There's a good reason why Le'Veon Bell wasn't able to tell authorities what two women he accused of stealing over $500,000 in jewelry from him were wearing on the day of the incident.In 911 audio obtained by TMZ Sports, Bell said he wasn't able to give police a detailed description because the women were naked last he saw them."When I left, (one of the women) was in the bed," Bell said on the call. "She was in the bed, not wearing clothes when I left. So, I didn't see her. You know what I'm saying."(The other girl) was in the bed too," he continued. "They didn't have clothes on."The alleged robbery occurred on May 25 at the New York Jets running back's Florida home.On the call, Bell claims he got up from bed to begin his "normal routine to go to work out" and that the women stole money, jewelry, his watch, and other items of value after he left.Police are yet to disclose whether the suspects have been caught or if the items have been returned to Bell.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans finished 11th in the NFL in offense last season, averaging 25.1 points per game, and quarterback Deshaun Watson believes that production will improve in 2019."Whoever is touching the ball on each possession can make something happen," Watson said, according to the team's website. "We're all confident that we're going to be on the same page, great chemistry, have some fun and try to light up the scoreboard as much as we can."Though Houston added young pieces to an offensive line that struggled to protect Watson last season, many of the skill-position players on that side of the ball remain the same.The Texans will hope receivers Will Fuller and Keke Coutee can stay healthy, while Watson believes his control of the unit will go a long way in improving the output."I feel like I'm ahead of where I was, of course, last year," the QB said. "Just decision-making, operation of the offense, being able to do things that I couldn't do a year before and definitely my rookie year."Being able to take control and take leadership of this offense and be able to get the young guys lined up, make sure the protection is right, make sure the ball is getting placed in the right direction or where the ball needs to be versus this coverage."One year after finishing 4-12, Houston won the AFC South with an 11-5 record in 2018, but lost to the rival Indianapolis Colts in the wild-card round.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seven months after suffering a gruesome leg injury, Alex Smith opened up for the first time about his recovery and the hardships he's faced.The Washington Redskins quarterback will shed the external fixator on his right leg in four-to-six weeks and can then begin jogging."This thing is going to save my leg, save my bone, and allow me to heal and walk again and help me play football again," Smith told FOX 5 DC's Angie Goff.Smith said his plan is to play in the NFL again but acknowledged he must "conquer some more steps" before he gets there."The last three months have definitely been life-changing. I've been able to start driving, I can work out, I'm off the crutches," the quarterback said. "The first four months were really, really hard, both (physically and mentally); just to be in a wheelchair for as long as I was."The three-time Pro Bowler led Washington to a 6-4 record last season before breaking his leg in Week 11 against the Houston Texans. His teammates and coaches admitted he likely won't be available for the 2019 season.Smith understands the severity of his injury and the long road he faces to recovery, but the 35-year-old has maintained a positive attitude throughout the process."To be honest, the thing that's helped me the most with this is just trying to get through each day," he said."(I) try not to get caught up with how far down the line (in the recovery process) ... It's crazy looking and it sucks what happened, but at the same time, there are people out there that have it way worse. Stuff happens to everybody, life happens, and for me, I feel like this is a time for ... being tested and having this challenge in front of me and how can I handle it."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 goes over the latest news and answers listeners' mailbag questions.Topics include:

Months from the opening week of the NFL season, football bettors are getting their fix over the summer through the futures markets. We caught up with oddsmaker Matt Lindeman to see how gamblers are approaching category-leader prop bets at Caesars in Las Vegas.Odds to lead NFL in passing yardsPlayerOddsPatrick Mahomes7-2Matt Ryan11-2Andrew Luck7-1Baker Mayfield7-1Drew Brees9-1Aaron Rodgers10-1Ben Roethlisberger12-1Jared Goff12-1Philip Rivers14-1Jameis Winston15-1Tom Brady16-1Jimmy Garoppolo18-1Kirk Cousins22-1Matthew Stafford30-1Carson Wentz30-1Mitchell Trubisky30-1Deshaun Watson40-1Nick Foles40-1Russell Wilson40-1Kyler Murray50-1Roethlisberger led the league last year in a category that's been fairly consistent - he, Brees, or Brady accounted for the top spot in each of the last five years. One of those players is already seeing a steady ticket count in the early stages."Great handle on player to lead league in passing," Lindeman told theScore. "We're currently most exposed to Brees, Mayfield, and Murray. Most tickets written on Brees and Mayfield. (Ryan) Tannehill is the only non-rookie who has yet to receive a bet."Despite Brees' track record, he comes with concerns because of changes to the Saints' offensive approach over the last few seasons - they went from calling pass plays 63.4 percent of the time in 2016 to 56.3 in 2017, then down to 54.3 percent last season.Mayfield's trending up following a solid rookie campaign with the Browns and has plenty of weapons at his disposal for 2019. Meanwhile, Murray should be throwing a ton in new head coach Kliff Kingsbury's offense with the Cardinals, who revamped the skill corps during April's draft.Odds to lead NFL in rushing yardsPlayerOddsEzekiel Elliott2-1Saquon Barkley6-1Nick Chubb6-1Le'Veon Bell8-1Todd Gurley10-1Christian McCaffrey12-1Phillip Lindsay12-1Dalvin Cook12-1Marlon Mack15-1Derrick Henry15-1Leonard Fournette15-1Joe Mixon18-1David Johnson22-1Chris Carson22-1Sony Michel22-1Melvin Gordon22-1Kerryon Johnson22-1Aaron Jones25-1Damien Williams30-1Ronald Jones50-1Elliott has paced the league in rushing twice since coming into the league. Second-year backs Barkley and Chubb should put up big numbers based off the systems they're in. But Lindeman says the biggest liabilities are further down the board."We took sharp money on Fournette at 40-1 and 25-1 and really need to dodge Ronald Jones and Damien Williams, as we took bigger bets on them at 200-1 and 50-1 respectively," he said.Odds to lead NFL in receiving yardsPlayerOddsJulio Jones4-1DeAndre Hopkins11-2Odell Beckham Jr.11-2Antonio Brown6-1JuJu Smith-Schuster13-2Mike Evans8-1Davante Adams8-1Michael Thomas10-1Adam Thielen10-1T.Y. Hilton15-1A.J. Green20-1Amari Cooper20-1Kenny Golladay30-1Brandin Cooks30-1Robert Woods35-1George Kittle35-1Travis Kelce35-1Keenan Allen35-1Stefon Diggs40-1Jarvis Landry50-1Jones leads the pack, having topped the league in receiving yards twice over the last four years. There are two players on the board who the house will be rooting against ... and they're both on the Browns."On player to lead league in receiving, we're in a pretty good spot. Win to most of the favorites outside Beckham," Lindeman said. "Took a decent bet on Landry (at) 75-1, which makes him our biggest liability at the moment."(Odds courtesy: Caesars)Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 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 Chicago Bears were many people's pick to go to the Super Bowl when last season's playoffs begun, but the NFC North champions were booted from the first round in the most agonizing of ways.The Bears' title hopes were dashed after Cody Parkey missed a potential game-winning 43-yard kick with just 10 seconds remaining against the Philadelphia Eagles, and head coach Matt Nagy apparently wants his team to embrace the pain of that defeat.According to running back Tarik Cohen, Nagy often plays the final seconds of the wild-card loss in team meetings."He just shows us the last seconds of the game," Cohen told Mad Dog Sports Radio on Wednesday. "He shows us the crowd reaction, our reactions from the sideline, and he just tells us (to) never forget that hurt. We want to get back to that place but have a different outcome. That drives us and motivates us to get through the practice every day."Though Parkey is no longer with the Bears, Nagy has ramped up the pressure on his team's kicker competition this offseason by routinely making the group attempt field goals from roughly the distance of the now-infamous miss.Chicago cut Chris Blewitt during minicamp after he, Elliott Fry, and Eddy Pineiro all missed kicks at the end of practice in front of the entire team. Fry and Pineiro redeemed themselves in the final session of camp, both nailing 40-yard kicks to start the team's summer break early.The two are set to battle it out during training camp in July, though Chicago will certainly be keeping a close eye on other teams' moves on cutdown day in order to give itself the best chance at avoiding another heartbreak.- With h/t to Pro Football TalkCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A songwriting team is suing country music star Carrie Underwood, the NFL, and NBC for allegedly plagiarizing the 2018 Sunday Night Football theme song "Game On."In the lawsuit, filed Wednesday in New York, singer Heidi Merrill and her co-writers state that Underwood's "Game On" is "substantially - even strikingly - similar, if not identical" to a song Merrill uploaded on YouTube in March 2017, according to Jonathan Stempel of Reuters. Merrill's song is also titled "Game On."Merrill alleges her copyright was infringed after Underwood's producer, Mark Bright, rejected her pitch to use her song "Game On" for Sunday Night Football in August 2017."Ms. Underwood recorded a song that was substantially similar to the original song submitted through her producer, without giving credit or compensation of any kind to the original songwriters," Tim Foster, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, said in an interview. "We assume that there will be significant damages."Underwood has performed the Sunday Night Football theme since 2013.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Mike Alessandrini, Jack Browne, and Alex Chippin reveal which second-year defensive players are poised for breakout campaigns in 2019.Marcus Davenport, DE, SaintsJonathan Bachman / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe UTSA product was just hitting his stride last season when a foot injury derailed the second half of his campaign. Davenport collected four sacks in a five-game stretch (Week 3 to Week 8) before going down, but then notched just 0.5 in seven contests afterward (including two playoff games). Regardless, the edge rusher entered the NFL as a raw prospect, so a year of experience should go a long way in his development. Davenport's already polished against the run, as he didn't miss a tackle last season and ranked 27th in the league by coming up with a stop on 7.5 percent of his snaps against running plays, according to Pro Football Focus. This season, he'll get more pass-rushing opportunities while inheriting many of the snaps vacated by the departed Alex Okafor.Jaire Alexander, CB, PackersAlexander flashed All-Pro potential at times in 2018, but yielded too many big plays - he gave up 14.6 yards per reception and ranked 78th in burn rate, which measures how often a receiver got more than 5 yards of downfield separation, according to PlayerProfiler.com. Still, the former Louisville star was tasked with covering his opponents' best receiver each week while lacking any reliable safeties to help him out. The Packers addressed that issue this offseason, signing Adrian Amos and drafting Darnell Savage, while also bolstering their pass-rush to alleviate pressure on the secondary. Alexander peaked against the Rams in Week 8, breaking up five passes while spending most of the day guarding Brandin Cooks, and he's well-positioned to perform like that more consistently in 2019.Harold Landry, LB, TitansIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe Titans saw Brian Orakpo retire and allowed Derrick Morgan to walk in free agency (he remains unsigned), but they shouldn't be sorry to see those veterans depart, as Jurrell Casey was the only Titan to rank top 40 in quarterback pressures last season, according to PFF. Meanwhile, Landry cracked the top 50 and also had 4.5 sacks despite playing only 56.6 percent of snaps, according to Football Outsiders. Not only will Landry get more chances to hunt quarterbacks in 2019, but he should also get plenty of one-on-one looks due to the presence of free-agent signing Cameron Wake, who ranked third overall in ESPN's Pass Block Win Rate and will be the defender offenses look to take away first.Tremaine Edmunds, LB, BillsEdmunds, who turned 21 in May, is one of the NFL's youngest players. He's also one of its most athletic defenders, with rare size - 6-foot-5, 253 pounds - and explosiveness for his position. However, Edmunds faced a steep learning curve as a rookie. His raw skill set was clear in the first half, but he struggled with the speed of the NFL. Things quickly slowed down for Edmunds, though, especially in coverage. He had a targeted passer-rating mark of just 68.7 in the second half of the campaign, compared to 111.5 over the first eight games, according to PFF. He also stepped up his run defense, notching 43 total tackles (plus a sack and two interceptions) in December alone. In the center of the Bills' talent-rich defense, the sky is the limit in Edmunds' sophomore year.Kemoko Turay, DE, ColtsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyLast season in Indianapolis, all eyes were on Darius Leonard. But he wasn't the only defensive rookie who impressed for the Colts, as Turay racked up four sacks and 12 quarterback hits in his first nine games. Unfortunately, injuries to his neck/shoulder and hip, as well as the return of fellow rookie Tyquan Lewis, caused his snaps to drop as the season went on. Still, Turay's 38 pressures ranked third among rookies, according to PFF, despite him playing more than 200 fewer snaps than the two players ahead of him (Bradley Chubb, Genard Avery). Now healthy and with Justin Houston as a mentor, Turay could be the young Colt who makes headlines in 2019.Poona Ford, DT, SeahawksEvery year, a handful of undrafted free agents make a shock impact. The undersized Ford, who stands 5-foot-11, was certainly in that group in 2018. Despite backing up breakout star Jarran Reed (who had 10.5 sacks) and Shamar Stephen for most of the season, Ford excelled when his snaps increased after his only start of the year in Week 13. Across the final five regular-season games, his expanded role helped Seattle allow just one 100-yard rusher. The rookie also tied for the fourth-best stop percentage (12.6 percent) among interior linemen, according to PFF, which saw him sandwiched between Pro Bowlers Akiem Hicks and Kawaan Short. With Stephen gone, Ford should be first in line to start next to Reed, whose presence could help unlock the sophomore's potential as a pass-rusher.Avonte Maddox, CB, EaglesMitchell Leff / Getty Images Sport / GettyInjuries atop the Eagles' depth chart forced Maddox into a starting role early last season, and he overcame initial struggles to cement himself as a solid contributor down the stretch. Overall, advanced metrics favored Maddox more than traditional stats. In coverage, he ranked second out of 132 qualifying corners in yards allowed per snap (0.56), fourth in passer rating against (59.9), and second in snaps per target (11.8), according to PFF. He got burned a few times, especially in the playoffs, but it's easy to see him blossoming into a Pro Bowl candidate as a sophomore, as he can play outside or in the slot, or line up at either safety spot - rare versatility for such a young player.Rashaan Evans, LB, TitansThe immediate success of first-year linebackers like Leonard and Leighton Vander Esch meant it was hard for others at the position to garner much of the spotlight. Evans also had to deal with a hamstring injury that sidelined him from training camp all the way through the preseason, hampering his ability to learn Tennessee's scheme. And even when he returned, the sideline-to-sideline speed he displayed at Alabama wasn't there until late in the year. From Week 13 on, though, Evans was PFF's third-best linebacker. He'll have to force his way into the starting lineup after Jayon Brown starred in his absence, but thanks to his first-round status and Wesley Woodyard's age (33), the Titans will likely give Evans every chance to do so.Maurice Hurst, DT, RaidersThearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / GettyHurst fell to the fifth round due to a heart issue detected at the combine, but he quickly displayed why he was projected to be a Day 1 pick despite playing on a defensive line that was among the least talented groups in the NFL. Somehow, the Raiders had just 13 sacks in 2018 - 17 behind the nearest team - but Hurst led the way with four and ranked third on the roster in tackles. Meanwhile, his raw production and advanced stats don't blow you away - he tied for third on the Raiders in run stops and didn't miss a tackle in 472 snaps, according to PFF - but within the context of Oakland's terrible defense, they're much more impressive. In Year 2, Hurst will need to improve as a pass-rusher to get more acclaim, though his job will be far easier if Arden Key or Clelin Ferrell can be a legitimate threat off the edge.Ronnie Harrison, S, JaguarsOne of the knocks against Harrison coming out of Alabama was a tendency to be overly aggressive in run support, leading to too many missed tackles - not an ideal trait for a safety. But while Harrison played just 328 snaps in 2018, his athleticism and coverage ability - he allowed a passer rating of just 62.8 on 16 targets, according to PFF - were obvious despite his tackling issues popping up from time to time. Now, with veterans Barry Church and Tashaun Gipson gone, Harrison and Jarrod Wilson are set to start in Jacksonville's talent-rich defense. Meanwhile, cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye are likely to regain their form, which should give Harrison a good chance to emerge as a key playmaker in the secondary if he can clean up his work against the run.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche was arrested June 6 for speeding and driving with a suspended license, according to a police report obtained by ABC15's Clayton Klapper.After being pulled over, police discovered Nkemdiche had a warrant issued for his arrest for his suspended license and failing to appear for a court hearing.According to the police report, a white powdery substance was also found inside the 24-year-old's car. The substance was not tested, however, and instead was impounded for destruction."Based on the totality of the circumstances, it was decided not to pursue testing of the credit card holder in lieu of impounding the item for destruction with Robert's cooperation," the report stated.The Cardinals announced they were aware of the incident and would comment further when appropriate.A first-round pick (No. 29 overall) of the 2016 draft, Nkemdiche has yet to live up to expectations in Arizona. The Cardinals declined his fifth-year option in May.Nkemdiche fell out of a hotel window and was arrested for marijuana possession prior to being drafted.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Two weeks after signing with the Carolina Panthers, Gerald McCoy addressed his departure from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and expressed disappointment that the franchise gave his number, 93, to free-agent newcomer Ndamukong Suh."When (Warren) Sapp left ... John Lynch, (Derrick) Brooks, Lee Roy Selmon, Ronde Barber, when all these guys left, nobody wore their number. They didn't give their number away. It was a sign of respect," McCoy said during a Wednesday appearance on FOX Sports' "Undisputed.""I'm one of the best players to ever play in the organization ... It kind of shows the respect and how they felt about me ... Them giving the number away, that's their prerogative. But the respect they showed ... it may seem like just a number, but it's bigger than that. It's respect, and that was a big part of the separation between me and Tampa."The Buccaneers released McCoy this offseason, ending a nine-season tenure that saw the defensive tackle named to six Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro squads.A pillar of the organization since it drafted him in 2010, the 31-year-old appeared disappointed by the lack of communication from Tampa Bay following the 2018 campaign."I did not speak to any of the coaches besides (head coach) Bruce Arians without running into them while I was in the building ... nobody called my phone," McCoy said. "I didn't speak to my D-line coach, I didn't speak to (defensive coordinator) Todd Bowles, I didn't speak to anybody. I didn't speak to (general manager) Jason Licht, I spoke to nobody."And if I'm supposed to be one of the staples, have been one of the staples in this organization since I've been there ... you mean to tell me they can't just pick up the phone?"After signing with the Panthers, McCoy said he was excited to play for 'a true contender' in the Buccaneers' NFC South rival."I have no hard feelings towards Tampa at all," he told "Undisputed." "But there comes a point in time where you have to show some respect, and I didn't feel like they showed me the respect that I deserved, that I earned."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As the New England Patriots prepare to open training camp in five weeks, the team has yet to receive a timetable regarding suspended receiver Josh Gordon.An NFL spokesperson told The Athletic's Jeff Howe on Wednesday that the league had no update regarding Gordon's status or when his ban could be reviewed.The 28-year-old wideout was suspended indefinitely in December for multiple violations of his previous reinstatement under the league's substance abuse policy.It was reported in February that Gordon had a chance to be reinstated in time for training camp ahead of the 2019 season.Gordon started 11 games for the Patriots following a trade from the Cleveland Browns in September, catching 40 of 68 targets for 720 yards and three touchdowns.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.Waiting on quarterbacks has become the norm for fantasy owners looking to maximize value on draft day, but you still need to hit on the right players for the strategy to be most effective.Let's see if we can identify this year's crop of late-round or undrafted quarterbacks who will outproduce expectations to emerge as low-end fantasy starters, or at least quality streaming options.Dak Prescott, CowboysThe number of usable fantasy quarterbacks might have something to do with Prescott's ADP, which has him going off the board as the QB19 in re-draft and QB18 in best ball. That's a shocking value for a player who finished as the QB6 over his final nine games after Amari Cooper's arrival kick-started the passing attack.Prior to the Cooper trade, Prescott completed 62.1 percent of his passes while averaging 202 yards per game. Those numbers rose to 71.3 percent and 274 yards per contest with Cooper in the mix. Prescott also improved his touchdown rate and reduced his interceptions during that time. The success led the Cowboys to throw more, and that trend should continue under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who served as Prescott's quarterback coach in 2018.Harry How / Getty Images Sport / GettyWe can't discuss Prescott's fantasy outlook without mentioning his incredible consistency in the running game. Most dual-threat quarterbacks' rushing scores vary from year to year, but Prescott has exactly six touchdowns on the ground in each of his three NFL campaigns to go with yardage totals of 282, 357, and 305. That's a big reason why he's been a top-10 fantasy QB for three straight seasons.Prescott is getting reinforcements for 2019 as well, with All-Pro center Travis Frederick and Cowboys legend Jason Witten providing a boost to the blocking. Veteran slot receiver Randall Cobb should offset the loss of Cole Beasley, ensuring Prescott has his best set of weapons since turning pro. Other late-round fantasy quarterbacks may offer a higher ceiling, but Prescott has the best odds of propelling himself into the top 10.Josh Allen, BillsThe masses shook their heads when the Bills traded up to select Allen seventh overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, and I was right there with them. However, a year later, there are signs that the scoffing might have been premature. Rookie struggles and a shoulder injury led to a disappointing first half of the season, but Allen displayed his athleticism and cartoonish arm strength down the stretch as Buffalo went 3-3, including a pair of close losses to the Jets and Dolphins.Over those final six weeks, Allen had more fantasy points than any other quarterback. Let's repeat that to make sure it sinks in: Allen was the No. 1 fantasy QB from Week 12 to Week 17, an accomplishment made possible thanks to 476 rushing yards and four touchdowns with his legs. The rookie rushed for eight scores on the season, a feat he'll have a hard time replicating, but fantasy owners should feel confident that the 23-year-old will remain a significant part of the Bills' ground attack.Brett Carlsen / Getty Images Sport / GettyGeneral manager Brandon Beane noted that Allen needs to make better decisions when throwing downfield and said his accuracy was less of an issue when he was given a clean pocket. Following the blueprint laid out by the Eagles (Carson Wentz), Rams (Jared Goff), and Bears (Mitch Trubisky), Beane brought in several upgrades to help his young passer make the leap as a sophomore.John Brown and Cole Beasley bring experience and reliability to the receiving corps. Brown has been on the cusp of stardom for a while, but health issues held him back. He was able to suit up for all 16 games last season, however, and through seven weeks, he was on pace to finish with 1,275 yards and nine touchdowns before the Ravens' shift to a run-heavy offense derailed his production. Beasley is the safety net Allen lacked and should be a friendly target when his initial reads are covered downfield. Brown and Beasley join Robert Foster and Zay Jones, who've flashed in short bursts but have yet to establish themselves as consistent difference-makers.Though skill-position signings get the headlines, Beane made more impactful moves on the offensive line. Buffalo could have as many as four new starters. Center Mitch Morse is the major signing, flanked by veteran Spencer Long, Quinton Spain, Ty Nsekhe, and LaAdrian Waddle. The Bills also invested an early second-round pick in Cody Ford, who will compete at tackle and guard on the right side. If the GM is right and Allen's accuracy improves behind solid blocking, he might challenge for QB1 status over an entire season.Derek Carr, RaidersThough Carr's fantasy stock took a hit in the last two seasons, his year-end results haven't been as bad as public perception suggests. Starting in 2018 and going backward to his rookie season, Carr has finished as the QB17, QB19, QB10, QB14, and QB20.Carr set career highs in completion percentage and yards in his first year with Jon Gruden, and at one point went more than two months without throwing an interception. He managed all that with tight end Jared Cook as his most dangerous pass-catching threat once Amari Cooper was traded halfway through the season. Now Carr gets a massive infusion of talent with the elite and motivated Antonio Brown, former Chargers speedster Tyrell Williams, and first-round running back Josh Jacobs.Mark Brown / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhile things are looking up for Oakland's offense, the defense is still a work in progress, which explains the team's Vegas win total of six games. If that holds true, the Raiders will once again find themselves in shootouts or trailing, forcing Carr to take to the air more often in the second half of games.We'll definitely learn more about Carr - and his relationship with his teammates after rumors that they don't respect him - when the Raiders are featured on "Hard Knocks." For now, Carr is a QB2 in fantasy with an outside shot at flirting with QB1 numbers if he can get on the same page as Brown early in the season.Deep ShotsAndy Dalton, Bengals - It doesn't seem possible, but Dalton finished as a top-14 fantasy QB in five of his last eight campaigns. Prior to last season, when the Bengals' offense was crushed by injuries, Dalton was inside the top 20 every year. With a new, offensive-minded coaching staff, a healthier group at the skill positions, and improvements on the line, Dalton should outproduce his current ADP (QB26) to be a solid streamer.Dwayne Haskins, Redskins - Rookie quarterbacks are an unknown commodity in fantasy with a wide range of potential outcomes. Given that Case Keenum and Colt McCoy are his only competition, Haskins has a chance to be under center in Week 1. Though his supporting cast isn't overly exciting, Washington ranked among the top 12 for passing yards in each of Jay Gruden's first four seasons as head coach, with 2018 the lone exception due to Alex Smith's career-threatening injury. If Haskins can continue the development he showed near the end of his time at Ohio State, he could be a surprise fantasy option who will go undrafted in most leagues.Daniel Jones, Giants - Despite all the negativity that surrounded the sixth overall pick, the winds are shifting in New York as the team can no longer justify starting a fading Eli Manning. It's a matter of time before Jones usurps his veteran mentor in 2019, and there's a growing possibility that the switch will occur before the opener. Jones has a long way to go before we can trust him on our fantasy rosters, but his underrated rushing ability should make him intriguing as a bye-week fill-in when his number is called.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Green Bay Packers have waived Michael Roberts two days after claiming him because the tight end failed his physical with the team, a source told ESPN's Field Yates.The New England Patriots initially acquired Roberts in a trade with the Detroit Lions last Thursday, but the deal was rescinded after a shoulder injury resulted in a failed physical. The Lions waived the 25-year-old later that day.Green Bay claimed Roberts on Monday, but he'll now be reverted back to the waiver wire.A fourth-round selection by Detroit in 2017, Roberts caught 13 passes for 146 yards and three touchdowns during his first two NFL seasons. He played in eight games last year before the shoulder injury ended his campaign.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Odell Beckham Jr. is taking an online hiatus.The Cleveland Browns star receiver said Wednesday that he's checking out of social media for the next week-and-a-half to focus on preparing for training camp."Going away till July 1st for trainin'," Beckham posted on his Instagram story, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com"Don't hit me, unless it's beyond urgent. Preciate the love always. Time to lock in!! #BootCamp see y'all soooon."Beckham added that he'll work out with Baker Mayfield, Jarvis Landry, and others in Los Angeles ahead of camp, which is set to begin July 25.This isn't Beckham's first break from social media; he said he was "going dark" in March after his shock trade from the New York Giants, but he returned less than a week later.Beckham skipped voluntary organized team activities in May, and head coach Freddie Kitchens said the wideout missed "a lot" by sitting out.He returned for the Browns' mandatory minicamp in early June and described himself as "giddy" about the prospect of playing in Cleveland's talent-rich offense.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been the NFL's soap opera over the last two seasons in large part due to the drama surrounding stars Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown and their eventual departures from the team.Ben Roethlisberger is the lone "Killer B" left standing in Pittsburgh, and the veteran quarterback is enjoying the lack of controversy surrounding the AFC North club."It's been a little crazy the last few years, maybe more so than usual that we're used to dealing with," Roethlisberger said, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "To kind of get back to quote-unquote normalcy is kind of nice."Bell signed with the New York Jets in free agency, finally receiving the big-money extension he failed to convince the Steelers to hand over after holding out for the entire 2018 campaign.Meanwhile, Antonio Brown was traded to the Oakland Raiders amid a public falling out with Roethlisberger and a breakdown in his relationship with the team over his decision to sit out the regular-season finale.JuJu Smith-Schuster is set to take over as the Steelers' No. 1 target, while James Conner is likely to remain the featured back after rushing for 1,117 yards last season during Bell's absence.However, Roethlisberger knows Pittsburgh will need everyone on offense to step up in order to replace the two All-Pro talents."I'm excited, I really am excited in what we have," Roethlisberger said. "We put a lot of work in, that's what it's going to take, it's going to take a team effort. We're all going to give everything we have and see where it goes. We can't predict the future, but we can predict we're going to give everything we have."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Carolina Panthers and XFL running back Rod Smart has been found safe after he was reported missing for nearly a week, the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday, according to ESPN.Smart had been reported as a "missing endangered person" by authorities in South Carolina just a few hours earlier.The 42-year-old had last been spotted June 12 near Indian Land, S.C., and his family was concerned for his well-being, according to police.Smart was known for sporting "He Hate Me" on his jersey during the XFL's lone season in 2001. He then spent four seasons with the Panthers.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford played through a broken back during the 2018 season, team writer Mike O'Hara revealed in a recent episode of the "Ken Brown & Mike O'Hara Podcast.""He is durable but he does play with injuries," O'Hara said of Stafford. "As it turns out, he had a broken back last year; broken bones in his back."O'Hara, a contributing columnist for the Lions' website, did not disclose when Stafford suffered the injury. The veteran passer was listed on the injury report with a back injury after a loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 13, but he still started all 16 games and the extent of his injury was never revealed.Following the matchup with the Rams, Stafford was limited in practice each of the next three weeks. General manager Bob Quinn said in January that team doctors believed the quarterback could play through his ailment.The former No. 1 pick took a step back last season and his back injury may have been to blame for his overall play. Over his final four games, Stafford threw three touchdowns and averaged just 173 passing yards.Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz also suffered a broken back in 2018, though O'Hara didn't claim Stafford's injury was the same. Wentz was shut down for his team's final three games and was given a three-month timeline for recovery.- With h/t to MLive.comCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready to move over, OBJ.The New Orleans Saints are prepared to make Michael Thomas the NFL's highest-paid wide receiver, sources told ESPN's Dianna Russini. Odell Beckham Jr.'s $18 million per season currently leads all receivers.Extension talks are progressing and the deal should be done by training camp, Russini added.The Saints could be in a race with their division rival Atlanta Falcons to extend their top wideouts. The Falcons are reportedly confident they can reach an agreement with star Julio Jones before camp in July.Jones' deal is also widely expected to reset the top of the receiver market; it's possible the two pass-catchers wait each other out, with the second to sign his extension the most likely to receive the bigger contract.Thomas is entering the final year of his rookie deal after racking up career highs in yards (1,405) and catches (125) in 2018 while tying his personal mark for the most touchdowns (nine) of his three-year career.The Saints standout was named a first-team All-Pro last season. Jones made the second All-Pro team, his fourth straight season making one of the two lists.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hype goes hand in hand with being the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, but according to his Arizona Cardinals teammates, Kyler Murray has been as good as advertised during offseason workouts."Kyler's confident, and he's not a cocky player," pass-rusher Chandler Jones said, according to ESPN's Josh Weinfuss. "For him to be the first overall pick, he's a very confident player. He's composed. I can see him construct, I see him getting guys together in the huddle, and as a young guy, that's something that I admire about him."He's good at grabbing guys' attention. I'm not sure how tall he is, but I see his little helmet and I see a little helmet in the huddle. He's grabbing guys. I'm just, it's impressive. He's an impressive player and I'm still sitting here watching him at practice, getting a front-row seat to the No. 1 pick and the Heisman winner."Standing at just 5-foot-10, Murray is often compared to the only undersized quarterback who's achieved NFL stardom in recent years, Russell Wilson, who's an inch taller than for the former Oklahoma standout.As someone who protected Wilson earlier in his career and is now tasked with keeping Murray upright as a rookie, guard J.R. Sweezy - who spent five seasons with the Seattle Seahawks - believes the comparisons are more than justified."I see hundreds of similarities," Sweezy said. "I always say, we got to see this guy really play. I think he's going to be just fine. But just to even be compared to Russell Wilson is a huge compliment."He's going to back it up. I just love that he's getting compared to him already and everything. He's going to be great."Murray's set to start from Day 1 in head coach Kliff Kingsbury's newly implemented Air Raid offense, in which his dual-threat skill set could be used to lethal effect. In his only season starting in college, the quarterback ran for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns.But for those focused too much on Murray's legs, running back David Johnson says they're missing how good of a passer the rookie already is."First off, he's faster and quicker than I thought when we got on the field," Johnson said. "I think a lot of people underestimate how great he can throw. He throws a dart. Accurate dart."Even in quarterback drills, seeing him throw it at the net and seeing him hit it five (times) in a row. I think a lot of people underestimate his throwing ability."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons believe they will come to an agreement with star wide receiver Julio Jones on a long-term contract extension before training camp begins July 22, sources told ESPN's Dianna Russini.Jones showed up for June's mandatory minicamp despite the issues with his contract, and team owner Arthur Blank said earlier in the month that he wanted the wideout, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, and linebacker Deion Jones "to be Falcons for life."The Falcons reworked Julio Jones' deal last offseason with the promise that the contract - which has two years and $21 million in total remaining - would be extended this year to push him back to the top of the receiver market.Cleveland Browns wideout Odell Beckham Jr.'s $18 million per year leads the position, while Jones' annual mark of $14.25 million sits 12th.The longtime Falcons standout led the NFL with 1,677 yards last season.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.Injuries are an annual cause of torment for fantasy owners, but in the offseason, they're one of the best ways to find value in drafts.Some owners are hesitant to invest an early pick in a player they last saw being carted off the field, creating an opportunity for those who can accurately predict the recovery times and performances of those potential fantasy stars.Let's take a look at the top players who are on the mend and break down how to approach them heading into the season.Cam Newton, QB, PanthersNurPhoto / NurPhoto / GettyWe start off with some good news, as Newton was cleared to resume throwing in OTAs, something that wasn't guaranteed following his shoulder surgery in January. Newton's recovery is coming along so well that the coaching staff has been able to work on his mechanics, a process that started last year but was halted by his injury. Barring a setback, Newton should be a full participant when training camp opens in July.Fantasy prognosis: With Newton's rehab progressing better than expected, fantasy owners can breathe a sigh of relief while simultaneously taking advantage of a discounted draft-day price tag. Prior to having his season cut short in 2018, Newton had the third-most fantasy points among quarterbacks heading into Week 14, making him an absolute steal at his current ADP of QB12 in the ninth round. He was the first player mentioned on our list of risky picks to gamble on in 2019.Carson Wentz, QB, EaglesWentz makes his second straight appearance in this article after a torn ACL and LCL brought an end to his 2017 campaign. This time around it was a back injury that sidelined the Eagles' franchise QB for the end of the regular season and playoffs. Wentz was a full go for OTAs, and Philly's front office showed its confidence in his health by signing him to a four-year, $128-million extension.Fantasy prognosis: Back injuries can be problematic, but the 26-year-old shed some pounds in an effort to help avoid further issues. Wentz drew rave reviews from those in attendance at recent practices and he'll enter his fourth NFL season with the best supporting cast he's ever had. If you didn't read "7 players who will lead you to a fantasy title," let me spoil part of it for you - draft Wentz.Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, 49ersAbbie Parr / Getty Images Sport / GettyGaroppolo's season came to an abrupt end last year when he tore his ACL in Week 3. The 49ers limited his offseason work with their sights set on having him ready to suit up in training camp. Though he should be under center for the opener, we've seen quarterbacks with this injury take time to regain their form even after they've returned to the starting lineup.Fantasy prognosis: If it weren't for the ACL tear, we might be talking about Garoppolo as a potential top-12 fantasy passer. That's the kind of upside he offers in Kyle Shanahan's offense. However, with the quarterback position as deep as it is, there's no reason to take a significant risk on an unproven player in his first year back from a serious injury. He's a low-end QB2 in my latest rankings and someone you should only consider as part of a late-round tandem.Kerryon Johnson, RB, LionsQuinn Harris / Getty Images Sport / GettyJohnson's status for 2019 was never in doubt, even though he missed the final six games last year with a knee issue. The Lions often play coy when discussing injuries, but Johnson suggested he may have been available to play had Detroit made the postseason. With nothing holding him back, Johnson was moving well and looked sharp at minicamp.Fantasy prognosis: As it stands, he's the unquestioned lead back in an offense preparing to be built around its ground attack. Ball carriers are among the league's most injured players, but Johnson will be as healthy as anyone as he tries to break out as a sophomore. He's a high-ceiling RB2 in new coordinator Darrell Bevell's offense.Devonta Freeman, RB, FalconsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyMost running backs are in their prime at 27 years old, but the 5-foot-8, 206-pounder is showing signs of breaking down. His injury file has grown extensively the last two years, with MCL and PCL issues in the final month of 2017 and then foot, knee, and groin ailments that cost him 14 games this past season.Fantasy prognosis: Head coach Dan Quinn said his star back is having an "awesome offseason" and was generally excited to welcome him back to the field for OTAs, but fantasy owners need to be concerned about Freeman's durability. In the third round, I'd rather focus my attention on Marlon Mack or Aaron Jones while keeping Ito Smith, Brian Hill, and Qadree Ollison on my radar as late-round picks or waiver wire targets.Phillip Lindsay, RB, BroncosMatthew Stockman / Getty Images Sport / GettyWrist injuries are worrisome for running backs - after all, we saw David Johnson miss almost an entire season with one. Lindsay suffered his in Week 16 and the team has been reserved about providing details on his recovery. Head coach Vic Fangio downplayed Lindsay being limited to individual drills during OTAs."It's a particular injury that they tell me it's going well, they just don't want it to get bumped on yet," Fangio said. "He could go out there and do everything, but they just want to use this time and the next five weeks to make sure he's ready to go."Fantasy prognosis: It's hard for fantasy owners to feel good about Lindsay when they aren't seeing him stand out the way he did in last year's offseason activities. Coming off his stellar rookie season with 1,278 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns, Lindsay will face more competition for touches from Royce Freeman, whose skills are better suited to the Broncos' new system under Rich Scangarello. Don't avoid Lindsay entirely, but if he slips into the late fourth or early fifth round, he stills represents a value in PPR leagues.Derrius Guice, RB, RedskinsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe start of Guice's pro career has been a nightmare for the 21-year-old, who tore his ACL in the preseason and then needed three surgeries to deal with the ensuing infections. Everything seemed to be progressing well during the offseason until Adam Schefter reported in April that Guice's rehab was "coming along a little slower" than the team had hoped. Head coach Jay Gruden maintains that Guice will be ready for training camp, but the team's transactions indicate Washington may be hedging after re-signing Adrian Peterson and drafting Bryce Love in the fourth round.Fantasy prognosis: If Love redshirts his first year, which is a possibility, Guice will still have to battle Peterson for early-down work and Chris Thompson for passing-down snaps. Even with that risk baked into his now-sixth round ADP, Guice is a player I'm shying away from. The Redskins' offense as a whole is worth steering clear of on draft day.A.J. Green, WR, BengalsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGreen finally graduated to individual drills during minicamp, catching passes from Andy Dalton on the field for the first time since his December toe surgery. It's an encouraging development for a player who missed seven games, including the bulk of the second half of the season with toe and foot issues. The problem for Green will be how much those ailments linger and hamper him at a position that relies on pushing off the toes to change direction on every play.Fantasy prognosis: Green is an elite talent and will remain the focal point of the Bengals' passing attack as he enters his age-31 campaign. This injury can't be understated, though, and could cost him future games. Knowing that, I'm still willing to bet on Green in the third round.Cooper Kupp, WR, RamsJohn McCoy / Getty Images Sport / GettyKupp missed time after injuring his knee in Week 6 before eventually tearing his ACL a month later in mid-November. The coaching staff says the goal is to have Kupp on the field for the opener, but on a team with aspirations of returning to the Super Bowl, there's no reason to rush him back.Fantasy prognosis: Playing most of his snaps out of the slots, Kupp's game is built around agility, short-range speed, and the ability to create separation. A slow start to the 2019 season might be in the cards, making Kupp more of an October trade target than someone you should be reaching for in drafts.Will Fuller, WR, TexansBob Levey / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe speedy Fuller has missed 15 outings over the last two years, stunting his otherworldly production with Deshaun Watson. The midseason ACL tear puts his Week 1 availability in doubt and dramatically increases the odds of soft tissue injuries - something that's plagued him in the past.Fantasy prognosis: Fuller's numbers with Watson are enticing, but it might be best to look elsewhere and avoid the injury report headache that this situation could become. Keke Coutee, who missed 10 games due to hamstring problems as a rookie, would be the beneficiary if Fuller's return was delayed, and he can be drafted three rounds later.Marvin Jones, WR, LionsMichael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / GettyWith the Lions not in playoff contention, the decision was made to shut Jones down for the year due to his knee injury. While that may have hurt some fantasy owners last season, it allowed the 29-year-old to get a head start on his rehab. The team cautiously kept him limited in OTAs, with the expectation that Jones will be fully healthy when next month's training camp kicks off.Fantasy prognosis: Before being placed on injured reserve following Week 10, Jones was a top-27 fantasy receiver, with 50 yards and/or a touchdown in eight of his nine games. He has excellent route-running ability and outstanding ball skills, especially around the end zone, which had him on pace for his second straight nine-score season prior to the injury. His biggest impediment to productive fantasy stats will be the Lions' run-heavy approach, but his touchdown upside can offset that.Emmanuel Sanders, WR, BroncosJohn Leyba / Denver Post / GettyA 32-year-old receiver who suffers a torn Achilles late in the year carries a massive red flag in the fantasy community. Sanders faces an uphill climb just to stay off the early-season PUP list, which would sideline him for the first six games. Head coach Vic Fangio is shockingly optimistic his veteran wideout will return sooner than people think and Sanders is doing everything he can to prove he's on track.Fantasy prognosis: The positivity surrounding Sanders' recovery is great to see, and yet it doesn't move the needle for me one bit. If he makes it into the lineup early in the year, Sanders will struggle to recapture his form and will carry a high risk of re-injury. Even in the 11th round, I'd rather go younger and healthier with Dede Westbrook or Curtis Samuel.O.J. Howard, TE, BuccaneersElsa / Getty Images Sport / GettyDon't be foolish and overlook Howard's 2018 production just because he missed the final six games with foot and ankle issues. Howard was the TE6 through 10 games and was on pace for a 904-yard, eight-touchdown campaign.Fantasy prognosis: This one is simple. Howard has recovered and should be the first name on your list of tight ends to target after the big three of Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Zach Ertz. The only thing that can stop a breakout season here is another injury.Delanie Walker, TE, TitansIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyWalker's 13th NFL season was unfortunately over in Week 1 due to a broken ankle that can only be described as gruesome. Seriously, don't go look up the video. The 34-year-old has been cleared for seven-on-seven drills and claims he's 85 percent healthy, but didn't participate in OTAs. As a well-respected veteran starter, Walker will be given all the time he needs to get right.Fantasy prognosis: Walker's age and the quality of competition behind him - Jonnu Smith and Anthony Firkser - lead you to believe his days as a high-end fantasy option are nearing an end. However, if he's healthy, I'm more than willing to spend a late-round pick in re-draft leagues on a tight end who had four consecutive 800-yard seasons prior to last year.Greg Olsen, TE, PanthersStreeter Lecka / Getty Images Sport / GettyLike Walker, Olsen is a 34-year-old tight end fighting to overcome injuries and extend his career. It's slightly more surprising with the longtime Panther, given the mutual interest between him and the networks that are hoping to sign him as a color commentator once his playing days are done. For now, Olsen seems dedicated to rehabbing the foot issues that have limited him to just 16-of-32 games the last two years.Fantasy prognosis: Foot problems are often the beginning of the end for aging skill-position players, so whether Olsen is ready or not, there's a chance we see him in a broadcast booth before the season's over. While Walker is worth an investment in the double-digit rounds, Olsen's foot injuries push him much further down my rankings to the low-end TE2 range where I'd go with younger upside talent like Mark Andrews or T.J. Hockenson.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Carolina Panthers running back Rod Smart has been reported as a "missing endangered person" by authorities in South Carolina, according to Andrew Dys of the Rock Hill Herald. He's been missing for nearly a week, according to authorities.Smart, 42, was last seen June 12 near Indian Land, S.C., and was driving a silver 2016 Nissan Maxima with the license plate PJR_1759, deputies said. Local police have asked for people to come forward with any information about his whereabouts."Family and deputies have concerns about his well-being and safety," Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Doug Barfield said.The running back was known for sporting "He Hate Me" on his jersey during the XFL's lone season in 2001. The football league is set for a reboot in 2020.Smart then spent four seasons with the Panthers, where he starred primarily as a kick returner. He returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown in 2003.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Mike Alessandrini, Jack Browne, and Alex Chippin reveal which second-year offensive players are poised for a breakout campaign in 2019.Kerryon Johnson, RB, LionsGregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / GettyDespite adding C.J. Anderson in free agency, Johnson is expected to carry the bulk of Detroit's backfield load this season. The former Auburn Tiger shined when healthy last year, as only Saquon Barkley and Nick Chubb eluded more tackles among rookies. Johnson was also successful when given opportunities as a receiver, hauling in every catchable pass thrown his way. The Lions made a few minor changes this offseason to help spark the run game as well, shifting 2018 first-rounder Frank Ragnow back to his natural center spot and drafting tight end T.J. Hockenson No. 8 overall. Hockenson profiles as a dynamic receiver and mauling blocker. Overall, the stars align for Johnson to break out in 2019.Sam Darnold, QB, JetsHis overall numbers were pedestrian, but Darnold's work in the last month of the season - 931 yards, six touchdowns, one interception - inspire optimism for his second year. His decision-making improved drastically down the stretch, and he was particularly lethal when the offense went no-huddle. In the offseason, the Jets improved his supporting cast by acquiring weapons Le'Veon Bell and Jamison Crowder, giving Darnold the tools for a strong campaign.Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, PackersAl Pereira / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Valdes-Scantling hype train seems to be growing with each passing day, and perhaps for good reason. The 2018 fifth-rounder recently drew the attention of Aaron Rodgers, which could go a long way in receiving a healthy share of targets. Valdes-Scantling appears ahead of Geronimo Allison, Trevor Davis, and Equanimeous St. Brown on the Packers' depth chart thanks in large part to his impressive offseason. Despite playing in 64 percent of Green Bay's offensive snaps, the speedy receiver led all rookie receivers with 311 deep receiving yards in 2018. With Rodgers' trust, Valdes-Scantling has breakout written all over him.Isaiah Wynn, OL, PatriotsWynn was on track to claim the starting left tackle spot last year before a preseason Achilles injury wiped out his inaugural campaign. The job is once again his to lose, and there's no reason to believe he won't capitalize on the opportunity. He's working with the NFL's most revered offensive line coach in Dante Scarnecchia, who a year ago helped turn Trent Brown from a relative no-name into a $66-million man. He's also being incorporated into a line that returns four quality starters from 2018, which will ease the pressure he faces.Christian Kirk, WR, CardinalsDylan Buell / Getty Images Sport / GettyKirk had 590 yards and three touchdowns in 12 games last year, and that was in a broken offense devoid of tactical creativity. That won't be an issue under Kliff Kingsbury, a master of the spread offense. Kingsbury is adept at scheming the ball into the hands of his playmakers, which bodes well for Kirk, a strong route-runner who's excellent after the catch. Kirk found success against both zone and man defenses last year, and can play either in the slot or on the outside. Already one of the elder statesmen of Arizona's young receiving corps, he'll be featured in the Cardinals' new offense.Baker Mayfield, QB, BrownsAlthough Mayfield was outstanding as a rookie, vaulting the Browns from 0-16 to 7-8-1, he's still poised to take a giant leap in 2019. Last year's No. 1 overall pick led all first-year quarterbacks in adjusted completion percentage (74 percent, per PFF) and ranked third among all passers with 51.4 percent accuracy on deep passes. Mayfield combines poise, precision, and a gun-slinging mentality from the pocket, and appears to be exactly what Cleveland needs to finally ascend into the NFL's top tier. With Odell Beckham Jr. and Kareem Hunt in tow, the fiery pivot has every opportunity to emerge as an MVP candidate, similar to what we've seen in recent years from Carson Wentz and Patrick Mahomes.Dallas Goedert, TE, EaglesIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThere are plenty of hands to feed in Doug Pederson's offense, but Goedert is one to keep an eye on. Scoring a touchdown on just over 12 percent of his receptions as a rookie, the former South Dakota State product's towering height and ability to use his body make him an ideal red-zone option for Carson Wentz. Zach Ertz will almost certainly be targeted more often, but Goedert has illustrated the ability to produce with less volume. Though spring practices are hardly a guaranteed indicator for success, the former second-rounder consistently dominated defenders during OTAs and minicamp and is a sneaky bet to lead tight ends in touchdowns. Goedert isn't just a big target, however, as he led all 2018 draft-eligible prospects at his position in yards after the catch in college, per PFF.Keke Coutee, WR, TexansAs Deshaun Watson grows into a franchise quarterback and DeAndre Hopkins receives the bulk of the attention, Coutee should emerge as a game-breaking secondary option in Year 2. A dynamic playmaker and shifty route-runner, the fourth-rounder saw 22.7 percent of Watson's targets in the six games he played, per Yahoo's Brad Evans, and gained 209 of his 287 yards after the catch. He also led all rookies by catching 73.7 percent of his targets, according to PFF. Formidable in the slot and on deep routes, Coutee is a high-volume candidate and could take a major leap provided his injury woes are behind him. Fellow youngster Will Fuller may not be at 100 percent in 2019 after tearing his ACL in Week 8.Ito Smith, RB, FalconsThe Washington Post / The Washington Post / GettyThe Falcons drafted Smith as the future replacement for Tevin Coleman, so his quiet debut shouldn't raise too many concerns. Smith isn't as explosive as Coleman, but he's shifty - only five running backs forced more missed tackles per attempt last year (per PFF) - and emerged as a reliable pass-catcher after recording 27 receptions without a drop as a rookie. Atlanta's revamped offensive line should help him improve upon the 3.5 yards he averaged per carry in 2018, and he's certain to receive an uptick in usage following the departure of Coleman in free agency.Dante Pettis, WR, 49ersAfter battling injuries as a rookie, Pettis has every opportunity to become San Francisco's top pass-catching option after Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle. A refined technician, the former second-round pick's 1.79 yards per route run (per PFF) ranked fourth among his fellow rookies in 2018 and ahead of Calvin Ridley, Courtland Sutton, and Christian Kirk. Pettis dropped just one pass during his first campaign and 49ers quarterbacks earned a 124.7 passer rating when targeting him (fourth-best mark among rookies). After Marquise Goodwin took a step back last season, Pettis may only have to fend off rookie Deebo Samuel to be listed atop the depth chart and emerge as Jimmy Garoppolo's favorite target.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After signing defensive centerpiece Cameron Jordan to an extension last week, the New Orleans Saints appear to be turning their attention to Michael Thomas' contract.During an appearance on Mad Dog Sports Radio, general manager Mickey Loomis confirmed the Saints have "had some conversations" with the All-Pro receiver regarding a new deal.Loomis failed to disclose details of the discussions or whether they were ongoing, but claimed he wanted to make Thomas "a Saint for a long time."The 26-year-old wideout, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, said in May he believes the two sides will handle discussions professionally.Thomas is already one of the NFL's premier receivers, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards in each of his three seasons. He led the league with 125 receptions in 2018 and added 1,405 yards and nine touchdowns.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Michael Roberts is staying in the NFC North, as the Green Bay Packers claimed the former Detroit Lions tight end off the waiver wire Monday.The New England Patriots initially acquired Roberts via trade on Thursday, but Detroit announced just a day later that the third-year player had reverted back to its roster after reportedly failing a physical. He was waived later that day.Roberts, a fourth-round selection by the Lions in 2017, caught 13 passes for 146 yards and three touchdowns during his first two seasons. He played in eight games last year before a shoulder injury ended his campaign.He'll likely compete with veteran Marcedes Lewis and rookie Jace Sternberger for snaps behind Jimmy Graham.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans are no longer pursuing Nick Caserio for their general manager vacancy, but the New England Patriots' director of player personnel could still be destined for the AFC South team.Caserio wants out of New England and remains interested in joining the Texans as their GM, the Boston Globe's Ben Volin reports.The executive has one year remaining on his contract, and it appears the Patriots want him to at least fulfill his current deal.Houston said it ended the pursuit of Caserio after being "made aware of certain terms in Nick's contract with the Patriots." In response, New England rescinded the tampering charges it had filed against Houston. It was the second straight year that the Super Bowl champion had blocked Caserio from interviewing with the team.The Texans reportedly intend to move ahead with head coach Bill O'Brien and executive vice president of team development Jack Easterby jointly handling the GM duties for the 2019 season. This could potentially leave the door open for Caserio to join next offseason when he's no longer under contract.Houston shockingly fired Brian Gaine after one season on June 7, one day after Easterby - who previously worked for New England - attended the Patriots' Super Bowl ring unveiling party, where Caserio was also present.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Todd Gurley tore his ACL in his junior season in college, and the star running back's trainer confirmed his client is dealing with an "arthritic component to his knee.""Everybody knew when Todd came out of Georgia that there would be some kind of arthritic component to his knee, which is part of every surgery whether it's a shoulder, a knee, an ankle," Travelle Gaines told CBS Sports' Dave Richard last week."He's now at the year-five mark. All we're doing is managing that. If we can pound him less in the offseason while keeping his weight down, working on his strength, working on his agility in short areas, that's going to give him a better chance to be healthy Weeks 14 through 17 when they really count."It was reported in March that Gurley has arthritis in his left knee.The runner's decreased usage was one of the leading stories of the Los Angeles Rams' run to the Super Bowl; Gurley missed the final two games of the regular season and averaged just 10.6 carries over his final five appearances of the campaign, including the playoffs.The Rams are reportedly expected to lighten Gurley's workload in 2019, with third-round pick Darrell Henderson likely to slide into the backup role that C.J. Anderson excelled in toward the end of last year.However, Gaines doesn't envision too much change in how Los Angeles uses its franchise back."It's never been told to me that there's a plan to decrease his workload come Week 1," Gaines said. "At the end of the day, you need solid running backs, and they grabbed a home-run running back in the third round. ... If you watched the games last year, Todd typically sat out two to three series last year. I don't see anything changing with that, so you need a back who can catch, and I believe Darrell averaged around 9.0 yards per carry - a home-run type guy."Head coach Sean McVay said last week that Gurley will "absolutely" be ready for training camp after sitting out all offseason workouts and minicamp. Gaines said the rest was needed if the Rams want to rely on his client late in the year."Todd was paid $60 million over four years and the Rams want to get every dime out of that contract," he said. "So what good is it to pound him in April and May when you need him in November, December, and January?"Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos players will don helmets sporting a "Mr. B" decal during the season in remembrance of late owner Pat Bowlen, team president Joe Ellis announced Monday, according to Troy Renck of Denver7.Bowlen died last week after a battle with Alzheimer's disease.The Broncos will also have a moment for Bowlen prior to their first regular-season game. In addition, the team will honor Bowlen and Champ Bailey for their recent inductions into the Hall of Fame during the Week 6 contest against the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 13.Ellis added that Denver is unlikely to rename Mile High Stadium after Bowlen."I try to think what he would want," said Ellis. "I don't think he would want that. I don't think we are going to do that ... He would say, 'Joe, you are off track with that.'"Broncos general manager John Elway, who played 15 seasons for Bowlen before being brought back by the longtime owner to run the team's front office, paid tribute to his mentor's rare generosity."He ran his football team with his heart and not his pocketbook," said Elway, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. "The players felt that. Why was he so close to the players? Because he never let the money get in the way of that."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Green Bay Packers' season likely depends on how quickly the marriage between Aaron Rodgers and new head coach Matt LaFleur can blossom.The installation of LaFleur's offensive system is the first major schematic change the star quarterback has experienced in the NFL after spending 14 seasons under the guidance of Mike McCarthy.The Packers will attempt to replicate the offensive philosophy of Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay, which has been hugely productive in recent years. However, the system limits the quarterback's ability to audible at the line of scrimmage. LaFleur revealed the Packers are still working out that issue with their veteran quarterback, who's made a career out of improvising plays outside the structure of his scheme."Aaron and I have had some good talks, and we're going to have to talk a lot more - and one thing we have to work through is the audible thing," LaFleur told Mike Silver of NFL Network last week. "We're running a system I first picked up while working with Kyle (Shanahan) in Houston a decade ago, and we've never really had a quarterback who's had complete freedom to change plays at the line because that's not really the way the offense is set up. But, I mean, this is Aaron Rodgers. He's had a lot of freedom to make those calls, and deservedly so. Now, how do we reconcile that, and get to a place where we put him in the best position to succeed?"LaFleur's system is designed to have a built-in "answer" to whatever look the defense gives, and because of the amount of pre-snap movement, the coach is concerned that too much freedom under center could "slow our guys down."But LaFleur knows he has a "special talent" in Rodgers, who said the Packers need to find a way to use that rare element of his skill set."It's a conversation in progress," Rodgers said. "I don't think you want to ask me to turn off 11 years (of recognizing defenses). We have a number of check-with-mes and line-of-scrimmage stuff. It's just the other stuff that really not many people in this league can do."That's not like a humblebrag or anything; that's just a fact. There aren't many people that can do at the line of scrimmage what I've done over the years. I mean, obviously, Tommy (Brady) can do it, no doubt. Peyton (Manning) could do it. Drew (Brees) can do it. (Patrick) Mahomes will be able to do it. Ben (Roethlisberger) has called the two-minute for years. ... It's kind of second nature. And that's just the icing on the cake for what I can do in this offense."McCarthy was widely criticized for allowing Green Bay's offense to stagnate. At 35 years old, Rodgers' future success could be determined by how much he's willing to cede to a new coach who's just four years his senior.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' backfield lacks star power, but head coach Bruce Arians doesn't have an issue with a committee approach."I like our backfield. I think it's (an) OK backfield. There's not a David Johnson or a Todd Gurley. But you don't need one," Arians said, per Ira Kaufman of JoeBucsFan.Peyton Barber sits atop the Bucs' depth chart, with second-year back Ronald Jones, who's looking to rebound from a disappointing rookie season, next in line. The likes of Andre Ellington and Dare Ogunbowale are set to fight it out for a backup role.The Bucs refrained from signing a running back in free agency despite players like Le'Veon Bell, Tevin Coleman, and Mark Ingram available on the open market.For Arians, though, it's a position that doesn't require significant resources to be productive."I mean (sigh), I don't overpay for that position," said Arians. "David Johnson came in as a rookie, lit it on fire. You just got to find the right guys to fit what you want to do."Only nine teams will spend less on running backs in 2019 than the Bucs, whose $5.94-million bill for the position is a shade over one-third of the Buffalo Bills' league-leading mark, according to Over The Cap.Tampa Bay will likely be hoping the switch to Arians' offense will be enough to kickstart the ineffective ground game from a year ago. In 2018, the team's rushing attack ranked 29th in yards per game and 31st in yards per carry, and its longest rush all season was an NFL-worst 28 yards.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - To become an NFL player without following the conventional route through high school and college in the United States, Christian Wade finds it's a lot like learning how to cook.For the past five months, the former English rugby union standout has been on a crash course in how to be a running back.Wade, 28, was assigned to the Buffalo Bills in April after he and three others emerged from the 2019 International Player Pathway Program, an initiative that allows athletes from outside North America to develop while occupying an additional spot on a team's practice squad.Wade was an accomplished winger for Wasps RFC in Premiership Rugby for over seven years and traveled the world with England as well as the British and Irish Lions. The raw ingredients are there for the NFL. Now it's a matter of putting it all together."It's like being a chef: you can read all the steps, you can memorize all the steps - you're supposed to do this and do this, use this amount of blah. Then, when you've actually got to do it, can you make it look how it's supposed to look? Make it taste right?" Wade said in an interview at the Bills facility. "That's kind of where I'm at now."Wade left the six-time league champions in October after accumulating 82 tries, 10 adrift of Premiership Rugby's all-time mark. The record was there for him to obliterate: he once grounded the ball an unsurpassed six times in a single match.Tony Marshall / Getty Images Sport / GettyHe was a pacey winger who excelled using his own unique playbook. He curated and conducted before charging through enemy lines; his unpredictability was a constant problem for opposition teams and a thrill for fans."I think when I first started I kind of missed it," he admitted of leaving rugby for the gridiron. "I was like, 'Aw man, you have to step like this, you have to take the ball like this, you have to run routes and stuff.' But nah, I love it, man. I enjoy it."Wade believed he needed a new challenge. Seemingly at his sporting peak, he aimed to become the first person to leave rugby union in England and make a 53-man NFL roster."I wanted to stimulate my mind differently and also challenge myself physically against some of the best athletes in the world - if not the best," he said.Wade has given up a lot to pursue his NFL dream. He's left family and friends behind, and a source told theScore that he was earning between £250,000 and £300,000 ($315,000 and $378,000) annually with Wasps. Wade is likely to spend the upcoming season in the Bills' practice squad, where players' yearly takings began at $129,200 in 2018."I don't have a backup plan," he confessed.Wade is following a couple of other familiar faces from rugby union. Alex Gray, a former England Under-20 teammate, landed with the Atlanta Falcons in 2017 as a tight end and is still a member of their expanded offseason roster. Christian Scotland-Williamson, who went to the same school as Wade, joined the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, also as a tight end. Scotland-Williams remains with the team as a second-year participant in the pathway scheme.Buffalo BillsSo far, only two players from the program have earned a spot on a game-day roster: Jordan Mailata, a Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle, who arrived via Australian rugby league; and Efe Obada, a Carolina Panthers defensive end who was an amateur football player in England."The playbook's obviously one hurdle but, for me, I'm finding the other basic fundamentals like handoffs, different footwork and stuff, reading blockers - that's like a totally new thing," Wade described of his own acclimation.Wade's individuality and imagination on the rugby pitch could be stifled by the more regimented NFL playbook, but the drawbacks of his rugby game are less noticeable in football."In his (rugby) position, defensively, he'd have to tackle guys who could be nearly seven stone (98 pounds) heavier than him, certainly going on for a foot taller than him," Alex Lowe, deputy rugby correspondent for The Times, said of Wade's defensive attributes.Wade's supposed frailties in this department denied him more than one England cap. His last international appearance was a solitary tour match with the British and Irish Lions six years ago. In the NFL, the 5-foot-9 speedster can focus purely on offense."He doesn't have to spend some of his week's training time on defense, to try to improve an area that he's naturally going to be less effective at," Lowe explained. "He can actually spend his whole week improving the areas that are already his brilliant strength, which are his pace, his footwork, and his attacking instincts."Nathaniel MendelsonThe current setup in Orchard Park should give Wade every chance to compile a convincing case to be on Buffalo's 2020 roster. The Bills' $18-million state-of-the-art sports performance center was opened at their training complex in April and is the envy of many NFL teams.He seems to fit into the team dynamic, performing the boyish prank of tapping a teammate on his opposite shoulder during Wednesday's practice while joking with fellow rookie running back Devin Singletary.Wade also has two staunch supporters in Joe Collins and Jo Clubb, the faces of the sports performance department who joined the Bills after leaving similar roles in their native United Kingdom. "We've got a little Team GB," Wade grinned."When you're trying to introduce your kids to rugby, you want them to watch Christian Wade," Lowe said, noting the player's infectious smile and "electricity" in his play. But it's not just what he does on the field that should influence the next generation; Wade's outlook could serve as a valuable lesson far outside the sporting sphere."I might have given up on other opportunities, I dunno, but I'm a strong believer in doing what makes me happy; making the most out of life's opportunities."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce was dismissed from minicamp Tuesday after he reported heavier than his 340-pound playing weight.Pierce provided an explanation Friday, chalking it up to his workout regimen."Throughout the offseason, I tend to lift more than run. Being a nose guard, I want to be strong or whatnot. I, honestly, just mismanaged my running a little bit," Pierce said on WNSP-FM, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley."At the end of the day, you expect a team leader to come back in better shape than I did. That's a mistake on my behalf I have to correct. I don't want to get into much more than that."Pierce commended head coach John Harbaugh for being fair to him throughout the incident.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

UFC president Dana White will apparently remain with the promotion for the foreseeable future.White said during a radio interview with Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com that he signed a 10-year deal to remain with the UFC.The 49-year-old said in March that he had inked a new seven-year pact with the promotion.White also expressed an interest in partnering again with former UFC owners Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta to expand his profile to other sports."TMZ just got Lorenzo the other day in New York and Lorenzo confirmed that they are looking at NFL teams. I heard the (Carolina) Panthers, that the (Denver) Broncos were available, that the (Los Angeles) Chargers might be up for sale," White said. "We'll have to see how this plays out, but yeah, if they buy a team, I'm in. I will partner with them."The Panthers were purchased by hedge fund founder David Tepper in May 2018 for $2.2 billion, the Chargers are owned by Dean Spanos after Alex Spanos died in October, and Broncos owner Pat Bowlen died Thursday but had no role in running the team since 2014.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears safety Eddie Jackson is not short on confidence going into the 2019 season.Following the Bears' reversal of fortune, going from a 5-11 record in 2017 to 12-4 and the third seed in the NFC playoffs in 2018, Jackson sees grandeur in the team's future."Right now we just want to build off everything and let that be the fuel to our fire. We plan on taking this whole thing," Jackson said to Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times at a celebrity softball game Saturday.He said the team is motivated by its 16-15 wild-card round loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, which ended on a blocked game-winning field-goal attempt."Everything - how short, and how far, we came. From the losing record to the winning record. How short we came, with the first-round playoff game with the field goal," he said.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

O.J. Simpson caused a stir over the weekend after launching his official Twitter account with a video saying he has a "little gettin' even to do.''During a phone interview with The Associated Press, Simpson declined to elaborate on the statement, according to ESPN.In a second video posted on Saturday, the former NFL running back thanked his followers while also expressing his excitement to interact on the social media platform."For years, people have been able to say whatever they want to say about me with no accountability," he said. "But now I get to challenge a lot of that B.S. and set the record straight."More importantly, I'll be able to talk about everything, especially sports, fantasy football, and even politics."Through mid-day Sunday, Simpson has surpassed 500,000 Twitter followers.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

An even more versatile Alvin Kamara is a dangerous thought for NFL defenses.Already one of the most difficult players to defend, the New Orleans Saints running back is focused on adding different facets to his game this offseason."I'm so anxious to see like, 'What else?' You know what I'm saying? What else could I do? Where else could I line up? How else could I be successful? That's the best part of this profession for me," Kamara said on Friday, according to Glenn Guilbeau of the Lafayette Daily Advertiser. "What's the next step you're going to take? 'OK, he was good last year. How are you going to prove that you are what you are?'"Though Kamara said he hit a rookie wall in 2017, he leaned on quarterback Drew Brees to improve his understanding of the Saints' offense, and to read defenses better."From my first year to now, there were a lot of things I was trying to figure out," Kamara said. "I took a step back and was like, 'All right, well, if I want to be the best, then I've got to know what the best knows.' And I think Drew is probably one of the (smartest) - if not the smartest - people playing football right now. I can only get better if I know as much as Drew or try to be on the same page at least as Drew."The Pro Bowler has been successful as a runner and receiver early in his career. Still just 23 years old, Kamara has totaled 31 touchdowns in 31 games, averaged 5.1 yards per carry, and amassed 81 receptions in each of his first two NFL campaigns."I don't feel like a vet," he said. "It's my third year, but it's been quick. I still feel like I consider myself a younger guy still. But my rookie year, it was more like, 'Shoot, I hope I don't mess up.' Now, I'm smart. I'll say I'm an A-plus. I'm in the top percentile right now."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jacksonville Jaguars fined linebacker Telvin Smith $88,650 for missing the team's mandatory minicamp this week, according to The Associated Press.Smith announced in May that he's sitting out the 2019 season due to personal reasons, and he confirmed the fine Saturday on Instagram.The NFL's collective bargaining agreement mandates the fine. The defender can avoid future penalties by filing retirement paperwork with the league. Jacksonville can then place him on the reserve/retired list, freeing up Smith's roster spot and removing his salary-cap hit.In his May announcement, Smith didn't reveal whether he's planning to retire. However, the veteran did note he wants to end his career with the Jaguars.The 28-year-old signed a four-year, $45-million extension with the Jaguars in October 2017. He earned a Pro Bowl selection that season but wasn't as effective in 2018.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In an endearing statement Saturday, former quarterback Peyton Manning acknowledged the death of Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen."My deepest sympathies go out to the entire Bowlen family," he began. "I met Mr. Bowlen for the first time when I played for the Indianapolis Colts and I was over in Hawaii at the Pro Bowl when he was also there at his Hawaiian home. I saw him several times throughout the years and had short, brief conversations with him that I really enjoyed."Coming to play here for Denver, even though his health was declining, I did enjoy a couple of conversations with Mr. Bowlen. In my first year in 2012, I was here a lot in the offseason. As soon as I signed with the Broncos, I was basically living at the facility - studying film, rehabbing and working out. I was usually one of the last to leave the facility during that time. I say, 'I thought I was the last to leave,' but Mr. Bowlen was still there. He'd usually be in the training room on the elliptical, and I would go in there and have conversations with him. He was asking me if we found a place to live yet, and I remember once I told him we found a place to live, he told me he used to live right near there, and we talked a little about that. Just short, brief conversations, and I enjoyed that time with him."Bowlen died Friday morning at the age of 75. He battled Alzheimer's disease in his later years, which forced him to step down as Broncos CEO in 2014.Manning played for the Broncos from 2012-15, steering the franchise to two Super Bowl appearances and a championship. Denver captured three titles during Bowlen's reign."It was an honor to play for Mr. Bowlen's organizations, as I've said numerous times," Manning said. "I always had great respect for the Denver Broncos during my time playing for the Colts competing against his organization. So much of that credit goes to Pat Bowlen and his desire to be the best and to win. That had a lot to do with signing with the Denver Broncos - that I know Mr. Bowlen was all about winning and I knew the people that he had hired would carry on that tradition and legacy. It was a great decision to come play here - we still live here today. I'm grateful for Mr. Bowlen and the legacy that he's established with the Broncos, in the NFL, and certainly in this Denver community. He will be missed by many. It was an honor to know Mr. Bowlen and a real pleasure to have played for his team - the Denver Broncos.Several others associated with the Broncos have posted heartfelt messages since Bowlen's death.Bowlen was recently selected for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the 2019 class.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After an impressive offseason program, rookie Dwayne Haskins will be given every opportunity to win the Washington Redskins' quarterback competition.Haskins, the 15th overall pick from this year's draft out of Ohio State, is battling veterans Case Keenum and Colt McCoy for the starting job."Dwayne is the wild card," head coach Jay Gruden told John Keim of ESPN.The Redskins anointed Haskins as their quarterback of the future when they drafted him but were more reserved about calling him their QB of the present. The 22-year-old started just 14 games in college, prompting questions about his ability to make an immediate impact."You see the 'wow' plays and you're like, 'Jesus,'" Gruden said of the youngster. "When he's on, there's nobody you'd rather have than Dwayne. Really. It's pretty. He stands tall; he has a cannon, and he can quicken up his release. He's got great touch. Strong, powerful arm; strong, powerful body. But sometimes when he's off, he's abnormally off. It's kind of weird."Washington will have to weigh the "wow" plays against the equally jarring mistakes expected from any rookie signal-caller."The most important thing is to quicken his reads so he can reset his feet and get them underneath him to make accurate throws," said Gruden. "That comes with time. Sometimes, he's in such a hurry that he might be late and then he feels he has to rush."It's clear, though, that Haskins possesses more upside than Keenum and McCoy, both of whom have served as backups for the majority of their careers."He can just see the whole field extremely well," Gruden said. "For a young quarterback, a lot of times when there are rushers they have a tendency to look down. He has a natural ability to keep his eyes up and down the field. It's like a video game where he can see and make all the throws. There's a lot to like about him, and there's a lot to clean up, as we would expect. But he's been impressive."The comfort level he has to continue to get. When he calls a play and knows exactly what we're trying to do, or when I start to call a formation, he knows what play is coming. That will come with time, lots and lots of time."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans are no longer pursuing New England Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio for their vacant general manager position, the team announced on Friday.As a result, the Patriots are dropping their tampering charges against the Texans, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle."When we started the process to interview Nick Caserio for our EVP/GM position, we consulted the league office on numerous occasions, followed the procedures outlined in the league's rules, and believed we were in full compliance," Texans CEO Cal McNair said in a statement."We have now been made aware of certain terms in Nick's contract with the Patriots," he continued. "Once we were made aware of these contract terms, I informed (Patriots owner Robert) Kraft that we would stop pursuing Nick."Kraft subsequently released a statement commending the Texans' handling of the situation.The Patriots reportedly filed tampering charges against the Texans on Wednesday after Houston's executive vice president of team development Jack Easterby, a former Patriots employee, attended the Pats' Super Bowl ring unveiling party on June 6. Houston fired its former general manager Brian Gaine the next day.The Texans could move ahead with Easterby and head coach Bill O'Brien handling the general manager duties for the 2019 season, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Caserio's contract with the Patriots expires after the 2020 draft, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots' attempt to bolster their tight end group has hit another brick wall.After the Patriots acquired two-year pro Michael Roberts from the Detroit Lions on Thursday, the Lions announced Friday that Roberts had reverted back to their roster and was then waived.Roberts failed his physical with the Patriots, a source informed ESPN's Adam Schefter.Since losing All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski to retirement this offseason, the Patriots failed to land Jared Cook in free agency, signed Austin Seferian-Jenkins only to release him for personal reasons, and added Benjamin Watson, who will serve a suspension for the first four games of the 2019 season.Behind Watson, the Patriots are currently relying on Matt LaCosse, Stephen Anderson, and Ryan Izzo at the tight end position. Neither has recorded more than 25 receptions in a season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns receiver Jarvis Landry doesn't believe Baker Mayfield's recent comments regarding Duke Johnson will hinder team chemistry.Several players reportedly approached Mayfield in the locker room after the Browns quarterback said he hoped the disgruntled running back, who had voiced his desire to move on from Cleveland, "does his job."But Landry said Friday the whole ordeal has been blown out of proportion."I say to you: it's a non-issue," Landry told reporters, including Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan. "It's not one we're feeling any particular way about. It's blown up from your guys' end more than it really is ..."My relationship with Duke is always going to be the same."The players who were reportedly irked by Mayfield inserting himself into another player's business situation hashed out their disagreements with the quarterback, according to NFL Network's Michael Silver.Cleveland reportedly doesn't plan to honor Johnson's trade request, which stems from a projected lack of playing time behind Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.The Browns finished the 2018 season with a 7-8-1 record after going 1-31 over the previous two campaigns. They've had an active offseason, acquiring several notable players including Odell Beckham Jr., Olivier Vernon, and Sheldon Richardson.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, who died Thursday night after a battle with Alzheimer's disease, was among the most influential figures in NFL history.Bowlen's three decades in Denver featured Hall of Fame players such as John Elway and Terrell Davis, and the former Super Bowl-winning backfield duo led an outpouring of love on Friday.

Jalen Ramsey is looking to break the cornerback market wide open in 2020.In a recent Instagram Live video alongside teammate Leonard Fournette, Ramsey insisted he'll ask for an "ungodly" amount of money from the Jacksonville Jaguars when it comes time to negotiate a new deal."They're going to say ... 'We can't get a little discount, 20 percent off?" Ramsey added, shaking his head. "I'm going to tell them, 'Last year, you all could have got that discount. This year? Nuh-uh.'"Ramsey recently told reporters that the Jaguars said an extension isn't on the table this season. There are still two years remaining on his current deal after Jacksonville exercised his $13.7-million, fifth-year option, but the star defender plans to receive an extension before the contract runs out.Ramsey has emerged as one of the NFL's top cornerbacks after the Jaguars selected him fifth overall in 2016. He's a two-time Pro Bowler and was named a first-team All-Pro in 2017.The 24-year-old will earn a base salary of $3.634 million in 2019.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL world is in mourning after the death of Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen on Thursday night.In Bowlen's 35 years at the helm, the Broncos made seven Super Bowls, winning three, and established themselves as one of the league's most revered franchises.Bowlen's influence also extended far beyond Denver, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell paid homage to his impact on the game."Pat was driven by the will to succeed and his competitive spirit made him a great leader," Goodell said in a statement on Friday. "We all will greatly miss him and his kindness, passion, and wisdom. Pat had a deep love for the game of football, the Broncos and the city of Denver. In the 35 years he owned the Broncos, he helped deliver a remarkable 21 winning seasons and seven Super Bowl appearances, including three titles."Our league is also better because of Pat's extraordinary contributions. As co-chair of the NFL Management Council Executive Committee and the chair of the NFL Broadcasting Committee, Pat played an instrumental role in many facets of our league that benefited fans, players, and clubs.”"Pat personified all that’s right about the NFL and is extremely deserving of this summer's recognition as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. We send our deepest condolences to Annabel, the Bowlen family, and Broncos fans in Denver and around the world."While remaining owner, Bowlen relinquished control of the Broncos in 2014 after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, the year before the team won its third championship at Super Bowl 50.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Denver Broncos announced the passing of owner Pat Bowlen early Friday morning at age 75.Bowlen purchased the Broncos in 1984, serving as the team's CEO until July 2014 when he stepped down due to his battle with Alzheimer's disease."This is a very sad day for our organization, our community, and the National Football League," team president and CEO Joe Ellis said in a statement. "Pat Bowlen was the heart and soul of the Denver Broncos. Not only was Pat a Hall of Fame owner - he was a Hall of Fame person."His competitiveness, kindness, and humility are the qualities that I will always remember. Even during his battle with Alzheimer's, you could still see that same strength and dignity in Pat that he brought to the office every single day for more than 30 years."Bowlen was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a contributor in the class of 2019 and will be enshrined in August. He was the first owner in NFL history to see his team accumulate 300 wins during his first 30 seasons.Amazingly, Bowlen's Broncos had as many Super Bowl appearances as losing seasons (seven) after he took over the franchise. Denver won the championship in three of those appearances.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A lack of progress in contract talks with the Dallas Cowboys isn't bothering quarterback Dak Prescott."It happens when it happens," Prescott told David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. "I've got my Cowboy hat on so I'm a Cowboy, let's say that."Indeed, Prescott sported a cowboy hat Thursday while addressing reporters at the end of mandatory minicamp:

Draft analyst Todd McShay will remain at ESPN after removing himself from consideration for a personnel role with the New York Jets, sources informed ESPN's Chris Mortensen.McShay previously said he was being considered for a front-office position under new Jets general manager Joe Douglas.Instead, Mortensen reports Chicago Bears assistant director of player personnel Champ Kelly, who interviewed for the Jets' GM job, is a candidate to work alongside Douglas.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay and quarterback Jared Goff are tied at the hip, and that doesn't figure to change anytime soon.Goff has just two years left on his rookie deal with the Rams after the team exercised his fifth-year option for 2020, but McVay is adamant his signal-caller will be offered an extension."Whether it ends up happening this year or next year, there is a zero percent chance this guy's not gonna get an extension he's worthy of," McVay said to NFL Network's Michael Silver.It's been suggested the Rams could move on from Goff when his rookie deal is done in favor of a cheaper option at quarterback considering much of the team's finances are tied up in other franchise players."All the narratives out there are wrong. Jared and I couldn't be more connected, and I couldn't be more appreciative of him as our leader," McVay said. "He is so vital and important to us and our success. That extension will get done. It's a matter of when, not if."McVay inherited Goff when he joined the Rams in 2017. Following a rookie season in which he went 0-7 as a starter under the Jeff Fisher regime in 2016, Goff and McVay combined to form a dynamic offensive attack that led to an 11-5 record in 2017 and a 13-3 record with a trip to the Super Bowl in 2018.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Several veterans on the Cleveland Browns voiced their displeasure to Baker Mayfield about his pointed comments regarding disgruntled running back Duke Johnson, sources told NFL Network's Michael Silver.The second-year quarterback publicly chided Johnson on June 4 when he was asked about the latter's trade request."Obviously, he's going to handle his stuff how he wants, but you're either on this train or you're not. It's moving - you can get out the way or you can join us," he said. "... He's gotta do his job. He said he's a professional, I hope he does his job."The veterans hashed out their differences with Mayfield, according to Silver.Johnson's trade request stemmed from a lack of projected playing time behind Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. The latter will be eligible to join the active roster after serving an eight-game suspension.The Browns added plenty of talent in the offseason, though Silver reports they've also struggled to transition to new offensive coordinator Todd Monken. As a result, first-year head coach Freddie Kitchens, who finished last season as the interim offensive coordinator, has apparently spent more time than expected on installing his system.Cleveland finished last season 7-8-1 and hasn't made the playoffs since 2002.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.