Bad news for those Oakland Raiders fans hoping for a quick solution to Khalil Mack's holdout, as there doesn't appear to be any communication between head coach Jon Gruden and the star defensive end.Mack and Gruden haven't spoken since the former broadcaster took the head coaching job with the team in January, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The 27-year-old Mack is in the final year of his rookie deal on a fifth-year option and is slated to make $13.8 million this season. Steve Wyche of NFL Network reported in April that Mack is seeking a contract with over $65 million in guarantees.Honored as the 2016 AP Defensive Player of the Year, Mack is one of the premier pass-rushers in the NFL, posting 40.5 sacks over his first four seasons.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

All is well between the Atlanta Falcons and star wide receiver Julio Jones, who will now report to training camp Thursday, the team announced.Jones, who skipped Atlanta's mandatory minicamp, reportedly agreed to a revised contract that adjusts his salary for the upcoming season, according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport."We have had continued dialogue all offseason with Julio and his representation. We have come to an agreement with Julio, and we will re-address everything in 2019. I appreciate everyone's hard work and communication on this," general manager Thomas Dimitroff said in an official statement."This adjustment does not impede us from working on other extensions with other key members of our football team. We will continue to work on those contracts going forward."Atlanta converted roughly $2 million of Jones' 2019 salary into a bonus for this year, a source told Jeff Schultz of The Atlantic.The perennial Pro Bowler was set to make a base salary of $10.5 million, with his average annual salary of $14.2 million - after his a five-year, $71-million extension from 2015 - ranking ninth among wide receivers.Both Jones and the Falcons were reportedly "working intensively" throughout the day to come to terms on an adjustment prior to camp opening.The 29-year-old has gone for over 1,400 yards in each of the past four seasons. He grabbed three touchdowns for the 10-win Falcons in 2017 and finished second in the league with 1,444 yards receiving.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tanks on the field and off the field.The NFL is a spectacle both on and off the gridiron. Nothing signified that more than the start of training camp Wednesday, as players from around the league welcomed the start of a new football season in grand style.DeMarcus "Tank" Lawrence, for one, lived up to both the spirit of his nickname and the spirit of being an NFLer with his grand entrance.

The NFL and the players association are currently "tentatively scheduled" to meet Friday to discuss the league's anthem policy, NFL Media's Jim Trotter reports.Both sides agreed last week to come to a resolution in regard to the anthem policy implemented by the league earlier in the offseason.In May, NFL owners voted to implement a rule that permits players to remain in the locker room during the playing of the national anthem but requires those on the field to stand and "respect" the flag. The rule was passed without consultation from the players association.Several active players will attend Friday's meeting, Trotter reports.Anthem policy remains a hot topic in the league, as Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown revealed that owners have been asked to keep quiet about the policy until Friday's meeting, while Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones took a hard stance Wednesday, declaring his "policy is you stand for the anthem, toe on the line."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons and receiver Julio Jones are "working intensively" to resolve their current contract impasse, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports.Mortensen reported Tuesday that the star receiver won't report to Falcons training camp without an adjustment to his contract. He signed a five-year, $71-million extension in 2015, but his $14.2-million annual average now ranks ninth among receivers.Both sides are hoping to find a resolution before camp opens Thursday, according to Mortensen. He reports the team and Jones' representation are "focused on creatively addressing" his $10.5-million base salary for 2018.The Falcons are currently hard up against the cap, with just $5.2 million in cap space before roster cuts, according to Over The Cap.Jones, a perennial Pro Bowler, finished second in the league in receiving last season with 1,444 yards, though his touchdown total dropped to three from six the previous campaign.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey exceeded expectations during his rookie year. For an encore, the Panthers want to up his workload as one of the team's primary playmakers.McCaffrey ran for 435 yards and two touchdowns, but was more effective as a receiver, catching 80 passes for 651 yards and five touchdowns during the 2017 season. Panthers head coach Ron Rivera is planning for a more substantial role for the halfback's sophomore campaign."I don't want to get to the point where everything starts through him, because it'll always be through the quarterback," Rivera said, according to ESPN's David Newton. "But he can be one of those guys that hopefully gets the ball 25 to 30 times a game. That would be ideal.''McCaffrey, unsurprisingly, welcomes the challenge."I love to hear that,'' he said. "Hopefully, it happens. Anytime coach tells you you're going to get the ball more you get a little excited about that."As it stands, the 22-year-old will be counted upon to help lead the Panthers back to the playoffs in 2018.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles have reportedly decided against placing franchise quarterback Carson Wentz on the physically unable to perform list.In Wentz's continuing recovery from a torn ACL and LCL suffered in December, the Eagles plan to get Wentz on the field during training camp and he will start the 2018 season on the 53-man roster, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.The team considered placing Wentz on the active PUP list, according to Rapoport, but such a designation would keep him from practicing with his teammates.Wentz participated in individual drills and seven-on-seven practices in the spring. The Eagles plan for him to do the same at training camp while monitoring his progress towards participating in full team drills, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports.

It didn't take long for Lamar Jackson to turn heads.Quarterbacks guru Marty Mornhinweg, who's presided over NFL offenses since Jackson was in diapers, recently gushed about the development of the Baltimore Ravens' second - but most important - first-round pick in the 2018 draft."He's done an outstanding job up to date," Mornhinweg said. "He's way ahead of the curve."Mornhinweg's comments stoked the false notion that the former Louisville star is coming for Joe Flacco’s job - that there's some genuine jockeying taking place this summer between the incumbent and rookie.But consider the source. Mornhinweg, a known coddler of quarterbacks who comes from the coaching tree of the league's most notorious quarterback coddler, Andy Reid, has a history of blowing smoke in order to shield his signal-callers.As offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, he offered high praise for then-rookie QB Kevin Kolb in 2007, suggesting Kolb "may be one of those quarterbacks that progresses pretty quickly." Kolb won nine of his 21 career starts for the Eagles and Arizona Cardinals. He completed under 60 percent of his passes and retired in 2014 with a career 78.9 passer rating.In the same position with the New York Jets, Mornhinweg used some familiar rhetoric when appraising then-rookie Geno Smith during training camp in 2013, saying, "He's way ahead of the pace of a normal rookie." There's that "way ahead" again.Ravens fans certainly hope Jackson fares better than Smith, who went 12-18 as a Jets starter with a 72.4 passer rating, though the point isn't to question Mornhinweg's credibility. There's a reason he's entering his 16th season as an offensive coordinator (not counting two years as Detroit Lions head coach). If he's pointing the spotlight at Jackson, however, it's worth wondering who he's trying to point it away from.Flacco closed 2017 strong, but the 33-year-old is still shadowed by several disappointing seasons. The Ravens have missed the playoffs four times in the last five years, including the past three. It's a marked change in fortune from the first five years of the John Harbaugh-Flacco era when Baltimore made five straight playoff appearances, culminating in a win over Harbaugh's brother in Super Bowl XLVII.Flacco hasn’t finished in the top 10 in passer rating since that brilliant postseason run, which included road upsets over the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots and forced the Ravens to make him the NFL’s highest-paid quarterback at the time of his extension.He also underwent ACL surgery in 2015, which limited him to 10 starts, and labored through a back injury last year that sidelined him for much of training camp in 2017.However, in the final five weeks of last season, Flacco passed for the league’s eighth-most yards and threw nine touchdowns - tied for the most over that span, with only two interceptions. The Ravens scored more points than any other NFL team over that stretch (10 more than the next-best Rams).It was an encouraging sign for Flacco, who hasn't faced this kind of scrutiny since he was playing on a one-year franchise tag in 2012 - the season he went on to win a ring."In order to make it in this league, period, you have to be able to tune out some things and believe in yourself and go play, so I don't know if this situation is any really different than just making it in this league," Flacco said. "That's what it’s all about, is being able to believe in yourself and go out there and play and rely on other guys and have that trust."Though Flacco may be adept at tuning out the noise, he knows the Ravens weren't simply targeting the best available player in April when they forked over two second-round picks (one in 2019) and a fourth-rounder to select Jackson 32nd overall.Jackson won’t be ready to overtake the veteran by the opener, of course, but Harbaugh's already said Jackson’s athleticism and mobility are too good to stash on the sideline for an entire season.The Ravens coach remains on the hot seat entering 2018. Team owner Steve Bisciotti admitted in February that he considered firing Harbaugh after last season, so look for the long-tenured coach to pull out every stop as the Ravens grapple with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals, and improved Cleveland Browns for the AFC North title.Harbaugh's introduced the same run-pass option concepts that the Eagles brilliantly executed en route to their Super Bowl title. Finding ways to take advantage of Jackson's talent - especially as a runner - makes sense while the Ravens look to boost an upgraded offense that added receivers Michael Crabtree and Willie Snead and first-round tight end Hayden Hurst. With their jobs likely at stake, Harbaugh and Mornhinweg have plenty of motivation to maximize their weapons.The Ravens missed the playoffs last year thanks to a heartbreaking, last-minute loss to the Bengals in Week 17. There's no recourse for Flacco or Harbaugh this year: It's postseason or bust."The name of the game is getting to the playoffs and giving yourself a chance to win," Flacco said. "And especially with the environment of us not making it the last few years, it doesn't matter that we were this close, this close, this close. I don't care if you're in the AFC Championship Game, one game away, one play away from the Super Bowl. 'This close' is not good enough."Geoff Mosher is an award-winning sports reporter, radio host, and TV personality with more than 20 years of experience covering all major sports and leagues. He also hosts regularly on 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia and co-hosts 'The Sports Shop' on Facebook. You can find him on Twitter @GeoffMosherNFL.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Richard Sherman has cleared a major hurdle in his road to recovery.The new San Francisco 49ers cornerback deemed himself 100 percent healthy for training camp following an Achilles injury that cut his 2017 season short."It was a grind," Sherman said in his first media availability to open the team's training camp. "It's one of those things where you allow yourself to see what you're really made of when you go through things like this and I appreciated that journey."Sherman will avoid the PUP list and, as a result, trigger a $2-million bonus in his contract for gaining clearance. The veteran corner famously negotiated his own contract with the Niners this offseason without the use of an agent.Sherman is well on his way to taking the field in his first season in the Bay Area after spending seven years with the Seattle Seahawks.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Terrell Owens didn't take kindly to criticism levied at him by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones over his decision to skip next month's Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony.Jones called the decision a "mistake," and Owens fired back immediately:

Even though the NFL's new policy about national anthem protests is on hold as the league and NFLPA work toward a resolution, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones did not hesitate to share his approach to the controversy."Our policy is you stand for the anthem, toe on the line," Jones told reporters Wednesday, according to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News.The new league policy, before being put on hold, allowed players to remain in the locker room during the anthem. If players chose to stand on the sidelines during the anthem but protested, their teams would be fined.Report - Bengals' Mike Brown: Owners asked to stay quiet on anthem policy for nowJones also called United States President Donald Trump's interest and involvement in the national anthem issue problematic and unprecedented. "Everybody would like it to go away," he said, according to ESPN's Todd Archer.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It doesn't appear the Oakland Raiders will have Khalil Mack present when training camp begins on Thursday, as sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter the star defensive end won't be in attendance.Mack has one year left on his current contract. He'll make close to $14 million this season while playing under the fifth-year option exercised by the club.The former University of Buffalo standout posted 10.5 sacks and 78 tackles in 2018, making the Pro Bowl for the third straight year. The 2016 AP Defensive Player of the Year is undoubtedly one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL, and any prolonged absence would be a massive hit to Jon Gruden's defense in his first year back as Raiders head coach.If Mack decides to remain out for an extended period, promising rookie Arden Key could see increased action at defensive end.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jacksonville Jaguars surprised even their most optimistic supporters in 2017, but Telvin Smith doesn't believe they've scratched their potential yet.The New England Patriots beat Smith and the Jaguars in the AFC Championship Game. Despite the loss, the linebacker is still confident in the team's ability."I think we're the best team in the league," Smith said Wednesday to Mike Kaye of First Coast News."It's not that I'm knocking anybody else, there are some talented teams out there, but if I don't lock in right now and believe wholeheartedly that my team will be the last team standing, you're not ready for that fight that's about to come."Smith was an integral part of the Jaguars' breakout season, recording 102 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and three interceptions in 14 games. The 27-year-old earned the first Pro Bowl and All-Pro (second team) selections of his career.Although some may be advising the Jaguars to take caution after they established themselves as a genuine contender, Smith isn't worried about managing expectations."I think you can only set the bar too high when you don't believe it yourself," Smith said. "I think this team is full of confidence, full of talent, full of (heart) and dedication, so the bar is as high as we set it. It's not 'where can we go?' It's 'where do we want to go?' That's what we're working on now, making sure that we go where we want to go come February."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrew Luck hasn't played in a football game since January 2017. However, his long road back appears to be ending, as the Indianapolis Colts plan to have their star quarterback start the team's preseason opener.Despite the progress he's made this offseason, Luck knows returning to full health isn't the end of his NFL journey."There are no awards for just walking out on the field," Luck said on Wednesday, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.The three-time Pro Bowler is set to practice without limitations when training camp gets underway on Thursday. He's anxious to get going after missing so much football due to a right shoulder injury."I can assure you nobody's more excited than I am and nobody cares more than I do," said an upbeat Luck.The No. 1 overall pick in 2012 took 30-plus sacks in three of his first five NFL seasons, and his aggressive style drew criticism from those who believed he could do a better job of protecting himself."There are hits I could have avoided in the past or the ball could have been thrown away and it could have spared me here or there," Luck said, according to Tricia Whitaker of CBS4Indy. "Do I regret not doing that though? But will I learn from that? Yes."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jim Kelly received some great news Wednesday as the Buffalo Bills legend continues his recovery from cancer.Kelly's wife, Jill, posted on Instagram that the Hall of Fame quarterback's latest scans revealed no evidence of cancer after oral surgery in March.Jim was originally diagnosed with cancer in his jaw in 2013 and has undergone numerous surgeries since to combat the spread of the disease to his nasal cavities.The 58-year-old announced in February that the cancer had returned. Jim was recently given the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the ESPYs.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams star defensive tackle Aaron Donald did not report to training camp Wednesday with the rest of his teammates, a team official told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, indicating that he will hold out for a second consecutive season as he seeks a big-money contract extension.Donald's absence, while expected, is a blow to a Rams team that has all the makings of a Super Bowl contender.The pass-rusher is under contract for 2018 thanks to the fifth-year option of his rookie deal, which will pay him $6.8 million this season - far below his value as arguably the best defensive player in football.Related: Rams GM 'simultaneously working' on Donald contractWhile the Rams have insisted they intend to reward Donald for his All-Pro play, they first handed out long-term extensions to Todd Gurley and Brandin Cooks earlier in July.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey may be looking to add a high-profile name to the team's receiving corps with Josh Gordon away from the team and his future uncertain.Dorsey told reporters Wednesday that the Browns have discussed bringing in former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant, according to Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot.After being released in April by the Cowboys, Bryant hasn't garnered much interest on the free-agent market.Cleveland's interest in Bryant comes a day after Gordon announced he'll miss the beginning of training camp while continuing to work on his personal health, though Dorsey expects his absence to be brief.Asked Wednesday whether Gordon will be back at some point during the 2018 season, Dorsey said, "Yeah, I would think. Absolutely."The Browns general manager also announced that Ricardo Louis will miss the upcoming season with a neck injury, so the team has an immediate need at receiver.Bryant caught 69 passes for 838 yards and six touchdowns in 2017. In eight seasons with Dallas, the receiver made three Pro Bowls.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants rookie cornerback Sam Beal is out for the season after suffering a shoulder injury, a source told ESPN's Dianna Russini.Beal was taken in the third round of the supplemental draft earlier this month, making him the highest-drafted player in the supplemental draft since wide receiver Josh Gordon was a second-round selection in 2012.Janoris Jenkins and Eli Apple are set to start at cornerback for New York, but Beal was expected to at least push for playing time. The Giants could look to bring in veteran talent to make up for the lost depth at the position.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Todd Gurley has been putting New York Giants rookie Saquon Barkley through his paces this offseason, as the two star running backs have spent time working out together in preparation for the 2018 season.The Los Angeles Rams runner understands the weight of expectations that come with being a first-round pick and playing in a big-city market, but he said Barkley has the right mental makeup to take anything the pro game will throw at him."Football is football. I told him the NFL is probably going to be a lot easier than college. As far as the schedule, the pound and ground on your body,” Gurley told Rams Wire' Cameron DaSilva last week."Just enjoy it. He's been doing such a great job his whole life. He's just a great person, too, so he's way above his years. He loves the game, so it's good to see a person like that."Gurley won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2015 after rushing for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns.After a standout career at Penn State, Barkley is expected to at least replicate his mentor's first-year success as the Giants' lead back.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Expect to see Andrew Luck in game action sooner rather than later.Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich reaffirmed how pleased the team is with its star quarterback's health, telling reporters Wednesday he "would plan on him playing in Seattle" in their first preseason game, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Reich confirmed there will be "no restrictions" when Luck practices, but the Colts signal-caller will have scheduled days off throughout training camp. The first of those breaks will come Saturday, allowing him to fully participate in Indianapolis' first padded team practice Sunday.It's another step in the right direction for Luck. Colts general manager Chris Ballard cleared the three-time Pro-Bowler last week for camp.Luck missed the 2017 season after a setback suffered following his 2016 shoulder surgery. During his last full campaign, Luck threw for 4,240 yards with 31 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Antonio Gates' legendary run with the Los Angeles Chargers may not be done just yet, as the tight end's agent, Tom Condon, told Alex Marvez of Sirius XM that he's actively negotiating a deal with team executive Ed McGuire.The three-time All-Pro spent 15 seasons with the club before parting ways in April with Hunter Henry poised to takeover as the lead tight end. However, Henry suffered a torn ACL during organized team activities in May, leaving the door open for a potential return.The 38-year-old caught 30 balls for 316 yards and three touchdowns last season. He currently sits sixth in career touchdown catches and 20th in total receptions all time.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons have given both head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff three-year contract extensions, locking them down through the 2022 season.The Falcons announced the news Wednesday in unique fashion on Twitter. (For any confused younger readers, google "Starsky and Hutch.")

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt and WWE star-turned-actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson both struggle with the same problem: finding jeans that fit their large quads.After Sports Illustrated's Jimmy Traina tweeted about Watt's Incredible Hulk-like physique, Johnson revealed that the two of them text each other about what jeans to buy.

The Tennessee Titans are set to report to training camp Wednesday and it appears the teams star offensive tackle will be present for the first day of practices.Taylor Lewan will report to camp despite his desire for a contract extension, according to Paul Kuharsky of 104.5 The Zone. Lewan skipped the team's mandatory minicamp in June while awaiting a new deal.It remains to be seen whether an agreement is imminent between the two parties, but both sides are reportedly progressing toward a new contract, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The two-time Pro Bowler is scheduled to play on the fifth-year option tied to his rookie deal, which would pay him $9 million for the season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A former NFL Network makeup artist who says on-air talent sexually harassed and assaulted her has filed a lawsuit.Erin McParland filed a suit Tuesday against NFL Enterprises, former player Eric Davis, and other unknown defendants for being "subjected to ongoing and continuing sexual harassment by current and former on-air talent," Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports. The suit also details harassment from Michael Irvin.McParland says she complained to NFL Network about Davis and Irvin. According to her, the NFL never responded to her complaints against Irvin, and only addressed Davis' behavior after another employee complained about him.Jami Cantor, a former wardrobe stylist for NFL Network, amended a civil complaint against the network in December, saying employees - including on-air talent - sexually harassed her while she worked there. The network suspended three analysts named in Cantor's lawsuit.McParland shared her account of Davis' behavior with Tim Rohan of The MMQB in December after the details of Cantor's suit became public.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Josh Gordon's leave of absence from the Cleveland Browns may not be a lengthy one.Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that the vibe around training camp is that Gordon will return after a "brief absence."The wideout announced Monday that he would miss the beginning of training camp as part of a health and treatment plan. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the absence is related to anxiety and mental health counseling.Gordon has played in just five games since 2014 due to various violations relating to substance abuse.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown says owners around the league have been asked to stay under the radar while the NFL and NFLPA sort out the league's national anthem policy."The league and the union are talking on this and we're instructed to stand down while that's ongoing," Brown said Tuesday, according to ESPN's Katherine Terrell. "I'm not going to sit here and stir the pot. They don't want to hear from me right now. Let's see how this bubbles up and I hope they can come up with some kind of answer that is acceptable to not just the club and the players, but more the public."And let's not forget the president," he added with a laugh.Last week, the NFL and the NFLPA released a joint statement noting that no new rules relating to anthem protests will be enforced while the sides work to find a resolution over the next several weeks.That came after NFL owners voted unanimously in May in favor of a policy allowing players to remain in their locker rooms during the national anthem. However, the policy also stated that the league could fine teams if players chose to leave the locker room but didn't show "respect for the flag and the anthem." Individual punishments for players would have been left up to the teams.The Miami Dolphins are known to have already submitted a discipline document to the NFL stating that anthem protests would be "conduct detrimental to the club," allowing them to suspend or fine players for such behavior.Brown didn't dive into whether or not he'd issue a similar policy, but did say the Bengals "had ways of handling it."For the record, no Bengals players kneeled during the anthem last season.Brown also said he's saddened that this issue is partially responsible for the NFL's divide with some fans in recent years."We have lost some of the fizz we had with the public with distractions, whether it's the anthem issue or the concussion issue," he said. "These issues are not generally fully understood by the people that criticize. And it has taken the focus off what we want the people to be looking at: the game itself. That's where the excitement is, not these periphery issues. We have challenges. They have to be addressed better than we have to this point. And we just have to see what the future brings."It should never have developed into the issue it has. Yes, it bothers me that we sit here today talking about the anthem issue."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

More details have emerged regarding an assault claim against New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr., but his camp is classifying the allegations as an extortion attempt.Ishmael Temple is taking Beckham to court over an incident at the receiver's house in January in which he says he was assaulted by the NFLer's security detail.In new court documents obtained by TMZ Sports on Tuesday, Temple's lawyers accuse Beckham of offering $1,000 "to sleep with a girl from Arizona." They also claim to have "evidence of drugs of the most prohibited types readily available and consumed at his parties."Beckham's attorney released a statement Tuesday night denying the allegations."Mr. Beckham denies the recently added allegations and further denies any wrongdoing whatsoever related to the alleged incident," Beckham Jr.'s attorney, Daniel E. Davillier, said in a statement obtained by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "As stated before, he will not be extorted and his position as to the pending suit has not changed."Davillier said Beckham's legal team is preparing a complaint against Temple and his attorney for civil extortion.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys defensive end David Irving didn't report to training camp Tuesday with the rest of his teammates, according to Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.Hill added that Irving has been excused from camp to deal with ongoing personal issues and that there's no timetable for him to report.The 24-year-old Irving was recently suspended by the NFL for the first four games of the upcoming season for a violation of its substance abuse policy.It's the second four-game suspension for Irving in as many years.He played in 12 games in 2017, racking up seven sacks.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Signed, sealed, and delivered.No. 1 draft pick Baker Mayfield has signed his rookie contract with the Cleveland Browns: a fully guaranteed four-year, $32-million deal with a signing bonus of $21.85 million, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports, citing a source.The Browns now have the future of their franchise under contract a day before the whole roster is expected to report for training camp.Last year, second overall pick Mitchell Trubisky - the first quarterback taken in the 2017 draft - was signed to a fully guaranteed deal worth $29 million.Cleveland has now signed eight of its nine draft picks.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

All-Pro safety Earl Thomas won't report to Seattle Seahawks training camp Wednesday amid a contract dispute, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The 29-year-old free safety is scheduled to enter the 2018 season on the final year of his contract, one that will pay him $8.5 million for the campaign.Last week, he took to Instagram to ask for an extension or a trade. NBC Sports Radio's Newy Scruggs reported Tuesday that Thomas spoke with Mark Davis about his desire to play with the Oakland Raiders. Scruggs also said the safety is willing to play for the Dallas Cowboys.Thomas has spent his entire eight-year career with Seattle, but the Legion of Boom is in a current state of flux. Venerable corner Richard Sherman signed with the rival San Francisco 49ers this offseason, and Kam Chancellor, Thomas' partner in the secondary, retired due to a neck injury.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's a lot of pressure on Jon Gruden to succeed immediately in his return as head coach of the Oakland Raiders. That's the weight of a $100-million contract.Gruden knows the expectations that come with his price tag and says he's all about earning his money."If I can't get it done, I'm not going to take their money," Gruden said to USA Today's Jarrett Bell on Tuesday.Gruden said he's not focusing on perceptions of his 10-year deal or the narrative of his return to coaching from broadcasting."Expectations, bullseye, whatever," Gruden said. "When you start to think about the magnitude of all that, it's like the open for Monday Night Football. It's great to talk about. But that's a story for Lisa Salters to do."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Todd Gurley is famous for his awesome hurdling ability, often leaving NFL defenders snatching at the space he used to be in and helpless to stop him from blazing a trail to the end zone.The Los Angeles Rams star similarly leapfrogged his fellow running back Le'Veon Bell on Tuesday, landing a four-year extension worth $60 million - the kind of record-breaking deal the disgruntled Pittsburgh Steeler has been fighting for since last offseason in hopes of resetting the stagnant running back market.The new contract keeps Gurley with the Rams through the 2023 season (Gurley has two years left on his rookie deal). More importantly for the rest of the NFL, the deal's $45 million in guarantees is the most for a running back ever, and the extension's $15-million annual average is tops in the league at the position by some distance (among long-term contracts).While Bell wasn't the man who finally pushed the running back market to new heights, he did effectively highlight how the NFL had squeezed the position in recent years.Not until Gurley's deal did anyone at the position exceed Adrian Peterson's yearly average of $14.38 million from a contract signed in 2011. That's a ridiculous length of time considering that the top money for quarterbacks seemingly rises every season.Moreover, prior to Gurley's extension, only 12 running backs were on deals that averaged at least $5 million per year, and only five earned more than $7 million, according to Spotrac. The latter number is inflated by Bell, who's playing on a $14.54-million franchise tag, and Saquon Barkley, who's on a rookie deal.By comparison, in 2012, 16 running backs were making an average of at least $5 million, and 11 of them were taking home at least $7 million a season. The latter group was dominated by the elite running backs of the day, including Peterson, Chris Johnson, Arian Foster, and Steven Jackson.Of course, the NFL has moved away from featured backs. Five runners eclipsed 300 carries in 2012, while only Bell did it last season. However, the top-tier talent at the position is arguably just as good now - which is what makes Gurley's deal so significant to a handful of other stars around the league.Le'Veon, Zeke, DJ set for big 💰Along with Gurley and Bell, David Johnson and Ezekiel Elliott make up the elite players at the position. All of them are either already looking to get paid or will be very soon.Bell, 26, has been franchise-tagged for the last two seasons in lieu of a long-term extension as his standoff with the Steelers continues. While his bank account has grown by over $26 million during that time, he appears no closer to inking the kind of deal he believes he deserves as one of the league's most dynamic and well-rounded offensive weapons.His agent, Adisa Bakari, said his client will likely leave Pittsburgh after the season because of the team's reluctance to meet Bell's guaranteed-money expectations after the franchise-tag deadline passed last week with no deal.Bell won't hold out and said he intends to play, but it's doesn't look like Pittsburgh will be the team that finally gives him the contract he craves. "It became clear the Steelers wanted to pay the position, not the player," Bakari said.Related: 5 teams that should be lining up bids for Le'Veon Bell in 2019Meanwhile, Johnson is entering the final season of his rookie contract. He isn't in the best bargaining position after missing nearly all of last season due to a wrist injury, which is presumably why he decided not to hold out of training camp after staying away from mandatory minicamp to try to force a deal.The 26-year-old is, however, the clear future of the Cardinals' offense, even with first-round rookie quarterback Josh Rosen waiting in the wings.Plus, he will only get more expensive if he's allowed to play out his contract and potentially achieve his goal of becoming the third player in NFL history to gain at least 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season. He nearly hit both marks in 2016, falling just 121 receiving yards short.Related: Cardinals looking forward to rewarding David Johnson, says GM KeimLast but not least is Elliott. He's entering the third year of his rookie deal but has the potential to break the market again at this time next summer if he can replicate his first-season success.He's arguably the best pure runner in the league, as evidenced by his 1,631-yard, 15-touchdown rookie campaign. The Dallas Cowboys have little talent at receiver following the departure of Dez Bryant, so Elliott could also enjoy a Gurley-esque year as a receiver. He almost matched his 2016 receiving totals in 2017 despite playing in five fewer games.Also working in Elliott's favor is owner Jerry Jones' star-loving attitude and willingness to open his wallet to accommodate that kind of player - though Elliott will have to continue to prove he's as reliable off the field as he is on it following his much-publicized six-game suspension last season.Related: Bell, Johnson among tailbacks celebrating Gurley's huge extensionIt could be up to a year before any of Bell, Elliott, and Johnson join Gurley in the new stratosphere of running-back contracts.Bell is locked in for the franchise tag this season, but if he hits the free-agent market next year, the sky is the limit for what a running-back-desperate team with boatloads of cap space may offer him.Johnson could cash in now, but at best, he'd likely only be able to match Gurley's extension because of his injury and being three years older. However, if he bets on himself and replicates his form from 2016 when he led the league in touchdowns, Gurley's deal will be his floor.Elliott is already the 10th-best paid player at his position in yearly salary thanks to being drafted fourth overall. Now that Gurley's moved into $15-million territory, Elliott could take aim at being the first running back to crack $20 million per season - or at least close to it.But whenever the trio does put pen to paper, each player will owe a large debt of gratitude to their counterpart in L.A. for getting the rusted gears of the running back market moving.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams haven't forgotten about Aaron Donald.Exactly one week after signing receiver Brandin Cooks to a contract extension, the Rams inked running back Todd Gurley to a rich extension of his own Tuesday. General manager Les Snead intends to do the same with the reigning Defensive Player of the Year."We're simultaneously working to make Aaron a Ram a long time - that's the goal," Snead said, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, hours after the Gurley announcement."I know we'll get questions about him, but Aaron's a big part of who we are, where we want to go. We're going to continue working to get something done with Aaron."As things stand, Donald will play 2018 on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal, which will pay him $6.8 million this season. The game-wrecking defensive tackle held out from training camp as he awaited a new contract last year and may do so again this year.The team's 2018 training camp opens Wednesday. Donald skipped mandatory minicamp in June.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Doug Pederson enjoyed a brief movie career before joining the Philadelphia Eagles.Reddit sleuths uncovered a cameo the Eagles head coach made in "The Longshots," a 2008 film starring Ice Cube and directed by Limp Bizkit singer Fred Durst. It's based on the true story of Jasmine Plummer, who became the first female quarterback to play in the Pop Warner football tournament at the age of 11.

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank is confident his franchise isn't headed for a divorce with Julio Jones despite the wide receiver's contract demands."He's going to be a Falcon for life," Blank told D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I'm convinced of that and so is he. We'll take it from there. But we are all focused on the same thing. I think that we are in good shape."Blank displayed his confidence publicly on the same day it was reported that Jones won't show up for training camp Thursday unless his contract is adjusted. The perennial Pro Bowler is due to earn $10.5 million in base salary this season, while his annual average salary of $14.25 million ranks ninth in the NFL among receivers.Blank added he isn't involving himself in the situation and is instead letting general manager Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Dan Quinn handle it as they see fit."That's their job and it's my job to support them," he said. "If they need help, they'll ask for it. I’m always available to them and they know it."Jones, who's totaled over 1,400 receiving yards in each of the past four years, skipped Atlanta's mandatory minicamp earlier in the offseason due to his discontent over his contract.The 29-year-old has three years left on the deal. The Falcons reportedly offered to renegotiate his contract after the 2018 campaign, going against their policy of not redoing contracts until one year is remaining.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The average person will never experience G-forces of over 5.0, but that's far from the case in the NFL.As the number of reported NFL concussions continues to rise, BodyLogic examined some of the most brutal hits in recent history and put together a chart showing the estimated G-forces each player's brain was subjected to.Leading the list is former Miami Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore, who was on the receiving end of a massive hit from Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree during a wild-card game in January 2017. The study estimates the hit exerted a G-force of 87.4g to Moore's brain, though he was allowed to return to the game one play later (the NFL later concluded that the Dolphins didn't follow concussion protocol).

Pittsburgh Steelers star Le'Veon Bell, who's been in search of a megadeal for himself, was among the running backs to quickly congratulate Todd Gurley on Tuesday for signing a massive extension with the Los Angeles Rams.

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh extended an olive branch Tuesday to the millennial NFLers he may have upset by seemingly critiquing their "football fitness" a day earlier."Young people today are amazing," Harbaugh told reporters, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. "This generation is going to change the world ... We don't need to baby them."Harbaugh made headlines Monday by suggesting the up-and-coming crop of players aren't put through the wringer in the same way their predecessors were."One thing I've noticed: Guys coming out of college aren't as callused up as they used to be," he said Monday. "We used to practice twice a day in full pads. And those players know - I'm talking to you out there who know, who've played in the National Football League or played in college 10, 15 years ago - (that) it's not even close to the same thing."There's a certain type of 'in shape,' certain type of football fitness, certain type of (callused-ness) - muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments - that kind of toughen up. They callus up a little bit, and you can practice all day and run all day. Then our guys coming in right now, most of them don't have that."The 55-year-old Harbaugh has been in charge of a program in Baltimore that is viewed perennially as one of the league's hardest and most physical to play against.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The running back market has been reset, but not by Le'Veon Bell.The Rams signed star Todd Gurley to a four-year contract that will keep him under contract with Los Angeles through the 2023 season, the team announced Tuesday.Details of the deal weren't officially released, but a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the extension is worth $60 million with $45 million in guarantees.Gurley's guaranteed money is the largest given to a running back and his average of $15 million per season is the highest in the NFL, added Schefter.The 23-year-old exploded during his first season under head coach Sean McVay, rushing for 1,305 yards and 13 touchdowns while adding another 788 yards and six scores through the air.Gurley's All-Pro efforts earned him the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award. He also finished second in MVP voting to Tom Brady.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints punter Thomas Morstead hit the gym for a good cause Monday.Morstead did 418 pull-ups in 60 minutes to raise money for the family of Christopher Cordaro, a former Saints sales account executive who was diagnosed with neuroendocrine carcinoma in the pancreas, liver, bone, spine, scalp, and multiple lymph nodes three years ago.

Revis Island is officially closed.Darrelle Revis signed a one-day contract with the New York Jets on Tuesday to officially retire as a member of the franchise that drafted him in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft.

The Minnesota Vikings canceled a scheduled training camp practice Friday to attend the memorial service for late offensive line coach Tony Sparano.Sparano, 56, died unexpectedly Sunday due to arteriosclerotic heart disease, a Hennepin County medical examiner revealed, according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin.The 19-year NFL veteran coach died just before 9 a.m. in his home. He is survived by his wife Jeanette, his sons Tony and Andrew, his daughter Ryan Leigh, and his four grandchildren.The Sparano family asks that donations be made to the American Heart Association in lieu of flowers.The Vikings' Saturday practice will go ahead as planned.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones isn't planning to show up for training camp Thursday unless his contract is adjusted to his satisfaction, league sources told ESPN's Chris Mortsensen.The Falcons, who are reportedly aware of their star wideout's stance, previously indicated to Jones they'd redo his deal after the season, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Their vow to do so clashes with the club's philosophy of not renegotiating a contract with more than one year left on it.Jones currently has three campaigns left on his deal. He's due to make $10.5 million in base salary this season, while his annual average salary of $14.25 million ranks ninth in the NFL among receivers.A Pro Bowler in each of the past four seasons, Jones is widely regarded as one of the game's top two or three wide receivers. He posted 1,444 yards with three touchdowns in 2017.The ninth-year veteran skipped Atlanta's mandatory minicamp in hopes of landing a new deal, but was unsuccessful.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With training camp on the horizon, Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is not enthused about his young players' level of fitness.Entering his 11th season with the Ravens, Harbaugh appears to be yearning for yesteryear, calling out rookies Hayden Hurst and Mark Andrews after they missed a series of practices due to soft-tissue injuries."One thing I've noticed: Guys coming out of college aren't as callused up as they used to be," Harbaugh said to ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "We used to practice twice a day in full pads. And those players know - I'm talking to you out there who know, who've played in the National Football League or played in college 10, 15 years ago - (that) it's not even close to the same thing."There's a certain type of 'in shape,' certain type of football fitness, certain type of (callused-ness) - muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments - that kind of toughen up. They callus up a little bit, and you can practice all day and run all day. Then our guys coming in right now, most of them don't have that."Hurst was drafted in the first round by the Ravens, while they selected Andrews in the third. Both tight ends are expected to contribute to a once-stale Ravens passing game.Despite Hurst's and Andrews' potential to spur the offense, Harbaugh compared them unfavorably to veterans Nick Boyle and Maxx Williams."They're not batting an eye. Why? Because they're callused up, because they know how to practice, because their bodies are just tougher," Harbaugh said. "There's a physical toughness to it. They're mentally tough. But you have to practice football to be able to practice football the right way."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory has been fully reinstated by the NFL, allowing him to participate in games and practices, Gregory's lawyer Daniel Moskowitz told Mike Fisher of 247 Sports.Gregory was granted a conditional reinstatement last week following a year-long suspension for multiple violations of the NFL's substance abuse policy.The defensive end told reporters he's treating the reinstatement as his final chance in the league, while also expressing gratitude to the Cowboys for their loyalty.Gregory was selected in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft to serve as a key contributor to the Cowboys' pass rush, which has stalled outside of DeMarcus Lawrence's production.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jameis Winston is supposed to be the face of the Buccaneers, but with the quarterback suspended three games for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, Tampa Bay will apparently highlight its other stars.The Bucs have decided not to use Winston on any of the player murals being displayed on corners of Raymond James Stadium for the first time since his rookie campaign, or in any of their marketing promotions, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.Tampa Bay released four promotional videos last week, none of which contained the banned pivot.The NFL suspended Winston last month for groping a female Uber driver in March 2016. At the time, the Bucs said they were "disappointed that Jameis put himself in a position that has been found to violate the policy."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Free-agent pass-rusher Connor Barwin announced Monday that he's agreed to terms with the New York Giants.Barwin signed a two-year worth up to $5 million, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Barwin made his name with the divisional rival Philadelphia Eagles, racking up 31.5 sacks from 2013-16, including a 14.5-sack campaign in 2014.The 31-year-old spent the 2017 season with the Los Angeles Rams and proved he can still be a solid contributor by producing five sacks and 34 combined tackles.Barwin should help a Giants defense that's flipping to a 3-4 scheme in 2018, as he's experienced playing outside linebacker. He should back up starters Olivier Vernon and rookie Lorenzo Carter.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals placed tight end Jermaine Gresham on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list Monday.Gresham ruptured his Achilles during the final game of 2017 and will be re-evaluated after the Cardinals begin training camp.The 30-year-old recorded 33 receptions for 322 yards and two touchdowns during the 2017 season.Gresham was named to consecutive Pro Bowls in 2011 and 2012 as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals. If he's unable to start the regular season, Ricky Seals-Jones or Bryce Williams could take on a larger role.Arizona also announced that edge rusher Markus Golden will also be placed on the PUP list while recovering from a torn ACL.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.