%)0-0Kliff Kingsbury0-0 (0%)0-0Freddie Kitchens0-0 (0%)0-0Matt LaFleur0-0 (0%)0-0Zac Taylor0-0 (0%)0-0Data courtesy of Odds SharkWith 60-plus percent winning percentages against the spread, the Seattle Seahawks' Pete Carroll (33-16 ATS) and the Baltimore Ravens' John Harbaugh (30-15 ATS) stand out among the NFL's veteran coaches. Carroll has gone 4-0 in three of the last seven preseasons and Harbaugh has won 13 straight.Parsing through their comments over the years, it's clear both believe the preseason builds character, reveals the resolve of a team - all the great offseason cliches. Whether or not there's any truth to it, their records reflect their philosophies.On the other end of the spectrum is Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett (11-21-1 ATS), whose disinterest in the preseason has actually drawn criticism for how it affects his team in Week 1. He has just two winning records in eight preseasons with the Cowboys.The Atlanta Falcons' Dan Quinn (4-12 ATS) - whose backups lost 14-10 to the Denver Broncos in Thursday's Hall of Fame Game - has recently opted to rest healthy stars for entire preseasons. He's lost nine straight in the preseason and has the worst record among coaches with at least five games.Week 3 presents a potential betting inefficiency, as starters typically play close to a full half in the NFL's "dress rehearsal" for the regular season. All of the usual preseason darlings excel during this week, including Harbaugh (8-3) Carroll (6-3), and Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer (5-0).The league's best bosses shine in Week 3: The top nine active coaches by regular-season wins are all .500 or better, led by New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton (10-3). Interestingly, Payton is 2-11 in Week 4 - considered the least important preseason game - and other top coaches also tend to struggle that week.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.