Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey spoke glowingly about Baker Mayfield, his team's quarterback and the No. 1 selection in last year's draft, at Tuesday's Senior Bowl practices."He’s mature beyond his age group and I’m just happy he’s a member of the Cleveland Browns organization and I can’t wait to see what he does next year," Dorsey said, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com.The 23-year-old led the Browns to a 6-7 record as the starting QB for the final 13 games in 2018. He completed 63.8 percent of his passes for 3,725 yards and 27 touchdowns against 14 interceptions after replacing Tyrod Taylor under center in Week 3 and leading the Browns to a come-from-behind victory.Dorsey said he knew Mayfield would be his first draft pick as the Browns' GM well before the Senior Bowl, but that's where the two met for the first time and his decision was cemented."I knew in my heart of hearts what he was back in the month of October, November, but I think you keep that to yourself and you listen to everybody,'' Dorsey said. "You don’t want to influence the room and you want the room to have Baker earn their respect and I think he did that for everybody in the organization."Mayfield will be working with a new, though mostly familiar, coaching staff in his sophomore season after Freddie Kitchens was promoted from interim offensive coordinator to head coach. Todd Monken was brought over from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to be the new offensive coordinator, and Ryan Lindley was named quarterbacks coach after being hired to direct the running backs in late October.Dorsey is confident in that coaching staff's vision for both Mayfield and the team."We’ve said all along we want to be competitive year in and year out in the AFC North and we will be competitive in the AFC North."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Missouri quarterback Drew Lock found out just how thorough of a search NFL teams do on draft prospects while at the Senior Bowl this week.During an interview with one team, Lock was asked about a "disciplinary snag" that occurred when he was a freshman in high school, according to NFL.com's Chase Goodbread.Lock admitted to cheating on a geometry test, and also revealed the grade he received:

Washington Redskins president Bruce Allen isn't ready to give up hope of a return for Alex Smith following the gruesome leg injury that prematurely ended the quarterback's 2018 campaign."He's moving around and well on his way to a recovery," Allen told reporters Tuesday, according to Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com. "It's a tough thing for him and his family. All the love and care has helped him quite a bit."We'll see how it goes. We're optimistic. If anyone can come back, it's Alex. I'm sure he wanted to shoot hoops at the game yesterday, but we'll see."Smith made his first public appearance since the injury when he attended Monday's Washington Wizards game, and he was still sporting a significant brace on his right leg.

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is well aware of the challenges Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald will present during the Super Bowl.When Belichick was asked during his media availability Tuesday what stands out about Donald - who's widely expected to win his second consecutive Defensive Player of the Year award - the Patriots coach left nothing open to interpretation."Everything. He's pretty much unblockable," Belichick said.The 66-year-old also gave credit to the rest of the Rams' defensive line, which includes stalwarts like Ndamukong Suh and Michael Brockers."Yeah, they're really good. They've got great inside power and quickness and they've got a great edge rush. They've got a lot of good players, a lot of guys that are hard to block. Yeah, they're good. They do a really good job. Wade (Phillips) always does (a really good job). He's an excellent coach and he does such a great job with all of those guys there. They have a variety of players and they're all a problem."The Patriots' offensive line is arguably the best unit in the league, while Donald - who recorded a league-best 20.5 sacks during the regular season - and Suh have proven to be the best interior pairing in football this year. Whoever wins this matchup is likely to lift the Lombardi Trophy on Feb. 3.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Cole Beasley doesn't appear thrilled with the game-planning role the team's front office took on during the 2018 season.Beasley took to Twitter on Tuesday to discuss his pending free agency, hinting that he'd prioritize signing with a team that would target him more. He also took a shot at the Cowboys' upper management.

Oakland Raiders fans may not have seen the last of running back Marshawn Lynch in silver and black."We'd love to have him back," head coach Jon Gruden said Tuesday, according to Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.Gruden added he's unsure if Lynch plans to continue playing.Lynch, a native of Oakland, spent the last two seasons with the Raiders after returning from his one-year retirement. However, his 2018 campaign was limited to just six games due to a groin injury.Turning 33 years old before the 2019 season, Lynch has rushed for 1,267 yards and 10 touchdowns, with another 235 yards receiving over 21 games with his hometown team.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs announced Tuesday the firing of longtime defensive coordinator Bob Sutton, which followed Sunday's AFC Championship Game loss to the New England Patriots."Bob is a good football coach and a great person. He played an integral role in the success of our team over the last six seasons," head coach Andy Reid said in a statement. "I've said before that change can be a good thing, for both parties, and I believe that is the case here for the Chiefs and Bob. This was not an easy decision, but one I feel is in the best interest of the Kansas City Chiefs moving forward."Despite earning the AFC's No. 1 seed and advancing to the conference title game, the Chiefs owned the NFL's 31st-ranked defense during the 2018 regular season and then gave up 37 points - including the game-winning touchdown on the first drive of overtime - to New England on Sunday.Kansas City's defense appeared to turn a corner by shutting down Andrew Luck and Co. in the divisional round, but the unit had no answer for the Patriots, allowing 524 total yards, 35 first downs, and 13 third-down conversions.

After a two-year absence, Rex Ryan could reportedly return to coaching in the near future.The former New York Jets and Buffalo Bills head coach is drawing interest from teams about their defensive coordinator openings, and could be a candidate for the recently vacated position with the Kansas City Chiefs, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Ryan is currently working as an analyst for ESPN.Kansas City fired defensive coordinator Bob Sutton on Tuesday after losing to the New England Patriots in Sunday's AFC Championship Game.Ryan was fired by the Bills in December 2016 and hasn't coached since. He posted a combined 61-66 record as head coach of the Bills and Jets.The 56-year-old also served as defensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens from 2005-2008 and previously helped the organization win a Super Bowl in 2000 as a defensive line coach.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Dallas Cowboys running back Darren McFadden was arrested Monday and faces charges of driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest, search or transport, police told Tom Steele of the Dallas Morning News.McFadden fell asleep in a Whataburger drive-thru lane in McKinney, Texas. He was released shortly after being taken into custody.The 31-year-old retired from football in November 2017, splitting his 10-year career with the Cowboys and Oakland Raiders.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jon Gruden is getting a closer look at the incoming draft class while he serves as one of the coaches at this week's Senior Bowl.During his media availability Tuesday, the Oakland Raiders head coach heaped praise on the eligible draftees, including 5-foot-9 quarterback Kyler Murray.The reigning Heisman Trophy winner has changed Gruden's mind on what the prototypical quarterback should look like."I used to think that a lot until I saw Drew Brees twice a year in Tampa, then I met Russell Wilson coming out of N.C. State, and now I'm watching this kid Murray at Oklahoma and I'm putting away all the prototypes that I once had," Gruden said."I used to have a prototype for hand size, height, arm length, all that stuff. We're looking for guys who can play and do a lot of different things and they come in all shapes and sizes nowadays."The Raiders own three first-round draft picks in April's draft: the No. 4, 24, and 28 overall selections. Derek Carr is signed through the 2022 season but a potential out exists in his contract ahead of the 2019 campaign.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tony Romo broke the bank as an NFL quarterback, and he may be on the verge of doing the same in the booth.CBS is prepared to give Romo a substantial raise before his contract expires following next season, sources told Andy Marchand of The New York Post.Marchand adds that it's difficult to see how the former quarterback doesn't become the highest-paid NFL TV analyst.Romo stole the show during the AFC Championship Game between the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots, correctly predicting the results of key plays.His salary currently sits in the $4-million range, and he would be a sought-after free-agent analyst should his contract expire. In the event it does, CBS would have the right to match any offer from another network.John Madden was the highest-paid NFL analyst in history, earning between $7.5 million-$8 million annually after receiving $8 million from FOX in 1993, according to The Ringer.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A New Orleans personal injury attorney has filed a lawsuit over the outcome of Sunday's NFC Championship Game.Frank D'Amico Jr. is calling on commissioner Roger Goodell to enforce Rule 17, Section 2, Article 1 in the NFL Rulebook that he says "could, in the right circumstances, allow the commissioner to take extreme action in the face of a grossly unfair result," according to WDSU.com.In a press release, D'Amico said he's "been approached by numerous season-ticket holders and members of the 'Who Dat Nation' to take legal action" against Goodell and the NFL over the missed pass interference call that occurred in the game. The press release also includes an unattributed article written by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.Two attorneys in Lafayette also wrote a letter to Goodell on Monday asking that he enforce Rule 17.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A New Orleans Saints fan is using billboards to air out his frustration with the NFL and its officials over the missed pass interference call in Sunday's NFC Championship Game.New Orleans resident Matt Bowers purchased eight billboards in the Atlanta area - including one near Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where Super Bowl LIII will be played - according to WWLTV.com. The billboards include messages like "SAINTS GOT ROBBED" and "NFL BLEAUX IT!"

Video captured by a Missouri-area cameraman appears to show a laser pointer being flashed on New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady during the fourth quarter of Sunday's AFC Championship Game.

New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson vowed Monday to "aggressively pursue" policy changes to NFL officiating after an egregious error cost her team a chance to play in Super Bowl LIII.On Sunday, referee Bill Vinovich and the rest of his officiating crew missed an obvious pass interference penalty against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC championship. The non-call forced the Saints to settle for a field goal late in the fourth quarter and left plenty of time for the Rams to respond with a game-tying field goal before the end of regulation.Los Angeles wound up winning the contest in overtime and the NFL admitted to the officiating gaffe after the game. The league does not allow penalties - or missed penalties - to be reviewed on the basis that those are judgment calls."Yesterday's result is still difficult to accept for all of us. I am thoroughly disappointed by the events that led to the outcome of yesterday's game," Benson wrote as part of a lengthy statement published on the team's website. "Getting to the Super Bowl is incredibly difficult to do and takes such an unbelievable commitment from a team and support from its fans."No team should ever be denied the opportunity to reach the title game (or simply win a game) based on the actions, or inactions, of those charged with creating a fair and equitable playing field. As is clear to all who watched the game, it is undeniable that our team and fans were unfairly deprived of that opportunity yesterday."Benson made it clear she would take action to prevent a repeat of Sunday's botched proceedings."I have been in touch with the NFL regarding yesterday's events and will aggressively pursue changes in NFL policies to ensure no team and fan base is ever put in a similar position again," she wrote. "It is a disservice to our coaches, players, employees and, most importantly, the fans who make our game possible. The NFL must always commit to providing the most basic of expectations - fairness and integrity."The NFL is reportedly prepared to discuss the possibility of making pass interference reviewable next season but hasn't committed to changes to the replay system.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tony Romo expanded his psychic powers Monday to answer a question that has befuddled baseball fans for months: where will free-agent slugger Bryce Harper land?The NFL broadcaster responded on Twitter to Harper, who had joked about calling Romo to find out which team will sign him. Romo has grown famous over the last two years for calling out plays before they happen. He telegraphed several outcomes during Sunday's AFC championship game between the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs.

The odds are out for who will be named MVP of Super Bowl LIII and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is an even favorite to be honored for the fifth time in his illustrious career. The 41-year-old was most recently the MVP of Super Bowl LI.View all odds below, courtesy Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.PLAYERTEAMODDSTom BradyPatriotsEVENJared GoffRams2-1Sony MichelPatriots16-1Todd GurleyRams16-1C.J. AndersonRams20-1Aaron DonaldRams25-1Julian EdelmanPatriots30-1Brandin CooksRams30-1Robert WoodsRams30-1Rob GronkowskiPatriots40-1James WhitePatriots40-1Josh ReynoldsRams60-1Chris HoganPatriots80-1Stephen GostkowskiPatriots80-1Cory LittletonRams80-1Aqib TalibRams80-1Kyle Van NoyPatriots100-1Stephon GilmorePatriots100-1Cordarrelle PattersonPatriots100-1Gerald EverettRams100-1Tyler HigbeeRams100-1Greg ZuerleinRams100-1FieldAll Others12-1A quarterback has been named the MVP of seven of the past 10 Super Bowls.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageThe Philadelphia Eagles looked like a different team this season with Nick Foles under center rather than Carson Wentz, and issues surrounding the former No. 2 overall pick's leadership, attitude, and inability to consistently play within the team's scheme may have been the cause.Sources within and outside the Eagles organization paint Wentz as a complex personality who, while "incredibly hard-working" and "intelligent," is seen in the team's locker room as "selfish," "uncompromising," "egotistical," and lacking in accountability, according to the PhillyVoice's Joe Santoliquito.Foles, meanwhile, is apparently "universally loved.""Carson Wentz's biggest enemy is Carson Wentz," one source told Santoliquito. "He's had his ass kissed his whole life, and sometimes acts like he's won 10 Super Bowls, when he hasn't played in, let alone won, a playoff game yet. Everyone around him wants good things for him. He did more thinking on the field than he did playing (in 2018). You don't have to be a brain surgeon or a football expert to see how differently this team plays and reacts with one guy as opposed to the other."New offensive coordinator Mike Groh bore the brunt of the criticism for the Eagles' struggles this year, as the offense scored a league-best 29 points per game in 2017 compared to 22.1 in 2018. But Wentz apparently created friction by overcomplicating the offense and failing to play within the structure that helped lead the Eagles to Super Bowl glory.Santoliquito pointed to the departures of former OC Frank Reich, now the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, and John DeFilippo, who recently joined the Jacksonville Jaguars as their OC, as a major reason for the issues surrounding Wentz.The young passer, who was one of the leading MVP candidates in 2017 before tearing his ACL, reportedly "bullied" Groh and didn't want to run the same concepts the team did under Reich because he felt they were "Foles' stuff."Wentz was also criticized for over-targeting tight end Zach Ertz, who set an NFL single-season record for tight ends with 116 catches. However, Wentz and Foles actually threw to Ertz at around the same rate (9.6 to 9.3 times per game), according to Brandon Lee Gowton of Bleeding Green Nation.The Eagles got of to a 1-1 start with Foles under center before Wentz made his season debut. They went just 5-6 over the next 11 games before Wentz's back injury forced them to go back to Foles, who rattled off three straight wins to secure a playoff spot and then upset the Chicago Bears in the wild-card round.Several members of the Eagles quickly came to Wentz's defense Monday on Twitter.

In an effort to prevent future missed calls like the one that occurred in Sunday's NFC championship, an optometrist in Louisiana is offering eye exams free of charge to all NFL officials.Louisiana Family Eyecare in Covington announced the offer on Facebook following the New Orleans Saints' loss to the Los Angeles Rams.Crystal Vision Center in College Station, Texas, is also offering free eye exams.

The Kansas City Chiefs are pondering potential changes to their defensive staff - all the way up to coordinator Bob Sutton, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.The Chiefs' defense struggled all year and was feasted upon once again in the team's AFC championship loss to the New England Patriots. Despite leading the league in sacks, Kansas City ranked 31st in total defense during the regular season.Sutton has been with the Chiefs since 2013. He also served as a defensive coordinator for Rex Ryan and the New York Jets from 2006-08.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Michael Thomas is doing whatever he can to correct the New Orleans Saints' heartbreaking loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game.The star receiver tweeted an interesting NFL rule Monday that allows commissioner Roger Goodell to reverse the result of games in the event of "extraordinarily unfair acts."

A British woman who shares the same name as Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Dee Ford has become the target of angry NFL fans following Sunday's AFC Championship Game.The Chiefs were leading 28-24 with a minute left to play when New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady threw an interception, seemingly securing the win for Kansas City. However, Ford was called for lining up in the neutral zone, thus negating the turnover.Brady hit Rob Gronkowski for 25 yards on the next play to set up a Rex Burkhead touchdown, and the Patriots eventually went on to win in overtime.Since then, the other Dee Ford's Twitter mentions have been flooded with messages from people confusing her with the Chiefs linebacker. She's handled the situation with a sense of humor.

Quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick will be making a ninth Super Bowl appearance as a tandem at the helm of the New England Patriots after sneaking past the Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday's AFC Championship Game.The two future Hall of Famers shared a familiar emotional embrace on the field after the win. Brady says the moment was indicative of their relationship."We've always gotten along great," Brady said in his weekly appearance on WEEI's "Mut and Callahan Show" on Monday, as reported by ESPN. "We've worked together for 19 years. So we've had the same goals in mind for 19 years. He's been just a great, great mentor in my life, a great coach. He's taught me more than anyone ever could about the game of football."I've always just loved playing here and playing for him. He's the greatest coach of all time and we've just had some incredible moments together."The two will be trying to win a sixth championship together when they face the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3 in Atlanta.It's the Patriots' third consecutive trip to the Super Bowl and fourth in five years.They finished the 2018 regular season atop the AFC East yet again with an 11-5 record, earning their ninth straight first-round bye and a 10th consecutive postseason appearance.Belichick has been named Coach of the Year three times during the dynastic run while Brady has won three regular-season MVPs and four Super Bowl MVPs.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL is considering making pass interference reviewable next season following the missed pass interference call on the Los Angeles Rams in Sunday's NFC Championship Game, a source told Mark Maske of The Washington Post."It will be discussed at length along with additional fouls that coaches feel should be subject to review," the unnamed source told Maske.With the game tied 20-20 with 1:45 remaining in the fourth quarter, Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman mauled New Orleans Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis before the ball arrived in their vicinity. A penalty wasn't called and the Saints settled for a 31-yard field goal.However, the Rams took the game into overtime when Greg Zuerlein converted a 48-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining in regulation and proceeded to win in overtime on another Zuerlein convert, this time from 57 yards out.Robey-Coleman openly admitted that he committed pass interference after the game, further drawing the ire of Saints fans."Ah, hell yeah, that was PI," Robey-Coleman said, according to Nate Davis of USA Today. "I did my part. Referee made the call. We respect it."Any change to the current rule will require votes from at least 24 of the league's 32 owners.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta will be sticking with its renowned low prices at concession stands for Super Bowl LIII, Falcons president and CEO Rich McKay said, according to ESPN's Vaughn McClure.The Falcons' $1.5-billion home includes "Fan First Menu Pricing" that lists hot dogs at just $2, a slice of pizza for $3, and beer for $5. The 12-item menu features lower prices than any other major professional sports venue in the United States.McKay says raising those prices for the marquee event was never considered."We said this in our negotiations with the SEC, the college football championship, the Super Bowl, and the Final Four ... what we basically said is every customer that comes through that door is our customer,'' McKay said. "So we want to treat all those customers the same and give them the same experience in food and beverage."What was interesting with the SEC negotiations, (late) commissioner Michael Slive kept telling me, 'Hey, I want a provision in this contract that talks about the pricing and prohibits you from being able to raise the prices for our game.' And I said, 'Commissioner, we want the same provision.' It was interesting that we had a common goal yet two different mindsets. So we put that in the bids for all the major events, including the World Cup.'''McKay says average spending per customer went up 16 percent between the Falcons' final year at the Georgia Dome through the first season at the new stadium, despite a 55 percent drop in prices.The venue will be stocked with 75,000 bottles of water ($2), and 55,000 hot dogs available for the projected 75,000 fans in attendance. There will be 680 points of sale throughout the stadium that include at least one item from the fan-first menu to help alleviate the increased congestion."It does you no good to charge $2 for a hot dog if it takes an hour to get it,'' McKay said.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints fans aren't going down without a fight after their team lost to the Los Angeles Rams in Sunday's NFC Championship Game.Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman ran into Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis before the ball was thrown to him with under two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and the game tied at 20 apiece, but no penalty was called.If pass interference was called, the Saints would've been able to run the clock down for what would have been a game-winning field-goal attempt. Instead, the contest eventually went to overtime and the Rams won on a 57-yard field goal.A fan named Terry Cassreino addressed a change.org petition to Roger Goodell in the slim hopes of staging a rematch."Refs missed a blatant pass interference call against the Los Angeles Rams late in fourth quarter of Jan. 20 NFC Championship Game, possibly costing New Orleans Saints a trip to the Super Bowl. Due to refs' inability to properly officiate at the game, we the undersigned want a rematch against L.A. on Sunday, Jan. 27. It's the only fair solution to this travesty of epic proportions," Cassreino wrote.Over 250,000 people have signed the petition as of Monday afternoon, but the Super Bowl will go on as planned, between the Rams and New England Patriots.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Super Bowl LIII

Warning: Video contains coarse languageMarshawn Lynch had some choice words for Donald Trump when asked to respond to the President calling him "unpatriotic" during an appearance on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher.""I mean, you know, that motherf---er say a lot of s---," Lynch told Maher. "At the end of the day, you called me unpatriotic, but I mean, you come to my neighborhood where I'm from, you know, you'll see me take the shirt off my back and give it to someone in less need. I mean, what would you call that?"In a November 2017 tweet, Trump criticized Lynch for sitting during the national anthem and called on the NFL to suspend the Oakland Raiders running back for the remainder of the season.Lynch also spoke about how he's helping to combat the issue of gentrification in Oakland, Calif."With bangin' my head against people, I had the opportunity to make a couple dollars," he said. "So, therefore, I started to go and buy up some real estate in the area where I grew up at in order to give people opportunities for housing."Watch the full interview below.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley isn't making excuses for a poor performance in Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints."I was sorry as hell today," Gurley said, according to Lindsey Thiry of ESPN. "I was sorry. So, C.J. (Anderson) did his thing and the whole team did its thing."Gurley, who added that he's healthy after a late-season knee injury, received just four carries, gaining only 10 yards on the ground. However, he did score a rushing touchdown late in the first half that brought the Rams back into the game. He caught one of three targets for a three-yard gain.The two-time All-Pro led the league with 17 regular-season rushing scores, but he played less than half of his team's offensive snaps on Sunday while Anderson piled up 44 yards on 16 carries.The 24-year-old missed the final two games of the regular season due to inflammation in his left knee. He then returned to rack up 115 yards and a touchdown in last Saturday's divisional-round victory over the Dallas Cowboys.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady led a touchdown drive in overtime to push the New England Patriots past the Kansas City Chiefs 37-31 in the AFC championship and set up a Super Bowl LIII date with the Los Angeles Rams.More to come.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

You'd forgive Drew Brees if he was done with football after a second straight season ended in playoff devastation for the New Orleans Saints.However, the future Hall of Fame quarterback said after Sunday's NFC title game loss to the Los Angles Rams that he intends to return for his 19th NFL season."I plan on being here next year and making another run at it," Brees said, according to Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune.The Saints missed out on the second Super Bowl appearance of the Brees-Sean Payton era due in part to a missed defensive pass interference call that allowed the Rams to force overtime, a year after being the victims of The Minneapolis Miracle.The NFL quickly admitted the no-call was a mistake, according to Payton, but Brees refused to blame it for the Saints' failings."It had no bearing on overtime, at least not for me," he said.The veteran passer passed for 249 yards and two touchdowns in the 26-23 defeat but appeared to struggle to push the ball downfield and threw a crucial interception in overtime.Brees turned 40 in January and has just one year remaining on a $50-million extension he signed last offseason.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Twitter users quickly and collectively aired disbelief late in Sunday's NFC Championship Game between the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams, after officials missed a seemingly blatant pass interference call against Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman on Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis deep in Rams territory.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton lamented the non-call on a blatant pass interference that should've gone against the Los Angeles Rams late in the NFC championship immediately after the game."Just getting off the phone with the league office," he told reporters after his team's 26-23 overtime loss, according to Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune. "They blew the call."Payton added that the Saints will "probably never get over" the heartbreaking loss."I don’t know if there was ever a more obvious pass interference call," he said, via Eric Edholm of Pro Football Weekly.The missed call came late in the fourth quarter when the Saints were threatening to score a touchdown. Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman ran into Saints receiver Tommylee Lewis on a third-down pass before the ball arrived.New Orleans was then forced to settle for a go-ahead field goal on fourth down instead. The Rams tied the game in the final minute of the quarter, though, and won it in overtime on a 57-yard field goal."Yes, I got there too early," Robey-Coleman said postgame, according to Robert Klemko of Sports Illustrated. "I was beat, and I was trying to save the touchdown."The Saints suffered an equally excruciating defeat in the postseason last year, winding up on the wrong end of the Minneapolis Miracle in the divisional round.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Greg Zuerlein kicked a 57-yard field goal in overtime and the Los Angeles Rams, helped by a huge missed call by the officials, advanced to the Super Bowl with a 26-23 victory over the New Orleans Saints in the NFC championship game Sunday.The stunning finish came after New Orleans got the ball first in the extra period. Under pressure, Drew Brees fluttered up a pass that was picked off by John Johnson III, who was able to hang on to the interception while falling onto his back.Johnson hopped up and celebrated by doing with the ''Choppa Style'' dance popularized by New Orleans rapper Choppa, whose namesake song had become a Saints' rallying cry.The Rams weren't able to do much offensively, but it didn't matter. Zuerlein, who had already delivered a tying 48-yard kick with 15 seconds left in regulation, booted through the winning field goal from just inside midfield with plenty of room to spare.''It's unbelievable, man. I can't put it into words,'' Rams quarterback Jared Goff said. ''The defense played the way they did to force it to overtime. The defense gets a pick and Greg makes a 57-yarder to win it. That was good from about 70. Unbelievable.''The Superdome, which had been in uproar all afternoon, suddenly turned eerily silent. It was the first home playoff loss for the Saints with Brees and coach Sean Payton, who and been 6-0 in those games since their pairing began in 2006.The Rams (15-3) and their 32-year-old coach, Sean McVay, capped a remarkable rise since moving back to Los Angeles three years ago. The team will be appearing in its first Super Bowl since the 2001 season, when the ''Greatest Show on Turf'' was still in St. Louis.It was another bitter end to the season for the Saints, who lost the previous season in the divisional round on the ''Minnesota Miracle'' - the Vikings' long touchdown pass on the final play of the game.This time, New Orleans (14-4) squandered an early 13-0 lead and couldn't overcome a blown call in the closing minutes of regulation, when the officials failed to flag a blatant pass interference penalty on Los Angeles Nickell Robey-Coleman inside the 5.---Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/paul%20newberry---For more AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFLCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mercedes-Benz Superdome is rocking for the 2019 NFC Championship.The New Orleans Saints lead the Los Angeles Rams 13-10 at halftime, perhaps partially due to its passionate fan base.The Rams were having difficulty dealing with the crowd noise early on, totaling just 15 yards in the opening frame.Head coach Sean McVay and Jared Goff could not communicate effectively when the quarterback was in the huddle.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz is expected to be healthy enough to fully participate in the team's offseason program in April, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Wentz is currently recovering from a stress fracture in his back that is expected to take two-to-three months to heal. He missed the Eagles' last five games as a result - including two playoff contests.Schefter adds that the star pivot's back ailment could potentially be related to the knee injury that ended his 2017 campaign.Despite Wentz's injury history, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson recently confirmed that the former No. 2 overall pick will be the team's starting quarterback moving forward.Nick Foles took over as Philadelphia's starter for a second consecutive season after Wentz was lost for the year, leading the team to the NFC divisional round.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs are reportedly intent on locking up a key piece on each side of the ball at season's end.The AFC West champions want to work on contract extensions for wide receiver Tyreek Hill and defensive lineman Chris Jones in the offseason, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Rapoport adds that the Chiefs could also use the franchise tag to retain top pass-rusher Dee Ford, who racked up a career-high 13 sacks in 2018.Hill, especially, is apparently set for a big payday, as Rapoport notes that "he's "going to be one of the highest-paid, if not the highest-paid receivers" in the league.Odell Beckham Jr. is currently the league's top-paid receiver, earning $18 million per season. Hill established himself among the league's elite wideouts by posting 1,479 yards - fourth-most in the league - and 12 touchdowns on 87 catches.Jones, meanwhile, posted 40 tackles and 15.5 sacks in his third season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cowboys have a former Dallas quarterback as head coach and could have another as their offensive coordinator.Kellen Moore, a backup quarterback for the Cowboys from 2015-17, is a leading candidate to be promoted from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Head coach Jason Garrett would be more involved in the play-calling, ESPN's Chris Mortensen adds.The Cowboys parted ways with Scott Linehan, their offensive coordinator of the past four years, on Friday.It would be a precipitous rise for Moore. He was a post-draft signing by the Detroit Lions in 2012 but never played for the team in three seasons. He played in three total games for the Cowboys before transitioning to coaching this year.The Cowboys had the league's 22nd-ranked offense in 2018, averaging 21.2 points per game.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Mahomes could be one year away from landing a record-breaking contract.The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to sign their quarterback to an extension following next season, when he's first eligible, with a deal that could be the NFL's first $200-million contract, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Schefter adds that issues involving the collective bargaining agreement - which would only have two seasons remaining in 2020 - would have to be addressed, as well as those that involve the final two years that Mahomes would have left on his rookie deal, including a fifth-year option.Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is currently the league's highest-paid player after he signed a contract last summer that pays him $33.5 million in average annual value.Mahomes was stellar in his first year as a starter, emerging as a top MVP candidate. The 2017 first-rounder threw for 5,097 yards and a league-high 50 touchdown passes in 2018.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Antonio Brown has yet to publicly address the controversy surrounding him and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He did, however, have a message for Steelers fans.Brown posted a thank-you message to his fans on Instagram on Saturday, making sure to mention it wasn't meant as a goodbye note. Accompanying the message is a video from the 2017 season when fans chanted "MVP" as Brown was carried off the field with an injury.

There is a belief around league circles that the NFL's investigation into three separate incidents involving former Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt will conclude before free agency starts in March, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports, citing sources.Hunt is likely to be back on the field in 2019, though he could miss the beginning of the season through suspension, Rapoport adds.The 23-year-old was placed on the commissioner's exempt list the same day a video surfaced on Nov. 30 showing him pushing and kicking a woman in a Cleveland-area hotel. The Chiefs released Hunt shortly thereafter.Once Hunt's exemption is lifted, any team will be free to sign him via free agency.Multiple teams have shown interest in adding the 2017 rushing leader, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy admitted Tuesday that he called Hunt the week prior but insisted the conversation was merely personal. Nagy served as Hunt's offensive coordinator in 2017.The league's continuing investigation also includes allegations that Hunt was involved in an altercation at a club and punched a man at an Ohio resort in June.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs are three-point favorites over the New England Patriots, with the total at 56 as the two vie for a trip to the Super Bowl in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday.Let's break down the five best bets in this one via the individual player prop market.Chiefs RB Damien Williams Over 31.5 receiving yards (-120)Chiefs running back Damien Williams has come on strong in his increased role. He's hit the century mark on the ground in two of his previous three games but is also contributing through the air, seeing at least five targets in four of the last five. We like his receiving prop against a Patriots defense that has allowed roughly 50 yards per game to opposing running backs, according to Football Outsiders.Patriots TE Rob Gronkowksi anytime touchdown (+137)Rob Gronkowski has had a down year on the stat sheet despite staying relatively healthy, totaling 47 catches for 682 yards and only three touchdowns. Gronkowski has also been fade material on his props recently, netting two or fewer catches and 25 or fewer yards in each of the previous four games. Some of that has to do with his matchups, as he's faced the top two defenses in regards to DVOA ratings against tight ends - the Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo Bills - over the last three games. The Chiefs rank No. 25 in the same department, giving Gronk some opportunities to get back on track. Instead of paying more on the reception or yard props, we'll take a shot on the plus-EV bet in that he finds the endzone.Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Under 43.5 longest completion (-110)In the last two meetings between these teams, Kansas City's skill players, like Tyreek Hill, got loose for home-run plays. We'll bet the Patriots - and their No. 2 rank in deep-ball DVOA - don't make the same mistake three straight times.Patriots RB James White Under 5.5 receptions (-120)James White saw an otherworldly amount of targets last week against the Chargers, bringing down 15 of them for 97 yards. When looking at that, Sunday's listed number of 5.5 looks like a cakewalk. However, White has recorded more than five receptions just once since Week 10.Patriots WR Julian Edelman Over 6.5 receptions (-120)Julian Edelman has been Tom Brady's go-to option on the outside, even more so lately with double-digit targets in four of the previous five. Kansas City's secondary is No. 29 in the league in yards allowed to opposing No. 1 wide receivers. We expect Edelman to be the primary target for Brady once again after going off for nine catches and 151 yards last weekend.(All bets were taken from Bet365. Always shop for the best numbers available.)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 New Orleans Saints are three-point favorites over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday, with the total at 56.5 as the two teams vie for a trip to the Super Bowl.Let's break down the five best individual player prop bets in this game.Saints WR Ted Ginn Jr. Over 52.5 receiving yards (-120)Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas dominated cornerback Marcus Peters while recording 211 receiving yards in the Week 9 game between these two teams. That will be a matchup to watch again, though Aqib Talib should be assigned to Thomas more often this time around, which would open up other avenues for quarterback Drew Brees.If that happens, take another look at Ted Ginn Jr. The veteran receiver has seen 15 targets over two games since returning from injury, and he's always a vertical threat. He'll get opportunities to make downfield plays against a Rams secondary that ranked No. 22 in deep-ball DVOA this season.Rams QB Jared Goff Under 36.5 pass attempts (-120)Jared Goff hit a rough patch to start December, throwing six interceptions and only one touchdown pass over a three-game span when the Rams went 1-2. Since going 35-for-53 passing on the final leg of that skid against the Philadelphia Eagles, Goff hasn't been asked to throw as much while attempting fewer than 28 passes in three straight victories.Instead, the Rams have been utilizing the two-headed backfield monster of Todd Gurley and C.J. Anderson. Los Angeles is flashy offensively and can put up points in a hurry, but the team's recent approach to winning games has us leaning the other way on Goff's pass attempts.Saints RB Alvin Kamara Under 40.5 receiving yards (-120)Alvin Kamara recorded another great year as a pass-catcher, hauling in 81 regular-season receptions for 709 yards and four scores.The Rams, however, allowed only 28.3 receiving yards per game to opposing running backs this season, which ranked fourth in the league, according to Football Outsiders. Kamara has piled up 40-plus receiving yards only once over his previous seven games.Rams WR Brandin Cooks Under 70.5 receiving yards (-120)How important was Cooper Kupp to the Rams' offense this year before his season-ending knee injury? When Kupp was healthy during the first 10 weeks of the season, fellow wide receiver Brandin Cooks recorded 70-plus receiving yards in seven of those contests. In seven games without Kupp, Cooks has posted 70-plus yards only once.The Saints' defense is vulnerable to deep passes, but we don't see Cooks topping this number on Sunday.Rams RB C.J. Anderson Over 45.5 rushing yards (-120)C.J. Anderson is enjoying quite the comeback tour, piling up 422 yards and four touchdowns in three games with the Rams after the Carolina Panthers released him midway through the season.The veteran has received the lion's share of the Rams' carries lately, getting 18 more touches than Gurley over the team's previous two games. Anderson should see enough volume to get past the total here, even while facing an elite Saints rush defense.(All bets were taken from Bet365. Always shop for the best numbers available.)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.

Ahead of Championship Sunday, Drake is on his worst behavior.The rap phenomenon is an avid sports fan, but he's been known to bring bad luck to the teams he supports. Drake rooted for Alabama in the College Football Playoff National Championship, but the Crimson Tide were routed 44-16 by Clemson on Jan. 7, the most recent instance of the curse.It appears the OVO founder isn't in his feelings, however. Prior to Sunday's games, Drake wore a sweater with the logos of all four teams remaining, with the caption on his Instagram story reading "For everyone who believes in the Drake curse good luck tmrw" with a string of crying emojis to cap it off.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield had his Week 16 fine for making a lewd gesture heavily reduced following an appeal, a source told ESPN's Pat McManamon.Mayfield was initially fined $10,026 but reportedly had the penalty lowered to $1,700. The NFL reportedly determined the facts presented against Mayfield in the appeal hearing didn't support the fine.Browns coach Freddie Kitchens - then the offensive coordinator - defended Mayfield after the fine was originally handed out, saying the gesture was an inside joke with members of the team.The incident took place Dec. 23 versus the Cincinnati Bengals.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Veteran safety Morgan Burnett wants the Pittsburgh Steelers to release him after they forced him into an uncomfortable role within their defense, he told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Burnett is one season into the three-year, $14.35-million deal he signed with the Steelers as a free agent one year ago. He was signed to bolster a secondary in Pittsburgh that had struggled in recent years.The 30-year-old said Pittsburgh cast him as a dime linebacker, whereas he wanted to be featured as a safety. Burnett carries over $2.8 million in dead cap money for 2019 and more than $1.4 million in dead cap money for 2020, according to Spotrac.Burnett recorded 30 tackles in his inaugural campaign with the Steelers. The Georgia Tech product spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Green Bay Packers.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens and head coach John Harbaugh have agreed in principle to a contract extension, a source close to negotiations told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.Terms of the pending agreement are unknown.Harbaugh spent the last several weeks negotiating a new contract with Baltimore. He had one year remaining on his existing deal.The 56-year-old led the Ravens back to the playoffs this season for the first time since 2014. He owns a 104-72 record over 11 campaigns with Baltimore.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles have done right by Nick Foles after the backup quarterback missed out on a $1-million bonus by just four snaps in the 2018 regular season.The team paid Foles the $1 million in the form of a signing bonus, a source told ESPN's Field Yates. Foles played 32.7 percent of the Eagles' offensive snaps this season, according to Football Outsiders, falling just shy of the 33 percent he required to invoke the incentive, which also demanded the team qualify for the postseason.Foles was pulled late in the regular-season finale, a 24-0 win over the Washington Redskins, after suffering a chest injury and missing the final 10 snaps.The Super Bowl LII MVP started Week 1 and 2 in place of an injured Carson Wentz. He drew back into the starting lineup in place of an ailing Wentz once again from Week 15 through 17 and led the Eagles to three consecutive wins.Foles completed 72.3 percent of 195 regular-season pass attempts with seven touchdowns against four interceptions. He was intercepted twice in the Eagles' 20-14 loss to the New Orleans Saints in the divisional round.General manager Howie Roseman backed Wentz as the Eagles' future quarterback this week. Foles has a $20-million mutual option for the 2019 season, and while Roseman said he "would love" to retain a player widely considered to be the league's best backup, the high price tag could allow Foles to become a highly sought-after commodity in the offseason.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals interviewed former Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson for their offensive coordinator position Friday, sources told NFL.com's Ian Rapoport.The Browns fired Jackson in October after he amassed a 3-36-1 record over a little more than two seasons with the team. He joined the Cincinnati Bengals as an assistant to former head coach Marvin Lewis shortly after.Former Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, who turned down the position, and former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter have also reportedly interviewed with Arizona.The Cardinals hired Kliff Kingsbury as their head coach on Jan. 8 and brought on former Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph as defensive coordinator. Kingsbury compiled a 35-40 record in six seasons as head coach at Texas Tech.Arizona parted ways with head coach Steve Wilks, offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, and defensive coordinator Al Holcomb after going 3-13 during the 2018 season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.