Get ready for your season with theScore's 2018 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.Every game night during the preseason, theScore's Justin Boone gets you caught up on the most important fantasy performances from around the league.Hyde stands aloneIt's only the second week of the preseason, but we already have a clear winner in the Browns' backfield competition. Congratulations, Carlos Hyde.Hyde took advantage of a weak run defense against Buffalo, amassing 64 yards and a score on nine carries. He was quick and decisive, bouncing an early run outside before laying down a nasty stiff arm for a 26-yard gain.

Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams was spotted with a cast on his right leg after leaving Friday's preseason game against the Cleveland Browns with an apparent knee injury.Williams didn't speak to reporters postgame.

Buffalo Bills quarterback AJ McCarron reportedly suffered a hairline fracture of the collarbone in the first quarter of the team's preseason victory over the Cleveland Browns, according to The Buffalo News' Vic Carucci.McCarron exited the contest in the first quarter, and the Bills later ruled him out for the game.Following the win, head coach Sean McDermott said the quarterback will undergo further tests on his throwing shoulder, but couldn't provide further details, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.The severity of the injury is not yet known, but it could open the door for rookie Josh Allen to claim Buffalo's Week 1 starting quarterback job. He'll battle Nathan Peterman for the spot in the event McCarron misses an extended period of time.McCarron spent the first four seasons of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals after being selected in the fifth round in 2014. He served as Andy Dalton's primary backup.The Bills signed the former Alabama pivot to a two-year contract worth $10 million in March.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

To the naked eye, the new Green Bay Packers might not look much different than the old team.Aaron Rodgers, arguably the NFL’s best individual talent, is still commanding the huddle. Jordy Nelson is gone, but receivers Davante Adams and Randall Cobb remain. And outside linebacker Clay Matthews anchors the pass rush for another season.There's no question, however, that the 2018 Packers are different.Under new general manager Brian Gutekunst, the club didn't sit out free agency and pass on major signings, as Green Bay did so often in the past. Former GM Ted Thompson's careful and methodical approach did lead to a title in 2010, but the Packers have lacked talent around Rodgers since.Gutekunst didn’t go guns-a-blazin' with the team’s bankroll, but he did land two significant weapons on the open market: Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham and defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson.Graham, 31, signed a three-year, $30 million deal with $11 million guaranteed - a major haul for the Packers, a team that focused mainly on defense during free agency throughout the Thompson era. Wilkerson, 28, reunites with defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, who oversaw the Jets' defense when Wilkerson was at his best in New York.Graham might be aging, but he's still capable of maximizing his 6-foot-7 frame alongside Rodgers, who's a master of escaping the pocket and executing back-shoulder and jump-ball throws. Graham has built his career on winning tough battles for those contested catches.A five-time Pro Bowler, Graham did his first Lambeau Leap on Thursday night after hauling in an eight-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers during preseason action against the Steelers.Rodgers made the throw after dodging an effective three-man rush with a pump fake and slight roll to his left, giving Graham enough time for an inside move at the top of his route against rookie safety Terrell Edmunds. Rodgers put extra air under the throw, making sure only his towering target could come down with the ball.Expect to see plenty of those connections this season as the Packers attempt to stabilize an area of their offense that hasn't looked the same since tight end Jermichael Finley suffered a spinal cord injury in 2013, cutting his season short and eventually ending his career.Finley racked up 55-plus receptions and 660-plus yards three times in four seasons from 2009 to 2012. In the five years since Finley's retirement, the Packers have had four different tight ends lead the position.Combine the catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns from Martellus Bennett’s 2017 season and Jared Cook’s 2016 season, and Finley's best three years still come out on top.Also, only two 100-plus yard receiving games have been recorded by a Packers tight end since the start of the 2011 season. Graham hit the 100-yard mark 16 times in the same span while playing for the Saints and Seahawks.In 2018, if Graham and the Packers' running backs stay healthy, Rodgers should have enough weapons around him to push his team into Super Bowl contention. He's capable of venturing into Philadelphia for an ice-cold January playoff game and coming out victorious. He already pulled off the feat once, bouncing the Eagles out of the playoffs at Lincoln Financial Field in a wild-card game on Jan. 9, 2011.A few weeks later, Rodgers hoisted the Lombardi Trophy for the first and only time.Rodgers and the Packers have since flirted with another title, losing in the NFC Championship Game twice over the past four seasons. Graham and Wilkerson could provide the boost Green Bay needs to play in another Super Bowl.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

LeBron James has weighed in on the Cleveland Browns' potential addition of Dez Bryant.The Los Angeles Lakers star and Akron, Ohio native threw his support behind the idea while responding to a tweet from Tom Whithers of The Associated Press on Friday.

The Green Bay Packers were startled by an unusual sight during Thursday's preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.With the first quarter underway, two U.S. Navy helicopters flew over Lambeau Field and circled the stadium, shortly after Packers tight end Jimmy Graham hauled in an eight-yard touchdown pass.Both the Packers and Green Bay Police didn't anticipate the flyover."Typically, such flights around the stadium are (anthem) flyovers or when we arrange for photos. Sometimes the networks will have aircraft, too," Packers spokesman Aaron Popkey said to Richard Ryman and Doug Schneider of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "It was not anything scheduled for the game.""That had us scrambling last night," Green Bay Police commander Paul Ebel added.

Add Malcolm Jenkins to the list of players that are perplexed by the NFL's new rules prohibiting leading with the helmet.The Philadelphia Eagles safety was flagged for unnecessary roughness Thursday for a hit on New England Patriots wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson.Jenkins didn't agree with the explanation given by the officials."The explanation I got for the flag was that I didn't have to hit him, which is kind of opposite of what my job description is," Jenkins said, according to NESN's Zack Cox. "So I don't understand that."Jenkins' comments are the latest revealing that players aren't on the same page as the NFL's Competition Committee regarding the altered rules.The confusion began during the Hall of Fame game, where members of the Baltimore Ravens were puzzled by the officials' enforcement of the new regulations.The Eagles met with NFL referees in July to get clarity on the changes but came away frustrated and confused.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles is in the clear after undergoing tests on a strained shoulder suffered in Thursday's preseason defeat to the New England Patriots, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Rapoport added that Foles won't require "any prolonged recovery."The backup quarterback was hurt on a strip sack in the second quarter of the contest. However, he didn't appear concerned after the game, telling reporters he felt "pretty good."Carson Wentz, by his own admission, remains a question mark to be ready for the Eagles' season opener, so Foles' health continues to be of the utmost importance to the defending Super Bowl champions.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

ESPN's first NFL broadcast of the 2018 season took place on Thursday, and it didn't include the national anthem.Fans didn't see the anthem while watching the Washington Redskins square off against the New York Jets, with the network still choosing not to show the pregame ceremony."We generally have not broadcasted the anthem and I don't think that will change this year," ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro said on Friday, according to Sara Fischer of Axios. "Our plan going into this year is to not broadcast the anthem."The NFL and NFLPA are negotiating an anthem policy after protests drew the ire of President Donald Trump.However, the broadcasters of Monday Night Football aren't keeping a hard line on the company mandate. ESPN reserves the right to change its stance as news develops."Again, that could change. It's unpredictable what could happen in the world but as of now, we're not," Pitaro said. "We have communicated that back to the NFL. They have not asked but as courtesy and good partners we have let them know what our plans are.""We've seen the data from our fans that they like the game and that's what they want," added ESPN senior vice president of event and studio production Stephanie Druley. "So that's where we will keep our focus."- With h/t to Pro Football TalkCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson doesn't carry any resentment for star safety and longtime teammate Earl Thomas, who's holding out of training camp with a year left on his contract."This is our livelihoods and everything else," Wilson told reporters Thursday, according to Liz Matthews of Seahawks Wire. "This isn't just - it is fun, and it is games, but it isn't just fun and games, if that makes sense. It's real life, and I think that Earl is working his way through that, whatever that may be."Thomas has been an integral part of the Seahawks' defense for the past eight seasons, but Seattle's reluctance to tie up more money in a player nearing his 30th birthday has led to an impasse.Thomas has told the team to trade him if they're not going to offer him a contract extension. Should the two sides work their differences out, Wilson appears prepared to be the first one at the door welcoming the six-time Pro Bowler back into the fold."I know one thing about Earl Thomas," said Wilson. "He's, in my opinion, one of the best safeties to ever step on the field arguably, and I believe that he'll be ready to play if he decides to come back and he's ready to roll."Thomas posted 88 tackles and two interceptions across 14 contests last season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

(Warning: Videos contain coarse language)The latest edition of Madden NFL was released earlier in August, and with it comes a whole new set of glitches.From Le'Veon Bell teleporting across the field to an announcer forgetting the Chargers moved to Los Angeles, here are some of the most absurd glitches people have found in Madden 19 so far.

Teddy's back.The New York Jets quarterback impressed again in his second appearance of the preseason, completing 10 of his 15 passes for 127 yards with a touchdown and an interception Thursday night. Stats aside, Bridgewater looked poised, confident, and calculating - the gruesome 2016 knee injury that put his career in jeopardy a distant memory.The Jets appear intent on starting either veteran Josh McCown or rookie Sam Darnold to open the season. However, signing Bridgewater to a one-year, $6-million deal appears to have been a rare sage move by the franchise. It could end up getting great value via a trade or a compensatory pick if the QB signs elsewhere after the season.In the present, there's no shortage of teams that could use a quarterback of Bridgewater's quality. Here are three that should be reaching out to the Jets:Tampa Bay BuccaneersIn Jameis Winston, the Buccaneers have a talented yet inconsistent quarterback with character issues. In a make-or-break season for the franchise, it'll be without Winston for the first three games due to a suspension for inappropriately touching an Uber driver.Winston is only signed on for the 2019 season via the fifth-year option in his rookie contract. If the Bucs decide he isn't worth the trouble, they can cut him before the first day of the 2019 league year and save the $20 million he's scheduled to make.In Bridgewater, Tampa Bay could land the young franchise quarterback it's been searching for. Still just 25 years old, Teddy is a far more consistent passer, having completed 64 percent of his career passes compared to Jameis' 60 percent. He's also much less turnover-prone, having given up the ball 25 times in two seasons as a starter to Winston's 59 turnovers in three years.If the Bucs complete a trade for Bridgewater before the regular season starts, he could slide in behind Ryan Fitzpatrick for the first three games and then push Winston for the role of franchise quarterback going forward.Denver BroncosBroncos general manager John Elway is considering bringing aboard an experienced backup to Case Keenum. He should look no further than Bridgewater.The Broncos lack confidence that either Paxton Lynch or Chad Kelly would thrive if thrown into the fire in live action. Lynch has disappointed in prior regular seasons and this preseason, while Kelly just made his NFL debut in last week's preseason game.Surely, Keenum is tired of having quarterbacks breathe down his neck, as Bridgewater did last season. But the reality is, if Keenum succumbs to an injury, or reverts to his pre-2017 form, the Broncos will need a quarterback capable of keeping the train on the tracks.Denver's defense remains formidable enough to keep the team in contention in the wide-open AFC West. The acquisition of Bridgewater could put Lynch's nerves - and those of Broncos fans everywhere - at ease.Miami DolphinsBridgewater has the talent to compete for the Dolphins' starting role, but the Miami native would likely slot in as the backup.David Fales and Brock Osweiler are currently competing for that role in a battle that head coach Adam Gase said will take all of training camp to decide. In his four-year career, Fales has appeared in three games. And Osweiler, after bouncing around from Houston to Cleveland to Denver last year, went 10-for-21 and 83 yards in his first appearance with the Dolphins last week.Miami is just getting Ryan Tannehill back into the fold after he missed the entire 2017 season with a torn ACL. But while he's been fully cleared and appears healthy, his mobility may be an area of concern. Like the Broncos, the Dolphins need a backup quarterback who inspires confidence.Bridgewater is one year further in his recovery from a knee injury of his own. However, in limited preseason action, he's shown all systems are go.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)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:

Merriam-Webster defines fear as "an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger."If you're a left tackle in the NFL, that's the feeling you get lining up across from Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue.On a defense filled with players who keep offensive coordinators up at night, Ngakoue has earned his place among the most feared.The 6-foot-2, 246-pound defender is a violent and explosive pass-rusher who has become one of the NFL's most potent defensive ends. In 2017, he finished eighth among edge defenders with at least 100 pass-rush snaps in pass-rush productivity, according to Pro Football Focus, doing most of his damage off the right side. The former third-round pick uses an explosive get-off and upfield burst, powerful hands, an uncommon ability to contort his body, and an array of moves to batter opposing blockers - with a particular fondness for the cross chop.The cross chop was popularized by former Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Tamba Hali, and it's been gaining popularity among NFL pass-rushers. The move requires a high level of coordination of the feet and hands, as well as precise hand placement and timing. It's difficult to master, but when it's mastered, it can be devastating.Of Ngakoue's 20 career sacks, nine directly resulted from his cross chop. Here's a good example of how he typically uses it:On this play, Ngakoue is aligned wide as the right defensive end with an angled stance toward the ball. After the ball's snapped, he explodes out of his stance and takes two steps directly toward the left tackle. Before continuing, let's take a closer look at how this affects the left tackle's pass set:Notice how the left tackle initially looks to take a wide set but is forced to stay tight because of Ngakoue's entry. As soon as Ngakoue identifies the left tackle's inside foot moving slightly backward, he puts his inside foot in the ground and initiates his cross chop.As soon as the left tackle punches with his outside hand, Ngakoue explodes off his inside foot and uses his inside hand to come across his body and chop down the left tackle's outside hand. From there, Ngakoue clubs with his outside hand - which pushes the left tackle over his toes and makes him unable to recover - while getting his hips pointed toward the quarterback so he can accelerate into the pocket for the sack.While Ngakoue was effective with the cross chop in his rookie year, savvier offensive linemen learned to neutralize his best move. In his second year, he developed a counter to go with it, which helped him pass the 10-sack mark.Here, Ngakoue is once again aligned wide as the right defensive end for the Jaguars. His entry is the exact same as above, but he fails to get his inside hand all the way to the left tackle's outside wrist.Instead of stopping his feet and quitting on the move, he seamlessly transitions to a rip move, ripping his inside arm upward on the left tackle's outside wrist, allowing Ngakoue to get to the left tackle's edge, turn the corner, and flatten to the quarterback.That kind of coordination and explosiveness is rare, and it's a big reason why the Maryland product is one of the most potent pass-rushers in the NFL.That's not to say there isn't some fine-tuning required. When he's not getting pressure, Ngakoue too often gets pushed past the apex of the pocket, leaving a gaping hole for the quarterback to escape out of.That only makes him more frightening, though, as it shows he isn't close to his ceiling. He can reach new heights under the tutelage of Jaguars defensive line coach Marion Hobby, who has a good track record of developing defensive ends at the collegiate level.The more refined Ngakoue gets, the more fearful opposing offensive tackles will become.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn will miss the entire season after tearing his Achilles during Thursday night's preseason affair with the Philadelphia Eagles, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Wynn suffered the injury on his first snap and was carted to the locker room after being examined by trainers on the sideline. The rookie was competing for a starting spot on New England's offensive line and was lined up at right tackle when his Achilles gave out.Related: Trent Brown could be steal of offseason for powerhouse PatriotsThe Patriots selected Wynn with the 23rd overall pick in the 2018 draft.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady and Nick Foles' supposed beef has been put to rest.The quarterbacks failed to shake hands after the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII, leading some to criticize Brady for lacking sportsmanship.However, the two connected after their preseason contest Thursday, and Brady emphasized that he never intended to avoid Foles back in February."That was kind of made up to me because that was never my intention that I would be a bad sport," Brady said after the Patriots' 37-20 win, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. "But, I have a lot of respect for Nick and Carson (Wentz), all those quarterbacks, and that team and the way they played. They're a great team."I know how hard it is to win that last game, and they did it and congrats to them. But, we're on to 2018. We've got our goals ahead of us. We're going to try to go out and put together a great year."Foles dismissed the notion that there were any hard feelings between the two passers."I think everyone's made a big deal about it. There's a lot of craziness," the Super Bowl MVP said. "I've always respected Tom, I met Tom several times, and it was great to see him."But like I said, I think everyone made a bigger deal, because at the end of the day, he's a great dude. He's a heck of a player, one of the greatest of all time, and you know, to say hi, that's what quarterbacks do after games. I know everyone made a big deal of the Super Bowl, but the Super Bowl's chaos after. But he was nice, as he always is, so I wished him the best of luck this season."The Patriots and the Eagles are the odds-on favorites to meet again in the big game.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Francisco 49ers won't take any chances with their big-money free-agent acquisition.After starting running back Jerick McKinnon avoided a major knee injury last week in practice, only suffering a calf strain, the 49ers will keep him on the sidelines until Week 1, general manager John Lynch told Brian Murphy of KNBR 680 on Friday.McKinnon is set to be the focal point of head coach Kyle Shanahan's much-lauded rushing attack after signing a four-year, $30-million deal.The 26-year-old had nearly 1,000 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns for the Minnesota Vikings last season.Backup running back Matt Breida is also sidelined with a shoulder injury, which necessitated the signing of free agent Alfred Morris as additional depth, so the 49ers are being understandably cautious by shutting down their top back for the remainder of the preseason.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dez Bryant and the Cleveland Browns will continue discussions after their free-agent meeting ended late Friday morning without a deal in place, a league source told Mary Kay Kabot of Cleveland.com.Bryant's visit to the Dawg Pound began on Thursday afternoon and reportedly went well. He stopped by a Cleveland radio station after leaving the Browns' facility Thursday and said the two sides are "just trying to work some things out."The 29-year-old wide receiver has been the marquee free agent available since the Dallas Cowboys released him on April 13. A three-time Pro Bowler, Bryant recorded 838 receiving yards on 69 catches with six touchdowns in 2017.The Browns are Bryant's only known suitor at this point.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.Every game night during the preseason, theScore's Justin Boone gets you caught up on the most important fantasy performances from around the league.Graham likes LambeauJimmy Graham has scored at least nine touchdowns in five of the last seven seasons - he's about to do it again.Graham's red-zone skills were on display Thursday night when Aaron Rodgers found his new tight end for a nine-yard score. Graham went up and snatched the ball out of the air before making his first Lambeau Leap.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles will undergo further testing Friday on a strained shoulder, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.He suffered the injury early in the second quarter of Thursday's preseason game against the New England Patriots on a strip sack by defensive end Adrian Clayborn. The loose ball was recovered by Ja'Whaun Bentley and returned for a 54-yard touchdown.Foles told reporters after the game that he feels "pretty good," Schefter adds.

Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Jacoby Brissett remain as tight as ever despite no longer playing for the same team.The former Patriots teammates - or "The Wolf Pack," as they became known in New England - still chat in a group text, according to Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com."We always throw out jokes and stuff like that," Garoppolo said. "It was a good group of guys. I love those guys. Fun guys to be in the same room with. It was a good time.”"It's the same humor that we shared in the QB room. It was just three guys that all got along very well. We played off each other well, too. It was funny."Added Brissett: "We're still close. I don't think we need to be around each other to be tight."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley surely has few regrets about his chosen profession after winning Offensive Player of the Year and securing a four-year, $60-million extension in July. In another lifetime, however, Gurley would be starring in the NBA.Gurley spoke to GQ's Kevin Nguyen about his penchant for hurdling defenders, but revealed that he would've rather played basketball if he was equally proficient at raining threes as he is as at dashing through the open field."I always did football, man. I played basketball. That's everyone's real dream, but that didn't work out too well," Gurley said.Asked if he could hypothetically transfer his football skills and become a basketball player, Gurley responded "oh yeah, most definitely."It's certainly an intriguing response from one of the NFL's most exciting players. However, Gurley can take solace in being the engine behind a genuine Super Bowl contender and set his sights on winning Offensive Player of the Year for a second consecutive year.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz said earlier this week that he isn't sure if he'll be ready for Week 1 following the torn ACL that ended his 2017 season.Whenever his injured knee is healthy enough for him to return to game action, it appears as though his throwing arm will be ready.Data collected by Zebra Technologies' player tracking system the Eagles had installed in 2014 indicates Wentz is throwing the ball harder, and more accurately, than before his injury."Those are things we track actually with the footballs and things that we have," head coach Doug Pederson said, according to ESPN's Tim McManus. "We can monitor that stuff. Velocity has been up, accuracy has been up. Those are the things he's been able to work on over the course of the year."The tracking system includes tags in players' shoulder pads and a chip inside the ball to calculate biometric measurements, as well as the velocity and spin rate of the ball on throws.Wentz had been in the mix of the 2017 MVP race prior to his Week 14 injury. Pederson says Wentz may be compensating with added attention to detail, leading to improvements in his overall game."He got better last year, obviously, in games," said Pederson. "To me it's all about eye placement, decision-making, accuracy, timing. It's all about the eyes and where you throw it and how you see it. That's one thing he's continued to get better at and work on. I do feel like now, because of the injury, he's focusing a little more on lower-body strength. It's really correlated to velocity and overall speed of the throw."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson showed glimpses of potential stardom during his rookie year before it came crashing to an end. Entering his second season, Carson has gained a major endorsement from one of the Seahawks' core players.Bobby Wagner, expected to be the leader of the defense after several departures this offseason, raved about Carson as the season approaches."There's a difference when Chris Carson runs the ball," Wagner said on The Rich Eisen Show. "He just stands out to me. Every time you watch film, whether it's him out of the backfield or running the ball, he stands out to me."I felt like we kind of got a glimpse of that last year; unfortunately he got hurt. So I'm excited to see how that looks in 16 games. He looks really, really strong and he looks like he's on a mission."Carson broke his ankle during an Oct. 1 game against the Indianapolis Colts and missed the remainder of the year. Seattle drafted running back Rashaad Penny in the first round of the 2018 draft and some believe he'll become their eventual starter when he recovers from a broken finger. If Wagner's endorsement carries weight, however, don't be surprised if Carson emerges as an unlikely star for the Seahawks.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears linebacker Roquan Smith was the last of April's first-round picks to sign his rookie contract when he did so Tuesday.While Smith caused a stir among some Bears fans, Danny Trevathan says the No. 8 overall pick may have improved contract negotiations for those who come after him."I'm proud because he made a decision and stuck with it," Trevathan said Wednesday, according to Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. "I'm more proud … It's going to lead to more people doing that."Smith's four-year rookie deal is worth more than $18 million and includes $11.5 million in guarantees. It was widely reported that the Bears' front office wanted to retain the ability to void some of his guarantees if he got suspended. Smith's camp was particularly concerned about how the enforcement of the NFL's new helmet rule would affect the linebacker's potential earnings.His 29-day holdout ended after the team officially agreed it would only take away his contract guarantees if he's suspended three or more games for a football play or if he's suspended two or more games for an incident after the whistle.Smith's teammates don't have that assurance in their contracts, according to Finley. The Bears could have voided Trevathan's guarantees last season after he was suspended one game but elected not to."It was big for (Smith) to do that," said Trevathan. "It was tough. I know he wanted to get here with his team, and a lot of people were saying, 'Oh, he needs to get there,' and a lot of other bullcrap. You've just got to focus on you sometimes. You only get one chance to do that and I told him, 'Do it the right way - your heart will never lead you wrong. Do the job and then get here so we can win some games.'"Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker is being evaluated for an undisclosed injury after hobbling off the field during a joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday.Walker headed to the locker room and didn't return after being tackled following his catch of a deep ball from Marcus Mariota, per the Tennessean's Erik Bacharach.Titans head coach Mike Vrabel didn't provide further details during his media availability."I'll let you know — no I probably won't let you know, but hopefully he'll be OK," Vrabel said of Walker, via TitanInsider.com's Terry McCormick.Walker has been named to the Pro Bowl in three consecutive seasons, recording 74 receptions for 807 yards and three touchdowns during the 2017 season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots have started negotiations on a contract extension for wide receiver Chris Hogan, a source told Jeff Howe of The Athletic.A deal doesn't appear to be imminent, as the report says that talks are in the early stages and the two sides have a gap to bridge before a new contract comes together.Hogan, 29, is entering the final season of a three-year deal worth $12 million that he signed ahead of the 2016 campaign. He posted a career-high 680 yards with four touchdowns two seasons ago and registered 439 yards and five scores in nine appearances last year.New England will open the 2018 regular season Sept. 9 against the Houston Texans.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants' joint practice with the Detroit Lions brought back memories for Odell Beckham Jr.At the 2014 NFL Draft, Beckham was still available with the Lions on the clock with the 10th pick of the first round."I thought that Tampa Bay was a possibility. I thought Buffalo was a possibility; they traded up and got Sammy (Watkins at No. 4). Tampa took Mike Evans (No. 7)," Beckham recalled after practice, according to Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press."And then 10th, I was like, 'Alright, I'm going to go to Detroit.'"Instead, the Lions selected tight end Eric Ebron, the first player at his position to come off the board.Detroit had acquired Golden Tate in free agency to pair with superstar Calvin Johnson, but receiver remained an area of need. Beckham thought everything was lined up."Didn't happen and then I went 12th to the Giants. So I think it worked out perfectly. But I do remember that."That season, the Lions finished 12th in passing, while the Giants ranked seventh on the strength of Beckham's 91-catch, 1,305-yard, 12-TD season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tim Tebow is venturing into the world of filmmaking.The former NFL quarterback and current New York Mets minor-league outfielder is executive producing "Run the Race," a faith-based movie about a pair of athlete brothers, reports Bryan Alexander of USA TODAY. Tebow's brother Robby is also serving as an executive producer.From Alexander:

Despite having the unproven duo of Paxton Lynch and Chad Kelly as the Denver Broncos' backup quarterbacks, general manager John Elway made it clear Tuesday that his team has no interest in again pursuing Colin Kaepernick."Well, you know what and I said this a while ago, Colin had his chance to be here," said Elway, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. "We offered him a contract. He didn't take it. And as I said at my deposition, and I don't know if I'm legally able to say this, but he had his chance to be here. He passed it."Denver had interest in Kaepernick leading up to the 2016 season, but a trade with the San Francisco 49ers couldn't be completed because the quarterback wouldn't accept the Broncos' proposed pay cut.The Broncos had no known interest in the pivot, however, once he hit the open market following the end of the campaign. Elway was among many high-profile NFLers who were deposed in Kaepernick's collusion case against the league.Denver inked Case Keenum to a two-year, $36-million contract this offseason to be the team's starter. But Lynch, a former first-round pick, has failed to establish himself as the No. 2 and was outperformed in the first preseason game by Kelly, who was the last pick in the 2017 draft."We'll wait and see happens this week and go from there. I feel we still have time, so let the young guys take the reps and go from there," Elway said about the prospect of potentially adding a different veteran passer, according to Ryan O'Halloran of The Denver Post.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.theScore's Justin Boone breaks down the best ways to approach your draft depending on where you're selecting in the order.Draft Position

Pittsburgh Steelers star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has cleared the NFL's concussion protocol and is "fine" after taking a hit and staying on the ground for several minutes in Tuesday's practice, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.Roethlisberger was forced to leave the seven-on-seven session early with team trainers following a collision on a rollout with offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra.The 36-year-old traveled to Green Bay with the rest of his teammates for Thursday's second preseason game against the Packers.However, Roethlisberger won't suit up for the contest, and it's unclear if he'll play the usual extended snaps in the third preseason game after this latest injury scare.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL Sundays could be getting a lot louder once again.ESPN is working to expand the role of semi-retired broadcasting legend Chris "Boomer" Berman, sources told Andrew Marchand of the New York Post.Berman wouldn't return to a full-time role, but it's possible that he could contribute to or even host "SportsCenter" on Sunday nights.Additionally, the 63-year-old may provide features and interviews to his old stomping ground, "Sunday NFL Countdown," which suffered a 12 percent ratings drop in its first year with Sam Ponder as host.Berman stepped down from several of his football-related positions at the network in January 2017. His wife, Katherine Ann Berman, died in a car accident in May of the same year.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dion Lewis may have led the New England Patriots in rushing last season, but it wasn't enough to keep the running back in Foxboro.Lewis signed a four-year, $19-million contract with the Tennessee Titans in free agency, and said this week that the Patriots didn't see him in their plans."I'm happy with the decision, and this is the decision I would've made even if they did offer. If they wanted me, they could've had me," Lewis told Ben Volin of the Boston Globe."Obviously, they didn't want me, they didn't think I was good enough to be there. I just had to move on and do what's best for me."Lewis put up career bests of 180 carries, 896 rushing yards, and nine total touchdowns in 2017. He'll be partnered with Derrick Henry in the Titans' backfield this season, and he's dead set on proving his worth."I always carry a chip on my shoulder, always eager to prove the kind of player I am," Lewis added.- With h/t to NFL.comCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Video contains coarse languageTerrelle Pryor was the target of much derision this week after he was caught on film flinching badly when Washington Redskins defensive back D.J. Swearinger pretended to swing at him during a joint practice Tuesday.

A marquee name is missing from joint practices between the Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars this week in advance of the teams' preseason tilt Saturday.Jacksonville suspended star defensive back Jalen Ramsey for one week after he critiqued local media outlets, leaving the Vikings' wide receivers disappointed at their missed opportunity to run routes against one of the NFL's best."It's kind of a bummer that Jalen (Ramsey)'s not here because he's such a great player," Vikings receiver Adam Thielen said, via TwinCities.com's Dane Mizutani. "It would have been fun to compete against him.""He's a great corner, and we were looking forward to going against him," receiver Stefon Diggs added. "They went just as far as us (last season) and their defense was their strong point. We were looking forward to it. There will come a time."Despite Ramsey's absence, Minnesota's top receivers are looking forward to the challenge of battling the league's No. 1 pass defense from 2017."You watch them on tape, there's so many contested catches," Thielen said. "There's not a whole lot of open guys catching the ball and turning and running. I think that’s what led to turnovers."You know, when there's contested catches and when there's a guy all over a guy when he's trying to catch a football, that usually leads to tipped balls and overthrows and things like that. It's going to be a challenge these next couple of days."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Defensive end Khalil Mack's absence from Oakland Raiders training camp due to a prolonged contract holdout has been one of the biggest storylines hovering around the team this offseason, but head coach Jon Gruden says it hasn't been affecting those who are present."I don't think it's been a distraction," Gruden said, according to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN. "It's obviously, for me, been disappointing. You want to have your best player here. This guy is really a great guy, too. I'm disappointed we don't have him here. Going to try to get him here as soon as we can. In the time being, you've got to move on. You've got to get up and go to work. That's one thing I'm very proud of what we've done here."Mack is scheduled to play the 2018 season on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract and will carry a cap hit of $13.8 million.Gruden said last month that he hasn't spoken to Mack since being named head coach of the Raiders back in January.The fifth overall pick of the 2014 draft has made the Pro Bowl in each of the past three seasons. He was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 while being named an All-Pro for a second consecutive season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In case you needed more convincing that Baker Mayfield is unlikely to start for the Cleveland Browns in Week 1, head coach Hue Jackson hinted that Drew Stanton could be the team's backup quarterback entering the season."I've said from the beginning that I think experience is important,'' Jackson said when asked about the Browns' backup quarterback position, per Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot. "Right now, Drew still has that experience, and we'll see how that all unfolds as we go. I haven't made that choice just yet, but his veteran presence says a lot."He's played in a lot of games against a lot of teams that we are going to start off against and play against so I think that is important to definitely consider."Jackson's comments would seemingly leave Mayfield as Cleveland's third-string pivot. The 2018 No. 1 overall pick will apparently not receive any first-team reps during preseason games, but has taken the majority of second-team reps during camp.The Browns' coach plans on changing this in Friday's preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, giving the veteran Stanton an extended look with the backups."He never played for me in a game, (Offensive coordinator) Todd (Haley) or (quarterbacks coach) Kenny (Zampese),'' Jackson said. "It's important that we put him out there with his teammates and (let him) play. He's a very valuable person in our organization and on our football team."If something were to happen (to starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor), we'd have to make a heck of a decision on which road we travel. I want to know more about him, and he's been great at practice. You have to put guys in game situations and let them play."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns safety Damarious Randall made a big promise ahead of the 2018 NBA Finals, vowing to buy jerseys for retweeters if the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Golden State Warriors.The Cavs went on to lose the series, but Randall donated jerseys anyway, delivering boxes of his No. 23 jersey to a local Boys and Girls Club recently.

The Fulton County District Attorney's Office announced Wednesday they won't move forward with the rape case against Denver Broncos defensive lineman Adam Gotsis, per The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala.Gotsis was arrested in March after a woman said he raped her in 2013 while he played for Georgia Tech. However, the District Attorney's Office believes "the evidence presented does not warrant any further action" in the case.The 30-year-old woman says she was raped in Atlanta on March 9, 2013. The woman reported the incident on Feb. 1, according to the initial police report.Denver drafted Gotsis in the second round in 2016. He started 13 games in 2017.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.In addition to a very polarizing debate on Deshaun Watson, topics for this episode include:

Jacksonville Jaguars star cornerback Jalen Ramsey left a trail of destruction in his wake Wednesday when he roasted a host of quarterbacks from around the league in an in-depth interview with GQ.Matthew Stafford and Eli Manning were among Ramsey's targets, though the former was one of a handful he didn't have too strong of an opinion on."I don't think he the best quarterback out there. But he do what he gotta do," Ramsey said.Ramsey wasn't as kind to Manning."Eli … It's not really Eli," he said. "I think it's Odell (Beckham Jr.). I won't say Eli's good, I'll say Odell's good. And their connection is good."Detroit Lions receiver Golden Tate came to the defense of his quarterback, but also called Ramsey "good people" and "one of the homies." The Jaguars cornerback is dating Tate’s younger sister, Bre."He has his opinion," Tate said, before asking a reporter what happened the last time the Jaguars and Lions clashed, according to Eric Edholm of Pro Football Weekly.The answer? Detroit took down Jacksonville, 26-19, during the 2016 season, leaving Ramsey crying on the bench after the game."Oh," Tate responded.Never one to stoke the fires of outside drama, Manning initially refused to comment on Ramsey's criticisms.However, the smiling two-time Super Bowl winner apparently couldn't resist just one dig."Who?" he said under his breath.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andy Dalton's foundation was flooded with donations after he helped end the Bills' 17-year playoff drought last season, and now the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback is repaying Buffalo fans for their generosity.Dalton and his wife, Jordan, announced Wednesday that his foundation will make a donation to the Roswell Park Cancer Center in Buffalo.

Nick Foles harbors no ill will toward Tom Brady, who still hasn't reached out to the Super Bowl LII MVP after snubbing him of a handshake at the end of the championship game in February."No, I haven't," Foles said Wednesday when asked if he'd heard from Brady since the Super Bowl, according to ESPN's Tim McManus. "We both have a lot going on in our lives so, you know, in time."Foles and Brady engaged in a classic Super Bowl battle, with the two quarterbacks stuffing the stat sheet and trading touchdowns for much of the night until Foles' Philadelphia Eagles came up with a late defensive stop to seal the contest.Once the score went final and confetti started to fill the stadium, Brady left the field without finding Foles and congratulating him. The two are set to meet Thursday for the first time since that night as the Eagles and New England Patriots kick off Week 2 of the preseason."It will happen when it happens," Foles said of an exchange with Brady. "We practiced with the Patriots several years ago, and I got to stand there and talk to Tom for quite a bit. He's a great guy. I have all the respect in the world for him."I think everyone's making a really big deal out of this and it's not a big deal at all. I've already talked to him before, he's a guy I've always looked up to. You've got to admire someone who is probably the greatest ever and still going strong. I mean, even at his age he seems to get better and better. I've already had a conversation with him before when we practiced, so if we have one in the future, we'll have one and it will be cool."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baker Mayfield impressed in his preseason debut, but he won't be climbing the depth chart anytime soon.Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero that Mayfield won't get any first-team reps in the preseason."I have not changed. I'm not going to change," Jackson said. "Tyrod Taylor's the starting quarterback here, and Baker's the future of the organization."Playing behind Taylor in Week 1 of the preseason, Mayfield completed 11 of his 20 passes and threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns.The showing intensified debates about whether he'll become the starter sooner than envisioned.Related: Baker Mayfield should be starting for the Browns"This is for the betterment not only of the organization long term, but it's also better for the development of Baker, in terms of when it comes time for him to actually step on the field and play," general manager John Dorsey told Pelissero.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rob Gronkowski is notoriously frugal when it comes to spending his NFL money, but he did treat himself to a luxury piece of jewelry recently.The New England Patriots tight end, who earned $10.18 million last season, showed off his new diamond chain while appearing on the Uninterrupted series "Kneading Dough.""When I signed my incentive deal last year, my friend had a chain, and I was like, 'Dang, man, that's a nice chain.' I'd never had jewelry in my life ... So then in the back of my head, I said, if I hit all my incentives, if I do everything I need to do, get all my bonuses, put all the work in, I gotta finally treat myself," Gronkowski said."It's been eight years, I haven't really bought anything in my career, don't really have anything luxury like that. So last week, I finally went out and bought myself a chain. I got it on right now. It's right here, baby. I finally got one, and I love this puppy. This is my first thing I've ever gotten, and I love it. It feels good. Now I know why people got jewelry. Now I understand why."In his 2015 memoir "It's Good to be Gronk," Gronkowski revealed he hadn't touched his NFL salary, instead living off his endorsement deals."To this day, I still haven't touched one dime of my signing bonus or NFL contract money," he wrote. "I live off my marketing money and haven't blown it on any big-money expensive cars, expensive jewelry or tattoos and still wear my favorite pair of jeans from high school."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jimmy Garoppolo has quickly become one of the NFL's biggest names.After a stunning midseason trade sent the quarterback from the New England Patriots to the San Francisco 49ers, he energized the football world by leading San Fran to wins in all five games he started. The hype continued this offseason, as Garoppolo's commonly been listed among the top quarterbacks in the NFL, has been the subject of several in-depth profiles, and was even named among the 50 most influential people in sports culture by Bleacher Report.But while much of the spotlight's been focused on Garoppolo, not enough praise has been directed at 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, whose brilliant play designs - his use of two-running back formations, specifically - have made things much easier for his quarterback.Last season, Shanahan and the 49ers often used a "21" offensive personnel group (two running backs, one tight end, and two wide receivers) that included fullback Kyle Juszczyk and was reminiscent of a time when simply gaining 3 yards on runs - and rarely passing - was an actual offensive philosophy.But along with running, Shanahan also used this package to design creative concepts in the passing game. The beauty of doing so is that opponents often keep their base defense on the field against the "21," meaning the quarterback has fewer defensive backs to throw against and is facing players who are more suited to stop the run than the pass.So, let's examine film and pinpoint exactly how Shanahan's used his two-running back scheme to such great effect:Motion, Movement, and ShiftingSimilar to Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Shanahan loves to use movement before the snap, which has a two-fold effect. First, by moving his players around, Shanahan forces the defense to tip its hand. If a defensive back trails a wide receiver in motion, the quarterback gets a clue that he's facing man coverage. If not, that signals a zone. Additionally, by moving around offensive players pre-snap, it's easier to find an exploitable matchup.Take the below example from Week 15 against the Tennessee Titans, with the 49ers facing a 1st-and-10 on their own 15-yard line. They line up with Juszczyk (No. 44) as the lead in a two-back set that features a tight end and one receiver to the right, an I-formation in the backfield, and a single receiver to the left. Tennessee, seeing this personnel package, keeps its base 3-4 defense on the field (three down linemen, four linebackers, and four defensive backs), and shows a "Cover 2 Man Underneath" scheme with two deep safeties and both cornerbacks in man-coverage alignments.But then the movement begins. First, the 49ers "trade" the tight end - shifting him from the right side to an identical spot on the left - before receiver Marquise Goodwin (No. 11) motions from the left to the right. In response, the defensive back who was originally across from Goodwin backpedals instead of following him (showing zone coverage), adjusting the look into more of a Cover 3. Meanwhile, Logan Ryan (No. 26) is now across from Goodwin on the right and backs off slightly as the receiver finishes his motion.What happens next? Goodwin runs a route that breaks in front of Ryan for an easy pitch and catch, and the 49ers have a fresh set of downs:This is a perfect example of how a well-planned scheme can make things easy for a quarterback. By using "21" personnel, the 49ers get the Titans to keep their base defense on the field. The pre-snap movement gets the defense to alter its coverage while confirming for Garoppolo that he's facing zone coverage. And as soon as Ryan backs off Goodwin to protect the deep outside portion of the field, the receiver has space underneath for an easy gain.Here's another example of using personnel and motion, again from Week 15 against the Titans. Facing a 3rd-and-6 in the red zone, the 49ers line up using "20" offensive personnel (two running backs, no tight end, and three receivers) against the Titans' 4-2-5 nickel defense. They begin the play with Garoppolo in the shotgun, Juszczyk standing to the left of his quarterback, and running back Carlos Hyde (No. 28) flexed out to the right:But before the play, Hyde shifts into the backfield, and the Titans' defense again responds - this time showing Garoppolo more of a man-coverage look. They also rotate the free safety down into the box, so the quarterback has a pretty good idea that Tennessee is in a "Zero Blitz" scheme (man coverage in the secondary with everyone else blitzing):That's exactly what happens. San Francisco has an Air Raid offense staple called a "Mesh Concept," in which two receivers cross underneath. In addition, Juszczyk runs a little wheel route to the left. Because of the traffic created by the mesh underneath, Garoppolo is able to find his fullback open before being hit by a blitzer, and the 49ers move the chains:Both of these passes are prime examples of a defense getting caught responding to a two-back set that dictates the terms of the play pre-snap.Play-Action/Run-Pass OptionAs you might imagine, play-action is another way Shanahan uses two-back sets in the passing game.And as mentioned, the "21" personnel package is often used for running plays. NFL teams employed the package on only 7.7 percent of offensive snaps last year, running the football 57 percent of those times (compared to 32 percent when using one running back and three receivers). Meanwhile, the 49ers used the "21" group more than any other team in 2017, and a whopping 42 percent of the time when Garoppolo was under center. That opens up exciting possibilities with play-action fakes in the passing game, as defenders often expect the run when lined up against the two-running back formation.One such design is the "Yankee Concept," which is a two-receiver, maximum-protection, play-action design that consists of a deep post route and an intermediate crossing route. In Week 14, Garoppolo hit Goodwin for a huge gain on this play against the Houston Texans:You can see the effect of the play-action fake here by watching the Texans' linebackers. Because of the situation (first down) and the 49ers' "21" personnel, the defense expects a running play. Houston therefore keeps its base 3-4 defense on the field, and both inside linebackers crash downhill in response to the run fake, opening up the throwing lane to Goodwin's crossing route behind them.Another way Shanahan uses play-action fakes in two-back packages is by designing half-field concepts. These give the quarterback two passing concepts to choose from, one on each side of the field. This could be something as complex as multiple-receiver designs on each side, or something as simple as one receiver to the left and three to the right. The quarterback can make his reads and his ultimate decision on one side of the field or the other, based on the coverage.Last season, Garoppolo hit on some big plays to his backs and tight ends. Here's one design that incorporates play-action and sets up a half-field read for the quarterback:On this play, San Fran has "21" offensive personnel in the game. Shanahan sends the two receivers on deep curl routes, but has the fullback, Juszczyk, release along the sideline on a wheel route. After Garoppolo carries out the play-action fake, he has the curl routes and the wheel route to choose from. It works to perfection:The beauty of this play is that it has an answer whether the defense is playing zone or man coverage. In a zone, the curl routes can break open in front of defenders. In man, as we see here, the play-action fake can delay the linebacker as he attempts to get into coverage, giving the fullback an advantage down the sideline.Finally, we can incorporate run-pass options (known as RPOs) into this mix. Pairing "21" personnel with an RPO play call is just one more way that Shanahan marries the passing game with two-back personnel groups. Here's an example:On this play, the 49ers line up with "21" personnel on the field, using an offset I-formation with its strength to the right side. The offense has a running play called to the right, with a potential backside slant on the left.Tennessee counters with its base 3-4 defense and walks a safety down into the box over the right side of the offense. Seeing the box stacked on the right, Garoppolo chooses the "pass" option and makes the quick decision to throw the backside slant route to the left. While the rest of the offense carries out the running play, including the linemen who run block on the right side, Garoppolo cuts his handoff movement short, spins to the left, and fires to Goodwin.Half-Field ReadsFinally we can look at some of the aforementioned half-field reads that Shanahan calls when the 49ers are using "21" offensive personnel - this time without play-action fakes. The two different route concepts on each side of the field allow the quarterback to "peek" quickly at one before working the other.On this play against the Texans, the 49ers run two different concepts to each side of the field. To the left, they run a "Flat-7 Smash," with a corner route being the "7" and the fullback releasing to the flat. On the right side, they run a "Mills" concept - a post route with a crossing route underneath:The simple design and strong execution leads to a big gain, as San Francisco catches Houston in a blitz and Garoppolo simply flips the ball to Juszczyk in the flat:The other way the 49ers design these half-field reads using "21" personnel is by sending the backside single receiver on a vertical route for Garoppolo to quickly peek at before working the other side of the field with multiple receivers. This allows the offense to potentially catch the defense in a mismatch or take advantage of a speedy receiver on a vertical route before working to the concept itself.On this example against the Titans, San Francisco has the single receiver run a comeback route on the left, while running a "spot" concept to the right:Garrett Celek (No. 88) runs a wheel route from the tight end spot, and is wide open as the other options on his side work underneath. Garoppolo takes a quick look backside at the comeback route before working the right side for a huge gain.Finally, here's another example of this philosophy - this time against the Jaguars:The backside receiver runs a "go" route, while the 49ers implement another "Mills" concept with tight end George Kittle (No. 85) running a post route as receiver Louis Murphy (No. 18) runs the crossing route underneath. Garoppolo peeks at the backside vertical route before working to the right, hitting Murphy on the crossing route for a 17-yard gain.In closing, we can even look at one of the 49ers' biggest offseason moves in the context of Shanahan's affinity for the two-back approach in the passing game.After running back Jerick McKinnon was signed in free agency, Shanahan said: "A huge bonus on him is when you talk about the pass game. When it comes to separating and beating linebackers and safeties in man-to-man coverage, I definitely think he's an issue for teams. I think this league, when it comes to third downs and things like that, you move the chains based off of matchups, which allows you to get points in the long run."After signing McKinnon - and based on analyzing the tape - we can surely expect to see plenty more passing from the 49ers out of two-back sets during Garoppolo's first full season under center.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills rookie quarterback Josh Allen said he isn't fazed by outside criticisms, including the headline-worthy one from Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who labeled him "trash.""He's not on my team, he's not my teammate. It doesn't bother me," Allen told WGR's Sal Capaccio. "It doesn't bother me. I don't care one bit. I care about my teammates, what my teammates think about me."The quarterback hadn't seen Ramsey's full comments when asked for his reaction to them. In an interview published Wednesday morning by GQ, Ramsey called Allen "trash" and the Bills "stupid" for drafting him seventh overall.Allen's mix of superior physical traits but relative lack of production in college made him the most polarizing quarterback prospect in this year's draft. The 22-year-old was 9-of-19 for 116 yards and one touchdown in his preseason debut against the Carolina Panthers.Ramsey gave similar assessments of other NFL pivots during the interview.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jalen Ramsey has something to say about every quarterback in the NFL.In an interview with GQ's Clay Skipper, the All-Pro Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback - one of the league's biggest trash-talkers - took stock of some of the most notable passers with brutal honesty.Here's the rundown:Bills' Josh Allen"I think Allen is trash. I don't care what nobody says. He's trash. And it's gonna show, too. That's a stupid draft pick to me," Ramsey said. "We play them this year, and I'm excited as hell. I hope he's their starting quarterback."Ravens' Joe Flacco"And just being honest about it, Flacco sucks. I played him two years in a row. He sucks."Falcons' Matt Ryan"What's the Atlanta quarterback's name? I think Matt Ryan's overrated. You can't tell me you win MVP two years ago, and then last year, you a complete bust, and you still got Julio Jones? There's no way that should ever happen."Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger"I think he's decent at best. ... It's not Big Ben, it's (Antonio Brown). ... He has a strong arm, but he ain't all that. I played him twice last year, and he really disappointed me. He'll be in the Hall of Fame and all that."(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)He doesn't hate every quarterback, however. Ramsey commended Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Marcus Mariota, Tyrod Taylor, and Kirk Cousins, and said Deshaun Watson and Carson Wentz will battle it out for league MVP for the next 5-10 years.Finally, he offered an honest assessment of his own quarterback, Blake Bortles.Bortles helped guide the Jaguars to a lead over the New England Patriots in the AFC title game, but the former top draft pick still has his detractors. According to Ramsey, "Playoff Blake is good.""Blake do what he gotta do," he told GQ. "I think in crunch-time moments, like last year's playoff game - not as a team, because we would have trusted him - but I think as an organization, we should have trusted him more to keep throwing it. We kinda got complacent and conservative. And I think that's why we lost."Ramsey closed by admitting he rarely faces Bortles in practice."We never go against him unless it's training camp. We never go against them in practice, during the season. ... We don't wanna hurt his confidence. That'll probably hurt his confidence."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Corey Coleman will make his Buffalo Bills preseason debut Friday versus his former club, the Cleveland Browns, even though the wideout is still grasping his new team's offense, head coach Sean McDermott said Wednesday."We're getting to the point now where it's, 'Hey, here's the playbook, you got to know it,'" McDermott told reporters, according to ESPN's Mike Rodak. "Right now we're still digesting. ... There will be some clarity around what his role is Friday night. Biggest thing is we want him to come out and play fast and play physical."The Bills acquired Coleman in a trade with the Browns on Aug. 5, giving the former first-round pick a chance to ignite his career after two underwhelming seasons in Cleveland. It was revealed Tuesday night on HBO's "Hard Knocks" that Coleman essentially asked the Browns to trade him after learning he was in line for a reduced role.Related: Twitter roasts Coleman, Browns over trade request on 'Hard Knocks'Bills general manager Brandon Beane said upon landing Coleman that the 24-year-old would have to earn a roster spot, let alone a prominent role in Buffalo's offense. It took just a seventh-round draft pick in 2020 for the Bills to poach Coleman from Cleveland.Coleman had 56 catches for 718 yards and five touchdowns in 19 games across two seasons with the Browns.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.