The Cleveland Browns will name offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens their new head coach Wednesday, sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.Kitchens and Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski were reportedly the finalists for the job. Stefanski, whose contract with the Vikings expired Tuesday, will apparently return to Minnesota after failing to land the Browns' job.The hiring of Kitchens continues a meteoric rise for the 44-year-old, who began this season as Cleveland's running backs coach and associate head coach. He moved into the offensive coordinator role after the Browns fired Todd Haley along with head coach Hue Jackson.The Browns' offense blossomed with Kitchens calling plays, while rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield and rookie running back Nick Chubb looked like budding franchise cornerstones down the stretch.Cleveland will not retain the services of Gregg Williams, who finished the season as interim head coach. He compiled a 5-3 record after replacing Jackson.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tennessee Titans are in need of yet another offensive coordinator after Matt LaFleur recently filled the Green Bay Packers' head coaching vacancy.Tennessee's now in search of a fourth OC - and fifth play-caller - since quarterback Marcus Mariota was drafted second overall in 2015.General manager Jon Robinson understands the difficulties the turnover has imposed on the 25-year-old since joining the league."It is always challenging when you are talking about new terminology and concepts. I kind of liken it to learning a foreign language, and he is on his fifth language now," Robinson said, according to Jim Wyatt of Titans Online. "But we’ll do our best to try and help the team and keep a lot of that the same. We’ll talk to coach Vrabel and we’re still just going through that process now about the direction that we’re going to go."But it is always difficult with any player when there is change because you have to learn new things. One thing was called 'this' with this coach, and now this is called 'that.'"Mariota had the highest completion percentage of his career in 2018 at 68.9, though he threw for career lows of 2,528 yards and 11 touchdowns over 14 games (13 starts) with eight interceptions. His 64 rushing attempts and 357 yards were both career highs, adding two more scores on the ground.He missed Week 17 due to injury as the Titans lost a must-win game against the Indianapolis Colts and missed the playoffs for the third time in his four seasons under center.Robinson remains confident Mariota can adapt to whatever style a new coordinator instills and lead the Titans to success in his fifth season."Marcus is a smart guy," Robinson said. "We’ll work at it. Whatever we ask of him from a studying and learning and terminology standpoint, I am confident that he’ll definitely put the time in to try and be his best."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL and NFLPA issued a joint statement Wednesday saying a report from an independent administrator showed "no evidence" that Carolina Panthers safety Eric Reid was targeted for performance-enhancing drug testing this season.The statement reads:

Jerry Rice, who spent the bulk of his Hall of Fame career with the San Francisco 49ers, would endorse a potential trade for star wideout Antonio Brown."If you got a player like that, that you can get, that can really add to the offense of the San Francisco 49ers where now you let those guys go play, I think you have to go for it," Rice said Monday during an appearance on 95.7 The Game.Brown is coming off his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl season but a series of missteps off the field has put his future with the Pittsburgh Steelers in jeopardy. He's been called selfish by many - including ex-teammate Ryan Clark - since going MIA on the Steelers during the final week of the regular season.The 30-year-old Brown has fueled speculation that he wants out of Pittsburgh since the end of the campaign by posting photos of Rice from his 49ers days on social media."This guy, he is a team player," Rice said. "People have to realize, too, (tight end) George Kittle is gonna get doubled ... and you need someone on the other side that's gonna complement him where he can take that double-coverage off George Kittle and they work together and they become a tandem."Brown posted 104 receptions for 1,297 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. However, his large contract, advancing age, and off-field issues could be problematic for any interested team.As for Rice, the three-time Super Bowl champion owns the NFL career receiving records for catches, yards, and touchdowns.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy is pursuing a job with one team only: the New York Jets.McCarthy does not want to be considered for any other head coach vacancy, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, citing a source.McCarthy recently interviewed with the Jets, who have also been linked to Kliff Kingsbury, Matt Rhule, and Todd Monken in their coaching search. The Arizona Cardinals hired Kingsbury as their head coach Tuesday.Just five NFL head coaching roles remain unfilled and they're all in the AFC. The Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns, and Miami Dolphins have yet to hire new bench bosses.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Green Bay Packers named Matt LaFleur as their head coach Tuesday, the team announced.LaFleur and the Packers have agreed to a four-year contract which includes a fifth-year option, a source told NFL.com's Tom Pelissero.The 39-year-old served as the Tennessee Titans' offensive coordinator in 2018 and is now replacing former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, who was fired during the season. Joe Philbin went 2-2 down the stretch as Green Bay's interim head coach.Along with his time in Tennessee, LaFleur's NFL resume includes stints as quarterbacks coach with the Washington Redskins and Atlanta Falcons, and as offensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams in 2017.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers officially announced the hiring of Bruce Arians as the 12th head coach in franchise history on Tuesday.Both sides agreed to a four-year deal with a fifth-year option for 2023."Bruce Arians is one of the NFL's most well-respected coaches over the past two decades and we are excited to have him leading our team," owner Bryan Glazer said in a release.Due to Arians' retirement from football after the 2017 season while still under contract with the Arizona Cardinals, the Buccaneers and Cardinals were required to swap late-round 2019 draft picks in order for Tampa to acquire Arians' rights, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, citing a source.The NFL initially ruled that the Buccaneers were under no requirement to send compensation to the Cardinals, but a late argument from Arizona resulted in Tampa Bay trading a sixth-round pick in the upcoming draft to the Cardinals for a seventh-round pick and Arians' rights, according to Schefter.Arians' health and the contract hangup led to the delay in the announcement, according to ESPN's Jeff Darlington.Arians has had a number of health scares. He had prostate cancer in 2007 and was hospitalized due to an ear infection in 2013. In 2016, he was hospitalized again for complications from diverticulitis and, later that year, he learned that he had renal cell carcinoma, a form of kidney cancer. The 66-year-old had part of his kidney removed in February 2017.The Buccaneers required that Arians undergo a physical, Darlington added.Byron Leftwich will become Arians' new offensive coordinator, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Arians is also close to bringing former New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles aboard as his defensive coordinator, according to Trevor Sikkema of Pewter Report. Bowles was Arians' defensive coordinator with Cardinals in 2013 and 2014.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Denver Broncos have narrowed their coaching search to Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak, sources told ESPN.The Broncos are expected to make their choice sometime before Wednesday evening.Denver completed its interview with Fangio on Monday, a day after the Bears were eliminated from the playoffs. Munchak's interview was conducted on Friday.Munchak spent from 1994 to 2013 as a coach with the Houston Oilers/Tennesse Titans franchise. He was the Titans' head coach from 2011 to 2013. He's spent the last four seasons as a position coach with the Steelers.Fangio, 60, has been an NFL coach since 1986. He has 20 years of experience as a defensive coordinator. He's led the Bears' defense since 2015.The Broncos are looking for their fifth head coach in the last 10 seasons.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

USC head coach Clay Helton has no ill will towards his short-lived offensive coordinator and new Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury."I am happy for Kliff," Helton said, according to The Athletic's Antonio Morales. "Any time you get an opportunity to be an NFL head coach, it is special. He is a talented coach, that's why we brought him here. I wish him nothing but the best."Kingsbury was hired as USC's offensive coordinator on Dec. 4 after being fired from Texas Tech following six seasons as head coach.The Trojans will now be on the lookout for a new OC."USC has always attracted the best coaches in the country from all levels," Helton said. "We will spend the upcoming weeks finding the best possible fit for USC and our program."Before meeting with the New York Jets and the Cardinals, it was reported that the Trojans were blocking NFL teams from interviewing Kingsbury.The 39-year-old coach reportedly owes USC a $150,000 buyout in order to resign and take the Cardinals' head coaching job, according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport.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 quarterback rankings here.The new kingHarry How / Getty Images Sport / GettyPatrick Mahomes, Chiefs - Before the season, we identified Mahomes as the late-round quarterback with the highest fantasy upside, and even went as far as to suggest he could be a top-five option in 2018. But no one expected 5,000 yards, 50 touchdowns, and over 60 fantasy points more than the next closest player. Mahomes is capable of owning the throne for years to come, but with so many good fantasy quarterbacks out there, don't be seduced into overspending to get him next season.Back to formBob Levey / Getty Images Sport / GettyDeshaun Watson, Texans - As the careers of a few star veterans come to an end over the next couple seasons, 23-year-olds Mahomes and Watson will take over as the headliners. Watson, in his return from a torn ACL he suffered in the first half of his rookie campaign, posted the fourth-most fantasy points among quarterbacks in 2018. He's equally explosive in the air and on the ground, evidenced by his 551 rushing yards and five rushing scores. Though his offensive line improved as the season progressed, just imagine what he could do with a stronger set of blockers.Andrew Luck, Colts - Any doubts about Luck's health were put to rest early in the season when he threw three or more touchdown passes in eight straight games. In the end, he had the second-most passing scores in the NFL - behind only Mahomes - and finished as a top-five fantasy quarterback. An underreported key to his renewed success was the Colts' now-dominant offensive line, which allowed a league-best 18 sacks.Still deliveringChris Graythen / Getty Images Sport / GettyDrew Brees, Saints - After a year in which he posted just 23 touchdowns in 2017, regression (yes, it can be positive) came for Brees this season, as he tossed 32 scores. The soon-to-be 40-year-old still managed to put up impressive numbers despite throwing the ball just 489 times, his fewest attempts since 2004. With the defense and running game in excellent shape, New Orleans would be wise to invest in another weapon in the passing game, perhaps an impact tight end.Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers - The drama surrounding Le'Veon Bell's holdout didn't slow down the Steelers' offense. Roethlisberger was the third-best fantasy quarterback in 2018. If he's going to repeat that feat, he needs to work to resolve the issues that popped up near the end of the season with star wideout Antonio Brown. The emergence of JuJu Smith-Schuster has given Pittsburgh the league's best receiver tandem, but if Brown were traded, Big Ben would fall to the QB2 ranks in fantasy.Philip Rivers, Chargers - The Chargers were more committed to the run this year, but that didn't stop Rivers from again slotting in as a low-end QB1. The veteran showed incredible consistency by connecting on multiple touchdown passes in 12 consecutive games. With Mike Williams showing signs of a breakout next to Keenan Allen, and a healthy Hunter Henry at tight end, Rivers will once again be a high-floor fantasy pick available in the later rounds.Limited by scheme Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / GettyAaron Rodgers, Packers - It was a frustrating season for those with Rodgers on their team, as they were forced to watch him play in an unimaginative offense. The first quarterback off the board in most 2018 drafts managed to accrue the sixth-most fantasy points among quarterbacks. Fortunately, there might a happy ending to this story, as the recent hire of offensive-minded Matt LaFleur brings hope that Rodgers and Co. can bounce back to their former elite production.Russell Wilson, Seahawks - A year after being the highest-scoring quarterback, Wilson fell victim to the Seahawks' new run-first offense. He was still able to finish as the QB9 on the year, a miraculous outcome made possible by his hyper-efficiency. Seattle attempted the fewest passes in the league but Wilson still threw 35 touchdowns on just 427 attempts. To compare, Roethlisberger had 34 touchdowns on 675 attempts. It'll be tough for Wilson to deliver like that again unless the team rethinks its approach.Matthew Stafford, Lions - Prior to this season, Stafford hadn't finished lower than 12th among fantasy quarterbacks dating back to 2011. That streak was ripped apart as Golden Tate was traded and Marvin Jones hit the injured reserve, culminating in the QB20 result for Stafford. Even with a similar amount of attempts as last season, Stafford saw his stats drop dramatically with 3,777 yards and 21 touchdowns, his lowest output in over five years. Kenny Golladay and Kerryon Johnson are rising stars, but we'll need to see Detroit add more weapons before we consider Stafford a fantasy starter again.On the mendChris Graythen / Getty Images Sport / GettyCam Newton, Panthers - Newton was the QB3 heading into Week 14 before re-injuring his shoulder, which led to a couple subpar performances and ultimately cost him the final two games of the regular season. Assuming he's healthy by August, there's plenty of reason to be excited about Newton's fantasy potential, as he teams up with one of the league's most dynamic backs in Christian McCaffrey and a young explosive receiving corps led by first-rounder D.J. Moore.Carson Wentz, Eagles - A torn ACL robbed Wentz of a playoff run last season and a back injury has forced the same result this year. With so much hype around Nick Foles' ability to step up in relief, Wentz will be undervalued heading into the 2019 campaign. While he wasn't playing at the same MVP level he established in 2017, Wentz did throw multiple touchdowns in eight of his 11 appearances. More importantly, his rushing stats were significantly reduced coming off the knee injury. He should be back to 100 percent come September, making him a sneaky target in fantasy drafts.Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers - Jimmy G suffered a torn ACL three games into what was supposed to be his breakout season. With George Kittle and Dante Pettis emerging in 2018, Garoppolo could be coming back to a better situation than the one he left. Kyle Shanahan's offense is a star-making machine.Andy Dalton, Bengals - A thumb injury brought Dalton's season to an early end, but you can count on him to once again be a boring fantasy play next season. Outside of the odd big game, Dalton shouldn't be counted on as anything more than a bye-week replacement.Pleasant surprisesSam Greenwood / Getty Images Sport / GettyMatt Ryan, Falcons - Ryan's final numbers may have been the biggest surprise of all in the regular season, as he nearly matched the lofty stat line he produced during his 2016 MVP campaign. A new offensive coordinator would normally be a reason to worry about Ryan, as he's typically put up lower totals in his first year in a system. However, the Falcons are bringing back former OC Dirk Koetter, who served in that role with the team from 2012 to 2014.Jared Goff, Rams - When Cooper Kupp was placed on injured reserve, Goff appeared to miss the slot receiver who became his safety net. The quarterback threw for just two total touchdowns from Week 13 to Week 16, when fantasy managers needed him most. With a full complement of weapons in 2019, the 24-year-old will return to QB1 range, though an investment in Goff is more like an investment in Sean McVay - which is a smart bet.Dak Prescott, Cowboys - All you need to know about Prescott's 2018 performance is that he was the QB23 over the first half of the season. Upon the arrival of Amari Cooper, Prescott was a fantasy force as the QB6. Cooper's presence as a true No. 1 receiver allowed other pass-catchers such as Michael Gallup and Cole Beasley to be used in more favorable ways, while also taking some of the pressure off the run game. Prescott still lacks the elite talent of the game's best passers, but he's an intriguing fantasy asset heading into 2019.UnderachieversAbbie Parr / Getty Images Sport / GettyKirk Cousins, Vikings - When you sign a fully-guaranteed contract as the final piece of a Super Bowl contender, it's understandable that you may receive a disproportionate amount of the blame when your team fails to reach the postseason. Cousins' poor pocket awareness behind a turnstile offensive line was never a recipe for success, and his seven lost fumbles were the result. Better days are ahead for the quarterback if the Vikings can address their blocking issues.Tom Brady, Patriots - We'll see what the Patriots do in the playoffs, but the 41-year-old Brady uncharacteristically missed receivers on far too many occasions during the regular season. If he returns for the 2019 campaign, New England's main priority will be finding playmakers to offset the declines of both Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski.Jameis Winston, Buccaneers - Winston started the year suspended and had to ride the bench while Ryan Fitzpatrick starred early in the season. When Winston finally returned to the field, his penchant for turnovers promptly sent him back to the sidelines. However, when he was given a second chance in Week 11, his performance improved, leading to top-eight fantasy numbers over the final seven games. The hiring of Bruce Arians, coupled with a talented cast of pass-catchers, makes Winston an intriguing target in drafts.Marcus Mariota, Titans - As Mariota enters the final year of his rookie deal, he's nearing "bust" status. His touchdown to interception ratio of 24-to-23 over the last two years is disappointing from a second overall pick in his third and fourth seasons. He'll also have a new offensive coordinator to contend with after LaFleur left for Green Bay.Proved their valueStacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / GettyMitch Trubisky, Bears - The sophomore made strides under new head coach Matt Nagy, which should give the Bears hope he can evolve into a franchise signal-caller. For the time being, though, his fantasy production is being salvaged by his rushing stats, which is OK ... for now.Baker Mayfield, Browns - Not only is Mayfield a viable fantasy option for 2019, but he allowed Browns fans to finally stop adding names to their famous jersey of failed quarterbacks. Mayfield was the highest-scoring rookie quarterback, powered by a strong second half in which he totaled top-10 fantasy numbers. He'll flirt with that range again next season.Lamar Jackson, Ravens - Jackson's limitations as a passer were evident in the Ravens' playoff loss, and it's an area he needs to improve in to become a quality starter in the pros. However, his rookie campaign was still a resounding success, as he saved Baltimore's season and used his rushing ability to post top-seven fantasy numbers once he took over as the starter in Week 11.Josh Allen, Bills - Before the season, few would have guessed Allen would be in a section titled "proved their value," but that's exactly what the Bills rookie did in 2018. Over the final six weeks of the season, Allen had more fantasy points than any other quarterback, thanks to 476 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. If the Bills can get a couple more receiving threats and Allen can clean up his accuracy issues, we could be talking about him as a borderline QB1 next year.Room to improveJoe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / GettySam Darnold, Jets - The third overall pick had his ups and downs as a rookie, but he looked solid over the final month after returning from injury. The Jets' offseason checklist will surely feature the addition of more weapons at the skill positions and an offensive-minded head coach who can help Darnold's development.Josh Rosen, Cardinals - Rosen is in a situation similar to Darnold, with a new coach on the way and a need for more talent around him. The Cardinals quarterback will have more to prove, though, after struggling through his season behind a weak offensive line.Derek Carr, Raiders - It's unclear if Jon Gruden plans to replace Carr this offseason or give him another chance to prove himself. What is clear is that Carr hasn't been usable in fantasy for two straight seasons, and barring some major moves, that won't change in 2019.Still a starter?Al Bello / Getty Images Sport / GettyEli Manning, Giants - Giants general manager Dave Gettleman wasn't willing to commit to Manning as the team's starter next season. Unfortunately, he might be a year too late after passing on a potential franchise quarterback near the top of last year's draft. Either way, Manning can't be trusted in fantasy lineups.Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins - Miami started its offseason by firing Adam Gase, and reports indicate it plans to part ways with Tannehill, as well. If that happens, his days as an NFL starter are over.Case Keenum, Broncos - Keenum is not the long-term answer in Denver and it's possible he could be cut after just one season with the club. If he remains with the Broncos, he'll be well off the fantasy radar.Hoping for a new homeIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyTeddy Bridgewater, Saints - After recovering from a career-threatening injury, Bridgewater spent a year rehabbing his stock as a backup with the Saints. He'll be one of the most enticing free-agent quarterbacks on the market, and depending on his landing spot, could be an interesting fantasy option, too.Tyrod Taylor, Browns - The 29-year-old has his limitations as a quarterback, but he's a reliable veteran who's capable of posting quality fantasy numbers if he lands a starting job in free agency.Nick Foles, Eagles - Even if the Eagles make it to another Super Bowl with Foles at the helm, it's hard to imagine they move on from Wentz. Foles is a free agent after this year but could be retained with his player option or the franchise tag, then traded. If he finds himself in a starting role, he'll be in the streaming discussion for 2019.Joe Flacco, Ravens - Oh, how the "elite" have fallen. With Jackson locked in as the Ravens' starting quarterback, Flacco will be playing elsewhere in 2019. He's unlikely to be fantasy relevant in any scenario.Blake Bortles, Jaguars - Don't even think about it. There will be a team that takes a chance on Bortles but that doesn't mean you should.Nick Mullens, 49ers - There might be a trade market for Mullens, who played adequately given he was a third-string undrafted free agent heading into the campaign. Career-wise, he's a solid backup at best.Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buccaneers - As we've seen in Tampa Bay, Fitzmagic only lasts for short stretches.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is calling on artists to boycott the Super Bowl LIII halftime show in support of Colin Kaepernick.Gerald Griggs, vice president of the Atlanta chapter of the NAACP, told Edward Helmore of The Observer that the group has reached out to the performers who have signed on for the show, asking them to rethink their participation."The majority of artists we've reached out to are standing in solidarity against the NFL," Griggs said. "They do not want to be associated because of the protest that was started by Mr. Kaepernick against racial injustice and police brutality."Rihanna and Cardi B both reportedly passed on opportunities to perform at the Super Bowl LIII halftime show in solidarity with Kaepernick.Maroon 5 has long been rumored as the headlining act, with Travis Scott as one of their guests, though neither has confirmed their participation. Variety's Jem Aswad and Shirley Halperin reported in December that Jay-Z is trying to talk Scott out of performing."We would implore them to rethink their participation," Griggs said. "The protest Mr. Kaepernick is making over the number of people killed by law enforcement has not been resolved. We would hope they would use their celebrity status to send that message to an even broader audience by pulling out."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons rehired Dirk Koetter as offensive coordinator, the team announced Tuesday.Koetter spent the last three seasons as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, crafting a 19-29 record prior to his dismissal. He served as Tampa's offensive coordinator for one season before being promoted."We are fired up to have Dirk join our staff as our offensive coordinator," head coach Dan Quinn said. "His experience and familiarity with our division will also pay dividends."Koetter's offense ranked first in the NFL in passing yards per game and third in total yards per game in 2018.Atlanta also announced Tuesday the addition of another former offensive coordinator as Mike Mularkey re-joined the staff as a tight ends coach.Mularkey last worked for the Tennessee Titans, serving as interim head coach in 2015 and head coach in 2016 and 2017. He was the Falcons' offensive coordinator from 2008-11.The Falcons fired all three of their coordinators on the heels of a 7-9 season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kliff Kingsbury is heading to the NFL after all.The Arizona Cardinals officially hired Kingsbury as their new head coach Tuesday. Kingsbury signed a four-year deal with a team option for a fifth season, a league source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The 39-year-old joined USC as offensive coordinator 34 days ago after Texas Tech fired him following six seasons as head coach. The Trojans originally denied NFL teams' requests to interview him.The New York Jets were also interested in Kingsbury for their head coaching vacancy but knew he favored the Cardinals' job, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.The offensive-minded Kingsbury has a number of intriguing pieces to work with in Arizona, including 2018 first-round pick Josh Rosen. Rosen struggled as a rookie but has the potential to emerge as a future franchise quarterback. The team also features star running back David Johnson and dynamic receiver Christian Kirk.Kingsbury compiled a 35-40 record with the Red Raiders and never finished above .500 in Big 12 play.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jerry Jones reportedly splurged on a 357-foot superyacht recently.The Dallas Cowboys owner purchased the yacht - now named Bravo Eugenia after his wife, Gene - for $250 million, sources told Newy Scruggs of NBC 5. It features two helipads, a beach club with its own gym, and a wellness center complete with a sauna, steam room, and plunge pool.The yacht was delivered to the Joneses on Dec. 20 after completing a series of sea trials, according to YachtHarbour.com.Forbes named the Cowboys the NFL's most valuable franchise last year with an estimated worth of $5 billion.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After another slate filled with sacks, stops, and stuffs, let's review the standout performers from the trenches during Wild Card Weekend:Defensive Lineman of the Week: Chargers DE Melvin IngramLos Angeles Chargers pass-rusher Melvin Ingram is blessed with a rare combination of speed, explosiveness, and flexibility, but he took a step back in the 2018 regular season with 43 tackles (eight for a loss), 16 quarterback hits, and seven sacks. Those are still strong numbers by most standards, but they were all down from Ingram's production in 2017.It turns out Ingram was just saving his best for the playoffs, as he submitted his finest performance of the campaign on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. And as usual, he made his biggest contributions as a pass-rusher - recording two sacks and three QB hits - but with a twist.The Ravens possess one of the best offensive lines in football, but with a glaring weakness at left guard, where Alex Lewis starts and James Hurst backs him up. To attack that weakness, Los Angeles made a conscious effort to scheme up one-on-one matchups for Ingram inside - rather than on the edge - and it paid off big time, as he beat a left guard on both sacks.Here's the first, which came against Lewis:Your browser does not support the video tag. NFLOn this play, Ingram begins by accelerating toward the outside edge of Lewis, which forces the guard to expand farther away from the center, creating a wider gap. With Lewis' momentum taking him outside, Ingram then uses a powerful cross-chop move to keep himself clean before spinning inside through the wide gap and then sacking quarterback Lamar Jackson.Ingram’s footwork on the spin was a little clunky - as he needed a gather step before continuing forward - but it didn't matter because it was set up and executed with such great timing that Lewis had no chance to recover.Hurst was the victim on Ingram's second sack, as seen below:Your browser does not support the video tag. NFLHere, Ingram doesn't walk down to the line of scrimmage until immediately before the snap, and then uses his forward momentum to burst toward Hurst's midline.Just before he gets within striking distance, Ingram jab steps inside and then expands outside, which crosses up Hurst and draws out his hands. As he expands outside, Ingram executes a cross chop to fend off Hurst's strike and then easily penetrates through to sack Jackson in the pocket.These sacks displayed Ingram's technique, timing, and finishing ability, as the seventh-year pass-rusher finally played at the level that's been expected of him this season. Against the New England Patriots this coming weekend, look for the Chargers to continue moving Ingram around as a mismatch piece to take advantage of any weak link on the opposing line.Pass Rush of the Week: Chargers LB Uchenna NwosuWith the Ravens near midfield and driving to win the game with less than 30 seconds remaining, the Chargers needed someone to step up and make a play.Most would have expected that play to come from Ingram, Joey Bosa, or Derwin James, but it was rookie edge defender Uchenna Nwosu who secured the victory with a sack-fumble of Jackson that was recovered by Los Angeles:Your browser does not support the video tag. NFLOn this play, Nwosu's lined up on the edge with an outside shade over rookie right tackle Orlando Brown. After the ball is snapped, Nwosu explodes out of his stance and pushes vertical for two steps.Right before he gets within striking distance, Nwosu executes a quick jab step toward Brown's inside edge, which leads the offensive tackle to briefly shift his weight inside. This prevents Brown from getting much width on his pass set, which gives Nwosu a short corner. From there, Nwosu expands his rush outside and uses a long-arm move with his inside hand - which causes Brown to rotate on his spot - shortening the corner even more.At that point, Nwosu's footwork and stride length allow him to turn the corner and flatten to Jackson before knocking the ball loose as the quarterback winds up to throw.It was a masterful display of shortening the corner using footwork and hand technique - something rarely exhibited by a rookie - and it came when the Chargers needed it most.Run Defender of the Week: Bears DT Eddie GoldmanThe Chicago Bears may have suffered a gut-wrenching loss against the Philadelphia Eagles, but that shouldn't take away from defensive tackle Eddie Goldman's outstanding performance against the run. Chicago needed Goldman to take advantage of his matchup, and that's exactly what he did throughout the contest.Goldman's final stat line (four tackles) doesn't do his performance justice, as the fourth-year player did an excellent job of occupying blocks and clogging running lanes, which allowed his teammates to make plays. The Eagles averaged just 1.83 yards per carry, in large part due to Goldman’s presence in the interior.Meanwhile, each of Goldman's tackles resulted in an unsuccessful play for the offense, as all four came within 1 yard of the line of scrimmage. The stop below is a great example of his dominance against the run:Your browser does not support the video tag. NFLHere, Goldman's aligned with a slight inside shade over Eagles left guard Isaac Seumalo, who's looking to double-team him alongside All-Pro center Jason Kelce.However, when the ball is snapped, Goldman does a great job of mirroring and engaging Seumalo, which makes it difficult for Kelce to square up Goldman and push him off the spot. From there, Goldman leverages his superior hand placement to execute an arm-over move that beats Seumalo's block and allows him to penetrate through for a tackle on the running back.Even though the Bears will be watching the next round of the playoffs from home, Goldman should hold his head high after a winning performance against the run. The 25-year-old was one of Chicago's most improved players this season and his future looks bright.In the Spotlight: Cowboys DT Antwaun WoodsThe Dallas Cowboys employed one of the worst defensive tackle rotations in the league last season. When David Irving wasn't in the game, the group usually struggled to make a positive impact against the run or pass.That changed this season, thanks in large part to the addition of Antwaun Woods, who'd played in just one NFL game before signing with Dallas. The Cowboys challenged Woods to lose weight in an effort to maximize his short-area quickness and explosiveness, and he obliged, coming into camp considerably lighter than he was in college with Tennessee.Initially signed as a backup, Woods (literally) fought his way into the starting nose tackle gig once the season began, and hasn't looked back. He didn't post the most impressive stat line on paper - 34 tackles (two for a loss), five quarterback hits, and 1.5 sacks in 15 games - but the 26-year-old still provided a ton of value.In fact, one reason that Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith excelled this season is that Woods - an extremely powerful player who uses his natural leverage advantage effectively - often occupies blockers and plugs gaps.At times, Woods has also displayed impressive awareness and quickness, which give him the ability to make plays outside of his responsibilities. Against the Seattle Seahawks in the wild-card round, he did just that by blowing up a screen pass:Your browser does not support the video tag. NFL/FOXHere, Woods is lined up with a slight inside shade over the Seahawks' left guard. Once the ball is snapped, he does well to square up and engage the guard at the point of attack, which makes it hard for Seattle's center to take over the block once the left guard attempts to leak out for the screen. This frees up Woods to get his eyes into the backfield, identify the play, and then rush forward to immediately tackle the running back.Nose tackles aren't supposed to blow up screen passes 8 yards behind the line of scrimmage, but Woods has shown he's more than capable of doing so. In this instance, his effort and quickness were on full display.Overall, the Cowboys' defense has been one of the best in the NFL this season, and the addition of Woods is one of the bigger - and underrated - reasons why.John Owning is a football writer at theScore. He has written for Bleacher Report and Football Insiders. He was also the lead NFL content editor at FanRag Sports. John provides analysis on the Dallas Cowboys for the Dallas Morning News and edits for The Quant Edge. Find him on Twitter @JohnOwning.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns have identified in-house candidate Freddie Kitchens and Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski as finalists for their head coaching job, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.It's unclear whether there are any additional finalists.Kitchens became a fan favorite in Cleveland after the Browns' offense improved with him calling plays down the stretch of the season. He replaced fired offensive coordinator Todd Haley.Stefanski also finished the season calling plays after the Vikings dismissed offensive coordinator John DeFilippo late in the year. Stefanski is believed to be a candidate for the full-time offensive coordinator position with Minnesota, though his contract expires Tuesday.The Browns finished the season with a 7-8-1 record. They went 5-3 down the stretch under interim head coach Gregg Williams.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite the ever-growing popularity of fantasy football, a new study shows many NFL fans still side with their favorite real-life teams.Casino.ca surveyed more than 1,000 fans about their loyalties in both fantasy and reality. On average, three out of four said they would prefer to see their favorite NFL franchise advance to the playoffs over their fantasy squad. A similar number of fans said they would rather see their favorite team win a championship.Fantasy teams tend to demand more attention, though. The study found that on average, NFL fans spend nearly 30 percent more time following their fantasy team than their favorite club.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs received some reinforcements ahead of Saturday's divisional-round game against the Indianapolis Colts.Wide receiver Sammy Watkins, safety Eric Berry, and running back Spencer Ware all returned to practice Tuesday after missing time at the end of the regular season due to injuries.Watkins hasn't played since Week 11 due to a foot ailment. The 25-year-old totaled 40 receptions for 519 yards and three touchdowns over 10 games after signing a three-year, $48-million contract as a free agent in the offseason.Berry returned to the Chiefs in Week 15 after being sidelined since Week 1 of the 2017 campaign with a ruptured Achilles. He played two games before sitting out the regular-season finale.Ware started in Week 13 and 14 following the team's release of Kareem Hunt but missed the final three games due to a hamstring issue.Damien Williams took over for the final three contests and racked up 322 total yards with four scores.The Chiefs will host the Colts at Arrowhead Stadium at 4:35 p.m. ET on Saturday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the wake of the Bears' playoff exit, one Chicago brewery's issued a challenge to "armchair kickers" who think they can hit a 43-yard field goal.The Bears lost 16-15 to the Philadelphia Eagles in Sunday's wild-card round after kicker Cody Parkey's 43-yard attempt - which later appeared to be tipped - hit an upright and the crossbar."You can't make this up. I feel terrible. I let the team down. That's on me," Parkey said after the game. "I have to own it, I have to be a man and unfortunately that's the way it went today."Goose Island Beer Co. came to Parkey's defense Monday, announcing it will be giving free beer to those who make the field goal.

The Los Angeles Chargers are expected to have the services of Pro Bowl running back Melvin Gordon for Sunday's divisional-round game against the New England Patriots after he suffered a knee sprain on Wild Card Weekend, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network."Gordon is expected to be out there, just may not exactly look like his old self," Rapoport said on "NFL Total Access."Rapoport likened Gordon's left knee injury to the one he suffered during the regular season - to his other knee - which forced him to miss several games down the stretch.The 25-year-old runner was forced out of the Chargers' wild-card game against the Baltimore Ravens in the first quarter, but he returned to finish the contest with 17 carries for 40 yards and a touchdown.Backup running back Austin Ekeler saw a slightly elevated role with Gordon hampered by the injury and finished the game with 11 carries for 29 yards and four receptions for 14 yards.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels won't pursue any of the available head coaching jobs remaining in the current cycle."The book is closed," he said Tuesday, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. "It's always a humbling experience to have an opportunity. ... I'll be here moving forward."McDaniels interviewed for the Green Bay Packers' vacancy this offseason, but that job wound up going to former Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur. The 42-year-old McDaniels also said he was never contacted by the Cleveland Browns, who have one of the most attractive openings right now, according to the Boston Herald's Karen Guregian.This is the seventh season of McDaniels' second stint with the Patriots, who will face the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday in the divisional round of the playoffs. He was set to become head coach of the Indianapolis Colts after the Super Bowl last year, but then backed out of the agreement to stay with New England."I've said before, I think I have one of the best jobs in the world," McDaniels added Tuesday.McDaniels has interviewed for several head coaching opportunities in recent years, but he's grown picky about the teams he'd be willing to leave the Patriots for.He went 11-17 with the Denver Broncos in 2009 and '10 - his only previous experience as a head coach - before being fired.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Green Bay Packers are set to hire Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur as their new head coach, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter and Rob Demovsky.The 39-year-old has just two seasons of NFL coordinator experience, one with Tennessee and one with Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams in 2017.The Rams were one of the top offenses under LaFleur, ranking first in points per game with 29.9 and 10th in total yards, though McVay was the offensive play-caller.LaFleur struggled to replicate Los Angeles' elite production in Tennessee as the Titans finished 27th in points per game, 25th in yards per game, and 15th in third-down percentage.If the deal is finalized, LaFleur will be tasked with revamping the Packers' stagnant offense in order to maximize Aaron Rodgers' final seasons.The two-time NFL MVP threw the fewest touchdowns and had his worst completion-percentage mark for a full 16-game regular season in 2018. He reportedly clashed with longtime head coach Mike McCarthy about the team's offensive scheme. McCarthy was ultimately fired midseason.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

General manager Mike Mayock clarified how the power dynamic will work between him and head coach Jon Gruden as the Oakland Raiders undergo a rebuild of their team."In all honesty, Jon's got final say, if it ever comes to that, and I've got zero problems with that," Mayock said to ESPN's Steve Levy, according to ESPN's Paul Gutierrez.Although Gruden may be calling the final shots on personnel decisions, Mayock believes the relationship will be mutually beneficial for the team."Now, having said that, I think we're going to come to a consensus and I like a little yelling, a little screaming, a little fighting for what player you believe in," Mayock said. "But at the end of the day, I guarantee you, Jon Gruden and I are going to know what a Raider looks like and smells like. I don't think we're going to have any issues."The Raiders brought Mayock in on Dec. 31 after firing ex-general manager Reggie McKenzie earlier in the month.It was believed Gruden would have a heavy hand in roster decisions thanks in part to his 10-year, $100-million contract.Mayock, a former NFL Network analyst, is seen as one of the NFL draft's premier voices. The Raiders have three first-round picks in the 2019 NFL Draft.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bruce Arians appears to be the front-runner for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' head coaching vacancy.While Arians and the Buccaneers have yet to agree on a contract, all signs point to the two parties finalizing a deal in the near future, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.The 66-year-old has been linked to Tampa Bay's head coaching vacancy over the last week and interviewed with the team Saturday.Arians had previously said the Cleveland Browns' job would be the only one that could draw him out of retirement, but the Buccaneers' opening has evidently piqued his interest.After firing head coach Dirk Koetter on Dec. 30, the Buccaneers have eyed a slew of potential replacements, including Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator George Edwards.The team was also in Dallas last week speaking with Cowboys defensive backs coach Kris Richard. He was the Bucs' last known interview.Tampa Bay intends to make a decision in the coming days.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

USC offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is interviewing with the New York Jets for their vacant head coaching position, a source told The Athletic's Bruce Feldman.The former Texas Tech head coach, whose Air Raid offense produced great success in the college ranks, is also a candidate for the Arizona Cardinals' head coaching job, reports ESPN's Adam Schefter.Kingsbury was initially blocked by USC from interviewing with NFL teams. He joined its staff in December after a six-year tenure as the head coach at Texas Tech, his alma mater.The Cardinals and Jets were known to be interested in Kingsbury when USC was denying interview requests. At that time, Kingsbury and the Cardinals shared a strong mutual interest, according to Schefter.It's unclear whether USC changed its stance with Kingsbury and allowed him to start speaking with NFL clubs or if his status with the school changed.

Ohio State quarterback and 2018 Heisman Trophy finalist Dwayne Haskins declared for the 2019 NFL Draft on Monday.

The Los Angeles Chargers announced on Monday they've added tight end Hunter Henry to their active roster for Sunday's divisional-round game against the New England Patriots.The second-round pick in 2016 was on the physically unable to perform list after tearing his ACL during the first day of OTAs in May. The Chargers opened a 21-day window in which to activate Henry from the PUP when he first returned to practice on Dec. 17.Head coach Anthony Lynn told reporters the 24-year-old will likely be on a snap count upon his return.Henry caught 45 of 62 targets for 579 yards and four touchdowns over 14 games in 2017. He also recorded eight touchdowns as a rookie in 2016.He'll upgrade the tight end combination of Antonio Gates and Virgil Green that the Chargers have used this campaign. The two totaled just 543 receiving yards and three touchdowns during the regular season, and they combined for five catches and 43 yards in a wild-card game win over the Baltimore Ravens.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens and head coach John Harbaugh are inching closer to a long-term contract extension, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, who added that both parties are encouraged by the progress.The two sides have been working on a new contract for weeks, as Harbaugh's current deal expires after the 2019 season.The 56-year-old led the Ravens to the playoffs this season after a three-year absence, but they were eliminated by the Los Angeles Chargers on Wild Card Weekend. Afterward, Harbaugh - whose contract status has led to recent trade rumors - stated his desire and intention to remain in Baltimore.Meanwhile, no team is known to have given Baltimore an offer for the coach.Harbaugh owns a 104-72 record over 11 seasons with the Ravens and hoisted the Lombardi Trophy for winning Super Bowl XLVIICopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wild Card Weekend was entertaining, with three of the four games decided by one score. We were spoiled for choice, but here are the four best designs.Passing Design of the WeekThe game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Chicago Bears will be remembered for either a Cody Parkey missed field goal or a Nick Foles touchdown pass to Golden Tate, depending on your perspective. But the Eagles needed a pivotal third-down conversion a few plays before the TD throw, and that goes down as our passing design of the week.Facing a crucial third-and-9 with under two minutes remaining and trailing by five, the Eagles break the huddle with two tight ends in the game, Dallas Goedert and Zach Ertz. They align with Foles in the shotgun and a bit of a full-house backfield look, including wide receiver Alshon Jeffery lined up deep behind the quarterback:NFL/NBCJeffery doesn't remain in the backfield for long. He motions into the slot on the left side, where he'll run a quick little Bang 8 post route:NFL/NBCBetween the offensive personnel and formation, the Eagles catch the Bears in a base Cover 4 coverage. That allows Jeffery to find space between the cornerback and the safety to convert this critical third down: Your browser does not support the video tag. NFL/NBCIt took four more plays for the Eagles to get into the end zone and finish the drive, the scoring pass to Tate coming on a variation of Sprint Right Option - a play made famous by "The Catch," a pass from Joe Montana to Dwight Clark that helped propel the San Francisco 49ers to a berth in Super Bowl XVI. But it was this third down that set the stage for Foles' latest heroics and has the Eagles faithful dreaming of more Super Bowl finishes.Rushing Design of the WeekSaturday night's tilt between the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys picked up steam after a slow start. On perhaps the biggest play of the game, the Cowboys and their rushing attack decided things - and Ezekiel Elliott wasn't the one carrying the ball.With just over two minutes remaining, the Cowboys clung to a 17-14 lead and faced a third-and-14 at the Seattle 17-yard line. The Seahawks had one timeout and the two-minute warning, so the Cowboys were keeping an eye on the goal line and the clock.Having made a curious decision to throw on the previous play - the attempt fell incomplete - the Cowboys opted to run the football in order to force the Seahawks to either burn their final timeout or let the clock bleed down to the two-minute warning. They called a quarterback draw, putting the football in Dak Prescott's hands with center Joe Looney and Elliott leading the way:NFL/FOXDespite the distance to gain, Prescott found a crease behind the blocking of Looney and somersaulted down to the 1-yard line: Your browser does not support the video tag. NFL/FOXOn the next play, Prescott snuck into the end zone for the touchdown. The Seahawks scored a touchdown and a two-point conversion on their ensuing possession, but their onside kick attempt was handled easily by wide receiver Cole Beasley, clinching a Cowboys victory. This crafty quarterback draw on third down might have been the biggest play of the game.Pressure Design of the WeekMany prognosticators - myself included - believed the key to a Los Angeles Chargers victory Sunday afternoon was limiting the Baltimore Ravens' running game.The Chargers largely succeeded at this task, holding the Ravens to under 100 yards rushing and keeping Lamar Jackson to 54 yards on the ground. But their pass rush really set the tone. The Chargers sacked Jackson seven times, and their pass rush turned in the game's final big play.Los Angeles' usage of Melvin Ingram was key. The Chargers moved him all around the defensive front, on the edge or even on the inside. When the Ravens faced a second down with under a minute remaining, trying to pull off a miracle comeback, the defense aligned Ingram inside over the left guard (outlined in red), with defensive end Joey Bosa on the outside of Ingram (outlined in blue):NFL/CBSPutting two pass-rushing specialists on the left side creates a one-on-one opportunity on the opposite side. In this case, that matched up Uchenna Nwosu (outlined in yellow) against rookie right tackle Orlando Brown, who fell from a potential first-round draft selection into the third round due to concerns about a lack of athleticism and strength.Nwosu gets the better of Brown on this critical play, beating him to the outside and knocking the football from Jackson: Your browser does not support the video tag. NFL/CBSIngram capped off a huge day for the Chargers' defense with the recovery, ensuring Los Angeles will come east for a second straight weekend and take on the New England Patriots.Coverage Design of the WeekThe first quarter basically tells the story of the game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans.The visitors raced out to a 14-0 lead by scoring on their first two possessions of the game, and on its first defensive possession, Indianapolis forced a three-and-out from the Texans. On Houston's second offensive possession, it finally moved into Indianapolis territory but faced a fourth-and-5 at the Colts' 45-yard line.Enter cornerback Kenny Moore.The Colts used a lot of Cover 2 in the secondary, keeping two safeties deep to help over the top of DeAndre Hopkins and trying to limit big passing plays. They ran a mix of zone and man coverage underneath, and on this play, Moore is aligned in the slot.The Texans empty the backfield and put three receivers to the left and two on the right. Indianapolis runs a Cover 2 scheme, leaving the underneath defenders in zone coverage. Given the down and distance, strong safety Clayton Geathers also spies Deshaun Watson, preventing the quarterback from scrambling for the first down.NFL/ESPNWatson, meanwhile, wants to hit Ryan Griffin on the curl route. He thinks he has a window as Geathers slides inside and away from Griffin to spy the quarterback - but the safety isn't the only defender sliding. Moore slides inside, passing off the vertical route from Jordan Akins and jumping the curl route: Your browser does not support the video tag. NFL/ESPNThis angle offers a better look at how Geathers and Moore play this to perfection: Your browser does not support the video tag. NFL/ESPNThis well-designed defensive scheme forced an early turnover that helped keep Houston in an early hole. For their efforts, the Colts earned a trip to Arrowhead Stadium, where they'll try to handle the Kansas City Chiefs' offense in a hostile environment.Game Plan of the WeekWhether it was containing Jackson and the Ravens' running game or harassing the quarterback when he looked to throw, Anthony Lynn and Gus Bradley seemed to have all the answers Sunday.In stopping the run, the Chargers relied on a high percentage of six- and seven-defensive back packages, using speed and athleticism to counter Baltimore's power rushing attack. As we discussed, the Chargers moved Ingram all around their defensive front, creating and then winning some advantageous one-on-one matchups. Another game plan like that could take the Chargers to the AFC Championship Game.Mark Schofield writes NFL feature content for theScore. After nearly a decade of practicing law in the Washington, D.C., area Mark changed careers and started writing about football. Drawing upon more than a decade of playing quarterback, including at the collegiate level, Mark focuses his work on quarterback evaluation and offensive scheme analysis. He lives in Maryland with his wife and two children. Find him on Twitter @MarkSchofield.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Veteran safety Eric Weddle is prepared to retire if the Baltimore Ravens don't retain his services for the fourth and final year of his contract."If (general manager Eric DeCosta) wants me back, I'm here," Weddle said Monday, according to Cecil Whig's Sean Grogan. "If not, then it's all good, I understand it, and I'll just ride off in the sunset."Weddle is due $8.25 million next season. The Ravens could save $6.5 million in cap space by releasing him, according to Spotrac."If they want to go in a different direction, I'm not going to play for another team," Weddle said, according to The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec. "It's not where I'm at in my career.""I still have a desire to play and I feel that I can still affect the game and dominate games, but either way, I'm good with whatever," the 34-year-old added, according to Grogan.The former Los Angeles Chargers star has made the Pro Bowl in all three of his years with Baltimore. He racked up 68 tackles and a sack in 2018 and had seven tackles in the Ravens' season-ending playoff loss to his ex-team Sunday.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 get an early look at his 2019 rankings for both standard and PPR leagues.Standard

Iowa State running back David Montgomery announced on Monday that he'll forego his senior season and enter the 2019 NFL Draft.

The Denver Broncos are blocking other teams from interviewing Gary Kubiak for prospective offensive coordinator jobs, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Kubiak spent this season as a senior personnel advisor to the Broncos after health issues forced him to step down as head coach after the 2016 campaign.The Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals have reportedly had their requests to interview Kubiak denied as the Broncos hope he will work with their next head coach in some capacity.Kubiak, who led Denver to a championship in Super Bowl 50, reportedly also prefers to stay in the Mile High City.The 57-year-old went 21-11 in two seasons as Broncos head coach. He served the same role for the Houston Texans from 2006-13.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak has emerged as the early favorite for the Denver Broncos' head coaching vacancy, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.The Broncos interviewed Munchak on Friday, and ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that he would have a strong interest in the job, if offered. He reportedly stayed in Denver to await the team's decision. General manager John Elway is set to interview Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio next week.The Steelers assistant has family in the Denver area, which has made him more open to this head coaching opportunity than others in the past.Pittsburgh's offensive line has been among the best in the NFL over the last two seasons. The team sent three starters to the Pro Bowl this year.Munchak's only previous experience as a head coach came with the Tennessee Titans from 2011-2013, where he compiled a 22-26 record.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Harbaugh has no desire to leave the Baltimore Ravens despite rumors suggesting he could be traded to a team in need of a new head coach."I have every expectation, every plan to be here as long as the Ravens want me here. I believe they want me here. I believe that has been made clear by them to me over the last few weeks. I do believe that is what they want to do and let's roll," Harbaugh told reporters after the Ravens fell 23-17 to the Los Angeles Chargers on Wild Card Weekend, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley.Baltimore has spent a number of weeks discussing an extension with Harbaugh, who has just one year remaining on his contract.The 56-year-old's job has been rumored to be in jeopardy at various times over the last couple of seasons. The Ravens announced on Dec. 21 their intention to bring him back in 2019, though other teams reportedly have continued to inquire about the possibility of trading for him.Harbaugh owns a 104-72 regular-season record over 11 campaigns in Baltimore. He led the Ravens to a championship in Super Bowl XLVII but has only been to the playoffs twice in the subsequent six seasons.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans wide receiver Demaryius Thomas said he isn't thinking about retiring after tearing his Achilles in December."My main priority right now is getting back healthy," Thomas said, according to the Houston Chronicle's Aaron Wilson. "I can still play, man. I'm not thinking about retirement. I just don't know where it will be."Acquired from the Denver Broncos before the trade deadline, Thomas was placed on injured reserve after going down against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16.The 31-year-old receiver is due a non-guaranteed $14-million salary in 2019. While he hopes to continue playing, Thomas admitted his return to the Texans is "up in the air" due to the team's younger receivers."I had a tough injury," he said. "I am 31 now. A couple of guys are coming back (next season) like Will (Fuller) and Keke (Coutee)."Thomas caught 23 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns in seven games with Houston.- With h/t to ESPNCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If Sunday marked Joe Flacco's last game with the Baltimore Ravens, the quarterback is at peace with his tenure.Flacco backed up rookie Lamar Jackson during the Ravens' wild-card loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, a role he's been demoted to since Week 15. Though he's admitted that sitting on the sideline has been tough, the veteran maintained a team-first mentality."We made the (starting quarterback) decision what was going to happen here weeks ago," Flacco said following the game on Sunday, via Edward Lee of the Baltimore Sun. "I just really wanted to see the guys turn it up a little bit and make a play of it, which they did.""You're a part of the team," he continued. "As a backup, really you're just ready to be called on. You want to see your guys play well. So the fact that we weren't playing maybe the way we wanted to, I just felt for the guys on the team. I didn't really feel any way about me doing anything about it."Jackson struggled in his first playoff game, completing just 48.3 percent of his pass attempts. But head coach John Harbaugh made it clear that the 22-year-old is the team's quarterback moving forward.Baltimore is expected to move on from Flacco this offseason, either via a trade or release, but he has no ill will toward his first NFL home."I love the people of Baltimore," Flacco said. "It's been 11 years, and you come in and you feel one way and you don’t know what to expect, but the people warm up to you, you warm up to the people, and to be honest with you, I can’t imagine a better 11 years with this place becoming my home, my children's home and just how many different life changes I went through and how much we won here."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cody Parkey might be off the hook.The Chicago Bears kicker missed a game-winning field-goal attempt off the upright and crossbar as time expired in Sunday's wild-card game against the Philadelphia Eagles, but NFL All-22 video of the play shows Eagles defensive tackle Treyvon Hester tipped the attempt.

One of the best seasons of Philip Rivers' career has led the Los Angeles Chargers to a shot at redemption against the New England Patriots in next weekend's divisional round, 11 years after a 21-12 loss in the 2008 AFC Championship.The eight-time Pro Bowler is looking forward to the opportunity to avenge a 19-for-37 performance with just 211 passing yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions, after beating the Baltimore Ravens in Sunday's wild-card game."Is it special to just go to New England against a Hall of Fame coach (Bill Belichick) and arguably the best quarterback ever to play (Tom Brady) and get another shot at them? Heck yeah. Heck yeah it is. It is special," Rivers said after the win, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe."I’m not playing those guys, but I have a great deal of respect, fan of those guys. So to get an opportunity to go against them 11 years after we had that opportunity in that 2007 season, yeah, it’s awesome. I’m looking forward to it."The 37-year-old Rivers had one of his more lackluster performances of the season on Sunday, completing 22 of 32 attempts for just 160 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions against the Ravens' stellar defense.He had a completion percentage of 68.3 with 4,308 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions while leading the Chargers to a 12-4 record in the regular season. His 105.5 quarterback rating matched a career high he'd hit twice before.The former fourth overall pick of the New York Giants has never beaten Tom Brady in his career and is just 1-7 against the Patriots - including a 0-2 postseason record - with his lone victory coming against Matt Cassel.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears kicker Cody Parkey missed a 43-yard field goal with seconds remaining in Sunday's wild-card game that would've sent his team to the divisional round. The Philadelphia Eagles held on for a 16-15 victory after Parkey's attempt hit the upright and crossbar before falling to the ground.It was a cruel ending to the game, but the internet lives for these moments. Here are the best reactions to Saturday's conclusion.

The playoffs ended in excruciating fashion for the Chicago Bears and kicker Cody Parkey.With a chance to advance to the second round with a 43-yard field goal, Parkey's kick hit an upright and the crossbar before landing on the turf in front of the goalposts. The Bears lost the game to the Philadelphia Eagles 16-15."You can't make this up. I feel terrible. I let the team down. That's on me. I have to own it, I have to be a man and unfortunately that's the way it went today," Parkey said to reporters postgame."That's one of the worst feelings in the world to let your team down. I feel terrible. I'll sleep at night knowing that I did everything in my power this week to go and make that kick and for whatever reason it hit the crossbar, and the upright, and I still couldn't do it."And thus, with two thuds, the Bears' incredible turnaround from worst to first in the NFC North came to a halt.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

CHICAGO (AP) The Eagles kept messing up. They're simply a team that doesn't give up.Nick Foles hit Golden Tate with a 2-yard touchdown pass on fourth down with 56 seconds remaining against the NFL's stingiest defense, lifting the Philadelphia Eagles past the Chicago Bears 16-15 on Sunday in the final wild-card game.Former Eagles kicker Cody Parkey hit the left upright and then the crossbar with a field-goal attempt from 43 yards with 10 seconds remaining, silencing the raucous crowd.''I think the big thing is, we saw some adversity tonight in the first half (and) I had a couple of turnovers,'' Foles said. ''I think the big thing is that no one loses faith, no one stops believing, everyone just keeps talking, keeps believing in one another, and we just rallied. Our defense really kept us in this game.''The defending league champion Eagles (10-7) squeezed into the playoffs by beating Washington and having the Bears (12-5) help them by knocking off Minnesota in the season finale. Philadelphia thanked its benefactor with a 12-play, 60-yard drive on which Foles, the Super Bowl MVP last February, hit six passes.Tate made a reaching grab in the right side of the end zone near the goal line.''We found a way,'' Tate said.Philly plays at New Orleans (13-3) next Sunday. Chicago's sensational turnaround season from last place to the NFC North title is over.No team has repeated as Super Bowl champion since New England in 2004, and the Eagles are a sixth seed. The last sixth seed to win the NFL title was Green Bay in the 2010 season; the Packers won the NFC championship at Soldier Field that season.These Eagles, led by Foles once again replacing an injured Carson Wentz, and a defense down to backups at several positions, seem to have that magical touch like last season.It was a sizzling ending to a game marked by superior defense and several critical mistakes by the Eagles. They had to survive after Tarik Cohen, an All-Pro punt returner, took back the kickoff following Philly's go-ahead score 35 yards. Mitchell Trubisky completed two passes to get the Bears close enough for Parkey. But his kick took a double deflection and fell harmlessly into the end zone.He was 11 of 12 in the fourth-quarter on field goals before missing the biggest kick of his career.''Obviously, we're just hoping for a miss,'' Foles said. ''This was a hard-fought game. That's an amazing team we just played against and it came down to the wire.''The Bears are 1-15 all-time in playoffs when trailing after three quarters. They fell behind when Foles connected with rookie Dallas Goedert for a 10-yard touchdown in the third period that was set up by a 33-yard pass interference call on cornerback Prince Amukamara.Although the Eagles outplayed the Bears in the first half, errors left them behind 6-3. A 15-yard personal penalty on Michael Bennett aided Chicago's drive to a 36-yard field goal by Parkey, and a dropped potential interception in the end zone by Tre Sullivan allowed Parkey to make a 29-yarder as the half concluded.Philadelphia also had an interception by Avonte Maddox deep in Chicago territory overturned by video replay.Philly did score on its opening series of the game, a 50-yard drive to Jake Elliott's 43-yard field goal. And again on its first possession in the third quarter as Goedert got wide open on a short post pattern behind Adrian Amos, who had an end-zone interception of Foles' ill-advised throw in the second quarter.Parkey also made 34-yarder early in the manic final quarter.''We had a lot of fun and I love our guys to death,'' Bears coach Matt Nagy said.REID'S INFLUENCEBoth head coaches, Nagy in Chicago and Doug Pederson in Philadelphia, are Andy Reid proteges. That usually means lots of passing, and each team didn't do much on the ground, combining for 107 yards rushing.But Trubisky threw for 303 yards, going 26 of 43. Foles was 25 of 40 for 266 yards.TURNOVERSTeams rarely win when they are minus in turnover differential. The Eagles did, having two giveaways and no takeaways. Chicago led the NFL this season with 36 takeaways.MASCOT REACTIONChicago's bear mascot had the perfect reaction to Parkey's miss, falling flat on his back as he was kneeling behind the goalpost where Parkey's kick failed.UP NEXTEagles: Travel to New Orleans, where they lost 48-7 during the season.---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.

The four top seeds in the NFL will tag back into action during next week's divisional round of the playoffs.Here are the matchups, dates, and times for the battles between the final eight teams still vying for the Lombardi Trophy:Divisional RoundMatchupDateTimeNetworkColts at ChiefsSaturday Jan. 124:35 p.m. ETNBCCowboys at RamsSaturday Jan. 128:15 p.m. ETFOXChargers at PatriotsSunday Jan. 131:05 p.m. ETCBSEagles at SaintsSunday Jan. 134:40 p.m. ETFOXThe weekend will open with what is anticipated to be a shootout between the Andrew Luck-led Indianapolis Colts and Patrick Mahomes' Kansas City Chiefs. The Colts have won 10 of their last 11 games while the Chiefs dropped two of their last three entering the postseason.The Dallas Cowboys, who make their training camp home in Oxnard, Calif., will invade the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for a date with the rested Rams.Philip Rivers will finally get his chance at revenge against the New England Patriots. The veteran quarterback led the Los Angeles Chargers past the Baltimore Ravens and into a divisional-round date with an old nemesis. The Bolts haven't been back to the AFC title game since a 2007 loss to Tom Brady and Co.Nick Foles' incredible run as the playoff quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles continues. After toppling the Chicago Bears with a late comeback Sunday, the defending Super Bowl champions will next hope to take down the No. 1 seed in the NFC, the New Orleans Saints.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots are preparing for offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to accept one of the league's head coaching vacancies, Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reports, citing multiple sources.McDaniels has been a member of the Patriots' staff since 2001. He became the offensive coordinator in 2006 and left the team in 2009 to become the head coach of the Denver Broncos.He then returned to New England in 2012 and had an agreement with the Indianapolis Colts to become their head coach last offseason, only to renege on that deal and return to Foxboro.According to Florio, McDaniels has already interviewed for the Green Bay Packers' head coaching job and will likely limit his access to teams he'd be willing to leave the Patriots for.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Harbaugh made it abundantly clear after Sunday's playoff game who'll be under center for the Baltimore Ravens going into next season."Lamar Jackson is our quarterback going forward. There's no question about that," Harbaugh said after the Ravens' wild-card round loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, according to Luke Jones of WNST.net.Joe Flacco had been the team's starting quarterback since 2008. His hip injury in Week 11 opened the door for Jackson to take over the team. The No. 32 draft pick in 2018 helped the Ravens win six of their last seven regular-season games to capture the AFC North crown.Harbaugh was appreciative of the past 11 years he's shared with Flacco in Baltimore and believes the veteran quarterback won't be long for work."Joe is going to have a market," he said, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "I'm going to be in Joe's corner unless we play him. He's the best quarterback in Ravens history. He's going to be fine."Even after Jackson's poor performance in Sunday's 23-17 loss to the Chargers, the Ravens remain confident in the dual-threat quarterback's ability to lead the team going forward."He's the future," veteran safety Eric Weddle said after the game, according to Hensley. "As you can tell, he's devastated (with the loss). But that's going to drive him next year. He's going to be a great one."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh told reporters postgame that he considered replacing rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson with benched veteran Joe Flacco during Sunday's wild-card game versus the Los Angeles Chargers.Jackson struggled early in the first playoff game of his young career, going 2 of 8 for 17 yards and an interception at halftime with the Ravens trailing 12-0.Harbaugh considered turning back to Flacco - who lost his starting job to Jackson despite being deemed fully recovered from a hip injury by Week 15 - but ultimately remained with Jackson.Jackson went on to lead the Ravens to a furious second-half charge, scoring 17 points in an eventual 23-17 loss. He finished 14-for-29 for 194 yards, two touchdowns, and the pick.The 21-year-old wasn't impressed with his own performance."I played poorly. I didn't play my game. That ticks me off," Jackson said, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

All-Pro safety Eddie Jackson is active Sunday for the Chicago Bears' wild-card game versus the Philadelphia Eagles, while tight end Trey Burton was scratched from the lineup after injuring his groin Saturday, the team announced.Jackson missed the final two games of the regular season due to an ankle injury and was a game-time decision for the playoff contest. He had six interceptions in 14 outings this season, tied for third-most in the NFL.Burton saw the fourth-most targets among Bears pass-catchers during the season, registering 54 receptions for 569 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

T.Y. Hilton will be leaving his clown mask at home for the Indianapolis Colts' AFC divisional-round matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.The Colts wide receiver wore the mask to Saturday's wild-card game in Houston after Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph called him a clown for referring to NRG Stadium - where Hilton's enjoyed a lot of success as a visiting player - as his "second home."

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Allen Hurns has received an outpouring of support from NFL players and fans alike since being carted off the field with a gruesome leg injury in the first half of Saturday's NFC wild-card game.On Sunday, NFL Network's Jane Slater shared a letter her friend's son, Luke, wrote to Hurns.

The Philadelphia Eagles intend to find a solution to Nick Foles narrowly missing out on a $1-million incentive after suffering an injury late in the regular-season finale, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The quarterback was forced to leave the game in the fourth quarter against the Washington Redskins due to bruised ribs. He, therefore, fell four snaps short of his incentive mark of playing 33 percent of the Eagles' offensive plays for the campaign.Philadelphia snuck into the playoffs after Foles led it to three straight wins to end the regular season after Carson Wentz was lost for the year, giving the reigning champions a chance at repeating.Foles is set to start against the Chicago Bears in Sunday's wild-card round.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.