Despite focusing on his passing mechanics all offseason, the Baltimore Ravens are prepared to let Lamar Jackson use his legs aplenty in 2019."I'd bet the over on that one," Harbaugh told NFL Network when informed that Cam Newton's career high in rushing attempts is 139. "I'd bet the over for sure. It's going to be interesting. I don't think we know the exact numbers or the math."Jackson ran the ball a whopping 147 times last season, even though he only started seven games. Durability concerns that come with run-heavy quarterbacks led observers to believe the Ravens would try to limit Jackson's attempts going forward.Harbaugh, though, said throughout the offseason Baltimore would roll out an innovative offense with the dynamic Jackson."If you look back and think of the history a little bit, the game was probably revolutionized with Bill Walsh and Joe Montana," he said. "And that's been the model for the last 25, 30 years, and we've all been chasing that model, pretty much, trying to find that quarterback, find that rhythm, and all the things that go with that offense, and it really hasn't changed too much."None of us can envision what's to come in the future. I don't know how many of the quarterbacks from the 60s or 70s would have been able to succeed. Not too many, probably. (Dan) Marino, I'm sure, could have played in any era, but a lot of those other guys would not have been great in the west-coast-offense-era. What's the next era going to be? Well, we're about to find out. We're about to find out what the limits are on that. I think it's going to open up opportunities for quarterbacks all across, and in our league, and it's going to make it tough on defenses. So, that's the idea."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

JuJu Smith-Schuster rewarded a hardcore Pittsburgh Steelers supporter Sunday.Smith-Schuster signed a fan's Steelers head tattoo following training-camp practice Friday. The wide receiver later told reporters he would give the fan tickets if he had the signature permanently added to the tattoo.The superfan did just that, and JuJu paid up in short order:

Trent Williams isn't attending Washington Redskins training camp, and the left tackle's absence isn't lost on his teammates.Starting right tackle Morgan Moses showed up for his Sunday press conference wearing Williams' No. 71 jersey and played the role of Williams while speaking to reporters."I miss my guys," Moses said as he impersonated Williams, according to NFL.com's Jelani Scott. "I miss the hogs. I miss Brandon (Scherff) and Morgan (Moses). It's about that time man. Get ready for these guys."Williams, 31, is currently holding out; the veteran tackle is reportedly upset with the team's handling of a medical situation that involved removing a growth from his head. He's also seeking a new deal with two years remaining on his $68-million contract."(I'm) pretty sure he wants to be here," Moses said, according to ESPN's John Keim. "He has to figure out some things that are above my pay grade."Forming one of the top tackle tandems in the NFL, Moses and Williams have bookended Washington's offensive line for the last four seasons.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Perhaps no player on the Los Angeles Chargers is looking forward to the 2019 campaign more than Joey Bosa.After producing from the moment he stepped on the field as a rookie in 2016, the star pass-rusher faced the first major setback of his career in 2018 as he missed significant time and battled a lingering foot injury. Now, he's ready to leave that difficult campaign in the rearview mirror."I don't like watching film from last year," Bosa said, according to ESPN's Eric D. Williams. "It was not me. I didn't have the same power, the same strength. It's not an excuse. It is what it is - but it's a fresh slate this year. I kind of want to put that behind me, what happened last year."I'm in a much better place, knock on wood, and I hope to continue to stay healthy. I just want to keep improving."Bosa suffered the injury in training camp last year and missed nine games before recording just 5.5 sacks down the stretch. While he was frustrated to go through that experience, he's grateful to be fully healthy at camp this year."I don't know if it makes me a better player that I have a messed-up foot - well, it's not messed up, but you know what I'm mean - but going through that, I think I would have had an unbelievable year last year, and I would have added on this year," he added."I was frustrated last year, but it's over now. I'm here at camp. It's a new year and I'm ready to go. I've had a great offseason. It was a tough process working to get back to where I was, but I did, and I exceeded it. So I'm where I want to be."Overall, the 24-year-old has notched 28.5 sacks in 35 career games, earning a Pro-Bowl nod in 2017 and the Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2016.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

An MRI showed that Cincinnati Bengals wideout A.J. Green has torn ligaments in his left ankle, which will likely sideline him for six-to-eight weeks, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The veteran suffered the injury on Saturday at practice. He was carted off the field and was later seen leaving the facility on crutches.Green will get a second opinion on his ankle, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, who added that the star receiver will opt against surgery until additional information is gathered.The Bengals were practicing at the University of Dayton's Welcome Stadium as part of the NFL's 100th-anniversary celebration, and field conditions were subpar, Schefter added.The six-to-eight-week timeline means Green will likely miss the beginning of the regular season. In his absence, the Bengals will need to rely on Tyler Boyd, John Ross, Cody Core, and Alex Erickson, among others. Ross is currently nursing a hamstring injury.The Bengals will open the season on the road against the Seattle Seahawks before returning home to face the San Francisco 49ers and then visiting the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A lower leg injury has sidelined Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry, head coach Mike Vrabel said on Sunday.There's no timetable for Henry's return, Vrabel added.The three-year pro left Friday's practice and was seen afterward in a walking boot. He didn't practice on Saturday.Henry is coming off a breakout season in which he eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the first time and scored 12 touchdowns.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Count Mike Daniels as one of the few professional athletes who's happy he was cut.The defensive tackle was released by the Green Bay Packers on Wednesday after seven years with the team, but he counts the move as a blessing."Now I thank God. I thank God I got cut, and I have an opportunity to play with a defensive genius," Daniels said to Kyle Meinke of MLive.com.Daniels is referring to Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia. After fielding calls from 13 teams over the course of an hour, the veteran defensive lineman signed with the Packers' division rival in order to work with Patricia, a former New England Patriots defensive coordinator."Just flat out, he's just a genius," Daniels continued. "He really is, man. He understands the game of football, he knows what it takes, so to be able to play for a coach like that means everything. It means everything."I'm really just trying to be restrained right now because I'm excited. If I could do a back flip right now, I'd do one. I'm really excited."Daniels is already taking part in Lions training camp and should help form a formidable defensive front this season along with the likes of Damon Harrison, Trey Flowers, A'Shawn Robinson, and Da'Shawn Hand. He'll also get to face the Packers twice a year.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill spoke to the media at training camp on Sunday for the first time following a turbulent offseason.While he wouldn't go into detail about the child abuse allegation against him and the subsequent investigations, Hill did make a statement about the audio of a conversation between him and his former fiancee, Crystal Espinal, that emerged in April.In the recording, Hill and Espinal are discussing their three-year-old son and the incident that resulted in the boy suffering a broken arm. Hill is heard telling Espinal, "You need to be terrified of me, too, bitch.""I'm just here to man up to what I did, on the audio, my bad language. Im'ma man up to that," Hill said during the media scrum. "I don't want nobody talking to my little sister, my daughter that I have now, my mom like that. That's very disrespectful."Never again. I'm growing as a human being, as a person. Never again."Hill also addressed the portion of the tape in which he and Espinal referenced the wideout punching his son in the chest."Punching my son in the chest? That would probably refer to me teaching my son how to box," he said."Sometimes things get thrown out of context when feelings get involved. But I'm not going to get into all that right now."Hill thanked his teammates - who he worked out with during the offseason - as well as the Chiefs organization and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. He avoided a suspension after the investigations concluded."I have to work on my life skills," he added, according to NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano.

The Dallas Cowboys may be missing one member of their star-studded triplet at training camp due to a contract dispute, but the two others that are there aren't worrying about their own negotiations.Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper are both entering contract years and are looking for new deals. But with Ezekiel Elliott's absence from camp drawing the Cowboys' attention, Prescott said he's just focusing on getting ready for the upcoming campaign."It will happen when it happens," Prescott said after Saturday's training camp practice, according to ESPN's Todd Archer. "I know I'll be better by the time the regular season starts. That's my focus."Cooper echoed his quarterback, saying he was "indifferent" to talks with Dallas."I guess I'm just optimistic about it and it's something that's going to happen, whether it's today, tomorrow, or whenever," Cooper said. "I'm not worried about me getting hurt or something like that and it not happening. I just don't think like that."The receiver is set to earn $13.9 million under the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, while Prescott continues to be one of the NFL's biggest bargains with a $2.02-million salary.Prescott opted not to go into detail about Elliott's decision to stay away from camp but said he had no concerns about his backfield partner being ready for the season."We're not worried about him because we know wherever he is, he's doing the right things the right way and he's getting himself ready," the fourth-year passer said, according to Rob Phillips of the Cowboys' official site."He's probably running the same drills that GB (running backs coach Gary Brown) would have him going through. He's a professional."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens might be without their No. 2 quarterback for the rest of the summer.Robert Griffin III sustained a small fracture in his thumb Saturday night, sources told Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. The Ravens are reportedly optimistic that he'll be ready for Week 1.Griffin suffered the injury after banging his hand off a defender's helmet in practice, according to Zrebiec.The veteran signal-caller appeared to reference his injury on Twitter:

The Arizona Cardinals have released 2016 first-round pick Robert Nkemdiche, the team announced Saturday.The defensive lineman reported to training camp out of shape after tearing his ACL last December. He was on the physically unable to perform list.In addition to rehabbing his injury, Nkemdiche was twice arrested this offseason for traffic and driver's license issues.The former Ole Miss standout was taken with the 29th overall pick in 2016 but failed to come close to expectations.Nkemdiche racked up 44 tackles and 4.5 sacks over three seasons, with all of his quarterback takedowns coming in 2018. He missed 21 out of 48 regular-season games for Arizona.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Chargers and Melvin Gordon apparently have significant work to do to end the running back's holdout.The Chargers and Gordon's camp are $2 million to $3 million apart in average salary in their negotiations for a potential contract extension, according to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports.The Chargers want to give Gordon a deal worth more than Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman's five-year, $41.25-million contract ($8.25 million per year). However, the two-time Pro Bowl rusher is eyeing a deal closer to that of Arizona Cardinals standout David Johnson's three-year, $39-million extension ($13 million per year).Johnson's average annual salary is the third-highest among NFL running backs, while Freeman's ranks a distant fourth. It appears that the large gap in the market is one of the obstacles L.A. and Gordon will need to overcome.Previous reports said Gordon is seeking to be paid around the same level as Todd Gurley and Le'Veon Bell, the position's top two annual earners at $14.38 million and $13.13 million per year, respectively.Gordon's career production is more in line with the output of Johnson and Freeman than that of Bell and Gurley, though. Gordon's averaged 66 rushing yards per games in four seasons, ahead of Johnson (56.8) and Freeman (52.6) but still a far cry from Bell (86.1) and Gurley (78.4).Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Fresh off a shocking AFC Championship Game appearance in 2017, the Jacksonville Jaguars entered last season as one of the favorites to make the Super Bowl.Instead, the Jaguars lost seven straight games after a 3-1 start to the campaign, ultimately finishing last in the AFC South at 5-11 amid a host of injuries and lackluster performances from top players.Among the most notable disappointments was running back Leonard Fournette, who missed nearly half the season due to a hamstring injury and was ineffective when healthy following a stellar rookie year.Fournette said on Saturday that last season was a dose of reality for all Jaguars players."I think we appreciate last season overall," Fournette said, according to ESPN's Michael DiRocco. "I feel like a lot of things, individually, we all could have done to get ourselves in better shape confidence-wise coming off a great season in 2017. I think last year kind of humbled a lot of us in some ways."Fournette's off-field issues somewhat overshadowed his on-field regression.The tailback was suspended for one game after an altercation with Buffalo Bills pass-rusher Shaq Lawson, and Jaguars VP of football operations Tom Coughlin publically criticized Fournette's demeanor on the sideline while sitting out the team's regular-season finale with a foot injury.Moreover, some attributed Fournette's persistent hamstring issues to poor conditioning, and the 2017 first-round pick said in December that he "could be in better shape."But with the humbling experience of last season behind Fournette and the Jaguars, the running back has witnessed a noticeable change in the club's approach to training camp."You see in the way guys practice," Fournette said. "Some guys who kind of (had a) lack of effort, they're not showing it this year. So I think last season kind of woke a lot of guys up."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals star receiver A.J. Green appeared to injure his lower left leg Saturday at practice.Green is believed to have suffered a sprained ankle, but he's still scheduled to undergo an MRI, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.The veteran wideout had his left foot examined and the training staff attended to him before he was carted to the locker room, according to multiple reporters on site, including Joe Danneman of FOX19 Now.Green was seen shortly after on crutches and with his foot wrapped.

The Dallas Cowboys appear intent on bringing an end to Ezekiel Elliott's holdout.The Cowboys have extended an offer to their All-Pro running back, but have yet to receive a counteroffer from his management, NFL Network's Jane Slater reports.The Cowboys are looking to avoid a situation like Emmitt Smith's holdout in 1993. Smith's standoff lasted into the regular season, and after the defending Super Bowl champions got off to an 0-2 start, Dallas signed him to an extension that made him the highest-paid running back in the league.Elliott has not been present at Cowboys camp, leading owner Jerry Jones to acknowledge on Friday that his star rusher is "late" and officially a "non-report."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Lions have released veteran running back Theo Riddick after six seasons with the team."For us, Theo is a great professional, he's a great player, he did a lot of great things for us through the course of the years and we have a lot of respect in the world for everything that he's done. But in any of those situations, we're going to try to do what's best for the team," head coach Matt Patricia said Saturday at training camp, according to Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com.Riddick has been used as both a rusher and pass-catching back during his time in the Motor City. He caught 61 passes for 384 yards and carried the ball 40 times for 171 yards last season.His release frees up more playing time for lead back Kerryon Johnson and backups CJ Anderson and Zach Zenner. It also saves the team $3.66 million in cap space.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants receiver Golden Tate is facing a four-game suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing substance policy, reports ESPN's Adam Schefter.Tate's appeal of the suspension is currently scheduled for the first week of August, Schefter adds.The 10-year veteran released a statement Saturday morning in which he attributed the incident to a treatment prescribed to him for fertility planning.

The Detroit Lions announced Saturday morning that they have signed free-agent defensive tackle Mike Daniels.The one-year contract is worth $9.1 million and contains $7.8 million fully guaranteed, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, citing a source.The Packers released Daniels on Wednesday following seven seasons with the team. The Pro Bowler visited the Cleveland Browns before agreeing to join the Lions.Daniels will bolster a defensive line in Detroit that already features a formidable foursome of Trey Flowers, Damon Harrison Sr., A'Shawn Robinson, and Da'Shawn Hand.The 30-year-old posted 18 tackles and two sacks in 10 games last season, missing the other six contests with a foot injury. He recorded 34 tackles and five sacks in 14 appearances in 2017.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks announced the signing of star linebacker Bobby Wagner to a multi-year contract extension Friday.Wagner's deal is a three-year pact worth $54 million, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It reportedly includes $40.2 million in guarantees.Averaging $18 million per season, Wagner's new deal will make him the league's highest-paid off-ball linebacker when it kicks in next season, eclipsing C.J. Mosley's contract with the New York Jets."I'm really excited to have this done, excited that I get to be a Seahawk for a long, long time," Wagner said. "Like I've always said, I want to play my entire career here, and I feel like today is a step toward that."It feels amazing being here. I've watched people stay, I've watched people go, and to have the trust from the organization to continue to let me lead this team, lead the defense, it's a great feeling. I'm excited to get back to work."The 29-year-old was seeking a new pact as he entered the final year of his current deal. He attended offseason workouts and the start of training camp but limited his participation to avoid injury.A first-team All-Pro in each of the last three years - and a four-time first-team selection for his career - Wagner is one of the NFL's premier players and the leader of Seattle's post-Legion of Boom defense. He collected 138 tackles, an interception, and a sack in 2018 and has racked up over 100 tackles in each of his seven NFL campaigns.Wagner's decision to ink a reportedly short-term deal is noteworthy. Instead of taking more overall money on a long-term agreement, he can potentially test the open market once again following the 2022 campaign.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Oakland Raiders announced Friday that star wide receiver Antonio Brown will begin training camp on the non-football injury list.Brown's injury was not disclosed but is considered "very minor," according to ESPN's Field Yates.As with the physically unable to perform list, players on the NFI list count against their team's 90-man roster and can be activated at any point.Acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers in March, Brown has wasted little time making his presence felt with his new squad, arriving at training camp in a hot air balloon.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury revealed why Robert Nkemdiche was placed on the physically unable to perform list to begin training camp, saying the defensive tackle's conditioning isn't up to par after rehabbing an ACL tear suffered last season"(Nkemdiche is) not in shape, I guess," Kingsbury told reporters on Friday, according to Darren Urban of the team's website. "That's kind of where we'll leave it."It's been an offseason to forget for the 2016 first-round pick. In addition to rehabbing the injury, he was arrested on June 6 for speeding and driving with a suspended license.Nkemdiche suited up for 10 games in 2018, notching 4.5 sacks and one forced fumble. The Cardinals declined to pick up his fifth-year option in May.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jimmy Garoppolo won't play in the preseason opener but will receive full medical clearance in his recovery from an ACL tear, head coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday, according to Logan Reardon of NFL.com.The quarterback was undergoing a physical as Shanahan delivered the news. Garoppolo will participate in full-team drills throughout training camp. The Niners will decide how to deploy the 27-year-old in the preseason at a later time.Garoppolo tore his ACL in the third week of the 2018 season. He threw for 718 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions before going down.San Francisco will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the regular-season opener Sept. 8.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on Friday that running back Ezekiel Elliott missed the beginning of training camp due to a contract dispute."He's late," Jones told reporters in Oxnard, Calif. "He's a non-report, officially."Jones wouldn't divulge whether he plans to fine Elliott for holding out. Players are subject to a $40,000 penalty for every day of training camp they skip while signed to a deal."We expect everybody that's under contract to be here at camp," Jones said. "They've agreed to be here."Elliott has been seeking a deal that tops the four-year, $57-million pact Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley signed last summer, sources told Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports.Several Cowboys players are nearing the end of their contracts, including Elliott, quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver Amari Cooper, cornerback Byron Jones, and linebacker Jaylon Smith."This is business as usual," said Jones, who was adamant that Elliott's absence wouldn't affect his excitement for the upcoming season.The 76-year-old added that he's confident in being able to keep the Cowboys' core intact, even with the uncertainty surrounding so many star players.Elliott is due to make $3.85 million this year, and then $9.1 million in 2020 while playing under the fifth-year option the Cowboys exercised on his rookie contract.Drafted fourth overall in 2016 out of Ohio State, Elliott has led the NFL in rushing twice over the first three years of his career. In 2017, he ran for 983 yards after being suspended six games for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.Dallas went through physicals during the opening day of training camp on Friday, and the team will hold its first practice Saturday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones listed star running back Ezekiel Elliott as a "non-report" for the first day of training camp on Friday.Elliott, who is reportedly planning a holdout to force a contract extension, made waves by missing the Cowboys' flight to Southern California on Thursday.The tailback missed Friday's physical and conditioning run, sources told NFL Network's Jane Slater. Dallas' first practice is on Saturday.Elliott is seeking a deal that exceeds Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley's four-year, $57-million contract, sources told Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports.The Pro Bowler has two years remaining on his rookie contract with salaries of $3.85 million and $9.1 million (his fifth-year option), respectively, per Spotrac. He will be subject to a $40,000 fine for each day he misses training camp.The 2016 No. 4 overall pick has led the league in rushing in two of his three seasons. In 2017, he ran for 983 yards after being suspended for the first six games of the campaign for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.The Cowboys have insisted that they see Elliott as a long-term cornerstone of the franchise, but the team has a host of other deals to hand out.Quarterback Dak Prescott, receiver Amari Cooper, and cornerback Byron Jones are entering contract years, and all are expected to command deals around the top of their respective markets.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants wide receiver Corey Coleman suffered a torn ACL during practice Thursday, the team announced.Such injuries typically sideline players for a full season.Coleman is the second Giants wideout to go on the shelf early in training camp, as Sterling Shepard fractured his finger in the same practice.Following the injuries, New York is already looking to add depth at the position.Former Carolina Panthers receiver Kelvin Benjamin - who was drafted by Giants general manager Dave Gettleman - is among a group of wideouts the team plans on inviting for a free-agent workout Saturday, a source told Art Stapleton of USA Today Sports.Coleman served as the Giants' primary kickoff returner last season, and also caught five passes for 71 yards. He was set to compete for a more prominent role this year behind Shepard and Golden Tate.The 25-year-old was a first-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2016, but never quite found his footing out wide. He spent time with the Browns, Buffalo Bills, and New England Patriots before coming to the Giants.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones will report to training camp on time despite discontent over his contract situation."He knows his value and if he has to play out his deal in order to reach free agency, then that's what he will do," his agents told ESPN's Adam Schefter. "For now, he's focused on winning a Super Bowl for Kansas City."Jones appeared on track for a holdout when he skipped mandatory minicamp in June. The 25-year-old picked up 15.5 sacks last year, good for third-most in the NFL.A second-round pick of the Chiefs in 2016, Jones is due to earn just shy of $1.2 million this season in the final year of his rookie contract.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams have given extensions to both head coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead that will keep the duo under contract through 2023, the team announced Friday.The Rams' wunderkind coach has been a revelation since being hired in 2017 to replace Jeff Fisher, winning 24 games in his first two seasons and taking the NFC West team to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2001.Prior to McVay's arrival, the Rams had missed the playoffs in 12 straight seasons while failing to finish above .500 in any of those campaigns.McVay immediately turned L.A. into an offensive juggernaut and revitalized the career of former No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff. The Rams finished first in points scored in 2017 and second in 2018, while Goff has thrown 60 touchdowns under the coach's watch (the fourth most across that span, per Pro Football Reference).Meanwhile, Snead has been at the team's helm since 2012 and owns a record of 55-56-1.The GM has been applauded for his aggressive approach with regards to maximizing the team's window while Goff is still on his rookie contract. He has made blockbuster trades for cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters, receiver Brandin Cooks, and pass-rusher Dante Fowler Jr.Snead also drafted the Rams' core, including two-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, star running back Todd Gurley, and Goff.The Rams are set to move into their new $5-billion stadium next season, and they now have the franchise's leaders locked up for the foreseeable future.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots might be attempting to create their own version of the New Orleans Saints' do-it-all weapon Taysom Hill.Patriots second-year passer Danny Etling donned a white practice jersey instead of the red non-contact one reserved for quarterbacks in Thursday's practice and proceeded to work with the receiving group, per ESPN's Mike Reiss."Everyone has a lot of different roles on this team, and I'm no exception," said Etling, who spent his rookie season on the practice squad. "I'm excited to continue to keep trying to find a different role for myself and do whatever the coaches ask me to do."

The New Orleans Saints and wide receiver Michael Thomas are "close" to hammering out a long-term extension, a source with knowledge of the situation told Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.Thomas was a no-show Thursday as the Saints opened training camp. He's reportedly seeking a contract with an annual average salary of $20 million, which would make him the highest-paid receiver in the NFL.Thomas has seen his production rise every year since joining the Saints as a second-round draft pick in 2016. He's become both a security blanket and a downfield threat for quarterback Drew Brees.Michael Thomas statsYearREC YDSTD201611379201712455201814059The 26-year-old Ohio State product is currently due to earn a shade over $1 million in the final year of his rookie pact.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard fractured his thumb during Thursday's practice and will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis, the team announced.Shepard left practice early and immediately received X-rays on his thumb.The Giants didn't disclose whether the 26-year-old's status for Week 1 is in jeopardy, though NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports there's hope he'll be ready for the start of the season. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network projects Shepard as "questionable" for the opener.Shepard is expected to be a focal point in New York's passing attack in 2019 after the team dealt Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns. He set career highs last season with 66 catches and 872 receiving yards, adding four touchdowns.New York recently signed The fourth-year wideout to a four-year, $41-million contract extension.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon is reportedly in danger of missing games as his holdout threatens to carry over into the regular season, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.While the two sides have exchanged proposals in recent days, there is "mounting pessimism" that Gordon won't be reporting to the team anytime soon, added Schefter.If Gordon isn't available to start the campaign, L.A. will be forced to rely on a committee of Austin Ekeler, Justin Jackson, and Detrez Newsome.Gordon publically called for either an extension in line with the top running backs or to be traded. The former first-round pick has one year and $5.6 million left on his rookie contract.The veteran tailback was a no-show for the start of training camp Wednesday; he can incur up to $40,000 in fines each day for missing it.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins are reportedly set to sign free-agent wide receiver Allen Hurns to a one-year contract worth up to $3 million, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Dallas Cowboys released the veteran wideout Tuesday, just three days before the start of training camp.Hurns was mostly an afterthought in his lone season in Dallas after the acquisition of Amari Cooper, recording a career-low 295 yards and 20 catches before suffering a gruesome ankle injury in the wild-card round.The 27-year-old joins a receiving corps led by Kenny Stills, DeVante Parker, and Albert Wilson. He will likely battle with the likes of Brice Butler and Jakeem Grant for the fourth wideout role.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Indianapolis Colts don't want a repeat of Kevin Durant's devastating NBA Finals injury, so they're limiting their star quarterback early in training camp.Andrew Luck missed the Colts' OTAs and minicamp after he suffered a calf injury similar to the one the former Golden State Warriors and current Brooklyn Nets forward sustained in this year's NBA playoffs.Citing Durant's injury as a cautionary tale, Colts head coach Frank Reich will likely have Luck participate exclusively in individual drills for the next 7-10 days."I was certainly thinking (about Durant's injury)," Reich told reporters Thursday, according to ESPN's Mike Wells. "I didn't have that conversation with (general manager) Chris (Ballard) or any of our trainers. But that's this business. When you see something like that happen, you're like, 'Oh yeah, that's why you do what we're doing.' It was kind of like unspoken truth. That's why we're being cautious."He didn't do anything this spring but ... we don't want him to get out there and have a setback," he continued. "We're so process-orientated ... if we've learned anything, when I walked in the door through the first injury he had, let's just make sure we're taking the right steps. We're getting ready to play the (Los Angeles) Chargers (in Week 1), that's where our mindset is right now."Durant injured his calf in Game 5 of Golden State's second-round playoff matchup. He returned for Game 5 of The Finals against the Toronto Raptors and promptly tore his Achilles tendon.After battling shoulder injuries for the better part of two years, Luck returned to form in 2018. He completed 67.3 percent of his passes for 4,593 yards, 39 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Eli Manning finally fired a shot back at former teammate Odell Beckham Jr. In a GQ magazine interview released Monday, Beckham claimed he was the primary reason the New York Giants have recently received prime-time game slots despite often boasting a sub-par record. Manning, however, was quick to brush off the receiver's thoughts."I don't think they bothered me," he told NFL Network after Thursday's practice, according to Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com. "You just kind of shake your head and laugh. ... I won a few games before he was here."Manning isn't wrong. The veteran captured both of his Super Bowl championships prior to Beckham's arrival.Beckham's jab at his former signal-caller wasn't his first of the offseason. The star wideout claimed he had to adjust to Baker Mayfield's throwing speed upon joining the Cleveland Browns after experiencing "different" velocity in New York.Manning, 38, is entering his 16th NFL campaign. He's the heavy favorite to start Week 1 despite the Giants selecting Daniel Jones sixth overall in April's draft.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After an apparently rocky relationship with former head coach Mike McCarthy, Aaron Rodgers is encouraged by new boss Matt LaFleur's communication skills.The Green Bay Packers quarterback admitted their on-field connection will require time to develop but appeared pleased with LaFleur's ability to both listen to and lead his team."What I can say is that him and I are friends," Rodgers said after practice Thursday, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "I think that's the first part of the relationship. The on-the-field relationship is one that grows over time. He hasn't called a play in to me in a game situation yet, so there's a process of feeling comfortable with the way the play comes in and him trusting me and me trusting him."But I feel great about the communication. He's in every meeting. We spend time one-on-one talking about stuff. He's the main voice in the offensive room but he really appreciates open conversation and ideas and creativity. It's been a great relationship, a great start to it, and I look forward to that growing and getting into that rhythm with him as a play-caller."LaFleur replaced McCarthy after the latter spent 13 seasons in charge in Green Bay, and the former Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator isn't taking his relationship with his star quarterback lightly."The one thing I'll say to that is with the quarterback position, you're talking about - in my opinion - it's the toughest position in all of sports," the 39-year-old said. "And the last thing that we ever want to do is send a quarterback out there who is uncomfortable with what we're doing."Like I said, we're making this the Packers' offense. So, you know, it is a little bit of a work in progress as we go through and try to find out what exactly our guys do well and make sure we showcase that."After eight straight trips to the postseason, Green Bay has finished third in the NFC North and missed the playoffs in each of the last two campaigns.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The entire 2019 NFL Draft is now under contract.San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa and New York Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams, the No. 2 and No. 3 picks, respectively, agreed to their rookie contracts Thursday.The two players were the only remaining first-round picks who hadn't inked their deals, and both appeared in danger of missing the start of training camp as negotiations wore on.Meanwhile, the 49ers also announced the signing of second-round receiver Deebo Samuel, who was the only other unsigned 2019 pick.Los Angeles Chargers star pass-rusher Joey Bosa, Nick's brother, held out until late August after being taken with 2016's third overall pick, which led to rumors that the younger Bosa could follow in his footsteps.Meanwhile, Williams' agreement was held up due to disagreements over the deferment of his signing bonus money, per Rapoport. In a compromise, the former Alabama standout will receive 75 percent of his signing bonus now, with the remainder to be paid next year.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce went on a serious diet in preparation for the start of training camp after being dismissed from June's minicamp for being overweight.Pierce lost over 20 pounds in five weeks after working with the team's nutritionist, hiring a personal chef, and increasing his cardio workouts."Like I told my teammates, I really apologize for letting them down, and (that) has never been indicative of my character to come in out of shape," Pierce said after practice, per ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "I told them it wouldn't happen again."The 26-year-old passed Baltimore's conditioning test - which requires players to run 900 yards in six timed intervals - and is currently around 360 pounds, roughly 20 pounds heavier than his listed playing weight."He's maintained his muscle mass and lost the bad weight, the fat weight," head coach John Harbaugh said. "He still has a ways to go, but he passed the conditioning test. I think that's quite an accomplishment, especially for a big man like that."I'm impressed with what he's done and very confident he'll get the job done."Pierce, a former undrafted free agent who's entering a contract year, attributed his increased weight to an error in his offseason workout regime.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles will have a fully healthy Carson Wentz at training camp.Head coach Doug Pederson said "we're not gonna hold back" on Wentz's usage in camp, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Wentz suffered a back ailment that kept him sidelined during the end of the 2018 campaign and bothered him up until as recently as April.The 26-year-old also missed the end of his sophomore season after tearing his ACL. Nick Foles took over under center that year and ultimately won the Eagles the Super Bowl.Wentz said he was "ready to go" for preseason, but it will be Pederson's call on how many reps he gets in.The former second overall pick was given a four-year, $128-million extension last month.

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott wasn't aboard the team plane Thursday as it traveled to Southern California for training camp, sources told NFL Network's Jane Slater.Elliott has reportedly been contemplating a holdout in an effort to accelerate extension talks. Cowboys players aren't required to show up for camp until Friday. The first practice is scheduled for Saturday.Elliott has two years, including a fifth-year option, left on his rookie contract. The 24-year-old led the NFL in rushing twice over his first three years in the league.Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said Wednesday he had no reason to believe a holdout was on the horizon. Team officials have been confident that Elliott will attend camp, sources told Slater.The Cowboys have prioritized new deals for quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver Amari Cooper - both of whom are entering contract years - over Elliott this offseason.Elliott will be subject to a $40,000 fine for each day he misses training camp, if he does indeed hold out.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Le'Veon Bell is ready for the biggest workload of his career if that's what it takes to give the New York Jets a shot at a championship.While the star running back will be on a pitch count for training camp and the preseason, he said Thursday that he's more than willing to carry the Jets' offense."I'm up for 500 if it's going to take us to the Super Bowl," Bell said about potentially exceeding his career-high mark of 406 touches from 2017, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk.Jets head coach Adam Gase said he's wary of overworking Bell, who sat out the 2018 season while a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a contract dispute.The three-time Pro Bowler produced 1,946 scrimmage yards and tied a career high with 11 touchdowns during the 2017 campaign, but his efficiency took a hit. Bell's average of 4 yards per carry was his worst mark since his rookie season and was a far cry from his career-best output (4.9 in 2015 and 2016). He produced 269 more total yards on 33 fewer touches in 2014.But after giving Bell a five-year, $52.5-million deal in free agency - a move that Gase reportedly opposed prior to the firing of general manager Mike Maccagnan - the Jets could look to get their money's worth.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 breaks down the latest news, goes over the takeaways from his projections update, recaps the FFPC Pros vs. Joes draft, and reveals the position groups he's avoiding in 2019.

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed head coach Mike Tomlin to a one-year extension that keeps him under contract through the 2021 season.The deal includes an option for 2022, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler."Mike is one of the most successful head coaches in the National Football League, and we are confident in his leadership to continue to lead our team as we pursue our goal of winning another championship," Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a news release.Tomlin is entering his 13th season at the helm of the Steelers. He was thought to be on the hot seat following a tumultuous 2018 campaign that saw the Steelers implode amid internal discord and miss the playoffs."I am very appreciative of this contract extension and opportunity and want to thank Art Rooney II and everyone in the organization for the support in my first 12 seasons," said Tomlin. "We have a goal of winning the organization's seventh Super Bowl championship, and I couldn't be more excited about this upcoming season."The Steelers have been notoriously loyal to head coaches over franchise history, placing a premium value on organizational continuity. Tomlin, Bill Cowher, and Chuck Noll are the only three head coaches the team has employed since 1969.Under Tomlin, the Steelers have gone to the playoffs eight times and the Super Bowl twice. In February 2009, Tomlin became the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl.The Steelers are 125-66-1 in the regular season and 8-7 in the playoffs under Tomlin.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.With training camps approaching, theScore's Justin Boone is releasing his offensive projections for all 32 teams, including his thoughts on every fantasy-relevant player.Projections are based on the following point values in PPR leagues:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul isn't expected to return until at least November, sources told ESPN's Jenna Laine.Pierre-Paul suffered a fractured vertebra in an auto accident during May and decided to proceed with a non-surgical remedy. He was initially expected to miss the entire season once the fracture was discovered.The Buccaneers placed the 30-year-old on the active/non-football injury list on Wednesday.Pierre-Paul led the team with 12.5 sacks in 2018. Carl Nassib, Shaq Barrett, and Noah Spence will be responsible for filling the void in his absence.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers left tackle Russell Okung is recovering from a pulmonary embolism that he suffered in June because of blood clots."After experiencing unusual chest pain at practice, on June 1st I went to urgent care out of an abundance of caution," he wrote in a statement posted on Twitter. "According to the doctors who treated me, the decision to do so likely saved my life."Okung was placed on the non-football illness list Wednesday as Los Angeles began training camp. Chargers general manager Tom Telesco said Okung had experienced a "pretty serious medical issue" and could miss all of camp.The 30-year-old said he is on the path to recovery and expects to play this season."While near death type experiences are certainly a wake-up call, I'm feeling great physically. It's not an ankle or shoulder. As soon as doctors clear me, my plans include blocking (quarterback Philip Rivers') #17's blind side all the way to (Super Bowl LIV in) Miami."Okung joined the Chargers as a free agent in 2017.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints receiver Michael Thomas did not report to the team's facility on Thursday as the 26-year-old is currently seeking a new deal, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Both parties have negotiated for weeks, Schefter added.The Saints reportedly offered Thomas a deal averaging $18-19 million per year, however, he is apparently seeking a contract that would make him the first receiver to earn an average of $20 million per year.Odell Beckham Jr. currently leads the receivers market with an average annual salary of $18 million.Thomas can be fined $40,000 for each day of training camp he misses, Schefter reports.The two-time Pro Bowler had a league-leading 125 catches last season with 1,405 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles hired former CFL assistant general manager Catherine Raiche as their new football operations coordinator, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Raiche became the Canadian league's first female assistant GM in nearly 30 years when she was promoted by her hometown Montreal Alouettes in 2017.She was also the director of football administration for the Toronto Argonauts last year and had a stint with the Tampa XFL franchise under former Argos head coach Marc Trestman.The NFL has prioritized increasing the presence of women in team front offices and coaching staffs in recent years.In 2018, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers became the first NFL team to employ two women as coaches on its staff by hiring Maral Javadifar as assistant strength and conditioning coach and Lori Locust as assistant defensive line coach.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The landscape of the NFL has shifted in recent years.The Green Bay Packers have missed the playoffs the last two seasons, Tom Brady and Drew Brees are well into their 40s, and the Cleveland Browns are expected to be good.With all this said, it's time to re-evaluate each division and determine which is the best in football, from easiest to win to hardest.8. AFC EastGood luck ripping the AFC East out of the cold clutch of the New England Patriots.The Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and New York Jets each finished below .500 last season and neither team is expected to win more than seven games this coming campaign, according to Vegas odds.Even with all of the offseason departures, the Patriots are expected to win their record 11th straight division title. Long may they reign.7. NFC EastIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe NFC East falls off a cliff after the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys.While the Eagles and Cowboys are arguably two of the league's best, there's no debating the rebuilding Washington Redskins and New York Giants are far from the mountaintop.The division remains a favorite for media and the NFL's broadcast partners, but at this point, it's almost based purely on geography and tradition. The Eagles and Cowboys will each play a league-high 10 prime-time games in 2019, including a head-to-head matchup on Sunday Night Football. Even the Giants received two Monday Night Football dates, against - you guessed it - the Eagles and Cowboys.The head-to-head battles are always thrilling, but entering 2019, the NFC East isn't the juggernaut it once was.6. AFC NorthThe AFC North has undergone perhaps the biggest makeover. Once ruled by the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, the perennial doormat Cleveland Browns are now the favorite to win the division.The Steelers lost perhaps their two most talented players in Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell, and the Ravens lost key contributors on the defensive side via free agency. The division is up for the taking.The Browns recognized this new reality and, after years of building, identified this as the time to strike, trading for superstar receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and pass-rusher Olivier Vernon a year after adding Jarvis Landry and draft picks Baker Mayfield and Nick Chubb.The Cincinnati Bengals, who haven't won a playoff game since 1990, are moving forward with a first-year head coach and are expected to finish in the basement for the second straight year.While the Steelers and Ravens should still challenge for division supremacy, the Browns are now considered the team to beat.5. AFC SouthBob Levey / Getty Images Sport / GettyIf this were a ranking of the most competitive divisions in football, the AFC South would finish near the top. Every team has reason to believe they can win the division this year.The Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, and Tennessee Titans all finished above .500 last season; The Jacksonville Jaguars own a top-five defense and added Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles.But for all the on-field battles over the years, none of the teams have been able to pull away from the pack. Here are the cumulative standings over the past three seasons:Team RecordTitans27-21Texans24-24Colts22-26Jaguars18-30Each team has made the playoffs in that period, but none has gone further than the Jaguars did when they reached the AFC title game in 2017.Going into 2019, it would come as no surprise if either the Colts, Texans, or Jaguars made it as far as the Super Bowl. But as a whole, the AFC South has proven to be an average division.4. NFC NorthThe black and blue division has taken its lumps of late, but it could realistically produce three playoff teams this season.The Chicago Bears' impressive one-year turnaround from worst to first has them favored to repeat as division champions; The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers both finished on the outside of the playoff picture last year, but are poised to return to the fold after an active offseason.The Bears, Packers, and Vikings are three of the top seven teams favored by Vegas to make the NFC playoffs.Bringing down the group is the Detroit Lions, who were picked by USA Today to finish tied for last in the NFC. Only the Arizona Cardinals have longer odds to win the conference.3. NFC WestHarry How / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe league's west divisions feature some of the most talented teams in football. The NFC West is headlined by the defending conference champion Los Angeles Rams, who swept all of their division matchups last year. This season, that should prove to be a tougher task.The Seattle Seahawks always play the Rams tough - their two tilts were decided by a combined seven points last season. No team has done a better job at rebuilding on the fly than the Seahawks, who continuously change the parts surrounding star quarterback Russell Wilson with a degree of success.With a healthy Jimmy Garoppolo, the San Francisco 49ers are again anticipated to make the leap into contention this season. After another year of spending and shrewd decision-making by the brain trust of John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan, the Niners are a popular pick to shake up the NFC.And finally, there's the Cardinals. Despite their poor record from a year ago, Arizona now fields a roster of proven vets and talented youngsters. The combination of Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray could take the league by storm.2. NFC SouthThe NFC South is generally regarded as the NFL's most difficult division to win, with the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, and Carolina Panthers perennial contenders for conference supremacy. All three teams had 10-plus wins and made the playoffs in 2017, but 2018 was a disappointment for the latter two.Both of those clubs are anticipated to bounce back this season, but the Saints enter the year as co-favorites (with the Rams) to win the NFC. After two consecutive years of playoff heartbreak, this could be the year New Orleans finally gets over the hump.Since 2010, Atlanta, Carolina, and New Orleans have each won the division three times. The NFC South is known for its frequency in which the division crown changes hands.This decade, the division has been brought down by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs haven't reached the postseason since 2007 and the second-longest playoff drought in the NFL is expected to continue into 2019 despite the hire of head coach Bruce Arians.1. AFC WestDavid Eulitt / Getty Images Sport / GettyWith two legitimate Super Bowl contenders, the AFC West is king.No two teams are garnering as much championship buzz entering the season as the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers. The two 12-win teams of a year ago are expected to be as good, if not better than they were in 2018.Defending NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes comes back from his absurd 50-touchdown season with Tyreek Hill available after avoiding league suspension. The Chiefs' defense should be better than the 31st-ranked unit last year with the additions of Tyrann Mathieu, Frank Clark, Emmanuel Ogbah, Alex Okafor, and Bashaud Breeland.The Chargers are a popular pick to reach Super Bowl LIV, though the Chiefs are the current betting favorites to win the Lombardi Trophy.The Bolts nearly topped their division rivals for the AFC West crown in 2018 after a thrilling last-minute win over the Chiefs in Week 15. The Chargers own, from top to bottom, perhaps the most talented roster in the league, but the caveat is the availability of Pro Bowl running back Melvin Gordon, who's holding out for a contract extension.Add in the Denver Broncos with a proven commodity at quarterback in Joe Flacco to go with that defense and the Oakland Raiders rebuilding their roster with star receiver Antonio Brown, and the AFC West is the must-watch division of 2019.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tennessee Titans and safety Kevin Byard have agreed to a five-year, $70.5-million extension that includes $31 million in guarantees, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The deal will make Byard the highest-paid safety in NFL history. His reported $14.1-million average annual value surpasses those of Tyrann Mathieu and Landon Collins, who both average $14 million a season on their current contracts.A third-round pick of the Titans in 2016, Byard has quickly emerged as one of the league's top defensive backs. The Middle Tennessee product was named a First-team All-Pro in 2017.The 25-year-old thrives in coverage as a ball-hawking free safety, and his 12 interceptions over the last two seasons are tops among all NFL players. After leading the league with eight picks as a sophomore, Byard accumulated 90 tackles, two forced fumbles, and four takeaways in 2018.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Earl Thomas - who ended his tenure with the Seattle Seahawks on a sour note - expressed no regret Wednesday regarding one of his most infamous incidents with the team.After suffering a lower leg fracture against the Arizona Cardinals last September, the current Baltimore Ravens safety stuck his middle finger up at the Seahawks' sideline - specifically to head coach Pete Carroll - while being carted off the field."I don't regret my decision," Thomas told ESPN's Josina Anderson, according to Jamison Hensley. "If my teammates felt like it was toward them, I regret that part. But I don't regret doing that to Pete."I gave Pete the middle finger because I felt like he wasn't being honest with me."The six-time Pro Bowler held out through the entire 2018 preseason in hopes of receiving a contract extension with Seattle. He repeatedly expressed his displeasure with not receiving a lucrative deal after rejoining the club."I think my time just ran out (with the Seahawks)," Thomas said. "Pete and the front office didn't value me like they used to and I just talked to coach Carroll and he was saying how he was trying to get me in the plans of getting a new contract. But I got hurt the next week. I think I hurt myself too by my actions getting carted off the field."Thomas' teammates supported him following the incident, while Carroll was sympathetic and wanted the media to "give him a little slack" following a traumatic injury.The 30-year-old signed a four-year deal with the Ravens in March. He'll return to Seattle when Baltimore travels to CenturyLink Field on Oct. 20.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.