Dallas Cowboys passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Kris Richard will interview for head coaching jobs with the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the team's wild-card game, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The Cowboys host the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday.Dallas ranked sixth in scoring defense during the regular season, allowing 20.3 points per game.Richard worked his way through the Seahawks' system, joining the team as an assistant defensive backs coach in 2010 before eventually serving as defensive coordinator from 2015 to 2017.The Dolphins are also reportedly interviewing Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and have requested interviews with several other candidates.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The playoff picture is officially set as the final 12 teams standing after the 2018 NFL season prepare to determine which two will square off in Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3.Here's a look at the five most desirable matchups neutral fans of non-playoff teams should be rooting for this month.5. Los Angeles Chargers vs. Los Angeles RamsChristian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Chargers and Rams battling for football supremacy in Los Angeles could sway anyone in America's second-most populated city who still hasn't decided which football team to support after both returned.The Rams had a head start on establishing a fanbase after relocating in 2016 from St. Louis to the team's home from 1946 to 1994. But they posted a 4-12 record in their first season back, squandering that initial opportunity. The Rams have since won consecutive NFC West division titles.The Chargers, meanwhile, lost the AFL Championship in 1960, their first year in Los Angeles before moving to San Diego until the end of the 2016 season. Now, the team has earned its first playoff berth since 2013.Both teams possess top-10 scoring offenses, and the Chargers' defense allowed the ninth-fewest points in the regular season, much better than the Rams' 20th-ranked unit. Both teams are also loaded with marketable young players who could thrive after winning over those in L.A. who've been waiting to jump on a bandwagon.4. New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia EaglesTim Bradbury / Getty Images Sport / GettyA second consecutive Super Bowl featuring the Patriots and Eagles would be the NFL's first true rematch in the big game since the Dallas Cowboys knocked off the Buffalo Bills to conclude the 1992 and 1993 seasons. Eagles backup quarterback Nick Foles getting a second chance to tarnish the legacies of future Hall of Famers Tom Brady and Bill Belichick adds an extra layer of intrigue.Foles delivered an inspiring performance in Super LII, throwing for 373 yards and three touchdowns, and adding a receiving score on the famous "Philly Special" play during an upset win over the heavily favored Patriots. After again replacing an injured Carson Wentz this season, the 29-year-old reigning Super Bowl MVP has completed over 76 percent of his passes for 962 yards and six touchdowns over three games, leading his team back to the postseason.The Patriots have underwhelmed this season by their own high standards, but they still managed to secure a ninth straight first-round bye. They would likely head into Atlanta against the Eagles as the public favorites while seeking revenge.3. Los Angeles Chargers vs. New Orleans SaintsHarry How / Getty Images Sport / GettyDrew Brees could take down his former team and the quarterback who replaced him to cap what may be his first MVP season.Philip Rivers, who's just two years younger than Brees, has been named to eight Pro Bowls. He's in contention for his first MVP Award and also looking for a first Super Bowl ring. Brees and the Saints have won all three meetings between the two since 2008, with just one point deciding the last game in 2016.While the quarterback clash would be the marquee selling point of this Super Bowl, dual-threat running backs Melvin Gordon and Alvin Kamara lead backfields that ranked top 10 in rushing scores during the regular season.2. Baltimore Ravens vs. Chicago BearsQuinn Harris / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe best matchup for those who favor old-school smashmouth football would feature the No. 1 and 2 scoring defenses from the regular season. The Bears allowed only 17.7 points per game, and the Ravens weren't far behind at 17.9.The Bears hold a significant advantage in turnover differential, however, with a plus-12 edge compared to the Ravens' 22nd-ranked minus-3. The Bears' defense ranked third in sacks this season (50), and the two squads ranked first and second in passes defensed.Young quarterbacks Mitchell Trubisky and Lamar Jackson lead the two offenses, and the pivot who protects the ball better would put his team in the best position to win.1. Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles RamsKevork Djansezian / Getty Images Sport / GettyA stark contrast to the Ravens-Bears matchup, a rematch after the Rams' thrilling 54-51 victory over the Chiefs on Monday night in Week 11 is what most neutral fans should be hoping to see. The 105 total points in that shootout would have easily shattered the Super Bowl record of 75.The first game in NFL history to have both teams top 50 points was also the highest-scoring Monday night affair ever. For those who still want to see defense, that game also featured seven combined turnovers and three defensive scores.The Chiefs and Rams were the only teams to average 32-plus points per game in the regular season, with the Chiefs taking the top spot (35.3 points per game) on the strength of quarterback Patrick Mahomes' league-best 50 passing touchdowns.Both squads are entering the postseason with injury concerns, as wide receiver Sammy Watkins is nursing a foot issue for the Chiefs, and running back Todd Gurley missed the Rams' final two games of the season due to a knee problem. But this could be an all-time great matchup if both sides are at their best.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin held a press conference Wednesday and clarified why star receiver Antonio Brown missed Sunday's season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals.Tomlin confirmed Brown was "unavailable" leading up to the game, according to WPXI's Alby Oxenreiter, and was benched because he did not attend Saturday's walk-through in addition to experiencing lower-body soreness."He was absent due to injury and lack of information," Tomlin said.The head coach told reporters that Brown had discomfort in his knee on Friday and was sent for an MRI, according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Tomlin and Brown didn't communicate later Friday nor at all Saturday.He added that the two haven't spoken since before Sunday's game, and Brown did not attend Monday's team meetings.Brown didn't receive his scheduled MRI, however, and multiple Steelers players told NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala that they don't believe he was hurt.Tomlin said he has not received a formal trade request from Brown, according to Kinkhabwala."We take his lack of presence ... as something very significant and will be handled appropriately so," he said.Brown took to Twitter during the press conference:

It's quite possible we're nearing the end of Antonio Brown's tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers. At least, we might be if it was up to the wide receiver only.After posting a tweet stating he's "divinely blessed with free will" during Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin's media availability Wednesday, Brown followed the San Francisco 49ers on Instagram.

Despite a tumultuous season in which Odell Beckham Jr. aired out his frustrations with his team's offense and quarterback Eli Manning, New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman is making it clear that his star receiver isn't going to be moved anytime soon, shutting down recent trade rumors."We didn't sign him to trade him," Gettleman said Wednesday, according to USA Today's Art Stapleton.When asked if Beckham would remain with the team in 2019, Gettleman reiterated, "You heard what I said."As for who will be behind center for New York in 2019, the Giants GM didn't provide a definitive answer on Manning."I'm committed to making the best decision in the interest of the Giants. We're in the evaluation process. I know you want answers now," he said."We're trying to build sustained success. That takes brutal honesty and some tough decisions," Gettleman added.New York passed on picking a replacement for Manning in the 2018 NFL Draft, opting to select running back Saquon Barkley with the No. 2 overall pick. The team could look to select a quarterback with the No. 6 pick in the 2019 draft.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cincinnati Bengals are expected to interview special assistant Hue Jackson for their head coaching vacancy, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Jackson could be interviewed as early as Wednesday, according to Rapoport.The 53-year-old former Browns head coach posted a 3-36-1 cumulative record with Cleveland before being fired Oct. 29. Jackson also spent the 2011 season as the head coach of the Oakland Raiders.Former Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis reportedly endorsed Jackson for the job, while the club's special teams coach, Darrin Simmons, and offensive coordinator Bill Lazor already interviewed for the role.Cincinnati is reportedly meeting with Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and former Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph, as well as several other candidates.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The winning bidder for the shoes that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady wore as part of the NFL's "My Cause My Cleats" campaign has been identified.Rod Yates, a Nebraska outlet mall owner who played split end for Tom Osborne's Nebraska football team in the mid-1980s, paid $30,050 for the game-used cleats, according to former Boston Herald writer Jon Couture. All proceeds from the sale will be donated to Brady's choice of charities - the Ellie Fund and Best Buddies, which provide support to breast cancer patients and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, respectively.Yates had already bid $20,010 on the cleats when Couture interviewed him in December, and said he was prepared to put down another $20,000."Being a former athlete, I've always had a lot of admiration for Tom Brady," Yates said. "It's probably that video of him running his 40-yard dash at the pro day back in (2000), which was one of the funniest videos ever."Any time we get an opportunity to do something neat with charity and giving back, we always love to do it. So when I saw that opportunity to get Tom's cleats, being one of his loyal fans, I took the opportunity."The "My Cause My Cleats" campaign allows players to wear customized cleats for one game, which showcase charities and causes important to them. The cleats are then auctioned off through the NFL Auction website.Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield currently holds the highest active auction bid at $3,660.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL Playoff Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors, including Mike Alessandrini, Jack Browne, Michael McClymont, and Arun Srinivasan.1. New Orleans Saints (13-3)All eyes on you, New Orleans. With a fearsome offense featuring an MVP candidate, two dynamic running backs, a stout offensive line, and a seemingly-unstoppable receiver, the Saints have every chance at steamrolling the rest of the NFC. If the defense holds, you may be looking at the Super Bowl LIII champions. - Alessandrini2. Los Angeles Rams (13-3)The Rams fell flat last season so they have a lot to prove in 2019. Sean McVay and Aaron Donald receive most of the attention, but it's Jared Goff who must lead a breakthrough in January. Los Angeles is 2-3 against the other NFC playoff teams this year - with both wins coming against Seattle - but this is the NFL's best squad on paper. No more excuses. - Alessandrini3. Chicago Bears (12-4)Is there a team anyone would rather avoid in this year's playoffs? Facing the league's No. 3-ranked defense in frigid Windy City weather will be a difficult task. In the end, though, the Mitchell Trubisky-Matt Nagy connection will be more important. If the Bears want their second Super Bowl, these two must create magic. If they can, look out. - Alessandrini4. Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)Patrick Mahomes' unbelievable sophomore season should earn him the MVP award and no offense will be more feared in the postseason than Kansas City's. The defense, on the other hand, is the opposite of Super Bowl-caliber. It's said defense wins championships. What do the Chiefs have to say about it? - Browne5. New England Patriots (11-5)The 2018 Patriots lack the aura of invincibility that's surrounded so many iterations of Bill Belichick's team. But counting out New England hasn't gone well for the rest of the AFC in the past. No team may benefit more from a first-round bye. - Browne6. Los Angeles Chargers (12-4)L.A. cooled off to end the season, with Philip Rivers throwing six picks in the final three games. The near-miraculous return of tight end Hunter Henry from a torn ACL gives the quarterback a much-needed safety valve, especially against a dominant Ravens defense that held the Chargers to their lowest scoring output of the season in Week 16. - Browne7. Seattle Seahawks (10-6)Raise your hand if you had Seattle qualifying for the playoffs this year. Be honest. Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll lead the Seahawks, but Bobby Wagner and the new-look defense deserve a ton of credit as well. We've seen magic from this team before so there's little reason to believe it can't happen again. - Alessandrini8. Baltimore Ravens (10-6)While the rest of the league zigs, the Lamar Jackson-led Ravens continue to zag - to amazing results. The rookie quarterback has silenced those who doubted the viability of his playing style in the NFL. He's by far the worst passer left in the AFC, but he's a terrifying threat when coupled with Baltimore's elite defense. - Browne9. Houston Texans (11-5)In Bill O'Brien's four seasons at the helm, Houston has advanced to the divisional round just once - and that was after beating the Connor Cook-led Raiders in 2016. Due to the presence of Deshaun Watson, this is easily the best team of the O'Brien era. But the Texans must do a better job protecting the signal-caller if they're going to make some postseason noise. - Browne10. Dallas Cowboys (10-6)If defense does indeed win championships, then Dallas may be in good shape. The Cowboys boast a strong stop unit that features a number of young stars ready to wreak havoc on their opponents. When the offense has to chip in, it's time to feed Zeke. Despite questionable coaching, this formula has Dallas looking like a dangerous playoff team. - Alessandrini11. Philadelphia Eagles (9-7)Is this The Nick Foles Story: Part II, or will the magic end in Philadelphia? Similar to last season, Doug Pederson's squad is an underdog after a number of key injuries. Even if the Eagles fall short of the repeat, a second straight deep run would arguably be more impressive than their 2018 triumph. - Alessandrini12. Indianapolis Colts (10-6)Indy is arguably the least talented playoff team in the AFC, but few squads enter the postseason running as red-hot as Frank Reich's Colts, who went 9-1 over their last 10 games. They're playing with house money; no one expected them to sniff the postseason. And with more than $100 million in cap space in 2019, they aren't going away any time soon. - BrowneCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

AFCBuffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors following his productive Week 17 victory over the Miami Dolphins. Allen completed 17 of 26 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns while rushing nine times for 95 yards and two more scores, ending his rookie campaign on a high note.Continuing the first-year trend, Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week. Leonard accumulated eight tackles and one interception in a playoff-clinching win over the Tennessee Titans, securing his spot as the NFL's tackles leader (163) in the process.Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker took home AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Tucker converted all four of his field goal attempts and two extra points to help his team capture the AFC North.NFCDallas Cowboys tight end Blake Jarwin won the NFC Offensive Player of the Week after hauling in seven of his eight targets for 119 yards and three touchdowns - his first three scores of the 2018 season - versus the New York Giants.Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after leading his team into the playoffs in Week 17. Cox notched three sacks and a forced fumble against the Washington Redskins, setting a new career high in quarterback takedowns with 10.5 on the season.Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after an eventful season finale. Prater converted his lone field-goal attempt while throwing his first career touchdown pass to tight end Levine Toilolo.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears Eric Bieniemy is one of this year's hottest head coaching candidates.The Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator will interview with the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wednesday, followed by meetings with the Miami Dolphins on Thursday and Cincinnati Bengals on Friday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Bieniemy has elected not to meet with the Arizona Cardinals, Rapoport added.The 49-year-old helped lead a dynamic Chiefs offense that ranked first in the NFL in total yards per game and points per game in 2018.League interest surrounding Bieniemy continues the trend of Andy Reid's assistants being targeted for head coaching opportunities. Kansas City's previous two offensive coordinators, Matt Nagy and Doug Pederson, have found success with their new teams, the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph is expected to interview with the Cincinnati Bengals for their head coaching position on Thursday and Friday, a source told ESPN's Josina Anderson.Joseph accumulated an 11-21 record over two seasons as head coach of the Broncos before being fired Monday.During the 2014 and 2015 campaigns, Joseph served as the defensive backs coach for the Bengals before joining the Miami Dolphins in 2016 as their defensive coordinator. He went to the Broncos the following season.Cincinnati and ex-head coach Marvin Lewis mutually agreed to part ways Monday following a 6-10 season.The Bengals have also requested interviews with New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Los Angeles Rams quarterback coach Zac Taylor, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns are expected to interview former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy on Thursday, a source told ESPN's Rob Demovsky.He is also reportedly scheduled to interview with the New York Jets.McCarthy helped the Packers win a Super Bowl in 2010 and posted a cumulative 125-77-2 record before being fired on Dec. 2.Cleveland is considered by some as the most attractive destination on the market in part due to the emergence of edge rusher Myles Garrett and quarterback Baker Mayfield.The Browns also completed an interview with interim head coach Gregg Williams for the opening on Tuesday. Williams previously served as the team's defensive coordinator but was promoted after Hue Jackson was fired on Oct. 29.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jamal Adams made it clear who he wants as the next head coach of the New York Jets on Tuesday.USC offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is expected to interview for the Jets' and Arizona Cardinals' head coaching vacancies, according to a report Tuesday evening.Adams followed Kingsbury immediately on Instagram after the report surfaced, and that doesn't appear to be a coincidence.

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott's day off Sunday against the New York Giants has him well prepared for his first playoff game since his rookie season on Saturday night."Normally after a real game I'm not feeling ready to play until about Friday, Saturday, but I'm ready to go right now," Elliott said Tuesday, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.Elliott ran for 125 yards on 22 carries in a divisional-round loss to the Green Bay Packers in 2016 to cap an All-Pro rookie campaign in which he led the league in rushing attempts and yards after being selected fourth overall.This season, he was named to his second Pro Bowl and again led the league in both attempts and yards on the ground, finishing second behind Giants rookie back Saquon Barkley in scrimmage yards (2,001). Despite playing just 15 games, Elliott also led the Cowboys with 77 receptions.He's predicting his busy season will continue against the Seattle Seahawks in the wild-card round and feels the one-game rest will prove beneficial."Just knowing that we're going into these playoffs, I'm going to have the highest workload I probably had all season," Elliott said. "Just great, getting fresh and ready going into this last stretch of the season and ready for whatever they throw at me."The Seahawks' defense ranked 13th against the run this season, allowing 113.2 yards per game on the ground.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals are among the teams expected to interview USC offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury for their head coach openings, sources told Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports.Kingsbury served as Texas Tech's head coach from 2013 to 2018, but he wasn't retained after this past season and USC hired him as its offensive coordinator on Dec. 5.Prior to Kingsbury joining USC, the Los Angeles Rams contacted him about a potential offensive assistant/consultant role. He was also vetting other offers from college and NFL teams before going to USC.Kingsbury is widely considered one of the best offensive minds in college football, and he's coached Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield, and Johnny Manziel, among others.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Black Monday wreaked havoc on the NFL landscape, leaving eight head coaching spots open around the league for the 2019 season.Here's how we'd rank the coaching vacancies in terms of overall attractiveness:1. Cleveland BrownsJason Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyHas there been a more captivating head coaching vacancy in recent years? Cleveland may have a history of losing, but there is little doubt that this is a team on the rise.It starts with Baker Mayfield. The 2018 No. 1 overall pick was incredible as a rookie, restoring hope to a perennially pessimistic fan base. With the talented pivot, running back Nick Chubb, and tight end David Njoku, the Browns have an exciting offensive core. On the other side of the ball, Myles Garrett, Jabrill Peppers, Larry Ogunjobi, Joe Schobert, and Denzel Ward are all 25 years old or younger.The job is also attractive from a personnel perspective, as offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens has thrived with Mayfield. Also, the Browns currently have the fourth-most cap space in 2019, according to Over the Cap, allowing them to upgrade their weaker positions in the spring.Attractiveness: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️2. Green Bay PackersWith Aaron Rodgers in town, this opening will give coaches the opportunity to compete immediately for a franchise that has a history of patience with its head coach. Including interim boss Joe Philbin, the Packers have employed 15 coaches in their nearly 100-year-long history. The team's next hire could set themselves up for continued stability - as well as a shot at increased power without a majority owner - with early success.While Rodgers is the main selling point, the Packers have young pieces on both sides of the ball - specifically at wide receiver and cornerback - worth getting excited over. However, an older franchise signal-caller who could cause a power struggle and a few roster holes place Green Bay slightly behind the Browns in our rankings.Attractiveness: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️3. New York JetsJoe Robbins / Getty Images Sport / GettySimilar to Cleveland, the Jets have a potential franchise quarterback in Sam Darnold, who looked like a future star in the season's final weeks after a rough start to his rookie campaign.New York's scoring unit desperately needs playmakers to aid Darnold, but, on defense, safeties Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye and defensive lineman Leonard Williams are great pieces to build around.The pressure to succeed in New York is ever-present, but this is one 4-12 squad that could turn things around in a flash. The Jets currently have the league's second-most cap space in 2019 and hold the No. 3 overall pick in next April's draft - both ideal opportunities to add talent to an underwhelming roster. They're easily the team best suited to unseat the New England Patriots in the coming years.Attractiveness: ❤️❤️❤️❤️4. Arizona CardinalsIn truth, the Cardinals need quite a bit of work to compete in the NFC West. However, the club is seemingly set at quarterback with 2018 first-rounder Josh Rosen - despite his struggles during his rookie campaign - and has plenty of cap space available to improve its offensive unit outside of David Johnson and Christian Kirk.Arizona also has the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft and could either trade down and add picks or select the top available prospect. Either way, a young first-round quarterback combined with the first overall pick presents an appealing opportunity for coaching candidates. Arizona can't go one and done with its head coach two years in a row, right?Attractiveness: ❤️❤️❤️❤️5. Tampa Bay BuccaneersStreeter Lecka / Getty Images Sport / GettyTampa Bay offers a unique opportunity for its incoming head coach, who could either forge a long-term partnership with Jameis Winston if the former No. 1 overall pick revitalizes his career, or draft and groom their own signal-caller with a high pick.Although the Buccaneers lack top-end talent, they hold the fifth overall selection in April's draft and have a group of exciting young players to work with. Also, general manager Jason Licht isn't nearly as hands on as other executives. Whether it's a long-term rebuild or a quick reset, there are options that make the Bucs' head coaching vacancy intriguing.Attractiveness: ❤️❤️❤️6. Denver BroncosThe Broncos have young talent on their roster and plenty of cap space to work with, but they're currently a team with uncertainty at the quarterback position and a lack of direction. Case Keenum has one year left on his current contract, but the team must find a long-term answer at the pivot. Maybe Denver can target a franchise signal-caller in this year's draft with the No. 10 overall pick.Unfortunately for the Broncos, the hands-on approach of general manager and president of football operations John Elway - which has resulted in questionable moves and three straight seasons without playoff football - could deter top candidates from the position. In addition, Denver's ownership uncertainty could also be a deterrent for potential candidates.Attractiveness: ❤️❤️❤️7. Miami DolphinsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettySimilar to the Broncos, Miami is searching for an identity and long-term direction. The Dolphins have unloaded a ton of talent over the last two years, but somehow still have very little cap space to work with, resulting in a mediocre roster with little flexibility.Ryan Tannehill hasn't looked like the franchise quarterback Miami drafted him to be, leaving the team with an important decision to make in 2019. The Dolphins could cut him with two years left on his current deal - which would cost them $13.4 million in dead money - but they're not in a position to land a top-tier replacement.Then there's Stephen Ross. The Dolphins owner is a hands-on executive who isn't afraid to voice his displeasure if the team struggles. Fail early on, and Ross could yet again be looking for a new man to lead his squad.Attractiveness: ❤️❤️8. Cincinnati BengalsWhile there are certainly appealing factors to the Bengals' head coaching vacancy - including a young roster and patient ownership - the team is stuck in NFL purgatory. Andy Dalton has reached his ceiling, A.J. Green is nearing the end of his prime, the defense needs a ton of work, and the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns are ascending in the AFC North.In addition, the Bengals are rarely aggressive in their offseason spending and they aren't forward-thinking in their organizational approach. Transforming Mike Brown's club into a perennial playoff contender could prove to be a tall task.Attractiveness: ❤️❤️Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Lions and offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter agreed to part ways on Tuesday, the team confirmed.It was a mutual decision, according to The MMQB's Albert Breer.Cooter became the Lions' quarterbacks coach in 2014, and he was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2015 after Joe Lombardi was fired.The 34-year-old is drawing interest from other teams, according to Breer.Cooter's contract with the Lions was set to expire at the end of the season, and Detroit was widely expected to move on from him after the team's scoring offense ranked 25th in 2018, averaging 20.3 points per game.The Lions have yet to announce Cooter's replacement.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says he has no issues with receiver Antonio Brown after it was reported that the two were engaged in a heated dispute during Wednesday's practice."That's what baffling to me, people are making a big deal about a walk-through on Wednesday, a fight between he and I," Roethlisberger said on his radio show on 93.7 The Fan. "If there was a blow up or something, I sure as heck didn't see it. I'm not sure where that comes from."Brown reportedly threw a football at Roethlisberger during the walk-through practice. He elected to sit out the rest of the week's practices and subsequently missed a Week 17 game against the Cincinnati Bengals as a disciplinary measure.Roethlisberger says he talked with the receiver the following morning and "everything was great" and that Brown remains one of his closer friends, according to The Athletic's Jeremy Fowler. However, Brown hasn't returned the quarterback's calls or texts since then."I've reached out to him numerous times," Roethlisberger said. "I've called him and texted him. And I know other guys on the team have, too, and haven't heard back from him."Head coach Mike Tomlin will be holding a press conference on Wednesday, and Brown will likely be a major topic of discussion.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oklahoma and head coach Lincoln Riley have agreed in principle to a contract extension, ensuring the 35-year-old will remain in Norman rather than jump to the NFL."We felt it important to extend and amend Lincoln's contract at this time as we want him at the University of Oklahoma for a long time," university president James Gallogly said in a news release. "He is a great coach and role model for our student-athletes. His record of success speaks for itself."Riley has been on the radar of several NFL teams over the last two years. He was linked most heavily to the Cleveland Browns, who currently have an opening.Despite the widespread NFL interest, Riley has been adamant over the past two years he's content at Oklahoma. The offensive mastermind has gone 24-4 over two years as the Sooners' head coach, producing a Heisman Trophy winner both seasons."We're obviously appreciative of what's already been accomplished in such a short time, but strengthening our relationship with Lincoln is also important as we collectively focus on the larger goals of our program," said athletic director Joe Castiglione. "He has proven to be one of the most innovative minds in the game today as well as a very successful leader for his student-athletes. His remarkable ascent as one of the most outstanding football coaches in America is grounded in creating the right environment for developing the best growth opportunities for all of his players."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford returned to practice on Tuesday after recovering from a neck injury that sent him to the hospital.Crawford strained his neck when he crashed into the offensive line during a Dec. 23 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was carted off the field and taken to a hospital, but released shortly thereafter."Obviously you’re going to feel it still on every hit. But it was way better than what I thought it was going to be," Crawford said after practice, according to Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News.Crawford added that he heard a cracking noise after making contact with the Buccaneers' offensive line.The 29-year-old recorded 34 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and a forced fumble in 15 games this season.Dallas squares off against the Seattle Seahawks on Jan. 5 during Wild Card Weekend. If Crawford returns he'll give the Cowboys' sixth-ranked scoring defense a major boost.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2018 NFL season was truly spectacular, with several players establishing themselves as bona fide stars and a host of high-octane games to revive a fan base that was beginning to show some signs of fatigue at the end of 2017.While the usual suspects pushed for contention on this list, a new generation made its mark, offering a glimpse into the NFL's future.Here are theScore's All-Pro selections for 2018:* = unanimous selectionQuarterbackPatrick Mahomes, Chiefs*Prior to the 2017 draft, football's collective intelligentsia certainly had questions as to whether Mahomes' style of play would translate to the modern NFL. As it turns out, Mahomes is a reflection of the NFL's future and his breakout campaign may be a turning point in the league's revolution.Mahomes' nearly unmatched arm strength opened up the Chiefs' playbook, allowing Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce to score at will. No throw proved impossible for Mahomes. His journey to the NFL as the son of a former MLB pitcher is an oft-repeated story, but the Chiefs quarterback clearly learned something along the way, tossing knuckleballs and curveballs to the bewilderment of the defenses everywhere.

Now that the NFL regular season is over, it’s time to hand out the Defensive Line All-Stars' end-of-year awards, as we highlight the best defensive linemen in football this season.Defensive Lineman of the Year

The New York Jets are expected to interview former Green Bay Packers boss Mike McCarthy as they look to fill their head coaching vacancy, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.It'll be the first known interview for McCarthy since being fired from the Packers on Dec. 2. He authored a 125-77-2 record over 12-plus seasons in Green Bay. The Jets have reportedly had McCarthy high on their coaching wish list since at least the middle of December.The Jets job is widely viewed as one of the more attractive openings in the league because of the club's salary cap situation and the presence of a potential franchise quarterback in Sam Darnold.McCarthy has been linked to a number of teams, but he recently rejected interest from the Arizona Cardinals, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2018 NFL season showcased unique play-calling that allowed teams to move the ball downfield and get creative in the red-zone. To commemorate those calls, here are the best trick plays of the 2018 season.5) Emmanuel Sanders shows off his arm

Former Miami Dolphins boss Adam Gase is reportedly scheduled to interview for the Arizona Cardinals' head coaching vacancy Wednesday, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The meeting will be Gase's first head coaching interview since being fired from the Dolphins on Monday morning. He coached Miami to a 23-25 record in three seasons.Arizona cleaned house Monday, firing head coach Steve Wilks, offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, and defensive coordinator Al Holcomb.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Eight NFL teams are without a head coach following one of the darkest Black Mondays in recent memory.The Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, and Arizona Cardinals all made coaching changes Monday after the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers did their business Sunday evening. The Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns made in-season firings and finished the campaign with interim head coaches.Monday firingsTeamCoachSeasonsBengalsMarvin Lewis16DolphinsAdam Gase3BroncosVance Joseph2CardinalsSteve Wilks1Sunday firingsTeamCoachSeasonsJetsTodd Bowles4BuccaneersDirk Koetter3In-season firingsTeamCoachSeasonsPackersMike McCarthy12+BrownsHue Jackson2+The eight vacancies mark the most the NFL has had since 2013. Five of the eight head coaches fired in 2018 are minorities. Anthony Lynn of the Los Angeles Chargers, Ron Rivera of the Carolina Panthers, and Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers are the only remaining minority head coaches in the league.Elsewhere, the Atlanta Falcons retained head coach Dan Quinn but fired all three coordinators after going 7-9 and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2015.No general managers were fired despite the coaching carnage directly beneath them. One was hired, though, as the Oakland Raiders appointed former NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock to the role.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers four-time All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown reportedly missed Sunday's must-win 2018 season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals because he elected to sit out practice last week after getting into a heated dispute with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, according to Gerry Dulac and Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.Brown had been listed as questionable on the injury report, with head coach Mike Tomlin saying Friday that Brown was having his knee tested because he "didn't feel comfortable enough (to practice)." Sources said the knee wasn't an issue at all and that Brown never received tests.The sequence of events apparently began when Brown threw a football at Roethlisberger during Wednesday morning's walk-through practice. He subsequently sat out the rest of the week's practices by his own decision.ESPN's Jeremey Fowler reports Roethlisberger was involved in the incident but was not the target of the thrown football. The dispute was over a walkthrough play, sources told Fowler's colleague Adam Schefter, who added that after Brown left the session, he talked with his quarterback and admitted to feeling underappreciated by people within the organization.After he skipped Saturday's walk-through and Saturday night's team meeting, Brown apparently arrived at Heinz Field expecting to play in Sunday's game in a move that surprised several players.The 30-year-old wasn't on the field for the start of the game and reportedly left Heinz Field at halftime.An unnamed player on the team called the situation "embarrassing" and "the worst I've seen."The Steelers managed to pull out a 16-13 win to keep their playoff hopes alive until the Baltimore Ravens claimed the AFC North title with a victory over the Cleveland Browns and the Indianapolis Colts beat the Tennessee Titans for the final wild-card spot.Brown ended the season with 104 receptions for 1,297 yards and a league-high 15 touchdowns through the air over 15 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley missed the team's last two regular-season games due to a knee injury, but head coach Sean McVay believes the three-time Pro Bowler's status for the divisional round isn't in doubt.McVay told reporters he'd be "very, very surprised" if Gurley isn't ready for the Rams' next game on Jan. 12, via Myles Simmons of therams.com.Gurley recently revealed that he first suffered the injury back in Week 1. He still led the league in total touchdowns (21) despite playing in just 14 games.When the Rams host their second-round playoff game Gurley will have been resting for 27 days.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Oakland Raiders announced Monday the hiring of NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock as their general manager.Mayock, a former safety with the New York Giants, spent the last 14 years with NFL Network after concluding his playing career.Oakland reportedly fulfilled the requirements of the Rooney Rule by interviewing former Giants executive Marc Ross, a source told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.Mayock is viewed as one of the NFL draft's premier analysts and has become a prominent part of the NFL Network's coverage of the event. However, he has zero front-office experience.The 60-year-old apparently already has a close relationship with Raiders head coach Jon Gruden.

Mike Mayock wasn't ready to declare Derek Carr the Oakland Raiders' long-term quarterback on Monday after being introduced as the team's new general manager."That's part of my study right now," he told reporters, via Anthony Galaviz of The Fresno Bee. "... I'm not going to make a comment on anybody on the roster until I do a complete deep dive."Mayock joined the Raiders' front office after working 14 years as an NFL Network draft analyst. One of his top priorities will be determining whether Carr, who had the best statistical season of his career in 2018 for the 4-12 Raiders, is good enough to build around.The 27-year-old posted 4,049 yards through the air with 19 passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and 11 fumbles in 16 outings. However, he struggled as a deep passer, which has long been a primary criticism against him.For what it's worth, Mayock ranked Carr third among quarterback prospects leading up to the 2014 NFL Draft. He placed the Fresno State product behind Johnny Manziel and Blake Bortles, and ahead of Jimmy Garoppolo, Zach Mettenberger, and Teddy Bridgewater."I had him as a first-rounder coming out," he said, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's uncertain who will be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' head coach in 2019, but on Monday general manager Jason Licht answered any remaining questions about the status of quarterback Jameis Winston."Jameis Winston will be here - we have him under contract for a year," Licht said, a day after the team fired coach Dirk Koetter."(Winston) has accomplished more than most of the elite quarterbacks have at his age through that time span (in their careers). There's a lot to like about Jameis."Four years into his career, the 24-year-old has already set a number of franchise records. The Bucs picked up the fifth-year option on Winston's contract for $20.92 million at the start of the year. However, his future beyond the 2019 season is murky.Winston has battled inconsistency throughout the his career. He was also suspended for the first three games of this season for violating the league's personal conduct policy and later benched in favor of Ryan Fitzpatrick three games into his return. He won the starting job back, but only led the team to two wins over Tampa's last seven games.Despite the poor results, the Buccaneers finished the season with the No. 1-ranked passing offense."I saw a lot in the second half of this season," Licht said. "Obviously we went through a lot at the beginning of this season - the suspension. There was a lot going on in this organization that was tough for a lot of people to overcome. I saw him bounce back at the end of the year and play very, very good in my eyes and a lot of people's eyes for the condition that he was in."We have a lot of faith in him."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals fired head coach Steve Wilks on Monday after just one season, the team announced.Earlier in the day, ahead of a meeting with owner Michael Bidwill, Wilks informed his staff he wouldn't be returning next season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The 49-year-old is expected to be a top candidate for coordinator roles around the league, added Rapoport.The team also fired offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and defensive coordinator Al Holcomb, according to ESPN's Josh Weinfuss.Wilks won just three games in his rookie campaign, the fewest in the NFL, after coming to the desert following one year as the Carolina Panthers' defensive coordinator. The Cardinals' 3-13 finish is tied for their worst record since 1988.Arizona owns the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft and has a young quarterback in Josh Rosen, but the Cardinals lack the roster depth and allure of some of the other head coaching openings, such as the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons made sweeping changes to their coaching staff Monday, dismissing offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel, and special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong, according to Matthew Tabeek of the Falcons' official site.Head coach Dan Quinn will take over as the team's defensive coordinator.The moves come on the heels of a 7-9 season for the Falcons, who are two seasons removed from a Super Bowl appearance.Sarkisian was a surprise hiring when he was brought in as offensive coordinator ahead of the 2017 campaign following a one-game coordinator stint at Alabama. He was often criticized for the Falcons' struggles in the red zone.Manuel's tenure as defensive coordinator also lasted just two years, though he'd been a member of Quinn's staff since 2015.Armstrong, a veteran special teams coach, had been with the Falcons since 2008.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Duke quarterback Daniel Jones declared for the 2019 NFL Draft on Monday, forgoing his final season of collegiate eligibility, the school announced.Jones could work his way into the first round of the draft as one of the top pivots in the class given the lack of depth at the position this year."Daniel has been a cornerstone of our program and leaves with our full support," said head coach David Cutcliffe. "It has been a privilege to coach him, but the best part about Daniel is he's an even better young man than he is a football player. The bottom line is he's a special person and we'll miss him greatly."Jones threw for 2,674 yards with 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 11 games as a junior. The 6-foot-5 signal-caller completed nearly 63 percent of his passes.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos general manager John Elway would like to bring John Harbaugh to the Mile High City even though the Baltimore Ravens have already committed to bringing back the veteran head coach in 2019, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.On Monday, after firing second-year coach Vance Joseph, Elway said that he has three-to-four candidates in mind for the job.Assuming the Ravens don't let Harbaugh out of his contract, the only way for the Broncos to acquire him would be via trade. Harbaugh owns a 104-72 record with Baltimore in 11 seasons and won Super Bowl XLVII.

Nobody has ever accused the NFL of being boring and predictable, but the excitement and unpredictability of the league may have risen to new heights in 2018.Let's take a look back at the year that was through the 18 biggest stories of 2018:Jan. 6: 'Chucky' returnsKirby Lee / USA TODAY SportsAfter spending nine years in the Monday Night Football broadcast booth, Jon Gruden made his long-awaited returned to sidelines. The man affectionately referred to as "Chucky" received a 10-year, $100-million deal from the Oakland Raiders - the largest contract for a coach in NFL history - along with a no-trade clause to prevent owner Mark Davis from eventually shipping him out of town like father Al did in 2002.Jan. 14: Minneapolis MiracleThe Minnesota Vikings trailed the New Orleans Saints 24-23 with 10 seconds left in their NFC Divisional playoff game. The Vikings, stuck at their own 39-yard line, had no timeouts. What happened next became known as the Minneapolis Miracle. Case Keenum chucked the ball 27 yards down the sideline to Stefon Diggs. As Diggs caught the pass, Saints safety Marcus Williams, inexplicably, went diving past him, giving Diggs a clear path to the end zone. The receiver bolted 34 more yards and the Vikings won on a touchdown as time expired at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.Feb. 4: Super FolesGregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / GettyMost assumed the Philadelphia Eagles' season was over when MVP favorite Carson Wentz tore his ACL late in the 2017 regular season. The few that believed in Nick Foles were rewarded, as the backup quarterback led Philadelphia to its first-ever Super Bowl championship. Foles caught fire in the postseason, completing 72.6 percent of his passes while throwing for six touchdowns and one interception. He torched the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII to the tune of 373 yards with three passing touchdowns. He also caught another touchdown on the infamous Philly Special en route to game MVP honors.Feb. 6: McDaniels spurns the ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts named Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels their new head coach two days after the Super Bowl. But hours later, the Colts announced that McDaniels had backed out of their agreement and was staying in New England. The Colts relaunched their coaching search, which led them to Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich.March 15: Cousins' free agencyBrad Mills / USA TODAY Sports After playing on the franchise tag for two years with the Washington Redskins, Kirk Cousins finally got a chance to hit free agency. He was billed going into the process as the best quarterback to touch the open market since Drew Brees in 2006, and he came out of it with the first fully guaranteed deal in NFL history. Cousins signed a three-year, $84-million contract with the Minnesota Vikings, who viewed him as the missing piece to their Super Bowl puzzle. The Vikings secured his services over the New York Jets and Denver Broncos.April 13: Cowboys cut DezAmid a decline in production, the Dallas Cowboys cut ties with one of the most accomplished receivers in franchise history after eight seasons. Dez Bryant didn't hold back after his release was made official, blaming his termination on head coach Jason Garrett and the influence of a group of Cowboys players he labeled "Garrett guys." Bryant was a free agent until Nov. 7, when he inked a one-year agreement with the New Orleans Saints. However, the three-time Pro Bowler tore his Achilles at the end of his first practice with New Orleans, ending his season before it really started.April 26: Mayfield goes No. 1 in QB-filled draftRonald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / GettyTo the surprise of many, the Cleveland Browns selected Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield first overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. Sam Darnold (No. 3), Josh Allen (No. 7), Josh Rosen (No. 10), and Lamar Jackson (No. 32) all came off the board in Round 1, leaving 1983 as the only draft class with more pivots picked in the opening round. Mayfield, the Heisman Trophy winner, watched the draft with his family at his own viewing party.May 3: Witten retires for TV gigJason Witten stunned the Cowboys when he called it quits a week after the NFL draft for a broadcasting job on ESPN's Monday Night Football. The Cowboys had already released Bryant, so the tight end's departure left Cole Beasley as Dallas' only established returning pass-catcher. Unlike his former teammate Tony Romo, who was a hit on CBS a year earlier, Witten's rookie season in the booth drew negative reviews.Sept. 1: Raiders make 1st of 2 blockbuster tradesStacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / GettyWithout an end to their contract impasse in sight, the Raiders traded former Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears in a behemoth deal right before the season. Oakland netted two first-round picks as part of the trade, but it was a small price to pay for the Bears, who turned into Super Bowl contenders with Mack. The Raiders pulled the trigger on another blockbuster less than two months later, sending wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Dallas Cowboys for another first-rounder. Cooper had a similar impact on the Cowboys, sparking their sputtering offense and helping Dallas win the NFC East.Sept. 9: The arrival of MahomesThe Jan. 30 trade of Alex Smith to the Redskins left a young quarterback by the name of Patrick Mahomes in charge of the Kansas City Chiefs' offense. Mahomes wasted no time making a name for himself, throwing four touchdowns in the season opener and another six in Week 2. He continued his aerial assault throughout the season, finishing with a league-high 50 touchdown passes and emerging as the MVP front-runner.Sept. 16: Vontae Davis retires mid-gameTom Szczerbowski / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhen Vontae Davis was absent from the Buffalo Bills' sideline to start the third quarter on Sept. 16, most assumed he was in the locker room nursing an injury. After the game, it was revealed that the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback had decided to retire on the spot, leaving his teammates as they trailed the Los Angeles Chargers 28-6. Davis hightailed it out of New Era Field in Buffalo before the game ended and confirmed his decision to retire after the game.Sept. 16: Roughing the passerIn an effort to prevent quarterback injuries, the NFL introduced strict roughing the passer rules in the offseason that led to plenty of controversy early in the new campaign. In Week 2, Clay Matthews of the Packers drew a questionable penalty on a fourth-down sack that would've clinched a win for Green Bay. The beneficiaries - the Vikings - received a fresh set of downs that led to a game-tying touchdown in the final minute. The two teams came out of the ensuing overtime with a 29-29 draw. Matthews was hit with another questionable flag the next week, causing the league's competition committee to re-examine the rules.Sept. 20: Browns end 2-year winless droughtJason Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Browns snapped several depressing streaks in 2018. First, they celebrated a victory for the first time in 635 days after defeating the Jets on Thursday Night Football. Mayfield led the way, entering in relief of an injured Tyrod Taylor. Head coach Hue Jackson was there for that win and one other before he was fired amid discord between him and offensive coordinator Todd Haley - who was also canned. Jackson, who compiled a 3-36-1 record in Cleveland, quickly joined the Cincinnati Bengals' staff and lost twice to his former employer in the subsequent weeks.Sept. 30: Thomas flips off his own sidelineA preseason contract dispute fractured the relationship between the Seattle Seahawks and star safety Earl Thomas, and it turned ever more sour in Week 4. Thomas, who reluctantly agreed to play without a contract for next season, broke his leg against the Arizona Cardinals. While being carted off the field, the six-time Pro Bowler flashed the middle finger to his own sideline - specifically, head coach Pete Carroll.Nov. 13: Bell cements his holdoutAll-Pro running back Le'Veon Bell refused to play under the franchise tag for a second consecutive year, even if it meant sitting out an entire campaign. The saga involving Bell and the Pittsburgh Steelers took ample twists and turns, but it came to a head on Nov. 13 - the deadline for Bell to report to Pittsburgh and sign his franchise tender. The 26-year-old let the deadline come and go without putting pen to paper, rendering him ineligible to play in 2018 and assuring he'd be healthy for free agency.Nov. 19: The Chiefs-Rams Monday Night FootballKevork Djansezian / Getty Images Sport / GettySeven turnovers, 1,001 yards of offense, and 105 points went into the highest scoring game in Monday Night Football history, where the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Chiefs 54-51 at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. Afterward, Rams quarterback Jared Goff called the game "four quarters of craziness." The contest was initially supposed to be played at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, but concerns over the condition of the field forced the NFL to relocate the game to the City of Angels on short notice.Nov. 30: Chiefs cut ties with HuntKareem Hunt led the NFL in rushing as a rookie in 2017 and was on his way to more accolades in 2018 before a video obtained by TMZ derailed any such plans. The footage showed Hunt kicking a woman at a Cleveland hotel during an incident that took place in February. The second-year running back was waived by the Chiefs shortly after the emergence of the video, with the team claiming Hunt had lied about the details of the altercation.Dec. 2: Packers pull the plug on McCarthyDylan Buell / Getty Images Sport / GettyOnly one Super Bowl-winning head coach had ever been fired in the middle of a season prior to 2018. Mike McCarthy joined former Baltimore Colts coach Don McCafferty in the history books when the Packers delivered him the pink slip following an embarrassing loss to the lowly Arizona Cardinals. McCarthy was fired with four games left in his 13th season. He made the playoffs in nine of his previous 12 campaigns and led the Packers to a title in Super Bowl XLV. He went just 4-7-1 in his final season at the helm.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins fired head coach Adam Gase on Monday after two straight seasons with a losing record, Gase told ESPN's Jeff Darlington.The Dolphins finished 7-9 in Gase's third season in charge, and he'll leave the team with a 23-25 record and one playoff appearance.However, the offensive-minded Gase is expected to be a highly sought-after candidate for head coaching vacancies around the league, added NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The decision to fire Gase followed a season in which owner Stephen Ross became increasingly frustrated with the culture of his team, according to Albert Breer of MMQB.Ross also made other significant changes to his team's leadership, as he promoted general manager Chris Grier to oversee football operations and reassigned top executive Mike Tannenbaum to another role yet to be determined, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Gase, an offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos from 2013-14 and for the Chicago Bears in 2015, was brought in partly to develop Ryan Tannehill. The quarterback failed to take a significant step forward and struggled to stay healthy behind Miami's inconsistent offensive line.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals can consider themselves on the clock.With an NFL-worst 3-13 record, the Cardinals earned their pick of the incoming rookie class on April 25 in Nashville.The San Francisco 49ers will pick next, followed by the New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers rounding out the top five selections.The order is determined by record, with strength of schedule as a tiebreaker.PICKTEAM1Arizona Cardinals (3-13)2San Francisco 49ers (4-12)3New York Jets (4-12)4Oakland Raiders (4-12)5Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11)6New York Giants (5-11)7Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11)8Detroit Lions (6-10)9Buffalo Bills (6-10)10Denver Broncos (6-10)11Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)12Green Bay Packers (6-9-1)13Miami Dolphins (7-9)14Atlanta Falcons (7-9)15Washington Redskins (7-9)16Carolina Panthers (7-9)17Cleveland Browns (7-8-1)18Minnesota Vikings (8-7-1)19Tennessee Titans (9-7)20Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6-1)Picks 21-32 will be determined by playoff results.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marvin Lewis endorsed long-time colleague Hue Jackson as a head coach in his parting news conference after mutually agreeing to part ways with the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday."I think he's more than qualified," Lewis said, according to Herbie Teope of NFL.com. "I think he's been in a couple of difficult situations (in Oakland and Cleveland), and that's tough, and it hasn't broke his way. But I think he's an excellent football coach, he's a great motivator, he's detailed. So I think he deserves an opportunity, if not here, somewhere else."Jackson was fired by the Cleveland Browns at the end of October following a 3-36-1 run over two-and-a-half seasons as head coach. He went 8-8 at the helm of the Oakland Raiders in 2011.After working under several different titles in Cincinnati from 2012-15, Jackson rejoined the Bengals in mid-November as a special assistant to the head coach.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Upcoming free-agent quarterback Josh McCown is leaving his options open for what would be his age-40 season."I'm not ruling anything out," McCown told Andy Vasquez of NorthJersey.com on Monday, adding that he'll decide with his family in the coming weeks.McCown spent the past two campaigns with the New York Jets. He signed a one-year, $10-million contract in the offseason and appeared in four games in 2018, primarily serving as rookie Sam Darnold's backup. McCown went 0-3 as the team's starter, completing just 54.5 percent of 110 pass attempts for 539 yards and one touchdown to go along with four interceptions.He set career bests in passing yards, touchdowns, completion percentage, and rushing touchdowns over 13 starts with the Jets last season.Originally a third-round selection of Arizona in the 2002 NFL Draft, he's spent time with the Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, and Jets.His career earnings top $38.6 million.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL regular season concluded Sunday with some thrilling contests that determined the playoff fates of multiple teams. The action kept fans - and even players - glued to screens to watch the closing moments play out in Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Minnesota. Here's a look at some of the great designs we saw Sunday.Passing Design of the Week: Mahomes burns RaidersThe Kansas City Chiefs finished the regular season in style, dispatching the Oakland Raiders 35-3 to lock up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs in the AFC. They also set some individual and team marks on offense. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes finished the year by throwing for over 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns, joining Peyton Manning as the only other QB to reach those milestones in a single season. Tight end Travis Kelce set a new mark at his position with 1,336 yards receiving (a record that stood for a few minutes before George Kittle eclipsed it). And lastly, the Chiefs are the first team in NFL history to score at least 26 points in each game of a 16-game season.Mahomes' first touchdown pass Sunday, a 67-yard strike to Tyreek Hill, showed the difficulties this offense and its young, talented quarterback present for defenses. The Chiefs line up with three receivers to the left on this third-and-5 play, with Hill (No. 10) the middle receiver in this trips formation and Kelce (No. 87) the inside receiver. The Raiders run a Cover 1 and use a linebacker to spy Mahomes, wary of a quarterback run.NFL / CBSThe Chiefs run four verticals, and Mahomes drops in a perfect throw to Hill for the long touchdown: Your browser does not support the video tag. NFL / CBSBecause Mahomes' athleticism forces the Raiders to spy him with a linebacker, they're a bit shorthanded up front and in the secondary. They try to defend this four-verticals concept with man coverage and safety help over the top, but Hill in the slot is a mismatch against most defenses, and this is no exception.Kansas City may go as far as Mahomes and his right arm can take it in the postseason - possibly all the way to Atlanta.Rushing Design of the Week: Carson explodes after key blocksThe Arizona Cardinals gave them everything they could handle, but the Seattle Seahawks finished their season 10-6 thanks to a last-second field goal by Sebastian Janikowski. While quarterback Russell Wilson and the Seahawks' passing game struggled in spots, the ground game under Chris Carson helped pick up the slack. Carson had 122 yards rushing and a touchdown on only 19 carries, and his biggest run of the day, this 61-yarder, is our Rushing Design of the Week. Your browser does not support the video tag. NFL / FOXThe Seahawks used an inside-zone running play, with Carson exploiting the left side of the Cardinals' defensive front. The two critical blocks are thrown by a pair of tight ends: Nick Vannett (No. 81) and Ed Dickson (No. 84). As you can see on the replay angle, they open up a huge hole for Carson to identify and burst through: Your browser does not support the video tag. NFL / FOXAn element of misdirection is visible in this angle as well. Carson uses some counter footwork in the backfield, delaying his run for a step. Wilson (No. 3) reverse-pivots as well, in an attempt to get the defenders to flow to their right with the movement of Wilson and the offensive line. That gives Vannett and Dickson the ability to create their hole on the backside, and Carson rips off a huge run to get the Seahawks moving.Pressure Design of the Week: Pats ground Jets with green dog blitzThe New England Patriots entered Week 17 with an outside chance to steal the AFC's top overall seed, but they needed some help. A more likely outcome was securing the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye on their own with a win against the New York Jets and talented rookie quarterback Sam Darnold.In a dominant performance, the home team dispatched the Jets 38-3, easing concerns in New England about the Pats' passing game. Yet it was the Patriots' defense that turned in the play of the game on this scoop-and-score from linebacker Kyle Van Noy (No. 53): Your browser does not support the video tag. NFL / CBSThe Patriots use a green dog blitz from Van Noy, who delays a bit before rushing Darnold (No. 14). Van Noy's pressure is one part of this play - the other major contributors are defensive end Trey Flowers (No. 98) and defensive tackle Adam Butler (No. 70). Flowers wins his one-on-one matchup against the right tackle with a spin move, and his pressure on Darnold forces the rookie quarterback to try and climb the pocket. As he does, Butler gets his big hand on the football, punching it out from Darnold’s grasp. Then Van Noy comes into play. His green dog blitz puts in him perfect position to pick up the loose ball, and he runs into the end zone for six.While the AFC's road to Atlanta runs through Arrowhead Stadium, New England's victory ensured at least one playoff game at Gillette Stadium. With a win and a little bit of help, the Patriots may get to host a second.Coverage Design of the Week: Ravens' blitz sets up Mosley's heroicsThe Baltimore Ravens and their fans were watching it all slip away.In the closing minutes against the Cleveland Browns, the Ravens - up by only two - failed to pick up a first down and were forced to give the ball back to Baker Mayfield. After seven plays, the Browns faced a fourth-and-10 at Baltimore's 39-yard line, just outside field-goal range. Cleveland was forced to go for it on fourth down, with the playoff hopes of the Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers hanging in the balance.Baltimore decided to blitz Mayfield, but linebacker C.J. Mosley (No. 57) wasn't part of the pressure package. Instead, he dropped off the line of scrimmage to help in underneath coverage:NFL / CBSThe pressure from the edge forces Mayfield to attempt a quick throw over the middle. Mosley's able to disengage from a blocker and get his arms up, tipping the football into the air and then securing it - and the Ravens' playoff hopes: Your browser does not support the video tag. NFL / CBSThe victory locked down the AFC North and the fourth seed for Baltimore, which will host the Los Angeles Chargers on the weekend. With their defense and new-look offense under Lamar Jackson, the Ravens could be the proverbial "team no one wants to face" come playoff time.Game plan of the Week: Cowboys' Jason GarrettIn Week 17, some teams' playoff fates are already sealed, so their coaches can either rest players - such as Sean Payton did with Drew Brees and Alvin Kamara - or they can keep their foot on the gas pedal. That was the decision Garrett and the Dallas Cowboys faced.Locked into the fourth seed in the NFC, the Cowboys had only pride to play for against the New York Giants. Garrett, however, played his starters, including quarterback Dak Prescott, the whole way, resting only running back Ezekiel Elliott. The result was a last-second victory over the Giants, with Prescott hitting wide receiver Cole Beasley in the back of the end zone on a fourth down to score the go-ahead points. It remains to be seen if this was the right approach, but Garrett said he wanted the Cowboys to enter the postseason with momentum, and they certainly will.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 © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rex Ryan has begun contacting ex-assistants to gauge their interest in joining him if he lands a head coaching job in Miami next year, league sources told Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.Ryan, a current ESPN analyst, reportedly believes he has a solid chance of being hired by the Miami Dolphins - if Adam Gase is fired.Salguero's report initially stated that Ryan also thought he had a chance to land the lead job at the University of Miami. But Ryan reportedly views himself as an NFL coach at heart and his preference is to coach the Dolphins.The Hurricanes are no longer an option anyway - Miami has hired former defensive coordinator Manny Diaz just weeks after he left to take the head coaching job at Temple.Ryan spent eight seasons as an NFL head coach, going 46-50 across six campaigns with the New York Jets and 15-16 in two years with the Buffalo Bills. He led the Jets to AFC Championship appearances in 2009 and 2010.The 56-year-old acquired a reputation as one of the brashest coaches in the profession during his NFL years. He's also known as a defensive guru.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are reportedly aiming high in their search for a replacement for recently fired head coach Dirk Koetter.The team has legitimate interest in interviewing former Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians for the position, according to Alex Marvez of SiriusXM NFL Radio.Jack Del Rio and Jim Caldwell are also potential candidates, Marvez adds.For his part, Arians seems open to the possibility."I know (general manager) Jason (Licht). So, I would listen," Arians texted NFL Network's Ian Rapoport on Monday.The Buccaneers dismissed Koetter on Sunday evening following a 34-32 home loss to the rival Atlanta Falcons, which left Tampa Bay at the bottom of the NFC South at 5-11. He spent three seasons as head coach after being hired as offensive coordinator in 2015.Arians retired at the end of the 2017 season following a five-year run with the Cardinals. He's spent this season as an analyst with CBS but said multiple times that he would consider a return to the NFL sidelines to coach the Cleveland Browns.Del Rio most recently served as Oakland Raiders head coach from 2015-17 but was let go following a 6-10 campaign. The 55-year-old served the Jacksonville Jaguars in the same role from 2003-11 and has experience as a defensive coordinator with the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos.The Detroit Lions dismissed Caldwell at the end of the 2017 season after a four-year run as head coach. He built a 62-50 record between his tenure with the Lions and three prior campaigns with the Indianapolis Colts.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marvin Lewis' 16-year tenure on the Cincinnati Bengals' sideline is over, as the team announced Monday that it and its head coach have mutually decided to part ways.The Bengals signed the 60-year-old to a two-year contract extension running through the 2019 season in January, despite rumors he would be dismissed. He lasted just one year under the extension."Mike (Brown) and I decided it's time," Lewis said at a press conference Monday.Lewis was the NFL's second-longest tenured head coach, behind only the New England Patriots' Bill Belichick. He compiled a 131-122-3 record during his time with the franchise.Though Lewis' Bengals qualified for the playoffs in five straight seasons between 2011-15, his teams posted an 0-7 record in the playoffs and failed to make the postseason in each of the last three years.After a 4-1 start to the season, injuries and poor defense plagued the Bengals. In November, quarterback Andy Dalton was lost for the year with torn ligaments in his thumb, while defensive coordinator Teryl Austin was let go.Lewis reportedly intends on continuing his coaching career, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles is on track on to play in the wild-card round against the Chicago Bears after tests Monday revealed he didn't suffer any broken ribs during Sunday's contest against the Washington Redskins, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.Foles reportedly just sustained bruises after exiting the Eagles' regular-season finale.The backup quarterback is set to once again lead Philadelphia during the playoffs as Carson Wentz is reportedly likely to miss his second straight postseason, this time due to a back injury.The Eagles sneaked their way into the playoffs in the last week of the regular season after Foles - February's Super Bowl MVP - led them to three straight wins to end the year.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer doesn't intend to go anywhere following a 2018 campaign in which his team fell short of its postseason aspirations."I'm not retiring or resigning. Period," Zimmer texted NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.The Vikings' follow-up season to a trip to last year's NFC Championship Game concluded with a 24-10 loss Sunday to the Chicago Bears who had already secured a playoff berth and were without several key starters due to injuries and rest.Multiple team sources told Pelissero they'd be shocked if Zimmer does not return to the Vikings, who finished the season with an 8-7-1 record.The 62-year-old is 47-31-1 since taking over as Vikings head coach following the 2013 season when he replaced Leslie Frazier. His contract runs through 2019.Minnesota fired offensive coordinator John DeFilippo on Dec. 11 and promoted longtime assistant Kevin Stefanski into the role on an interim basis.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Denver Broncos fired head coach Vance Joseph on Monday after back-to-back losing seasons in his two years at the helm, the club announced."Vance made a lot of strides and deserves credit for how hard and competitively the team played this season," general manager John Elway said in a statement. "There's always going to be a high standard here - the bottom line is we need to win more football games. We're excited about the foundation that’s being built and look forward to putting in the work to get the Broncos back on the winning track."Joseph accumulated an 11-21 record with the Broncos. He was hired in January 2017 after Gary Kubiak abruptly stepped down as Denver's coach to address health concerns.The Broncos already appear to be vetting candidates to replace Joseph, as the team requested permission to interview New England Patriots defensive coordinator Brian Flores for the job, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Despite Joseph being known as a defensive specialist, Denver's defense ranked 22nd in the NFL in 2018 and 30th in 2017.The 46-year-old also struggled to find stability at quarterback, starting Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler, Paxton Lynch, and Case Keenum over the last two seasons.Joseph should land as a top defensive coordinator candidate this offseason, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Another year, another round of New England Patriots assistants being targeted for head coaching vacancies.The Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers requested permission to interview Patriots defensive coordinator Brian Flores, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Green Bay also asked to interview New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels for its head coaching vacancy, Schefter added.The Packers fired Mike McCarthy earlier in December after 13 seasons with the team. He was replaced on an interim basis by Joe Philbin, who is reportedly not seen as a serious contender for the full-time job.Cleveland parted ways with Hue Jackson in October after a 3-36-1 record during his tenure with the club. He was replaced by Gregg Williams, who compiled five victories in the final eight contests.Flores received multiple head coaching interviews last offseason while still serving as linebackers coach with New England. McDaniels infamously backed out of the Indianapolis Colts' coaching job last offseason after the team announced his hiring.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon is expected to play in Sunday's wild-card matchup with the Baltimore Ravens despite limping off the field during the fourth quarter in Week 17, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Chargers are set to receive another boost to their offense, as tight end Hunter Henry, who tore his ACL in May, is also expected to suit up against the Ravens, Schefter adds.The team expressed confidence late in the campaign that Henry would be able to return in the final stages of the regular season or for the playoffs. He's currently on the reserve/physically unable to perform list.Henry has recorded 81 catches for 1,057 yards and 12 touchdowns over his first two NFL seasons.Gordon has fought through various injuries this year, missing Week 7 with a hamstring injury and Weeks 13 to 15 with an MCL sprain.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2018 NFL regular season came to a close on Sunday, making official the league leaders in a number of notable stat categories.Here's a rundown of the top five in yards, scores, and other stats.Passing YardsRankPlayerTeamYards1Ben RoethlisbergerSteelers51292Patrick MahomesChiefs50973Matt RyanFalcons49244Jared GoffRams46885Andrew LuckColts4593Passing TouchdownsRankPlayerTeamTDs1Patrick MahomesChiefs502Andrew LuckColts393Matt RyanFalcons353Russell WilsonSeahawks355Ben RoethlisbergerSteelers34Rushing YardsRankPlayerTeamYards1Ezekiel ElliottCowboys14342Saquon BarkleyGiants13073Todd GurleyRams12514Joe MixonBengals11685Chris CarsonSeahawks1151Rushing TouchdownsRank Player Team TDs1Todd GurleyRams172Alvin KamaraSaints143James ConnerSteelers123Derrick HenryTitans125Saquon BarkleyGiants11Receiving YardsRankPlayerTeamYards1Julio JonesFalcons16772DeAndre HopkinsTexans15723Mike EvansBuccaneers15244Tyreek HillChiefs14795JuJu Smith-SchusterSteelers1426Receiving TDsRankPlayerTeamYards1Antonio BrownSteelers152Davante AdamsPackers132Eric EbronColts133Tyreek HillChiefs125DeAndre HopkinsTexans11SacksRankPlayerTeamSacks1Aaron DonaldRams20.52J.J. WattTexans163Chris JonesChiefs15.54Danielle HunterVikings14.54Von MillerBroncos14.5InterceptionsRank Player Team INTs1Kyle FullerBears71Xavien HowardDolphins71Damontae KazeeFalcons74Eddie JacksonBears65Alec OgletreeGiants5TacklesRankPlayerTeamTackles1Darius LeonardColts1632Blake MartinezPackers1443Leighton Vander EschCowboys1404Bobby WagnerSeahawks1385Anthony HitchensChiefs135Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.