The hand injury that caused Cleveland Browns quarterback Tyrod Taylor to briefly exit Thursday's preseason game versus the Philadelphia Eagles included a dislocated left pinky, head coach Hue Jackson confirmed Friday.Jackson added that Taylor's hand is bruised and sore, but said the veteran pivot is "going to be fine," according to Andrew Gribble of ClevelandBrowns.com.Taylor, who returned to the game after the injury, went 11 of 16 for 65 yards in an affair Cleveland won 5-0. The 29-year-old has a stranglehold on the Browns' starting job over No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield.Taylor threw for 2,799 yards with 14 touchdowns and four interceptions for the Buffalo Bills last season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens rookie tight end Hayden Hurst will undergo a procedure after suffering a stress fracture in his foot, sources told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.Hurst will have a screw inserted into his foot and will likely miss three-to-four weeks.The tight end's timetable leaves him doubtful for the Ravens' season opener against the Buffalo Bills, which is just over two weeks away.Baltimore selected Hurst in the first round (No. 25 overall) this past April after his successful career at South Carolina.Nick Boyle, Maxx Williams, and fellow rookie Mark Andrews - who the Ravens selected in the third round this year - will help fill the void in Hurst's absence.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons are slashing more concession prices for their second season at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.Along with offering six food items for $1 cheaper than last season, the Falcons are also introducing a craft beer that will costs $5 for 12 ounces and $7 for 16 ounces, according to Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper. The craft beer is brewed by an unnamed local brewery and will be available exclusively at the stadium.

theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his fifth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition.Scroll down to see his 2018 rankings for both standard and PPR leagues.Standard

After getting drafted by the New York Giants in April, Saquon Barkley joked that one of the first things he would spend his money on was getting his dad's New York Jets tattoo fixed.Alibay Barkley is a lifelong Jets fan, and Saquon hasn't had much luck so far convincing him to switch allegiances. Still, the running back hopes his dad will cheer on the Giants in Friday's preseason game against the Jets."I think my dad - I don't think, I know - and I hope he sees this, that he switches sides a little bit. I think he's going to come with his son and wear a Barkley jersey, I hope," Saquon said, according to the North Jersey Record's Art Stapleton. "If he didn't, I'd be a little upset. (But) I can't truly be upset about that."Obviously I don't know what I'm doing (in Friday's game), but just to be out there and be at MetLife, seeing my family and being across the field and seeing the Jets, and growing up (as a Jets fan), it's all kind of coming full circle. This puts you back and think of the past, all the hard work and determination, when I said when I was a little kid (that) I wanted to be in this position, that's all coming together."

Doug Pederson's concern with the Philadelphia Eagles' starting offense in the preseason extends beyond struggling quarterback Nick Foles."First of all, I'm disappointed in the offense," the third-year coach said Thursday after falling 5-0 to the Cleveland Browns. "I don't want to single out one player, so don't put this all on Nick. I'm disappointed in the offense. It's obviously not what you want in the third preseason week."The Eagles dropped to 0-3 in exhibition action after losing to the Browns, but more troubling was the continued fruitlessness of the first-string unit.In 10 possessions with Foles at quarterback this preseason, Philadelphia has scored zero points. Four of those drives have ended in turnovers by Foles, who's also taken six sacks in 32 drop-backs."There's time when I feel good and times when I'm making mistakes," Foles said postgame. "It's as simple as that. I just have to keep being critical of myself, keep watching the film and understanding what's going on. I have to keep playing, keep going through it. Obviously, I haven't been myself and I expect a lot of myself, but I have to keep learning. I've played this game a long time, I know how to address this and keep moving forward while keeping that positive outlook."It's been a peculiar turnaround for the quarterback, who ended the 2017 campaign with a dissection of the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC championship game and an MVP performance against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII.Pederson said the Eagles don't plan to play Foles in the preseason finale, indicating the veteran isn't at risk of losing his starting job to Nate Sudfeld until Carson Wentz returns from a knee injury.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Quarterbacks in the AFC North may have a tough time sleeping for the next few months if they watched Thursday's preseason game between the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles.Browns sophomore defensive end Myles Garrett put his vast skill set on display in his team's third preseason contest, making quick work of the defending Super Bowl champion's offensive line on nearly every snap.The No. 1 overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft was either blowing past or pushing around Eagles left tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai all night long. He'd finish the first half with two sacks of Super Bowl LII MVP quarterback Nick Foles, including a safety, and two tackles for loss.Drives Vaitai all the way back to pressure Foles

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2018 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.Mock Drafts

Cleveland Browns rookie cornerback Denzel Ward left Thursday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles with a back injury and will not return.The No. 4 overall pick in April's draft suffered the injury when he bent awkwardly while tackling Zach Ertz. He was able to walk off the field to the medical tent before exiting to the locker room.Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that Ward exited as a precaution based on initial tests.The second of the Browns' two 2018 first-rounders is set to start alongside Terrance Mitchell in an inexperienced secondary.If Ward is forced to miss time, E.J. Gaines would likely step into the starting lineup.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Tyrod Taylor seemingly avoided a major injury after appearing to injure his left wrist on an awkward fall after scrambling on a fourth down play Thursday against the Philadelphia Eagles.He went to the locker room and Baker Mayfield replaced him on the field, but Taylor quickly returned to the sidelines and reentered the game.

The Cleveland Browns reportedly still want to upgrade their wide receiver corps by signing Dez Bryant.The three-time Pro Bowler "remains a receiver that the Browns would very much like to sign," according to NFL Network's Michael Silver.The two sides met last week and it was reported talks would continue after the visit ended without a deal.Bryant, 29, was released by the Dallas Cowboys earlier this offseason. He's declined since leading the NFL with 16 receiving touchdowns in 2014, earning him an All-Pro nod. He hasn't posted a year with 1,000-plus receiving yards since that season and recorded just six touchdowns in 2017.Despite that drop in production, the Browns "believe that he is still a very good receiver," Silver adds, and the team "simply wants to add as many playmakers as they can."Josh Gordon returned to Cleveland over the weekend, but it's still unknown when he'll suit up for game action. He's not playing in the Browns' third preseason game on Thursday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The rumored record-breaking contract between the New York Giants and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. appears to be progressing, as the two sides are reasonably optimistic a deal could be done by Week 1 of the 2018 season, sources told ESPN's Jordan Raanan.Pittsburgh Steelers star receiver Antonio Brown currently tops the NFL at the position, earning an average annual value of $17 million. Beckham's deal is expected to surpass Brown's.The 25-year-old wideout has been rumored to be seeking an extension this offseason as he enters the final year of his rookie contract. Earlier this month, he said he was hopeful one would "work itself out."The Giants are reportedly willing to make Beckham the league's highest-paid receiver, but wanted to see their star pass-catcher buy into new head coach Pat Shurmur's regime and ensure he was fully healthy before working on a new deal, Raanan added.Beckham was limited to just four contests last year due to a fractured ankle but posted at least 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns in all three of his prior campaigns.New York opens the 2018 season Sept. 9 at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley doesn't feel as though he'll be missing out by not playing in the preseason."That is everyone's dream to not play in the preseason," Gurley said, according to Lindsey Thiry of ESPN. "Some guys just like being out there to get a feel for it and to see. But not this guy."Gurley played a total of just three preseason games over his first three years in the league, though he never carried the ball more than eight times in any of those contests.The third game of the preseason is generally used by teams to showcase their expected starters. Head coach Sean McVay doesn't feel that'll be needed for last season's leader in rushing touchdowns (13). The team is instead prioritizing Gurley's health."We've done a little bit different approach in terms of working him out just with some things going on just in his lower half," McVay said Thursday. "Just getting him up to speed in the way that we've kind of felt like to get him at his best."Gurley, 24, had been set to enter the 2018 season on the final year of his rookie contract, but he was given a four-year, $57.5-million extension, according to Over The Cap, late last month.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Oakland Raiders have waived/injured defensive back Obi Melifonwu, the team announced on Thursday.Melifonwu was the Raiders' second-round pick (56th overall) in the 2017 NFL Draft but was limited to just five games as a rookie due to knee and hip injuries. The issues lingered into his second offseason, as he recently visited a specialist regarding a lower-body injury that could be tied to his 2017 hip surgery, according to The Athletic's Vic Tafur.The Raiders also had questions regarding his passion for football, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Oakland was quick to fill the roster spot, as the team announced the signing of veteran cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.Melifonwu was a versatile defensive back for Connecticut from 2013-2016. He posted outstanding athletic metrics and excelled during the combine, running a 4.40 40-yard dash.Entering his sophomore campaign, the 6-foot-4 defender was stuck behind safeties Marcus Gilchrist, Reggie Nelson, Karl Joseph, and Erik Harris on Oakland's depth chart.Melifonwu will be exposed to waivers and will revert to injured reserve if he's unclaimed. The Raiders could release him with an injury settlement once his health improves.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin won't let another Spygate scandal befall his team.The team built a tarp wall held up by four pillars to block the view from an adjacent office building on Pittsburgh's south side.

When LeBron James left town, the 10-story banner of himself on the side of the Sherwin-Williams building in downtown Cleveland went, too.New Cleveland Browns receiver Jarvis Landry offered to replace it.Landry, brought to Cleveland after an offseason trade, has yet to record a regular-season catch with the Browns, but nonetheless, his manager inquired about putting Landry on a massive banner to take over James' former spot on the building."I think that's what he lives for. (The pressure of) 'Man, I'm gonna put, just like LeBron, I'm going to put the city on my back and carry us through.' I think he's up for it," Landry's manager and brother, Gerard, said to ESPN's Elizabeth Merrill.Gerard said the project is now on the backburner, suggesting they'd "revisit the idea later."In the meantime, Landry and the Browns will focus on winning a game this season after the team went 0-16 last year.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys' vaunted offensive line has three of its five starters on the shelf two weeks before the regular season.Right tackle La'el Collins limped off the practice field on Thursday with an ankle injury, joining fellow standouts Travis Frederick and Zack Martin on the injured list.Of the three wounded starters, only Frederick's injury is considered potentially serious. Martin worked out in pads Thursday and said there's "no doubt" he'll be ready for Week 1, according to ESPN's Todd Archer. Still, the bumps and bruises up front are beginning to accumulate for the Cowboys, raising concern as the regular season approaches.Left tackle Tyron Smith, who dealt with knee, back, groin, and hip ailments in 2017 and finished the year on injured reserve, has been receiving a lighter workload in an effort to keep him healthy ahead of the regular season. Rookie left guard Connor Williams is the only other remaining healthy starter on a unit once hailed as the NFL's most dominant and dependable, and he's struggled in exhibition games.Limping linemen:PositionPlayerInjuryLTTyron Smith*LGConnor WilliamsCTravis Frederick*NeckRGZack Martin*KneeRTLa'el CollinsAnkle*Pro BowlerCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen and former Dallas Cowboys executive Gil Brandt as contributor finalists for the Class of 2019."This is an exciting day for our family and the Broncos fans who have been so supportive of Pat Bowlen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame," the Bowlen family said in a statement, per Aric DiLalla of the team's official website. "Pat would be the first to say it's not just about him but a credit to the many players, coaches, and executives he worked with over the years. We're thankful to the Contributor Committee for recognizing the incredible impact Pat's had on the NFL."Bowlen purchased the Broncos in 1984 and served as the team's CEO until July 2014, when he stepped down due to his battle with Alzheimer's disease. The 74-year-old is the only owner in NFL history to see his team accumulate 300 wins during his first 30 seasons.Amazingly, Bowlen has more Super Bowl appearances (7) than losing seasons (6) since taking over as principal owner. Denver won three of their seven championship appearances.Brandt was the Cowboys' vice president of player personnel from 1960 to 1988, winning two Super Bowls. Before his time in Dallas, he was a scout for the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers.The Hall of Fame will cast their induction votes in February. Finalists require 80 percent of the vote to obtain their gold jacket.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Two weeks away from the regular season, the Dallas Cowboys fan base is already punching the panic button. That's what happens when two All-Pros go down in the span of a couple days.First, standout guard Zack Martin injured his knee when a Cincinnati Bengals cornerback chopped Martin's legs as he looked to make an open-field block. Then, center Travis Frederick was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare disorder in which a person's immune system attacks their nerves.While the Cowboys got lucky with Martin's prognosis (he should be back Week 1), Frederick's situation is murkier. It could take weeks for him to heal, or it could take a year. Former Denver Broncos offensive lineman Mark Schlereth dealt with the disorder in 1993, and he ended up missing half of the season. Right now, it seems likely that Frederick will be out for at least the early portion of the season.It's easy to understand why Cowboys supporters fear the prospect of playing without Frederick, a four-time Pro Bowler and 2016 All-Pro who has yet to miss a game in the NFL. The 27-year-old is the unquestioned leader of the Cowboys' offensive line. He sets the protection up and is largely responsible for giving quarterback Dak Prescott the room to step up in the pocket.Replacing Frederick will be six-year veteran Joe Looney, who has started 13 total NFL games. Fortunately for Dallas, Looney is currently playing at the highest level of his career.In 2017, his first campaign with the Cowboys, he was below average in his three regular-season appearances, struggling to displace defenders in the running game and lacking the movement ability to thrive in pass protection.This year, however, Looney looks like a totally new player. He's slimmed down, vastly improving his movement skills, and taken a liking to the techniques being taught by new offensive line coach Paul Alexander.One of the main responsibilities for a center in the Cowboys' offense is to identify the defensive front and set the protection for Prescott. Looney's proven capable in that regard during the preseason. Here's a good example:< On this play, the Bengals have seven defenders near the line of scrimmage with four defensive linemen, two linebackers, and a safety. Cincinnati looks to disguise the call with some pre-snap movement. But Looney isn't fooled and the Cowboys are in perfect position to stymie the blitz, leading to a first-down completion.Looney is strong in pass protection, showing good mental processing in identifying and passing off stunts and twists. At the point of attack, Looney plays with good balance and decent hand usage, giving him the ability to do just enough to get the job done.With Martin to his right and rookie guard Connor Williams to his left, look for Dallas to slide Looney toward the first-year player in an effort to shore up the protection. Martin doesn't need the help, but the rookie certainly might, especially early on in the season. This play is a great example:Here, the San Francisco 49ers are playing a wide front with no defender in either A-gap, the gaps directly to the right and left of Looney. This gives Looney the freedom to help one of the guards secure his block, and immediately after the ball is snapped, Looney assists Williams.In the run game, the Cowboys need to make some adjustments, since Looney can't effectively implement the full scope of Dallas' run schemes. He does well with down and angle blocks where he can use his body and strength to wall off defenders, but he struggles with pulling into space and hitting his landmarks on zone runs.Expect Dallas to play to Looney's strengths in the run game, as the team does here:In this example, the Cowboys run a "Duo" concept with Rod Smith as the running back. Looney is tasked with blocking the backside defensive tackle in combination with Williams, who is supposed to move to the second level once the block is secured. Even though Looney doesn't generate the kind of push that his counterparts do, he uses effective body positioning and grip strength to sustain his block and give Smith a nice running lane. It's not pretty, but it works.While he'll never be confused with an All-Pro, Looney is a smart and tough veteran who can do a good enough job to allow the Cowboys to get by. It won't be easy - the Cowboys face two of the better interior defensive lines in football in their Week 1 and 2 games against the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants, respectively - but it's possible for the Cowboys to overcome the loss of Frederick for at least a few weeks.John Owning is a football writer at theScore. He has written for Bleacher Report and Football Insiders. He was also the lead NFL content editor at FanRag Sports. John provides analysis on the Dallas Cowboys for the Dallas Morning News and edits for The Quant Edge. Find him on Twitter @JohnOwning.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pro Bowl guard Richie Incognito wanted his deceased father's head cut off for research purposes the day he was arrested at a funeral home in Arizona, according to a police report obtained by Stevie Johnson of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.Incognito was detained Monday on misdemeanor charges of making threats and disorderly conduct after his behavior at the funeral home became erratic. He was making funeral arrangements for his father when he spiraled out of control.Witnesses said Incognito was punching caskets and throwing objects in the funeral home after being uncooperative about signing cremation papers. He was also reported to have slammed an urn on top of the casket he eventually chose for his father.At one point, Incognito asked one of the funeral home employees if he wanted to see the firearms in his truck, and began making gun-like gestures with his fingers. Police found five guns in his vehicle, all of which were owned legally.Incognito, 35, is a free agent after he orchestrated his release from the Buffalo Bills in May. He was taken for involuntary psychiatric examination the same month he was released following an incident with a patron at a gym in Florida.The four-time Pro Bowler has had several issues off the field throughout his career.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Some NFL players don't hate fantasy football. In fact, one is looking to make a buck off the business.San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman has entered the daily fantasy sports industry, co-founding a site called Daily Number."I've been pitched numerous DFS opportunities, but nothing has even come close to comparing to Daily Number," Sherman said in a release obtained by ESPN's David Purdum. "I'm extremely excited to be a founding partner and look forward to playing an active role in helping the company grow during this very dynamic time in our industry."The game will initially be available to IOS users in 23 states where fantasy sports betting has been legalized.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Turning 30 years old is a milestone event for many, but for Kirk Cousins, it was just like any other day.The Vikings quarterback is still putting down his roots in Minnesota after signing a three-year deal in March, so he opted for a more low-key celebration."I just kind of sat around on Sunday on my birthday," Cousin said Wednesday, according to Sam Ekstrom of Zone Coverage. "We were leaving the other night and the coaches said, 'Quarterbacks, can you stay? Do you have anywhere to be?' And I looked at them and said, 'I have no life here. I'm here to play football for the Minnesota Vikings. I don't have a whole lot else going on. So you let me know. I'll be here.'"I found that to be true on my birthday as well. I sit around and I've got the free time, but I don't really know what to do because I haven't really built much of a life here yet. So it was kind of funny."Cousins at least got to enjoy a birthday eve dinner at a local Portillo's restaurant."It's not the best for me, but Chicago dog, Italian beef with sweet peppers, double cheeseburger, fries - the crinkle-cut fries are the best," he said. "The chocolate cake shake is hard to beat. I didn't do all that, but I've been known when I go to Chicago to do all that."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.Topics for this episode include:

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2018 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.As fantasy football draft season starts to pick up and preseason games continue, average draft positions (ADPs) are beginning to stabilize. That means owners who haven't drafted yet can get a truer sense of how the public is valuing players.Here's a look at six players whose ADPs have risen or fallen in recent weeks and now represent either a risk or a bargain in drafts.(All ADPs based on standard scoring formats as of Aug. 22 and are courtesy of Fantasy Football Calculator.)Trending too highRoyce Freeman, RB, BroncosADP: 3.11(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Broncos rookie running back Royce Freeman has scored a touchdown in both preseason games, and the third-rounder has seen his ADP rise from the middle of the fifth round to the end of the third.Meanwhile, third-year rusher Devontae Booker is still listed atop Denver's depth chart. He's shown skill in the passing game with at least 30 receptions in each of his first two seasons, which should guarantee him a role in the offense this year.Booker is currently available more than eight rounds later than Freeman, which makes him much better value, even if the rookie ends up leading the committee. And while Booker has played sparingly thus far in the preseason, Friday's matchup against the Redskins should provide a more accurate sample with starters around the league set to see more action.Chris Carson, RB, SeahawksADP: 7.01(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Chris Carson has shot up draft boards since Seahawks rookie first-rounder Rashaad Penny broke his finger earlier in August. The sophomore was going in the 11th round just a month ago.However, Seattle head coach Pete Carroll said Tuesday that Penny will be ready for the start of the season, and Carson fumbled at the goal line in Saturday's preseason game. Penny may even return for the Seahawks' preseason finale, giving him a chance to eat into Carson's workload before the regular season begins. Temper expectations for the second-year back.David Njoku, TE, BrownsADP: 9.11(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)The impact of HBO's "Hard Knocks" is real. Njoku's ADP has risen steadily from the 13th round ever since the show debuted on Aug. 7. The second episode certainly made an impact by highlighting the tight end's two-touchdown performance in Cleveland's preseason opener.It's indeed promising that projected starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor and heir apparent Baker Mayfield both found Njoku for a score, but the big performance came in a game where Jarvis Landry caught just two passes and Josh Gordon remained away from the team. There won't be as many targets available with more mouths to feed in the regular season.The 29th overall pick of last year's draft is a legitimate red-zone presence at 6-foot-4, 246 pounds, but he'll need to be a pass-catching option outside that area of the field to warrant his soaring draft position.Looking like bargainsC.J. Anderson, RB, PanthersADP: 8.09(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)C.J. Anderson continues to fall down draft boards while sophomore teammate Christian McCaffrey receives universal praise, including from Anderson himself.However, Anderson is still just 27 years old and is coming off a career-high 245 rushing attempts and his first 1,000-yard season in 2017. Meanwhile, McCaffrey received only 117 carries as a rookie, and just 15 in the red zone.Despite the Panthers previously saying they hope to give McCaffrey 25-to-30 touches per game this year, Anderson should see plenty of work inside the opponent's 20-yard line. He had at least 20 red-zone carries in each of his four seasons in Denver, scoring a combined 18 touchdowns in that area of the field.Allen Hurns, WR, CowboysADP: 10.06(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Allen Hurns' ADP is the victim of his limited production so far this preseason. He has just two receptions for 26 yards despite starting both of the Cowboys' games.Still, Hurns was listed with the first-team offense on Dallas' first official depth chart (Aug. 9), and seems likely to keep the spot heading into the regular season.The 26-year-old is currently being drafted as the 44th wide receiver, with plenty of secondary and tertiary options for their respective teams going ahead of him. Don't let Hurns fall too far.Sammy Watkins, WR, ChiefsADP: 7.03(Photo courtesy: Action Images)By ADP, there are 29 receivers being selected ahead of Watkins. Sure, the injury risk is a concern, and Watkins remains without a reception in the preseason, but the 25-year-old should be heavily involved in Kansas City's offense after inking a three-year, $48-million contract in the offseason.Watkins, a former fourth overall pick, will start alongside Tyreek Hill and have a clear path to plenty of playing time and targets this season. Meanwhile, few receivers below his current ADP can match his pedigree and potential upside.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner is standing up for his fellow defenders as several of the league's biggest stars remain in prolonged contract holdouts."You see it a lot right now from the defensive side. You have amazing players that are not getting paid ... and I think at some point you have to make a stand," Wagner said, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN.Among those holding out is Wagner's teammate - safety Earl Thomas. Wagner says Thomas' body of work through eight seasons should speak for itself as the six-time Pro Bowler tries to get an extension before entering the final year of his current contract."It's hard to really tell somebody like that what to do because does he deserve to get paid? I mean, look at him," Wagner said of Thomas. "All Pro, Pro Bowls, best safety in the league. ... You don't know how many more years you've got. So you've got to make sure you take care of the business side. And unfortunately sometimes that comes in the way of playing on the field."Related: Wilson understands Thomas' holdout: NFL 'isn't just fun and games'Thomas, a three-time All-Pro, is due to be paid a base salary of $8.5 million in 2018 if he doesn't get a new contract, and the 29-year-old will reportedly sit out until a deal is done. He's facing over $1 million in team fines for his absences thus far.Wagner said he understands Thomas' hard stance."It's an interesting thing. You want him to be here. I want him to be here. But at the same time too, there's a business side of this thing, and sometimes that takes over what you should be doing."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Oakland Raiders bolstered their secondary Wedesday by inking free-agent cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN.Rodgers-Cromartie was released by the Giants this offseason after four seasons in New York. He's the latest veteran to join the Raiders' secondary, following the signings of Rashaan Melvin, Daryl Worley, Shareece Wright, and Leon Hall.Melvin is expected to start alongside sophomore Gareon Conley, so Rodgers-Cromartie will likely battle for the slot corner position.The 32-year-old Rodgers-Cromartie was named a second-team All-Pro in 2016, but struggled in 15 starts for the Giants last year.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys center Travis Frederick announced on Wednesday that he's been diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, an autoimmune disease, and that doctors told him "it is not possible to determine a time table for a return to the field."

While Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller has long been one of the best defensive players in the NFL, the veteran knows his role with the club is ever-evolving and now extends beyond the field to the locker room."I can't just lead by example, I know that. It's easy for anybody to say, 'I'm going to lead by example,' but I know I have to do that and I've got to talk to people," Miller told ESPN's Jeff Legwold."I tried that, by example, and that’s it, but I know now you've got to get in there and lead. You’ve got to say something. Two years ago, three years ago, maybe, if they wanted me to give speeches, it was hard. Now, I know."Miller has already led Denver to Super Bowl 50 glory - winning game MVP honors in the process - but these aren't the Broncos of yesteryear, as the team is coming off a trying 2017 campaign in which it finished with a 5-11 record. With that in mind, Miller, who made his sixth career Pro Bowl appearance last season, is eager to help his teammates succeed, too."I want to be the best football player in this defense I can be and to get anybody who wants to come with me to do that, to come with me. That’s the priority," he said.Miller added that he enjoys his life away from the football field, where he's appeared on "Dancing with the Stars" and has cultivated a strong friendship with Kanye West, among other things, but that his focus is on winning another championship."I love who I am, I love who I am, I really do," he said. "I'm pleased and honored with who I am and the opportunities I've had, but I'm not satisfied."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite the release of Kenny Britt, the New England Patriots reportedly aren't looking to bring in the biggest wide receiver name on the market.A team source told NFL Network's Mike Giardi that New England "probably" has no interest in Dez Bryant, and is more likely to bring back Jordan Matthews, whom the Patriots released earlier this month. Matthews is currently dealing with a hamstring injury.A new-look Patriots receiving corps is headlined by Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett, Eric Decker, and Cordarrelle Patterson. Julian Edelman remains the Patriots' top wideout but is suspended for the first four games.Britt was expected to be a starter in Edelman's absence but New England parted ways with him after signing him to a two-year deal in December.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets might be trying to end one of the offseason's most notable holdouts by trading for Khalil Mack.The team has reached out to the Oakland Raiders to express interest in the disgruntled defensive end, sources told Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. However, the Jets haven't made an official offer yet.More than a dozen teams have inquired about Mack's availability, sources told Mehta, with several reaching out on multiple occasions. The Raiders are continuing to tell interested parties that they won't part with their star defender.Mack, a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, is entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2018. If he doesn't get a new deal, the 27-year-old will carry a cap hit of $13.8 million.The fifth overall pick of the 2014 draft has remained away from the Raiders throughout the offseason, with his official holdout reaching its 27th day on Wednesday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL vice president of football operations Troy Vincent released a statement Wednesday stating that no changes will be made to the new helmet rule, which aims to prevent players from initiating contact with their helmet.

The New England Patriots released wide receiver Kenny Britt, the team announced Wednesday.He signed a two-year deal with the club back in December.The former first-round pick of the Tennessee Titans spent last season split between the Patriots and the Cleveland Browns, catching 20 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games. The Rutgers star was coming off a career-best 1,002-yard campaign in 2016 before he inked a four-year deal with the Browns, but was cut less than one season into the pact.With Britt out of the picture, Chris Hogan, Cordarrelle Patterson, Phillip Dorsett, and Eric Decker will likely make up New England's WR corps until Julian Edelman returns from his four-game suspension.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals general manager Steve Keim has returned to the team following a team-issued five-week suspension stemming from a DUI arrest.Keim was suspended and fined $200,000 by the Cardinals on July 17. The money was donated to the Arizona chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)."I can tell you that coming away from this has made me a better man," Keim told ABC 15 on Wednesday.Keim told reporters that he was extremely remorseful and that the suspension was a humbling experience."I don’t think there’s any feeling that’s worse than feeling like you let your children down," Keim said.Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks appeared to be enthused about Keim's return impending return earlier in the week."It’s just going to bring some excitement with him being back," Wilks said. "And it’s going to be good to see him."Keim was named general manager in January 2013 and signed a contract extension in February that will keep him with the Cardinals through the 2022 season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

You hear it before every season: a player believes they are in the best shape of their life. They have never felt better.This time, it's 36-year-old Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger who is feeling the effects of a change to his offseason routine."How do I feel, whether that's my arm, my shoulder, my elbow, knees, ankles, just the general feeling of my body? I think it felt great. My arm feels stronger than it ever has," Roethlisberger said, according to Sean Gentille of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.The quarterback cut sugar and carbs from his diet ahead of training camp and plans to enter the season much lighter because of it, so he may truly be in the best shape of his life for his 15th NFL campaign.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2018 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.A running back's fantasy production is often linked to his workload. Over the past several seasons, running backs in contract years have frequently seen their carry totals spike.Which is why fantasy managers may want to invest a little more heavily in Tevin Coleman, Jay Ajayi, and Alex Collins in 2018. All three are entering the final year of their contracts, and face uncertain futures with their current teams.The Atlanta Falcons already have Devonta Freeman locked up, and they drafted Ito Smith in April, potentially giving them Coleman's eventual replacement as the No. 2.Ajayi will play his first full season with the Philadelphia Eagles after helping them win Super Bowl LII as a trade-deadline acquisition. He remains entrenched in a committee and could become a spare part at season's end for a team projected to be $43.1 million above the 2019 salary cap, according to Spotrac.Collins, 23, is already on his second team after being drafted in the fifth round by the Seattle Seahawks in 2016. He rushed for 973 yards and six touchdowns on 212 carries in 2017. He seems safe atop the Ravens' depth chart entering 2018, but a second strong campaign could make him too expensive for a Baltimore team with other weak areas, and cap constraints of their own.Let's look back at the contract-year production among running backs in recent seasons to see the paths Coleman, Ajayi, and Collins could follow, and why their fantasy values might rise.2017PlayerCarriesPrev. highPrev. yearC. Hyde240217217I. Crowell206198198D. Lewis1806464J. McKinnon150159159Jerick McKinnon, the jewel of the 2018 free-agent running back class, came close to a career single-season carry high during his last year with the Minnesota Vikings. The 26-year-old also recorded 201 total touches, finishing just one touch shy of his 2016 mark. That workload led to 991 yards from scrimmage.Dion Lewis transitioned into a different role during his final season with the New England Patriots. He emerged as the team's workhorse on the ground in the first full, healthy season of his career, receiving double-digit touches in each of his final 11 games, and finishing with 1,110 yards from scrimmage.The San Francisco 49ers replaced Carlos Hyde with McKinnon, viewing the latter as a better fit for head coach Kyle Shanahan's system. They came to that decision after using Hyde at a career-high level over his first 16-game season.2016PlayerCarriesPrev. highPrev. yearL. Blount299201165R. Burkhead7494The Patriots didn't take it easy on LeGarrette Blount in 2016, even though he turned 30 late in the year. He set a career single-season high in carries, leading to career bests in rushing yards (1,161) and touchdowns (18). Then Blount left New England as a free agent.2015PlayerCarriesPrev. highPrev. yearC. Ivory247198198L. Miller194216216In his sixth NFL season, Chris Ivory stayed healthy enough to become a lead back for the first time. The 247 carries he was given exceeded his previous single-season high by almost 50, and he set career highs with 30 receptions on 37 targets.Lamar Miller's usage steadily progressed during his four-year run with the Miami Dolphins. He significantly improved as a receiver in 2015, his final season with the team, catching 47 of 57 targets.2014PlayerCarriesPrev. highPrev. yearD. Murray392217217D. McFadden155223114S. Vereen966244No running back better exemplifies the contract-year surge than the now-retired DeMarco Murray. He was given an incredible 392 carries in 2014, leading all running backs in rushing yards (1,845), and tying for the league lead in rushing touchdowns (13). The Cowboys then showed little interest in retaining his services, partially due to previous injury concerns because he had never played a full season before.The Oakland Raiders ignored Darren McFadden's extensive injury history during his final year with the team when he received his third-highest carry total at the time.2013PlayerCarriesPrev. highPrev. yearB. Tate18117565R. Jennings163101101K. Moreno241247138M. Jones-Drew23434386The Raiders had Rashad Jennings for just the 2013 season, and they gave him 62 more carries than any previous campaign. Jennings topped that mark with the New York Giants during each of his three seasons in the Big Apple, but he'd never match his efficiency in Oakland, where he averaged 4.5 yards per carry.Ben Tate rushed for 942 yards and four touchdowns during his 2011 sophomore season with the Houston Texans (he spent his rookie year sidelined by an injury). Tate put a poor 2012 season behind him with a career-high 181 carries in 2013, finishing with 771 rushing yards.2012PlayerCarriesPrev. highPrev. yearS. Greene276253253R. Bush227216216A. Bradshaw221276171Reggie Bush played 16 games in 2012, logging a full season for the first time since his rookie year. The Dolphins took advantage of his health by feeding him plenty of carries. However, he was used more sparingly as a pass-catcher, recording just 35 catches after topping the 40-reception mark five times previously in his career.The New York Jets drafted Shonn Greene 65th overall in 2009 and steadily increased his workload over four seasons. He recorded a career-high 276 carries in 2012, finishing with 1,063 rushing yards. He never approached either total over the next two years after leaving to play with the Tennessee Titans, recording just 171 carries and 687 rushing yards in 2013 and 2014 combined.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This NFL preseason has many shades of 2014, with an NFC Super Bowl champion looking to repeat and a brash rookie quarterback trying to win the starting job in Cleveland. The most striking similarity, though, might be the overwhelming number of defensive penalties thanks to new rules and heightened enforcement.Four years ago, when the Seahawks were preparing for a title defense and Johnny Manziel was entering his ill-fated rookie season, the NFL was handing out defensive holding and illegal contact penalties like never before.That preseason was dominated by the color yellow. As Sports on Earth's Mike Tanier (now of Bleacher Report) indicated, there were fives times as many defensive holding flags than in the same period in 2013, and instances of illegal contact increased tenfold. Those were shocking numbers, and many prognosticators warned of the "end of defense" and games dragging on and on.NFL fans and teams are facing a similar situation this preseason, after the league implemented a new tackling rule focused on player safety. Under the new rule, a 15-yard penalty is assessed when a defender "(lowers the) head to initiate and make contact with his helmet against an opponent." That has resulted in some admittedly baffling calls:

The Minnesota Vikings signed safety George Iloka on Wednesday, three days after his surprising release from the Cincinnati Bengals, the team announced.The move reunites Iloka with Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer, who was previously his defensive coordinator with the Bengals. Cincinnati's decision to cut Iloka, who was two seasons into a five-year, $30-million deal, reportedly boiled down to finances.Iloka joins the Vikings on a one-year deal, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The 28-year-old registered 80 tackles and one interception across 16 contests last season.Iloka started every game he played in for the Bengals since 2013, but figures to slot into Minnesota's lineup as a reserve behind Harrison Smith and Andrew Sendejo.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

No one knows the true extent of Teddy Bridgewater's comeback quite like his surgeon.After a Pro Bowl season in 2015, Bridgewater suffered a major knee injury during a non-contact drill in training camp the following year. Following a long recovery, he signed with the New York Jets and has dazzled in this year's preseason.Bridgewater allowed his surgeon to speak with ESPN's Ian O'Connor about the two surgeries that led to his revamped career."It was just a horribly grotesque injury," Dan Cooper said."It's mangled. You make the skin incision, and there's nothing there. It's almost like a war wound. Everything is blown."Cooper said Bridgewater tore all but one ligament in his knee, an injury only 20-25 percent of NFL players can recover from."Most people have no idea the volume of the workload this kid had to put in. He had a toothpick of a leg he had to rebuild," he said.Now, after two preseason appearances in which he's completed 73 percent of his passes and thrown two touchdowns, Bridgewater has rebuilt his professional value to the point where he's rumored to be a coveted trade target.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Two days after his abrupt retirement from radio play-by-play duties for the Indianapolis Colts, Bob Lamey released a statement Tuesday, admitting to using an "inappropriate word."A radio employee filed a complaint against Lamey, stating that he used the "N-word" in an off-air conversation after an interview, Jennie Runevitch of WTHR reports.The employee filed a human resources complaint on Aug. 15. Two days later, the Colts got in touch asking for more information. Two days after that, the team announced Lamey's retirement.The radio broadcaster of 35 years issued a statement through his attorney Tuesday."It should be noted that Bob does want to acknowledge that while repeating a story while off-the-air last week to a friend at a local radio station, he used an inappropriate word that had been used in the story," James Voyles said in the statement obtained by Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star."Bob immediately apologized to the people involved for the comment and would hope that this error in judgement would not tarnish his long-held reputation in the sports community where he has been known as an accurate and passionate reporter."Voyles stressed that Lamey was not fired by the Colts.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Videos contains coarse languageCleveland Browns offensive line coach Bob Wylie is the newest breakout star of "Hard Knocks" thanks to this rant about his strong aversion to stretching:

The next wave of NFL quarterbacks is coming, and it's hitting with sudden impact.Five passers were taken in the first round of this year's draft and, after two weeks of preseason action, many are looking like they can take over their team's starting job at some point this year.Here's how the rookie QBs rank halfway through the preseason:5. Lamar JacksonPreseason: 18-for-43, 201 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

Get ready for your season with theScore's 2018 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.theScore staff took part in a 10-team, 12-round mock to provide a glimpse at what your drafts could look like and give some insight on what to watch for in each round.This is a standard (non-PPR) scoring league with the following roster spots: QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, WR, TE, FLEX, BN, BN, BN, BN. We left off defenses and kickers, as they normally get selected in the final two rounds.Draft participants: Justin Boone, Dan Wilkins, Mike Dickson, Alex Chippin, Michael McClymont, Jack Browne, Dan Levine, Sean Tomlinson, Gino Bottero, David P. Woods.Round 1PickPlayerOwner1Todd Gurley (RB1)Boone2Ezekiel Elliott (RB2)Wilkins3Le'Veon Bell (RB3)Dickson4Kareem Hunt (RB4)Chippin5David Johnson (RB5)McClymont6Antonio Brown (WR1)Browne7Alvin Kamara (RB6)Levine8DeAndre Hopkins (WR2)Tomlinson9Leonard Fournette (RB7)Bottero10Odell Beckham Jr. (WR3)WoodsRound 1: In my latest rankings update, Elliott fell to fourth overall behind Gurley, Bell, and Johnson. The change was due to doubts about the Cowboys' offense, especially now that it's dealing with several injuries on the line. Elliott is a great back, but if the team's stellar blockers aren't paving the way, he'll struggle to keep pace with the other elite players at his position ... Hunt led the NFL in rushing yards as a rookie and it's possible he could do it again, but watching him go nine games without a touchdown in the middle of last season makes it hard to push him into my top five. I definitely prefer Johnson, Brown, and Kamara, who went with the next three picks.Round 2PickPlayerOwner11Melvin Gordon (RB8)Woods12Julio Jones (WR4)Bottero13Saquon Barkley (RB9)Tomlinson14Michael Thomas (WR5)Levine15Rob Gronkowski (TE1)Browne16Dalvin Cook (RB10)McClymont17Keenan Allen (WR6)Chippin18A.J. Green (WR7)Dickson19Devonta Freeman (RB11)Wilkins20Davante Adams (WR8)BooneRound 2: In 10-team leagues, the entire second round is loaded with talent. In fact, every player taken here has a chance to finish as the No. 1 fantasy player at their position this season ... Gordon as the RB8 is a nice value pick, considering the Chargers should be a winning team this year and will play one of the better fantasy schedules for running backs ... Some may think Gronk went a little early, but the advantage he offers at tight end is substantial enough that he's well worth a top-20 pick.Round 3PickPlayerOwner21Stefon Diggs (WR9)Boone22Doug Baldwin (WR10)Wilkins23Jerick McKinnon (RB12)Dickson24Travis Kelce (TE2)Chippin25Mike Evans (WR11)McClymont26T.Y. Hilton (WR12)Browne27Jordan Howard (RB13)Levine28Adam Thielen (WR13)Tomlinson29Jay Ajayi (RB14)Bottero30Alex Collins (RB15)WoodsRound 3: After getting Gurley in the first round, I went with back-to-back wide receivers in Adams and Diggs at the 2-3 turn. Adams has one of the highest touchdown ceilings of any wideout in the game, while Diggs is primed for a career year if he can stay healthy ... I understand the desire to secure an elite tight end, but I'm not willing to take Kelce with a top-25 selection. In 10-team leagues, I'd target him in the fourth round, and Zach Ertz in the fifth.Round 4PickPlayerOwner31Amari Cooper (WR14)Woods32Lamar Miller (RB16)Bottero33LeSean McCoy (RB17)Tomlinson34Larry Fitzgerald (WR15)Levine35Allen Robinson (WR16)Browne36Tyreek Hill (WR17)McClymont37Christian McCaffrey (RB18)Chippin38Demaryius Thomas (WR18)Dickson39Joe Mixon (RB19)Wilkins40Rex Burkhead (RB20)BooneRound 4: Nobody went heavy at a single position through the first three rounds, and staying balanced allows you to capture value when it's available ... McCoy will be one of the riskiest picks in fantasy drafts this year. He has the potential to win leagues if he can somehow sustain his production, but the uncertainty surrounding his off-field issues and a Bills offense that's largely devoid of talent are factors that make it difficult to select him in the early rounds. I'd rather take my chances with McCaffrey or Mixon.Round 5PickPlayerOwner41Josh Gordon (WR19)Boone42Chris Hogan (WR20)Wilkins43Zach Ertz (TE3)Dickson44JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR21)Chippin45Marshawn Lynch (RB21)McClymont46Aaron Rodgers (QB1)Browne47Brandin Cooks (WR22)Levine48Golden Tate (WR23)Tomlinson49Alshon Jeffery (WR24)Bottero50Marvin Jones (WR25)WoodsRound 5: Gordon is back with the Browns, and while that doesn't alleviate all the worries that come with drafting him, it puts him in play in this range of the draft. His upside is well-documented as a potential WR1 in fantasy ... Lynch was the only running back taken here, but as the hype builds around certain rookie backs, I suspect some will sneak into the fifth.Round 6PickPlayerOwner51Kerryon Johnson (RB22)Woods52Royce Freeman (RB23)Bottero53Deshaun Watson (QB2)Tomlinson54Mark Ingram (RB24)Levine55Dion Lewis (RB25)Browne56Russell Wilson (QB3)McClymont57Jarvis Landry (WR26)Chippin58Kenyan Drake (RB26)Dickson59Corey Davis (WR27)Wilkins60Derrick Henry (RB27)BooneRound 6: This round was full of possible league-winners. Johnson and Freeman could flirt with low-end RB1 numbers if they're able to emerge as the clear starters on their teams ... Watson isn't going to match his historic production from the first half of the 2017 season, but we know that's within reach for him ... If Lewis or Henry is sidelined for any amount of time, the other will be a fantasy star ... Ingram will also have significant upside once he returns from his four-game suspension.Round 7PickPlayerOwner61Tevin Coleman (RB28)Boone62Tom Brady (QB4)Wilkins63Michael Crabtree (WR28)Dickson64Chris Thompson (RB29)Chippin65Emmanuel Sanders (WR29)McClymont66Sony Michel (RB30)Browne67Greg Olsen (TE4)Levine68Sammy Watkins (WR30)Tomlinson69Will Fuller (WR31)Bottero70Aaron Jones (WR31)WoodsRound 7: With my starting receivers locked in, I decided to take more shots at running backs at the 6-7 turn. Much like Henry, Coleman is capable of attaining RB1 status in fantasy if his running mate Freeman gets hurt ... The discount you're getting on Michel due to his preseason injury is making him hard to pass on in the middle rounds. Burkhead is now dealing with an injury of his own, while Michel might be the best back in this rookie class behind Barkley.Round 8PickPlayerOwner71Jimmy Graham (TE5)Woods72Robby Anderson (WR32)Bottero73Delanie Walker (TE6)Tomlinson74Kenny Stills (WR33)Levine75Isaiah Crowell (RB32)Browne76Kyle Rudolph (TE7)McClymont77Drew Brees (QB5)Chippin78Cam Newton (QB6)Dickson79Evan Engram (TE8)Wilkins80Tarik Cohen (RB33)BooneRound 8: Tight ends were a hot commodity in the eighth, with Graham, Walker, Rudolph, and Engram going off the board. Though Rudolph makes more sense a round later, Engram is the only one I have an issue with here. The sophomore is unlikely to see the volume he did last year when the Giants' receiving corps was ravaged by injuries. He's an excellent pass-catcher, but targets will be harder to come by in 2018.Round 9PickPlayerOwner81Marquise Goodwin (WR34)Boone82Chris Carson (RB34)Wilkins83Devin Funchess (WR35)Dickson84Robert Woods (WR36)Chippin85Randall Cobb (WR37)McClymont86Rashaad Penny (RB35)Browne87C.J. Anderson (RB36)Levine88Carlos Hyde (RB37)Tomlinson89Carson Wentz (QB7)Bottero90Jordy Nelson (WR38)WoodsRound 9: Similar to Michel, Penny's ADP is plummeting because of an injury that's held him out of the preseason. Carson is now set up to open the year as the starter in Seattle, but for the price of a ninth-round pick, you can stash Penny on your bench and wait for him to carve out a bigger role as the schedule goes on. The Seahawks didn't take him in the first round to keep him on the bench ... Hyde might prove to be the best pick in this mock. He's outplayed Duke Johnson and Nick Chubb so far, and has looked good in the process. Don't be shocked if he posts RB2 numbers early in the year.Round 10PickPlayerOwner91Anthony Miller (WR39)Woods92Jordan Reed (TE9)Bottero93Pierre Garcon (WR40)Tomlinson94Kirk Cousins (QB8)Levine95Julian Edelman (WR41)Browne96Ronald Jones II (RB38)McClymont97Antonio Callaway (WR42)Chippin98Marqise Lee (WR43)Dickson99Sterling Shepard (WR44)Wilkins100Trey Burton (TE10)BooneRound 10: Upside should always be the goal in the later rounds, and Miller fits that profile perfectly. The Bears rookie has impressed in the slot this summer, making countless plays in practice and flashing his talents during preseason contests. It's not out of the realm of possibility that Miller - not Robinson - leads Chicago in receptions and receiving yards in 2018 ... Burton could also be a darkhorse candidate for the honor after signing a big-money deal in the offseason, as Mitch Trubisky has targeted his new tight end early and often in exhibition action.Round 11PickPlayerOwner101Matthew Stafford (QB9)Boone102Marlon Mack (RB39)Wilkins103Peyton Barber (RB40)Dickson104Jamaal Williams (RB41)Chippin105Adrian Peterson (RB42)McClymont106Matt Breida (RB43)Browne107D.J. Moore (WR45)Levine108Chris Godwin (WR46)Tomlinson109Nelson Agholor (WR47)Bottero110Nick Chubb (RB44)WoodsRound 11: Waiting on a quarterback often proves to be fruitful, with guys like Stafford available deep in drafts. The Lions pivot always finds himself in the QB1 ranks and has a favorable schedule at the beginning of the season ... This was a slow draft held over the last few days, during which news of Peterson's signing broke. We don't know how long the veteran will last, but he'll have a chance to be fantasy relevant when Washington faces soft run defenses in two of its first three games. Just don't expect the fun to last all year.Round 12PickPlayerOwner111Ben Roethlisberger (QB10)Woods112Jamison Crowder (WR48)Bottero113Duke Johnson (RB45)Tomlinson114Bilal Powell (RB46)Levine115Cooper Kupp (WR49)Browne116Kelvin Benjamin (WR50)McClymont117Devontae Booker (RB47)Chippin118Andrew Luck (QB11)Dickson119Kenny Golladay (WR51)Wilkins120Michael Gallup (WR52)BooneRound 12: Roethlisberger and Luck are intriguing fantasy starters who both have elite upside if they are healthy ... Rounding out your receiving corps with young talents like Golladay or Gallup is never a bad decision. Both players have breakout potential, with Golladay rising up the depth chart in a well-established passing attack, and Gallup owning a chance to be Dallas' top receiving weapon right out of the gate.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL announced Tuesday that Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith has been suspended for the first four regular-season games for violating the league's personal conduct policy, per NFL.com's Ian Rapoport."The NFL found evidence of threatening and emotionally abusive behaviors by Jimmy toward his former girlfriend that showed a pattern of improper conduct. Our player’s behavior was inappropriate and wrong," the Ravens said in a statement, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. "We will allow Jimmy to return to our team after his suspension. Jimmy has acknowledged his behaviors were wrong and accepts full responsibility for them."Smith also released a statement on his suspension.

Former Buffalo Bills guard Richie Incognito had several guns in his truck when he was arrested Monday for disorderly conduct and threats, charges connected to an incident at a funeral home, according to a report from Scottsdale Police, via ESPN's Mike Rodak.Incognito has since posted bail and been released, police confirmed to Rodak.The 35-year-old was found with a handgun silencer, a Glock 17 9mm, a Glock 35, a .40 caliber gun, an FN Herstal Belgium Rifle, and two other rifles, Rodak reports.Police responded to a disorderly conduct call at a Scottsdale mortuary on Monday afternoon, where Incognito was making funeral arrangements for his father, who died Saturday.Scottsdale Police released the following statement, again via Rodak:

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick seemingly went against the grain by saying his team has a proper understanding of the NFL's new helmet targeting rule."I think we understand it. I think I understand it," Belichick said on WEEI radio on Monday. "Our team looked at probably 25 plays last night. And I think all of us could see those plays, why they were called, and the ones that weren't called, why they weren't called."The rule - which aims to prevent players from initiating contact with their helmets - has drawn the ire of star defenders and coaches, and even held up the signing of one of this year's top rookies.However, Belichick said the new regulation should be relatively straightforward for his players to follow."The officials have a tough job to make that judgment, but I think the rule is fairly clear-cut. If you lead with your head and make contact with the opponent, then that's a foul," he said.Belichick added that ultimately, it doesn't make much difference what he thinks about the rule."It doesn't matter whether I like the rule or don't like the rule or what I think the rule should or should(n't) be called," he said. "That's not my job. My job is to understand the rule and to coach it."With h/t to CBS SportsCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Redskins made a splash Monday by signing free agent running back Adrian Peterson to a one-year, veteran minimum contract.The 33-year-old rusher has his fair share of doubters after struggling last season with the New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals. Despite a career-low in yards per carry, Peterson insists his production last season does not tell the entire story."(Critics that say I've slowed down) shows me that people don't really know about football," Peterson said, according to NFL.com's Herbie Teope. "Because I feel like people that know the game of football, they know different situations the player might be in. So when people go back and say 'oh, 3.4 yards a carry,' there's a lot that contributes to that as well."So I just brush it off and continue to work because at the end of the day, I control my output."The Redskins' backfield has been decimated by injuries. Derrius Guice will miss the entire season with a torn ACL, while Chris Thompson and Samaje Perine should both be ready for the start of the regular season.Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said Tuesday he would like to give his new running back some work during Friday's preseason game against the Denver Broncos, according to Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper."(Peterson) wasn't even breathing heavy (during practice)," Gruden told reporters. "He's in fantastic physical shape."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We're officially at the halfway mark of the NFL's preseason slate.With only the all-important third preseason game and the starter-barren fourth contest left to go, time is running out for teams to get themselves ready for Week 1.Here are five of the biggest things we learned from the second week of preseason action:The (2) gloves are off in New YorkTeddy Bridgewater apparently didn't get the memo that the preseason was supposed to be Sam Darnold's show.The New York Jets quarterback continued to remind the NFL world that he possesses starting-caliber talent during Thursday's loss to the Washington Redskins. While you shouldn't read too far into preseason statistics, Bridgewater's numbers - 17 of 23 for 212 yards (9.2 YPA) with two touchdowns and one interception - jump off the screen.

Tom Brady is well aware that a lot of people don't like him.During an appearance on WEEI's "Kirk & Callahan" program Tuesday, the New England Patriots quarterback acknowledged that dealing with criticism comes with the job of being an athlete. He also offered a theory about why it's easier for football fans to direct their animosity toward a particular player or team."I think it's a different part about football, for example, in America," Brady said. "I mean, if you look at a lot of other sports around the world, at some point, maybe you get to represent your country, like watching the World Cup in the summer. I see all these soccer players that play for these different clubs but then come together for their country at some point."In America, we never get a chance to do that. So, most Americans that live in other parts of the country, they don't like the Patriots. They don't like me, and I can understand that. I mean, I was a 49ers fan at one point. They want to see their team win, and when they don't, I think they've got to direct that frustration somewhere else. When you've been successful like our team has been, I think frustration gets directed at us, and that's just part of it."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After winning a Super Bowl as a player and coach, Doug Pederson is entering a whole new arena with the 2018 season approaching.The Eagles' head coach authored a book titled "Fearless: How an Underdog Becomes a Champion" that documents his team's road to Super Bowl glory and provides advice about football, coaching, and play-calling.He also critiques other teams, calling out the Jacksonville Jaguars for a perceived lack of aggression during the 2017 AFC Championship Game. Jacksonville led 17-10 against New England entering the fourth quarter but lost 24-20."I was there thinking, 'You've got to be kidding me right now,'" Pederson wrote in the book, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "It made me mad because Jacksonville had New England right where they wanted them. I was screaming at the TV in my office. When they knelt right before halftime, inside I was like, 'I'll never do that.' It fueled me. They could have at least tried for a field goal. They took it out of their quarterback's hands, and they didn't give it to their big back Leonard Fournette. I thought, 'If they lose this game, this is why.' Sure enough, they would go on to lose the game."Pederson's Eagles would defeat the Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII."I don't want to be normal, I don't want to do what everyone else is doing,” Pederson told The Ringer's Kevin Clark of his commentary in the book. "I believe in being aggressive. If you want to go 8-8, 9-7, that's OK. Those are good seasons, but I don't want to be in a box."Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone didn't seem upset about Pederson's critique."Hey, Doug won a Super Bowl," Marrone said, according to ESPN's Michael DiRocco. "Doug did a great job of coaching. I'm sure there's a long line of people that have the same questions or feelings. It's just what you're going to do. ..."I respect the hell out of him and his team and he won a Super Bowl. We lost, and when you lose you question everything, so I don't have a problem with it."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In addition to his duties in the broadcast booth this NFL season, retired Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has joined Corona Extra as a hotline operator.Fans can call 1-844-9-Corona all season long to hear Romo's gameday thoughts and enter for a chance to win prizes, including poolside seats in Las Vegas during Super Bowl LIII weekend.Romo takes over for Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden, who operated the hotline last season."I am thrilled to join the team and man the Corona Hotline," Romo said in a statement. "Between fantasy matchups and waiting each week for your favorite team's game, football brings a lot of excitement. I am ready to help fans deal with the highs and lows of this football season so they can kick back and enjoy with friends and family."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.