The New England Patriots have ended any rift over the standing of Alex Guerrero, Tom Brady's personal trainer, within the organization by coming to a compromise that will allow him "solid" access to the team, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.That access will include traveling with the Patriots on occasion. Brady and Rob Gronkowski will also be able to use Guerrero whenever they see fit. The goal, added Rapoport, is for Guerrero to be a non-story this campaign.The veteran quarterback has been unwilling to speak about Guerrero this offseason, ending two separate interviews abruptly when pressed on the issues surrounding his trainer.Bill Belichick reportedly banned Guerrero from team facilities last season, leading to tension between the head coach and his star quarterback.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his fifth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. Follow the links below to see his updated rankings for Week 1.Standard

The New England Patriots were apparently poised to trade Rob Gronkowski before the star tight end intervened.This past offseason, a trade of Gronkowski appeared likely to happen, but he stopped the negotiations and said he'd rather retire than suit up for another team and play with a quarterback other than Tom Brady, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The Patriots and Gronkowski agreed to a revised contract at the end of August, adding $4.3 million in incentives to the deal.New England considers Gronkowski year to year after he thought about retirement following the team's Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, added Rapoport.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon - who'd been nursing a hamstring injury late in the preseason - was removed from the team's injury report ahead of Sunday's season opener versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.Gordon isn't expected to start against Pittsburgh as he eases back into action, but he'll be ready to play in Week 1 for just the second time in his career, and the first since his rookie campaign in 2012.The 27-year-old posted 335 yards and one touchdown in five outings last season after making his long-awaited return from a drug-related suspension.Gordon didn't play in any preseason games this summer. He missed the first two while taking a leave of absence to work on maintaining his mental health.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL is not expected to implement a new policy for the national anthem this season, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The league initially passed a policy in May, but it was put on hold amid controversy and discussions with the players' association.Schefter added that while talks will continue, "too many people have stances too strong to figure out a compromise."Players have protested racial injustice, police brutality, and other issues during the anthem for the past two seasons, led by the likes of Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers star pass rusher Joey Bosa scheduled a visit with foot specialist Robert Anderson on Wednesday, to get a second opinion on his bone bruise, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.Bosa has already been ruled out of Sunday's opener against the Kansas City Chiefs and could miss two to four weeks, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Although Bosa has been diagnosed with a bone bruise, the Chargers fear that the edge rusher may have suffered a fracture.Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn labeled Bosa as "week to week" with the injury Friday.Bosa has emerged as one of the NFL's premier pass rushers, and if he misses any more time, it'll be a significant loss for the Chargers' defense. Isaac Rochell is expected to start in Bosa's absence.The 23-year-old was named to the Pro Bowl in 2017 after recording 12.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in 16 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals have signed running back David Johnson to a three-year contract extension, the team announced Saturday.Johnson's deal is worth $39 million, including $30 million in guarantees, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. He can earn up to $45 million through incentives.The star running back will receive nearly $24 million upon signing and $28 million by March, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Johnson was entering the final year of his rookie contract and will now be the NFL's third-highest-paid running back in terms of average annual value.The former third-round pick missed all but one game during the 2017 campaign after dislocating his wrist in the season opener. He was named an All-Pro in 2016, leading the league with 2,118 all-purpose yards.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ahead of Monday's game against the Oakland Raiders, the Los Angeles Rams added defensive lineman Aaron Donald back to the active roster.Donald returned to the team after a lengthy holdout, signing a six-year contract extension reportedly worth $135 million on Aug. 31.The superstar lineman captured Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2017 after recording 41 tackles, 11 sacks, and five forced fumbles in 14 games.The Rams are considered a leading Super Bowl contender. Along with extending Donald, the club added Ndamukong Suh, Brandin Cooks, Aqib Talib, and Marcus Peters over the summer.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite ending his holdout just days ago, Seattle Seahawks star safety Earl Thomas has been activated for Week 1 and is expected to slot back into his starting role against the Denver Broncos."He was solid all week long. He's fired up and studying and working hard at it, and he had a good week," Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said Friday, according to the team's website.Thomas stayed away from the Seahawks for the majority of the offseason. Upon his return Wednesday, he wrote on Instagram: "The disrespect has been well-noted and will not be forgotten."The veteran is entering the final year of a four-year, $40-million extension. Aside from an injury-shortened 2016 campaign, he has made the Pro Bowl every year since 2011.Despite his elite on-field production, however, the Seahawks have been reticent to commit to Thomas long term following an offseason of major upheaval on the defensive side of the ball.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It'll be the James Conner show in Pittsburgh - at least for Week 1.As expected, Steelers star running back Le'Veon Bell won't report to the team by Saturday's 4 p.m. deadline. He will, therefore, miss Sunday's season opener against the Cleveland Browns and give up his $853,000 game check as a result, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The franchise-tagged Bell has held out all summer in hopes of forcing the Steelers to hand over a record-setting contract. It was assumed he'd return to the team prior to the first game of the regular season, as he did while on the tag last year, but he surprised many by failing to report during the week.Related: Steelers' Conner ready to shoulder load as Bell holdout continuesBell's absence was met with ire from some of his Steelers teammates, with members of the offensive line being especially critical of the veteran back.A third-round pick from the 2017 draft, Conner saw limited action in his rookie year but impressed in the preseason, racking up 100 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries and adding another 61 yards on seven catches.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tyrod Taylor may have found his way out of Buffalo, but the veteran quarterback is still not pleased with how the Bills handled his now infamous benching at the end of the 2016 season.After starting in each of the first 15 games, Taylor was replaced by then-rookie Cardale Jones to close out the year. Reports at the time indicated that the move was made with financial flexibility in mind, looking to ensure that an injury couldn't lock in certain contractual guarantees for the following season.Taylor took issue with the conflicting explanations he received in being informed of the decision."I wasn't being told the truth at the time. The GM (Doug Whaley) told me one thing and the head coach (Rex Ryan) told me something else," Taylor told Uninterrupted.Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future in Buffalo, Taylor ended up sticking around as the starter when a new regime took over in 2017. The season didn't go by without another controversial benching, however, as Sean McDermott opted to give rookie Nathan Peterman a start following back to back losses in November.The surprise switch would quickly prove disastrous. Peterman threw five first-half interceptions against the Los Angeles Chargers before giving way to Taylor, who remained the starter for every game in which he played for the rest of the year. He led the Bills to their first playoff appearance in 18 years, but that wasn't enough to secure the job long term.Buffalo traded Taylor to the Cleveland Browns this offseason and selected his successor, Josh Allen, in the first round of the draft.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The first Sunday of the 2018 campaign is on its way. theScore's NFL staff kicks things off with playoff, Super Bowl, and awards predictions for this season.AFCEditorEastNorthSouthWestWCWCAlessandriniNECINTENLACHOUDENBrowneNEPITHOULACKCBALChippinNEPITHOULACJAXBALMcClymontNEPITHOUKCJAXBALMcLarenNEPITJAXLACHOUKCSrinivasanNEPITJAXLACHOUDENWoodsNEPITHOULACJAXCINThe Patriots and Steelers remain the staples of the AFC, but theScore is all aboard the Chargers' hype train.NFCEditorEastNorthSouthWestWCWCAlessandriniPHIMINNOSFGBDETBrownePHIGBATLSFMINLARChippinPHIMINATLLARGBSFMcClymontPHIMINATLLARGBNOMcLarenNYGMINATLLARSFNOSrinivasanPHIMINATLLARNONYGWoodsPHIGBNOLARATLMINNot much turnover is expected on the NFC side of the bracket. However, not one editor picked the Panthers to return to the playoffs in 2018.AFC Championship GameEditorPredictionAlessandriniPatriots vs. ChargersBrownePatriots vs. SteelersChippinPatriots vs. ChargersMcClymontTexans vs. JaguarsMcLarenJaguars vs. TexansSrinivasanPatriots vs. JaguarsWoodsSteelers vs. ChargersDespite the poorest collection of backs and receivers Tom Brady has had to play with, the majority of the team believes the Patriots will be back in the conference title game for the eighth consecutive season.NFC Championship GameEditorPredictionAlessandriniSaints vs. EaglesBrownePackers vs. VikingsChippinRams vs. PackersMcClymontRams vs. VikingsMcLarenFalcons vs. 49ersSrinivasanRams vs. FalconsWoodsSaints vs. RamsRams? Falcons? Saints? Vikings? It's anyone's guess who will emerge from the loaded NFC.Super Bowl LIIIEditorPredictionAlessandriniSaints def. PatriotsBrownePackers def. PatriotsChippinPackers def. PatriotsMcClymontVikings def. TexansMcLarenFalcons def. TexansSrinivasanFalcons def. JaguarsWoodsSaints def. ChargersThe AFC was shown no love when it came to predicting the Super Bowl LIII champion. The entire staff sided with the stronger NFC conference, with the Packers and Falcons earning multiple votes."The two greatest quarterbacks in the game weave through their respective conferences before giving the world the most enticing and exciting Super Bowl matchup of all time," Alex Chippin predicts in a Packers-Patriots matchup.Rookies of the YearEditorOffensiveDefensiveAlessandriniSaquon BarkleyMaurice HurstBrowneMichael GallupDarius LeonardChippinSaquon BarkleyRoquan SmithMcClymontSaquon BarkleyDerwin JamesMcLarenSam DarnoldTremaine EdmundsSrinivasanSaquon BarkleyRoquan SmithWoodsSam DarnoldDerwin JamesSaquon Barkley is the popular pick to follow in the footsteps of Todd Gurley and Alvin Kamara for Rookie of the Year."An obvious choice, but the right one. Barkley has more talent than your average rookie, and he'll help pace the Giants' offense behind an improved blocking unit. Rushing for 1,500 yards and 10-plus touchdowns is not out of the question," Mike Alessandrini said.Players of the YearEditorOffensiveDefensiveAlessandriniAaron RodgersKhalil MackBrowneAntonio BrownMyles GarrettChippinAntonio BrownJalen RamseyMcClymontAntonio BrownXavier RhodesMcLarenDavid JohnsonTyrann MathieuSrinivasanAntonio BrownVon MillerWoodsAlvin KamaraJoey BosaWhat Madden cover jinx? theScore staff is putting its faith behind Antonio Brown breaking the mold and taking home his first Offensive Player of the Year award. On the defensive side of things, the list is dominated by pass-rushers."If the Steelers overcome the Le'Veon Bell fiasco, it'll be in large part due to Brown, who threatens to become the first 2,000-yard receiver in a single season. Everyone knows what's coming and yet Brown is simply unstoppable," Arun Srinivasan said.Coach of the YearEditorPredictionAlessandriniMike ZimmerBrowneBill BelichickChippinMike ZimmerMcClymontBill BelichickMcLarenDan QuinnSrinivasanDan QuinnWoodsAnthony LynnWould you believe Bill Belichick hasn't won Coach of the Year since 2010? Jack Browne and Michael McClymont believe this is the year in which Belichick wins his fourth award, tying Don Shula for the most all time."Because he's Bill Belichick," Browne put it, simply.MVPEditorPredictionAlessandriniTom BradyBrownePhilip RiversChippinAaron RodgersMcClymontDeshaun WatsonMcLarenDavid JohnsonSrinivasanDrew BreesWoodsBen RoethlisbergerThe MVP conversation is again dominated by quarterbacks. David Johnson is the lone player from another position to garner a vote."The conditions are perfect for Johnson to put together a statistical season that leaves voters with no choice but to give him the honor despite what's likely to be a poor Cardinals record," Esten McLaren said, who sees LaDainian Tomlinson's touchdown record falling.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers have a last-minute health concern for Week 1, as star tight end Greg Olsen was added to the team's injury report Saturday with a back injury, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. He's now questionable for Sunday's regular-season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.Olsen is expected to continue to be Cam Newton's go-to pass-catcher this season, especially considering the Panthers' question marks at wide receiver outside of Devin Funchess.The veteran tight end missed nine games last season due to a foot injury. If he's unable to suit up, fourth-round rookie Ian Thomas will likely get the nod as Chris Manhertz is also questionable due to a foot injury.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Give me Scott Hanson and seven hours of commercial-free football, or give me death.The start of the 2018 NFL season marks the beginning of a 17-week grind featuring multi-TV setups, fantasy football highs and lows, and a chance to make some dough.It's difficult to find a betting edge, but there are plenty of opportunities in Week 1 to beat the oddsmakers and get the season off on the right foot.Here are my top plays and other picks I like for opening week:Top playsCincinnati at IndianapolisPick: Over 47.5I'm just hoping my infatuation with the Bengals' offense was just a year too early rather than a full-on swing and miss.My Cincinnati hype train was quickly derailed in 2017. The Bengals didn't score a touchdown in the first two games, leading to the firing of offensive coordinator Ken Zampese. Great call on my part.If promoted coordinator Bill Lazor can't figure it out, there's something wrong.Andy Dalton has weapons - if only they could stay healthy - and it's about time he starts using them.A.J. Green will be A.J. Green, but the Bengals have a chance to explode if they can keep Tyler Eifert and John Ross on the field. I'm not counting out Tyler Boyd to make an impact, and we still haven't mentioned Joe Mixon.Cincinnati matches up with a talent-poor Colts secondary that features Malik Hooker and a handful of other replacement-level players. It's Pro Football Focus' lowest-rated unit.The Colts' offense might not be as efficient, but it'll sure be fun. New head coach Frank Reich carries over a no-huddle, RPO-based scheme tailored to - oh, yeah - Andrew Luck!Their skill corps outside of T.Y. Hilton won't inject fear in many defenses, but Luck boosts the unit tenfold if he's healthy.I won't go as far as calling this a track meet, but there will be plenty of scoring opportunities given the strengths and weaknesses of both teams.Buffalo at BaltimorePick: Over 40.5Did you dry heave a little? Great. Anyone watching this one will need a tissue to wipe the blood dripping from their retina down their cheek.The Ravens' offense in 2017 was a fresh coat of paint drying. It was a scheme painfully light on big plays, and the personnel never fit. Joe Flacco stole the check-down talent from Alex Smith like the Monstars from "Space Jam," posting just 5.7 yards per attempt. That's disgusting in itself.Now, he has a revamped group of receivers in Michael Crabtree, John Brown, and Willie Snead to replace Mike Williams, Jeremy Maclin, and Breshad Perriman. It isn't life-changing, but it's something. Now throw the ball downfield, Marty Mornhinweg!It doesn't get any shinier with Buffalo's offense, which features Nathan Peterman under center, Kelvin Benjamin, Zay Jones, and Jeremy Kerley at wide receiver, and Charles Clay at tight end.The thing is, there's almost too much volatility with this offense not to expect chaos. Whether it be Peterman throwing to players in purple jerseys, an inefficient offense that's constantly playing from its own end and setting up Baltimore with good field position, or the screw-you approach of going play-action up top 15 times in the first half, this number is low enough to not need a track meet.Seattle at Denver(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Pick: Seahawks +3If the oddsmakers are pegging these teams as basically even on a neutral field, I'll take a shot on the Seahawks catching a field goal in Denver.Many are down on Seattle this year, for obvious reasons. The defense isn't what it was during the two-time Super Bowl era and Russell Wilson would still be better served setting up traffic cones as offensive linemen.Against Denver's vaunted front seven, there's a clear mismatch there. But if there's one player I want my money on to find a way around it, it's one of the most mobile QBs in the league, and one that, aside from probably Aaron Rodgers, is the best at extending plays and improvising on the run. For Wilson, that's been second nature.Extra pointsJacksonville at New YorkPick: Over 42Even elite defenses can be caught off guard, right?The Giants' 2017 offensive season was full of lows, including injuries and pure inefficiency. Not much went right for New York.Now, with Pat Shurmur and his offensive prowess at the helm and someone not named Mike Sullivan as coordinator - that'll be Mike Shula this season - the Giants should be capable of getting the most out of a skill corps composed of Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard, Evan Engram, and Saquon Barkley. If New York is smart, it'll throw the kitchen sink at Jacksonville.The Jaguars aren't as explosive, but they're efficient. Leonard Fournette should pose a challenge to new defensive coordinator James Bettcher, who inherits a defense that finished 26th against the run last season. If Jacksonville can establish the running game, that opens up shots downfield for Blake Bortles, who has Keelan Cole, Donte Moncrief, and Dede Westbrook at his disposal.Chicago at Green BayPick: Bears +7.5The Bears have one gigantic Week 1 stage to show the world just how much they've improved.Chicago comes in lauded for its offseason renovations, including makeovers both on the coaching staff and the field. The Bears were expected to take a huge leap in quarterback Mitchell Trubisky's second year, and landing Khalil Mack via trade only heightened expectations.Aaron Rodgers has made a killing against Chicago over his career. But for the first time in a long time, the Bears look capable of producing on both sides of the football.I recommend the Bears with a touchdown-plus cushion. Who knows? If Matt Nagy's offense doesn't fully succeed when it counts, perhaps it will for a backdoor cover late in this one. (I'm kidding. I still like the Bears to keep this one close enough where a backdoor cover isn't needed.)Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A lot can change between your fantasy draft and the start of the season.Managers looking for extra help in their first matchup or compensating for poor performances in Thursday's opener can still make moves to start the season right.Here are five waiver-wire picks set up to deliver big fantasy totals in Week 1.Antonio Callaway, WR, Brownsvs. SteelersBrowns rookie receiver Antonio Callaway will get the Week 1 start against the Steelers as Josh Gordon's expected usage remains up in the air.The fourth-round pick starred in the Browns' preseason opener, catching three passes for 87 yards and a touchdown. His best work in that game came with rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield, but he'll now be given a shot with veteran starter Tyrod Taylor.Only two teams allowed more passing plays of 40 or more yards in 2017 than the Steelers' 13, meaning Callaway will likely have opportunities to display the big-play ability he exhibited at Florida and in the preseason.Mike Gillislee, RB, Saintsvs. BuccaneersGillislee was released by the Patriots over the weekend, but he was quickly scooped up by the Saints and is listed as one of just two active running backs on the depth chart following the releases of Jonathan Williams and Boston Scott.The Saints have said they don't intend to increase Alvin Kamara's workload during Mark Ingram's suspension, and even if they do, there will be plenty of work for Gillislee.The Saints are 9.5-point favorites at home against the Buccaneers, according to Covers.com. Gillislee was added to gain hard yards, but he could be used more often late in the game to help kill the clock.Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Patriotsvs. TexansJulian Edelman's suspension and the releases of Jordan Matthews, Eric Decker, and Malcolm Mitchell have left the Patriots' wide receiver group pretty thin. Chris Hogan is the star of the group and tight end Rob Gronkowski will play his typically gargantuan role in the offense, but one of Cordarrelle Patterson and Phillip Dorsett will be asked to step up for at least the first four weeks.Patterson played in the Patriots' first three preseason games, totaling 11 receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown. Dorsett caught five balls for 40 yards in those same games.Both are recent first-round picks, but that doesn't mean the Patriots owe them anything. Dorsett caught just 12 passes in his first season with New England in 2017, so it could be Patterson who's given the first opportunity to show what he can do.Tre'Quan Smith, WR, Saintsvs. BuccaneersThe 91st pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Tre'Quan Smith built up his hype in the preseason, catching 15 passes for 189 yards. He scored his first touchdown in the third game.He's behind veterans Michael Thomas - whom he won't surpass - and Ted Ginn - whom he very well could - on the Saints' depth chart.New Orleans ranked 20th in the league with a pass-play percentage of 56.37 last season, according to TeamRankings.com, but that split should more heavily favor the pass during Ingram's suspension. Smith showed in the preseason that he, like Ginn, doesn't need an abundance of targets to provide valuable fantasy returns while working with Drew Brees.Chad Williams, WR, Cardinalsvs. RedskinsChad Williams saw limited usage as a rookie in 2017. The 98th pick of last year's draft played in six games and caught only three of seven targets for 31 yards and no scores. He also rushed twice for 33 yards.Williams heads into his sophomore campaign as the Cardinals' No. 2 receiver opposite Larry Fitzgerald. The future Hall of Famer will remain a target hog in the passing attack, but Williams can be productive with secondary work as long as Sam Bradford (71.8 percent completion rate over his last 595 pass attempts) stays healthy.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady has put up some astounding numbers during his 18-year NFL career.He has five Super Bowl wins and eight appearances in the big game; thirteen Pro Bowl appearances; three MVP awards; four Super Bowl MVP awards; two hundred twenty-three regular-season wins; five hundred fifty-eight total touchdown throws. The list goes on and on and on.But how about this number, one that perhaps illustrates the New England Patriots star quarterback's greatness more than any other: Ten thousand, two hundred sixty-nine.That's the total number of passes Brady has thrown - the regular season (8,805, fourth all-time) and the playoffs (1,464, first all-time) combined - since entering the league as a sixth-round draft pick in 2000. Somehow, there's not a single sign of decline from the five-time Super Bowl winner.The 41-year-old Brady has stared into the eyes of Father Time and refused to blink.Joe Montana, Brady's childhood idol and arguably his biggest rival for the GOAT label, threw 6,135 passes before hanging up his cleats. Hall of Famers John Elway and Dan Marino? The former reached 7,901 attempts before succumbing to the rigors of time, while the latter was done after throwing just over 9,000 passes.How about Peyton Manning? Brady's longtime rival and the NFL's king of stats managed 10,407 passes but looked like a shell of his former self at the end of his career as his neck injury drained the last vestiges of his arm strength.Even the NFL's all-time iron man, Brett Favre, struggled through injuries in his final season to boost his career attempt total to 10,960.Brady could surpass Favre's all-time attempts mark this year if he stays injury free and New England makes another deep playoff run, one of life's inevitabilities along with death and taxes. And he'd do so as one of the frontrunners for the MVP award - which he currently owns - not as a broken down version of his former self like Manning or Favre.It's ludicrous that Brady is about to leave every other Hall of Famer in his dust, but even that's not enough for the uber-competitive passer."I would love to play five more years," Brady said in the epilogue to his "Tom vs. Time" Facebook series. "It will be a challenge for me. I don't think it’s going to be easy ... but I think I can do it."The legend is primed to enter uncharted territory. The most effective any quarterback has been beyond age 40 is probably Warren Moon, who tossed 25 touchdowns and nearly 3,700 yards at age 41 in 1997. He then struggled in 10 starts the following year and ended his career after two seasons as a backup.That's it. That's the apex of playing QB beyond the age of 40. Brady's poised to shatter that precedent.He's already proven capable of reworking his game as he's faced a natural decline in his physical skill set.After Brady's stats took a hit, by his lofty standards, from 2012 to 2014, he's been on maybe the best three-year run of his career, which includes his age-40 season. Here are his averages from those two periods, per Pro Football Reference.YearsAgeC%YardsTD-INTYPAPasser Rating2012-1435-3762.5442630.7-9.37.294.42015-1738-4065.0430032-5.77.9105.0Aside from his yardage total - which was inflated by a career-high 637 attempts in 2012 - Brady has somehow, like a fine wine, gotten better with age. He's winning regular-season MVP awards (2017) and Super Bowls (2016) at a time in his career when most other Hall of Fame passers were trying either to stave off the death curdle or were already sitting at home on their couch.Interested in Montana, Marino, or Elway's stats from ages 38 to 40? Well, tough luck, because all three retired at 38. Montana tossed 3,000 yards and 16 touchdowns in his final year but also posted the fourth lowest yards-per-attempt average and the third-worst passer rating of his illustrious career.Marino was even worse in his last campaign. He threw just 12 touchdowns to 17 interceptions on 369 attempts, by far the worst interception percentage of his 17 seasons, and posted a career-low passer rating of 67.4.Elway fared the best, going out a Super Bowl champion in 1998 after recording the best passer rating of his career. But he was carried by the Broncos' all-time great rushing attack in the playoffs, including an AFC title game in which he completed just 13 of 34 passes with an average of 5.09 yards per attempt.Meanwhile, Brady threw for a record 505 yards in the Super Bowl defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles this past February, just one year after he engineered the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history to earn his record-setting fifth championship against the Atlanta Falcons.Brady is shattering our notions of what is possible for a quarterback to do in the twilight of his career.Whether he can achieve his goal and play to age 45 while maintaining his elite level of play will be one of the NFL's most intriguing storylines moving forward. Yes, Father Time is undefeated - but Brady is arguably giving it the biggest battle in sporting history.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Individual player props demand a similar thought process to fantasy football.Who's likely to regress? Is there a scheme-friendly sleeper no one's talking about? Who was unlucky last season and could be in for a turnaround?Like clockwork, you grab your cart and shop prices. And there are five-star locks to be had, my friends. Plenty of them.Here are theScore's top 25 individual player prop picks for the 2018 NFL season (odds courtesy: Bovada):Top quarterback playsDrew Brees OVER 4,500 passing yards (-120)The Saints saw a huge decrease in pass-play percentage (63 percent to 56 percent) from 2016 to '17. But Mark Ingram will be absent for the first four games and Brees has two more weapons in Cameron Meredith and Tre'Quan Smith in the passing game to help him improve on his 2017 number of 4,334.Marcus Mariota UNDER 13.5 interceptions (-110)Mariota posted 15 interceptions in 2017 but only attempted 14 "turnover-worthy" throws, according to Pro Football Focus. How unlucky is that?Jimmy Garoppolo UNDER 12.5 interceptions (-110)Garoppolo doesn't make many risky throws. In fact, he was one of the most conservative last season.Andrew Luck OVER 27.5 touchdown passes (+110)There's good value here if Luck can withstand a full season after missing all of 2017. The Colts figure to play from behind on offense with a weak defense, so he'll get his chances in both meaningful and meaningless situations.Andy Dalton OVER 24 Passing Touchdowns (-115)The Bengals' offense as a whole still has a ton of playmakers, with A.J. Green, Tyler Eifert, Joe Mixon, and Tyler Boyd in the passing game. How they aren't at least fun offensively is mind-boggling.Mitchell Trubisky OVER 19 passing touchdowns (-130)There are all kinds of weapons on the field in an innovative new Bears offense under head coach Matt Nagy.Top running back playsAlex Collins OVER 950 rushing yards (-120)The Ravens have made it clear Collins is the guy going forward. It's tough to picture him not hitting this number after he posted 972 yards a season ago when Buck Allen was also in the mix.Ezekiel Elliott OVER 1,450 rushing yards (-125)It's been a run-first offense ever since Elliott came in and provided game-changing ability behind that top-tier offensive line. The passing game is lagging, and with a full season on the horizon, Elliott will see touches aplenty.Christian McCaffrey OVER 1,350 rushing/receiving yards (-115)The Stanford Swiss Army knife will likely see even more touches on the ground this season. After racking up nearly 1,100 yards as a rookie, McCaffrey just needs a couple hundred more this time around.Top wide receiver/tight end playsDelanie Walker UNDER 800 receiving yards (-140)If new offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur brought his L.A. tactics to Tennessee, expect a lot more three-receiver sets. He could still implement both Walker and fellow tight end Jonnu Smith in the same formation, but there are more mouths to feed in a healthy Corey Davis, Taywan Taylor, Rishard Matthews, Smith, and Dion Lewis.O.J. Howard UNDER 4 receiving touchdowns (-105)Howard got the short end of the stick here, with Cameron Brate getting more red-zone looks in Tampa. Unless he can break loose down the field for scores, his opportunities will become more limited as the field shrinks.Marquise Goodwin OVER 900 receiving yards (-120)Goodwin saw eight or more targets three times in the first 11 weeks in 2017. He saw eight or more targets three times in just five games with Jimmy Garoppolo under center. The wide receiver also caught more than half of his passes in those last five weeks. This should be a go-to connection.Chris Hogan OVER 850 receiving yards (-120)Tom Brady's go-to guy for 2018. That offense will flourish no matter how the pieces are rearranged, but it just so happens Hogan will be the No. 1 receiver, especially with Julian Edelman sidelined during the first four games.Kenny Stills OVER 4.5 receiving touchdowns (-115)Back in 2016 when he was healthy, Ryan Tannehill was the second-best quarterback in the league on deep balls that traveled 20 or more yards, posting a 61 percent clip. Should the Fins take more shots this season, that's right up Stills' alley (16.1 yards per catch).Keelan Cole OVER 750 receiving yards (-140)There's a huge opportunity for Cole to pick up a big chunk of yards in 2018 with Marqise Lee sidelined. The Jags sophomore was targeted 83 times last season and should see an uptick in that number.Ryan Grant OVER 525 receiving yards (-120)Grant figures to play a significant role in a Colts offense that features T.Y. Hilton and ... no one else at wide receiver, really. Frank Reich's offensive scheme will feature a ton of no-huddle, and the Colts regularly playing from behind should result in a ton of throwing.Jarvis Landry UNDER 950 receiving yards (-110)Too many plates at the dinner table. Unless Landry catches another 100 balls in 2018, he's not surpassing 950 yards.John Ross OVER 3.5 receiving touchdowns (-115)Ross is one of my breakout candidates for 2018 after the Bengals receiver missed virtually his entire rookie season due to injury.Charles Clay UNDER 550 receiving yards (-115)You have to wonder how much of Clay's production was due to Tyrod Taylor. Will he have the same usage with the Bills' Nate Peterman or Josh Allen? I'll say no.Sammy Watkins UNDER 5.5 receiving touchdowns (-115)The Chiefs' Watkins had an otherworldly touchdown rate in 2017 and is due to hit regression at some point.Larry Fitzgerald OVER 94.5 receptions (-115)He's the ageless wonder we continue to count out, only to look more and more foolish by the end of each season.Golden Tate UNDER 1,000 receiving yards (-135)With Marvin Jones Jr. capable of getting 1,000 himself, Kenny Golladay likely headed for a bigger role, and a bunch of backs who could see targets, I'll call for a 2015 type of season (90 catches, 813 yards) for Tate after he topped 1,000 the previous two.Top defensive playsJalen Ramsey UNDER 2.5 interceptions (+135)There's a high level of variance in interceptions year to year, but given how infrequently teams are going to throw his way, there's already perhaps a cap on his opportunities. Also, it's hard to pass up that price.Myles Garrett OVER 9 sacks (-130)Garrett looks primed to take the league by storm in his sophomore season. Preseason doesn't hold much weight, but he looked like a man possessed.Carl Lawson UNDER 8 Sacks (-115)After playing 477 snaps as a rookie and recording 8.5 sacks, why can't Lawson improve in Year 2? The Bengals want to limit his exposure and only play him in certain packages. Well then.Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pete Carroll dismissed a Sports Illustrated story published Friday that suggested his perceived favoritism towards quarterback Russell Wilson has been a large factor in creating a fractured locker room in Seattle.Greg Bishop and Robert Klemko's story cites anonymous current and former Seahawks who believe the team's refusal to hold Wilson accountable led to a rift between the passer and the vaunted defense, an issue that caused an incident in which Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett "nearly came to blows."Carroll said all he took from the story was that he can improve his coaching methods."Only that obviously I didn't do a very good job of teaching, because one of the main principles in our teaching is that we're not going to worry about what's happened; all our focus goes on what's coming right now," Carroll said, according to ESPN's Brady Henderson. "And so that's a discipline that we learn, and I just haven't taught it well enough. Whether you win or whether your lose or whatever happens, you need to move forward and leave stuff behind and go. So other than that, I don't care about it."A similar behind-the-scenes look at the Seahawks' divided locker room was published by ESPN's Seth Wickersham in May 2017, though the likes of Bennett described it as "trash."Carroll said he's never seen anything to suggest some players have ill-feelings toward Wilson."No. No. I haven't," he said. "I don't even know what that would mean."Sherman and Bennett both left Seattle this offseason, while Cliff Avril and Kam Chancellor were forced to retire due to injury, leaving only the likes of Earl Thomas - who returned to the team Wednesday following a lengthy holdout - and Bobby Wagner remaining from the team's dominant championship-winning defense.Meanwhile, Wilson is coming off a 34-touchdown campaign and is expected to be the team's driving force in what appears to be a retooling season for the longtime Super Bowl contenders following the departures of so many franchise stalwarts.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL season officially kicked off Thursday but will begin in earnest this weekend. While every team wants to open its campaign with a win, the schedule isn't created equally for all, and some clubs should be more desperate to get off to a hot start.Here are five teams that need September and October to be fruitful.Chicago Bears The Bears wouldn't have traded a package involving two first-round picks for Khalil Mack if they didn't believe they were a genuine contender this year. They now have to prove an offensive nucleus centered around second-year quarterback Mitch Trubisky is enough to make a dent into the competition.Chicago begins its season against the archrival Green Bay Packers, then follows that up with a series of winnable games against the Seahawks, Cardinals, Buccaneers, and Dolphins before it faces a truly difficult stretch. With Mack in tow, the Bears have all the tools to become a top-10 defense, but it'll all have to click right away if they are to make the most of the blockbuster addition and prove they are ready to contend. Otherwise, questions will begin to surface about what Ryan Pace has built since taking over as general manager in January 2015.Houston Texans With a roster boasting Deshaun Watson, J.J. Watt, DeAndre Hopkins, and Jadeveon Clowney, the Texans' Super Bowl ambitions are legitimate, but they'll need to fly out of the gate. An opening date against the Patriots presents the Texans with a chance to capitalize early, while fixtures against the Titans and Colts in Weeks 2 and 4, respectively, allow them to jump ahead of their AFC South foes. Although the Texans are teeming with high-end talent, the Jaguars are the class of the division until proven otherwise.The back-end of the schedule complicates matters. Houston finishes its season against Philadelphia and Jacksonville, games which could greatly swing the division. A lead will need to be built early if the Texans are to capitalize on their new-found playoff potential.Carolina Panthers The Panthers may look different than the team that was a game away from capping off one of the most impressive years in NFL history - before losing in Super Bowl 50 to the Denver Broncos - but they are still built to contend. Carolina sports a very talented roster but has the misfortune of playing in the vaunted NFC South, where Atlanta and New Orleans are also in Super Bowl-or-bust mode. For this reason, it's imperative the Panthers take advantage of their schedule early on.Carolina's final three games are daunting, with two against the Saints and a Week 16 matchup with the Falcons, all of which will likely seriously impact playoff seeding. If the Panthers stumble out of the gate with losses to the Cowboys (Week 1), Bengals (Week 3), or Giants (Week 4), there will be too much ground to cover and they'll have wasted another year from Cam Newton's prime.Seattle Seahawks It's expected to be a transitional year for the Seahawks, who missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2011. Russell Wilson, Doug Baldwin, Earl Thomas, and Bobby Wagner are the last mainstays left from their glory years, but the Seahawks aren't backing down from their contender status without a fight. The Rams are a trendy Super Bowl pick, while the 49ers are the league's most polarizing team, so the Seahawks will need to win early to not get caught in a proverbial landslide.With two games against the Rams along with contests against the Packers, Chargers, Panthers, and Chiefs looming, it's clear the Seahawks need to get out to a quick start or run the risk of living in the shadow of L.A.Pittsburgh SteelersThe Steelers have all the talent in the world at their disposal, with one notable omission. Le'Veon Bell's holdout has continued well into September and his teammates openly blasted the star running back for what they believed to be selfish behavior. It doesn't appear Bell is coming back anytime soon and if the Steelers' offense fails to recover without him, the Ravens and new-look Browns will be sure to capitalize on their rival's vulnerability.Pittsburgh's schedule grows more difficult after October, with games against the Falcons, Panthers, Jaguars, Patriots, and Saints on the horizon. While Bell ought to be back by then, his absence could sink an otherwise talented Steelers group of players, who appear to be at each other's throats with their season slated to get underway.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady is sticking to football in 2018.The New England Patriots quarterback recently made headlines after ending an interview prematurely due to questions regarding Alex Guerrero - his friend and personal trainer - and his standing with the team.Brady insisted his primary focus will be on the team and will not answer further questions about Guerrero."I don't want to bring on any drama this year," Brady told reporters Friday, via ESPN's Mike Reiss. "I'm just focused on what I want to do, and be a great football player for this team and be a good example in the locker room, provide great leadership. That's where my focus is."I know people want to talk about a lot of other things, but I just really want to stick on football and focus on being the best I can be for this team."Guerrero traveled with the Patriots in Week 3 of the preseason for their game against the Carolina Panthers. Last season, head coach Bill Belichick reportedly curbed the trainer's access to players other than Brady and stopped him from joining the team on road trips.Despite arguably being the face of the NFL, Brady was also uninterested in answering questions regarding Nike's recent advertisement with Colin Kaepernick."I really want to focus on football, not hot topics, and my reaction to a lot of hot topics and so forth," Brady said. "(I want to) Get ready for the (Houston) Texans - they're a great team. That's where my focus is, not on advertisements and so forth."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The best alternate jerseys in the league, a team that finally has a quarterback, a passer with a cannon for an arm, and a team that just said "screw it" - it's the AFC West!Here are my over/under win-total picks for the AFC West:Los Angeles ChargersPick: Over 9.5 wins -110 (BetOnline)If the Chargers' powder-blue jerseys were their primary uniform, this team would win the Super Bowl every other year.I'm a sucker for buying into the Chargers. They're my annual sleeper, and then I watch them crumble in the fourth quarter twice a month and vow to never return, only to come crawling back after a surprise road-game win by 40 points.Offensively, everything is in place. Keenan Allen and Melvin Gordon lead Philip Rivers' arsenal of game-changers, and perhaps a breakout season is on the horizon for Mike Williams. Then there's Tyrell Williams, a serviceable receiver who's frequently overlooked.Defensively, the Chargers are on the cusp of something special. The edge rushers - Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram - are elite. The linebackers leave a lot to be desired, but Casey Hayward, Trevor Williams, Desmond King, and first-round pick Derwin James round out an athletic secondary.After some retooling in the division, the Chargers boast the most talent and finally have an opportunity to run away from the pack. But can they consistently play a full four quarters, and avoid stuffing the injury report in 2018?If the answer to both is yes, this one sails over nine wins.Denver BroncosPick: Over 7.5 wins -110 (BetOnline)I thought about Case Keenum's potential regression all offseason. Some pulled the change-of-scenery card to support why he flourished last season, and why he'll thrive again. Others think the 30-year-old's rise was a fluke and there's no way Keenum can repeat his 2017 success in Denver.I'm here to tell you the Broncos just need an average or slightly-above-average quarterback who's more competent than Trevor Siemian or Paxton Lynch.Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders also need to do their parts in 2018 after down seasons (they combined for only 1,504 receiving yards in 2017). Keenum's presence should reinvigorate the offense, and rookies Royce Freeman and Courtland Sutton will likely inject more life into the unit, too.On the other side of the ball, the front seven is nasty. An already-scary defense was reinforced during the draft with the addition of Bradley Chubb, who recorded 20 sacks over his final two seasons at North Carolina State, and he should form an intimidating pass-rushing tandem with Von Miller.There are winnable games outside the division on the Broncos' schedule, as they face the Cardinals, 49ers, Browns, Bengals, and Jets, along with the Raiders and Chiefs twice every season.This is my surprise team in the West.Kansas City Chiefs Pick: Under 8.5 wins -150 (BetOnline)The Chiefs are going to need a lot from Patrick Mahomes in 2018.Arguably, no team has deviated from its identity more over a few seasons than Kansas City. The team's strength is now its offense, and the Chiefs should have a fun one. The defense has lost key pieces, added new ones, and has a few coming off injury-ridden seasons, setting the stage for plenty of shootouts.That should all be right up Mahomes' alley since he's not allowed to get the support of a good defense after playing his college ball at Texas Tech.We'll be raving about Mahomes and the Chiefs' future at the end of the year. Kansas City starts the season with games against the Steelers, Chargers, Patriots, Jaguars, and Broncos before the team's schedule gets easier late in the season. If it's a tale of two halves, expect Mahomes and the Chiefs to make their mark late, and too late to take the over here.Oakland RaidersPick: Under 7.5 wins -140 (Bookmaker)Losing Khalil Mack hurts the Raiders' team culture, and pure on-field product. There's no foundation to the defense anymore.The Raiders' offseason was already in flux before new head coach Jon Gruden started snipping players from the roster. Now, the fan base should want to fight him after he traded away the heart and soul of the defense.I would try to think of reasons why Oakland might outdo expectations, instead of automatically assuming the Raiders' season will blow up while Gruden swims in his $100 million. But I didn't want anything to do with the Raiders before Gruden started cleaning house.Derek Carr regressed significantly last season, and so did Amari Cooper, and Oakland's defense will never be able to defend the pass. Even if we take out everything that happened the past few months, I still don't think the Raiders are good enough to win eight games from a talent standpoint.According to adjusted Pythagorean, they should have won four fewer games in 2016, and then Oakland came way back down to earth last season. Now they're dealing with an old-school coach's mess, and are expected to win three more games than in 2017? Count me out.Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from 'Rounders' and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants announced that outside linebacker Olivier Vernon has been ruled out of the team's Week 1 tilt with the Jacksonville Jaguars.Vernon has been dealing with a high ankle sprain he suffered Aug. 26 during practice. He is listed as week to week.New York's top pass-rusher was initially carted off the field after suffering the injury, so there was concern that it was more serious, but X-rays came back negative shortly after.Vernon accumulated seven sacks and two forced fumbles for the Giants last season. He was shifting from defensive end to outside linebacker under new defensive coordinator James Bettcher in 2018.Rookie third-rounder Lorenzo Carter and recent free-agent addition Connor Barwin will see significant snaps in Vernon's place Sunday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Chargers have ruled defensive end Joey Bosa out of Sunday's season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs due to a foot injury.Bosa did not participate in Friday's practice and was seen wearing a walking boot. Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn said the star pass-rusher is considered "week to week."The third overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft has racked up 23 sacks over his first 28 career games.Sophomore Isaac Rochell is listed behind Bosa on the Chargers' official depth chart. Rochell appeared in just three games last season after being taken in the seventh round of the 2017 draft.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Will the AFC North produce a clear-cut contender, two middling teams, and a league laughingstock for the third straight season? It sure looks that way.Here are my over/under win-total picks for the AFC North.Pittsburgh Steelers Pick: Over 10.5 wins +128 (Bookmaker)The 2017 metrics called for 10.83 wins for the Steelers, and they blew past that total with 13 victories. Now, just think about how good Pittsburgh's offense should be this season.Antonio Brown and then-rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster combined for 2,450 yards and 16 touchdowns while spearheading the receiving game for the Steelers in 2017. James Washington, the Oklahoma State product who's another deep threat, has been added to complement that unit. The offensive line is a top-five group league-wide, featuring four players who received grades of 72.3 or better from Pro Football Focus in 2017.We can't talk Steelers without addressing the Le'Veon Bell situation. Bell is a unique talent, and few running backs in the NFL can match the dynamic presence he adds to the Steelers' offense. Luckily, Pittsburgh can use its depth and the many weapons that fuel the team's passing offense to compensate for what could be a lengthy holdout. And if it's James Conner in the backfield, so be it: He should thrive while running behind an elite O-line.Pittsburgh faces the four AFC West teams, with both the Chiefs and Chargers coming to Heinz Field. The Steelers are a nine-win team at minimum, and that's if they only split all three of their two-game sets inside the division. They should earn at least one sweep, and potentially two.Baltimore RavensPick: Over 8.5 wins -105 (Bookmaker)There's some sweet, sweet irony in the Ravens' win total.A franchise mired in mediocrity has put together an even 40-40 record since its Super Bowl win six years ago. And now the Ravens haven't been to the postseason since 2014. The 2018 season could be the last gasp for head coach John Harbaugh and aging quarterback Joe Flacco.Flacco was an eyesore in 2017, posting a career-low 5.7 yards per pass attempt and 3,141 yards overall, his lowest total since the 33-year-old's rookie season. He has a brand new supporting cast with Michael Crabtree, John Brown, and Willie Snead in, and Mike Wallace, Jeremy Maclin, and Breshad Perriman out. The team also picked up a pair of tight ends in Hayden Hurst and Mark Andrews this past spring during the draft. Oh, and the Ravens snagged quarterback Lamar Jackson at the end of the first round. If there was ever a show-me year for Flacco, this is it.Defensively, Baltimore doesn't have a weak area. There's almost no chance the team finishes atop the league in turnover margin again, but takeaways aside, the Ravens' defense is still a stout unit that doesn't force the offense to win games by itself.I'm still not sure how the Ravens squeaked out nine wins in 2017. I don't think the offense can match its league-average play from a season ago, and Baltimore should have been a 10- or 11-win team based on adjusted Pythagorean victories, which subtracts garbage-time points.I'm not in love with the Ravens on paper because they lack firepower and sexy names. But I do love what the defense offers and can't see the Ravens being any worse offensively in 2018.Cincinnati Bengals Pick: Over 7 Wins -148 (Bookmaker)Will the Bengals get the Teryl Austin of 2014, or the Teryl Austin from any of the last three seasons?The new defensive coordinator in Cincinnati was a bright spot during his first year with the Detroit Lions in 2014 when his unit finished tied for second while allowing 17.6 points per game. In the three seasons that followed, Detroit didn't finish better than 13th.The Bengals' defense has a lot of potential, and it can likely post a season similar to Austin's first year with the Lions.The Bengals should get after opposing quarterbacks plenty in 2018 with their nice blend of veterans and rotational youth behind pass-rushers Geno Atkins, Carlos Dunlap, Jordan Willis, and Carl Lawson. The secondary features a rising stud in William Jackson III, and Darqueze Dennard finally put together a solid season in 2017.Offensively, I'm intrigued to see how Andy Dalton fares with a full year of A.J. Green, healthy returns from Tyler Eifert and John Ross, and the support of Joe Mixon.The Bengals also have the third-easiest schedule, and their non-division opponents are soft (Miami, Tampa Bay, Indianapolis, Oakland, and Denver). If Cincinnati goes .500 inside the AFC North, this team has a chance to fly over its win total.Cleveland BrownsPick: Under 5.5 wins +130 (BetOnline)I'm not as high on the Browns this season as others after the team's winless 2017. It's tough to trust a franchise that hasn't won since two Christmas Eves ago, or one that still employs Hue Jackson.I think the talent is there. But I thought the talent was there last year, too. I didn't even think the Browns had the worst roster in the league in 2017, and they still couldn't win a game.Thanks to all the hot moves this spring and summer coupled with the spotlight of "Hard Knocks," there isn't much we don't know about the Browns. They've been under the microscope for months, and if you can't trust Jackson and Cleveland's front office when there are zero expectations, I'm not sure how you can when there's more pressure to win.With four games against the AFC West, four dances against a tough NFC South, and the six division games, I don't think there are more than five wins on the docket for the Browns in 2018.Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from 'Rounders' and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Atlanta Falcons starting strong safety Keanu Neal is out for the season, the team announced Friday.He suffered a torn ACL during Thursday night's season opener versus the Philadelphia Eagles, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, citing a source.Neal exited the game twice with a knee injury, one that head coach Dan Quinn said didn't appear to be serious. He was taken for a precautionary MRI on Friday morning when the full extent of the injury was revealed.Neal, a 2016 first-round pick, established himself last year with 116 total tackles and three forced fumbles in a full 16-game campaign. Jordan Richards, whom the team acquired from the New England Patriots last week for a conditional draft pick, is the next man up on the depth chart.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With pass-rusher Khalil Mack in the fold, the Chicago Bears continued to solidify their defensive front by agreeing to a four-year contract extension with defensive tackle Eddie Goldman on Friday.

Though it's unlikely David Johnson will receive an extension before the season kicks off Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals remain intent on keeping their superstar."I'm convinced David is the guy we want to keep as a core member of this team," general manager Steve Keim said Friday morning on 98.7's "Doug and Wolf" show, according to AZCardinals.com's Darren Urban.Keim said the team is hopeful about coming to terms with Johnson and that both sides remain in constant dialogue.Johnson is entering the final year of his rookie deal and could drive up the price by rebounding nicely from his injury-shortened 2017. Keim appears to have no concerns about that."There is no doubt in my mind David is poised to have a great year," Keim said.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Parity might reign in the NFL, but there are still positional matchups each week that are so hilariously one-sided that they alone can decide the outcome.Here's a look at the most notable mismatches of Week 1:Rams RB Todd Gurley vs. Raiders' defenseAfter skipping the preseason, Todd Gurley will celebrate his new four-year, $60-million contract against the Oakland Raiders' porous front seven.Gurley is one of the most dynamic weapons in football, and Rams head coach Sean McVay does a masterful job of maximizing his skill set. As a ball-carrier, he's skilled beyond belief. Blessed with electrifying speed, impressive vision, and uncanny balance, he can dominate from anywhere on the field. Gurley's particularly adept in the zone running game, displaying the patience, vision, and burst necessary to be successful on these runs.While he's certainly a phenomenal ball-carrier, he really separates himself from the pack as a pass-catcher. McVay does a fantastic job of manufacturing touches for him in space, where he's at his best. Gurley led all full-time running backs in yards per route run last season (2.1), according to Pro Football Focus.After jettisoning their best defender, Khalil Mack, the Raiders aren't equipped to stop Gurley and the high-flying Rams offense. Oakland's defensive line will be overmatched by a veteran offensive line, especially in the running game.A starting D-line of Tank Carradine, P.J. Hall, Justin Ellis, and Bruce Irvin just isn't going to cut it against Andrew Whitworth, Rob Havenstein, and the rest of the Rams' offensive line.Furthermore, the Raiders lack the talent at the second level to compensate for their overmatched defensive line. Middle linebacker Derrick Johnson was a capable player in his early years, but at 35 years old, he lacks the juice in his legs to keep up with Gurley in the running or passing game.With glaring talent deficiencies in the front seven, Oakland will likely be forced to blitz more than it typically would against the Rams, opening up L.A.'s diverse screen packages. McVay loves to make blitzing teams pay with a wide array of screens that get his best player in space.On this play, the Rams are using 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end, three wide receivers) in a single-back set. They use Tavon Austin's pre-snap motion and reverse action to confuse and slow the Texans' defense. After using play-action to draw the linebacker to the line of scrimmage, Gurley leaks out for the screen with nothing but green grass, a slow and rotund defensive tackle, and three Rams offensive linemen in his vicinity.This is what McVay, Gurley, and the Rams' offense do best: Force defenses to sift through a wave of pre-snap motions and misdirection before using simple concepts to get their best weapons the ball in space.Whether it's on the ground or through the air, the Raiders don't have a player (or a combination of players) who can match up with Gurley. Don't be surprised to see him put up more than 200 total yards against Oakland.Chargers WR Keenan Allen vs. Chiefs' DBsSimilar to the Raiders cutting ties with their star defensive player in Mack, the Chiefs unloaded their best defensive back, Marcus Peters, in a trade with the Rams.While Kansas City maintains the move will make it better in the long run, it certainly won't help this week. The Chiefs did add Kendall Fuller to mitigate the loss of Peters, but he's not the same caliber of cornerback.Taking full advantage of the Chiefs' corners will be Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen, who's coming off a career year in which he had 102 receptions for 1,393 yards and six touchdowns. Don't be surprised if he begins the season outpacing those numbers.Allen is at his best against man coverage, where he uses his wide array of releases and smooth route-running ability to get open with regularity.Here, Allen is lined up in the slot with Orlando Scandrick, who now plays for the Chiefs, in man coverage. Allen uses a stutter-step release to open up the out route. After getting Scandrick to move toward the middle of the field, he bursts upfield and creates a ton of separation through his break, giving Phillip Rivers an easy throw. From there, Allen does the rest, making four Cowboys defenders miss on his way to a touchdown.Luckily for Allen, the Chiefs run a ton of man coverage. In fact, Kansas City ran more man coverage than any other team last year, according to PFF. As long as the Chargers' offensive line can keep Justin Houston and the Chiefs' pass rush at bay, Allen should have a big day.Bengals WR A.J. Green vs. Colts' DBsMuch like Allen, A.J. Green is ready to feast on a defensive back unit devoid of blue-chip talent, though with a less effective quarterback.Green has been regarded as one of the best receivers in football for quite some time, and he doesn't look anywhere close to slowing down, finishing with 75 catches for 1,078 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in 2017.The Colts will try to use some amalgamation of Nate Hairston and Kenny Moore to slow down the perennial Pro Bowler. On paper, they don't stand much of a chance, meaning Indianapolis will probably use a safety to help out.Green is no stranger to bracket coverage, however, as teams have long identified him as the one player on the Bengals' offense for whom they have to game plan. He's been effective despite the added attention because of his route-running ability. It's rare to see a 6-foot-4, 210-pound wide receiver run routes so smoothly and fluidly.Here, Green is lined up with a wide split to the quarterback's left. After the snap, he sells the go route by getting his shoulders over his knees and bursting upfield. He even throws his hand up to further sell it. Once the cornerback gets into phase, Green uses his inside arm to create separation and breaks his route back to the sideline, giving Andy Dalton an easy throw for the first down.The biggest question mark for Green has always been whether Dalton can get him the ball. The QB tends to struggle with accuracy under pressure, but, luckily for Green, the Colts aren't good enough at rushing the passer for that to be a concern.Expect Green to dominate the Colts in a performance similar to the one he posted against the New York Jets in the 2016 season opener, when he went for 12 catches, 180 yards, and a touchdown.Saints DE Cameron Jordan vs. Buccaneers' OTsWith 6.5 sacks in his last seven games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cameron Jordan has to be licking his chops as he prepares for the season opener.Jordan is coming off a career year in which he registered 64 total pressures, 13 sacks, and 40 run stops. He established himself as an elite defender who is equally dominant against the run and pass.Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen does an excellent job of moving Jordan around the defensive line in search of the biggest mismatch up front.This week, Jordan will likely spend most of his time against Buccaneers tackles Demar Dotson and Donovan Smith. (The Bucs are optimistic Smith will play after he suffered a knee sprain that has kept him out for two weeks.) Dotson is the more technically sound of the two, having allowed just two sacks last season (one came against Jordan), while Smith struggles in pass protection, allowing seven sacks and 42 total pressures in 2017.What makes Jordan so difficult to block is his ability to attack in a variety of ways. He can win with speed, quickness, or power, allowing him to successfully target a blocker's weakness throughout the game.Having a diverse pass-rush plan and being able to string together multiple moves on a single play is what separates good pass-rushers from great pass-rushers. Jordan is excellent at putting moves together without delay, allowing for smooth transitions that keep offensive linemen off balance and unable to sustain past their first punch.On this play, Jordan is lined up at left defensive end with Dotson across from him. After the snap, he uses a stutter step to freeze Dotson, enabling him to use a smooth outside swim move. With the running back sliding over to chip, however, Jordan must reverse course if he wants to get the quarterback, which he does with a beautifully timed spin move.Expect to see similar things happen this weekend.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.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

SSSQ is a weekly look at the under-the-radar fantasy players you should consider starting, and the potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 1 rankings.StartAndy Dalton, QB, Bengalsat ColtsIt's hard to get excited about starting Dalton as your fantasy quarterback, but with an upgraded offensive line and one of the best collections of skill-position talent in the league, he's a top-12 option this week. The Colts' defense will be a unit to target all season long. Dalton threw for two scores and was the QB3 during his Week 8 matchup with Indy in 2017.Boone's projection: 273 passing yards, 2 TDsOther QBs to start

Tom Brady already has one of the best tight ends in NFL history on his team in Rob Gronkowski, but that hasn't stopped him from imagining how good LeBron James would be at the position.After James posted an Instagram photo on Thursday of himself dunking, Brady made a pitch in the comments for the Los Angeles Lakers star to join him and Gronkowski on the New England Patriots.

Retired Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten has found himself a new gig.In a commercial for Miller Lite, Witten poses as a beer delivery guy and surprises Cowboys fans at their homes. According to a press release, the fans knew they were being filmed by Miller Lite but had no idea Witten would be joining their viewing parties.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One game is in the books and the 2018 NFL season is underway.There were plenty of takeaways from the Philadelphia Eagles' 18-12 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. Here are the six things we learned from the first game of the regular season.Foles far from MVP formIt was probably unreasonable to ask Nick Foles to replicate his MVP performance from Super Bowl LII. One trend that continued, however, was his poor play from the preseason.After disappointing showings against New England and Cleveland in the warm-up games, Foles threw for just 117 yards and an interception in the season opener. The Eagles still hung on for the six-point win, but it came in spite of their quarterback's play.The Eagles reportedly fielded multiple offers for Foles this offseason but instead decided to keep him in the event Carson Wentz wouldn't be ready to go early in the season.With it becoming increasingly clear Wentz will be out for more than a week, the Eagles need Foles to regain his magic from last year's Super Bowl run.Falcons' red-zone woes continueThe Falcons apparently spent all offseason working on their red-zone offense. It wasn't enough.The most glaring hole in Atlanta's offense reared its ugly head again on Thursday night. The Falcons were 1-for-5 in red-zone efficiency, including trips that ended in a field goal, interception, and turnover on downs. Another drive stalled at the Eagles' 25-yard line.Last year, Steve Sarkisian's first as the team's offensive coordinator, Atlanta dropped from eighth in red-zone scoring rate to 23rd. The Falcons made a concerted effort to involve Julio Jones early in Thursday's game, but when the team reached the red zone, it couldn't execute.Matt Ryan is 1-for-20 when targeting Jones in the end zone during the last two seasons - including the playoffs - after going 0-for-3 with an interception on Thursday.Much like in their divisional playoff matchup a year ago, the Falcons had the ball in their hands with the game on the line near the Eagles' end zone, but Jones was again unable to haul in a high throw from Ryan by the boundary.Pederson still riskin' it allDoug Pederson has more tricks up his sleeve ... or maybe they're just the same ones.With the Eagles trailing in a dull 6-3 affair, the head coach went to his trusty "Philly Special" to ignite a stagnant offense.A variation of the Super Bowl play had Foles on the receiving end of a 15-yard connection that led to the first touchdown of the game and the Eagles' first lead.Pederson was celebrated for his propensity for taking risks all last season. He won't be backing down from the play-calling style that led him to a championship.Flags keep flyingPenalty flags were the hot topic all preseason after an offseason in which the league significantly altered its rulebook. Though there were no flags thrown for the new illegal use of helmet or kickoff rules, a whopping 26 penalties for 236 yards were accepted.Fifteen of those penalties were called against the Falcons, the most against the team in nearly two decades.Four of the NFL's most senior officials hung up their whistles this offseason and the league brought in seven first-year referees in its 2018 class. If the first game of the season is any indication, there will be a distinct adjustment period.And don't think we didn't notice the new catch rule is still confusing viewers.

The sloppy, rain-delayed, Thursday night NFL season opener drew in a 13.4 overnight rating for NBC, down from the 14.6 rating for the New England Patriots-Kansas City Chiefs matchup in 2017.The opener between the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons featured a home underdog missing its starting quarterback, and the Super Bowl banner-raising festivities were delayed by more than 30 minutes due to a passing storm.When the game did kick off, the score was 6-3 by halftime, and finished 18-12 with 26 total penalties called.Those who stuck around until the end caught a thrilling conclusion in which the Falcons' last-second attempt at a game-winning touchdown went incomplete.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Falcons head coach Dan Quinn was quick to highlight one of the main things his team will work on in practice next week after Atlanta came away with just nine points inside the red zone in a season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles."Our ability to score down there, that has to change," Quinn said Thursday night, according to Curtis Crabtree of Pro Football Talk. "We weren't able to do that tonight. Give credit to them. We knew coming in this was going to be a good matchup defensively, offensively, and all in different areas, but that part of our game clearly tonight we didn't execute at the level we'd like and we've got work to do."Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan went just 1-for-9 with an interception inside the Eagles' 20-yard line, according to ESPN Stats & Info.Atlanta struggled near opponents' goal lines throughout last season. It finished 2017 ranked 23rd with a touchdown rate of just 49.18 percent in that area of the field, according to TeamRankings.com.The Falcons left the season opener with just one rushing touchdown and a field goal out of five red-zone trips. Quinn says those scoring issues may be the only thing holding the team back this season."We're going to go back and look, for sure, and you know we put a good bit of work in there and we still have more to do," Quinn said. "By no means is this game going to determine… (2017) is over. This is (2018) and that's part of our game that we have to get right if we’re going to be really good."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles may be without wide receiver Alshon Jeffery for a little while longer.Jeffery was asked Thursday night if he is still a few weeks away from returning and he nodded in response, according to Jenny Vrentas of Sports Illustrated.The 28-year-old underwent shoulder surgery in the offseason."Some days I feel great, and some days ... a shoulder injury is pretty tough," Jeffery said, according to Vrentas. He added that he has "a couple more visits with the doctor" before he'll return.The Eagles' offense struggled without Jeffery in Thursday's season opener against the Atlanta Falcons. Nelson Agholor led the team with eight receptions, but for only 33 yards. Tight end Zach Ertz had a team-high 48 receiving yards on five catches.Jeffery was activated off the physically unable to perform list last week and placed on the active roster. It was reported that he was expected to miss at least the first two games of the season.He led all Eagles pass-catchers with nine touchdowns in his first season with the team in 2017.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman and safety Keanu Neal both suffered knee injuries in Thursday's opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.Freeman exited in the fourth quarter and was seen walking with a slight limp on the sidelines as Tevin Coleman finished the game as the feature back. The 26-year-old finished with 36 yards on six carries, adding three receptions for 14 yards.Neal left the game in the second half after previously going down with an apparent ailment earlier in the contest. Following the game, head coach Dan Quinn told reporters that Neal's injury "doesn't appear to be anything serious." The bruising safety finished the night with two tackles.It was a tough evening for the Falcons, who lost 18-12 to the Eagles, with the game coming down to the final play.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Matt Ryan to Julio Jones failed again.Jay Ajayi had a pair of touchdown runs, Nick Foles caught another pass to jump-start a sputtering offense and the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles needed another defensive stand to open the season with an 18-12 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night.A sloppy, mistake-filled game that featured 26 penalties came down to Ryan throwing an incomplete pass to Jones in the left corner of the end zone on the final play from Philadelphia's 5.Jones couldn't come down with Ryan's pass from the 2 in the right corner of the end zone in Atlanta's 15-10 loss in the divisional round in January.A weather delay pushed the kickoff back 45 minutes, forcing fans to wait for the unveiling of the ''world champions'' banner following the franchise's first Super Bowl victory. Wearing his gold Hall of Fame jacket, former safety Brian Dawkins riled up the sellout crowd with owner Jeffrey Lurie by his side and led a chorus of ''Fly Eagles Fly.''The defense fed off that energy with a strong goal-line stand on the opening series, stopping the Falcons three times at the 1.They did it again at the end.After Ajayi's 11-yard TD run and 2-point conversion gave the Eagles a lead with 2:25 left, Ryan led the Falcons down the field. He completed a 36-yard pass to Jones and connected with him again for 18 yards on third-and-17.The Falcons had a first down at the 10 but Ryan threw four straight incomplete passes. But a penalty on Jordan Hicks gave them one more chance and the Eagles held again.Needing a spark on offense, Eagles coach Doug Pederson resorted to the ''Philly Special'' play that helped the Eagles beat the New England Patriots 41-33 in the Super Bowl. This time, Foles caught a 15-yard pass from Nelson Agholor to extend a drive that ended with Ajayi scoring a go-ahead 1-yard TD run in the third quarter.Foles, the Super Bowl MVP still filling in for Carson Wentz, played it safe and the offense was conservative until Pederson turned to his favorite play on third-and-5 midway through the third quarter. Corey Clement took a toss and flipped to Agholor, who threw it to Foles running open down the right side for a gain to the Falcons 26.Foles hit Zach Ertz for 18 yards on third-and-6 and Ajayi ran in a few plays later to put Philadelphia up 10-6.Against New England, tight end Trey Burton took a flip from Clement on a reverse and threw a 1-yard TD pass to Foles to give the Eagles a 10-point halftime lead.Philadelphia's defense overcame a pair of blunders to temporarily preserve the lead. Tre Sullivan kicked a loose ball on a punt and the Falcons recovered the fumble at the Eagles 32. A sack by Fletcher Cox on third down was negated by Derek Barnett's offside penalty to keep the drive going. But Rasul Douglas intercepted Ryan's pass at the 4.Deion Jones then intercepted Foles' pass that bounced out of Dallas Goedert's hands and returned it 20 yards to Philadelphia's 27, setting up Tevin Coleman's 9-yard TD run that gave the Falcons a 12-10 lead in the fourth quarter. Matt Bryant hit the right post on the extra point.On a hot, muggy night, it looked more like an August preseason game than a playoff rematch. Both teams looked rusty after many starters didn't play much in preseason. It didn't compare to the action in Kansas City's 42-27 victory at New England in the 2017 NFL opener.Bryant kicked field goals of 52 and 21 yards in the first quarter.ANTHEMEagles safety Malcolm Jenkins and defensive end Michael Bennett were on the sideline when the national anthem was played. Jenkins raised his fist during ''The Star-Spangled Banner'' last year and in the first preseason game. He stayed in the tunnel for the last three weeks. Bennett mostly stayed off the field in the preseason. He wandered behind teammates near the bench and adjusted his equipment this time.INJURIESFalcons: S Keanu Neal left the game with a knee injury in the first half. ... LS Josh Harris had his streak of 103 consecutive games played end because of a hip injury.Eagles: WR Mack Hollins was placed on injured reserve hours before the game because of a groin injury.UP NEXTFalcons: Host the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 16.Eagles: Visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 16.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NBC's new "Green Zone" feature made it's regular-season debut during Thursday's opener between the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons, the idea being to highlight the distance to the first-down marker during third downs.

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman is bracing for the worst, even with the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the NFL and NFLPA intact for the next few seasons.The current CBA is scheduled to expire in 2021, and though Sherman and other player representatives have plenty of time to prepare their arguments, the 49ers star said they are bracing for a work stoppage."There wasn’t concern," Sherman said Thursday during his media availability about a potential lockout. “It’s going to happen, so it’s not like guys are guessing on that one."Prior to the latest CBA, the NFL was stuck in a work stoppage imposed by the league's owners which spanned from March-July 2011.Sherman believes the previous lockout set a precedent for the players."Because there was a lockout before,” Sherman said. "We don’t plan on changing anything about the deal we currently have right now, so I don’t think it’s going to be negotiated before the end of the CBA, so it’s going to cause a lockout and we’ll deal with it from there."There's plenty of time for both sides to reach a consensus, but for the time being, Sherman and other player reps across the league will be focused on finding an agreement that meets their list of demands.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kickoff between the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons in the NFL season opener Thursday night was delayed 45 minutes due to severe weather.The game kicked off at 9:05 p.m. ET after it was initially scheduled to begin at 8:20 p.m.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz is expected to miss "several weeks" of the regular season while he continues to rehab the torn ACL that ended his 2017 campaign prematurely, reports NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The Eagles are said to be taking a cautious approach with Wentz, their franchise pivot. With him still on the shelf, Philadelphia will rely on Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles to steer the ship.Wentz seemed to be making good progress in his recovery throughout the offseason, but still hasn't been cleared for contact by the Eagles' medical staff.The 25-year-old had hoped to return in time for the season opener.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

James Conner is ready for his first career start on Sunday.The second year running back will serve as a fill-in for Le'Veon Bell in the Pittsburgh Steelers' season opener."No pressure on me," Conner told reporters Thursday, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "There are a lot of people waiting to see how my performance is going to be. As long as we win, I'm cool."All eyes over the past week have been on Bell, yet the three-time Pro Bowler, ironically, is nowhere to be found. The star tailback has not signed his franchise tag, and there's no indication of when he plans to report to the Steelers.Until he does, Pittsburgh's backfield figures to belong to Conner, a former Pittsburgh star who was drafted in the third round a year ago. As a rookie, Conner ran for 144 yards on 32 rushes."(People) are not in my shoes. They might think it's pressure, but to me, it's just football and doing my job," Conner said. "We've been here 8-to-5. It's just my job. The outside world thinks it's pressure, but it's just football. It's always been that way."Conner had a strong showing in the presesaon, but he doesn't bring the same versatility to the table as Bell, who is one of the few three-down running backs in the NFL.Still, the Steelers are confident he'll be just fine in place of Bell when Pittsburgh travels to the Dawg Pound to face the Cleveland Browns in Week 1."I told you guys initially when we opened training camp that the two most important variables was when (Bell) showed up, and once he showed up the condition that he was in," head coach Mike Tomlin said while addressing his team's running back situation. "Until that time, we were gonna remain focused on those that were working and their preparation. And so that remains the same, that has been our approach, and appropriately so because now we're not riding this wave, we're preparing to play a football game with those that have been here and working."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Mychal Kendricks pleaded guilty to insider trading Thursday and faces a maximum of 25 years in prison, according to Tommy Rowan of the Philadelphia Inquirer.Kendricks will be sentenced in December.The 27-year-old was released by the Browns on Aug. 29 after he was charged with the crime. He'd signed a one-year deal with Cleveland in June after being cut by the Eagles.Kendricks admitted that he traded cash, Eagles tickets, and access to parties for insider stock tips to boost his financial portfolio. He made about $1.2 million in the scheme, which was carried out over a two-year period.Kendricks' co-defendant, Damilare Sonoiki, is also expected to plead guilty. Sonoiki, a former Goldman Sachs analyst, started writing for "The Simpsons" this year.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Starting the season on the road against the defending Super Bowl champions isn't scaring bettors away from the Atlanta Falcons.Two NFC contenders draw the curtain on the 2018 regular season when the Falcons face the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night. Philadelphia opened at -4 and sits -1. The total has also moved from 47 to 44.5 as of Thursday afternoon.The way the season ended for the Eagles under center is how it'll start, as Nick Foles gets the nod with Carson Wentz still not yet cleared for contact following a season-ending injury late in 2017. The backup turned Super Bowl MVP helped Philly nab a 15-10 home win over the Falcons in the divisional round of the playoffs.Will Bernanke, lead analyst for CG Analytics in Las Vegas, offered some insight, noting that bettors have hammered the point spread down across a key number, with more money flooding in on Atlanta both on account and over the counter."(We) have not seen respected money show up yet as it's all public action on Atlanta," Bernanke told theScore.In 2016, Atlanta leaned on a high-powered offense en route to the Super Bowl, but it dipped in production last season under new coordinator Steve Sarkisian. The Falcons were 11-5 to the under in 2017 and started the preseason 3-0 before going over in the finale.Bettors might be taking that into consideration too, with four times more money on account and 1.5 times more over the counter on the under."(The) ideal result as of now would be a high-scoring Philly win that covers all numbers: -4 opener to current -1," Bernanke said.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Chargers may be without a key member of their defense when they kick off their season Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.Star defensive end Joey Bosa has been nursing a foot injury and was a limited participant at practice Wednesday. Head coach Anthony Lynn didn't sound optimistic about his availability for Week 1 on Thursday."He'll be ready when he's ready. There's a possibility he won't be with us (against the Chiefs)," Lynn said, according to The Athletic's Lindsay Jones.The Chargers' defensive line is already thin with defensive tackle Corey Liuget serving a four-game suspension.Bosa, the 2016 Defensive Rookie of the Year, was named to his first Pro Bowl last year after posting 12.5 sacks and four forced fumbles.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has restored a lawsuit against the NFL that was filed by former players who say the league illegally provided them with prescription painkillers, according to The Associated Press.A lower court had previously dismissed the lawsuit after the NFL said the players failed to exhaust the grievance procedures included in the labor agreements between players and teams.The players' point of contention is that the league failed to warn them of the long-term consequences of the drugs they were told to take to be able to continue playing.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone and David P. Woods.Find the show on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, and Anchor.VideoAudio onlyBoone and Woods are joined by Mike Tagliere of FantasyPros, as they discuss the biggest fantasy questions heading into Week 1.Topics for this episode include:

The AFC South knows all too well that a quarterback can make or break a season.Quarterback play, unsurprisingly, has been a significant factor in the division's fluctuating balance of power over the years. But given the high level of variance in the careers of AFC South quarterbacks, there are multiple realistic outcomes for the 2018 regular season.Here are my over/under win-total picks for the AFC South.Jacksonville JaguarsPick: Over 9 wins -110 (Intertops)Some might say the Jaguars exceeded expectations last season, and they wouldn't necessarily be wrong - Jacksonville enjoyed one of the biggest turnarounds from 2016, going from a 3-13 record to a 10-6 campaign and a trip to the AFC Championship Game.But it's also fair to say the Jaguars underachieved in 2017.Based on Pythagorean wins, the Jaguars should have actually won close to 12 games. Even if Jacksonville "regresses" in 2018 by, let's say, two wins, Pythagorean projections suggest that would still be enough to get them over the win total.A run-first offense and an elite defense fused to turn Jacksonville into a contender that should have made a trip to the Super Bowl but collapsed against the Patriots. Blake Bortles didn't have to be a hero last season on the way to his lowest interception total since entering the league.Now Jacksonville gets one of the easiest schedules in the league (25th) and brings back the key pieces that helped the team morph into an AFC juggernaut. I think the Jags are here to stay and will make an even bigger leap in '18. This is one of my favorite win totals for the season.Tennessee TitansPick: Over 8 wins -110 (BetOnline)The Titans' offense didn't deliver on its untapped potential in 2017.Not only was health and average production in the skill corps a problem, the straw that stirs the drink endured his own fair share of struggles. Marcus Mariota, expected to take another step forward in Year 3, went the complete opposite direction.There are a handful of reasons to believe Tennessee can significantly improve its No. 19 scoring offense from a season ago:

theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his fifth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. Follow the links below to see his updated rankings for Week 1.The final rankings will be released Sunday morning.Standard