The New York Jets requested general manager interviews with Philadelphia Eagles vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas and Chicago Bears assistant director of player personnel Champ Kelly, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Both executives have ties to Jets head coach and interim general manager Adam Gase. The Jets reportedly sent out other interview requests as well.Douglas is viewed as the favorite to land the job. He's worked in the Eagles' front office since 2016 and helped build Philadelphia's 2018 championship team.Kelly has been in an executive role with the Bears for one year but previously served as their director of pro scouting. He and Douglas both come from scouting backgrounds.The Jets are looking for a top personnel man to replace Mike Maccagnan, who was fired May 15.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Gerald McCoy will meet with the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday after finishing his Cleveland Browns visit without a deal, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.The defensive tackle could still wind up with the Browns, as discussions between the two sides are ongoing, a league source told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.McCoy made Cleveland the first stop of his free-agent tour. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released the 31-year-old on Monday, ending his nine-season tenure with the team that drafted him.The veteran defender has garnered a great deal of interest as a free agent but is apparently interested only in joining a contender."I want to win," McCoy told ESPN. "I'm not worried about where I'm living. Wherever I got to go to win .. Everybody's open."McCoy made six Pro Bowls while with the Buccaneers, and he's recorded six-plus sacks in each of the last six campaigns.Whereas the Browns added to their defensive line this offseason with the acquisitions of Olivier Vernon and Sheldon Richardson, the Ravens lost key linemen Terrell Suggs, Za'Darius Smith, and Brent Urban.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Leonard Fournette says he used the offseason to reset ahead of the 2019 campaign."Everybody has a bad year," the 24-year-old said Friday, according to ESPN's Michael DiRocco.The Jacksonville Jaguars running back admitted he made mistakes in 2018, including an arrest for driving with a suspended license. He was also ejected from a game and suspended for another after exchanging on-field punches with the Buffalo Bills' Shaq Lawson in Week 12.Fournette, who was held out of the final game of the season and chastised by team executive Tom Coughlin for his behavior on the bench, said he doesn't feel he has to prove his reliability to the Jaguars and is looking forward to the new season."It's a new year," he said. "We have a new team. We're focused and we have new players. It's a new year for us. So it's a new everything. It's a clean start for a lot of us guys. We're not focused on the past. The past's the past."Some things I did, whether it was offseason and I admitted to, yeah I was wrong. We moved on. We're in a good place right now."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Retired quarterback Donovan McNabb first became eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017, and he's yet to make it to even the semifinal cut.McNabb believes he's been wronged."Absolutely, and I'm not hesitating on that. I am a Hall of Famer. My numbers speak for themselves," McNabb said Friday on TMZ Sports." ... My numbers are better than Troy Aikman, but he has Super Bowl rings and he's played with Hall of Famers as well."McNabb played 13 seasons, posting a 98-62-1 record. The six-time Pro Bowler threw for 37,276 yards, with 234 touchdowns and 117 interceptions.In 12 seasons, Aikman went 94-71 while throwing for 32,942 yards, with 165 touchdowns and 141 interceptions. Aikman was named to the Pro Bowl six times too, but he's also a three-time Super Bowl champion. He was a key piece of the Dallas Cowboys' dynasty when the team won three championships in four seasons between 1991 and 1994.McNabb understands enshrinement isn't based purely on statistics."When you look at my numbers, yeah, but then they always want to add other stuff onto it. 'Was he an All-Pro? Was he this? How many Super Bowl opportunities?'" McNabb said. "But, people don't realize how hard it is to get to the NFC Championship and to get there five times, and then make it to a Super Bowl? It's tough."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Longtime cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones announced his retirement Friday on Instagram after 14 years in the NFL.Jones split his career between the Tennessee Titans, Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, and Denver Broncos. He was an All-Pro selection with the Bengals in 2014 and a Pro Bowler the following season.The sixth overall pick in 2005, Jones entered the league with the Titans. He became one of the most electrifying defenders and returners in the NFL, but his troubles off the field often overshadowed his in-game accomplishments.He enjoyed the most successful and stable seasons of his career in Cincinnati, where he played from 2010-17. He was a key contributor on many strong Bengals defenses, helping them make the playoffs five times.The 35-year-old notched 17 interceptions and returned five punts for touchdowns in 146 career games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is confident the NFL will not discipline Ezekiel Elliott for knocking a security guard to the ground at a Las Vegas music festival on Saturday."I think that the main thing is that I don't see anything that needs supporting," Jones said on Thursday, according to ESPN's Todd Archer. "In terms of his status with us, (it) has not been impacted in any way. And frankly, I know how conscientious he has been in the offseason, and that's good enough. No, I don't see that having any consequences for us."The running back was handcuffed by police following the altercation but was not arrested. Elliott's attorney, Frank Salzano, labeled the incident an overreaction by the festival's security after his client was shown arguing with his girlfriend.Elliott was suspended for six games in 2017 after an NFL investigation into an incident with his ex-girlfriend. He wasn't charged with a criminal offense, but the league doesn't require one to enforce its own punishment.The Pro Bowler is under contract through 2020, but he and the Cowboys are in the midst of negotiating a long-term extension. The looming deal is expected to make him the NFL's highest-paid running back.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy will make his first free-agent visit Friday to the Cleveland Browns.McCoy was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday after nine seasons with the team. Cleveland has been linked to McCoy throughout the offseason but waited for his release before exploring an acquisition."He's a good player. ... We're going to turn over every rock and let's just see what happens. It's just a visit," Browns general manager John Dorsey said, according to team writer Andrew Gribble.Several other teams, including the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, and Cincinnati Bengals, have also reportedly expressed interest in signing McCoy.McCoy, 31, has amassed at least six sacks in each of the last six seasons.The Browns have Sheldon Richardson and Larry Ogunjobi slated for starting roles at defensive tackle.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed free-agent defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh on Thursday, the team announced.Suh agreed to a one-year, $9.25-million contract worth up to $10 million through incentives, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Tampa Bay's addition on the interior comes just three days after it parted ways with six-time Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy. The club will end up paying Suh at least $3 million less than McCoy would have made in 2019.Suh joins the Buccaneers after a one-year stint with the Los Angeles Rams, whom he helped reach the Super Bowl for the first time since 2001.The 32-year-old is expected to line up alongside 2018 first-rounder Vita Vea in Todd Bowles' new-look defense.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Following a second straight demoralizing exit from the NFL playoffs, Drew Brees said he spent more time with family than usual in the offseason to get away from it all, according to ESPN's Mike Triplett.The New Orleans Saints were bounced in the divisional round of the 2018 playoffs on Stefon Diggs' miracle catch and run for a game-winning touchdown. Then, aided by a missed pass-interference call in this year's NFC title game, the Saints lost in overtime to the Los Angeles Rams.Now that Brees is back at camp preparing for his 19th season, he said he's using the depressing defeat to fuel his 2019 campaign."You always try to take your experiences from the year before and turn it into something positive," Brees said."Momentum, motivation, chip on your shoulder, unfinished business - whatever you want to term it, there's something to prove."The 40-year-old is entering the final year of his contract with the Saints, putting added importance on the results of the 2019 season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL's No. 1 offense isn't resting on its laurels, according to the reigning MVP.Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said the team has been filling out the playbook for the 2019 season."We've added a lot. We never stop adding plays here. That's the best thing about this team, this offense: We're never satisfied with where we're at," Mahomes said Thursday, according to ProFootballTalk's Michael David Smith. "We're always trying to get better, finding ways to get better as a team, as an offense."Mahomes spearheaded an offense that averaged 425.6 yards and a league-high 35.3 points per game last season. The 23-year-old threw for more than 5,000 yards in 2018 and led the way with 50 touchdown passes against 12 interceptions.Nonetheless, he sees room for improvement."There's still a ton that I need to improve on. There really is," Mahomes said. "I made a lot of plays happen kind of off-script, but there were times I should have just made the easy completion for the first down."So I have to keep finding that line of when I want to make the big play happen and when I should take the easy completion."Despite that statement, Mahomes isn't backing off from his highlight-reel no-look passes; he told James Palmer of NFL Network that although he doesn't plan for them, he's thrown two already this offseason as they happen organically.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. will have the opportunity to prove himself as the fastest professional football player when he competes at a 40-yard dash tournament next month.Ginn, who recently challenged anyone to race him for $10,000, is one of more than two dozen current NFL players scheduled to appear at 40 Yards of Gold on June 29, according to Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports.Other participants include Saints running back Alvin Kamara, Chicago Bears running back Tarik Cohen, New York Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson, Baltimore Ravens running back Mark Ingram, Minnesota Vikings cornerback Trae Waynes, Washington Redskins cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker, and Tennessee Titans safety Kevin Byard.The 40 Yards of Gold website describes the tournament as a "high-stakes, one-night extravaganza" that "will culminate with the champion of the offensive division facing the champion of the defensive division."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets head coach and interim general manager Adam Gase spoke to the media Thursday and addressed a number of rumors involving himself and the team.After the Jets fired general manager Mike Maccagnan last week, it was reported that Maccagnan and Gase clashed over the decision to sign free-agent running back Le'Veon Bell to a four-year, $52.5-million deal. Gase downplayed those reports."We signed him. I'm excited we have him. I've been in constant communication with him," he said Thursday. "Discussions happen and, to me, when you're going through free agency - we signed a lot of guys - you're trying to put together a big puzzle and you're trying to figure out money, fit, locker room, there's just a lot of things that go into all that stuff."Discussions are had and whether or not we disagreed on anything whether it was financially, that's a completely different story than the person or the player."And that's where a lot of this gets misconstrued. Le'Veon Bell is a great player, he's a good person, he's been in constant contact with me. I enjoyed my interaction with him when he was here ... he's been great with me as far as contact goes."With regards to the terms of Bell's deal, Gase said the contract "was what it was," adding he's excited to input the player into his offense while calling trade rumors about the running back "ridiculous."As for his relationship with Maccagnan, Gase said they were usually on the same page and doubled down on his earlier denial that the former's firing was related to a power struggle between them."Me and Mike had disagreements on a few things, but there was no personal rift," he said. "We can have disagreements, it's part of the job. If you're not disagreeing, am I doing my job?"He said Maccagnan's firing was CEO Christopher Johnson's decision and that Johnson will also make the call on the next general manager.In the meantime, Gase has already consummated a trade, sending linebacker Darron Lee to the Kansas City Chiefs for a sixth-round pick. He explained that the Jets were in discussions with the Chiefs before he joined the team in January and that he simply "pulled the trigger."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Six teams, including the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts, have at least some level of interest in signing defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, league sources told Jenna Laine of ESPN.The New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, and Atlanta Falcons are the other four teams that could reportedly make a charge at him.McCoy, a six-time Pro Bowler, was released Monday by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after nine seasons. The 31-year-old immediately became one of the top free agents, and it's believed that he would prefer to join a contender.The Browns have been linked to McCoy throughout the offseason, and a report Wednesday indicated he is intrigued by the idea of playing for the ascending club.The Colts have the most salary-cap space in the NFL, which could put them in a favorable position if a bidding war breaks out. The Falcons have the least financial flexibility in the league and would have to get creative to add salary.In 14 games with the Buccaneers last season, McCoy registered 28 tackles and six sacks. He collected 297 tackles and 54.5 sacks in 123 career games with Tampa.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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

If it was up to Landon Collins, he would've played out his entire career with the New York Giants. Instead, the hard-hitting safety was allowed to hit free agency, where he ultimately signed with the rival Washington Redskins.His departure from the Big Apple came as a shock to Collins."It hit me pretty tough, honestly," Collins said Thursday on "Good Morning Football," according to NFL Network's Kevin Patra. "I thought I was always going to be a Giant. I made it known to the media and the fans. I wanted to be a Giant since I was drafted there, wanted to be one of those Michael Strahans, those guys who finished their years out there. Things didn't turn out that way."Collins spent his first four seasons in New York before signing a six-year, $84-million deal with Washington.He said earlier in the week that he believes the Giants' decision to let him go was part of a culture change, one that also led to the trade of franchise superstar Odell Beckham Jr."(Giants general manager Dave) Gettleman said things he wanted to say," Collins said. "He said he wasn't going to trade (Beckham), then he traded him. We was all surprised because that's one of the best receivers in the game and for him to do that and lie to everybody, it's not a good look for players and teammates."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New to free agency, six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is intrigued by the Cleveland Browns, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.Things have yet to progress to the point of a visit, but there are coaches who wouldn't be opposed to bringing McCoy aboard.New Browns offensive coordinator Todd Monken served under the same capacity with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the past three seasons and was asked by general manager John Dorsey about McCoy."I think a lot of Gerald. He was an outstanding football player for us and he's had a tremendous career. I like Gerald a lot," Monken said.Browns receiver Odell Beckham Jr. also petitioned for Cleveland to sign McCoy.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday that the league will remain patient when it comes to the ongoing legal matter involving Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill."As you know, there's a court proceeding still going on involving CPS - Child Protection Service - and we will not interfere with that," Goodell told reporters during Wednesday's Spring League Meeting, according to NFL.com's Herbie Teope. "The priority is this young child, and so we will obviously be cooperative with whatever the court wants there."The investigation, which is being conducted by the Overland Park district attorney's office and involves the Kansas Department for Children and Families and local law enforcement, was reopened in April after television station KCTV5 released audio in which Hill's fiancee, Crystal Espinal, said he injured their three-year-old son.Hill was subsequently told not to participate in Kansas City's team activities. The player's lawyer wrote a four-page letter to the NFL on May 2 to formally deny that his client abused the couple's son.Goodell reinforced the Chiefs' decision to not act until more information is gathered and said he'd like to speak to Hill before any league-mandated ruling is made regarding the receiver's 2019 playing status."We are prepared to go ahead and have an interview whenever we have the permission to do so, and then we'll make a determination based on what information we have at that point in time," he said. "And so, again, I won't speculate on where we'll go, but we'll certainly get all the information we possibly can as soon as possible."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Redskins signed former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Jon Bostic on Wednesday, the team announced.Bostic's signing comes two days after Reuben Foster suffered a torn ACL during practice. Foster was placed on injured reserve in a corresponding move.The former Steeler was released by Pittsburgh following last month's NFL draft. He started 14 games in 2018 and accumulated 73 tackles to go along with 2.5 sacks.Bostic will likely compete for starting snaps at inside linebacker with Mason Foster, Josh Harvey-Clemons, and Shaun Dion Hamilton.Foster, meanwhile, is believed to have suffered additional damage to his knee and is meeting with medical specialists to determine the full extent of the injury.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It sounds like JuJu Smith-Schuster is enjoying life after Antonio Brown.Following Wednesday's practice at organized team activities, the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver wasn't shy about commenting on the new dynamic."The chemistry is on point," Smith-Schuster told reporters, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "Everyone is on the same page. Everyone is communicating. There's really no - how do you say? - drama in our locker room."Pittsburgh's new No. 1 wideout may have been alluding to his former teammate Brown, as the two engaged in a social media feud in April. Brown, now with the Oakland Raiders, called out Smith-Schuster on Twitter, suggesting the 22-year-old didn't deserve to be named the Steelers' MVP.Smith-Schuster insists he's focused on winning games, not his individual stats, in 2019."I'm looking at my own team and how we do and how we win," he said. "I would take five catches for 30 yards and win the game than have 10 catches and two touchdowns. It's not really about myself at the end of the day. It's about getting a Super Bowl."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL draft's tour of the country is set to continue.The league announced Cleveland and Kansas City as the hosts of the 2021 and 2023 drafts, respectively, following Wednesday's league meeting.Las Vegas is set to hold next year's draft, while the 2022 event has yet to be awarded.Making stops in Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, and most recently Nashville, Tenn., the league has been rotating the location of the draft after previously holding it exclusively in New York City from 1965 to 2014.The 2019 draft in Nashville broke Dallas' revenue record by generating $133 million while welcoming a record 600,000 attendees.The NFL also announced that the scouting combine will remain at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis through 2021, according to NFL.com's Judy Battista. On-field drills will shift to afternoon and prime-time television slots in 2020.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chris Long is no longer an active member of the NFL, which gives the now-retired defensive end the freedom to speak about topics he would've been forced to avoid during his playing career.The two-time Super Bowl winner did just that Wednesday on the "Dan Patrick Show," opening up about his belief that the NFL should ease restrictions on marijuana and revealing he took the banned drug while in the league."We should be headed to a place where we allow players to enjoy what I would not even call a drug - it’' far less dangerous than guzzling a fifth of alcohol and going out after a game," Long said, according to Yahoo Sports' Shalise Manza Young."Chances are the player won't even make it to the club (laughs) to do this sort of thing that we all kind of wag our finger at when we hear about a guy getting in a fight or getting a DUI, you're never going to read about him sitting on the couch and binge-watching 'Game of Thrones' again."I think from a standpoint of what's safer for people and the player, certainly people in the spotlight, it is far less harmful than alcohol, it is far less harmful than tobacco, and at various points in the league's history, they have engaged in partnerships on different levels with those respective industries."Long opted not to make a guess at the league-wide usage of marijuana - which some ex-players have previously put as high as 89 percent - but admitted he regularly used it to help deal with the pressures of NFL life."I'm not a dry snitch, I'm not going to put a percentage on how much the league smokes, but I certainly enjoyed my fair share on a regular basis throughout my career," Long said. "So, you know, and I was never afraid to say that and I'm able to say it more explicitly now: if not for that, I'm not as capable of coping with the stressors of day-to-day NFL life. A lot of guys get a lot of pain management out of it. Toradol did more pain management for me."On Tuesday, the NFL and NFL Players Association announced a new initiative aimed at researching players' pain management, which could potentially lead to a change in the league's attitude toward marijuana.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Gerald McCoy's time as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has come to an end, but he vows he'll be back.In an Instagram post shared Wednesday, two days after the team announced a mutual agreement to part ways, McCoy thanked his fans and the only team he has known through nine NFL seasons."I am a Buccaneer forever and I will be back. I will retire as a Buc," the 31-year-old said before signing off.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday that the league has already had two formal negotiating sessions with the players' union about a potential new collective bargaining agreement, according to Mark Maske of the Washington Post.The early discussions have Goodell encouraged about reaching a new agreement without the threat of a lockout."I do hope it's sooner rather than later," Goodell said.The current CBA expires after the 2020 season.Goodell said negotiations have been "direct and open" as well as "respectful and thoughtful" to this point, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.A new 10-year CBA was approved in 2011 following a work stoppage from March to July of that year.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL owners voted Wednesday to give the league's competition committee power to alter the instant replay process for pass interference inside two minutes in each half, according to NFL Network's Judy Battista and Ian Rapoport.The committee and top officiating executive Al Riveron will discuss the potential changes with coaches on June 4 and 5, and a final decision for the 2019 season is expected after that, according to MMQB's Albert Breer.The main alteration under consideration is allowing coaches' challenges in the final two minutes rather than it being determined by the booth, which the NFL hopes will cut down on the number of potential reviews, according to NFL Network's Kevin Patra.Before Wednesday's resolution, it would've required an ownership vote to approve any changes to PI rules.Battista notes one obstacle that will need to be resolved is how to deal with Hail Mary plays under the expected new rules.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Mock drafts

The Kansas City Chiefs' proposal for both teams to get at least one offensive possession in overtime was rejected at Wednesday's owners meeting in Key Biscayne, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports. However, it may be revisited.The proposal was tabled at the league's spring meeting and failed to advance to a vote Wednesday due to a lack of support.NFL competition committee chairman Rich McKay said to Mark Maske of the Washington Post that the Chiefs will resubmit the proposal for the 2020 season and it could be adopted for the playoffs only.The proposal stems from the Chiefs' AFC Championship Game loss to the New England Patriots in January. The Patriots won the game on a 13-play, 75-yard drive in overtime that took up nearly five minutes and kept the Chiefs' offense from taking the field.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs are scheduled to play at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca stadium this upcoming season, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes believes the high altitude could work to his advantage.Mahomes was asked how far he thinks he could throw a football in Mexico City during an appearance on the "Pardon My Take" podcast Monday."Probably 100 (yards)," Mahomes said at around the 51-minute mark. "Yeah, 'cause I got to like 80, 83 in Denver and then you have to times it by two 'cause it's like two miles above altitude. So I can handle the extra 20."Estadio Azteca sits 7,200 feet above sea level - about 2,000 feet higher than Denver's Mile High Stadium.The Chiefs will face the Los Angeles Chargers in Mexico City on Nov. 18.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite the Oakland Raiders' constant support of Derek Carr, speculation the team would target a quarterback in the draft ran rampant all offseason.The Raiders ultimately didn't land a new passer following rumored interest in two of the class' top prospects, Kyler Murray and Dwayne Haskins, the latter of whom was available with the team's top first-round pick.Carr said Tuesday there was a "minus-47 percent chance in my mind" Oakland would take a quarterback, but admitted to finding the process draining."Honestly, it got annoying after a while," Carr said after the team's first OTA practice, according to ESPN's Paul Gutierrez. "I'm like, 'Really, they don't have nothing else to talk about?' And I didn't help the situation, trying to challenge people to fights." (After being criticized by ESPN First Take's Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman in January, Carr tweeted out for the two TV analysts to meet him in the UFC's Octagon.)The 2014 second-round pick appeared to be on track to become one of the league's best pivots after an MVP-caliber season in 2016. However, Carr's performance since then has failed to meet expectations, and the arrival of head coach Jon Gruden last year did little to help cement Carr's place as the team's franchise player.Oakland could potentially move on from Carr following the 2019 campaign. Although he's contracted through 2022 after signing a $125-million extension in 2017, releasing him next offseason would incur a dead money hit of just $5 million versus a cap hit of $22.5 million, according to Spotrac.Carr, though, is confident he's not going anywhere anytime soon."They pretty much said that, literally every time it came up," Carr said. "If it came up. And we're not just playing for this year. I'm honestly going to be here for a long time."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With rookie minicamps in the rearview mirror and mandatory minicamps set to start in June, theScore is highlighting one first-year player from each NFL team with the best opportunity to succeed from Day 1.Arizona: QB Kyler MurrayChristian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyShocker, we know. The Cardinals went to the unprecedented lengths of using a first-round pick on a quarterback in consecutive years and traded away Josh Rosen to clear the runway for Murray. Arizona also surrounded him with an array of weapons, including fellow draftees Andy Isabella and Hakeem Butler, setting him up for early success in the desert.Atlanta: G Chris LindstromThe Falcons used their first two picks of the draft on offensive linemen and both figure to start right away. Lindstrom will have a major role to play this upcoming season, as Atlanta is betting that better pass protection for Matt Ryan and run blocking for Devonta Freeman will lead to a quick turnaround in 2019.Baltimore: WR Marquise BrownThe Ravens' ground game exploded last season once Lamar Jackson took the reigns thanks to the pivot's rare running ability. The passing attack, however, left a lot to be desired. Enter speedster "Hollywood" Brown, who's now perhaps the NFL's fastest player. Though Jackson needs time to develop as a passer, he's a talented deep thrower who owns a 93.8 passer rating on throws over 20 yards, per PFF. He simply didn't have the receiving talent or opportunities last year to show off his downfield talents. He does now.Buffalo: DL Ed OliverAndy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / GettyOliver's skill set is similar to Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald's - whom he was often compared to - as he has otherworldly explosion and strength despite his less-than-ideal size. At Houston, Oliver was often shackled by an ill-fitting role as a space-eating nose tackle. But in Buffalo's scheme - and as part of a talented front seven - Oliver should be able to unleash the kind of pass-rushing talent that could make him a Pro Bowler in Year 1.Carolina: DE Brian BurnsDesperately in need of help on the edge, the Panthers added Burns with the 16th overall pick, and they envision using him in a variety of ways. His main priority, however, will be getting to the quarterback. Having lost Charles Johnson and Julius Peppers in recent seasons, Carolina was in need of youth and athleticism at the position, Burns gives them just that.Chicago: RB David Montgomery​The Bears​' first pick in the draft came in the third round when Chicago couldn't pass up the opportunity to select Montgomery, who has the potential to break camp as the starting running back. With newcomer Mike Davis and X-factor Tarik Cohen the Bears' only other options in the backfield, it's Montgomery's job to lose, and such an opportunity could amount to a breakout campaign.Cincinnati: OT Jonah WilliamsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyCincinnati has needed to replenish the talent in front of quarterback Andy Dalton for years, and Williams possesses the technical acumen and the work ethic required to excel from Day 1. The Bengals already demonstrated their faith in Williams by moving established veteran Cordy Glenn to left guard to open up the left tackle spot for the rookie - a bold decision that could potentially shore up the entire offensive line.Cleveland: CB Greedy WilliamsThe Browns found a shutdown corner in Denzel Ward during last year's draft and appear to have landed the perfect playmaking complement to him in Williams. The former LSU standout is at his best when he can be aggressive and play press-man coverage. New defensive coordinator Steve Wilks normally likes his corners to be more conservative, so Williams' potential to break out could hinge on how Wilks adapts his scheme to best use his and Ward's talents.Dallas: DT Trysten HillIncoming defensive tackle Hill has been blessed with something rookies crave: opportunity. With Randy Gregory and David Irving out of the picture due to suspensions, playing time has opened up on the Cowboys' defensive line. Dallas used its first pick of the draft - a second-round selection - on Hill, hoping to plug the biggest hole on its roster. Demarcus Lawrence and Robert Quinn will man the bookends, but Hill can craft a role for himself in the middle.Denver: TE Noah FantJoe Amon/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images / Denver Post / GettyTight ends were always a large part of the Ravens' offense during Joe Flacco's time under center. In fact, only four other quarterbacks targeted the position more often over the last three seasons, according to NFL.com's Graham Barfield, while a tight end led the Ravens in catches twice (Dennis Pitta and Ben Watson in 2016 and 2017, respectively). Now, Flacco has once again been gifted a highly drafted tight end in Fant. The former Iowa standout will likely be more of a big-play weapon than a chain-mover early in his career, but given his top-tier athleticism and Flacco's love for the position, Fant has a great shot to buck the conventional wisdom that tight ends usually struggle in Year 1.Detroit: TE T.J. Hockenson​You don't take a tight end eighth overall if he's not expected to contribute immediately. Hockenson joins a team led by Matt Patricia, a former disciple of Bill Belichick who employed a two-tight end system with Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. A lot of 12 personnel packages can be expected as Detroit will deploy both Hockenson and free-agent addition Jesse James. The Lions attempted to trade for Gronkowski before the 2018 season. Now they may have the next version of him.Green Bay: OLB Rashan GaryGary wasn't a stat stuffer in his three years at Michigan, but he still managed to affect games despite receiving excessive attention from opposing offensive lines. He won't be expected to do it all himself in Green Bay, as he'll support the likes of Mike Daniels, Kenny Clark, and offseason additions Za'Darius Smith and Preston Smith to make the Packers' front seven a fearsome unit.Houston: CB Lonnie JohnsonJoe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Texans desperately needed to get stronger and more athletic at cornerback; the 6-foot-2, 213-pound Johnson fits that bill perfectly. His raw technical skills and the presence of Bradley Roby might cap Johnson's impact, but Houston's dominant pass rush should give the rookie more than enough chances to turn heads.Indianapolis: WR Parris CampbellCampbell was pigeon-holed into a gadget role at Ohio State that rarely asked him to run complex routes or work outside the numbers. But as we've seen from other ex-Buckeyes wideouts like Michael Thomas, a narrow role in college doesn't mean the player isn't capable of much more in the NFL. A favorite of head coach Frank Reich, Campbell should earn the slot role alongside T.Y. Hilton and Devin Funchess. Though his development into a well-rounded receiver could take years, Campbell's game-breaking speed in Reich's creative offense led by Andrew Luck will be a nightmare to defend.Jacksonville: DE Josh AllenFew other teams can rival the Jaguars' riches on the defensive line, but the team has insisted it has a plan to incorporate Allen despite the presence of Calais Campbell, Yannick Ngakoue, Marcell Dareus, and Taven Bryan. The rookie was an outside linebacker in college and his versatility will be key to carving out a significant role. He should rotate in on early downs to keep the starters fresh and will likely be a big part of Jacksonville's rush package on third downs. Allen could also be used more in coverage after the loss of Telvin Smith. He might not play as much as other top picks, but Allen could be the latest rookie to benefit from a specialist role as a pass-rusher.Kansas City: WR Mecole HardmanJoe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / GettyWith Tyreek Hill's NFL future still unclear, the Chiefs drafted an insurance policy in the similarly explosive Hardman. If Hill plays in 2019, Hardman's in line for a solid debut as Kansas City's fourth receiving option. But if he doesn't, Kansas City will look to Hardman to take on a significant portion of Hill's 137 targets, especially his downfield chances. Patrick Mahomes might not touch his stats from 2018, but with the Chiefs' high-powered offense, Hardman could become just the 11th 1,000-yard rookie wideout since 2001.L.A. Chargers: S Nasir AdderleyFrom the moment Derwin James stepped onto an NFL field last season, it was obvious teams had made a huge error by allowing the do-it-all safety to fall to the Chargers at No. 17 overall. A year later, history is likely to repeat itself after Adderley slipped to L.A. in the second round. He's an ideal fit in Gus Bradley's three-deep scheme due to his range and ball skills and he'll free up James even more to be the defense's swiss army knife. With Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram rushing the passer, Adderley won't be short of chances to make game-changing interceptions.L.A. Rams: RB Darrell Henderson​It should be concerning to fans that the Rams felt it necessary to use a third-round pick on a running back despite employing Todd Gurley, an All-Pro the past two seasons. L.A. had to rely on veteran C.J. Anderson late last season, as Gurley was ineffective in the two biggest games of his career, recording 14 total carries through the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl LII. In Henderson, L.A. has a player better suited for a complementary role who can both run and catch the ball out of the backfield.Miami: DE Christian WilkinsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyFew players received the kind of off-field plaudits that Wilkins did during the draft process. He was branded as someone who can change a team's culture, something the Dolphins desperately need. On the field, Wilkins should start as an attacking three-technique defensive tackle, and he has the bend and athleticism to move out to the edge in sub packages. Miami's lack of front-four talent is Wilkins' main obstacle for early success, but even if he doesn't post gaudy sack numbers, he could still be among the most impactful first-year players thanks to his rare character traits.Minnesota: TE Irv SmithWith Kyle Rudolph's time with the Vikings nearing an end - the veteran tight end has said he's bracing for a trade out of the Twin Cities - the path is paved for Smith to start immediately, as the Vikings' offense is desperate for a playmaker outside of the reliable duo of Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. All indications are the second-round pick will get the opportunity to make an immediate impact.New England: WR N'Keal HarryThe Patriots' offense is notorious for its steep learning curve; even experienced veterans often struggle to get to the level that Tom Brady and Bill Belichick demand. So while it's optimistic to expect a rookie to be a significant contributor, Harry isn't your usual first-year player. His route running is polished after working with a complex route tree at Arizona State, he has veteran-like vision after the catch, and he can play in multiple spots. Harry will need to fight through a muddied depth chart, and there'll undoubtedly be early struggles, but he could explode in the second half of the season once things begin to slow down.New Orleans: S Chauncey Gardner-JohnsonJoe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Saints were without a pick for two of the first three rounds, meaning fourth-round safety Gardner-Johnson is the likeliest candidate to break out for New Orleans in Year 1. He'll serve as depth behind Vonn Bell and Marcus Williams, but as the Saints have shown in recent years, they're adept at developing players from the defensive secondary.N.Y. Giants: CB Deandre BakerThe last of the Giants' three first-round picks, Baker may be New York's most important addition for the 2019 season. Considered to be the best cornerback in the draft, he'll occupy one of the Giants' starting corner positions, whether Janoris Jenkins remains with the team or not. Baker figures to be tested early and often due to New York's subpar pass-rushing corps. He'll either sink or swim, and general manager Dave Gettleman is banking on him passing the test with flying colors.N.Y. Jets: DT Quinnen WilliamsThe shock firing of GM Mike Maccagnan should have little impact on his final first-round pick living up to sky-high expectations in Year 1. Williams was widely considered the draft's most talented prospect, and with Pro Bowler Leonard Williams lined up next to him, teams will be forced to pick their poison in Gregg Williams' aggressive scheme. Leonard is one of the NFL's best interior pass-rushers, so it's fair to assume offenses will opt to focus on him, which could lead to a highlight-filled debut year for Quinnen.Oakland: RB Josh JacobsAndy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe debate over whether teams should use first-round picks on running backs will likely rage on, but regardless of his perceived value at No. 24 overall, Jacobs is in line for a monster debut season. Like Saquon Barkley a year ago, the former Alabama standout is a lock for an immediate every-down role with Marshawn Lynch gone (we think) and Isaiah Crowell already out for 2019. Jacobs never got a heavy workload in college; he could come close to exceeding his career touches in college (299) in his first year in Oakland if his pass-catching skills are fully utilized.Philadelphia: RB Miles SandersSanders will compete with Jordan Howard, Corey Clement, and Wendell Smallwood for the Eagles' starting running back job, but the second-round pick will be given every opportunity to win the competition. Philadelphia was considered to be one reliable running back away from truly challenging for a championship. Clearly, the Eagles believe they've found their guy.Pittsburgh: LB Devin BushThe Steelers' offense didn't miss a beat without Le'Veon Bell in 2018 but the same can't be said for the team's defense without the injured Ryan Shazier. His athleticism and coverage skills were perfect for today's pass-happy NFL, and without him, Pittsburgh was routinely torched in the middle of the field. Bush is a similarly modern prototype due to his ability to excel in coverage and rush the passer while not being a liability in run defense. He won't immediately replace Shazier, but his ability to wreak havoc on every level should spark a return to form for the entire Steelers defense.San Francisco: DE Nick BosaMichael Zagaris / Getty Images Sport / GettyBosa's the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year favorite, so there's little doubt who the 49ers' breakout rookie candidate is. For a team in desperate need of a premier pass-rusher, the match of player and fit couldn't have been better. Bosa will join forces with Dee Ford - acquired via trade - to bring a dimension to the San Francisco defense the team hasn't had in years. The Niners have finished in the bottom third in sacks every year going back to 2015.Seattle: WR D.K. MetcalfThere's no more obvious first-year breakout candidate in the Seahawks' draft class than Metcalf. Many of Seattle's other picks were considered reaches or projects. Metcalf, however, will get a prominent role in the offense from Day 1. With the release of franchise icon Doug Baldwin, Metcalf figures to line up at X receiver where he'll be counted on to display his rare combination of size and speed. The 6-foot-3 receiver still has much to learn in terms of route running, but he figures to see a lot of targets with his 240-pound frame in his first season.Tampa Bay: LB Devin WhiteWhite's name will be written on the Bucs' depth chart at starting inside linebacker in permanent marker. He'll be expected to make up for the departure of Kwon Alexander and chase the likes of Alvin Kamara and Christian McCaffrey. With these responsibilities on a defense that spends a lot of time on the field, expect his stat sheet to be stuffed on a weekly basis.Tennessee: WR A.J. BrownJoe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / GettyBrown might not have Metcalf's ceiling or Hardman's game-breaking speed, but no other receiver is as ready for the transition to the pro level than he is. He was able to excel both on the outside and in the slot at Ole Miss, which should allow him to see significant action from Day 1 despite the presence of Corey Davis and free-agent signing Adam Humphries. Brown's blend of physicality, toughness, and elite hands makes him an ideal underneath target for Marcus Mariota in Tennessee's run-first offense.Washington: QB Dwayne Haskins​Haskins and Murray are the only quarterbacks on the list because they're the only passers expected to start in their rookie seasons. Haskins will have to win the No. 1 QB position from Case Keenum and Colt McCoy, but even if he has to begin the year holding a clipboard, he's touted as the franchise savior. Washington can only hope his breakout season occurs in Year 1.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said Tuesday he failed to live up to his responsibilities in 2018 as team captain."I lacked in leadership," he told reporters at organized team activities, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "Because that's my job as the leader of this team, to get us to the playoffs. I'm gonna need to focus and refocus my energy and time on, how can I be a better leader to get us back to the playoffs?"The admission came a day after Roethlisberger publicly apologized to former Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown for using the media to criticize him during the season.A frayed relationship between Roethlisberger and Brown led the latter to request a trade after the 2018 campaign. Roethlisberger said he tried to mend fences with Brown but wasn't able to connect with him."It was hard to process it, because I never knew anything," he said of the wideout's exit. "Last time we spoke was on Thursday before the last game. We hugged. We had a great talk. Everything was good. I knew nothing. So, it was hard for me to know anything. Then I heard from a third party there were issues. I reached out to him many times, sent him texts, sent him calls - this is all before the season was over. Never heard back. So I could never really find out what was going on."For me, that's why it was so confusing. I didn't know where it came from. ... I never really saw any of it coming. I would have loved to have had the chance to talk to him. That's why I said yesterday, whatever I did to offend him, I apologize for it. I tried to do that in person, talk to him. He wouldn't allow me to."Roethlisberger led the league in passing last year, but the mercurial Steelers went 9-6-1 and missed the postseason for the first time since 2013. Pittsburgh suffered from internal discord throughout the season, with Roethlisberger, Brown, and Le'Veon Bell all drawing attention to themselves for various reasons.In an attempt to develop a tighter-knit locker room in 2019, Roethlisberger noted he's making a greater effort to get to know his teammates, recently taking a group his lake house."You just have to focus on the guys that are here and make sure they are good," he said. "Everyone I've talked to is good with me. ... We've been attacked from all angles this year, this offseason. We just need to stick together and have each other's backs."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks' Bobby Wagner is eyeing a record average salary among inside linebackers on his next contract, north of the $17 million that C.J. Mosley recently received from the New York Jets."That's the top (of the) linebacker market. That is the standard. And so that is the plan, to break that," Wagner said Tuesday, according to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times.Wagner, widely regarded as one of the NFL's premier inside linebackers, has one season remaining on his deal with Seattle. He's representing himself in contract negotiations.Mosley secured a five-year, $85-million deal in free agency, making him the highest-paid inside linebacker in NFL history by average salary. At the moment, Wagner earns the fourth-highest salary among players at his position.Top five average salaries for inside linebackersPlayerTeamSalary/YearC.J. MosleyJets$17MKwon Alexander49ers$13.5MLuke KuechlyPanthers$12.36MBobby WagnerSeahawks$10.75MAlec OgletreeGiants$10.69MWagner is present at voluntary organized team activities, but the five-time Pro Bowler isn't practicing to avoid a potential injury sans the security of a long-term deal."It's a very tough thing to go through," Wagner said of his contract status. "You don't know necessarily know how to handle it. You've got guys who hold out and you just take the situation that we had last year, you had a guy that held out, came back, got hurt (Earl Thomas). ... So it's a tricky situation and this is a business. You get hurt, they don’t pay you, so you've got to be mindful of that."Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll expressed optimism that an extension for Wagner will get hammered out at some point."Bobby has been great, everything is going to come together in time," Carroll said. " ... Everything is in order, we are in order with what we want to do and it feels very comfortable and very amicable and all that, so everything is going just right."Wagner collected 138 tackles, an interception, and a sack last year, helping the Seahawks return to the postseason following a one-year absence. He's racked up over 100 tackles in each of his seven NFL seasons.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, the second overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft, suffered a hamstring injury Tuesday in the second practice of organized team activities."Don't know the severity of it," head coach Kyle Shanahan said afterward, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.The injury occurred during one-on-one drills.Bosa is no stranger to the injury bug, as he missed most of his junior season at Ohio State while recovering from a core muscle ailment and tore his ACL while in high school.He and Dee Ford, both newcomers, are expected to vastly improve a San Francisco pass rush that struggled to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks a year ago.Running backs Matt Breida and Raheem Mostert missed practice completely, and neither is slated to participate in OTAs. Breida suffered a pectoral injury in the weight room, while Mostert encountered a setback in his recovery from a broken forearm. Both players are expected to be ready for training camp, Shanahan said, according to David Bonilla of 49ers Webzone.In more positive news, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo threw at practice as he continues to progress from the torn ACL that derailed his 2018 season.

Pro Bowl edge rusher Myles Garrett won't go out of his way to recruit former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy to the Cleveland Browns."Nah, what (the Browns) decide to do, I'll be OK with, and I'll accept it and move on, but I think we're good with what we have," Garrett told Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal on Tuesday. "I'm always going to be passionate about the guys we have in the locker room because they've always been OK with me, they've always done right by me, so I have no problem playing with them, going out there and sweating, bleeding, and winning with them."McCoy, who's been linked to the Browns throughout the offseason, was finally released by the Bucs on Monday after nine seasons, making him a free agent.The veteran could add firepower to a defensive line in Cleveland that already features Garrett and Olivier Vernon at the corners and Sheldon Richardson and Larry Ogunjobi inside.Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. stated his desire to see McCoy join the Browns in an Instagram comment Monday night, but Garrett doesn't see a need for him."It's going to be explosive in the middle," he said. "Either QBs are going to get sacked trying to step up away from me and Olivier or they're going to step back and get clobbered by us two coming off the edge. It's definitely going to be a really good pass rush and really good defensive line."Cleveland finished the 2018 campaign with 37 sacks as a team, tied for 22nd in the league. McCoy was one of the most disruptive interior tackles in the NFL over his time in Tampa and recorded at least six sacks in each of the last six seasons.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck sat out the beginning of organized team activities on Tuesday because of a calf injury."Just a little tweak; little strain," head coach Frank Reich said, according to Andrew Walker of Colts.com. "So my whole mode - and our whole mode - is going to be during this session just to be real conservative with anybody who has any issue whatsoever."Where we're at right now is we'll just say, 'Hey, play conservative this week. Nothing this week, and then we'll re-evaluate it after this week and see where he is.'"The Colts' OTAs are scheduled over the next three weeks.Luck, the 2018 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, missed the 2017 campaign with a shoulder injury. There's no indication his calf ailment could linger long term.Jacoby Brissett led the quarterbacks in Luck's absence, while Chad Kelly and Phillip Walker also received reps.Luck threw for 4,493 yards with 39 touchdowns and 15 interceptions last year, helping Indianapolis return to the postseason for the first time since 2014.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots have signed star wide receiver Julian Edelman to a two-year contract extension worth $18 million, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported, citing a source.Fresh off earning MVP honors in the Patriots' latest Super Bowl victory, the 32-year-old Edelman also reportedly received an $8-million signing bonus along with $12 million in guaranteed money.The extension will begin after the remaining year on his current contract and will keep Edelman in New England through the 2021 campaign, which would be Tom Brady's age-44 season.A former college quarterback who landed with the Patriots as a seventh-round pick in 2009, Edelman has long been one of the league's most productive slot receivers.The 2019 campaign marked one of his most efficient to date, as he racked up 74 receptions for 850 yards and six touchdowns after returning from a four-game suspension to start the year.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are nearing a one-year deal with free-agent defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, citing a source.Tampa Bay's big addition on the interior comes just one day after the club parted ways with its longtime leader, six-time Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy.Selected No. 2 overall by the Detroit Lions in 2010 - one spot ahead of where McCoy landed with the Bucs - Suh has put together a phenomenal pro career. He's started 142 games over nine seasons, recording 56 sacks while earning three first-team All-Pro nods.The 32-year-old now joins the Buccaneers after a one-year stint in Los Angeles, where his presence alongside Aaron Donald helped the Rams get to their first Super Bowl since 2001.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the first time in more than four decades, the Buffalo Bills have issued O.J. Simpson's No. 32 to another player.Running back Senorise Perry, who joined the Bills in March after spending the past two seasons with the Miami Dolphins, has been wearing Simpson's old jersey number during Buffalo's offseason program."I thought it was retired, but then I was told it was available," Perry told Tim Graham of The Athletic. "Boom, I took it."Simpson has no issue with the Bills giving out his number."Whatever they do is fine with me," the Hall of Fame running back said. "That's how I feel. When I played there, I tried to honor the team. Since I left, I always tried to honor the Bills."Simpson played for the Bills from 1969 to 1977, winning four rushing titles during that time.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers safety Josh Jones is skipping the team's voluntary offseason team activities this week in hopes of being traded, a source told ESPN's Rob Demovsky.Jones' future with the Packers was thrown into question after the team signed safety Adrian Amos in free agency and then traded up in the draft to select safety Darnell Savage Jr. with the 21st pick in the first round.Jones, a 2017 second-round pick, now reportedly believes a fresh start is best for both parties.He played 13 contests with the Packers last season, but started only five.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was handcuffed by security at a Las Vegas music festival on Saturday after shoving a staffer to the ground.In a video TMZ Sports obtained, Elliott can be seen arguing with a woman identified as his girlfriend. While their altercation doesn't become physical, Elliott then gets into a security guard's face and uses his forearm to push him into a metal gate (starts at 1:10 mark).Elliott was detained but not charged for the incident."Security misconstrued and overreacted to the situation," Elliott's attorney, Frank Salzano, told TMZ Sports."He was cuffed as a precautionary measure," Salzano said. "He was released with no charges. He left Vegas that night and went to his (youth football camp in Dallas) on Sunday."Elliott was suspended for six games in 2017 after an NFL investigation into an incident with his ex-girlfriend. The Pro Bowler wasn't charged with any criminal offenses, but the league doesn't require any to enforce its own punishment.Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones said the team is gathering information about the incident, according to David Helman of DallasCowboys.com.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, the team confirmed Monday.The move will save Tampa $13 million against the salary cap.McCoy's future with the Bucs was thrown into question in March after first-year head coach Bruce Arians said the veteran was "not as disruptive as he was four years ago." The comment seemed to irk McCoy, who didn't join the team for conditioning workouts in April.A former No. 3 overall pick, McCoy has spent nine seasons in Tampa and leaves as one of the greatest players in franchise history. He's posted 297 tackles and 54.5 sacks in 123 career games.Tampa now faces even more questions along its defensive line, which may be without injured pass-rusher Jason Pierre-Paul for most of the 2019 season. Vita Vea, a 2018 first-round pick, will presumably assume a larger role.McCoy, meanwhile, now becomes one of the league's highest-profile free agents. He joins fellow defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who was drafted one spot before him in 2010, on the open market.The 31-year-old McCoy, who has never tasted the playoffs, wants to join a contender, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Dallas Cowboys could all emerge as potential suitors, suggests Schefter.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kyle Rudolph will practice with the Minnesota Vikings on Day 1 of voluntary organized team activities Tuesday even though his future with the team remains murky, he told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Rudolph and the Vikings have been engaged in contract talks since the draft, with Minnesota looking to decrease his cap hit and ease its payroll issues. The Vikings have also reportedly shopped the veteran tight end in trade talks in the event they can't reach an agreement with him.The 29-year-old said last week he wanted clarity on his situation by the beginning of OTAs, even if it meant being traded. There is no indication that a new deal or trade is on the horizon.Rudolph is scheduled to earn over $7 million in 2019, the final year of his contract. He's already stated he isn't willing to take a pay cut to stay with the Vikings.Minnesota landed highly touted tight end Irv Smith Jr. in the second round of the NFL draft, giving it a potential replacement for Rudolph if it moves on from him.Rudolph notched 64 receptions for 634 yards and four touchdowns last season and has spent his entire eight-year career with the Vikings.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Redskins linebacker Reuben Foster will miss the 2019 season after tearing his ACL during practice Monday, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Foster is believed to have incurred additional damage to his knee and is meeting with medical specialists to determine the full extent of the injury, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Foster was reinstated to the Redskins' roster in April after the NFL determined it had no grounds to suspend him following its review of a domestic violence complaint.The third-year defender was acquired last season via waivers from the San Francisco 49ers, who cut ties with him amid troubling allegations.Foster appeared in only six games last year, compiling 29 tackles for the 49ers, but he flashed excellence as a rookie, posting 72 tackles in 10 games.The 25-year-old was a first-round pick of the 49ers in 2017, and he was expected to anchor the Redskins' linebacker corps in 2019.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Adam Gase rejected the notion Monday that he and Mike Maccagnan were fighting for power when the latter was axed as general manager of the New York Jets."I disagree with that, as far as a power struggle, because whoever is getting hired (as GM) is going to have the same role - control of the roster," he told reporters, via Brian Costello of the New York Post. "I will coach the football team. That's what I'm going to do. Nothing's changing in that structure."Maccagnan was surprisingly fired last week. Rumors claiming the two failed to coexist and fundamentally disagreed on the Jets' strategy in free agency quickly followed.Gase, who was hired as head coach of the Jets in January on the heels of a three-year stint with the Miami Dolphins, was named interim GM. He'll assist in the search for a permanent personnel boss."In this business, shit like that happens all the time," he said. "It happened to me last year. That's what it is. I work for (Christopher Johnson). We're aligned as the head coach and the GM both report to the owner. That's the way it is."Gase added that he was "surprised" when Johnson informed him Maccagnan would be let go, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News."I don't know who decides to put that stuff out there," he said of the reported rift. "It kind of pisses me off a little bit, because we have discussions on everything. That's our job. We have to work through so much stuff. That's what we got to do. That's all we've done since we've been here."Since we've started, we just constantly were in communication, whether he's coming down to my office or I'm going to his office. That's all we're trying to do, is just make sure we're on the same page all the time and making sure that we're trying to put this thing together as well as we can in a short period of time."Johnson said when he announced the move that the decision to fire Maccagnan wasn't the result of a power struggle.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL and the NFL Players Association announced a pair of committees aimed at researching pain management treatments and combatting mental health issues.The Joint Pain Management Committee will establish standards for teams and research alternative therapies for treating players. Time will tell whether the group's work could lead the league to reconsider its stance on marijuana, but many players have already vouched for legalization as an alternative to painkillers."We want to explore all of the strategies that help a player deal with acute and chronic pain," Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL's chief medical officer, said in a phone interview Monday with ESPN's Dan Graziano. "Some of those efforts require medication, some don't. With regard to marijuana, certainly there's a lot of discussion about not only cannabis but cannabinoid compounds, CBD, and it's something that healthcare providers are exploring outside of football. That type of research will certainly be part of the mission of this committee and this program."Additionally, each team will appoint a pain management specialist before the start of the season.Meanwhile, the Comprehensive Mental Health and Wellness Committee will develop educational programs to assist players, their families, and employees of the NFL.All 32 clubs will be instructed to hire a behavioral health clinician by the start of training camp, who will focus on supporting players' emotional and mental well-being. Each clinician will be required to spend at least eight hours per week at their team's facility, and mandating mental health education sessions for players and coaches will be among their responsibilities."I think there's been an increased recognition in the sports medicine community over the past couple of years of how important behavioral and mental health issues are today, especially with young people," Sills said.The Comprehensive Mental Health and Wellness Committee will also work with local and national mental health and suicide prevention organizations to reduce stigmas and raise awareness for suicide prevention.The NFL has placed a greater emphasis on the mental health of its players in recent years, and has altered several in-game rules to help protect players against recurring head injuries.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said Monday he "genuinely feels bad" about his broken relationship with Antonio Brown and the receiver's subsequent trade to the Oakland Raiders.In his first comments since Brown was shipped out of Pittsburgh, Roethlisberger expressed remorse for publicly calling out his former top target after the team's Week 12 loss to the Denver Broncos last year."I took some heat and deservedly so for some of the comments ... and especially toward him," Roethlisberger told KDKA News, according to Zach Braziller of the New York Post. "I genuinely feel bad about that and I'm sorry. Did I go too far after that Denver game? Probably."Following the Week 12 loss, Roethlisberger said on his own radio show that he wished he could've thrown to receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster four times in the end zone. The QB ended up tossing a game-ending interception on a pass that was seemingly intended for Brown."That's the thing about media and social media, As soon as you say 'sorry' it only goes so far," Roethlisberger said. "You can't take it back. And I wish I could because if that's what ruined our friendship and relationship, I'm truly, genuinely sorry about that."Brown, however, doesn't appear to be in a forgiving mood. Hours after Roethlisberger's comments were revealed, the receiver tweeted out what appeared to be a shot at his former quarterback.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz will participate in organized team activities without any limitations from the back injury that ended his 2018 season, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Earlier in May, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson wouldn't say if Wentz would be cleared for OTAs - which will begin Tuesday - despite the quarterback's confidence that he'd be fully recovered.Rapoport added that Philadelphia will be "smart" with its starting quarterback, who has suffered two season-ending injuries in his first three NFL seasons. Wentz tore his ACL in 2017, prematurely ending his MVP-caliber campaign."It's still getting there," Wentz said in April about the stress fracture in his back. "Some of this stuff just takes time, but that's not really the main concern. It's just kind of how I feel. I feel pretty good with where I'm at."The 26-year-old threw for 3,074 yards with 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions over 11 appearances in 2018. Former backup Nick Foles is now with the Jacksonville Jaguars, so the Eagles' other quarterbacks are Nate Sudfeld and the recently acquired Cody Kessler.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Redskins linebacker Reuben Foster was carted off the practice field Monday with an apparent left leg injury just minutes into the start of organized team activities.Foster's left leg required an air cast and he exited after 10 minutes on the ground, according to Les Carpenter of The Washington Post. Head coach Jay Gruden, team president Bruce Allen, and defensive coordinator Greg Manusky all gathered around Foster as he was tended to be by the training staff.

Pete Carroll is the NFL's oldest head coach, and like some his age, he's tired of the ever-increasing use of technology.In a 25-man poll Peter King of NBC Sports conducted asking executives, media members, and players the one thing they would change about football, the Seattle Seahawks head coach pushed for ending the use of instant replay."Get rid of - or at least decrease the use of - instant replay," Carroll said."I get all the reasons why we have instant replay, and technology has opened up a new world for us to get to this point," he continued. "But I miss the human element of trusting the officials to make the calls in the moment and then the rest of us having to live with what they called. It was both fun and frustrating, but I really liked the game better when the officials were just as much a part of the game as the players."Others expressed starkly different views on the NFL's replay use. Former NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino suggested allowing every play to be challenged while expanding the replay system, and ESPN's Sal Paolantonio wants audiences to hear the officials' deliberations on the field and in New York, making the process more transparent.In response to the NFC Championship Game controversy in January, the league passed a new rule this offseason that makes pass interference calls and non-calls reviewable starting in 2019.All but one team approved expanding replay, signaling that the league is, unfortunately for Carroll, ready to further integrate technology into the fabric of the game.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Chris Long is hanging up his cleats after an 11-year NFL career.The 34-year-old took to social media on Saturday to announce the news.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. is so confident he can outrun anyone he's willing to put thousands of dollars on the line to prove it.The 34-year-old issued the challenge during an appearance on "The Lefkoe Show" on Wednesday, telling host Adam Lefkoe he'll race anyone "pole to pole" for $10,000 or more.Matthew Boling, a senior sprinter at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory in Houston, decided to take Ginn up on the challenge.