Patrick Mahomes has captivated the entire league with one mind-boggling play after another this season, but Kansas City Chiefs receiver Sammy Watkins says throws like the quarterback's famous no-look pass pale in comparison to the things he does in practice.Mahomes attempts everything from throws behind his back to ones underneath his legs, Watkins told Tyler Dunne of Bleacher Report."He's always trying stuff out," Watkins said. "And then you get into a game and you're like, 'He's not going to do that stupid no-look pass.' And he gets into the game and does the same thing. That's why he's special."The All-Pro quarterback is widely expected to take home his first MVP award after throwing for 50 touchdowns and over 5,000 yards. Watkins said his signal-caller "definitely" deserves the trophy regardless of the outcome of Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots.With a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, it's hard to envision Mahomes pulling out a new trick in the conference title game. But if the star passer has proven anything this season, it's that he's willing to take risks most other players wouldn't even think about.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Larry Fitzgerald will inevitably get fitted for a gold jacket, and the Arizona Cardinals legend should apparently look into pursuing a green one, too.Fitzgerald played a round of golf with former president Barack Obama on Friday, and he sunk an incredible ace which, according to witnesses, rolled in "like a putt."Golf Channel's Tim Rosaforte detailed Fitzgerald's hole-in-one on Twitter:

The New Orleans Saints appear set to face the Los Angeles Rams without Benjamin Watson on Sunday, as a source told ESPN's Katherine Terrell that the starting tight end will miss the NFC title game with an illness.The team has officially listed Watson as questionable for the affair. He was a limited participant in Friday's practice.The 15-year veteran spent time in the hospital battling appendicitis and is hoping to avoid surgery, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. If the Saints advance to the Super Bowl, he's expected to return for what may be the final game of his career.The 38-year-old recorded 35 catches for 400 yards and two touchdowns, playing in all 16 games during the regular season.Josh Hill will see increased snaps if Watson doesn't play.Meanwhile, Saints wide receiver Keith Kirkwood was ruled out with a calf injury.Kirkwood caught 13 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns during the regular season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry was a full participant in practice the past two days and has been taken off the injury report, clearing the way for him to return against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.Berry has only played in Week 15 and 16 this season after rupturing his Achilles last September. He's been sidelined since Week 17 with a heel issue.Berry suited up for one game in 2017, a Week 1 contest against the Patriots in which he helped shut down tight end Rob Gronkowski in a 42-27 victory.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

AFC Championship Game

Los Angeles Rams running back C.J. Anderson has heard the jokes about his weight gain.Anderson admitted he's put on a few extra pounds during an appearance on "The Dan Patrick Show" earlier this week, placing the blame on the upcoming birth of his daughter."Right now, I'm 5-8, about 235. So I'm about 10 pounds over what I (typically) am," Anderson said. "I've got a baby due in April - got a daughter due in April, so I'm kind of having that man pregnancy weight."Everybody has the jokes of what I weigh or how I look or how I'm built," he continued. "I feel like I'm moving deceptively. I feel like I'm trying to put myself in the best positions."Anderson rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries in the Rams' NFC divisional-round win over the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday. With that performance, he became the first player in NFL history to have at least 100 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in each of his first three games with a team.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Award-winning songstress and Atlanta native Gladys Knight is defending her upcoming appearance at Super Bowl LIII, releasing a statement in response to Variety on Friday.Knight's been tabbed as the national anthem singer for the game and faced criticism for participating despite former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick's protests of racial injustice during the national anthem in 2016. Variety asked Knight to comment on the league's treatment of Kaepernick."I understand that Mr. Kaepernick is protesting two things, and they are police violence and injustice. It is unfortunate that our national anthem has been dragged into this debate when the distinctive senses of the national anthem and fighting for justice should each stand alone," Knight said Friday."I am here today and on Sunday, Feb. 3 to give the anthem back its voice, to stand for that historic choice of words, the way it unites us when we hear it and to free it from the same prejudices and struggles I have fought long and hard for all my life, from walking back hallways, from marching with our social leaders, from using my voice for good - I have been in the forefront of this battle longer than most of those voicing their opinions to win the right to sing our country's anthem on a stage as large as the Super Bowl LIII."Multiple recording artists reportedly declined invitations to participate in the Super Bowl halftime show as a show of support to Kaepernick."No matter who chooses to deflect with this narrative and continue to mix these two in the same message, it is not so and cannot be made so by anyone speaking it," the 74-year-old Knight said. "I pray that this national anthem will bring us all together in a way never before witnessed and we can move forward and untangle these truths which mean so much to all of us."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his sixth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition.Scroll down to see his dynasty rankings for 2019. Rookies will be added closer to the draft when the list expands to 300 players.Top 250 DynastyRkPlayerTeamPos.1Saquon BarkleyNYGRB12Todd GurleyLARRB23DeAndre HopkinsHOUWR14Davante AdamsGBWR25Ezekiel ElliottDALRB36Alvin KamaraNORB47Odell Beckham Jr.NYGWR38Melvin GordonLACRB59Christian McCaffreyCARRB610Michael ThomasNOWR411Tyreek HillKCWR512Joe MixonCINRB713Julio JonesATLWR614Antonio BrownPITWR715Nick ChubbCLERB816Amari CooperDALWR817Mike EvansTBWR918Dalvin CookMINRB919JuJu Smith-SchusterPITWR1020James ConnerPITRB1021David JohnsonARIRB1122Le'Veon BellPITRB1223Stefon DiggsMINWR1124Keenan AllenLACWR1225Travis KelceKCTE126A.J. GreenCINWR1327Brandin CooksLARWR1428Sony MichelNERB1329George KittleSFTE230Zach ErtzPHITE331Kerryon JohnsonDETRB1432Aaron JonesGBRB1533Patrick MahomesKCQB134T.Y. HiltonINDWR1535Adam ThielenMINWR1636Robert WoodsLARWR1737Allen RobinsonCHIWR1838Kenny GolladayDETWR1939Leonard FournetteJACRB1640Corey DavisTENWR2041Calvin RidleyATLWR2142Derrius GuiceWASRB1743Cooper KuppLARWR2244Deshaun WatsonHOUQB245Marlon MackINDRB1846Andrew LuckINDQB347D.J. MooreCARWR2348Chris GodwinTBWR2449Mike WilliamsLACWR2550Sammy WatkinsKCWR2651Jarvis LandryCLEWR2752Phillip LindsayDENRB1953Aaron RodgersGBQB454Alshon JefferyPHIWR2855Derrick HenryTENRB2056Robby AndersonNYJWR2957Courtland SuttonDENWR3058Carson WentzPHIQB559Baker MayfieldCLEQB660Rashaad PennySEARB2161Will FullerHOUWR3162Jared GoffLARQB763David NjokuCLETE464Tevin ColemanATLRB2265Chris CarsonSEARB2366Tarik CohenCHIRB2467O.J. HowardTBTE568Devonta FreemanATLRB2569Kareem HuntFARB2670Eric EbronINDTE671Christian KirkARIWR3272Marvin JonesDETWR3373Tyler LockettSEAWR3474Dante PettisSFWR3575Tyler BoydCINWR3676Michael GallupDALWR3777Hunter HenryLACTE778Cam NewtonCARQB879Jordan HowardCHIRB2780Doug BaldwinSEAWR3881Kenyan DrakeMIARB2882Jerick McKinnonSFRB2983Royce FreemanDENRB3084James WhiteNERB3185Damien WilliamsKCRB3286Anthony MillerCHIWR3987Evan EngramNYGTE888Russell WilsonSEAQB989Mark IngramNORB3390Keke CouteeHOUWR4091Sterling ShepardNYGWR4192Golden TatePHIWR4293Dede WestbrookJACWR4394DaeSean HamiltonDENWR4495Julian EdelmanNEWR4596John BrownBALWR4697Curtis SamuelCARWR4798Devin FunchessCARWR4899Trey BurtonCHITE9100Rob GronkowskiNETE10101Matt BreidaSFRB34102Matt RyanATLQB10103James WashingtonPITWR49104Kenny StillsMIAWR50105Lamar MillerHOURB35106Kenneth DixonBALRB36107Antonio CallawayCLEWR51108Mitch TrubiskyCHIQB11109Tre'Quan SmithNOWR52110Austin EkelerLACRB37111Drew BreesNOQB12112Dion LewisTENRB38113Nyheim HinesINDRB39114Geronimo AllisonGBWR53115Emmanuel SandersDENWR54116Duke JohnsonCLERB40117Spencer WareKCRB41118Jameis WinstonTBQB13119T.J. YeldonJACRB42120Kirk CousinsMINQB14121Chris Herndon IVNYJTE11122Tyrell WilliamsLACWR55123Marquise GoodwinSFWR56124Robert FosterBUFWR57125Austin HooperATLTE12126Dak PrescottDALQB15127Ronald Jones IITBRB43128Elijah McGuireNYJRB44129Chris ThompsonWASRB45130Sam DarnoldNYJQB16131Lamar JacksonBALQB17132Gus EdwardsBALRB46133Josh AllenBUFQB18134Zay JonesBUFWR58135Ito SmithATLRB47136Jimmy GaroppoloSFQB19137D.J. CharkJACWR59138Philip RiversLACQB20139Isaiah CrowellNYJRB48140Tom BradyNEQB21141Devante ParkerMIAWR60142John RossCINWR61143Matthew StaffordDETQB22144Ben RoethlisbergerPITQB23145Adam HumphriesTBWR62146Jay AjayiPHIRB49147Albert WilsonMIAWR63148Josh AdamsPHIRB50149Donte MoncriefJACWR64150Jaylen SamuelsPITRB51151Marqise LeeJACWR65152Quincy EnunwaNYJWR66153DeSean JacksonTBWR67154Demaryius ThomasHOUWR68155Marquez Valdes-ScantlingGBWR69156Josh RosenARIQB24157Alex CollinsBALRB52158Larry FitzgeraldARIWR70159Taywan TaylorTENWR71160Dallas GoedertPHITE13161Paul RichardsonWASWR72162LeSean McCoyBUFRB53163Gerald EverettLARTE14164Michael CrabtreeBALWR73165Jordan ReedWASTE15166Nelson AgholorPHIWR74167Rex BurkheadNERB54168Jamaal WilliamsGBRB55169C.J. AndersonLARRB56170Jamison CrowderWASWR75171Marcus MariotaTENQB25172Mike GesickiMIATE16173Josh DoctsonWASWR76174Latavius MurrayMINRB57175Jared CookOAKTE17176Malcolm BrownLARRB58177Kyle RudolphMINTE18178Kalen BallageMIARB59179Taylor GabrielCHIWR77180Mark AndrewsBALTE19181Giovani BernardCINRB60182Carlos HydeJACRB61183Josh ReynoldsLARWR78184Willie SneadBALWR79185Vance McDonaldPITTE20186John KellyLARRB62187D'Onta ForemanHOURB63188Jack DoyleINDTE21189Adrian PetersonWASRB64190Hayden HurstBALTE22191Deon CainINDWR80192Delanie WalkerTENTE23193Jordan WilkinsINDRB65194Jalen RichardOAKRB66195Mohamed SanuATLWR81196David MooreSEAWR82197Peyton BarberTBRB67198Doug MartinOAKRB68199Greg OlsenCARTE24200Equanimeous St. BrownGBWR83201Rashard HigginsCLEWR84202Jeff WilsonSFRB69203Justin JacksonLACRB70204Chris HoganNEWR85205Ted GinnNOWR86206Jimmy GrahamGBTE25207Mike DavisSEARB71208Jonnu SmithTENTE26209Ian ThomasCARTE27210Mike BooneMINRB72211Keith KirkwoodNOWR87212Randall CobbGBWR88213Andy DaltonCINQB26214Trey QuinnWASWR89215Theo RiddickDETRB73216Derek CarrOAKQB27217Chase EdmondsARIRB74218Travis BenjaminLACWR90219Tim PatrickDENWR91220Marshawn LynchOAKRB75221Jordy NelsonOAKWR92222Blake JarwinDALTE28223Wendell SmallwoodPHIRB76224Ryan TannehillMIAQB28225Nick FolesPHIQB29226Will DisslySEATE29227Austin Seferian-JenkinsJACTE30228Case KeenumDENQB30229Tyler EifertCINTE31230Adam ShaheenCHITE32231Corey ClementPHIRB77232Mark WaltonCINRB78233Wayne GallmanNYGRB79234Jakeem GrantMIAWR93235Chris ConleyKCWR94236Keelan ColeJACWR95237Jake KumerowGBWR96238Rod SmithDALRB80239Trenton CannonNYJRB81240Jermaine KearseNYJWR97241Kelvin BenjaminKCWR98242Cameron BrateTBTE33243Ty MontgomeryBALRB82244Jordan ThomasHOUTE34245Braxton BerriosNEWR99246Ricky Seals-JonesARITE35247Corey GrantJACRB83248Bilal PowellNYJRB84249Teddy BridgewaterNOQB31250Brian HillATLRB85Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan mutually agreed to part ways, the team announced Friday, according to team reporter David Helman."This was not an easy decision because of how highly we regard Scott Linehan as a football coach and as a person," head coach Jason Garrett said in a statement. "He and I had some really positive, substantive, and open discussions which took place in the latter part of this week, and we ultimately agreed that it would be in the best interest of all of the parties involved if we were to make a change at this position."Linehan spent five years on Garrett's staff, the last four as offensive coordinator. The former St. Louis Rams head coach faced heavy criticism at times when the Cowboys' offense sputtered, as fans in Dallas often pleaded for Linehan to install schemes that would take greater advantage of quarterback Dak Prescott's mobility.The Cowboys finished the regular season 22nd in the NFL in total offense and scoring offense, though they did improve offensively following the acquisition of wideout Amari Cooper."Scott has had an incredibly positive impact on our football team," Garrett added. "He has been instrumental in the development and success of a significant number of our veteran and younger players. He is an outstanding football coach, a great friend, and we wish him and his family nothing but the absolute best moving forward."Despite their inconsistencies on offense, the Cowboys won the NFC East and advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs before falling to the Los Angeles Rams.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown showed continued support for his alma mater this week by gifting six heated Dragon Seats benches to the Central Michigan football team.CMU announced the donation Friday. The benches, which are the same ones used by the NFL, are valued at $105,000."With Coach (Jim) McElwain taking over the program, I wanted to do something that would help the players perform at their best," Brown said in a statement. "These benches really help me stay loose and ready to perform no matter the conditions and I am excited to see how they help current and future Chippewas succeed. CMU will always be a special place for me and I am happy to be able to give back."Brown played for the Chippewas from 2007 to 2009, winning two MAC championships and earning All-MAC honors in each of his three seasons. He finished his CMU career with a school-record 305 receptions for 3,199 yards and 22 touchdowns.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bill Belichick may be one of the most revered and accomplished NFL coaches of all-time, but he still gets anxious before games.Belichick admitted as much Friday, as the New England Patriots prepare to face the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game."Just let me know the ones that don't matter, I'll make sure I don't get excited for those," Belichick said, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. "Nervous? Sure. You want to go out there and do well. There's an anxiety."We all have things in the game that we have to do. You want to perform them well, not let your team down, because everyone is counting on you to do your job, and you're counting on everybody else to do theirs."The Patriots are entering their eighth consecutive AFC title game, an unparalleled feat, with Belichick and Tom Brady squaring off against Andy Reid and second-year standout quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the likely NFL MVP.Although Belichick has accomplished everything you could dream of, and then some, it's compelling to see that he's still human like the rest of us.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFC Championship Game

Jerry Jones isn't the only NFL owner to recently purchase a superyacht.Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder paid over $100 million for a 305-foot-long yacht called Lady S, which boasts the world's first floating IMAX movie theater, according to Rupert Neate of the Guardian. The theater cost Snyder an additional $3 million."He wanted an IMAX, that was his main request," said Jan-Bart Verkuyl, the chief executive of Feadship's Royal Van Lent shipyard, which built the yacht.Verkuyl refused to identify the buyer, but the Guardian confirmed through several sources that it was Snyder and his wife, Tanya.Jones reportedly paid $250 million for his superyacht, Bravo Eugenia, which features two helipads, a beach club with its own gym, and a wellness center.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's important to remember these articles are not intended to be tiers for drafting. You can view our complete 2019 tight end rankings here.2018 Fantasy Reviews

A new Super Bowl ad campaign from Verizon highlights the real stories of 11 NFL players and a coach whose lives were impacted by the actions of first responders.Titled "The Team that Wouldn't Be Here," the campaign features Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn, Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews, Oakland Raiders quarterback AJ McCarron, and others discussing their life-changing experiences and the first responders who saved them.The campaign will officially launch Sunday with a 60-second spot airing during the NFL conference championships, followed by another advertisement during the Super Bowl. Additional player story vignettes can be found on the website AllOurThanks.com.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II is hoping to sign quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to a new deal this offseason."We’d like to extend Ben’s contract," Rooney told team insider Bob Labriola. "I always hate to predict the timing of those things, but that’s certainly something that is on the agenda for this offseason."The good news is that you certainly look around the league now and quarterbacks are playing at a high level into their 40s. I wouldn’t have expected that years ago, so I feel good about where Ben is physically, mentally, his ability to be a productive player for multiple years. So, I think we feel good about trying to extend his contract."Roethlisberger just completed his third season of a four-year, $87.4-million contract signed in 2015. It included a $31-million signing bonus and $31 million guaranteed.In 2018, the six-time Pro Bowler threw for 34 touchdowns, 16 interceptions, and a career-high 5,129 passing yards, boasting a quarterback rating of 96.5. The Steelers, however, went 9-6-1 and failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2013.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers general manager Tom Telesco is hoping to engage in offseason discussions with quarterback Philip Rivers in regards to a contract extension."I can tell you he's not going anywhere, so he's going to be here," Telesco told ESPN's Eric D. Williams on Thursday. "We'll talk at the right point, as far as the moves we need to make in the offseason, the resources we have and how it all fits in. But yeah, he's not going anywhere."With one season left on his four-year, $83.5-million contract, Rivers said he hasn't yet talked with the Chargers about an extension but would like to be wearing blue and yellow in September 2020 when the Chargers open their new stadium."I certainly feel that's something I want to be a part of and hopefully be helping us still winning football games," he said.Head coach Anthony Lynn is hoping he can count on Rivers for a while still."After what he showed this year, I really think he can play for a couple more years, maybe even more - who knows?" Lynn said. "I don't know what these guys take these days, they play forever."Rivers threw for 4,308 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions this season. He also tied a career high with a quarterback rating of 105.5. He led the Chargers to their first AFC divisional-round game in five years and earned his eighth trip to the Pro Bowl.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams running back C.J. Anderson has steamrolled defenses since becoming a late-season addition to the NFC title hopefuls, and the veteran believes he's just getting started ahead of Sunday's conference championship game against the New Orleans Saints."I'm the freshest running back in the league," Anderson said, according to NFL.com's Nick Shook. "I'm not gonna say they're still fresh, but I'm fresher than Mark (Ingram), Alvin (Kamara), and Todd (Gurley), for sure."Despite adding bulk since his days as the Denver Broncos' lead back, Anderson has looked better than ever behind the Rams' talented offensive line.The veteran back racked up 299 rushing yards over the final two games of the regular season while Gurley was sidelined. Then he ran for 123 yards and two touchdowns during last week's divisional-round win over the Dallas Cowboys, even with the reigning Offensive Player of the Year back in the lineup.Before joining the Rams, Anderson saw limited action with the Carolina Panthers in 2018 (24 carries in nine games), and he didn't even step onto the field for the Oakland Raiders. Meanwhile, Gurley and Kamara topped 200 regular-season carries, and Ingram came close to 150 totes.Anderson's inactivity this season has him feeling capable of hitting a gear that worn-down defenders won't be able to match."I think it helps a lot," Anderson said. "I've played over 1,000 snaps, 600-700 snaps in this league and when you get to this point of the season, you start to wave back and I'm out there flying around on practice, just being a kid, having fun. I look faster than everyone else, part of it because I'm fresh."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft didn't hold back when reflecting on the talent of his starting quarterback Tom Brady, who's brought the franchise five Super Bowls over a wildly successful 19-year career."Definitely the greatest player of all time - not just quarterback in my opinion," Kraft said of Brady in an interview with ESPN. "Because he's such a leader in the locker room. For someone double the age of some of the players to be able to lead like that, and connect like that, and have the work ethic that he has, and at the same time so pleasant to be around - I'm really the luckiest guy in the world."The Patriots drafted Brady in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. Since then, Brady has made eight Super Bowl appearances, holds the record for most games won by a quarterback (207), ranks fourth all time in passing yards (70,514), and sits third all time in passing touchdowns (517).The quarterback made an impression on Kraft immediately."I think of him as that skinny young man coming down the steps of the old stadium with the pizza box and introducing himself to me," Kraft noted. "I said, 'I know who you are, you're Tom Brady from Michigan, our sixth-round draft choice. And he said, 'And I'm the best decision this organization has ever made.'"Of course, he was fourth on the depth chart. But I think he sure was right. But the greatest thing about him is he's the same guy he was then. He's a genuine person. He's kind. He's polite to everyone. He's a very caring person."Should the underdog Patriots defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, Brady will have the chance to add to his Super Bowl records of most touchdown passes (18) and passing yards (2,576).Kraft also showed some love to head coach Bill Belichick, who boasts a 261-123 career head coaching record."(Bill) is the GOAT of coaches, just like our quarterback is the GOAT of quarterbacks. And no one can dispute it."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Taysom Hill may be the New Orleans Saints' most versatile player, and head coach Sean Payton highlighted one of his attributes on Thursday, saying the backup quarterback's running style makes him look like a certain 1960s cartoon character."Outstanding. Outstanding. Really good," Payton said of Hill’s hands, according to Pro Football Talk's Charean Williams. "He runs fast, but a little bit like Fred Flintstone. His arms don’t bend."Payton also praised Hill's quarterback play in a more traditional sense."He's going to be, I think, an outstanding NFL quarterback," he said. "Last week, he threw a ball to (Alvin) Kamara that was perfect."Hill's 46-yard touchdown pass to Kamara was called off due to a holding penalty. He finished the divisional-round win over the Philadelphia Eagles with two carries for eight yards, which included turning a fake punt into a crucial 4th-and-1 conversion. That kept the drive going, and the Saints eventually scored a touchdown.The 28-year-old played 37 snaps against the Eagles, according to Pro Football Focus. Offensively, he lined up everywhere from quarterback to the slot as a receiver, and on special teams Hill was used on kick and punt return coverage, and to block extra-point attempts.As for running like Fred Flintstone, we'll let you be the judge of that:

It's important to remember these articles are not intended to be tiers for drafting. You can view our complete 2019 wide receiver rankings here.2018 Fantasy Reviews

The Seattle Seahawks signed quarterback Paxton Lynch on Thursday, according to his agent.Lynch did not play in 2018 after the Broncos released him at the end of the preseason. Denver's first-round pick in 2016 spent two very underwhelming seasons with the club, throwing for 792 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions in five appearances.Seattle faces an uncertain situation at quarterback behind Russell Wilson for next season, as backup Brett Hundley is a pending free agent.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Starting-caliber quarterbacks are apparently few and far between in today's NFL.Three years after retiring, Matt Hasselbeck told The Ringer's Kevin Clark he received a phone call from a playoff-contending team during the 2018 season asking if he was "in shape and available to sign."The 43-year-old is currently working as an analyst for ESPN. He last played in the NFL in 2015 for the Indianapolis Colts.Hasselbeck is the Seattle Seahawks' all-time leader in passing yards after 10 seasons with the team. He was a sixth-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in the 1998 draft.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette has formally challenged the team's decision to void over $7 million in remaining salary under his rookie contract, a source told Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio.Fournette's guarantees were nullified after he was suspended in November for leaving the bench to fight Buffalo Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson.An arbitrator will decide whether Jacksonville will be able to convert more than $2.9 million in 2019 and more than $4.1 million in 2020 from Fournette's fully guaranteed rookie deal into non-guaranteed money.The 2017 fourth overall pick missed eight of his team's 16 games this season. He's scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency in 2022.Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone told reporters Wednesday that he met with Fournette last week and believes the running back is "in a really good place," according to team writer John Oehser.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A number of pundits connected Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles to the Jacksonville Jaguars immediately after Jacksonville hired John DeFilippo - Foles' quarterbacks coach in 2017 - as offensive coordinator on Wednesday.However, Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone insisted that bringing in DeFilippo had nothing to do with any connection to the former Super Bowl MVP."Zero. Zero at all. I mean zero," Marrone said, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra. "Don't get me wrong, everyone we brought in we tried to get information from ... but (the hire) didn't have anything to do with (DeFilippo's relationship with Foles)."However, Marrone did note that DeFilippo's worked with a number of successful NFL quarterbacks, including Foles, Carson Wentz, Kirk Cousins, and Derek Carr."What did come into play is someone that has ability, has been around veteran quarterbacks, has been around rookie quarterbacks, has been around a quarterback that came up and went on to do things well," Marrone said of the choice to hire DeFilippo.Foles is expected to be available - and in demand - this offseason, with his $20-million mutual option looming and the Eagles publicly committed to Wentz as their starting quarterback.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Gladys Knight will perform the national anthem prior to kickoff at Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta on Feb. 3, the NFL announced Thursday."The Empress of Soul" and seven-time Grammy Award winner rose to fame in the 1960s as part of Gladys Knight and the Pips, which produced such hits as "Midnight Train to Georgia" and "The Nitty Gritty." The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996."I am proud to use my voice to unite and represent our country in my hometown of Atlanta," Knight said. "The NFL recently announced their new social justice platform Inspire Change, and I am honored to be a part of its inaugural year."Knight joins a star-studded list of performers who have sung "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl, including Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Lady Gaga, Billy Joel, and most recently, Pink.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bruce Arians didn't get through one game as a broadcaster before feeling the urge to return to coaching."It started actually in the first game," Arians told Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic. "I knew I was going to miss the players and the locker room. But during Pittsburgh and Cleveland, the first game and the production meeting, seeing the guys, and it grew and grew and grew."By Week 8, I was at practice, the defensive back messed up. I went to correct him and said, 'Oops, this isn't my team.' ... It was growing each week how much I missed the locker room and the arena."Arians joined CBS Sports last spring after retiring on the heels of a five-year stint with the Arizona Cardinals. He was named head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers nine days after his final regular-season assignment.The 66-year-old turned heads in the middle of the season when he revealed his interest in coaching the Cleveland Browns, who had just fired Hue Jackson."The stars just kind of aligned," Arians said of his return to the sidelines. "I wasn't sure one (job) would open that I would want and I actually said no to a couple. And then knowing Jason (Licht), those in the Glazer family close to my grandson, and then Todd's (Bowles) available, Keith's (Armstrong) available, Byron's (Leftwich) available, the whole staff is available. It's like, 'You're supposed to do this, this is like a sign. You have to do this.'"Arians amassed a 49-30-1 record with the Cardinals, steering them to a pair of playoff appearances.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A Bill Belichick look-alike received a cold reception from fans at Wednesday night's Memphis Grizzlies-Milwaukee Bucks game at FedEx Forum.The doppelganger - wearing the New England Patriots head coach's signature cut-off hoodie - was shown on the jumbotron immediately after former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning, according to The Ringer's Chris Vernon.

If the New Orleans Saints are to advance past Sunday's NFC Championship Game, they will almost certainly need to neutralize Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald.However, it's a task that head coach Sean Payton and his Saints know is easier said than done."It's hard to say you're going to keep him in check," Payton said Wednesday, according to NFL.com's Herbie Teope. "He's played as well at that three-technique position that we've seen in years."I mean, arguably and I don't know even if it's an argument, he's the best defensive player today in football. His numbers, his production, it shows up in the run game, it shows up in the passing game and it's a challenge."Saints Pro Bowl tackle Terron Armstead also lauded Donald's consistency and the unique challenge he presents."It's hard to argue with what's he's been able to do these past few years," Armstead said. "You can just watch the tape. Some guys get a name and you go back and watch the tape, and they have had success in certain situations. But him, week after week, play after play, the tape don't lie. The film don't lie. He's a guy that can let his film speak for itself."Donald is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and the overwhelming favorite to win the award again this season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rams cornerback Marcus Peters and Saints head coach Sean Payton engaged in a war of words after New Orleans handed Los Angeles its first loss in Week 9, but there apparently won't be another off-field clash ahead of Sunday's NFC Championship Game.Peters took aim at Payton after he said the Saints liked the matchup of Michael Thomas on the Pro Bowl defensive back "a lot." Peters said the coach should "keep talking that s---" and predicted - rightly - that the two teams would meet again in January to have a "nice little bowl of gumbo together."However, despite fanning the flames with a since-deleted tweet that read, "It's gumbo week," Peters downplayed the beef between him and New Orleans' Super Bowl-winning leader."Throughout all the other stuff that was behind it, me personally, I didn't have an excellent game that game," Peters said, according to NFL.com's Jeremy Bergman. "So you look forward to those rematches."Like I said, man, I've got the utmost respect for the Saints and their head coach and organization, you know. But things like that, I'm going to be ready to play just as much as they're going to be ready to play. We're trying to play a game. We ain't trying to talk about no gumbo. We can talk about all that stuff afterwards."Payton echoed Peters' sentiment, pointing to his team's pre-draft love for the cornerback."We came close to drafting him the year we took Andrus (Peat)," Payton said. "One of our goals going into that draft was Peat and Peters, and that's the truth. So, I have great respect for him, and it's all good."Peters was exposed by Thomas and the rest of the Saints' receiving corps, giving up 146 yards and the game-winning touchdown.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast hosted by Justin Boone and David P. Woods.Find the show on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and Anchor.In this episode, Boone and Woods are joined by Virginia Zakas of Inside Injuries to discuss recovery timelines for stars who suffered season-ending injuries.Topics include:

The Detroit Lions have hired Darrell Bevell as their offensive coordinator, the team announced Wednesday.Bevell joins head coach Matt Patricia's staff after spending a season out of the NFL. He most recently served as the offensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks from 2011-17.Ironically, it was Bevell who called the infamous pass play at the goal line in Super Bowl XLIX that resulted in an interception for the New England Patriots, whose defense was coordinated by Patricia.The Lions' offense struggled in 2018 and the team did not retain Jim Bob Cooter as its offensive coordinator.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Antonio Brown fired back at Bruce Arians on Wednesday for the new Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach's comments about him, taking a jab at Denver Broncos receiver Emmanuel Sanders along the way.Arians called the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver a "diva" on Tuesday and said Brown isn't the same player he coached as a rookie when Arians was the Steelers' offensive coordinator.The veteran wideout also addressed Sanders, who appeared on NFL Network on Saturday to discuss the situation between Brown and the Steelers.Sanders said his former teammate "brought it on himself," and the recent events all sound "familiar."

Nick Foles has been one of the NFL's most captivating stories over the past two seasons. While filling in for an injured Carson Wentz in consecutive campaigns, the veteran quarterback led the Philadelphia Eagles to their first Super Bowl title and then sparked another playoff run in 2018.But has Foles truly played at the same level (or higher) as Philadelphia's franchise QB? Let's look at their respective numbers under center:Combined 2017-2018 statsEagles with FolesEagles with WentzStarts1324Win percentage (including playoffs)76.90%66.67%Points per game23.226.9Passing yards per game253265.4Team rushing yards per game93.7122TD-INT21-1154-14Completion percentage67.164.7Yards per attempt7.177.57Sacks allowed per game1.152.88Defense points allowed per game17.121.1Outside of team record - which is certainly important - it's clear Philadelphia's offense was still superior with Wentz in the fold. The former No. 2 overall pick edges out Foles in some key statistical categories, including points per game and yards per attempt.And while the veteran appears to be the more accurate passer, completion percentage doesn't tell the entire story. In 2018, Wentz actually had the edge in adjusted completion percentage, according to Pro Football Focus, which accounts for drops, throwaways, spikes, and passes where he was hit during a throw. Additionally, 78.5 percent of Wentz's passes were on target, compared to 75.3 percent of Foles'.Still, while Wentz produced stronger numbers, it's mighty impressive that Foles managed to keep it close.There's also one area where the reigning Super Bowl MVP actually holds a decisive edge - pocket presence. Wentz is sometimes criticized for holding the ball too long - looking for big plays but taking sacks in the process - whereas Foles has taken a minuscule 1.15 sacks per game. That lack of negative plays is a big reason the latter led the Eagles on extended drives and won games.Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images Sport / GettyBut again, it's hard to argue Foles is better than Wentz overall, or that a 29-year-old journeyman should land the starting role in Philadelphia over a 26-year-old who's starred since entering the league. The Eagles clearly agree, as head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Howie Roseman both said this week that Wentz is the unquestioned starter heading into 2019.Foles could always return in a backup role, but the $20-million mutual option in his contract makes that scenario unlikely. In that case, should he be a top target for other teams this offseason, and which of his qualities are most appealing?From the data, it's clear Foles thrives under pressure and when asked to make quick decisions.In terms of the former, Foles ranked first in passer rating and third in completion percentage while under pressure in 2018, per PFF. And as mentioned earlier, he's excellent at avoiding sacks - even when faced with oncoming rushers. Foles was sacked on just 11.9 percent of snaps when he faced pressure this season, which was the league's second-best mark. His 2017 campaign wasn't as prolific in that category, but he still edged out the likes of Kirk Cousins, Dak Prescott, and Russell Wilson.Meanwhile, quick decision-making is perhaps Foles' greatest strength. Run-pass options, slants, and quick option routes are staples of Pederson's offense, and the experienced pivot ran them to a tee. In 2018, Foles averaged 2.42 seconds in the pocket before attempting a pass and 2.45 seconds in the pocket per dropback, per PFF, which ranked fifth-least and least among quarterbacks, respectively. When releasing the ball in less than 2.5 seconds, Foles completed 76 percent of his passes for seven touchdowns and just one interception.Oh, and the bulk of those passes came during must-win games down the stretch.Given his postseason experience and his proven success in certain areas, Foles should certainly be a target for quarterback-needy teams this summer, especially those willing to run a system that plays to his strengths. And when compared to the likes of Joe Flacco, Tyrod Taylor, and Teddy Bridgewater - other QBs expected to be available this offseason - he beats them clean in nearly every key statistical category.Nick Foles isn't Carson Wentz, but there aren't many true franchise quarterbacks around. He's still a proven winner and someone with undeniable strengths who's shown he can thrive in the correct scheme. Even if he's just a "game manager," he'll likely be one of the best available in quite some time.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have not yet held any trade discussions involving wide receiver Antonio Brown, owner Art Rooney told reporters Wednesday, including Mark Kaboly of The Athletic.Rooney said the door isn't completely closed on Brown returning to the Steelers next year, though he would have to address his late-season behavior with his teammates."We have left everything open at this point," Rooney said. "There aren't that many signs out there that's going to happen."Brown all but exiled himself from Pittsburgh by refusing to practice ahead of a must-win game in Week 17. Rooney previously acknowledged that the seven-time Pro Bowler will likely be playing elsewhere by the time training camp rolls around.Brown has provided the Steelers with several headaches over the last nine years. He reportedly threw a football at quarterback Ben Roethlisberger during an altercation at practice the week he left the Steelers, and he was disciplined in Week 3 for failing to report to the team facility on a Monday following a loss.However, he's also put together a Hall of Fame-caliber career in the Steel City. He led all receivers with 15 touchdown catches in 2018 while surpassing 1,000 yards for the sixth straight campaign."I am not going to sit here and disparage Antonio," said Rooney. "You have to remember that he has been one of the most productive receivers in the league for a long time now. He has helped us win a lot of games the last few years. Was it always done the way you like to see it done? No."The 66-year-old noted that Brown was paid for the final week of the season despite leaving the team midweek. Brown did show up at the stadium on Sunday and made himself available for the game, though head coach Mike Tomlin scratched him from the lineup."He probably did what he needed to do to avoid his last check being voided," Rooney said, according to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette.The San Francisco 49ers have been most heavily linked to Brown in trade rumors.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Shazier wants to throw on the pads once again.Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney said Shazier intends to continue rehabbing his back injury with hopes of playing football in the future, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.The linebacker suffered a spinal contusion against the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2017 season. He later underwent spinal stabilization surgery.Shazier missed the entire 2018 season while recovering from the injury and has progressed to a walk with the use of a cane.The former first-round pick is scheduled to hit free agency this year, so the Steelers would have to sign him to a new contract in order for him to continue his rehab process with the team.Rooney acknowledged he's open to discussing a deal in the future, even if Shazier is not yet cleared to play."To the extent he wants to do that, we're open to working that out."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have announced the hiring of former Minnesota Vikings assistant John DeFilippo as their new offensive coordinator.DeFilippo served as the Vikings' offensive coordinator in 2018 before being fired in December. Minnesota hired him away from the Philadelphia Eagles, where he served as the team's quarterbacks coach for two seasons, following Super Bowl LII.In DeFilippo's second stint as offensive coordinator - he led the Cleveland Browns' scoring unit in 2015 - Minnesota ranked 20th in total offense and 19th in scoring offense.The 40-year-old began his NFL coaching career as a quality control coach under Tom Coughlin with the New York Giants. Coughlin is now the executive vice president of football operations in Jacksonville.The Jaguars' scoring unit ranked 31st in the league last season, averaging 15.3 points per game. The team parted ways with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett in November.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears Travis Scott never got Colin Kaepernick's approval to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show.Variety's Jem Aswad reported Tuesday that Scott spoke to Kaepernick before confirming his performance, and while the two didn't necessarily agree, they came away from the conversation "with mutual respect and understanding."However, Kaepernick's girlfriend, Nessa, and friend, Hot 97 host Ebro Darden, both denied the report on Twitter.

Oklahoma quarterback and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray declared for the 2019 NFL Draft on Monday despite having been selected in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Oakland Athletics. If you're unfamiliar with Murray's situation, you can check out everything you need to know about it here.As Murray throws his hat into the NFL draft ring, we offer our three best bets for which team will scoop up the dual-threat quarterback, with odds from BetOnline.Favorite - New York Giants (+400) The New York Giants have a ton of work to do with just two selections in the first 100 picks. The organization still needs to decide how committed it is to veteran quarterback Eli Manning, though early indications are "not very." Picking sixth overall, the Giants won't want to reach for a quarterback who doesn't fit the system in what appears to be a thin class. Ohio State's Dwayne Haskins is arguably QB1, but the Giants would be better served by plucking a franchise quarterback who can push the ball vertically. In 2018, nobody did that better than Murray, who paced the nation with 11.6 yards per attempt and 13.0 adjusted yards per attempt. Combining Murray's style of play with Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard, Evan Engram, and Saquon Barkley would give New York an absolutely loaded offense, and there's one bet here that's a lock: Murray's arrival will put fans in the seats.Underdog - Denver Broncos (+800)OK, Murray isn't exactly what John Elway and Co. are looking for. The Denver Broncos love statues under center, as evidenced by the carousel of Brock Osweiler and Paxton Lynch and, to a lesser extent, Trevor Siemian and Case Keenum. But Denver is also in the market for a quarterback and could make the biggest home-run pick (no pun intended) of the draft. In an AFC West that includes Patrick Mahomes and all the offensive skill in Los Angeles, the Broncos need to turn the tide and land a dynamic player under center. Elway and the Broncos' brass don't seem to mind cycling through quarterbacks, and Murray isn't the obvious fit, but he is the most electric.Long shot - Cincinnati Bengals (+900)The Cincinnati Bengals have been linked to Haskins, who played in Ohio for the Buckeyes, with their first pick at No. 11. That seems like a lazy narrative, though - and Haskins' draft stock has skyrocketed since those early connections. Looking for a long-shot wager, we need to rule out the other candidates first. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+1200) are Jameis Winston's team, says new head coach Bruce Arians. The Pittsburgh Steelers (+1400) are too far behind the pack at No. 20 overall, Ben Roethlisberger appears to have security, and the franchise selected Mason Rudolph in the third round of last year's draft. Cincinnati, on the other hand, is a huge wild card, and the organization's undergoing major changes. Would it be all that surprising for the franchise to take a gamble? Andy Dalton will turn 32 midway through the 2019 season, and the rumored hire of quarterback-minded Zac Taylor could spur the front office to grab his future franchise QB.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.

People in Kansas City and beyond have been stepping up to help the homeless man who came to the aid of Chiefs offensive lineman Jeff Allen last weekend.Dave Cochran was driving down U.S. Highway 40 in Kansas City on Saturday when he noticed Allen's car stuck in the snow and stopped to help. Allen was able to track Cochran down afterward and rewarded him with tickets to Sunday's AFC Championship Game against New England.Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page was set up to raise money for Cochran, and donations had reached $15,351 as of Wednesday morning - quickly surpassing the initial $10,000 goal."I hope this gives Dave the leg up to get on the path that he wants," Justin Manford, who started the GoFundMe page, told Joe Robertson and Glenn E. Rice of the Kansas City Star, adding that he was "flabbergasted" by how quickly the page reached its goal.

Travis Scott reportedly consulted with Colin Kaepernick amid pressure to back out of the Super Bowl LIII halftime show in support of the former NFL quarterback, according to Variety's Jem Aswad.The rapper "had at least one phone conversation" with Kaepernick before agreeing to join Maroon 5 in the show. While the two didn't necessarily agree, they did come away from the conversation "with mutual respect and understanding," a source close to Scott told Aswad.In a statement released earlier this week, Scott said he confirmed his performance after the NFL agreed to partner with him on a $500,000 donation to Dream Corps, a non-profit organization that advocates for social justice.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Antonio Brown's first offensive coordinator in the NFL was Bruce Arians, and the new leader of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sees a drastic change in the Pittsburgh Steelers' disgruntled star receiver after coaching him as a rookie in 2010."There's too much miscommunication, too much ... diva," Arians said on The Adam Schefter Podcast. "I've heard so many stories - I like Antonio - he plays as hard as anybody on Sunday and he practices hard. He's just gotta make better decisions off the field, be on time, do some of those little things."Brown's time with the Steelers appears to be over after he was benched for the team's crucial regular-season finale following a reported practice incident involving Ben Roethlisberger.Steelers president Art Rooney II didn't close the door on Brown returning but said it was "hard to envision" the Pro Bowler being with the team when training camp opens in July.While some have called Brown's work ethic into question amid the drama, Arians said the player he knew was as competitive as they come."He was the hardest working," he said. "He and Emmanuel Sanders, boy they went after it because Mike Tomlin used to tell them, 'two dogs, one bone.' And at that time we had Mike Wallace, Hines Ward, I mean we had a pretty good run for one of them to get on the field. By the end of the season, they were both winning for us to go to the Super Bowl."Brown is expected to have a robust trade market if the Steelers opt to move him, with the San Francisco 49ers the apparent front-runner for his services.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Atlanta Falcons defensive end Takkarist McKinley is undergoing a mental evaluation after being detained by Los Angeles police following an incident at a hotel, according to TMZ Sports.The nature of the incident isn't yet known, but McKinley reportedly wasn't arrested or charged with any crime.McKinley reportedly agreed to leave the hotel with police after a friend became concerned about his well-being and contacted the authorities.We were recently made aware of the situation involving Takk in Los Angeles earlier today," Falcons head coach Dan Quinn said in a statement. "Any time a situation occurs that is or could be related to mental health issues we take it very seriously. We will do everything we possibly can to support and assist Takk, as our players' mental and physical well-being are always our top priority."The former first-round pick has racked up 13 sacks, 42 total tackles, and two forced fumbles in his first two seasons in the NFL.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper told reporters Tuesday he has "no idea" whether or not Cam Newton will require offseason surgery for the shoulder injury that prematurely ended his 2018 campaign, according to Joe Person of The Athletic.The quarterback missed the Panthers' final two games of the regular season after appearing to be hampered for several contests.Tepper went on to say the team will keep its options open for Newton's treatment and recovery. He noted the Panthers would need to clear cap space to add another quarterback if Newton's shoulder doesn't improve in time for the beginning of the 2019 season."If you told me he took a year off and could recover and be fully recovered and everything else, and that's what it took, an extra year, why wouldn't you do (that)?" Tepper said, according to ESPN's David Newton."Now we would have to do other things, right? We'd have to go out and get another quarterback. If you could find me some more cap space I'd appreciate that."The former MVP and three-time Pro Bowler finished his eighth NFL season with a completion percentage of 67.9 for 3,395 yards and 24 touchdowns against 13 interceptions. The dual-threat signal-caller also rushed for 488 yards and four scores over 14 games."Hopefully, Cam's shoulder is fantastic, right? And we're hunky dory, all fantastic,'' Tepper said. "If it's not, you may need more cap space. You may need to go out and find somebody. If you don't, you guys are going to be writing what a dope we are here. Why did we make these other moves?"So think about that. You want to keep your options open, put yourself in best position as you can to win, and I'm talking again for the long term.''Newton led the Panthers to a 6-8 record in his starts. They finished the season 7-9 for third in the NFC South.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ever since the Oakland Athletics selected Kyler Murray with the ninth pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, it has been a rollercoaster ride for the two-sport star and everyone following his career. Despite handing over a $4.66-million signing bonus, the A's allowed Murray to complete his junior year at Oklahoma, where he eventually won the Heisman Trophy. With Murray declaring for the 2019 NFL Draft on Sunday, here are 10 questions surrounding the 21-year-old's life-altering decision.Does declaring for the NFL draft mean he's playing football?Technically, no. There's still time for Murray to flip back and choose baseball. However, if Murray was harboring even a small inclination toward playing in the NFL, he had to declare for the draft by Monday's deadline.When does he actually have to choose?Soon. A first-round selection in the NFL draft would go a long way toward vindicating Murray if he chooses football, but, along with his size, Murray's consideration of a baseball career will be one of the few factors that could keep him from being selected in that range. Unlike in baseball, NFL teams will have no desire to use a premium pick on a player that may or may not end up on their roster. Murray would have to make it clear in pre-draft team interviews that he is committed to football for teams to feel confident taking him on the opening night of the draft.The dates to watch are in February. Oakland invited Murray to participate in spring training, which officially opens in the middle of the month and overlaps with the NFL Scouting Combine, scheduled to take place Feb. 26 - March 4. Leaving spring training to attend the combine would represent a breach of his contract with the A's, and Murray would likely have to pay back his signing bonus.Where will he get picked in the NFL draft?Draft experts seem to expect Murray's name will be called in the middle of the first round. Dane Brugler of The Athletic tabs the diminutive signal-caller to go 15th overall to the Washington Redskins. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller recently suggested Murray would be under consideration as the first overall pick, held by the Arizona Cardinals, with scouts saying he's a lock to go in the top round. However, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport cites scouts suggesting he's a second- or third-round prospect.Either way, teams need more information before making any sort of definitive valuation. Though his game-breaking ability is already on tape, and shorter quarterbacks can undoubtedly succeed in today's NFL, official height and weight measurements are key for a quarterback whose 5-foot-10, 195-pound listing at Oklahoma may have been a little favorable.How good a baseball prospect is he?Michael Zagaris / Getty Images Sport / GettyIn short, good but not great.Both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America list Murray as the No. 4 prospect in the Athletics' system and have him sitting narrowly outside of the overall top 100.As a 20-year-old, Murray authored an impressive .296/.398/.556 slash line in the Big 12, with 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases over 51 games. His speed is his best asset, according to scouts, with his hit tool, power, and fielding abilities all projecting as league average.Of course, the fact that Murray has not participated in baseball activities since February clouds scouts' judgment of the young outfielder and may mean that he's less polished.Why can't he do both?The contemporary demands of both sports are just too great.All 32 NFL teams hold their first offseason workouts in April, interfering with the beginning of the MLB season. In addition, organized team activities (or OTAs) and mandatory minicamps are held throughout the summer, during the heart of baseball's regular-season schedule. Training camp opens 15 days before preseason games begin in August.It hurts to hear, but the days of Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders are long gone.What does this mean for MLB?Not a whole lot, but some will see it as a black spot on a sport waning in popularity. It's never ideal when a top recruit actively chooses a different profession after being selected in the top round.But that fails to recognize the fact that nobody - not even the Sooners QB himself - foresaw Murray going on to win the Heisman Trophy after being drafted ninth overall.And while college baseball is entertaining, NCAA football is on a whole other level. The College Football Playoff is as close to a professional atmosphere as a non-professional athlete can get.Major League Baseball isn't going to overhaul its feeder system anytime soon, and, even if it did, it would take a huge cultural shift to make college baseball a more entertaining product than college football. The call of the NFL is just too tempting.That said, MLB allowing teams to pay prospects equitably earlier in their careers may have helped lure Murray back. But, if he chooses the NFL, it's because he was always going to play football.What can the A's do?Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / GettyIf Murray leaves, Oakland could potentially file a grievance against the league rules that will leave the team without a compensatory draft pick.Immediately prior to the A's selecting Murray, the Atlanta Braves drafted Carter Stewart eighth overall. The two wound up not agreeing to terms, and Stewart even filed a grievance of his own - jointly with the MLB Players Association - for the way he was treated by the Braves. Because the two sides never agreed to terms, Atlanta will get the No. 9 selection in the 2019 draft as compensation.Meanwhile, the A's and Murray agreed to terms - the $4.66-million signing bonus. If he chooses to pursue a career in football, the A's will be left with nothing. Oakland could make a strong case that next year's No. 10 pick should belong to them.What can he make in baseball?Considering the fact that he's not as polished as other prospects his age, Murray would likely be relegated to the minor leagues for at least two full seasons. Minor-league contracts are never guaranteed, and players are not represented by the union. That means their salary is often fixed and starts at $1,100 per month, making their signing bonus crucial income.If Murray makes it to the majors by the time he turns 23 in the 2021 season - when the current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire - he would be under team control for six full seasons, eligible for arbitration as early as year three, and would qualify for free agency after year six.It's not all gloomy, though. All major-league deals - from one-year settlements in arbitration to 13-year blockbusters like the $325-million contract Giancarlo Stanton signed - are fully guaranteed. However, if the current economy in baseball continues, salaries for 30-year-old players may be heavily suppressed, and expecting Murray to land Stanton money is foolhardy.For example, A.J. Pollock, who has made $19 million to date heading into his age-31 season as a one-time All-Star, has yet to land a contract this winter and owns a .805 career OPS. Nick Markakis, the prototypical average outfielder, has made $110 million over the course of his steady yet mostly unremarkable career. As a 35-year-old, Markakis is now languishing in free agency, like Pollock.Folks will reflexively look to Jeff Samardzija, who chose baseball over football back in 2007. However, this is an imperfect comparison because Samardzija was a receiver, and would have had to face much more contact. In Samardzija's case, it was a no-brainer to choose pitching professionally, which has earned him no less than $122 million while incurring no contact-related injuries.Finally, it's worth noting that there are 90 starting outfield jobs in MLB, compared to 32 starting QB gigs. That means more opportunities to stay on a major-league roster with a guaranteed paycheck coming in. All in all, if Murray turned out to be a league-average outfielder, he could likely make around nine figures over the course of his career, although his floor is much, much lower.What can he make in football?Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyLet's assume Murray commits to football and goes in the first round of April's draft. Here's a look at the fully guaranteed four-year contracts that first-round quarterbacks signed last year:

The Indianapolis Colts would like to re-sign kicker Adam Vinatieri, a source told Mike Chappell of CBS4 Sports.Vinatieri, who turns 46 years old Dec. 28 and would enter a 24th NFL season in 2019, said he'd be open to a potential return to the Colts, according to Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star."If they're wanting, I can't imagine (I'd) not keep playing, you know?" Vinatieri said. "I haven't made the decision yet. I'll spend a week or two and just kind of see where we're at."The 23-year veteran is a four-time Super Bowl champion, three-time Pro Bowler, and three-time All-Pro. He's split his career between the Colts and New England Patriots.Vinatieri completed 23 of 27 field-goal attempts and 93.6 percent of extra-point attempts over the regular season, but he uncharacteristically missed one of each kick in the Colts' 31-13 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round. His longest successful kick of the regular season was 54 yards.He carried a cap hit of $3.6 million on a one-year deal in 2018, according to Over the Cap. He's made more than $47 million over his career.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After declaring for the NFL draft on Monday, Kyler Murray must choose between football and baseball. One man who's been in Murray's position before, two-sport legend Deion Sanders, knows which decision he'd make if he was in the Heisman Trophy winner's shoes.Sanders suggested that Murray, an Oakland Athletics draft pick who's already agreed to a signing bonus with the team, forego life in the NFL and stick to baseball.

Terrell Owens' trash-talking game hasn't slowed down.The Hall of Fame wide receiver was a guest on the latest episode of Kevin Hart's web series, "Cold as Balls," during which Owens discussed some of his touchdown celebrations, including when he disrespected the Dallas Cowboys' star at midfield of AT&T Stadium in 2000.Owens, who was a member of the San Francisco 49ers at the time, stood on the star twice during the game, but his second celebration was cut short by a hit from Cowboys safety George Teague.

New York Giants quarterback Kyle Lauletta pleaded guilty Tuesday to a disorderly persons offense and two traffic tickets as part of a conditional dismissal of the charges stemming from his October arrest in New Jersey, sources told Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News.The 23-year-old Lauletta was arrested on the morning of Oct. 30, with police initially saying the quarterback came close to striking an officer with his vehicle.That allegation was reportedly not pursued by the prosecution on Tuesday, and it was not included in Lauletta's admission. The lone criminal charge of eluding police was dropped, according to sources, and the others will be dropped despite the guilty pleas if Lauletta stays out of trouble for 12 months.The rookie had yet to appear in a game at the time of the incident after being selected with the 108th pick of the 2018 draft. Giants head coach Pat Shurmur called the initial reports "very disappointing."Lauletta eventually made his regular-season debut against the Washington Redskins in Week 14 as a substitute for Eli Manning, but failed to complete any of his five passing attempts while also throwing an interception.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Travis Scott agreed to perform at the Super Bowl LIII halftime show on the condition that the NFL make a donation to a charitable cause.In a statement to People's Jordan Runtagh, Scott said he made a $500,000 donation in partnership with the NFL to Dream Corps, a non-profit organization that advocates for social justice."I back anyone who takes a stand for what they believe in," the rapper said. "I know being an artist that it's in my power to inspire. So before confirming the Super Bowl halftime performance, I made sure to partner with the NFL on this important donation. I am proud to support Dream Corps and the work they do that will hopefully inspire and promote change."Jay-Z, who has been vocal in his support of Colin Kaepernick, reportedly tried to talk Scott out of performing. A petition was also launched in November encouraging headliners Maroon 5 to drop out of the halftime show in support of the embattled quarterback.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.